I don't own Repo The Genetic Opera or any of its characters.
Sailor Onyx Pluto: Thank you, the talk will pan out a bit messily. Thanks for your review, I look forward to your next.
GeneCo: Sustaining The Genetic Opera
Chapter 24: Reunions and Trust
The brothers reached Amber's room and walked in. Neither she or the tattooed man holding her noticed their entrance.
Feeling a wave of relief crash down upon him, Luigi was barely able to utter her name.
"Amber..." he nearly whispered. She pulled away from Sick Boy and he hurried over as she saw him and started crying again in her own relief. The fighter moved out of the way and Luigi pulled her into a hug as best he could without bumping the machines she was attached to.
She cried against her eldest brother's shoulder, clinging to him. Pavi went over to the other side of the bed and hugged her as well, his arm halfway around Luigi to do so. She reached over and grabbed Pavi's hand, squeezing it. They stayed like that for several minutes, not realizing this was the first time in years that they'd all openly shown affection towards each other at the same moment.
Finally separating as a nurse came in to administer more medication, Pavi stayed seated on her bed but Luigi stood up and out of the way. Amber lay back down, still holding Pavi's hand as the nurse gave her a sedative.
"Is everything okay now?" asked Amber, her voice rough from crying.
"Si, fratello fixed-a everything." answered Pavi in a soft voice. Luig glanced at him in surprise for the rare praise then nodded at his sister.
"Everything's okay and it'll stay okay. You just let the doctors get you better, understand?" asked Luigi, half giving an order.
"Don't tell me what to do." she replied in a snippy tone but her face split into a smile nontheless. Luigi smiled back.
"Fine." he replied.
"She..um..Sir, she needs to rest." said the nurse, hesitantly, afraid to cross any boundaries with the fearsome Largo.
"Alright. Come on, Pavi. We'll be back again tomorrow." answered Luigi. Pavi kisses his sister's temple and got up.
"Dormi bene, sorella." said Pavi, smiling at Amber. She nodded, her eyes already drifting closed. They gazed at her for a moment until she fell asleep then Luigi beckoned Sick Boy into the hall. The bulky man followed the brothers out.
"Yea?" asked Sick Boy.
"What's your interest in my sister?" asked Luigi, Pavi couldn't refrain from a groan of annoyance.
"Fratello, does it-a really-a matter right this-a second?" he asked. Luigi gave his brother a brief glare.
"Yes, shithead, it matters right now. Shut up and let us talk." answered Luigi. Pavi rolled his eyes at his brother, surprised when he wasn't smacked in the head for it.
"I don't really know." said Sick Boy.
"Don't give me that shit. I want a straight answer."
"Fine. I consider her a friend, I suppose. We haven't known each other long."
"Well she likes you. I can tell, I know her well enough. If she's just a friend, or just a lover, she needs to know. I need to know. You told me you were gonna take care of her, I wanna know how." demanded Luigi.
"I was thinking about dating her, if that's what you're asking. That'd be how. I stand by what I said, regardless of what happens between her and I. No, I'm not in love with her but I've no idea if that'll change in two weeks or two years." answered Sick Boy. Luigi thought for a moment then nodded, Pavi watching in amusement rather than annoyance now.
"Alright. Then date her. Take care of her. You break her heart, I'll break your legs. Got it?" asked Luigi. Pavi grinned, not having expected the conversation to go this way. Sick Boy reluctantly nodded, not liking being told what to do, even though it's what he was going to do anyway.
"Got it." he answered.
"Good. And I want your real name. The public can just know your fighting name but if you're potentially family or at least close to family, I will know your full real name." demanded Luigi.
"It's Luke Buxton. My first name was Charles but I always went by Luke. I want to stick to just that." answered Sick Boy. Luigi nodded.
"Alright, Luke. Don't disappoint me. By the way, where in the hell is Sean?" asked Luigi.
"He came down for a bit then left to go help with clean up." said Luke.
"It is-a a disaster-a zone." interjected Pavi.
"Good, he should be doin some sort of work." replied Luigi.
"I'm gonna go back in there with her." said Luke. Luigi nodded and the broad shouldered man left. The brothers walked down the hallway a while before the eldest spoke again.
"I want you to go back to resting as well, you still haven't had the time to fully recover from your surgery yet." ordered Luigi.
"Fratello-"
"No arguing with me, Pavi. Just do it. I don't need you in a hospital bed, too." said Luigi, cutting him off. The younger man sighed.
"Fine, fratello. I'll see-a you tomorrow." said Pavi, walking past his brother to go back to his room.
Luigi watched him go and turned down the hall and into room three. Raven was sitting next to Owen's bed, looking a little frustrated, while Owen sipped on whiskey. Two GeneCo employees were carrying out the bodies of dead rebels when Luigi walked in.
"You alright?" asked Luigi. His son looked up at him.
"Yep. All good. Leavin tonight." replied Owen.
"No, you're not. You're gonna stay here for as long as the doctors deem it necessary." argued Luigi. Now annoyed, Owen narrowed his gaze.
"No, I'm leaving. I hate hospitals." he replied, voice firm.
"Owen! I'm not fuckin arguin with you. You're stayin and that's final."
"You don't have to argue with me, you're not telling me what to do." said Owen, defiantly. Luigi glared at him and Raven looked between the two, terrified that things were about to spin out of control way too fast.
"I don't know who the hell you think you are, boy, but I'm in charge here. I say you stay, that means you fuckin stay."
"I don't know who the hell you think you are, but it's a little late to be playing Daddy In Charge." replied Owen, his voice cold. Luigi walked over and yanked the whiskey bottle out of his son's hand.
"You're done drinkin tonight." said Luigi, assuming it was just the alcohol. Owen yanked the bottle out of his fathers hands and whipped it against the wall.
"Fine, but on my fucking terms, old man." he snarled.
"What the fuck is your problem?! Did you treat your god damn mother like this?!" Luigi shouted at him, glaring.
"Sometimes. Funny though, she said you did the same. Seems we're both mean drunks." replied Owen, coldly. Luigi resisted the urge to smack him and pressed the nurse button next to the bed. They glared at each other in silence, Raven still sitting in the chair terrified.
"Yes, Sir?" asked the nurse, hurrying in.
"This boy is not to leave this room until the doctor deems him healthy enough to be discharged from care. He is not to be drinking alcohol while he's here, and he is not in charge of anyone, I am. If you have to use force to restrain him, do so. If you have to sedate him, do so." ordered Luigi. The nurse nodded.
"Yes, Sir." she said.
"You can't fucking do that!" shouted Owen.
"Yes, I fucking can. Get better, get sober, then fucking talk to me without acting like an ungrateful little prick." snarled Luigi.
"Fuck you! I'm not the ungrateful one here!"
"Oh, I am?! Tell me just fucking how I am!"
"She loved you! She fuckin loved you and you knew it! You used her and complained that no one cared! You think I'm stupid? She told me EVERYTHING!" shouted Owen, in nearly full rage now. The alcohol having brought out internal bitterness and fury.
"Don't you fucking talk to me about your mother! You wanna talk about all that, we'll do it when you're sober!" shouted Luigi, trying to keep cool. He turned to the nurse.
"Sedate him." ordered Luigi. The nurse walked over, using Luigi for cover from any resistance and put a sedative into one of the IV tubes. Reduced to tiredly glaring at his father, Owen was silent as it quickly went to work, putting him to sleep in a matter of seconds.
"Should I stay here?" asked Raven. Luigi sighed.
"If you want but you heard my orders. He gets none of that. He starts throwin a fit, you have the nurse come sedate him again." answered Luigi. Raven nodded.
Luigi watched his son for a few moments, wondering where in the hell all that came from, then walked out.
Xxxxxx
Pavi was walking towards his room when he caught Erin in the hallway, not saying a word, he just pulled her into a hug and held her against him. Too relieved that each other were okay after that battle, they just stood like that in the hall for a few minutes.
When they finally made their way to the room they just undressed in silence and got in bed together, cuddling against each other.
Erin lay her head on his chest, just breathing in his scent and feeling his heart beat against his soft skin. Closing her eyes, she set her hand on his stomach. A smile split her face when she felt his hand cover hers as his other arm went around her, holding her to him.
"I love you, Pavi." she said softly.
"I love-a you too, Erin." he muttered in his soft voice, letting his eyes close, only now realizing just how tired he was.
In a matter of minutes, they were both in a deep sleep, relieved and resting.
Xxxxxx
Graverobber walked through the alleys, not paying any attention to where he was nor caring where he was. A few people had tried to stop him for Z but he ignored them. He could have made a fortune tonight, after what everyone had seen but he didn't care.
Riddled with guilt and hurt, he just wanted to disappear. He paid no attention to time, never knowing how long it took him to reach an end of the island. Walking through the dirt and trash, he reached the edge, the tip of his boots touching the dirty water that seemed to span out forever.
He sat down on a flat part of the ground and gazed out at the ocean. Thinking, memories passing through his mind, replaying how he should've acted on the day of the assassination attempt. He wondered how difficult it would be to leave the island completely. Maybe not forever but just for some time, to clear his head, to maybe change altogether.
Even just to explore what else was left after the destruction, riots, wars, and revolutions that happened before this island was even founded as Sanitarium Island.
"I bet it wouldn't be too hard." he muttered.
Xxxxxx
Walking back into his room, he sighed. Taking off his coat and shoes, he saw the bathroom light on and heard the tub draining. He went over to his closet and pulled out a pair of pajama pants, undressing completely and pulling just those on. Leaving his clothes in a pile for Lisa to get in the morning, he sat down in his recliner.
Just as he sat down, Shilo walked out of the bathroom in sweatpants and a t-shirt. She saw him and an angry expression formed on her face but she didn't say anything, only walked over to the bed and lay down.
Brow furrowed in confusion, he turned his head towards her.
"Something wrong?" he asked, putting the tv remote back down. She didn't answer so he stood up, looking at her.
"Hello? What's your problem?" he asked, feeling annoyed and sick of people being pissed at him for no apparent reason.
"I really don't want to fight again. Let me go to sleep." she answered through clenched teeth.
"Fuck that. What's your fucking problem?" he retorted. She sat up.
"You fucking call massacring women and children defense?!" she asked, her voice raised.
"I did what had to be done. We've been over this shit. You're not gonna like all my decisions. " he replied.
"What if that was me down there? Or Owen and someone else did that? Would your fuckin answer still be the same?!"
"I did this so that it wouldn't be you or Owen down there! You think that if the rebels won or any of them or their families survived tonight that me, my family, or anyone I loved wouldn't have been down there being exterminated by a firing squad?!" he shouted back, frustrated that she wasn't understanding.
"You can't tell me there was no other way!"
"There wasn't any other way! You've got the same fucking problem your father had! All you see is the good, the ethical or morally right decision! That doesn't work anymore! It works in family, around people you love but it doesn't work in politics or out there with enemies!" he argued.
"It has to work, there's no reason it shouldn't!"
"Bullshit, Shilo! The world isn't like this anymore! If it was, your mother would never have been killed!" he replied. She opened her mouth to shout back then his words hit her.
"What did you say?" she asked quietly. His words finally registered with him and he kicked himself internally. She never knew exactly what had happened.
"Shilo, I-" he started slowly. She cut him off.
"What the fuck did that mean, Luigi? What don't I know?" she asked. He took a deep breath and went over to the bed, sitting down next to her.
"Your father didn't kill your mother, accidentally or not." he said.
"What happened?" she asked, anger still in her tone.
"Someone your father talked to, trusted to a degree, went to his house and managed to sneak poison in the lab on orders from my father. Nathan probably had the cure but it was swapped with the poison." explained Luigi, voice shaking slightly, fearing what he knew her next question would be.
"How do you know this?" she asked quietly.
"Because I...I did the swap." he answered, almost in a whisper. He looked in her eyes when he spoke then looked down, not able to bear seeing her response. It was deathly silent for a second then she smacked him with all the strength she possessed. He winced but didn't move. Without wasting a second, she hit him again and again, stopping only once her hand hurt.
The side of his face red from her smacks, he finally looked back up to see tears silently streaming down her cheeks as she held her hand gingerly.
"Shilo, I'm sorry." he said quietly. She shook her head at him.
"How dare you?" she asked in a whisper.
"Shi-" he began, she cut him off once more.
"How dare you say you love me after having done that? How dare you hide that from me? I spent my entire life without my mother because of you. You, you son of a bitch, and you lay here just a few hours ago and tell me you love me?" she challenged, still silently crying.
"I do love you-"
"That nearly killed me with her, you didn't care then, why should you care now?"
"God dammit, Shilo, please let me speak." he pleaded.
"Fine, speak." she said, hesitantly.
"I didn't know you. Your mother hated me and I never liked her. I was worse then than I am now. I was bitter, spiteful, hateful towards everyone, even those I cared about. A big part of that was because my father had completely stopped showing any love for me, even openly admitted to regretting my life being saved from that surgery. I just wanted him to care about me, to be proud of me. I told him that and he told me I had to sneak that into Nathan's lab for him. He fucking took advantage of it. I know that's no excuse and I'm so, so sorry, Shilo. I do love you, I never thought I would but I do. Please, please don't hate me." he pleaded, finishing his speech. He reached out to grab her hand and she smacked his hand away.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." she said, moving to turn and lay down. He grabbed her and forced her to stay facing him.
"We have to talk about this, we have to." he replied, looking at her.
"But it hurts! I can't talk about it anymore!" she shouted at him, starting to cry harder. Luigi felt part of his heart break, seeing her innocence in such matters. The pain from the past and not knowing how to deal with this had turned her into a little girl again.
"I know it hurts, I know it's hard! These things are and there's nothing you can do to change that! But it'll be hell of a lot harder if we just let this fester and then lose each other forever. Do you still love me?" he asked. She looked at him, noting that there was bruising forming on the side of his face from when she smacked him. Her answer came out without her thinking about it.
"Yes." she breathed. Resisting the urge to pull her to him, he asked another question.
"Will you forgive me?" he asked.
"I don't know, Luigi I already feel guilty for still loving you." she answered.
"I'm sorry, Shilo. I'm so sorry."
"I know you are but that was my mother, Luigi." she replied, voice shaking. He just looked at her, hoping.
"Can we go to bed now?" she asked after a moment's silence. He nodded.
"Yea." he said, getting up. She grabbed his hand.
"Where are you going?"
"I was goin to the couch." he answered. She shook her head and pulled him back down.
"No, I want you with me." she said. He managed to smile at her and lay down, pulling the covers over them both.
She snuggled against him and he put his arms around her, relieved despite not knowing if he was going to be forgiven or not. Leaning in, he kissed her forhead.
"I love you, Shilo." he said again, leaning his head down and against hers.
"I love you too, Luigi." she replied, quietly, resting against his chest.
They lay awake for a long time, in silence before he fell asleep. She lay there longer, thinking, trying to figure out if she was somehow betraying her parents by loving him. Trying to fight the feeling of betrayal because she loved where she was, she loved him and being with him, despite it all.
After battling with her thoughts for nearly another hour, she finally passed out.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Translations:
"Dormi bene, sorella." - "Sleep well, sister."