Chris eventually ran out of steam and slumped back against the attic door in defeat. He couldn't believe that they'd done this but at the same time had to admit that his mother was capable of showing who's in charge if he was twenty.
"Hey" Leo said hesitantly as he sat down next to his youngest, oldest? Oldest youngest? Chris was twenty and yet negative fourteen all at the same time. Let's go with youngest.
Chris scowled up at Leo, "Give it back"
Leo sighed, "Chris, you know that you're not getting your orbing back until both your mother and I decide that we can trust you with it"
"Are you kidding me?!" Chris said indignantly, "Who the hell gave the two of you the right to decide whether or not I can be 'trusted' with any of my own powers!"
"We're your parents and we want what's best for you."
Chris' only reply was to roll his eyes and scoff. Like Leo ever cared what was best for him. Like any of them did. Well… Mom and Wyatt did but one was dead and the other was the evil overlord so they were both a mute point.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Leo tried to get things going in the right direction. "Why don't we head down and see what your mother's prepared for breakfast?"
"I've got a better idea," Chris countered, "You give me back my orbing and then I'll get out of your hair and you can go eat with Piper and Wyatt"
"No Chris" Leo replied, "You need to eat"
"No I don't I need to complete my mission"
"And your mother and I wish to help you do that but first we need to make sure that you're alright"
"I'm fine. Wyatt's the one in trouble. Wyatt's the one who needs your protection and concern"
"You're both my sons and you both need my protection and concern" Leo corrected.
Chris shook his head, "I don't need anyone, least of all you"
The words stung, Leo could admit that. But this wasn't about him right now this was about Chris. Realizing that demanding anything out of Chris wasn't going to get him anywhere Leo tried a different tactic, "You came up for a reason"
"What?"
"You came up from the underworld for a reason"
"So?" Chris shrugged.
"So, what was it?"
Chris paused. Why had he come above? He'd been fighting and he'd started to feel a little dizzy and a slight headache coming on... He scowled at Leo. "Why I came up is unimportant"
"No, it's not Chris" Leo corrected. "You came up because you were starving and sleep deprived and thus you were finding yourself on the losing end of a battle. You got out of that last fight purely by chance"
Chris' eyes widened in surprise and understanding "You were following me!"
"I wanted to know you were alright. That you knew what you were doing" Leo admitted, "What I learned instead was that it's a miracle you're still alive."
"I've been taking care of myself for a long time Leo. I know what I'm doing"
"You came back here on a suicide mission and have been treating yourself as though you were expendable"
"Because I am"
Leo froze in pain and horror. "No Chris, you aren't expendable"
"Well you've sure changed your tune" A third voice spoke.
Leo and Chris shot up to face the new arrival standing in the attic doorway. Leo was confused as to who the new comer was but Chris wasn't. In one strangled gasp Chris uttered something Leo never wanted to hear said in such a way.
"Hello Wyatt"