Disclaimer: I don't own Life is Strange 2 or its characters.

June 2017

So, here we go, a trip to Seattle. This would be a new experience. A first trip to the United States. Matt's life was very different to most, his dad had been in the army for as long as Matt had been alive. He never got to settle down anywhere, it was always one to two years at most, per house. He had been to eight different schools, lived in nine different houses. He had lost so many friends over time that it had become so natural to feel like every new friend he ever made, was just a temporary pit stop before making another one. Being so shy, it was always hard in his eyes to make new friends by walking up to someone and asking to hang out, it was always, someone walking up to him. He spent most of his free time watching super hero films and playing video games, which his parents didn't like at all. But one day a few months ago, his dad went MIA. His mum was so hurt by this, that eventually she decided to send him to an old friend his dad met from his time in Mexico who was happy to take him in for an unknown period of time, Esteban Diaz. Matt assumed that his mum needed time to herself, but he didn't know the true reasoning. Now here he was, on a plane about to land in Seattle after a nine hour trip, about to join a new family. God it was so boring, but it was almost over now.

Matt finished writing up, closed his journal and began to get off the plane. Once out, he proceeded to a taxi and asked to be taken to Lewis Avenue SW.

Meanwhile in the Diaz household -

"Boys, I've just received a text from Matt, you better be ready to greet him!" Esteban yelled from the kitchen.

There was then a crash from Daniel's room.

"Dude, what are you doing?" Sean asks from inside the room.

"I'm trying to move this," Daniel replies.

"Why, it's not even in the way?!"

"Well, I want to show Matt it..."

"He's not coming here to see your toys enano,"

"How do you know? You don't know what he's like!"

"Dude, he's 17 and has left school, and if I don't like toys anymore then he won't either,"

Daniel huffs, "fine,"

Esteban chuckles to himself, it's always nice to hear his boys having arguments like that, but only when it doesn't result in fighting.

The door to Daniel's room then opens.

"We're done dad," Sean says.

"Let's have a look then," Esteban walks to Daniels room to see the room as tidy as it's ever been, "Wow, you two actually worked together to get this done? Why can't you do this all the time?"

Sean laughed, "Well, Daniel tried his best to make things messier," He saw Daniel pouting in the corner crossing his arms.

"How come Sean doesn't have to clean his room?" Daniel complained.

"Maybe because, he's sleeping in your room," Sean chuckled.

"For now mijo, whilst we wait for the bed to turn up," Esteban added as he wrapped his arm around Daniel.

"Yeah, I think he'll get too annoyed with you after a few days," Sean taunted.

"Shut up! Everybody likes me," Daniel replied proudly.

Sean scoffed, "When you say 'everybody' you mean just Noah and Lyla?"

Daniel pouted again.

"Hehe, listen boys, remember what I said, this isn't a holiday or a day trip for Matt, he's lost a lot and we need to respect his privacy when he needs it. That goes double for you Daniel," Esteban explained as he began to leave with Sean.

"I know dad, I'll try," Daniel agreed as he closed his door.

"It's not like we haven't lost someone too..." Sean mumbled.

"Sean! We've already been through this, we cannot put our grief on him too," Esteban said sternly.

Sean sighed, as he opened the fridge to grab a couple of sodas, "So how long do you give Daniel before his room is totally trashed again?"

"A few days max," Esteban replied as he received a soda from Sean.

"I'll give him 24 hours," Sean laughed as he took a swig of the soda.

Esteban scoffed, "Daniel's got a point though Sean, you should really clean your room too, it isn't fair on him,"

"What? But you said I didn't have to?" Sean recalled.

Esteban sighed, "No, I said that as you were helping Daniel, you didn't need to at that time, now he needs to help you clean yours. In a week or so, Matt will be in sleeping in your room,"

"I ain't letting Daniel in my room, he'd just mess everything up..."

Esteban chuckled "You just cleaned up the messiest room in the house, I'd like to think you could clean up the second messiest room in the house too,"

Sean sighed and took another drink of his soda.

"Listen Sean, do you want Matt to think that you and Daniel hate each other, you're brothers, you should be there for each other, help each other,"

"I know that, but every time he's been in my room, he messes up or breaks something,"

"Fine, when Matt's settled in, I'll ask him to help you out,"

Sean's eyes widen, "Uh, are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Why? It'll be a good bonding exercise," Esteban answered as he finished the rest of his soda, "I need to go and finish something downstairs, when Matt arrives, let me know"

"Ok," Sean replied as he finished his soda too and turned towards his room.

###

There was a knock on the door.

"Dad, he's here!" Daniel called excitedly.

"Coming!" Esteban responded.

Daniel proceeded to storm into Sean's room without knocking to see Sean laying on his bed listening to music, "Sean, get your butt up, Matt's here!"

"Daniel, I told you not to come in my room!" Sean yelled.

Daniel sighed, and then walked out of the room and towards the front door where he joined Esteban.

"Come on Sean!" Esteban called.

"Geez, I'm coming ok?" Sean replied making his way out of his room to join the pair.

Esteban then opened the door to see Matt standing in the doorway, suitcase in hand. He was wearing a purple t-shirt with black track suit shorts, black socks and trainers. He had ear buds sticking of from under his shirt too along with a black backpack. White skin tone, dark brown hair styled similarly to Daniels, brown eyes and a light moustache. He was also quite thin, standing at roughly the same height as Esteban

Matt watched as the door opened, and in the doorway stood three males all of whom had tanned skin. One roughly the same height as him. He has dark brown hair and a five-o-clock shadow. He has what looks like a scar on the right side of his face, extending from the corner of his mouth to his chin. He is wearing a tan button-up work shirt with one half tucked into his pants and its sleeves rolled just past his elbows, a white undershirt, blue jeans covered in light stains, and yellowish-brown laced boots, along with a brown-and-gold watch on his left wrist.

Standing to Esteban's left is a boy who looked the same age as himself. His hair was almost identical to Esteban's, except scruffier. He is wearing a grey t-shirt with a logo reading "NYC-UK" alongside orange boxers and white socks.

Then to Esteban's right was a much shorter kid, standing at just above half the size of him. Hair very similar to his own, but a bit longer. He is wearing a bright cyan t-shirt depicting several superheroes alongside action bubbles with the words "YEAH", "STOMP", and "MUSTARD". He was also wearing light grey boxers and white socks stained a little grey in patches.

He was greeted almost immediately by the short one as he received an unexpected hug. Sean raised his eyebrows at this.

"Woah," Matt jumped back, a little surprised.

"Daniel, geez, let him in first," Sean said as he pulled him back.

"Hehe, sorry about that," Esteban chuckled.

"Mr Diaz right?" Matt asked.

"Please, call me Esteban," He replied as a hand was extended for him. Matt accepted, "Welcome to your new home,"

"Thanks!" Matt replied as he was welcomed inside.

"Wait!" Esteban halted sticking a hand out in front of Matt.

"Huh?" Matt asked, startled by that.

"The moment you step inside this household, you are officially involving yourself in the never ending Diaz conflict between these two here, are you really ready to commit to this?"

Matt smiled. Sean rolled his eyes.

"Haha, I'm joking mijo, come in," Esteban laughed.

Matt didn't know what mijo meant, but accepted the invitation and stepped inside, took off his shoes and looked around in awe. Despite all the houses he has lived in, this house had by far the most space. Typically, using his gaming senses, the first thing which caught his eye was the Playbox hooked up to the TV in the corner of the room.

"Wow," Matt said aloud.

"Is that a good wow or a bad wow?" Sean asked.

"Just, in all the houses I've lived in, the space in here is, just wow," Matt laughed, still looking around.

"Oh trust me, when Daniel starts getting his toys out, there won't be any," Sean replied looking at Daniel, "At Christmas especially,"

"Haha, thankfully we're far away from that,"

Everybody laughed. A call then appeared on Esteban's phone, "Aw crap, I need to take this. Sean, please show Matt around the house and get him settled in, I'll be back shortly," Esteban then left the trio before going down to the basement downstairs.

"Well, I guess we better get you settled in. I'm Sean by the way, as I'm sure you heard dad say," Sean extended a hand which Matt shook in response, "and this little gremlin here is my brother Daniel,"

"Hi!" Daniel greeted, "Sorry about just now, it's just, it will be nice to have someone to speak to that isn't Sean,"

"Hey, no need to apologise, I didn't mind, it's nice to feel so welcome! But do you not have any friends? You make it sound like Sean's the only person you can speak to?" Matt asked concerned.

Sean sighed, "He has a friend who lives on the other side of town so he doesn't get to see him often during breaks,"

"Oh, is that it? No one else?" Matt asked.

"No, not really, I mean, I have some people I hang out with at school, but they aren't true friends," Daniel sighed.

"Aww man, I'm sorry Daniel," Matt pats him on the shoulder.

"It's ok, you're here now, you'll be like, my knight in shining armour," Daniel grinned.

"Do you need rescuing from someone?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, Sean," Daniel pointed.

Matt laughed, Sean rolled his eyes, "C'mon dude stop overreacting, let's show him where he'll be staying,"

Matt nodded and dragged along his suitcase, watching Daniel run in front and open his bedroom door for him.

"Welcome to the Bear's Lair!" Daniel said dramatically.

"Oh, I'm staying with you?" Matt asked.

"Oh, have you not been told? Dad has to pick up the bed in a week, so until then, you've been subjected to torture with Daniel," Sean explained, "Feel free to boss Daniel around though,"

"What? No!" Daniel objected, pouting at Sean.

"Oh, ok," Matt chuckled as he looked around at the blue painted room, noticing toys and books scattered across the bookshelves. He noticed quite a lot of Power Bear related items and pictures.

"Big Power Bear fan?" Matt asked, looking down at Daniel.

"Yeah, he's my favourite super hero!" Daniel replied smiling.

"That's cool," Matt turned to see the Power Bear drawing on the wall, "Damn, who drew this?"

"Oh that was me," Sean replied, "Pretty rad right?"

"Pretty rad? That's awesome!" Matt complimented.

"Thanks, it's nothing really, I spend a lot of time drawing sketches, it helps me relax," Sean explained.

"Have you considered becoming a professional artist?"

"What? No, my art could never be ask good as some of the greats,"

"Maybe not, but have you ever thought of trying?"

"Well, yes, but it's just a small hobby, nothing more,"

"Fair enough, I wish I had a talent like that," Matt sighed.

"What are your hobbies?" Sean asked.

"Well, playing video games, honestly. I like playing sports with racquets and bats too, but I never joined a club to do it regularly, we never settled down anywhere long enough for me to consider it,"

"Like baseball?" Daniel asked.

"Haha, that's an American sport, we don't do that in England, we have rounders which I think is the closest sport to baseball,"

"Cool," Daniel responded, "You said about video games too? We have a Playbox!"

"I noticed that too, that's a pretty pristine, when did you get it?"

"I got it for Christmas, Santa got it for me,"

"Haha, thank you Santa,"

There was an awkward silence before Sean broke it.

"Well, I'll let you unpack, I'm just gonna go and speak to someone," Sean began heading out of the room.

"Is it Lyla?" Daniel teased, "Tell her I said hi!"

"Dude, shut it!" Sean groaned, "Oh and don't even think about coming in my room again," He turned his attention from Daniel to Matt, "When you're done Matt, I'll show you around the rest of the house, cool?"

"Cool,"

Sean shut Daniel's door and Matt began unpacking what he had as he sat down on the spare bed next to Daniels bunk bed. He brought out his laptop and charger, "Is it ok if I plug in my stuff?"

"Sure, no problem, you might have to unplug my lamp," Daniel explained as he looked around for the plug socket.

"Thanks, man,"

Once Daniel plugged in the charger for Matt's laptop and phone, he then sat himself down on the beanbag under his bunk bed and watched as Matt unpacked more of his stuff.

Matt picked out a picture of his parents and him and stared at it for a while. Daniel noticed this, "So uhhh..." He tried to distract Matt, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, as he remembered what his dad said about not discussing his grief.

Matt looked up, as he placed the picture aside "What's up?"

"Well..." Daniel's eyes lit up as he saw Matt pull out a bag of Candy. It said Liquorice Allsorts, "What are those?"

"I bought these from a shop at the airport back in London for the trip, do you want one?"

"Yes please!" Daniel pleaded.

"Sure," Matt obliged as he picked out an orange liquorice allsort from the bag and handed it over.

Daniel looked at it at first like he was going to enjoy it, but then he started to analyse it a bit more. His face went from excited to confused as he rolled it around in his hand. He then brought it up to his mouth but then his nose picked up the smell of it.

"Oh, it smells terrible!" Daniel moaned.

Matt just sat there smiling, watching the show play out.

Daniel then placed the sweet in his mouth, "Hmm, ok it's decent... actually, no it's not..."

Daniel started belching and thus ran out of his room to the kitchen, spat out the sweet into the bin, then came back.

"That was not good..." Daniel remarked.

Matt just sat there laughing, "Yeah, it's a very fifty fifty thing back in England too, I personally think they're alright,"

"You should definitely give Sean one too," Daniel grinned.

"Yeah, when he's back I'll give him one,"

###

After dinner and Sean also disliking the liquorice allsort to the point of spitting it out, it was time for bed. Journeying from England to the USA felt strange because Matt left England and pretty much arrived in Seattle at the same time.

"Well, I think I'm done for the night," Matt said as he got up from the couch and stretched, countless losses to Daniel on the wrestling video game really tired him out.

"Aww come on, one more match," Daniel complained.

"You've said that for the past three games! I'm serious this time!" Matt responded.

"Fine..." Daniel pouted.

Matt got up and went across to the bathroom to brush his teeth and then got ready for bed, stripping down into just a shirt, boxers and socks. He entered Daniels room and sat on the bed, grabbed his journal and started writing in it.

Daniel came in shortly after, barefoot and wearing Hawt-Dawg Man pyjamas, "Watcha writing?" he asked as he slumped onto his bean bag next to Matt.

"Just about what's happened today, nothing special," Matt explained.

"Sean does that too, have you seen his sketch book?"

"No, he hasn't showed me,"

"Did he even show you his room?"

"He said he'll do that tomorrow,"

"Oh, ok,"

There was a short silence as Matt kept writing.

"Sorry, if I seemed a little too excited today, it's just been so long since I've had a friend to speak to," Daniel spoke.

"I watched you build some really cool stuff on Minecraft with your friend earlier, do you not see Noah that often?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, our castle is coming along really well, but no, Noah and I don't see each other often. Sean gets to see his friends all the time..."

"Is that because they live closer?"

"Probably, but he gets to see them all the time, I don't have anyone close by, just Sean," Daniel began twiddling his thumbs, "And when he's gone, I'm all by myself,"

Matt's looked at Daniel sympathetically, "I know how it feels, to feel alone, over my seventeen years, I've made so many friends, but every time we moved, I stupidly left them behind. I could've asked them for their numbers or something, but I didn't because I felt as though it wouldn't feel right to speak to them without seeing them in person. I've been alone, time and time again,"

"I'm sorry," Daniel apologised.

"Don't be, I'm used to it. I've got you and your brother now,"

"What's it like, being an only child for so long?" Daniel asked.

"It's really nice, it has it's advantages, like not needing to share anything, having my own privacy, stuff like that. But the truth is, I've always wanted a younger brother. A lot of the friends I made had problems which affected their way of life, it just came naturally to me to be a carer for them. Eventually you do get this sense of loneliness when you see others with siblings, especially the ones which share a real strong bond. It always makes me wonder, if I had a sibling, would I be the same person I am today? I'd like to think so," Matt explained.

"I wish Sean and I had a strong bond, sometimes I wonder if Sean thinks the same, but he's probably too busy with his friends to even care..."

Matt notices some tears starting to brim in Daniel's eyes. He places a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, it's ok, if it'll help, I can speak to him about this issue?"

"Really?" Daniel asked, wiping the tears away.

"Yeah, I don't like seeing you upset already and this is only the first time," Matt joked.

Daniel chuckled lightly, got up and hugged Matt, "Thank you,"