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 Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:24 pm
The evening had passed too quickly; Laurence couldn’t remember falling asleep, couldn’t remember when he’d laid down. His eyes were still closed but he could feel the strange lumpiness of an unfamiliar bed beneath him. The room smelled different than his house, different than Gale’s. It wasn’t unpleasant, just different.
Sleepily, and without opening his eyes, he stroked a finger lightly along the blanket he was tucked under. Even without looking he could tell it was expensive. He was too tired to estimate the thread count, but it meant he wasn’t in a hospital.
...Although, no hospital ever smelled like a home, anyway.
There was little comfort in the few seconds after he began to assess where he was; a bit of discomfort began to stir in the pit of his stomach. He was sore and exhausted in a way that felt even worse than the state he’d been in for the weeks leading up to this.
To...this?
What was this?
His memories flashed rapidly, bits and pieces from the day. He remembered withdrawing the money from the bank, giving his house one last walk through, remembered lunch with Tobias. Remembered driving to the outskirts of the city. Trashing the car. His arm hurt and he moved to brush his other hand against the bandages. Still wrapped. Healing. He remembered Gale. And then…
Nothing.
His eyes snapped up as panic flushed through him; he knew what they had been planning, he knew that he was trying to leave something behind, but there was a strange gap in a pivotal part of his memory. Images bled together but he couldn’t form any concrete idea. Desperately, his eyes tried to focus on anyone, anything; despite exhaustion and soreness he tried to shove himself up to ease the sudden throbbing headache as panic and fear flushed through him.
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:29 pm
Tobias hadn’t left his brother’s side after the purification. He hadn’t wanted to for one, and he had been more than afraid to. He hadn’t passed out after his…he remembered going to Evan. Kissing him. Talking about…things but…he had been tired. So tired. Like running eight marathons back to back.
Not that he had ever run a marathon, but he could imagine it.
And poor Laurence hadn’t been taking care of himself one bit before the whole thing, it was a small wonder that he passed out.
He’d have to thank Zac when he got a chance for helping to carry his brother home.
Or. Maybe he’d thank him.
He’d think about it.
It had been easy to fall into a light doze, his hand resting lightly on his brother’s head, fingers tangled with his hair, and it was only when Laurence moved that Tobias too jerked awake. “Ah! Laurie, you’re awake. Hey. It’s okay. I’m…I’m here. Tobias. Your brother.”
He swallowed hard, frightened that perhaps this explanation would be in vain and he would only retain his memories of being a part of the Negaverse.
Oh God. He hoped not, and gave a fervent prayer to whoever or whatever might be listening.
“You’re safe, Laurie.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:29 pm
Laurence froze, exhaled, and then nodded. "Yeah. I--I know who you are," he said. His breathing was shaky and he clenched and unclenched his hand to try and relax. He managed a strained smile, not because he was unhappy, just because his mind was still trying to untangle itself from all the knots he'd worked into it.
He leaned over to hook an arm around his brother; he drew him close and just held him.
"I know."
He was trying to ground himself, trying to hold on.
This was okay. This was what they wanted. This was the right choice. Already, he felt like a cloud had lifted from his mind--it just felt like his mind didn't know how to process without something to nag at him, something to eat away at him.
"I don't remember what happened," he said after a few seconds. "--Did it work? --Is Gale okay?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:31 pm
Tobias relaxed and gave a soft smile, allowing himself to be pulled close, kissing his brother’s forehead. “Of course it worked. And Gale is out in the other room cuddling with Evan, my boyfriend. Everything is okay. She’s worried about you, but everyone’s keeping her calm…she had faith in all of this.”
He played lightly with his brother’s hair, smiling softly. “I’m glad you were able to get some sleep. You needed it badly.”
It felt as though a weight had been lifted from his chest, and as Tobias looked at the male, he felt nothing but affection. Nothing but pride in his older brother. “You’re still my hero, you know. Doing this. Getting out…We’re both free now…and we both have one another again. We can be a family again. You can get to know the rest of my friends—they’re so wonderful. All of them. Even the a*****e, Zac.”
He gave a soft laugh. “…He’s not even that bad…just worries a lot. He got out too. Of the Negaverse? The group that you and I got mixed up in…he knows what we’ve gone through. He’s…supportive. But an a*****e. He used to date Evan so…there’s rivalry, even though he is firmly with me. And we’re almost engaged. I’m going to ask him again soon. I have it all planned out.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:33 pm
He nodded slowly; it had been some comfort to know that Gale had a friend who was involved with his brother, but it was almost just as alarming to know that he'd been two connections away from him this whole time. It was a lot to take in, everything Tobias was saying.
Laurence--the name felt wrong to him now, if only because he knew when he looked in the mirror it wasn't going to be his face. Not his face, not his name, not him. He had to shake the thought from his head; he had a new identity, he just had to finalize everything. Figure it out, try it out. For now, in his mind, he was still Laurence. He'd worry about being someone else tomorrow.
"I'm glad Gale's okay," he said, trying to go down the list of topics; his mind was muddled and working slowly, but it was working again. "I'm still tired, but I should go see her. I don't want her worrying. You've really made quite a group here, haven't you?"
He could remember their faces clearly; he hadn't had the chance to get to know all of them. He felt like he knew Evan better than the other of the new faces, if only because Tobias had spoken so often of him. They'd had fleeting conversations in the previous week, but everything had been so business oriented that he hadn't had the opportunity to get to know him. Except, he knew that Evan was always bringing him food. Zac he knew the second best; they hadn't really spoken while moving things out, but he recognized him from the funeral.
And it seemed he had this in common with him and his brother.
Cambria, he knew somewhat; she was nice and always offering to help. He knew very little of the other boy, Malcolm, beyond that he was Zac's brother. But they had all come together to help, and it brought a small smile to his face.
"I have to say...it feels like there's a weight off my chest. Like I can breath again. Like I'm not going to throw up." He slumped a little, resting against his brother. He didn't want to be weak. Not when Tobias had just said he was his hero.
The thought alone sent butterflies through his stomach and he couldn't help but smile at the thought.
Tobias was his little brother; no matter what they'd gone through, of course he still wanted to do right by him. Wanted to make him proud.
"...What do you mean by 'ask him again'?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:33 pm
Tobias watched him for a long moment before speaking again, and with a smile nodded. “I can send her in to you after I’ve had my fill. I’ve been without you for months and she’s gotten all the time she could ever want or need. I mean, seriously, you can only take so much of you before you need a break.”
He was teasing and laughed softly. “Nah. She loves you. She isn’t worrying and yeah. We have an amazing family and now that you’re here…it’s complete. I’ve never felt so…utterly happy before, I don’t think…and about Evan.”
Tobias looked sheepish for a moment. “Well. I didn’t know if I’d remember him or not, so I proposed a few days before I came over. I know that much. I…just wanted him to know he was loved. He got so terribly flustered and it was kind of cute but…I want to marry him. And things have calmed down enough that I think he would honestly accept my proposal…and I have the most beautiful ring for him.”
He hesitated a moment and then got up, walking over to the closet in the room and reaching up into the corner of the shelf, pulling out a small box and coming back over, tugging Laurence close. “See?”
It was a gold ring with pink and purple and blue stones around a beautiful diamond. “It matches his senshi outfit and…I had it made just for him…I’m hoping he says yes again. Like I said…I’ve…He should know I mean it for real this time. Not that I didn’t mean it for real last time…but.”
Tobias shrugged and gazed down at the ring fondly. “…Now I’ll be able to have my best man with me.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:35 pm
Laurence couldn't help but manage a soft laugh at Tobias' jabs. There had been an ache in his chest ever since he'd lost his brother but it felt like he was finally begin given the opportunity to heal.
When he heard that Gale wasn't worrying it made it easier to relax; he slumped against him and breathed another easy sigh, just listening. The smile on his face never wavered; it was rejuvenating to be with his brother, to catch up on everything he'd missed.
When Tobias fetched the ring, his eyes followed him. The ring itself was gorgeous--clearly expensive, but he expected nothing less from Tobias. "He's a good guy, I think," he mused. "..I wondered if he was fussing over me because you told him to or because he wanted to help, but I really appreciate everything you've all done for me. It's a gorgeous ring. I'm sure he'll say yes. Although, even I'm tempted to ask how much it was. I..." he debated, "I thought about proposing to Gale. I mean, I looked at rings a few times, but we've never spoken of it. I'm glad that I didn't."
He faltered and quickly clarified, "I mean, I know I love her. I've never been in a relationship as serious as this. And she's--she's in it, Tobias. She was ready to help me at the drop of a dime. She's been supporting me since you 'disappeared'. She said," a softer, more touched smile blossomed. "She said that if I forgot, it didn't matter because we'd just fall in love all over again. She wasn't even afraid. But I...when things calm down...I might like to..."
His voice trailed off; he'd have to leave it for down the road. There was a nagging thought in the back of his head, that he couldn't risk proposing so soon. Someone could put the pieces together if they found out--her boyfriend just 'died' and suddenly she's engaged? ...He didn't know who knew he was powered, but he suspected that they'd keep their eyes on Gale.
They'd made it this far. He was going to do whatever he could to keep her safe.
"Have you planned where you're going to propose? When?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:41 pm
“Evan is the best type of guy. He had a rough start too, did you know? I don’t think I’ve been able to tell you that story but. I’ve had it repeated to me so I know I’ll at least get the facts right. He got turned into a youma by Zac and that’s why Zac ended up leaving the Negaverse too. So…When we say we’re a good group…we really are. Almost all of us have gotten out of the Negaverse in some way or another. And Cambria…she’s just glue that keeps everything together.”
Tobias nodded at his brother’s words. “That’s…not a bad idea. Waiting a while is going to be best, I’d think. Or keep it quiet…is she the type to bounce back quickly? You could always propose to her and just…not make it a big thing. So she knows that you want to? I know that Cambria is getting antsy because Zac still hasn’t popped the question. She doesn’t say anything but I’ve seen her watching him. One of these days I feel like she’s going to smother him with a pillow if he doesn’t hurry up and do it.”
He chuckled, amused by the idea.
“Serves him right. And no, I haven’t thought that far yet…but soon. I want to do it soon. Maybe around Christmas? Or…I don’t know. I think about it and I have serious butterflies in my stomach and these massive anxiety spikes that I’m not used to. God, remember when I used to not give a crap about other people’s feelings? Sometimes I wish I had that ability now but…the thought of being rejected by Evan kind of makes me want to die. No drama intended.”
It was so easy. So wonderfully easy to confide all of his doubts. All of his fears to his brother. Now that he had him back, it was as though he had never been estranged from him. As though the last few months…the last few years had never happened.
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:43 pm
"I've never been good at being so honest with my opinions," he admitted, but he knew it was a byproduct of fearing judgment. His parents might have been supportive at some point in his life, but he couldn't remember the last 'Good job'. He just remembered the indifference to his interests, the command to work harder. He remember how desperate he'd gotten for praise and how hard he'd worked to earn it. He remembered fearing any rejection, remembered burying emotion under a new layer each time he was faced with a new disappointment.
He remembered thinking that he should brace himself for rejection, that he'd be better off not feeling anything. Focus on work. You couldn't have hurt feelings if you didn't have feelings.
...But then, he felt so much for Gale. For Tobias, right now. It was strange, how his parents being gone had relieved so much of the pressure he'd built up internally. It didn't mean that he was happy he was gone, just that he...
Should have learned a long time ago not to care so much about what they thought.
"I'll talk to her about it, though. I'll see how she feels." The idea of being married to her...
It brought a soft smile to his face. "I just don't want her to marry me out of pity or something. All of this has been stressful. She's the kind of person to give someone more than she has."
Still, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of Tobias being with such a strange group of people.
"I love how you've changed, though. You used to be such a brat." There was truth in his words, but he was teasing and looked at his brother fondly. "I love you. I love who you've grown into. And I'm proud of you. I just. I want you to know that," he said; he bowed his head and drew his brother into an embrace again, like he just needed to feel, to know he was there. That this was real.[/size
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:44 pm
Tobias looked at the male and snorted softly. “Trust me, it wouldn’t be out of pity. I saw how she was watching you. How she caught you when you collapsed. There was nothing but worry and adoration in her eyes. You’re the very world to her, I think. At least that was how it read to me.”
The male rolled his eyes but grinned, shrugging. “I was only a brat because I wanted to be better than you. You’ve always been so much smarter and so much more motivated than I was…all I had going for me was my cute face and my charm. You had the career and the car and the apartment and…I was always so jealous of you, Laurie. I did what I could to keep mom and dad’s attention by just…blaming everything on you because I was the baby but…I know that was the wrong move. I think that they pitied me, honestly. Poor, stupid Tobias. Like, I won’t lie? I’m pretty sure they figured that I walked into the woods and got lost, or followed some guy into his van, lured by the promise of free candy.”
He rested against him and relaxed fond of the contact that they shared.
“Point is, I was a brat, yeah. And I’m sorry. I never meant to cause you pain. I’ve always looked up to you. I’ve always admired you, and I’m…so ready to live the rest of my life with you in it. I want our kids to grow up together. I want to be those brothers that have like, a sitcom close relationship, okay? This is our chance to…make a stronger family. And by the way, your new last name is Lieberman. I figured it was close enough.” Tobias yawned and snuggled close. “Shall I bring in the feast that Evan made? He’s kept a bunch of it in the kitchen for when you woke up.”
Kissing his brother’s head once more, Tobias sighed. “It’s time to start our new life, so why not do it now, yeah?”
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:44 pm
When he had actually collapsed was a mystery to him; he took Tobias word because it sounded right. He could imagine Gale rushing to his side, checking on him. She was a Senshi, he knew that much, but he couldn't remember her name or sphere or even what she looked like while powered. Trying to recall it just gave him a headache so he reached to rub at his temple.
"Yeah," he agreed, tiredly leaning against his brother. "A new life sounds good."
Lieberman. Half of a new identity. Half of the hard part done.
...Kids growing up together. Being the brothers they should have been all along. Supporting each other. Protecting each other. Loving each other.
He could forget all the hardships, all the difficulties, that they'd had. It didn't matter anymore; the Liebel family was dead. They were a new family now. Half of what they were, but they would grow.
They had a fresh start, no ties to the past. The chance to completely remake themselves, to change who they were. To start from scratch.
He didn't have to be a pharmacist. He could be anything he wanted. He could be anyone he wanted.
...And he didn't have to go into it alone.
A soft smile grew on his face and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I am a little hungry. I'd love to eat, I think, thanks. I feel like I just ran a marathon. And fell off a cliff. I could eat a horse, I think, but Evan's cooking sounds much better. Will you let Gale know that I'm me, though? Just so she can stop worrying, please?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:47 pm
Tobias liked the smile and reached over to ruffle his brother’s hair.
“Good. Yeah, the next few hours or few days might end up being a little fuzzy, your adrenaline is way up and it’s so hard to process everything, but I’ll be back with food, and I’ll send Gale in to you so you can tell her how much you love her and be super sappy and all that.” He stuck his tongue out and grinned.
“All is well, Laurie. You’re safe, and you’re home…and you’ll stay that way. Always.”
He got up and headed to the doorway, pausing for a moment and giving his brother one last smile.
Sure he didn’t quite match up at all to the Laurence of his memory…but it was still his brother. And everything was going to be fine.
“Love you, dubmass. Be back soon.”
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