Chapter Text
Part III: Nothin’ scares me anymore
With the pace Bam was going around in the underground, he must have drawn many indecipherable shapes already.
His finger was drumming the arms he crossed as Bam refreshed his memory.
A lot has bothered him since Uncle Eduan returned from his journey in the Outside World.
Aside from the embarrassing attempt of Bam seeking his curiosity out and caught red-handed in the act, Bam also cringed from his uncle’s reprimanding tone.
“I’m not mad,” Eduan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “just disappointed.”
After an hour of lecture on why and how the Outside World was dangerous, Bam braved himself meagerly for a question.
“ Did A.A. burn the house? ”
Bam swore Uncle Eduan’s bright amethyst eyes shadowed for a bit, losing its usual vibrance.
“ No…” Uncle trailed off, then snapping back at Bam. “You talked with Aguero?”
“ He’s your son, right?”
“Yes.”
For that slightest of seconds, Uncle looked guilty and unsure. Bam changed the topic, there were times Uncle Eduan was proud to speak about his children while there are times Bam cannot predict. Like hit or miss, Uncle Eduan also had moments where he grew silent when Bam asked about his big family.
That was what bothered Bam now more than ever.
After their initial interaction after Uncle’s trip, the next visit was an unexpected one. Uncle Eduan was drunk in the middle of the night, dancing around the cave and squeezing Bam’s cheek to the point Bam was flustered.
Uncle being in a state of drunkenness and ecstatic was nothing new for Bam. He could even recall the times Eduan brought down the drinks for them, to which Bam refused because his cave only needed one inebriated man for him to take care of. What would happen if both of them were smashed? Besides, Bam had seen how excruciating the hangovers were for his uncle.
The conversations they exchanged during those hours too were also interesting and fun. Uncle promised Bam to give him a friend, but Bam doubts that Uncle Eduan remembered his own words.
Still, something must have happened.
Bam’s not stupid nor blind, those books and lessons Uncle gifted him certainly contributed to broadening his perspective (although the Outside experience will surely help him better). Uncle did praise Bam how he was a fast learner and congratulated him every time Bam perfected his studies.
So Bam, after spending years under Eduan’s tutelage, learned his uncle’s patterns as well.
He was there when Uncle Eduan reeked of alcohol hugging Bam, confessing how the taste of wine began comforting him when he lost his first child.
Uncle was quite obvious too when drunk, always showering Bam with more physical affection. Bam knew, deep inside, that his uncle’s sorrows in wine were somehow related to the family and children he boasted about.
Should I ask him what happened?
Uncle did use to recount his adventures and tales from the Outside World whenever he came back, but since Eduan spent his energy on lecturing Bam, they weren’t able to follow the tradition.
Bam was about to search the Pocket Eduan bid him to contact for emergencies (maybe Bam was worrying way overboard but a simple message of are you okay, uncle? wouldn’t hurt, right? Definitely an emergency.). Bam still feels apologetic when he broke his promise to Uncle not to stroll outside.
When Bam found the Pocket toppled by other treasures like spears, lighthouses, books, and instruments in his inventory, numerous footsteps echoed in the hall.
One pair was definitely Uncle Eduan’s footsteps, the other was something Bam wasn’t familiar with.
“Bam?” Uncle called, the gate creaking close as two sets of footsteps, one heavy and the other light, neared.
Bam placed the Pocket back to his storage and exited the closeted area.
The sight that greeted Bam might have almost caused him a heart attack. The grin stretching on his lips was so wide, Bam thought it’d hurt later once his excitement fades.
Uncle remembered!
“There you are,” Uncle smiled fondly, a boy who Bam recognized was cowered behind him. “Digging up old treasures?”
“I was worried!” Bam whined, approaching the two closer. “You were mad but then you were drunk.”
Uncle scratched the back of his head and winced at the mention of his late-night expedition. Eduan then glanced at his son who observed the interaction in silence, and Bam was beaming in expectation.
Short baby blue hair tied in a ponytail with well-trimmed bangs above cat-like azure eyes. Bam was positive, this boy was the one he met on the burned house, grumbling about a girl named Maria.
Bam remembered those cool hands that introduced to him, the name starkly unique that Bam often found himself murmuring it after Uncle Eduan’s lecture.
He looks...different, though. Less...lively?
Uncle Eduan nodded to his son, the boy stared at uncle in contemplation, then emerged from Uncle’s tall legs. The Khun child scrutinized Bam head to toe, and Bam relived the same chill that slithered on him when they first shook hands.
They were both around the same height, only reaching up to Uncle’s torso. Eduan cleared his throat for attention, but Bam thought it was rude to break away eye contact with his son. Especially when said Uncle’s child was mesmerizing to look at.
“Bam, this is Aguero,” Eduan introduced the boy who was quietly clutching his hand.
Bam didn’t know the essence of such formality, not when he and A.A. (Uncle calls him Aguero, but Bam respects the name A.A. presented himself with) already acquainted themselves with each other before.
“He’d be accompanying you here from now on.”
Wait, did I hear uncle right?
“Accompany...you mean he’d stay?” Bam gasped, exhilaration beating in his heart.
“Yes,” Uncle knelt between them to their level, “I’m sorry.”
Bam, along with A.A. whipped their heads towards Eduan. Uncle gaped at the pavement in obvious melancholy. A sad smile gracing his lips as he parted it to speak, but A.A. beat his father to it.
“You’re going to leave me,” A.A. stated, “With him.”
“You’re going to leave again?!” Bam repeated, as he frantically grasped uncle’s arm.
Uncle flickered his gaze over him then to his son.
“I can’t make any promises on when I’d return,” Eduan said.
“Why? Where are you going?” Bam asked. You give me a friend for what?
“I have to make the Outside World safe for you two.” At that, the father gave his son a forlorn look. “It’s getting dangerous day by day.”
A.A. flinched from the corner of Bam’s periphery. Before he could assume what might have happened outside for the Khuns to react this way, Uncle pulled them both in his arms.
Uncle Eduan’s embrace was tight and warm that Bam felt this was truly a farewell. Uncle couldn’t promise a date when he’d return. Bam couldn’t count the days and nights when there’s no guaranteed deadline.
“We can’t contact you?” Bam asked, already thinking of the Pocket Eduan left. Uncle only shook his head in disapproval.
“No, it’d be safer for us not to.”
Bam encircled his hand over Uncle’s back, touching the ridiculously long hair Bam copied. For a moment, he thought he grazed on another soft hand but it retracted. Bam focused on the feeling of Eduan’s warmth. He breathed in the fruity scent of his uncle, ingraining each detail onto his memory.
Bam let the tears fall and cried on his uncle’s shoulder, if the other boy ever noticed his sniffles he only stayed quiet.
Bam finished bawling hours after Uncle Eduan exited the cavern. He was wiping his tears and rubbing his eyelids when A.A. spoke, standing meters away from him.
“You’ve been here all alone?” A.A. inquired, his eyes darting all over the cave to examine his new home.
Bam blushed in embarrassment, Eduan should have at least warned him to redecorate the place for his son. Scratch that, uncle should have told him he’d fulfill his promise soberly.
He turned to A.A. who marveled at the crystal chandeliers dimming at the ceiling. The boy thumbed his chin in forethought and Bam gulped the heavy goodbye he received from his uncle.
He’s really here.
Bam thought this friend might be the greatest present Eduan gave him.
“Yes,” Bam beamed, “But maybe not anymore.”