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 Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 9:49 am
Arias had been sitting alone, atop the building Whisler had left him at, for nearly ten minutes. It had taken that long to replay the conversation, reassess what was said, what Whisler said. To remember the way he looked at him. The way he left him.
His breathing hadn't quite returned to normal and he was the worst combination of extremely exhausted and dealing with an adrenaline rush. He had his phone out, and without thinking began to type in a number. For a second, fearfully, he thought he'd typed in Nick's number, but a weak relief flushed through him when Carlee's name and face popped up.
He wasn't thinking straight—all he was thinking about was Nick, but he didn't know what he'd say if he called him. He wasn't sure he was ready to talk to him; Nick didn't even seem like himself.
It was scary.
But Carlee was reassuring; she always had been. She kept him grounded when he was worrying too much, and he trusted her with anything. With everything.
She was one of an incredibly small number of people who even knew he was in a relationship.
She would understand. She could help.
He hoped.
The phone rang again, and Arias could swear that he'd been waiting for her to pick up for five, ten minutes already. His hand was trembling and his lips were pursed; he cleared his throat and tried to figure out what he was even supposed to say.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 12:05 pm
It was past Carlee’s bedtime.
Well, since her bedtime was at nine, she had made a system where she would nap from nine to ten, then go patrol for a while…if she felt like it…and since this call was coming at nine thirty…well. It woke her up and of course she thought it was just her ten o’clock alarm. But it wasn’t. She stared at her phone, blinking sleep from her eyes for a good ten seconds before it registered with her what was going on.
“Hello…?” Her voice was thick, and she sounded very confused, reaching a hand up to rub at her eyes. “Arias, what’s wrong? Why’re you calling so late? You ok?”
Carlee wanted him to be okay, that was for sure, but right now she couldn’t wrap her mind around anything really. “Were you just lonely? Can’t sleep?”
She sat up and stretched, waiting for him to answer.
She could patrol with only a half hour nap tonight, that was no issue.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 1:43 pm
Arias' sharp intake of breath was probably indication that he wasn't ready to talk; all the mental preparation meant nothing. After a few seconds of silence, he cleared his throat. "Yeah," he said, though it was unconvincing. A part of him was already chastising himself for bringing Carlee into this; he didn't want her to worry.
…But he needed to talk to someone.
"I'm okay," he said; a half lie. He was shaken, and confused, and hurt, but he wasn't badly beaten and slowly bleeding to death. It was a small plus, at the very least.
But he didn't want to waste her time; it was late, and she had school in the morning.
"…You want to spend the night at my place tonight?"
Or was that a stupid idea? What if Nick came back, angry and with another bad idea? …Arias could always go stay with his parents, but they'd ask questions—and that might just be putting them in danger, too.
Every idea that flickered into his head was suddenly met with a harsh criticism and possible threat. Arias squeezed his eyes shut and tried again, "No, I mean. I don't know. Nick and I had a fight. I think he's in trouble, but I don't know. Something's not right."
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 4:37 pm
He didn’t sound good at all, and it was the sound of his voice that had Carlee standing and pulling a pair of jeans on over her pajama shorts. “Where are you at, Arias? I’m on my way. Did someone hurt him? Why was he fighting with you?” The teenager slid her window open and hopped out, thankful, as always that she lived in a one story house.
She got a general idea of where her brother was, and henshined into Sailor Elvira before taking off at a run, going to find him.
It took about half an hour, but finally she arrived and walked towards Arias, sitting beside him. “What’s going on, brother? What did Nick do to you?” She was worried, very worried.
It took a lot to get Arias worked up…and even more to get him to sound this depressed…it was almost scary.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 5:09 pm
Arias had been sitting quietly on the roof when Carlee got off the phone with him, but he hadn't even had the energy to put his phone away. He hadn't moved; he was sitting in the middle of the roof, fingers running over the smooth surface of the phone as he stared up at the sky.
He saw movement out of the corner of his eyes and then slowly glanced over. He put on a tired smile, for her, as if it would be enough to reassure her. "He didn't do anything, I'm fine. We were just talking. He just. Started saying some things that worried me. I don't know."
He seemed at a loss. "We've never fought before. I don't even think we've ever disagreed on what to have for dinner before. And all of this came out of nowhere. He was throwing rocks at my window, reciting poetry, being all sweet and then—out of nowhere, he just starts talking about how he needs the Negaverse. How he wants to go back to it—I never knew that he purified out of it, but he decided to tell me tonight. And then he told me he wants to go back, because—I don’t know, he said it was his home, or something? That he could finally have a home? But he said he wanted me to go with him, and I just."
Arias just shook his head; he didn't know where he was going with the thought and reached a hand up to rub at his temple. "I thought we were fine. I don't know what happened. I don't know where this came from. Or what—what I was doing wrong. I thought we were happy, but he seemed so desperate. He wouldn’t even let me try to make things better. It was just 'corrupt with me or else'."
Arias was pale. His voice trembled with 'or else'.
He liked to think Nick wouldn't do anything to hurt him. That loving someone actually meant something. But he'd had goosebumps since Nick said the words, and he hadn't warmed up since.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 10:16 am
Elvira scooted closer, hugging her brother tightly for a moment. That sounded awful…and Nick had always seemed like such a nice guy…
She was quiet for a long moment and her lip trembled slightly. “Well...first of all, I think you need this right now…it’ll make you feel better.” Taking the pendant from around her neck, she held it out to Arias. “It’ll make you think of something nice, and I’m sure that will calm you down. Second of all…have you talked to him since? Or did you just call me and not him? Because I think he needs some time away, and I think maybe you should stay at home with me and mom and dad for a while…he doesn’t know where the house is yet, since you never introduced him to mom and dad…even though they really want to meet him.”
Oops. Well, there went that secret. Elvira never had been good at keeping secrets, and having told their parents about Arias’s boyfriend…well…whoops. Slip of the fingers, that was all it had been. A slip of the fingers.Kyuseisha no Hikari HAPPIEST MEMORY PERSONAL ITEM GO.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 10:45 am
Arias was quiet for a minute. There were a few things he was going to answer—was going to tell her that he called her first, that he didn't know what to tell Nick, that he was afraid for everyone…
But his mind stopped.
He was halfway reaching to take the pendant she was offering when she let those words slip. His lips pursed and he was suddenly aware of a heavy lump in his throat; it was almost impossible to swallow.
His eyes slowly lifted from the pendant and he met her gaze.
"…What do mom and dad know about him?" he asked slowly.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:15 pm
Elvira’s face turned nearly as red as the bloomers she had on. “W-well…um…they…they know that he’s your boyfriend and they’re really excited to meet him…It’s not my fault! I’m sorry…one day mom was asking why you were never home anymore, so I told her you were with Nick all the time and she asked who Nick was and I can’t lie to mom, Arias…I just can’t lie to mom, you know that. She knows when I’m lying, and my fingers start fumbling my words so I can’t even tell something that’s not the truth!”
She kept the hand holding the crystal out and finally thrust it into his hands. “Here. Just take it and you’ll feel better. They’re not mad, I promise you they’re not mad! They want you to be happy, that’s all they want from either of us!”
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 1:57 pm
"Carlee!" he blurted, face turning white and then red and then green. "I didn't want them—I—But they—"
He fumbled for words and then finally his head just hung. "…Mom's not disappointed? They're not mad?" he asked weakly before finally reaching over and taking the crystal. He didn't exactly know what he was supposed to do with it, but he couldn't help but sudden calming sensation that rushed over him. Suddenly things didn't seem so bad…and all he could think about were good memories. Things that made him feel safe, and warm, and happy…
And even though there was a small part of him that was worrying, he rolled the item over in his hands and asked, "Where did you get this? What is it?"
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 5:07 pm
Elvira looked as though she might cry. This was not what Arias had needed to hear…her and her big mouth…
“I’m sorry! But no they’re not mad…they’re really excited that you found someone, that’s all…they love you, Arias, you know they love you…how could you be scared that they wouldn’t love you? Mom wants to ask him over for dinner when you finally tell her about him…and um…” She looked at the pendant fondly for a moment. “It’s something I found up on Elvira! It’s a crystal poinsettia and I am pretty sure it makes people think of things that make them really happy! At least that’s what it’s done for the last few people who have touched it…”
She watched as a little more color seeped into the pendant and the super senshi all but glowed. “Every time it does that…it gets a little more colored! It’s so cool! I don’t know why or how…but I’m so happy about it…”
For a moment Elvira did just look happy, though her smile faded after a few seconds. “…So…what are you gonna do about Nick…? Are you gonna go join the Negaverse…?”
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 5:32 pm
Arias was sitting there, quiet as he considered what she was saying. On one hand, he was happy they knew; it was like a weight being lifted off of his chest. As he looked at the little item she held, he couldn't help but feel relaxed. A small smile lingered on his face.
He shook his head at her question.
"No, Carlee. Never. Because, you're right. This thing does make me think of happier things. Except…"
He was quiet for a minute and then leaned over, resting his head atop of her shoulder.
"I look at it and I think of you. When you were just a little thing. I remember when you were first born, you know. I was excited. I remember your first day of school. Checking under your bed for monsters. Piggy back rides. I couldn't leave you, Carlee. Not ever. I love Nick, I do, but…"
He sighed, running his finger across the crystal. "I love you too much. Even if the thought of losing him really, really hurts…You're my little sister, and I wouldn't give you up for the world."
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 5:26 pm
She hadn’t meant to cry. She really hadn’t. But she was so…choked up with emotion from his words that her eyes filled with tears that did end up spilling down her cheeks. “Why…why don’t you come home and stay for a few nights? I know mom and dad would love to have you there, and I know I would. I could check under your bed for monsters…and Nick doesn’t know where we live, so you’d be safer, Arias…I think it really might be a good idea…just in case he does try to hurt you.”
Elvira sniffled and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I love you more than anything, and honestly you’re the best big brother in the entire world and I’m so glad you’d choose me over him, because I was really scared for a minute that I was going to lose you forever. And I don’t like that…even thought I’d be supportive, you know I’d be supportive…because I love you.”
He might not get his boyfriend loving him…but that didn’t mean he wasn’t loved…he had mom and dad and her. Especially her. They were in all of this together, and they always would be.
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 5:35 pm
Arias immediately seemed alarmed when she cried, but when he realized she wasn't hurt or in immediate trouble, he relaxed a bit. It didn't stop him from slinging his arms around her shoulders and drawing her close, or kissing her temple.
"Carlee, you don't need to cry. I know you'd support me if I thought it was best for me, but if I lsot you, there'd be a hole in my heart that I'd never be able to fill. Maybe Nick'll come out of it, you know? …I won't give up hope on him, but…"
He was still afraid.
And being at home sounded like a good idea.
He wanted to be home, with people who loved him—and who might not understand him, but it didn't matter when they had the best intentions.
"But I think going home sounds good. You want to help me pack some stuff? We can get some fast food and milkshakes on the way home. Oh—but," he pulled her a little closer. "…Don't tell Mom or Dad that anything's going on with Nick. I don't want them to worry, and…they don't need to know about the Negaverse. You…you have managed to keep us a secret, right?" he asked, looking just a little worried. "They don't know about Senshi and Knights?"
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 6:07 pm
Elvira nodded, taking her pendant back and wrestling it over her bushy hair. “I think that really is a good idea. Come home for a while until you hear from him again, it’ll do us all good.” She stood up and stretched, holding a hand out to her brother, though paused when he asked if she had blabbed about their secret identities to their parents.
Putting her hands on her hips, the super senshi scowled. “Arias Hunter. I am idealistic, not stupid. It would put mom and dad in danger if I told them about what we do at night! Telling them about your boyfriend is a whole other story, that didn’t hurt anyone because I knew they would understand. It’s not like it surprised anyone okay? So come on. Let’s pack up some stuff and go home. I’m sleepy.” The teenaged senshi stretched her fingers towards Arias and gave a little grin. “I love you, brother. More than anything in the whole world.”
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 6:13 pm
Arias huffed, but his face flushed red. "What? How can you say it didn't surprise anyone—mom was nagging about wanting me to bring home a nice girl and give her some grandchildren!"
He let a small smile cross his face, but he was still clearly embarrassed. He snagged her hand and pulled her closer. "…But I love you, too, Carlee. Thanks for coming to check on me and make sure I was okay. One day you'll grow up and make some guy really happy."
He was quiet for a second, and then gave her hand a little squeeze. "Or girl. I won't judge."
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