A/N: 'This' conveys a character's thoughts and "this" what they're verbally saying.
'CoP' signals a change of perspective in the middle of a chapter.
[This] contains a written text message

Chapter III: Forged Identities

Gently pushing down the door handle the sight of a hunched over teen greets her, presumably still in a deep sleep.

Frowning with concern taking over Jazz begins to slowly make her way to the resting teen, careful not to step too close, approaching her brother like an easily spooked animal.
About to call out the words lodge themselves in her throat, unwilling to leave, unwilling to wake him, a cold sensation freezing her thoughts.
'Maybe I should let him sleep a bit longer, he looks exhausted. I could drive him to school later.'

Reluctant to leave but still not willing to wake him the older teen sits down on dark covers, pulling out her phone.
'Might as well get a head start on my studies.'

Scrolling through the newer model she is about to get another look at her documents, until cyan colored eyes glance at a notification icon in the corner of a smooth screen.
'I hope it's important, especially if they're writing me on my day off.'

Opening the message curious eyes swiftly flit over the text:
[Hey Jazz, I'm really sorry but I can't make it back in time for the presentation, my mother is in the hospital and I have to stay here. But I'll email you what I have so far, you won't have to do my part too!]
Sighing heavily and burying tense fingers into soft hair the overwhelmed teen already starts thinking of accommodations and solutions.
'Obviously now she won't do her whole part, not that I can really blame her with an either hurt or sick mother to watch over. How much did she even manage until now? When was her mother indisposed? If luck isn't on my side and let's be honest, with us it never is, then it happened somewhat shortly after our short-time vacation began and her mother's condition was critical enough for her response to be delayed. Then I would basically have to do my part on top of most of her part, since she told me she'll catch up on it on these few vacation-days. But what if she lied about her mother and simply didn't want to do the work? What if I ask her for the documents and she'll have another excuse as to why she doesn't have it? No no, I'm already thinking myself into a hole, I need to focus. I need to ask her for the documents first.'

Composing herself and repositioning her hair-band deft fingers start typing out a response:
[I'm really sorry to hear that, I hope she gets well soon. Can you send me the document as early as possible today? I need to plan ahead for the presentation.]

Waiting for an answer it comes only a few moments later in usual brevity:
[Sure :)]

'Now I'll just have to wait. But what if she tries to drag it out and the next time I remind her about the documents she comes up with another story as to why she can't send them over? Something like 'Oh my computer broke down and all my files were on it, even the document.', oh woe me! I should get a headstart and do our share of work now, I can't afford to wait all day, my grades depend on it, my scholarship even.'

Quickly checking for any new mails or notifications the frazzled student starts her partner's research, quickly scrolling through countless pages and marking any with significant information, skipping biased articles with emotional undertones altogether.
Lost to the outside world the focused girl plunges into her studies deeply enough that she almost doesn't pick up on the shifting figure at her brother's desk. Almost.
'Finally he's waking up.'

Letting her brother slowly and peacefully wake up she tries busying herself with her research again, yet wary eyes still follow his sluggish movements from the corner of her eye.
'He's out of it again, how long did he even manage to sleep? An hour or just a few minutes?'

Waiting for his yale blue eyes to fall on her she waits patiently. Silently.
Looking around he finally spots his busied sister on his still made bed.
A beat of silence. Two. Three.
Bright eyes framed by midnight strands widen comically in recognition, only to frown and flit over the rest of the room in a panicked frenzy.
'Did he have another nightmare? I swear to everything that is holy, no matter how much sympathy Danny has with these creatures, one day I'll make it my own personal agenda to hunt down every single ghost who harassed him and lock them all in a cage with Spectra, then we'll see how much they like having their happiness and sanity sucked dry.'

Coming to the conclusion that he is in fact home with Jazz wandering eyes zero in on her, permanent frown deepening ever so slightly. She already knows something is wrong when these familiar blue eyes start narrowing in wary suspicion.
'Oh shit, this isn't good. Whatever his brain brain just came up with isn't good. Shit, keep calm Jazz, KEEP CALM.'

Attempting to keep her voice as steady and cheerful as possible the distraught teen attempts to find out what happened to result in such suspicion.
'Good morning Danny. I hope you slept well, you certainly seemed to be sleeping quite deep and calmly for once. When did you get home yesterday?'

Seemingly thrown off by the chipper response a panicked expression returns to his face and he starts checking over his hands, arms and hair in fascinated but shocked wonder.
'Is it a dream that caused this reaction or does it have something to do with the latest fight he had this night? I didn't even say anything surprising or unusual. What in the world happened? If it was another cruel alternate timeline or universe in which he was caught for years I'll go on a shooting frenzy for everything ghostly that moves, consequences be damned.'

Suddenly getting up and running to the bathroom was nothing she suspected, but also nothing she is surprised by.
'He either has a full bladder or will be undoubtedly shocked about his appearance in the next few minutes.'

Glancing into the bathroom through the widely open door a whispered "whuo..." confirms her latter suspicions. Whatever happened affected him mentally but every trace of physical evidence was apparently wiped out.
Crossed arms twitch with the desire to embrace her little brother in a loving hug, yet research and experience keeps her rooted on the spot, leaving him the space he needs until he comes back to reality.
'God, how many years has it been already with these powers? Day in day out he flies off to save all these ungrateful and unaware people, his own needs practically non-existent at this point. Then again even without his heroism they would still lure him out with threats and destruction, this is a never ending cycle at this point.'

Feelings of reoccurring helplessness starts mingling with an acid loathing, leaving an ugly mixture behind.
'Why can't they just leave him alone? Is it really that amusing to beat up a teenager over and over again? Shouldn't they become bored at some point?!'

During the redhead's musings her distressed brother has apparently decided to accept reality, as she is now faced with a casual smile and an even more casual "Hey Jazz.", as if nothing strange just happened mere moments ago. She recognizes the familiar diversion attempt and goes along with it. For now.

"Danny, if you keep falling asleep on your homework like that the teachers will start grading your face."

"What do you mean? Do I have an imprint?"

"A bit, but it's barely visible." Compassionate eyes fixate on the slightly bigger brother, already on his way to outgrow her. "You know that you can wake me earlier when you have trouble with your homework, I really won't mind, it'll even help me with my studies to brush up on basic subjects. We'll both learn quicker that way."

Silently staring past her into the distance she knows that he won't acquiesce.

"Do you smell that?" exaggeratedly sniffing the air and reveling in it the sister turns to the stairs, "I guess that must be Mom's famous pancakes with bacon. C'mon, hurry up before dad eats everything!"

Already heading for the stairs with excited enthusiasm the younger teen follows. Reaching a kitchen still drowned in a heavy atmosphere Jazz enters first, the cheerful and wide grin feeling like a chafing mask.

"Hey Mom, we smelled pancakes!"

Both adults immediately turn to the doorway, halting any conversation they might have had. Maddie addresses them first while her husband leans back to watch the exchange.

"Good morning Danny. Did you sleep well?" The mother's smile is a slightly sad yet still genuine one.

"Yeah..."

"Are you sure? I saw your light was on this morning. Have you been staying up late again young man?" the woman interrogates in a gently demanding tone.

"No-" both teens deny in unison, glancing at each other in surprise. Looking to his sister Jazz takes it as her cue to proceed.

"He didn't stay up that late, I've just woken him up."

Note entirely convinced the worried mother continues her inquiry, "When I passed by his room earlier his lamp was still on and we both know he isn't an early riser."

"He fell asleep before turning it off, it was still on when I entered his room just now." The daughter elaborates, having difficulty with repressing the nudging urge to descend into a defensive tone.

The conversation is dropped like a wet fish on land, awkward with the wish to avoid it. With a strained smile the mother turns to her youngest child.

"I made some pancakes and bacon, you should get yourself a plate."

Disapproving eyes wander to the woman's back, silently mustering.
'She isn't even fixing him a plate anymore because she thinks he won't join breakfast anyway.'

The tense atmosphere becomes even thicker when the older husband takes his plate into the living room to eat in front of the television. The mother's attempts at conversation loosen the mood somewhat, leaving behind an uncomfortable awkwardness.
Glancing at her watch the daughter exclaims that her brother is running late, apologetically leaving the mother behind to take care of the dishes.

As the car drives on with the redheaded student nervously clutching the wheel and worriedly glancing over to the slumped teen said teen decides to take pity on her. An unnerved sigh passes his lips.

"What is it now Jazz?"

Reluctant to elaborate the sister continues to gnaw on the inside of her cheek until finally collecting her thoughts in a coherent order.

"You seem off today. What aren't you telling me?" before the dark haired passenger can say anything she plows on, "And please be honest with me. I know it isn't easy and I can be a bit nosy," a mocking scoff accompanies her statement from the sidelines "but I really do worry about you, this isn't just some psychology study to me."

Lips thinning and eyes downcast the younger sibling gives into her prodding, reluctantly presenting what she is eager to hear.

"It was just a nightmare, a stupid one. Guess it just affected me a bit more than usually."

"Is the nightmare in your case really a nightmare or was it an alternative reality again? You've been really out of it this morning." her voice takes on a more serious edge, cutting with accuracy, "I can only assure you that this is real if you tell me what you have doubts about."

A surprised expression flits over male youthful features, eyes widening ever so slightly in disbelief.

"Don't think I can't tell the signs. I'm the one who has woken you up all these years, may it be from nightmares or delusions. I notice when your behavior changes or you start having doubts about reality."

"I am not having delusions about reality Jazz." he exclaims, sounding offended and affronted.

"I am not saying this to be mean Danny, I'm just concerned about your mental state. Besides, you can't exactly say that you never had any delusions, because if you do then you're clearly lying to yourself."

"I don't need you psychoanalyzing me."

"I am not-" and exhausted sigh "Listen, you obviously see my efforts as annoying and self-serving, when really the only thing on my mind when I'm worrying about you is your well-being, not the need to be right, not how I can prove that I know better. Just your well-being."

A pained expression contorts the older sister's face into something sad, eyes swimming in unshed tears.

"I'm sorry Jazz, I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. It's just hard sometimes, you know? For the both of us, and it's really not fair."

"Rarely anything is fair in my case."

The saddened expression on a delicate face loosens somewhat at the petulant statement and following pout.

"That's the spirit Danny, now I know for sure that you're back."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

The formerly depressing atmosphere gives way to a light banter, mocking and arguing with no serious intent. Arriving at the school's parking lot Jazz turns to her brother.

"You better hurry, you're already late." After hugging him briefly she reminds him, "Take care brother, call me if you need backup. I mean it."

The stern look the sister gives him melts to a humored one at seeing his unimpressed stare.

"Go before Lancer has your head."

"Shit!"

Dashing out of the car and towards the school the younger student can just make out Jazz yelling "No swearing!" after him.

Hover with me in the fog of uncertainty, breathe in the toxic air, plummet to the ground in shriveling doubt.