A/N: Thank you for being patient and reviewing. I hope this chapter is worth the time. Rawr.
Chapter Four: Destruction
"The giant Grof was hit in one eye by a stone.
That eye turned inward so that it looked into his mind.
He died of what he saw there."
-The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
Fang's heart leaped to his throat and he was unable to speak for several seconds. Obviously, the boy looked like him but he didn't quite expect their voices to sound the same too. It was ridiculous. Of course the boy had to sound like him, but thinking it in oppose to hearing it weren't quite the same. Well, there were slight differences aside from their twin pitches. Fang had never heard himself sound so… naïve, cheerful, and… loud. He yanked his hand from the boy's grasp as a reflexive defense, face twisting into a scowl.
"Oh…" said the boy, suddenly appearing crestfallen and embarrassed, "Sorry. Your mom. Not ours. Or mine. Sometimes I think about your mom being my mom. It makes me feel better since I don't have one, but I think you already know that. It would be weird if you didn't because then I'll have to explain everything and mom says… sorry—your mom says I'm not good at explaining things. I'm glad you came though. I didn't think I'd get to meet you ever, but then I saw you the other day and I thought to myself, it had to be Isaiah!"
Fang's lower jaw dropped, just a millimeter. It was like him and Nudge's mouth put together. Incessant chatter that didn't make sense. It was unnerving.
"Wait… what?" he fumbled, trying to piece things in order, "What about my mom? And Isaiah? Is that my… No. I wanted to talk to you. We're related, right? We have to be. Unless-"
"Huh? Say all that again, please."
"Like brothers or twins-"
"Oh! Wouldn't that be awesome?"
"So we're not?" Fang asked sullenly before lapsing into a brooding and slightly confused silence. He threw himself down on the ground and sat, looking dejectedly at his twin, look-alike thing… or…
"Then you're a clone."
Ah.
Maximum Ride stood over them, arms crossed and looking angry. Fang suspected that she wasn't angry at them, but at the School… or more specifically, Jeb. She herself had a clone that tried to replace her when Max failed to meet 'certain standards'. However, they haven't heard from Max II in a long time. Fang clasped his hands together, finding them to be shaky. So what was this creation in front of him? Fang II?
"That's right," the clone said, looking relieved, "That's what they called me… a prototype or whatever."
"Well, tell stupid Jeb or the School or whoever the hell sent you that I don't ever want Fang replaced and I certainly don't want you two fighting to see 'who's the best' either," Max said hotly.
The clone's bright smile faltered and he blinked, clearly bewildered.
"Don't… understand," he stuttered, "I'm not Fang's replacement. I'm Isaiah's." And then he gestured to Fang. "His replacement… Oh, but don't tell mom, I have to keep it a secret from her. She'll be happy that way, that's what they said."
Max stared, baffled. Fang could see why. Bright, happy, talkative, and with a demeanor of a six-year old… his clone turned out to be his polar opposite in personality.
"So let me get this straight," Max began after a moment of hard thinking. She squatted down to meet the clone's eye level, "You're Fang's clone-"
"Isaiah's," the boy interrupted, unable to draw two and two together.
Max's eyes slid sadly towards Fang. Isaiah was his real name, not Fang.
"My mistake," she conceded, "You're Isaiah's clone…but how…?"
"The doctors switched us," said the clone, going back to his pebbles. He tapped Max's shoe, politely urging her to move out of the way since she had stepped all over his play area. Max scooted, too shocked to do anything else. "Right when Isaiah was born. I don't know why though. Is it because mom doesn't like wings? Uh, I mean... Isaiah's mom."
Fang's eyes had never left his clone, but he leaned back in sudden realization.
"You don't have wings?" he asked, lowering his voice unconsciously.
"No, but I heard that you do," the clone whispered back with a smile, delighted that Fang was telling him a 'secret'.
Fang exchanged worried looks with Max. Either his clone had a trick up his sleeve or he really did have autism. Fang was inclined to believe the latter though he seriously couldn't consider why the school made a kid with mental disabilities. Maybe the clone was some sort of reject the School gave to his mother.
And speaking of his mother, did she know? Some part of Fang childishly hoped not. Because of that, he felt that something inside him might break and shatter. A vulnerable sense of numbness was worming its way through his head. The thought that he was avoiding came in full realization.
He just didn't want to be hurt.
It was disgusting. He got hurt all the time from fighting. Physically hurt. He never bothered to deal with the ones that stabbed his heart. It suddenly made him feel weak and afraid and Fang didn't like that.
Not one bit of it.
Like most of his fears, Fang knew how to put a stop to it or manipulate it into something he could build his strength on. This kind of unknown fear couldn't be contained, so he simply sealed it and cut it off entirely before it had the chance to grow.
"Your face is how I look like when I'm feeling sick," the artificial boy chimed out of nowhere, "Kinda pale and my pupils dilate real fast. Are you feeling okay, Isaiah?"
Fang felt the clone and Max look at him. The raven-winged boy hadn't said anything and his face was schooled into an emotionless façade… same as always. He didn't think the clone could read him like that. That little thing that threatened to break inside him started to crack.
"Don't call me Isaiah. If anything, that should be your name," he said coldly, voice as brittle as chipped ice.
"I can have your name?" the clone asked in delight.
Fang threw his living reflection a shrug.
"It was never mine to begin with," he said and stood up, "Bye, Isaiah."
His sudden movement startled Max into grabbing his wrist.
"What are you doing?" she asked, also getting to her feet.
"Getting out of here," Fang answered smoothly, his unreasonable anger desperately trying to hide behind his nonchalant words. "I think Iggy's right. We should leave San Francisco."
He didn't have to look, but Fang could image Max's frown and her mouth opening to protest. He started to walk away before she could say anything but Isaiah grabbed on to Fang's ankle and held him back. Fang had no choice but to turn to Isaiah with an annoyed look.
"Wait!" Isaiah nearly shouted, "Don't you want to see your mom? I took good care of her for you!"
His last sentence was a desperate wail. Whether it was the chilling sound of his own voice or the mention of his mother, Fang had guilt shooting him in the back.
Dark eyes glaring at Isaiah, he responded stiffly, "I don't want to see her. Now let go."
Surprisingly enough, Isaiah stared back at Fang with his mouth hanging open and released his ankle. However, his stunned silence didn't last long. In fact, Fang thought the clone suddenly had amnesia since he continued talking as if nothing happened.
"Come to the Golden Gate Park playground tomorrow at noon. Mom's going to be there," he grinned happily.
Fang's frustration bubbled but he didn't want to give Isaiah the satisfaction of losing it. He didn't want to do it in front of Max either. He said nothing and walked away. Max's hand lightly grazed his but Fang quickened his pace to edge away from her touch.
"Don't tell me you actually want me to meet my mom," Fang said, avoiding eye contact.
"I want you to chose whatever makes you happy," Max answered back quietly, sounding a little shy about her choice of words but firm about her decision to let him do whatever he wanted… which meant she expected him to go to Golden Gate Park. Fang became irritated.
"Sentimental shit is weak," he muttered, unable to get fully angry with Max, "I happy now. So goddamn freakin' happy."
They neared the bench where the rest of the flock was waiting patiently for them. Uncharacteristically quiet, the look in their eyes asked questions that Fang didn't feel like answering. Involuntarily, his gaze lingered on his blind friend… that scared feeling slinking back in.
"It might not turn out like that," Max said, almost as if she had read his mind, "…Like Iggy's parents."
Might not.
Fang didn't bother responding.
"Who was that?" Nudge asked, breaking the silence as soon as Fang and Max reached them. Her large brown eyes blinked curiously, switching back and forth to Fang and then across the playground to Isaiah.
"Fang's clone," Max supplied briskly, her tone suggesting that the flock would refrain from asking any more questions until later. Of course, her sharp voice wasn't enough to put a hold the talkative Nudge.
"Oh my god! What does he want? Is he going to fight Fang? What's he doing here?"
Angel had been sitting quietly as the flock erupted into furious chatter. She was staring at the silent Fang intently when her face suddenly crumpled and her blue eyes welled up with tears. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Fang's waist and giving him a hug. "You're not going to leave us, are you?"
Fang's furrowed brow raised slightly and he gently hugged her back. "What makes you think that?" he asked, puzzled.
Angel buried her face into his shirt and simply shook her head. She had the power to read minds, but Fang was pretty sure that he hadn't specifically thought about leaving the flock.
Apparently the tears were infectious. Nudge and Gazzy's eyes started to look a little wet. Max was quietly whispering to a thoughtful looking Iggy and Fang couldn't help but feel irritated that she was discussion something that was rightly not any of Iggy's business. However, he supposed he should turn off the water works before they got out of hand.
"Look, I'm not going anywhere," he explained to the younger flock members. He tried for a smile, but even he could feel that it was barely visible which, in his case, undetectable. "I'm not interested in my mother. I'm satisfied with knowing that she's… here."
Fang trailed off, not knowing what else to say. It was all so crystal clear now. He knew that his mother was alive and that should be it. His clone had been made for the sole purpose of deceiving his mother. Logically, that was what Fang was aiming for. He didn't think he could stomach the idea that his own mother was working with the School. Reason number one, he didn't need her like how Iggy thought he needed his parents.
Angel's blond head shifted slightly. Her face tilted to the side and suddenly the weight was off his arms. She was looking past him, back at the playground. Max and Iggy weren't whispering anymore and their gazes were locked on a spot behind him.
"Wow…" breathed Nudge, her expression one of wordless awe.
Fang fully expected Isaiah to be coming at them with a pack of Erasers at his wake. The raven-winged boy turned around, protectively putting a hand on Angel's shoulder. At his touch, the little girl glanced up at him, bright blue eyes sparkling.
"Your mom's so pretty…" Angel whispered.
It was like a physical slap of realization from the moment Fang saw her. She was young, probably in her mid to early thirties. Her long black hair hung freely down her back like curled streamers and her skin had the same olive tint as his, a perfect match. With a slim figure and confident walk, she looked like she had come straight out of a fashion magazine cover. Fang was struck by their resemblance, even more so than with his clone.
His mother came from the opposite end of the park, walking with careless grace towards Isaiah. She called out his name, a voice with a sassy alto ring. Isaiah responded quickly, lifting his head and breaking out into a wide grin. He waved and she came. They gave each other a quick hug and Fang noticed that she did not seem to mind the dirt Isaiah transferred over to her designer cashmere coat. Oddly enough, something about that made his chest heave and breath come short.
Fang found himself staring for a stretched amount of time, watching the woman that was suppose to be his mother interact with a boy that was suppose to be him. It wasn't until Isaiah briefly snuck a bashful glance over that he was able to break free from the spell. Their dark eyes met of a moment and Fang instantly flicked his gaze away.
"Fang?" Max's voice sounded far away, but he knew she had seen his expression change slightly.
"Let's go," he answered shortly. His jaw was set firmly and his stance looked as if he was ready to run. Objecting to him was no use.
Max regarded him for a moment and then nodded.
"If that's what you want," she sighed.
o0o
The flock had made their way to a small park that was located in the outskirts of the city. Fang flat out refused to camp out in the Golden Gate Park. Since the silent boy never asked for much, the flock felt that it was fair to let him have what he wanted…no matter how childish it appeared. Fang also knew his actions were unreasonable, but matters didn't improve once everyone started to offer some form of advice that he clearly did not want to take. The last straw came from Iggy as they were finishing the last of their meager lunchbox dinners.
"You know… running away isn't exactly going to make the problem go away."
"I'm not running away. Unlike you, I just want to avoid getting my whole life's story made into a book by my own parents," Fang snapped at Iggy before he could stop himself.
The whole flock went deathly silent. In the dim glow of the city lights, he could see that Iggy's face had turned white with anger. The younger boy opened his mouth, throat almost growling out a furious retort. However, he quickly pressed his lips together before the insult could come out.
Max was the first to recover from Fang's outburst. She simply collected her trash and got up to dump it in a nearby trashcan. Angel and Gazzy followed closely after her as Nudge took a sudden special interest in staring up at the hazy stars.
"…I didn't deserve that," Iggy said eventually, shrugging a dismissal towards Fang.
What he had said to Iggy was low and Iggy made it clear that he knew it was. Fang wasn't in the mood for apologizing and Iggy probably knew that as well. Now the whole flock was uneasy so Fang decided to spare them the awkwardness and turn in early. He got up without preamble and left the group.
Two solid oak trees stood not too far away from where the rest of the flock was. Fang easily hefted himself up, choosing the smaller tree of the two. The rest of the flock can rest in the other one. For now, he just wanted to be alone. He climbed until the branches became too thin for support and stayed there. Leaning his back against the slimming trunk, he unfocused his gaze and started… thinking.
What was he going to do?
When no immediate answer came, Fang's dark eyes rolled upwards to the sky in mild exasperation. He was a mess and the flock was on the receiving end of his frustration. It wasn't fair for them, but a simple apology could fix things up in the morning.
"Hey Fang, you up there?"
Fang glanced downwards, finding that Iggy was wandering around on the ground below. The blind boy occasionally paused, tilting his head to the side to listen for any movement. As a reflex, Fang whistled softly to show where he was. Moments later, Iggy was sitting quite comfortably a few branches below him.
The two sat in silence and Fang thought that Iggy had fallen asleep. However, the blond-haired boy was slightly fidgeting. He had something to say and he wasn't going to leave Fang alone until he did.
"Look, I know I'm not the best example to use, but it's alright to be scared… and stuff," he began.
Fang knew something was up when Iggy was acting as his counselor. However, he did see something that he could almost relate with him. After the dinner incident, Fang felt obligated to let Iggy speak.
"Yeah?" he prompted, surprising Iggy by actually showing that he was going to listen.
"Well… uh, think of it this way," Iggy turned his sightless eyes towards him, "You have nothing to loose, right? Meet with your mom, if you don't like her, then jet out."
Fang almost let out a sigh of frustration.
"There's still my clone to deal with. I can't just go up to my mom and say that she's been living with the fake version of me."
Iggy blinked.
"He was the one who offered, right?"
"That's what I don't like about it," Fang replied with a frown. He was quickly running out of patience, despite his private promise to be tolerant with Iggy. "Ig, thanks, but-"
Iggy cut him off with a furious shake of his head.
"Dude, but this is your family. How could you just pass it up? Everyone else in the flock is jealous! You\re mom-"
Fang went livid. This time he was the one doing to interrupting.
"My mom. You saw her, Ig! She looked like a effin' slut, right? Make-up painted two feet deep, glitter lipstick, and a freakin' manicure with bright pink nail polish? Short skirt and tank top? Well, she had a coat over it but still... Her hair was even cut like a teenager's. Three inch high heels. Hooker boots, practically. I mean, what kind of mother would dress like that? She came off like a ditz and irresponsible woma- why the hell are you looking at me like that?"
Iggy sat quite still as Fang ranted, a wide smile starting to spread across his face. Something about that smile eventually caused Fang to pause and stiffen. It wasn't Iggy's usual smirk but one of kind amusement. He wasn't at all sure if it was a good sign.
"You took in every detail of her," Iggy stated with a tilt of his head, "…must mean something, you think?"
Fang stared down at Iggy, suddenly exhausted by the sheer amount of words that just poured from his mouth. He turned away, his stoic expression crumbling into nothing. Slowly, he let his head sink into his hands. Fang shut his eyes.
"I'm… going to sleep" he muffled tiredly, "Wake me up when it's my watch."
Fang heard Iggy shift from the branch and land softly on the ground. There was a muted rustle of feathers brushing together and then the gentle brush of footsteps over grass.
"I don't regret meeting my parents," Iggy said, voice slowly fading as the blind teen walked away, "Now I know for sure that I would rather stay with the flock than anyone else. Don't brush this chance off, Fang."
A chance for what? Getting hurt? Becoming disappointed?
Being happy?
Fang asked, but Iggy was already gone.
End chapter.