Well, it took longer than I'd expected to find my muse, but it only took me about two days to write out this chapter. That's pretty good, for me. :)
On one hand, Anti-Cosmo was relieved to be out of the hospital; he'd told that moronic medicine man that he was fine. On the other hand - and this baffled him - he didn't want to leave Anti-Wanda. He couldn't explain it, but he didn't want to leave her there, all by herself. He was genuinely upset when he was released from the hospital, and he could see that Anti-Wanda was too. So, without realizing what he was doing, he promised to visit her. But, when he saw Anti-Wanda's toothy grin, his doubts about his promise completely evaporated.
More importantly, he didn't really have anywhere to go. He could have gone to his mother - though quiet and distant in nature, she did care about him - but how would he explain his ten-year absence? The woman was a living lie detector, so making up something was out of the question. And, if she knew the truth... Well, Anti-Bethany Anti-Cosma wasn't exactly the most trusting creature in the universe, so he knew she would never accept a former Xye into her home.
Hades knows he wouldn't dream of going back to the other Xye.
He needed someone who would accept him, no matter what. Someone who was either too trusting or too desperate for affection. Fortunately, he knew someone who fit both of those categories. Anti-Cosmo just hoped his address hadn't changed.
To say that Anti-Schnozmo was happy to see his little brother again...would have been the understatement of the century. Anti-Cosmo would never be known for being emotional, but even he couldn't help shedding a few tears at their reunion. Not that he would ever admit to doing so.
Like he'd hoped, Anti-Schozmo had listened intently to his sibling's lament about what had happened to him. Although the big-nosed anti-fairy had refrained from saying anything until his brother was finished speaking, Anti-Schnozmo had a look of terror on his face, upon hearing that his brother had been a Xye.
"What was it like?" Anti-Schnozmo asked, after hearing about Anti-Cosmo's turning.
Anti-Cosmo hadn't realized how much he missed that nasally voice. "What was what like?"
Anti-Schnozmo shifted uncomfortably on the couch, as though he were second-guessing himself. "Being a Xye. What was it like?"
He had been expecting that question, but that didn't mean he wanted to answer it. Anti-Cosmo stared down at his lap. He couldn't remember the last time he and his brother had kept secrets from one another. Oh, wait. Yes, he could. It was when he was fifteen and his brother was seventeen. The latter had gone to Earth with his friends and drank some Earth substance called 'wine.' As soon as Anti-Cosmo had found out - and discovered that this was the human version of poison - he had spent half an hour reprimanding his older sibling about under aged drinking. And, then five more minutes were devoted to siblings keeping secrets from one another.
Anti-Schnozmo was quirky and honest. Anti-Cosmo was deceitful, cool, and calculating. Yet, somehow, the brothers were best friends.
"I-I'm sorry," Anti-Schnozmo said, snapping Anti-Cosmo out of his memories. "I shouldn't have asked."
Anti-Cosmo sighed and met his brother's worried red eyes. "It was a valid question. Perhaps, one of these days, I will divulge some detail."
Anti-Schnozmo nodded, and they fell silent. Of course, Anti-Schnozmo was never one to tolerate silence for too long. "So, how did you change back?" he asked after about five seconds. "Don't you have to be shot in the heart with magic, or something?"
"Stabbed in the heart," Anti-Cosmo corrected. "And, yes, I was stabbed by a girl's wand. Her name was Anti-Wanda." The memory hit him, like a butterfly net. "I was going to...turn her. She stabbed me with her wand, a-and the next thing I remember is sharing a hospital room with her."
"And, what did she think of that? Sharing a room with...you?"
By 'you,' it was obvious that he meant 'a former Xye.' Part of Anti-Cosmo was hurt, and the other part was oddly grateful that Anti-Schnozmo hadn't directly said it. "She... Dear brother, Anti-Wanda has to be the most bizarre anti-fairy I've ever encountered. Er, not counting Anti-Jorgen. She was incredibly sweet and ridiculously friendly."
Anti-Schnozmo's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously? Uh, not that she had a reason to not be-"
Anti-Cosmo raised a hand to silence him. "I get it. I was a Xye, and I hurt a lot of our fellow anti-fairies. Why would anyone want to even look at me?" His voice was sarcastic. His heart was aching with the realization that he believed his words. He had betrayed his own species, and that was something he swore to never do.
Of course, Anti-Schnozmo had always had the uncanny ability to see right through him. He smiled sympathetically - obviously forgetting or just ignoring how much Anti-Cosmo hated to be pitied - and put a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "Come on, AC. You didn't intentionally do anything wrong. You couldn't control yourself."
Now, where have I heard that before? Anti-Cosmo almost laughed. Anti-Wanda had told him almost the exact same thing.
Anti-Wanda... He found himself wondering how she was doing. She wasn't alone, was she? Did she have visitors? Perhaps a new roommate? Was she wondering how he was doing?
Why did he care so much? He reasoned that it was because she resurrected him. Perhaps, he simply felt indebted to her. Yes, that made sense. What did not make sense was the sudden quickening of his pulse.
He felt a tapping on his knee and noticed his brother retracting his hand. "You had that look, like you were thinking hard about something."
Anti-Cosmo shook his head clear and nonchalantly waved off the comment. "Oh, just thinking about Anti-Wanda. She was still admitted to the hospital, when I left."
Anti-Schnozmo nodded and stood up. "Well, it's getting late. We're gonna need to rest up for tomorrow."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I wanna meet this girl. I wanna thank her for getting my little brother back."
Thankfully, Anti-Wanda wasn't alone. There was another girl in her room, one whom Anti-Cosmo recognized. Not just because she looked almost exactly like Anti-Wanda, but he had also seen the girl at the gathering he'd attacked during his last moments as a Xye. It went without saying that she had taken some damage, but not as much as Anti-Wanda. In fact, this girl had only some scars on her arms and legs, and her wings were a little torn, but the latter would heal in time. Unlike Anti-Wanda, the girl wore thick glasses, and her wild, curly hair was sky blue. The two girls seemed to be in deep conversation, and Anti-Cosmo caught Anti-Wanda saying his name.
And, blushing lightly when she said it.
And, blushing even more when she saw him.
A smiled spread on her face. "You came back," she said in awe.
"You didn't think I would?" Anti-Cosmo asked teasingly, though he almost couldn't handle they way looked at him. It wasn't a bad look; he just didn't feel deserving of the happiness and affection in her rosy gaze. He flew closer to her and asked, "Who's your friend?"
Anti-Wanda grabbed the other girl in huge hug. "This is my twin sister, Anti-Blonda!"
Anti-Blonda smiled weakly and waved. "Hi. Sis, you're- Cutting off- My oxygen!"
Anti-Wanda let go of her sister and pointed to his brother. "Who's this here fella with the big nose?"
Anti-Cosmo nodded to him. "My older brother, Anti-Schnozmo. He wanted to meet you."
Anti-Schnozmo grabbed Anti-Wanda's hand and shook it much harder than was necessary. "And, to personally thank you resurrecting my brother!"
Anti-Cosmo pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "She gets it, Anti-Schnozmo. Now, let go before you break her arm."
"Oh," Anti-Schnozmo let go of her hand, "sorry."
Anti-Wanda shrugged. "S'alright." She smiled at Anti-Cosmo. "I'm just glad ya came back, like ya promised."
"Well, I am nothing, if not a man of my word," Anti-Cosmo responded.
He couldn't seem to look away from her. She was healing fast, thanks to her magic. Already, her once black eye had completely healed, and her torn wings looked like they were starting come together, as well. Wings were fragile, so naturally they would take longer to heal, but it was a start. Plus, the bandage on her leg was gone, though there was a long scar. He tore his eyes away from the scar - he knew that he was the cause of it and wondered if he would ever forgive himself for doing so - and locked eyes with her.
Why hadn't he noticed it before? Well, he knew why. It was because one of her eyes was swollen, and he had been too wracked with guilty to really see. But, now he saw. Anti-Wanda's eyes were beautiful. They were as warm and pink as the sunset on Earth, and they were filled with an innocence and a child-like mischief that he had never seen in anyone else before. She looked away, her face flushed with a deep shade of purple. Her bashfulness was positively adorable, and his icy heart melted at the sight. He wondered what she was thinking about.
He was broken out of his trance by a sudden burst of barely contained giggles, coming from Anti-Blonda. She noticed him raising an eyebrow at her and adjusted her glasses in embarrassment. "Uh, Anti-Schnozmo, can I speak with you in private?"
Anti-Schnozmo smirked at his brother before nodding at Anti-Blonda. "Sure thing." He held up his wand and poofed the two of them away, leaving Anti-Cosmo and Anti-Wanda alone together.
"What do ya think they's gonna talk about?" Anti-Wanda asked.
Anti-Cosmo shrugged. "I haven't the foggiest idea." Anti-Wanda patted on the spot where Anti-Blonda had been, and he sat down beside her. "So, you're doing alright, I assume?"
Anti-Wanda smiled sadly. "Yeah. I'm feeling better, but..."
"But, what?"
Anti-Wanda bit her lip and nervously wrung out her hands. "I'm a little lonely without you here."
"Oh," was all that Anti-Cosmo could think to respond with. "What about Anti-Blonda? She was just here."
"Yeah, but... I-I don't know." Anti-Wanda closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, then exhaled. "She ain't you, though."
Anti-Cosmo fought the urge to kiss her.
Anti-Wanda buried her hands in her hair. "Dammit! That wasn't supposed to come out of my mouth!"
Anti-Cosmo laughed. Her realization was just too cute not to laugh at! "It's okay, Anti-Wanda." He chewed inside of his cheek, wondering if he too should speak his mind. "I...I missed you, too."
Her eyes widened almost cartoonishly. "You did?"
He nodded, and she flung arms him suddenly, nuzzling her face into his neck. The action sent a wave of emotion surge through him. His face burned brighter than ever, his heart rate skyrocketed, and all he could think to do was wrap his arms around her and hold her-
He heard a sniff and then a sob.
His heart suddenly wrenched with despair. Anti-Wanda was crying. "Anti-Wanda?"
"I-It's been a s-stressful few days," she choked out.
So, that was the cause. Everybody alleviated stress in different ways, and she had been through a lot. The attack, her mother's brutal murder, maybe her feelings about him had even been as conflicted as his feelings about her. Perhaps crying was just what she needed.
He held her tighter, fighting against his powerful desire to place a gentle kiss on the top of her head, to stroke her soft curls, even to cry with her out of guilt for putting her through all of that pain and confusion. Instead, he just sat there with her in his arms, as she continued weep. He understood, now. He understood why he cared about how she was doing, whether or not she was thinking about him, how easily he had gotten lost in her eyes, why her pain made him hurt so much.
Anti-Cosmo didn't know when or how, but he had fallen in love with Anti-Wanda.
I planned to end the chapter after "Anti-Cosmo fought the urge to kiss her," but then the rest came to me. What can I say? I'm a total sap when it comes to romance! Also, what's up with Anti-Blonda and Anti-Schnozmo? Review to find out!