Team8s and Counting Onwards

210. Team Flare

"It's not about what she wants," Donut said, tone sharpening. "It's about what Flare needs. And I think—no, I know—Match understands that. She's not perfect, but at least she knows that Flare can't be in that house until things get sorted."

Gaty folded her arms. "Flare doesn't need someone to control her. She needs someone who loves her for who she is."

"She's getting older, too," Needle said. "She's asking questions, trying to figure things out. And through it all, she keeps choosing to go back to Match. That says something."

"It says everything," Donut murmured. "You can't force love. You can't scream your way into someone's heart. You show up. You prove it."

There was a quiet moment between them, filled with the sounds of distant laughter from the kids in the other room. A little bubble of normalcy in the middle of a mess.

"You think she'll win?" Gaty asked quietly.

Needle didn't hesitate. "I think the truth will speak for itself. And if the judge has half a brain, Flare stays where she's safe. And honestly, I hope in the end, it ends up being with Match."

The three of them stayed in silence, until they heard little footsteps running down the stairs.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Sack called out, running towards Donut with a drawing. "Look what I made for you!"

Donut took the drawing from Sack, his eyes softening instantly. "Whoa, buddy, this is amazing!" he said, crouching down to Sack's level. The drawing was scribbled in colorful crayon—Sack had drawn their whole family, complete with wide smiles and a rainbow above their heads.

Sack beamed. "Do you like the stars? I made them because you said you liked the sky."

Donut gave Sack a kiss on the forehead. "I love it. It's going right on the fridge."

Gaty went over to the fridge to see the drawing. "Awww, you even drew Bladey in her little doctor coat! She's gonna love this!"

Sack smiled. "That was Bladey's idea. The hardest part was drawing Thread's wheelchair but she helped me with it."

Needle smiled, amazed at Sack's beautiful depiction of her daughter.

"She did a great job," Needle said warmly, crouching next to Sack to get a closer look. "You even got the wheels right."

Sack looked proud. "Thread said it was important to make it look just like hers! It's like drawing me without my legs!"

Donut chuckled. "Thread's been using a wheelchair before you were even born, it's a big part of her, isn't it?"

Sack nodded. "Yeah, and it's super cool too! Hopefully I get better at drawing it."

Needle smiled. "Well, Thread is the artist in the house, maybe she can help you!"

Sack nodded. "Yeah, I should. Thanks Auntie Needle!" Sack sprinted back upstairs to continue his crafts.

Gaty smiled at Donut. "You certainly raised that kid well."

Donut looked toward the staircase, still smiling faintly. "I'm trying," he said softly. "There's so much in the world I can't control, especially in the hospital waiting room, but showing up for my kiddos? That's the easy part."

"It's what we all signed up for as parents." Needle siad. "Everyone except Pencil."

Donut didn't respond right away. His eyes lingered on the fridge, where Sack's drawing now hung crookedly beneath a smiling sun. "I think she thought parenting would fix her. Or maybe she thought it would make her feel...whole again."

Gaty nodded slowly. "But it just made everything harder. More complicated. And now it's poor Flare who's paying the price."

Needle's expression hardened slightly. "What gets me is that even now, Pencil's not trying to fix things. She's trying to win. It's all she's ever wanted"

Donut looked over at her, his voice quieter. "Winning doesn't mean anything if your kid's afraid of you."

That hit a quiet chord between them. Gaty stepped away from the fridge and crossed her arms. "Do you think Pencil knows that? Like...deep down?"

"I think she's trying really hard not to," Needle said. "Because if she lets herself feel that, then she has to admit she failed. And Pencil doesn't do failure."

"She doesn't do accountability, either," Gaty added. "Not unless it makes her look good."

Donut ran a hand over his face. "I just keep thinking about what Match must be feeling. They were partners. They made a home together. And now she's gotta go into court and prove she's the better option—when she's already been the only safe one for months."

Gaty looked out the window. "Pencil's only one person. Flare's got a whole team for her. And if I know one thing about Book, is that she's gonna beat the living shits out of the courtroom until Flare gets to be with her mom."

Needle nodded. "Her and Match may not have always been on great terms, but now they know they're both on the same team."

Donut gave a quiet laugh, something between admiration and disbelief. "I never thought I'd see the day where Book and Match were aligned. But it's kinda poetic, isn't it?"

Gaty nodded. "They're gonna win this. They better win this."

Just as Gaty was speaking, the sound of Thread's chair could be heard, heading into the kitchen.

"Mom?" Thread asked Needle. "Can I go over to Bookmark's house tomorrow? Apparently her Mimi is going shopping with her and Flare, and I heard from Bookmark that shopping with them gets kinda crazy."

Needle smiled at the sound of her daughter's voice. "That sounds like an adventure," she said, turning toward her. "But yeah, that's fine with me as long as Mom and Dad are okay with it. I'll text Price Tag to double-check the details."

Thread's eyes lit up, as she headed back upstairs. "Thanks mom! You're the best!"

Needle smiled, her heart feeling a little lighter. "Well, I hope those girls get their adventure tomorrow. They've earned it."

And for a brief moment, in the middle of uncertainty, the kitchen felt full of something rare—peace, and the quiet hope that the people who showed up for each other would, in the end, be the ones who made it through.

............................................................

After rewatching some of the later TPOT episodes, I realized how much I glossed over how respectful Donut was to Pencil. Like, she was being a giant asshole and yet he always made sure to make her feel comfortable and stick with her the whole time. Honestly have a lot of respect for that, I definitely would have taken the Book approach lol. Anyways, not much else I have to say, see you in the next chapter!

- Sunny