Pushing his bangs out of his face, Michael couldn't help but feel more lost than usual. This was…just not right. He had walked in on Chris and Thomas, the two of them were just…arguing like crazy. Sure, the two elders had their own little spats here and there, but this was so much more intense…scary even…
It had been so long since Michael had seen either of them so angry at one another…not since…well, he never wanted to see them act like that ever again!
"Guys, just stop it!" he interjected, shoving himself between them so they wouldn't attack each other. Thomas was a big enough guy, sure…but…that didn't deter from the fact that Chris was their older, much bigger brother. The two of them had a tendency to…get rather violent when prompted…
"Thomas you fucking bastard—Michael, get off!" Chris snarled, faintly registering how well the youngest was doing keeping him away from Thomas. He couldn't even remember what they were arguing about at this point, something about using Thomas's shampoo maybe? But Chris paused upon seeing Thomas's eyes flicker in surprise. He stopped pushing against Michael when he realized the anger had burned away into wrenching sadness in Thomas's eyes.
"F-fuck you…"was all he could manage, heart stinging from the use of the word "bastard". That was…a low blow.
"What-" Chris started, soon realizing use of the word "bastard" may have...struck a nerve...
Michael looked confused as ever...he...didn't know about...he probably assumed Thomas looked so different from the rest of them because their mother was...
But...she wasn't...Chris knew...
And...he never knew Thomas did as well.
"Wait, Thomas—"
"S-so what? At-at least I was THERE for Michael...when...when we were...at least..." Thomas could bring himself to finish his sentence..no…he didn't feel like he was ever there for Michael. Even now…his little brother was defending him…and…
Hand grazing his old scar, Thomas felt a pang ring in his chest...every time he saw his face it was there. That ugly reminder that Chris had to come save them. That he wasn't strong enough to protect the closest thing to a family he had...he was...
Like how you know you did idiotic stupid things as a kid
But still feel bad about them, even though you know you were a kid, but felt like you should have known better…
Brushing past Michael, Thomas headed quickly to the door. He...just needed to be away from them for a while...just...a little while...
"Hey there loser, what? Lose another duel? Come on, let's duel~ I can kick your ass for a while..." Rio busted in, grinning malevolently over at the other duelist. These two really had unfinished business—
"..."
"IV?" she urged him, poking him in the ribs. What a baby, was he, "Don't tell me you're crying like a little girl? FFF"
"..."
"E-eh?"
*mumbles* "...later Rio..." turning away from her, Thomas began making his way away from her. She was...he was glad she was better. More than glad, but he didn't want to show her his weak face. She...didn't need to bother when him when he was like this.
Gaping after the usually confident, cocky duelist, Rio felt herself at a loss for words. It was...no that wasn't like him he...
"Hey, Rio," Shark started, pausing and frowning at his younger sisters confused expression.
"THIS DICK BOTHERING YOU? HEY, IV! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE" Shark burst upon seeing Rio looking after IV. What—this guy…why was he just walking away? Probably smirking like a dick… "STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER BITCH!" he taunted, starting to set up his duel disk, "come on! Duel me if you're not scared. No distractions, alright? Stay behind me Rio…I'll…" it was so strange, completely unlike her. Rio was the toughest girl—toughest person Shark had ever met. Why was…what did he do?
"Ryouga, stop!" she urged, not sure why IV was acting so strangely…just that the feeble tone in his voice struck a harsh cord with her…
"Wha-RIO. THIS GUY-"
"I can't..." he sighed, raising his hand in farewell.
"Not right now...they're so...good to each other" Thomas mused internally. It was really something else. Something nice to see the siblings so close and defensive over each other.
"HEY! STOP RUNNING AWAY-"Rio half-taunted, half-cried out to him. Dammit, why didn't Ryouga stop and listen for just a second—
"Rio stop! And you!" grabbing IV's arm and holding him firmly in place, Shark glared menacingly up at the other duelist. "You better lay off my sister-" he started, but soon realized IV was neither glaring nor smirking. He looked…lost?
"...you're a good guy Shark. Keep...protecting her." Smiling slightly at the younger man, Thomas eased his way out of his grip and made his way back down the street. Shark was so shocked…he…would be himself later maybe. Then they could duel…or settle their score…when that mattered again, he would get right to it.
Walking past the street where he had met Rio and Shark, Thomas couldn't help-but feel a sense of relief at meeting up with them so briefly. Sure, he wasn't really the type to have "close friends"...or even friends at all. But something about them...how Rio always smirked and challenged him, and how Shark cared so dearly for her...It warmed his heart to know they were finally together...happy again as brother and sister.
He...he took away so much from them, yet they still...
They were what he would consider his "friends"...though, not in the way Chris was with Kaito, or Michael was with Fuuya or Yuma…
Just...some people that...made him glad. He was glad they existed.
His phone hummed briskly on vibrate from his pocket, and Thomas quickly shut it off. He wasn't really in the mood for...anyone. His dad...or...it was starting to feel stranger and stranger to call him his "dad". He knew...he...wasn't. He tried not to care, tried to say he was a man now and that it didn't matter. He was so damn lucky just to be with them-to have Michael and Chris...but he knew deep down...he wasn't really a part of their family.
Shutting off his phone, Thomas let his eyes wander around to the park across the street
No
No he wasn't going to be weird and stare at "happy" families or kids
He wasn't that...that kinda guy, You know?
Slipping onto the bench anyways, Thomas retrieved his phone to use his holo-screen to pretend to read something
"Why…why am I feelings so shitty lately…" he mumbled to himself, unable to piece together his sudden disconcerting predicament. "Everything is finally, finally okay…he was just bitching about nothing. They accepted him…no matter how fucked up he was…what did he…he shouldn't ask for anything more, you know? Chris probably felt like a dick right now…and he wasn't helping…" Thomas ran his fingers through his uneven, messy hair.
Maybe it was because he was having more time to...think...
With all their happy faces around him, he couldn't help but still feel out of place...he wanted to be closer to Michael now...but...did her even deserve it?
The sun's rays slowly dimmed away as Thomas continued to sit alone. The nights air cut at his exposed hands and face, but there was so little feeling in his hands from the cold, the friction from rubbing them together did little to warm them.
Leaning back and blinking his eyes a few times over, Thomas couldn't help but feel solace in the clear sky above him. He was so...tiny. Compared to everything else in the world. He had people that adored him, but not for who he really was. The loved "the gentle duelist", the smile and charisma that made him feel like...like a somebody. Rio...and Shark...they knew him to be...well kind of an ass, which was pretty accurate.
And his brothers...
Ah well...they'd probably be a lot happier without him around.
Michael and Chris, they were both pretty level headed. Smart. They could talk about stuff that really just went over Thomas's head. He...kind of just took up a lot of space. Especially with Michael so...so grown up now. He had his own friends, his own hobbies. Thomas just kind of teased him a lot...
He didn't need advice on girls-or guys he guessed in Michael's case, but hell, who cared?...he didn't really deserve to hold that hand anymore. That hand...found real, solid warmth. Looking down at his own palms, Thomas couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself
He was damaged goods at best.
Rubbing his nose slightly, he grimaced. He might get a cold—Naw. It was...nice enough out. A few more hours...or something...wouldn't hurt...
"Hey freak! Back the fuck off!" came a familiar voice from the distance. Thomas was broken from his trance upon hearing-her. Rio?
"Rio?" Thomas muttered to himself, jolting up and turning towards the sound of the outcry.
A few feet from where he say, he witnessed Shark and Rio both confronted by three large, burly men.
Oh fuck no
He knew Shark was a kid, he-Remembered Michael...that time—
No
Just not this time
Rushing over towards them without a moment's hesitation, Thomas placed himself firmly between Shark, Rio, and the trio. Now, he could easily assume the twins could fight pretty well on their own, but there was a difference between a couple of school yard chumps and three fully grown men.
"How's bout' you leave the kids out of this?" Thomas glared, snarling at the others. Shark cursed, shocked at Thomas's sudden arrival.
They had been looking around for him since his sudden departure-well, Rio had. Upon realizing Rio had gone missing that night (she received a rather feverent phone call from Thomas's younger brother) Rio tore off in search for him.
Shark of course had to chase after his younger sister, not knowing why she cared so much about Thomas's whereabouts. He was fairly older than them, and seemed perfectly fine in taking care of himself. Though Shark hadn't anticipated running into any petty thugs, he still felt he could...at least let Rio get away safe by distracting them. Shark was strong, hell, Rio could beat nearly everyone they knew in an arm wrestle if she fancied it, but these men physically outweighed the two of them in quite an intimidating fashion.
"Just hurry up and get her out of here Ryouga. That's your job." Thomas growled this, meeting Shark's gaze directly.
Shark knew...knew Thomas was right. He nodded, trusting the other duelist, and promised himself he'd find a way...any way to repay him.
Later though. Rio was still weak from her time in the hospital, he needed to keep her safe.
Grabbing at her arm, he turned to his younger sister and muttered, "You know he can handle this-let's just go." Rio was about to argue, but Thomas's quirky smirk kept her silent.
"F-fine..." she was feeling rather weak from the run over here-damn all that time just lying in bed...even if it was for recovery...Half dragging his sister away, Shark pulled out his phone to inform the other Arclights of their find.
Chris was starting to feel a desperate sense of self-loathing creep into his empty stomach. It had been hours and he still hadn't found his little brother. The sun was almost down and he still had no clue where he could be. Chris pushed back the hair that stuck to his sweaty face, and instantly the freezing night air replaced it. Did Thomas remember to leave with a jacket...?
He pulled his mind back to the task at hand, but was stopped by the shrill buzz of his gazer's phone. He didn't recognize the number, and in his haste he nearly hung up, but something told him to answer the call. "Hello?" He barked, unable to contain his urgency.
Shark wasn't concerned in the slightest by the abrupt, sharp tone of what he could only assume was IV's older brother. "He's on the corner of 51st street. I...I'm helping my sister-but he needs you." was all Shark could manage, wishing the note of urgency on the, "he needs you" hadn't slipped out.