The pain was more of a close memory than a present sensation now. Only the external physical pain was gone though. His head and his heart were both still threatening to explode, leaving him in the exact same position as when Martin-no, Flippy had left. One of the strongest beings on the planet no longer had enough strength left to do anything more than lie face down in the alley.

Tyler's eyes were open, but he wasn't seeing anything. For whatever amount of time he had been there, he had replayed the previous mind-shattering scene over and over again. It shouldn't have been possible, any of it. But he was numb and reeling precisely because it had happened, it was possible apparently.

But he didn't want it to be. So, he let himself succumb to the temptation of denial, if only for a moment.

For better or worse, Taylor was always his wake-up call.

"What the hell are you doing? Don't you hear the sirens?" He had but they had spectacularly failed to register in his lagging mind.

Taylor's voice took on more of a concerned edge as Tyler didn't respond-didn't even move.

"Hey what's with you?!" Taylor bent down to his brother's level and Tyler watched as his expression alternated between variations of shocked and horrified. "Is that your blood?" When he received no answer, Taylor essentially screeched, "Ty what the fuck happened?!"

Tyler moaned feebly, unable to even grit out a "No" to get Taylor to stop asking him to relay his own trauma. If he did what would Taylor do to Martin? What would happen to Martin if he said nothing?

For the brief moment in which Martin was Martin, he saw it.

Guilt. Horror at what he had done and fear and regret shining in emerald eyes. Martin hadn't done those horrible things, even if Flippy had.

Struggling, Tyler brought himself to his knees. With the stone gone, he was able to move again though he still felt the lingering effects. Biting the inside of his cheek to distract himself from the pain, he stood shakily only to immediately have his knees buckle. He probably would have fell back to the pavement had Taylor not looped an arm around his chest to steady him. He would have thanked him, but Taylor didn't give him the chance.

"Tell me. Now." It wasn't often that Taylor used that older brother, authoritative tone. The fact that he was using it meant he wouldn't let Tyler go until he knew everything. And at the moment, Tyler's strength was seriously diminished so there was no possibility of fighting Taylor. Making his hold less of an assist and more of a restraint. Damn him.

"L-later-"

"No, not later Tyler, now!" Taylor turned him so that their eyes met, holding Tyler by his shoulders. "Who did this?!" When Tyler only shook his head, Taylor's tone softened. "Come on Ty, tell me."

Wordlessly, Tyler's eyes slid to the end of the alleyway behind them. Taylor's followed then widened in sudden realization.

"Holy shit." He breathed out. "It was him? Flippy?" Tyler flinched and nodded reluctantly. "But you…how…" Taylor finished his question by nodding to Tyler's bloodied form.

"I don't know." Tyler all but sobbed, tears returning to his eyes. Shocked, Taylor simply watched him for a moment.

"Was he-" Taylor paused to wet his lips. "Is he like us? Does he have powers?"

Tyler shook his head weakly and fought back another onslaught of tears. He would just alarm Taylor more if he continued to cry. Taylor was really worried about him, he could see that, but he knew what Taylor would do to Martin if he didn't choose his words carefully.

"He had some kind of glowing rock or something." His breath came out in a shudder. "I don't know what it was but as soon as he brought it near me I- I don't know. I just felt weak, like I've never felt before, and blood just started coming from my mouth. I felt like I was dying." Tyler trailed off and simply looked at Taylor whose expression became almost unreadable. Almost.

"You don't believe me."

Taylor's eyes snapped back to his. "No, I- I do. It's just," he paused to think, "why didn't he kill you?" Tyler must have looked taken aback because Taylor rushed into explanation. "I mean, if you were as vulnerable as you say you were, why did he just leave? Unless…Your mask!" Tyler jumped at Taylor's sudden shift in tone. "He saw your face Ty! He's probably gonna come back for you now that he knows what you look like and that he can hurt you, the fucking bastard! I'll kill him."

Tyler shuddered at the last three words that were more growled than said. Taylor took it as fear for his own personal safety.

"Don't worry. You won't be alone this time, but we have to find him quick. We can't risk him figuring out how strong his hand is."

Taylor made to move away with Tyler in tow, probably to fly off, but Tyler resisted.

"Ty-"

"Please." Tyler's voice broke and he had to bite his lip to steady himself. He had to tell Taylor. If he didn't and he found out later…well Taylor never had been good with surprises. After a shaky breath, "I know who he is and probably where to find him." Before Taylor could say anything, he looked into his brother's eyes, conveying his desperation through the connection. "And I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you'll let me handle it." Taylor remained silent, but refusal swirled in his eyes. "Promise me Taylor."

Taylor sighed and said, "As long as it stops short of you getting yourself killed, then okay, I promise." That would have to do.

Nausea returned as Tyler tried to form the words in his head before having to speak them aloud. They were just two words, two little words. But those two words and the reality behind them were enough to tear his world down all over again. The truth of the facts he witnessed weren't dependent on whether or not they were spoken but his own acceptance of it tragically was. Sadder still, he wasn't completely sure what he was going to do after he verbally sealed two-not one-fates with two words.

He would just have to find out.

"It's Martin."

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Ne, now it's out in the open for better or for worse. A statement is a confrontation in and of itself.

Thank you for reading.