TWO.
Oliver stretched his arms over his head and rolled his neck. He took a quick glance at the window behind him. The sun was visible just above the tops of the city. How long had he been in this chair? When had he last gotten a cup of tea?
He contemplated calling Mai to make a cup, but decided he needed to stretch his legs. Besides she would hear him better if he asked from the doorway and he would have the added gratification of watching her pout as she got to work.
He stopped in front of the mirror to re-tuck a portion of his shirt that had come loose with his stretch.
Running a hand through his hair he was about to leave when he noticed something.
His reflection smirked at him.
Oliver felt the corner of his own lip give the smallest of curves. With a step forward he brought his hand to the glass. The coolness of its surface seeping in where it pressed against his fingertips.
Don't you want to know who the fairest of them all is? The refection asked.
Don't be an idiot, Gene. Oliver responded through their link, but his smile grew.
Oliver waited for his brother to explain the 'visit', but Gene just smiled back.
Why are you here Gene?
Gene scoffed. Well it is great to see you too, Noll.
You know what I mean. It cannot be easy for you. You must be here for a reason. Oliver retorted.
Hearing and feeling his brother in his mind, brought back to Oliver just how empty it had felt in his own head these last few years.
The feeling wasn't something Oliver had been able to pin down right away.
More like a constant nagging that he was missing something. A hollow feeling that he couldn't put a name to. At times he had even found himself reaching out with mental fingers, grasping in the darkness. Those moments had faded in frequency over time.
Now though, as soon as Oliver had touched the mirror. The familiarity of having someone reaching back, connecting, the realization hit him. Oliver knew what had been missing in an instant. And it was bittersweet.
I can't just miss my brother? Gene asked.
Oliver stared back at his brother with a blank expression.
Gene's grin faltered. Despite his efforts Oliver was unable to appear as apathetic as Gene knew his brother to be capable of. Gene didn't need to guess at the reasoning behind Oliver's struggle. Gene felt an urge to pick up the pace. Gene could tell this meeting was not easy for Oliver either. If in a different context.
Ignoring the growing pain in his chest Gene settled his face in a similar stoic expression.
Oliver, Gene began. Instantly catching his brother's attention with the use of his full name. Can you do me a favor?
Oliver's reply was dry, but immediate. Yes.
Gene felt the earnestness of the reply. As if it had been chiseled in stone. Once set down, it became permanent. Gene's grin returned.
Teach Mai to dance.
Oliver's face darkened. Gene, he made sure to push his displeasure through the link. It rolled off him like a heavy heat that he fed towards the other consciousness. I thought this was going to be something important.
This is important. You told that poor girl that she had to go to a formal dinner and dance and you didn't even offer to help her. That isn't very gentlemanly of you. Gene admonished him. Pushing dark and cool guilt back towards Oliver and dousing the heat that Oliver had been sending Gene's way.
Since when have you been concerned with my appearing gentlemanly? Oliver countered.
Well you are the only hope for the Davis line now-
Oliver dropped his hand. The door between them slamming shut. Gene glared back, Oliver could tell Gene had more he wanted to say. Oliver ignored this and took a step back. Turning his gaze back to the large window. The hollowness wasn't as bad when it had been sought out.
Two cleansing breaths later Oliver turned back to the glass. Properly composed and ready to finish this discourse.
Gene's hand was flush against the far side of the mirror. His palm white from the pressure and his other hand was waving as his mouth flapped open and closed.
After a moment more of observation Oliver acquiesced to his brother's silent pleas and pressed his own finger tips against the image of Gene's. The glass was warm to the touch. Oliver noted this briefly to himself. He wondered if their contact unconsciously leaked some PK from him? Or perhaps this had just been the spot where his hand had been previously? He decided to think on it another time.
The connection restored, Oliver was acutely aware of just how displeasing Gene had found the disconnect to be. Gene's connection now left a sour taste in Oliver's mouth. It felt coiled and unstable. The sharp bite of pain nipping dangerously close.
It was just a joke Noll. You didn't have to throw a fit. Oliver thought about mentioning what constituted throwing a fit, but decided against it.
Oliver felt the link start to dim. As if Gene's grip was slipping. Oliver tightened his own grip, making up for the loss.
Gene? Oliver watched his brother's eyes slide close and hold for a moment before they creaked open again.
I'm tired. Gene's reply oozed along the connection and drenched Oliver in a lethargy that made his bones ache and his head so heavy it was a struggle to keep it from lulling forward.
Oliver pushed back against the exhaustion. Tugging at the connection. Gene's head dipped forward. But he jerked it back up and gave it a slight shake.
Mai. Dance. Gene sent once more. Oliver could feel the force of the push behind it, but it was a pittance compared to the earlier effort. Really, Gene continued. Important. You—
This one is shorter, sorry.
But part three is longer than one and two combined!
Thank you so much to my reviewers for the first chapter! Snowy Akira, FrenchCirce(dear heart), DarkDreams55, randomness2325, and of course the mysterious "someone".
