ℝ𝔼𝔻 𝕎𝕀𝕃𝕃𝕀𝔸𝕄𝕊

-• ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ •-

“... No - No — ” He doesn't know what to do , this is information he doesn't know how to process or - even understand - his dad and Luke were bad people and - Luke was one of the people that hurt Joel ... The boy took off his cowboy hat , looking over →

“Luke ... Was one of the bad people ? ” that shocked Riley to his core , he was a good big brother and now - he hurt his dad ? Did Joel not remember ? His hands started to tremble , swallowing back his dry heave as he processed the information that Joel was a bad person. →

⠀ ellie listened intently to every word spoken, making mental notes of everything he said about anna — it honestly comforted her to finally hear at least ( something ) about her mother. she had never known her, but she always wanted to live up to ( whatever ) her +

“... That doesn't - sound right - ” because Joel doesn't even kill bugs if they're on the flowers , or in the home , he's so gentle with his mother , with Fox — with him. Riley shifted a little bit , “Dad just got hurt because bad people did it , ” Bad people - maybe →

“Whys that ? ” he asked genuinely , looking to Red , “I mean , I get it , when I met him he still had his leg — nhe could barely walk , he forgets things sometimes and - stuff - but - he's still my dad and I love him. ”

“Mhm - ” he continues to play with the badge for a moment , looking down , “Sometimes - I feel ... Bad that I didn't know Joel was my dad - mom said it was to keep us both safe whilst dad was hurt. ”

He's taking it carefully and looking it over , smiling , “Is this like a sheriff badge ? ” he doesn't know what FEDRA is , he's not been taught about it yet because he's not old enough. The schools manage information carefully to children.

Riley looks up , seeing Red he gave a shrug — “Just hanging out - ” he swings a little bit , “Waiting for dad to get home , he's gone for a drink at the bar then he'll go and see Uncle Tommy. ”

Riley is at the park - sitting on the swings and dragging his feet along the floor as he sways slightly.

“... I should - ” He turned , hand on his thigh to make sure his foot was on the floor flat before he took a step , he's slow to get going but once he does he's alright.

⠀ ‘ nate showed me a photo of us when i was a baby. only other photo i’ve ever seen of her . . ‘ the fact he didn’t have the photo nate showed her definitely irritated her . . how much could he really care if he only had one photo of their ‘ family ‘ ? her +