Hello everyone! Yes it's me and I am back. I have kind of survived the first few uni weeks. Ugh, so exhausting and almost no time for writing. For general knowledge, in case you're reading also my other fanfics I have decided to mainly keep on writing on this one now. The others are going to be on hiatus until I have more time I can spend on them. I am not leaving them I just have to set priorities. Also I have no idea when the next update will be, probably in December, maybe around Christmas. Until the middle of the thirteenth I have so much to do that I really don't have time to write. So I hope you won't leave this fanfic, as neither will I.
So, now, I really hope all of you will have fun on reading it. :)
I Will Always Be On Your Side
Nora stares at the Wanted Wall of the most dangerous villains. Next to Phoebe's picture hangs now one of Max. His features smooth and soft. It's like he was born again, all new and innocent. That Nora would use these words to describe her older brother is something she thought she'd never do.
But without his memories Max wasn't quite her brother. Sure he is alive and she is happy about that but he still isn't her brother. There were just some quirks missing, the mannerism not quite the way Max used to move. But she had had hope that he'd be himself again. That they'd be hunting him down before she would be able to see him again is again something Nora didn't think of.
She feels something brushing her arm. She doesn't even have to look to know that Billy just stepped next to her, arm pressed against hers. She can hear him breathing deeply in and out. She knows that Billy was always the one who had the most hope that Phoebe would change, would come back to be the big sister he remembered and loved. The super-hero he admired. She knows that even now he carries some of that hope with him. It makes him so special. Not dumb like other heroes think. They just don't understand him, don't know him the way she does. It's a trait she admires about him, because she has long lost any hope.
"It will never be normal now, will it", Billy sighs, Nora flicks her eyes to him, but Billy looks at the wall, staring at the faces of his siblings.
"No, it won't", Nora says and even though she despises the outcome, she still knows it will end like this. Maybe they still can keep Max, he didn't do anything bad yet. Yes, he froze their father and helped Phoebe to escape, but … it wasn't something bad. He was just … confused and … he loves his sister. The bond the twins shared is also something Nora never quite understood. They would fight, use each other for their advantage but still stick together somehow. Usually, there were no words needed. They always were close in their own special way, but after the accident it all seemed so different. Phoebe changed and even though Nora can't blame her for that, not knowing what they both went through, Phoebe's urge to stay with Max at all times was a little odd. In contrast at least of her behaviour before the abduction.
"I want them to come back", Billy admits, voice quiet like he fears someone might listen to them talking. A fear which is not that irrational. There is a lot of hate towards them sometimes, heroes who blame them, Phoebe's family for choosing the dark side.
"I know", Nora says clipped. Something like hurt crosses Billy's facial features and she knows she'll have to apologise later. Right now though, she watches as the head of the super-heroes enters the room.
"Superheroes", Red Fist's voice booms over them all. The superhero looks around until everybody has stilled and then continues.
"We have assembled to discuss about the recent events concerning our enemy Phoebe Thunderman" Nora can hear her mother wince at the words and Hank embraces Barb a little bit harder.
"As all of you should know now, Max Thunderman, who was believed to be dead has awoken from his coma. As far as we know he still has lost his memories and is an unwilling participant. I don't want to blame the boy without further proof for his deeds", the red haired woman says and Hank nods grateful at her.
"But, the threat remains, Phoebe Thunderman has to be eliminated. You have now permission to act accordingly as you deem appropriate. If you have the chance to take her out, do it. I am tired of playing games with her, the city is about to fall apart and burn if we don't act." she nods towards the superheroes around her. "Now, please return to your duties."
Next to her, Barb is crying in Hank's shirt, Billy is frozen in place. Only Nora isn't surprised. Maybe only by the fact that it took the superhero council this long to come to this conclusion. A world without Phoebe Thunderman is a better world. Whether she is dead or locked up doesn't matter. She knows it's cruel of her to think like that but she can't change it. The woman Phoebe grew into has very little resemblance to the sister she remembers. Phoebe was never cruel.
Maybe it really is for the best.
Nobody except for the few carefully chosen guards go to the holding cells deep underneath the new heroes headquaters. He thinks it's kind of sad. He would love to see their faces, their agony over everything that happened. His lips stretch into a grin, thin skin over bones looking old, thin and about to break.
He closes his eyes and sighs, humming a new sound out loud. It won't be long anymore until he is free again. He simply knows it. It's all going just as he's planned it. And then … then he'll finally win.
Different senses overcome her at once. There are muffled voices, talking. She is somehow rocking and a disgusting smell attacks her nose and make her stomach feel sick. Which is what brings her to snap open her eyes and gag. Her legs roughly hit the floor and hands leave her completely, let her slump to her knees and dry-heave. She gags, bile is burning her throat and tears are hindering her sight.
A warm hand slowly strokes over her back comfortingly.
"Are you okay?", Max asks, because she would recognise the voice everywhere.
"Fine", Phoebe answers weakly. She smiles at her brother, hot tears running down her cheeks. Max strokes them away with his thumb, looking at her concerned.
"You sure?", he asks and Phoebe smiles, reaching her hand towards him which he gladly takes and guides over his shoulders. She is still weak on her legs but she manages walking with most of her weight leaning against Max.
"Where are we", Phoebe pants after walking another ten minutes in this dark, wet and disgusting dirt hole, eyes almost dropping again as she leans heavily against her brother. His arm is holing her upwards, she has no doubt that without it she would be on the floor. Again. Doctor Colosso is sitting on Max' other shoulder, talking to him and sometimes pointing interesting stuff out. But after a while, Colosso's words only fade into a buzz. Phoebe doesn't care anymore. It smells here and she wants to go home and lie down in her bed.
"The sewers", Max says and Phoebe wants to cry.
The sewers. She has been in a building resembling a castle, no a real castle suited for a queen, a ruler and now she is in the sewers. In the smelly sewers, robbed of all her achievements. She needs to go back, get back what she righteously earned.
"Why did you bring us here" and if her tone sounds accusing, Max either doesn't notice or chooses to ignore.
"I didn't know where else to go. All I knew was that I had to grab you and Colosso and get away from there. Some place they wouldn't expect us to go".
"And the first place you thought of were the sewers?"
"No." Max answers, like it was obvious. "It was Colosso's. And honestly, it is so cliché, that they won't suspect us down here. We can walk at least a bit and together think of a place to go. Because … because I don't want to lose you, Phoebe".
She looks up to him, his jaw set and a determined look on his face. He cares. He really cares about her, nobody else, all he did was to get her out of the situation and save her. It's been too long since anybody actually did something even slightly resembling to that.
"Thanks", she murmurs and she can feel how a bit of the strain resolves.
"So where are we going from here?"
They decide to stay in the sewers overnight, looking for a dry place and simply huddling close together, warming each other with their body heat. They laugh together, telling silly stories of their youth, before any of these things happened. It feels freeing, being with Max. Like something she thought she lost was replaced, healing her broken heart. They still need to find a place to stay, but they decide that the next day is still another day. They can still walk on then.
She cries when she finally realises, after an embarrassingly too long period of time where he told a tale of when they were five, that he has his memories back. Now he doesn't just want to be with her unconsciously, but because he decided that she is the one to be with.
When Phoebe falls asleep, head against Max' shoulder and his smell in her nose, she can't help but smile.
They leave the sewers after a more or less good night's sleep. They stink, all of them and decide that they should go and change clothes and take a shower. They find an empty house, which is unsurprisingly not that hard, since most of the inhabitants have fled due to the fighting, and decide to stay there. There is still hot water and so Phoebe goes to shower first.
Max stays in the living room. There is a small fire place and after breaking some stuff like tables and chairs, they have enough to warm themselves. He lights the wood with his heat breath and sits in front of it. Colosso next to him, eyes closed and probably already napping on the pillow, Max sat him upon.
Max sits down in front of the fire and stares into the flames. The warmth is a welcome relief. He closes his eyes and tries to think of nothing at all. He almost falls asleep if it weren't for the gnawing in his stomach. He doesn't know when he last ate.
Phoebe comes back after ten minutes, wearing a t-shirt that's too big for her and some jeans. Everything about her screams innocent girl without her make-up and her dark clothes. It's weird how deceiving looks are.
"I'm gonna take a shower now", he says and Phoebe nods, her long wet hair leaving wet trails on her shirt as she bends over to pick up a book. He looks away and walks over to the bathroom. He strips himself naked and then steps under the spray of warm water. He sighs, exhausted muscles relaxing under the warm water. He washes himself up pretty fast and then walks upstairs with only a towel around his hips. He looks through the wardrobe for some clothes that fit and decides for a warm green sweater and black jeans. They don't fit that well but he secures the jeans with a belt.
When he comes back down Phoebe is reading a book, next to her lies a bowl of rice and her hair is a little dryer. Colosso is still sleeping.
"Do you regret it?", she asks without looking up from the book.
"Regret what?", Max asks as he sits down on the floor, collecting the rice between his finger tips and lifting it to his mouth.
"Coming to me?", she says her voice sounding wet and almost broken.
He watches her as he chews. It's helping him find the right words because he doesn't want her to think something he doesn't feel He finally swallows and looks at her, Phoebe stares at the book, though her eyes are unmoving. He smiles slightly and slides over to her, holding her tightly to his chest.
"Phoebe, you're my sister", he says softly. "You're the reason I am still alive and I can't imagine what you've been through all alone these past years. I may miss my family but you are so much more important".
He can feel Phoebe relax against him. She nods and cuddles closer to him. Then they become quiet. Phoebe finally lies down, head leaning on Max's thigh while he watches the flames dance and starts eating his rice. She starts reading to him after a while and it's just perfect.
Billy chews his lower lip nervously as he watches the superheroes get ready. They heft their weapons and look for their shields, while looking grim. Phoebe and Max have just been spotted on a camera in an abandoned neighbourhood. They haven't left the house since, meaning that they are still inside and probably resting. He wants to run to them and warn them, he really does. He wants to bring them somewhere safe where Phoebe won't harm anyone and Max can finally become himself again.
Billy knows that his siblings can only become themselves again, if they are together. That is what was wrong about Phoebe all the time. She was alone, she needs Max and Max needs Phoebe. It has always been like that and he thinks it's weird that he seems to be the only person to realise this. Even their parents seem to have given up on the goodness in Phoebe.
"Are you ready, soldier?", Boom asks him, his super-hero mentor. He is forty and a kind man. Now though, he looks tired and serious. Billy nods, even though he feels sick.
"Yes, sir", he answers and gets in line with the other heroes. He has a mission to accomplish.
She likes to remember the good days. When Phoebe wasn't a villain. When she wasn't crazy. Sometimes she pretends those times aren't real, looking at pictures of better times she closes her eyes and remembers. Remembers a sweet and loving Phoebe who wanted to do nothing but good deeds. Remembers a pig-headed Max who dreamt of becoming a super-villain but still did he right thing in the end.
She doesn't realise she's crying until there's a small hand touching her cheek. "Mummy are you okay?"
Barb laughs softly and opens her eyes to look at her youngest daughter. Chloe, the only blond child they have. She strokes over her hair softly and then presses her against her. Chloe keeps still. She's a really smart child. She was distraught these past days, confused and worried about Max, as were all the others. But somehow Chloe had seemed different. She holds her daughter even tighter.
"I'm okay", she tells her softly. "Just thinking about a different time, you know", Barb sighs and shakes her head to get rid of the memories. She has to be strong to protect what she has still left.
Small fingers curl around her neck and hold onto her as if knowing that it'll give her strength.
"Everything'll be fine, mummy", Chloe promises and Barb laughs a wet laugh.
"I'm sure you're right, honey".
Nora watches as heroes carry the unconscious bodies of her older siblings back to a truck. They slip an anklet on her to dim her powers. She sighs and shakes her head. It has been a short fight. The surprise was on their side and Max had seemed thrown off. He probably still didn't know how to control his powers correctly. A hero whacked him on the head and then he fell. Billy had caught Max before he could hit the floor. Then, Nora and Billy had made eye-contact but Billy had looked away again. It had hurt, because Nora knows this is not real Billy behaviour. But there are more important matters at hand right now so she turns around.
She is about to leave the place when her eyes catch a small, fuzzy rabbit hiding in the corner.
"Doctor Colosso?", she asks quietly and the rabbit tilts its head. She doesn't know why she is being quiet. This is a villain after all, one who probably helped Phoebe. Still, he mostly reminded her of Max.
"Nora, please take me with you? I want to … he's-", His voice is pitiful and he sounds so tired and sad that she feels her resolve already crumbling.
"It's fine", she tells the former villain and kneels down to lifts him into her arms. The bunny nods and keeps quiet while Nora turns around and walks back to the truck. The rabbit doesn't say another word and when Linda, a friend of hers asks why she takes the rabbit with, she tells her she can't see another living being die. She feels Colosso nestle closer in her arms. Somehow she starts to smile.
"Phoebe", Max groans. AS soon as he comes to himself again, she is the first thing his thoughts occupy. Her name is painful in his throat, his limbs feel heavy and and clumsy as he tries to touch his head. He feels a lumb and thinks he remembers a tall super-hero hit him.
"How are you feeling?" a soft voice asks him and his blood runs cold.
"Mum?"
"Yes, Sweetie. We love you. You're safe here" she strokes his hair softly, tears leaking from her eyes and her breathing is ragged. Max supposes lying in a hospital room does bring back some unpleasant memories.
"Where's Phoebe?", he asks and he sees Barb visibly flinch. She hides the concern his sudden outburst caused quite well.
"She's been taken care of, honey", his mother says with a strain in her voice. Max doesn't know what that means exactly, but he is fairly sure that it isn't anything good. They've taken away his sister and now he probably won't be able to see her ever again.
"Do you remember?", Barb asks then and Max focuses his concentration back on her and the matter at hand.
"Yes. Yes, I do. Just before I got unconscious these young heroes stormed the place and-"
"No, sweetie. I mean at all. Do you remember who you used to be?"
"No. Sorry Mum."
"It's okay", she says, kissing his forehead. "We have all the time you need."
Thank you to all my reviewers:
XeChaos: I'm really glad you like this story and I hope you continue o read it even though you had to wait for an update for a long time :)
Bbh91: Hey :) here, have an update :) also no, this is no Thundercest. If you are interested in it, I would recommend my other story which definitely has some. This story is all about brother/sister love.
Joog: Thank you so much. I already taught my first lesson now and I was so nervous and excited! So, now to your review, I couldn't have it any other way than having Max standing with Phoebe. And yes, slowly there'll be more about the Big Baddie … I think next chapter there's more than that mini paragraph in this. So I hope you keep reading :)
Guest: Well, you have to imagine that Phoebe controls many villains. There were a few who tried to rise up but those tries were ended pretty quickly. Most of the citizens tried leaving or died casualties in the fight against the heroes. Which is also a reason the superhero society hasn't done anything in a while. Now most just try to survive somehow, living in secret bunkers and such. We'll see how everything turns out. :)
TheLifeStruggleIs Real: Thank you :) I try to keep up!
The Rogue Sylph: I am really glad you found this story here again. I decided to discontinue it on ao3, but I'll definitely will continue it here. So don't worry :) Also, I'm really glad you like this story.
Guest: Hey, you don't have to worry. I will keep writing on this fic until the end, even though it'll take some time until it's finished.
