The days started to blend together for Luna Loud.
Or rather, it became that way from the moment Lincoln and Lucy decided to be a sort of inseparable duo, never hesitating to follow each other despite their unique personalities. Of course, she had nothing against her little sister Lucy being a fan of poems about the undead or the bleakness of existence. Or about Lincoln being the laziest boy in the world or a comic book fan so obsessed with the genre that he bought costumes.
However, this basic knowledge about his younger siblings has radically changed in recent years. Now, his brother is sixteen, practices fencing as well as a range of other activities that have some connection with the swashbuckling books he loves with his little sister, dances, and has a very deep love for the art of speaking in a distinguished manner.
Lucy? Never in her life would the rock star have believed she'd see her goth sweetheart smile so much. In fact, she doesn't even think she's ever seen her so happy and open about her feelings. Everyone at the Loud house is still discovering the brunette when she starts humming or dancing on the spot, letting out joyful squeals when she sees a kitten rolling on the floor.
Yes, these two quickly became very different people, yet she never stopped loving them with all her heart. Of course, happy days weren't always guaranteed.
It's mainly because Lincoln and Lucy have become inseparable. You only have to invite one of them over, and the other is always with them. Of course, Lincoln never insisted on girls' nights out because even there, he respects certain boundaries. The same goes for Lucy, even though her little sister really stunned her at the comic book convention by dressing up as Raven from the Teen Titans while Lincoln donned his Wolverine costume. That day, Luna discovered that superheroes' faces could drastically change color.
After that, many things made the young rocker a little confused, such as the long looks exchanged between them or the light touches that Lincoln gives Lucy when they think no one is looking.
If she didn't know better, Luna swore she saw a young couple.
Shaking her skull to clear her thoughts, Luna continues tuning her guitar until she stops when her door receives some knocks.
"Uh... Come in?"
Gently, through the crack, the face of her little brother appears, now standing taller than her. Yet, the red on his cheeks and the hand scratching the skin of his arm assure her that it is indeed her beloved little snowball, who hasn't changed since the first time she held him in her arms.
"Hey! Bro, what brings you here?" Luna exclaimed happily. Yes, because the shadow that seemed to follow Lincoln for the past two years wasn't there, which made her feel like she and her little brother were finally going to have some time alone. "Want to do a little buff?"
If possible, the red on his face seemed to radiate intense heat. Refusing to look his older sister in the eyes, Lincoln went back into the room, closing the door behind him and leaning his back against it. The white-haired boy coughed slightly into his fist, glancing nervously at Luna, who was clearly worried by the male Loud's behavior.
"Are you alright, Lincoln?" Luna asked, getting up and putting her instrument back in its case. "Are you sick?"
Knowing what might happen if word got out of this room that his health was in danger, Lincoln shook his head sharply before letting out a long, hot breath, his nervousness like that of a lion tamer who had forgotten his whip before facing the beasts.
"No… I have…" He stumbles over his words. His eyes really don't want to look at his sister's. "… something to…"
"Bro." She gently pats his shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. "Take your time. I'm your big sister, right? So don't be afraid to talk to me."
"It's not…" Lincoln exhaled slowly. Taking his sister's hands, he led her to Luan's bed and helped her sit down. After a few slow breaths, he began to speak in a very small, nervous voice. "Luna… I have something to ask you… but…"
"Oh? What is it? Heart trouble?" Never hesitating to address the problem directly, she felt she had guessed correctly when she saw her brother's blush creeping up his neck.
"Yes, but... that's enough..." sighing against his own fear, he turns to Luna with as much courage as he can while speaking more clearly, "You and Sam have been together for a long time, haven't you?"
Luna's mind went blank as to why her relationship with Sam would have anything to do with her brother's romantic troubles, unless he'd fallen for her. But obviously, that wasn't it, since Lincoln didn't seem to be the type to like blondes. Thinking about his girlfriend, Luna smiled blissfully, making the white-haired young man chuckle.
"Yes, it will be five years in two months," she replied with a giddy girlish laugh that vanished in seconds. "But why are you telling me this?"
Breathing heavily while searching for the right words in his now chaotic mind, Lincoln decides that even if he says stupid things, Luna will forgive him.
"Well, I..." He swallowed nervously. "Since you've been with a girl for so long then..."
"SO ?"
He would have much preferred to be devoured by a crow rather than say his next words.
"You have?... I mean... You have..." Lincoln's face was really burning right now. "You know..."
Tic… Tac… Tic… Tac…
Luna wanted to rewind time, to find an excuse to tell her brother that she wouldn't be ready to talk to him today. No, forget those cowardly thoughts. She just wanted the window open so she could dive in without even looking back.
Embarrassment and, above all, disbelief softened his brain to the point that the only words his throat could produce were...
"HOO...ohhhhh...euh..."
Panicked, Lincoln jumps to his feet, twisting his fingers in every direction. His face is completely red, and naturally, beads of sweat appear on his forehead.
"Before you say anything, know that I have the utmost respect for you and I never in my life thought I'd have to ask you something so personal, but…" The words tumbled out in a flurry of tongue clicks as Lincoln started pacing to the side. "I really have no one to ask this to! Mom and Dad will just tell me what I don't want to hear, and everyone else really can't help me! Luna… I need your help…"
In a corner of his mind, Lincoln also adds that he would now like someone to dig a hole deep enough to hide him and his shame.
Luna? Oh, there's nothing to be afraid of. No, the coolest Loud sister just needed to find all the strength a big sister possesses. Forgetting her embarrassment, Luna straightens her back and takes a deep breath, opening her eyes to Lincoln's stiff form. She can't help but sigh at how ridiculous it is that her little brother doesn't realize how adorable he still is despite growing up.
"Sit down," she said suddenly, but that was enough for Lincoln to seize the opportunity to do as she asked, all the while looking at his own knees. "Well, I won't say I'm not surprised… but that's not the point, is it?"
His attempt at humor only elicited a slight, trembling smile from the male Loud.
"Okay, then..." Swallowing her embarrassment once again, the brunette turned to her brother. "Just to be sure, you're asking me for advice on…"
He nods his head so forcefully that his neck threatens to break.
"With a girl you love, I imagine?"
This time, his little brother's face relaxes, his lips straighten, and his eyes seem to shine like stars.
"Yes… It's for her…" He finally looks her in the eyes. "I can't tell you who, but… I want to make her happy… like she makes me happy every time I think of her…"
"Ohhhh bro!" Her arms flew around him, a joyful embrace that her brother had found such love. "I'm so happy for you! But you'll have to introduce me to her someday!"
His ears, having become less sensitive due to years of listening to loud music, never heard Lincoln's whisper.
"...Perhaps..." He smiled gently. "If the world accepts us..."
Taking advantage of the warm moment, Luna gently broke the embrace with her only brother, who no longer seemed shy or intimidated by her presence. Giggled softly, Luna frowned.
"First and foremost…"
A ball of stress shook the young man's Adam's apple, who was truly confused when his sister took his hand to show it at eye level.
"Always cut your nails."