Wow. Cheers so much for all of the reviews, followers and favourites! :D Thank you all so much :)
Notes; This chapter has been rushed in parts. The reason being is because I'm getting a Puppy this Thursday, an Akita, and I've been making sure the house isn't a total wreck and that anything chewable is out of the way. So my writing was extremely rushed, please forgive me for that. I've had to miss out a few things thanks to this as well with writing late at night. However I have slowed the story down (plot wise), you won't have any Thundercest in this chapter. After getting so many lovely reviews from you all, I didn't want to rush that of all things and ruin the story, so I'll be trying to take my time with it. I hope you don't mind. And sorry about all the mistakes! D:
Darker Than Shadows...Chapter 3: Coming Home...
Next day.
"Can I go back in now?!" Max asked as he paced back and forth once more, hands on his hips as he strolled along the corridor after being kicked out by his mother, Barb, who was reinforced by Doctors asking to see Phoebe before she was allowed to go home with them. Max had been reluctant, keeping his twin close, only to have the Doctors threaten to have him removed. He figured it would have been better to leave than be forced too. Phoebe hadn't been happy, neither had he, but what could they do?
Hank, Nora and Billy had met him outside, the later two of the three had bombarded him with questions about the wellfare of their sister - to which he answered truthfully - but also gave them a warning to take it easy with Phoebe once she was home. After a few minutes, Barb had came out and told Hank to take the others home before heading back in, Max had went to follow her, only to get a door slammed in his face.
And thus he was stuck pacing around again, hating the feeling, yet what was ten times worst was the fact that he could hear Phoebe crying on the other side of the door. It was heart-breaking to say the least.
"That would be a no," came a cold voice that belonged to a female nurse who was keeping him away from Phoebe. "Once the Doctor is done then -"
"-Then I can go back in and see Phoebe." Max rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you've told me that already."
"Then maybe you should take a sit." She replied with a smug look upon her face.
Glaring, Max shook his head and went to sit down before the door to Phoebe's room opened up. Blinking a few times, Max saw a huddle of his mother and a few doctors talking quietly to themselves, paying him no mind as they walked down the hallway, the stubborn nurse following them - leaving Max to stare back at the door which was slowly closing. Curiosity getting the better of him, he took his chances and walked into the room before the door closed fully.
Glancing around, he was surprised to see no Phoebe. The bed had tangled sheets, tear-stained pillows which held a few long, brown hairs that belonged to Phoebe upon them, and an empty bag of clothing. Looking up, Max tilted his head towards another door within the room, hearing a slight crying noise now and then come from within.
Walking over, Max lifted his fist, hesitant to knock for some unknown reason. Ignoring the feeling, Max gulped in air before knocking as gently as he could. "Phoebe?" He asked quietly but loud enough that she could hear him. "Are you in there?"
After a moment of snuffling tears, the door slowly opened and revealed a upset Phoebe dressed in simple, loose clothing.
"Phoebe-"
Before Max could get his sentence out, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck tightly, pulling him close. Phoebe sobbed into his chest and Max wrapped his arms around her even tighter. He could only imagine what the Doctors had asked and done to "check" her over.
"Max...Can we go home now?" She took a deep breath before leaning back into him. "I need to get clean..."
Max moved his arm slightly, lifting Phoebe's face up with his hand as carefully as he could without hurting her.
"Let's go home."
(A while later)
Phoebe groaned quietly as she felt strong, slightly muscular arms wrapped around her, the feeling of being in the air over came her along with the motion of bobbing up and down as if someone was taking her up stairs. Her brow knitted together and a frown took over her mouth, a painful sting shoot from her bottom lip which was obviously busted.
For a moment, Phoebe enjoyed the warmth that was being given to her from whoever was carrying her, she didn't know why, but the feeling of being safe, sound and protected came over her- and she would have loved to stay in that sweet, warm embrace - had the memory of how she got that busted lip not came flooding back. Her breathing hitched loudly, her arms stretched out as she tried to get away from the person who was holding her, legs flaring about as her deep, brown -yet blood-shot- eyes snapped open as she fell down from the embrace.
Her eyes closed on impact.
Landing on a bouncy, but comfortable, mattress that was soft and vaguely familiar, it did little to stop the bruises from hurting her back.
"Phoebe!"
She heard a slight grunt as a weight landed on top of her. The bed dipped either side of her head via, she could only assume, hands. Thighs were close to the outer edge of her own, dipping the mattress even more.
Finally cranking an eye open, Phoebe glanced up with a grimace which was from a mixture of pain and fear, only for her eyes to widen as another, honey-dark coloured pair stared back down at her.
"Max?" Her throat was dry from lack of use. "W-where am I?"
They both looked around, eyes darting from corner to corner, however, Max was the first to answer.
"Your room." Max looked back down, inches from Phoebe's face as they stared at each other. Finally, Max rolled off of her, standing up awkwardly. "Sorry about that."
Phoebe shook her head a little, pulling her legs up onto the bed before tucking a piece of fallen hair behind her ear. "It's okay..." She mumbled, her eyes darkening as she looked down. "How long was I out for?" She asked, not meeting Max's gaze.
Max looked down at Phoebe, trying to make eye contact, but no matter what he did or angle he stood at, it was near impossible. "A few hours. The doctors said you could come home as long as someone stayed with you." Max nodded slightly to his own words. "I didn't want to wake you up so I carried you upstairs..."
"...Thank you."
Max frowned as he watched Phoebe curl into a tight ball again, hearing sniffles come from her down-casted head. Slowly moving over, Max bent down and gently grasped her chin, lifting her head so their eyes connected like they had in the hospital. "Phoebe, it's oka-"
"No it's not, Max!" She cried out. "He touched me. He hurt me, Max~"
"Who hurt you?!" Max almost demanded.
If was as if something snapped, Phoebe's sobs went quiet and she looked into his eyes. Her voice broke into a simple whisper. "...I don't know..."
Max didn't know what to say to that, but couldn't help but feel as though he was partly being lied too, but never spoke of it...
Phoebe hissed a little as she tried to remove her clothing that the hospital had given her to wear home. She had to have help from her mother to put them on thanks to all of the bruise that married her skin. With a sigh escaping her lips, Phoebe looked towards the steaming bathtub that was filled with welcoming water which she was currently trying to get into, wanting nothing more than to be clean and rid the memories of what happened to her from her mind. Yet that seemed far easier said than done as she was at a stand still. Unable to strip without getting pain through her whole body. Another reminder of just how many, and where, the marks where upon her.
Watching her own footsteps, Phoebe walked towards the door that was connected to her bedroom, her hand grasping the handle and opening it slowly. Peering out, she looked around her room which was empty. Since telling Max she wanted to have a bath, her brother had kindly excused himself in an awkward matter, almost walking into the wall at one point. He had told her that Barb, Nora and Billy had all gone shopping. Upon their return, Max explained that there must have been some sort of earthquake as everything in there home had practically shattered. Thus Hank was cleaning up Thunderman style and Barb and the others were out on a mission of repair.
Phoebe smiled sadly at nothing as she limped into the hallway. Repair. After what happened to her, did she need repairing? Or was she so broken she simply could not be fixed? What if she couldn't be fixed?
Whimpering, Phoebe walked across the hallway, not caring about the shards that were scattered over the floorboards from the supposed earthquake. There was a door nearby that was normally closed, yet today it was still open, as if the occupier was ready just in case they heard anything. Slipping through, Phoebe stepped down a couple of stairs before catching sight of who see was looking for within the lair she had just came into.
Her eyes landed on the dark blue blanket covered bed which held her twin. Max was stretched out, his arms under his head as he stared with an unreadable look up at the ceiling, his body was tense as though he was thinking about something bad.
"Max?"
Within a split second, Max sat up, his eyes landing on Phoebe. "Pheebs?" He used his nick-name for her.
Phoebe looked down shyly, unable to keep his gaze as he cheeks reddened, only now realising the embarrassment of what she was about to ask. "Can you help me?"
Phoebe felt her entire form burn up as Max, who was currently standing behind her in the bathroom connected to her bedroom, undid her clothes. Max was quick, but gently, moving slowly over the marks that graced her flesh. Though he was careful, it didn't stop his finger from accidently brushing over her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Sorry!" Max winced as he touched a bruise on Phoebe's neck. She closed her eyes tightly, ignoring the sting as her top was lifted over her head and dropped to the floor. Leaving her with her bra still on. She listened, knowing Max had paused in hesitation, unsure of whether he should take off her trouser or not. A short while past, and Phoebe felt Max reach around her waist, grasping at the belt keeping her kegs up before gently tugging on them and allowing them to slide down her legs.
The bruising around her legs were that bad that even stepping out of her trousers brought pain.
"Okay." Max breathed out. "Do you need help getting into the bath or-"
Phoebe looked over her shoulders, her brown eyes meeting Max's, a wordless plea asked within that moment.
With a gulp, Max undid Phoebe's bra with shaky hands, proud of himself for getting the clip off within one go and not hurting her as he slowly slipped down her shoulders. With her back exposed to him, Max bent down a little as he looked the other way while trying to rid Phoebe of what little fabric was covering her form.
Grasping her side, Max helped Phoebe towards the bath, her body leaning against his - needing the support. Lifting her a little, Max placed Phoebe into the bath water, trying not to look at her exposed flesh.
"Do you need my help with~"
Phoebe shook her head, hiding behind her long, stained hair as she curled back into a tight ball.
Max nodded even though she couldn't see him. "If you need me, then just call and I'll be here." He reassured, not wanting to leave but knowing he had too. Turning towards the door, Max went to walk out.
"Max..."
"Huh?" He turned back slightly, seeing Phoebe look back at him with big, sad eyes.
"I...I..." She looked as though she wanted to say something, but couldn't bring herself too.
Max smiled at his twin. "Phoebe. It's okay. I'm here if you need me."
Phoebe nodded her head and looked down. Slowly, Max walked out and closed the door. Wanting nothing more than to go back in and hold her in his arms and never let go, but he couldn't. He might have been stupid sometimes, but he knew she needed space, even if that meant away from him.
Balling his fist, Max swore to himself at that very moment.
"No matter what, Phoebe; I swear I'll protect you."
Next chapter you'll get some more of the supposed "Shadow-Clan," and such. Once again, I'm getting a Puppy soon so updating will be hard because of training, walking, cleaning and feeding etc... Ironically, I'm calling him Max. :)
