A/N: Here is the next chapter. Thank you to shiningstar786, JaylynnArclight, FoxLover96, and Egyptprncssxox for the reviews on chapter 11. I apologize for the slight delay, I know I promise to update on the 17th, but something came up. I hope everyone enjoys this new chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal or any of the characters, Shin Yoshida does.
...
"Please don't be mad."
Chris sighed, stroking his younger brother's golden bangs.
"I'm not mad, Thomas," he said softly.
Thomas gazed up at him.
"You're sure?"
Chris nodded. The silver-haired adolescent Arclight wasn't about to fault his brother for something that was beyond his control.
"It'll heal soon enough," he said.
"It still hurts," Thomas murmured. "Ms. Withers didn't give me anything for it. She said if I hadn't made her angry, she never would have done it."
"That's no excuse," Chris frowned. "She had no right to do that to you."
"She did it all the time," his younger brother said. "She was always hitting me and yelling at me."
Chris shook his head. He knew the orphanage would be hard on Thomas, but he hadn't known that it would be this bad until a few weeks ago.
"She was the one that did this to me," the red-and-yellow-haired child informed his older brother, looking down at his left leg, now bandaged up and propped up on a pillow.
Chris frowned. Who did that spiteful woman think she was to treat his dear little brother that way?
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"That's probably the nurse," Chris said.
The door opened to reveal a kind-looking woman with short, auburn hair and bright blue eyes.
"Dr. Faker signed the paperwork," she informed the boys. "You can go home, Thomas."
"I can?" Thomas's eyes regained some of their lost luster.
The nurse nodded.
"I trust he'll be well looked after," she said, smiling at Chris.
Chris nodded in reply.
"You can count on that," he promised.
...
"This will be your room, Thomas," Chris said, moving to open the door. Before he could do so however, Thomas grabbed his arm.
"Can I just stay in your room with you?" the eight-year-old asked. "Please?"
"Thomas, I-"
"Please!" the little boy pleaded, squeezing Chris's hand and looking up at his brother with wide, fearful eyes. "Please, Chris, don't make me sleep in there alone."
Thomas's hands were shaking so badly and he looked so frightened, Chris didn't have the heart to tell him no.
Though it had only been four short months since their separation, it was clear that even that short amount of time had done a number on little Thomas.
Chris nodded, took his brother's hand, and guided the smaller Arclight to his own room.
"Here we are, right across from yours," he said, opening the door.
Thomas entered and looked around. Chris's room looked similar to the one he'd had back in their old home. There was a bed in the far left corner of the room right next to the wall, a desk beside it. The wall opposite the bed boasted a shelf lined with books.
Thomas leaned heavily against Chris's side. He felt so tired and weak that he couldn't even stand on his own.
Without a word, the silver-haired teen gently lifted Thomas into his arms and set him on the bed before reaching for the royal blue blanket folded at the foot of the bed, and wrapped it around Thomas.
Little Thomas immediately crawled to the side of the bed that faced the wall and curled up under the warm and fluffy blanket. He sighed at feeling comfortable once again.
"Thanks, Aniki," he murmured, lying down on one of the pillows.
Chris couldn't help but smile down at his younger sibling.
Before either brother could say a word, Thomas yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"You're tired," Chris said.
Thomas nodded, his eyes dazed and unfocused. It was only seven o'clock and yet here he was, struggling to stay awake. Of course, he had hardly had a chance to have a good night's sleep. The red-and-yellow-haired child couldn't even really think of how long it had been since he had gotten a full rest.
Thomas lied down. Chris began tucking him in and adjusting the pillows behind his head. He was still very much traumatized by all of the things that had happened to him in the last few months. But at least now that was over. He was back with his brothers. He would see Michael again and Chris would take care of both of them just like he had before. Right now, he was caring for Thomas.
So, the middle Arclight brother closed his eyes. He really was exhausted and he did need some rest.
Chris, thinking that maybe some tea would help Thomas to relax a little more, stood to go prepare some, just as Thomas lifted his head and gazed up at him. The silvernette's heart wrenched. He could tell just from the look on Thomas's face that he was in so much pain.
His eyes, in addition to looking hurt and scared, were red and watery, as though someone had punched him in both eyes.
Thomas sat up slightly and Chris found himself striding back over to the bed and sitting down beside his brother.
Thomas could barely register anything around him. It was all becoming so dark. His mind was spinning and his vision, already disoriented, was whirling. His limbs were so heavy and he was dizzy and lost in the hazy darkness, but he could swear that Chris's voice was calling to him quietly.
"Thomas?" Chris whispered softly, stroking his brother's hair. "Thomas, what is it? Thomas?"
He whined and squeezed his eyes shut. What was wrong with him? He felt himself falling once again into the icy dark abyss, barely able to feel his older brother's arms around him anymore.
"It hurts..." Thomas whimpered when he was finally able to make a sound. "It hurts...make it stop...Chris please make it stop...it hurts..."
"Thomas," Chris said softly, his heart aching for his little brother. "Thomas, listen to me-"
"Make it stop!" Thomas wailed.
...
...
You all know how this part goes, I write, you let me know what you thought.
Next chapter: Thomas is still suffering from his time in the orphanage and Chris tries to help him.
Next chapter date: Tuesday, December 1st.
