Chapter 4: Stories, Secrets, and Changes
No one moved, and some of them even held their breath as they just stared at Lincoln Loud. Scared that if they moved he would disappear and they'd wake up in the real world where his was still missing.
Nagi helped Lincoln to his feet. "Now as promised, you're on vacation as of this moment. Go, it's time to follow your heart little brother."
Lincoln took a step forward, tears still flowing down his face. Now as he got closer to his friends and family they got a really good look at him. They saw that he had gotten taller at 5ft 11in, and he had grown some muscle. His eye's had become somehow a brighter blue. The freckles that were on his face were gone leaving clear skin. Though in their place was a nasty looking scar that ran from the corner of his left eye down over his cheek ending at his chin, and a smaller one across his cheek making the scars look like a crooked cross. Seeing that did give the Louds a chill down their spines in horror. But his smile was still the same warm smile and even after 10 years he still had that weird cow-lick.
Lincoln stopped after being five feet from the group of his family and friends. He was starting to feel awkward.
"Awwwwkwarrrrd." Nagi said in a playful tone, ruining the moment. Reggie come over and grabbed Nagi by the ear pulling him off to the side.
"Stop ruining their moment Captain." Reggie said ignoring Nagi's whimpers of pain.
Lincoln laughed at Reggie scolding Nagi, having now gained a little bit of control. Lincoln was about to speak when his entire Family, Clyde, and Ronnie-Anne tackled him to the floor. Everyone talking at once crying tears of joy.
"Son you're finally Home!" Lynn Sr. spoke putting his hand around his son. Then was pushed a side by his wife.
"My baby boy is home!" Rita hugged her baby boy vowing to never let go again, until Lori snatched him from her mother.
"Where have you been Twerp?" Lori held her brother from behind finally able to hold her brother felt to much like a dream come true. Then Leni brought her back to reality by attacking Lincoln from the front.
"Lincy never go away again, please!" Leni cried on her brothers chest so happy. She never let on just how much pain she was in when he was taken, because she knew she wasn't the only one devastated by Lincoln's abduction.
"Wow Little Bro how'd you get that narly scar?!" Luna came up to his left side and put her hand on his scarred cheek gently tears flowing.
"Look at how big you got guess we can't call you 'little' brother any more, Hahaha Get it?" Luan joked, coming over to Lincoln's right side and wrapped her arms around his waist crying in his shoulders
"Whoa Linc you got ripped!" Lynn Jr. exclaimed tears still falling, was on his left with Luna, and held his arm admiring how muscular it was. There was a moment that Lynn felt her heart race and her face blushed. But she quickly shook those feelings away.
"Lincoln I'm so happy your not a spirit, and I can actually touch you!" Lucy grabbed his free right arm and cried into it.
"Big Bro! We never stopped looking for you I swear!" Lana attached herself to her big brother's left leg. Bawling into his pant legs.
"We'll never let anything bad happen to you again!" Lola grabbed on to his other leg not caring how undignified she looked, because she finally had her big brother back.
"Brother I promise that I'll show you more affections from now on, I swear it on all the is science!" Lisa whaled as she managed to squeeze in between some of her siblings and held onto Lincoln.
Lincoln was processing his families words, and realized someone was missing.
"Hey where's Lily?" Lincoln asked. All of the Loud sisters that were hugging him stopped and looked back, and saw that she had stayed back with Clyde, and Ronnie-Anne. The older Loud sibling all moved off of Lincoln and watched the heart wrenching scene unfold before them. Lincoln got up and walked over to his youngest sister and crouched down to her level.
"Hey there, Lily, right?" Lincoln asked trying to start a conversation with her. She was being very shy with him. Which to the other sisters was uncharacteristic of her, usually she was very curious and eager to meet new people, But here she was shy with her own brother, not that anyone can blame her, she was only 1 ½ when Lincoln was abducted.
"Yes, that's me... Are you my big brother Lincoln?" Lily asked in the sweetest voice Lincoln has ever heard, but at the same time it was like a knife to his heart, but Lincoln smiled all the same.
"Yes I am. I'm-" Before he could finish his sentence Lily rushed and hugged him as tightly as she could.
"Yes that's right." Lincoln just stared at Lily with the saddest eyes Lily had ever seen it made her sad to. Lincoln noticed this and thought he messed up.
"I'm sorry if I scare you, the last time I saw- Oof!" Lincoln was not expecting for his baby sister to tackle hug him, but after the initial surprise he smiled. Then He felt Lily shaking, she was crying. Lincoln moved to look at her.
"What's wrong Lily/" He asked gently.
"I ave a b-big b-brother, and I don't want you to go away again.!" Lily wiled harder then any of her family ever did, causing the to cry even more. And it caused Lincoln to finally reach his breaking point and he to started crying as he held his baby sister closely to him.
"Shhh, Shhshhh. It's okay Lily. I swear to you here and now that I'm back for good, I'm never leaving you or our family ever again." Lincoln spoke gently as tears rolled down his face, and he gently stroked Lily's shoulder long blonde hair. Hoping to calm her down.
"Y-y-you promise Lincoln?" Lily sobbed into her brother's chest still wet from Leni's tears.
"I can make sure he keeps his promise little lady." Nagi spoke in a cowboy accent and walked over to them and smiled.
"Who are you any way?" Ronnie-Anne spoke up wanting to finally know just who these people with Lincoln were. Nagi looked up at Ronnie-Anne and smiled. He stood up and bowed.
"How rude of me I have not properly introduced myself." Nagi stood back up and looked at the Louds and said, "My name is Nagi Bateman, Lincoln's big brother and boss."
"What do you mean his 'big brother?" Lori asked
"And your his boss? So is he your employee?" Luan asked. Lincoln stood up while picking Lily up in his arms as she held on to him.
"Wait guys. Nagi's the one who saved me from the people who sent these men, and hired the men who abducted me. I owe him my life."
"What do you mean Lincoln? Lynn Jr. asked not understanding what was going no. Nagi sighed and shrugged.
"Lincoln I think you should explain things to them back at your folk's house. Reggie you escort the Santiagos, Alexander you escort the McBrides, Alexandria you escort Mr.&Mrs. Loud and Mrs. Loud's Father. Finally Lincoln you take the R.V and escort your sisters, Clyde, and Ronnie-Anne. Understood?!"
"YES SIR!" The four stood by each other and saluted, Lincoln still holding Lily, and shouted back. Nagi smiled.
"Hey that's not how my siblings respond to my order's" at that moment the four became more casual and each responded with a new acknowledgement.
"About time I'm getting bored." Alexander smirked
"Will I be making money?" Alexandria asked with an innocent smile.
"Okay, let's get going then." Reggie spoke walking over to her charges.
"Nagi don't do anything stupid while we're gone." Lincoln smirked fist bumping him.
"But that's part of the fun in life. Hahahaha." Nagi responded handing Lincoln the key's to the R.V. "Okay now get going you lot, I'll catch up later." Lincoln nodded.
"Alright come on guys let's go home." Words Lincoln never thought he would ever get to enjoy saying. Everyone followed their designated escort to their vehicles. When the group with Lincoln saw the R.V they were mesmerized by the shear size, especially Lana.
"Wow this is a beauty Lincoln where did you buy this thing?" Lana asked utterly amazed by this vehicle.
"Well believe it or not Nagi's eldest sibling built it from scratch all by herself." Lincoln said putting Lily down and unlocking the door, then moved aside for everyone to get in.
The inside was even more amazing it was like they walked into an actual normal sized living room., and to the back of the R.V they could see at the end the room that Lincoln was in earlier. But they could see that there were more doors, and next to the living room was the kitchen complete with sink and stove. They could not believe what they saw.
"Man Linc the inside of this thing looks like a fancy trailer house." Lynn exclaimed amazed and dumb founded.
"Well if I remember correctly Nagi's sister had found a way to manipulate space to make all this happen some kind of advanced science." Lisa's ear's perked at the mention of 'advanced science.'
"Really have you ever met her before Lincoln?" Lisa questioned.
"Once she was very quiet, but a kind person. Nagi told me that she's very protective of her siblings, and had given birth to a boy just last week." Lisa nodded acknowledging what her brother said. Lincoln sat in the driver seat put the key in the ignition, and started driving off toward his home.
"So Lincoln who taught you how to drive?" Lori asked taking a seat in the passenger seat.
"Well that would be Ronda." Lincoln answered smiling.
"Who's Ronda?" Clyde asked
"I AM RONDA." A computerized voice sounded through the R.V. suddenly a face appeared a screen hat was on the dash of the vehicle. The face looked like a beautiful woman with pink hair and green eyes, and smooth copper skin.
"OH MY EINSTEIN! Is that an artificial intelligent program?!" Lisa went right up to the screen and examined it with great interest.
"YES, I WAS CREATED BY SIMON BATEMAN." Ronda spoke. Lincoln raised a brow at the way Ronda was talking.
"Hey Ronda why are you talking like a robot?" Lincoln asked keeping his eyes on the road.
"MASTER NAGI WAS MESSING WITH MY SETTINGS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AGAIN." Ronda spoke in her choppy robot voice.
"Well you can change it back ya know." Lincoln suggested.
"I THINK I WILL DO JUST THAT LINCOLN." Ronda made the sound that people make when clearing their throat. "That is much better, I really need to punish Nagi for that later." Now Ronda's voice sounded very gentle and welcoming.
"Anyway I taught Lincoln to drive, at the behest of Nagi." Ronda spoke looking toward Lori. "He is a very good student, and was the most careful when handling me, unlike Nagi who drive recklessly. I'm amazed we haven't wrecked when he drives!" Ronda huffed. Lincoln smiled.
"Well if he gets to out of hand you can take over and drive for us." Lincoln added nonchalantly.
"Wait this thing can drive itself?" Lola asked a bit worried.
"Yes I can but I only do if I have to. I never take over with out permission, or I'm ordered to." Ronda explained not being offended by being called an 'it.'
"Well anyway change of subject, Ronda these are-."
"Lori Loud the beautiful one."
"Leni the big hearted one."
"Luna the coolest one."
"Luan the funniest one."
"Lynn Jr. the athletic one."
"Lucy the dark brooding one."
"Lana the animal loving mechanic."
"Lola the princess."
"Lisa the intelligent one."
"And Lily the adorable one. These are your sisters."
"And there is also Clyde your best friend."
"And Ronnie-Anne the unrequited love." Ronda listed off all of the people present and by the end Lincoln and Ronnie-Anne blushed.
"Yes that's them." Lincoln said trying to play off the last comment.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all, Lincoln has told me everything he can about you, though the information is 10 years old." Ronda spoke stating the obvious. Luna moved next Lincoln.
"Wow dude you have been living an interestin life haven't you." Lincoln went silent wearing an almost sorrowful expression. Everyone noticed, and Luna thought she said something wrong.
"Lincoln bro are you okay? I didn't say something wrong did I?" Lincoln snapped out of his trace and looked over to everyone.
"Sorry guys, it's just that a lot has happened some good, and," Lincoln reached up to his scarred cheek, "And a lot of horrible." Lincoln suddenly felt Luna put her hand over his, and Lincoln grabbed her hand and held it gently. This gesture sent a weird feeling through Luna, and her heart beat suddenly grew faster.
"We're here for you Bro, you can tell us anything." Luna spoke gently smiling to Lincoln. Lincoln smiled back.
"We have arrived to our destination Lincoln." Ronda announced.
Lincoln saw is old family home, he pulled Ronda up in front of the house and parked Ronda. Everyone got up and walked to the door, Lucy grabbed Lincoln by the arm and they waited for everyone else to leave.
"Luce what's wrong?" Lincoln asked looking at his younger sister curiously.
"Lincoln I'm sorry." Lucy's voice was shaking noticeably, Lincoln sighed.
"Are you still blaming yourself for what happened to me?" Lucy nodded and tears began to silently roll down her face. In an instance Lincoln gently grabbed her hands with one of his and with the other brushed her hair out of her face. Lincoln was amazed at the site he saw, but focused his mind.
"You listen to me Lucy Harriett Loud!" Lucy was caught off guard by Lincoln using her full name, "You and Lynn are not to blame, I chose to walk out alone that night. You are faultless!" Lincoln looked into her eyes with passion and her could've sworn she saw adoration. That moment Lincoln took his free hand and gently wiped her tears away. Lucy's heart began beating rapidly, and she blushed.
"Now let's go, the others are waiting." Lincoln smiled brushing her hair back down. They walked out where everyone was waiting for them. Lincoln looked upon his childhood home and felt that something was different.
"You guy remodelled the house." Lincoln casually said surprising his sisters.
"How could you tell Lincy?" Leni asked amazed at her brother.
"Yeah Lincoln how? We had the entire inside remodelled, but had the outside stay the same."Lily asked holding onto Lincoln's arm like any child would a family member.
"I learned a lot from Nagi. He taught me how to pay very close attention to my surroundings. Such as how there's less yard space then I remembered, and you trimmed some of the tree limbs" Lincoln smiled, from showing off and from the memory of the time with Nagi. His sisters were amazed by Lincoln's skills and wondered what else he was taught. The rest of the group arrived and found a place to park. Lincoln's parents walked over to their son and handed him the keys to the house.
"We want you to be the first to enter the house so." Lynn Sr. spoke to his son. Lincoln smiled nodding
Lincoln walked up to the porch, memories flowing back to him as he walked up the steps, and as he approached the door he stopped. The door was slightly open. Lincoln immediately held his hand up in a fist, and suddenly Reggie, Alexander, and Alexandria drew their weapons. Everyone was startled by this sudden action.
"What's wrong Lincoln?" Reggie asked calmly but with a serious tone.
"Dad, did you forget to close the door?" Lincoln asked already knowing to answer.
"No Son, my policy on home safety hasn't changed." Lynn Sr. answered worried
Lincoln then held up three fingers up and made a circle motion and then pointed toward the side of the house. In an instance Reggie, Alexander, and Alexandria stealthily moved to ward the back of the house.
"You guys wait here. Don't come in til I tell you it's clear." Lincolns voice was calm yet very commanding. Everybody nodded their acknowledgement, and with that Lincoln lowly crept in to the front door and closed the door behind him. Once inside Lincoln could hear noise coming from the kitchen , or at least he thought it was the kitchen. He made his way to the source of the noise feeling around and using the little bit of moonlight that did filter in. When he got to the room that the noise was coming from he quietly felt for the light switch and then Lincoln took a deep breath and turned the light on.
"AHHHH SON OF A BASTARD CHILD COW!" Lincoln took a fighting stance and his crew burst in through the back door weapons at the ready. But all four of them looked at he man rolling on the ground and sighed in annoyance. For the man on the floor was Captain Nagi wearing night vision goggles.
"Damn it Nagi we though you were a burglar or some thing!" Alexander exclaimed.
"Can we still stab him though?" Alexandria asked using her playful tone. Nagi took the goggles off.
"I'm blind!." He exclaimed as he rubbed his eyes and started blinking to get his eyes to readjust to the brightness.
"Well that's what you get for pulling this shit with out giving us a heads up, as usual." Alexander scolded their captain.
"Son are you okay!" Lynn Sr.'s voice sound through the house, everyone outside came rushing in. "We hear screaming from outside!.
"Don't worry it was just Nagi being Nagi." Lincoln smiled and walked over to the sink where he fond a clean wash cloth, got it wet and put it over his eyes.
"Wait how could he get here before us? We left him at the restaurant?" Ronnie-Anne asked the question everyone was thinking. Lincoln had to think a moment on how to properly explain Nagi.
"Well see with Nagi we've learned that no matter where, when, how, or what you're doing he just magically shows up, and that's the existence called 'Nagi Bateman." Lincoln smiled. Nagi took the wet cloth off and stood up.
"I can SEE it's a miracle!" Nagi celebrated, alone.
"Well then what was he doing here?" Lynn Jr. asked curious.
"I was finishing up dinner for everybody since we didn't get to eat at the restaurant." He went to turn on the lights to the dinning room, and there was a large table full of food. "And before you ask 'how,' I asked three of my older sisters to come and start this."
"You had people break into our home to cook us food?" Leni asked finding it unbelievable that this man sent strangers to her home.
"Which sisters did you send, Bro?" Lincoln asked not phased by this fact.
"I asked Asuna, Yue, and Nodaka." Nagi answered walking over to finish whisking the mashed potatoes.
"Oh the Triplets, well they make great food. Let's good eat!" Alexandria said excitedly.
"Yeah you guy's go sit I just got to finish the gravy and it'll be time to eat."Nagi then gestured fr everyone to get out of the kitchen.
Everybody sat down picking a spot they were comfortable siting. Lynn Sr. sat at the end of the table that was close to the kitchen entrance, and from there his wife sat on his right side, with Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, Lynn Jr., Lucy Lana, Lola, Lisa, Lily, sat on the same side as their mother. Clyde and his dads sat on the right side next to Lily, and Pop-pop sat at the other end of the table. From Pop-pop's right side sat Ronnie-Anne's grandfather, grandmother, aunt, uncle, her three cousins, her mother, her brother Bobby, then herself. There were six empty chairs between Ronnie-Anne to Lynn Sr.
Lincoln and his crew sat in four of the six empty seats with Lincoln sitting next to his father, and the seat next to him was left empty and from there it went Reggie, Alexander, then Alexandria, leaving an empty chair between Ronnie-Anne and Alexandria who waved to Ronnie-Anne. Ronnie-Anne waved back a bit uncomfortable.
"Wow this food looks delicious." Lynn Sr. commented, having an eye for great tasty food.
"Trust me Dad it is, though no where near a good as your food." Lincoln smiled to his father, and his father smiled back. Lynn Sr. was just so happy to be able to joke with his son again.
"Okay well here is the last of the food start digging in." Nagi said walking over with the gravy and took his seat between Reggie and Lincoln.
"Hey are we expecting one more person for dinner?" Luan asked noticing the empty seat. Lincoln, Reggie, Alexander and Alexandria thought for a moment then all smiled evil smiles remembering something important that Nagi had forgotten.
"Hey Captain did you forget to do something important?" Reggie asked smiling, Nagi paused for a moment while dishing his plate.
"Nope I don't believe there is." Nagi continued dishing his plate.
"Are you sure? Think hard Naaaggiii." Alexandria spoke intentionally stretching out his name with a huge Cheshire cat grin. Nagi put down the food and looked at his crew.
"What do you think I have forgotten?" Nagi asked starting to doubt himself.
"Come on Big Brother think your life could be on the line if you don't" Alexander smiled causing Nagi to start panicking, he knew Alexander never called him 'Big Brother' unless something or someone was coming after him and he could get a good laugh from it.
"Okay guys come on just tel-." Nagi's voice now started to shake as he spoke.
"Sylphiea." Lincoln casually spoke trying his best to keep a straight face.
Nagi's entire body went completely pale white and he had the most terrified face any of the Louds , Pop-pop, Santiagos, and the McBrides had ever seen.
"Are you okay there Casper, you look like you've seen a ghost. Hahahaha. Get it?" Luan couldn't help but make a joke and everyone groaned, except Lincoln he laughed hard.
"Good one Luan I missed your jokes so much, You always were funny. Hahahaha." Lincoln continued to laugh. His laughs made Luan's heart race and she felt herself blushing from her brother's compliment.
"Although Captain really will become a ghost once Lady Sylphiea gets a hold of him." Alexander smirked, as his comment made Nagi start to shake.
"Umm is your friend going to be okay Lincoln?" Rita asked her son, getting a little worried about what may happen. Lincoln looked at Nagi thinking they had their fun.
"Hey Nagi you okay?"
"Hahaha what I'm not nervous, YOUR nervous! I got to get out of here!" Nagi spoke paranoid and stood up about to leave, when from out no where an eerie voice called out making Nagi freeze and start sweating profusely.
"Naaaaaaaaggggggggiiiiiiiii. You forgot to wake me up!" Suddenly right behind Nagi stood a 5ft woman with long platinum-blonde haired woman. She had a face that anyone who saw her would agree was beautiful, complete with her amber like eyes,, and her beautiful natural tanned skin. Everyone was startled but the sudden appearance of this woman everyone but Lincoln and his crew.
"Whoa dude where did she come from?!" Luna gasped
"She did the same thing that Lucy does." Leni exclaimed
"No, she's on a completely different level, even I couldn't sense her." Lucy spoke amazed by the strangers level of lack of presence.
"Who is she, she looks like an actual princess?" Lola asked a bit mesmerized by the woman's beauty. The woman spoke in the same eerie voice.
"Nagi sit." Nagi immediately sat down. The woman walked up behind Nagi and wrapped her arms around him, like a lover would. She whispered into his ear.
"I'll punish you later tonight." Nagi shivered with anticipation. She then looked to Lincoln and smiled politely and asked, "Lincoln would you mind letting me sit there?" Lincoln returned the smile.
"Of course Sensei Sylvia." Lincoln stood up and moved to sit between Alexandria and Ronnie-Anne. Lincoln winked at Ronnie-Anne making her heart race and her face blush, she looked away. The woman sat down and scooted her chair as close to Nagi as possible and put her head on his shoulder.
"Lincoln would you be so kind as to introduce me I seem to still be a bit sleepy." The young woman asked in a polite soft voice, much different from a few seconds ago.
"Of course Sensei." Lincoln gave a polite understanding nod. "Everyone this is Sylphiea Jackson. She is Nagi's finance, she is also my martial arts instructor." Lincoln spoke in a respectful tone.
"Hello everybody it is a pleasure to finally meet you all, Little Bunny has told me all about you Loud family, Clyde McBride, and Ronnie-Anne Santiago." Sylphiea spoke in her soft and pleasant voice.
"Little Bunny?" Lily spoke up while eating a piece of honeyed ham
"Oh yes it's what I call Lincoln, because the first time I met him, he reminded me a cute little bunny and the nickname stuck." Sylphiea explained giggling at the memory of when they first met, and the rest also giggled hearing the story. Lincoln smiled seeing everyone so happy.
"Lincoln are you okay?" Lana asked causing everyone to look at him. Lincoln didn't notice but some of his tears fell down his face, he reached up and wiped it away.
"Breath Lincoln." Nagi spoke in a kind but firm tone still casually dishing his plate. Lincoln did just that.
"Sorry guys, I'm still getting use to the fact that I'm home after all these years, laughing with you all." Lincoln smiled looking at all his family and friends.
"Lincoln what happened to you all this time?" Lynn Jr asked abruptly, tired of not knowing what type of torture her brother was put through. It got silent.
"Lynn I'll tell you all every thing after dinner I promise." Lincoln smiled at his sister, looking in her beautiful green eyes. Lynn Jr. felt oddly at ease looking into her little brother's blue eyes.
"Okay Linc I can wait til then." Lynn Jr. softly spoke and started eating the food she dished.
After dinner was done everyone moved to the living room. Lincoln took notice that the design of the living room looked the same but was much more roomier then when he was a child, and there were more pieces of furniture. Everyone finds a spot to get comfortable, Lincoln stood looking into the fireplace, watching the flames dance.
"Lincoln stop prolonging the inevitable." Nagi spoke handing everyone tea that he had prepared, walking over and handing Lincoln his cup. Lincoln knew he was right and sighed.
"Okay first I am only going to give you a basic summary of the last 10 years,." Lincoln spoke looking to his family, and friends, and then to his crew as he continued. "Cause WE still haven't come to terms with what we went through." Lincoln paused giving everyone a moment to get out any disagreements, there were none even Lynn Jr., and Ronnie-Anne were quiet.
"Also once I start I mustn't be interrupted or else I won't be able to finish." Lincoln's voice cracked a bit, this was noticed by Lana, and Lola. Again nobody said anything, they just waited for Lincoln to begin. Lincoln took one good sip of his tea, before beginning.
"Okay well the night I was taken I was in a vehicle, a bag over my head, and my hands tied behind my back. I was in that vehicle the majority of the time, taking breaks only once a day for food/drink and to relieve ourselves then back to the vehicle. After a week of travelling they took the bag off my head and untied me and brought me to a group of building surrounded nothing but mountains and thick forests. The people who took me handed me to people wearing white and right in front of me those people in white killed my kidnappers, without hesitation. The men in white said to me that this was what happened to people who out live their usefulness. I was scared shaking as they took me to a small building near the entrance, once in the building I found that there was 49 other kids my age there. The building had beds so I guessed this was where they were going to keep us, for how long, or why I couldn't tell you at that time. Among those kids were Reggie, and the twins Alexander and Alexandria, we hit it off great we had each others backs. After the first three months the number of kids tripled and we were divided into groups of four, luckily the four of us were put together." Lincoln took a sip of his tea and continued.
"From then on we had been given private quarters, and were told that we would begin training the very next day. The training started in the early morning and ended late in the night and we would only be left 5 hours to sleep, the training itself was rigorous and extreme. The training often left many broken and any who were lagging behind were punished, and the way they punished people was cruel." Lincoln clutched his chest briefly, but that was all Lana and Lola need to see to know he received punishment.
"After another year and a-half we were taught basic fighting techniques, and basic sharpshooting. I noticed that there were older kids there but they seemed off somehow, it wouldn't be for another three years until we found out why. They told us that we were guinea pigs in an experiment to make the perfect obedient solider. That's when our nightmares became a literal Hell on Earth for us, they took people one by one and 'broke' them." Lincoln looked over to his three crew members Reggie was shaking slowly rocking back and forth, Alexandria was clinging tightly to her brother who was whispering soothing words to her, they were all also crying softly.
"Eventually Reggie, Alexandria, and Alexander were also 'broken,' they were completely devoid of free will and emotion. That's what it meant to be 'broken,' and then came my turn. They strapped me down to a table and were using subliminal messaging to try to brain wash me to give up my individuality, my free will, and to obey any orders given. They were surprised that it didn't work on me, but they kept trying day after day for the next three years. Then one day they realized I wouldn't break, so they dragged me to the edge of the facility and tied me up to a post in front of a firing squad." Lincoln was shaking so badly he dropped his tea. Nagi in a flash caught the cup not spilling a drop and handed it to Lincoln., and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Remember breath, your getting to the best part, don't stop now." Nagi said giving a wink. Lincoln smiled and took a deep breath and stopped shaking.
"In that moment I made peace with the fact that I was going to die, that I wanted to die, when I saw the most peculiar thing. There on the mountain ledge sitting eating a mixed bag of Doritos and drinking code red Mountain Dew watching the whole thing was Nagi. Seeing him there just casually eating and drinking I smile for some odd reason, but then I had to warn him to run. I shouted for him to run before they caught him too, and in the blink of an eye he was right in front of me smiling. He spoke to me asking 'Want to join my family and crew?', To this day I can't tell you why but I said yes completely forgetting that there was a firing squad before me. Nagi freed me and turned to a stunned and confused firing squad, and I kid you not in three seconds took them out. I was amazed at what I saw, but then I remembered my friends and I begged him to help them and everyone in that Hell. I won't lie I thought he would refuse me, but he smiled at me and said' Sure thing Little Brother.' and in ten minutes the facility was taken. Everyone was free and Nagi took all the 'broken' and fixed them, and sent them home. Of course he asked these three the same thing he asked me and they said 'yes', and ever since then we've been with Nagi doing random jobs, helping people, just trying to forget that place for the last two years. Then we got word that the people who ran that facility from Hell were after you all to get to me. From there you know what happened." Lincoln finished both his story and his tea. Everyone but Nagi and Sylphiea had tears running down their faces. The Louds were holding each other trying to comfort the other. Nagi stood up and walked over to Lincoln and hugged him. And spoke.
"Your home now Little Brother." Lincoln hugged him back, then they broke apart and Nagi walked over to the other three and gave them each a hug, even Alexander who was the typical tough guy. Nagi stood up and spoke to everyone in the room.
"Okay well it's getting late the five of us need to be heading home." Nagi clapped his hands and Sylphiea, Reggie, and the Twins stood and made their way to the front door.
"You heading to Ronda,, you'll need the keys." Lincoln reached to his pocket, when Nagi spoke holding up a hand.
"No need. We bought the house across from this house." Nagi explained. "We're neighbors!" Nagi used a silly excited voice.
"Captain that house better have been within the budget." Lincoln had a serious face, the kind that a parent has when a child wasn't being responsible.
"Relax I used my own money from my personal bank account." Nagi smirked and stuck his tongue.
"Nagi behave." Sylphiea said giggling.
"Anyway come on over when ever ya all want." Nagi said walking out the door, followed by the other four. After they left Ms. Santiago stood up.
"I think we should also be heading home." Ms. Santiago spoke looking to her family.
"Mom can't we stay the night?" Ronnie-Anne begged, "Please?"
"You and your family are welcome to our guest rooms down stairs Maria" Rita Loud spoke up offering her friend.
"I don't want to inconvenience you, and you'll want some time alone with Lincoln." Maria argued weakly.
"Nonsense we insist on it, and Howard, Harold you can have our third floor guest room." Lynn Sr. Loud.
"It is late Ms. Santiago. Please stay?" Lincoln asked the Hispanic woman, who sighed and smiled.
"Okay I give, we can stay the night." Maria said to her daughter, who smiled at her mother.
"Dads can we also stay the night?" Clyde asked his fathers.
"Of coarse we can Clyde. Howard said,his husband nodding in agreement.
"In that case we can have a slumber party here in the living room." Lily suggested.
"That's a great idea Lily." Lori agreed with her baby sister.
"Okay then just remember to keep it down while the rest of us get some sleep." Lynn Sr. joked with his children.
"We will dad. We'll be the Silent house. Hahaha get it?" Luan joked with her father.
The Loud girls went up to their rooms and grabbed their pillows and blankets, and Leni grabbed spare pillows and blankets for their guests and Lincoln.
"Thank you Leni. I'm happy to see that you still have that thoughtfulness I always admired about you." Lincoln accepted the blanket and pillow, smiling at his thoughtful sister that always had a kind heart. Leni however couldn't figure out why her heart was beating so loudly, or why she was blushing. She hoped she wasn't getting sick.
"Anything for my Lincy." Leni said, not realizing the double meaning to her words, luckily no one was paying much attention to was she said.
Everyone found a place to settle down and sleep. The Loud girls and Ronnie-Anne all placed themselves around where Lincoln set himself up, and Clyde and Bobby set their spots up next to the group. They all laid down getting comfy, and they all chatted for a bit falling asleep one at a time until just Lincoln was let awake. He quietly moved to the bask door. Once out side he saw that the usual small porch and steps had been replaced with a very huge wooden patio deck. Lincoln wondered if Leni built this remembering how amazingly gifted she was with wood carving. Lincoln walked over to the the chairs, but paused half way.
"You know you don't have to stay in the shadow watching me Lori." Lincoln spoke not bothering to turn around, as Lori came out and walked over to her baby brother a bit amazed.
"How did know it was me?" Lori smiled up to her brother.
"I was taught a lot of things by Nagi and Sylphiea Sensei, some were the ability to sharpen my sense of smell. You still where that special perfume." Lincoln explained taking a seat on the nearest deck recliner chair, Lori sat in the one next to him. Then silence followed as Lincoln looked up at the stars.
"So how do you feel, being home after all this time?" Lori ask trying to break the silence Lincoln looked over to is eldest sister and had a weak smile.
"It's comforting, scary, and unusual all at the same time." Lincoln spoke his gaze never leaving Lori's. Lori looked confused.
"What do you mean Lincoln?" Lori asked feeling entranced by brother's gaze.
"Well it's comforting due to the fact that I'm around all the people that I love and care about. Scary in the sense that so much time has past and things change, people change, I'VE changed. And unusual because I'm not use to normal, I don't even remember what normal is." Lincoln's eye's shone uncertainty which make Lori's heart ache. Lori took her bother hand in her own and put her other hand on Lincoln's scarred cheek.
"Listen to me Lincoln Loud you are the most amazing person I've ever know. Your resourceful, selfless, you own up to your faults and mistakes, and most importantly your adaptable. Even if you are a twerp." Lori added at the end hoping to make Lincoln smile, he did. At that moment Lori felt a familiar feeling in her chest and could feel she was blushing, she hoped Lincoln didn't notice.
"Lori your face is red, Here take my jacket it's a little chilly out here." Lori was saved by Lincoln's obliviousness, and accepted his jacket.
"Yeah I think you're right, I'm going to go back in, don't stay out here too long yourself okay Twerp." Lori stood up and walked back to the house.
"Lori." Lori stopped and looked back to her brother, looking back to her. "Thanks" Lori smiled.
"Any time Little Brother." And with that Lori went back inside to her spot in the living room. Her mind was slowly succumbing to sleep but, even then one thought stuck in her mind. "That feeling in my chest I've felt it before, but from where?" Finally sleep took her.
It wasn't for another 10 minutes before Lincoln came back in and quietly got to his spot and laid down. As soon as he laid his head down he was asleep, smiling, and it would be the best night sleep he's had in the past 10 years.
Took me longer then I wanted but hope you like it. The next chapter might be a bit shorter if not as long wish fingers crossed.