Chibiyu: So this could possibly contain my most evil plot twist.

Nick: We've been warned.

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Necrophere chuckled, "Of their greatest fears."

"Gladly."

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My life is more numbered than I thought, Nick thought, his gaze glued to the ceiling despite Kevin's attempts at catching his eye. The Normal's chest ached, but he refused to show it, refused to wrap his arms around his torso and cry. But then again, that would be what any sane person would do if their ribs had been acquainted with a boot and something more. He allowed his eyes to fall closed, having felt the all too familiar burning. Kevin called to him again, but like last time, he did not respond.

"Please, Nick," he heard the pleading tone and turned his head away from it, "What did they do?"

The younger just shrugged, barely moving in order to not show his discomfort.

"They just grabbed you and kept you for hours and just threw you back in here," Kevin tried to reason, his voice never reaching a level of calm, "And you refuse to tell me what they did?"

Nick sighed, cracking open his eyes. "They want you to feel this way," he whispered, resting his bruised cheek against the numbing wall. "They want you to lash out, to be angry at what they are doing to me; to be your own demise."

Kevin pressed his hands to his still throbbing wounds, looking away even though Nick had never once glanced his way. "I see," Kevin breathed, "And you are keeping injuries from me so I do not do any such thing?"

Nick nodded once, trying to take a deeper breath but finding it impossible. Kevin saw the wince, understanding when Nick's hand jerked to his chest before he clenched it and put it back onto his lap.

"I am still angry," Kevin informed him, "They are hurting you."

Nick looked over to him for the first time and just shrugged, face void of any care.

"In more than one way," Kevin dared to venture a guess. When Nick lowered his head, Kevin knew. "What do they say? How do they hurt you?" When Nick didn't answer Kevin forced himself up, blocking out the fictitious needles stabbing into his side and leg. Nick was instantly at his side, pushing and holding him down. "Let me go, Nick."

"Not likely."

"If you're getting hurt, why shouldn't I?" Kevin spoke out, watching the cogs in Nick's brain begin to spin.

"You are hurt. And trying to make it worse won't make me open my mouth."

Kevin raised an eyebrow, leaving Nick to interpret the challenge. "Won't it?"

It took a moment, but the older watched as Nick's shoulders fell and smiled to himself when his brother released him.

"Fine," the Normal grudging conceded, falling to the floor and leaning his back against the bed. "And what happens behind that door," he pointed slightly, tone never shifting from a flat line, "Isn't anything I can't handle. So don't worry about me."

"Isn't that my job?"

Nick shook his head. "No," he breathed running his fingers through his deadened curls. "Your job is to worry about the masses, not one person."

Kevin didn't bother to contradict, knowing that the wrong thing was said, Nick would pounce. So he answered simply: "You're my brother, so I do worry."

Again, all he received was a shrug in return. "They won't kill me until they realize that they don't need me," Nick began, "So nothing is life threatening or damaging below the skin."

Kevin just waved this off; having already taken note of his brother's discolored skin and pangs of pain. "I didn't mean physically," he stated, letting Nick fill in the rest.

"I know you didn't," he replied with a short laugh. "They try to put ideas in my head; their own plans and society's view on Normals, but I know better. After all, the Four and the Bane chose me – a Normal – out of all the other super-humans."

Kevin laughed at this, knocking his fist into Nick's upper arm. "Don't get a big head."

Nick rolled his eyes, the action almost missed by Kevin. "I don't think that is possible. Not if I want to survive."

"True. So what else?"

When Nick wrapped his arms around his chest and let his tears begin to fall, Kevin was nearly sitting up again. He settled only when a glare was sent his way.

"What else, Nick?"

Nick looked his brother square in the eye, nothing on his face. "I may die tonight, Kev."

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He sprung from the chair was if electrocuted, fighting the urge to scream. He felt the cold beads of sweat rolling down his neck, getting caught in the standing hair.

"Joe?"

He looked over, meeting the face of a concerned blonde.

"It's nothing," he told her, skirting into the bathroom. He leaned heavily over the sink, trying to regulate his huffing. "It's nothing," he repeated, looking his pale self in mirror. "Just a nightmare."

He pressed his eyes closed, his fingers fumbling with the faucet for a moment. Seeing it, it was worse than Joe could have imagined. He splashed his face, hoping to either wipe off or drown the stain of their blood on his fingers and to muddle the image of their vacant eyes. But the cold water hit his skin, doing nothing but sending the chill of goose-bumps down his spine. Everything around him had been rubble, all because he wasn't strong enough to hold the world on his shoulders, to stop it from crushing them.

Because he wasn't strong enough…just as he wasn't strong enough to save Nick or Kevin.

"Joe?" Stella pushed open the door, having knocked enough without acknowledgement. "What happened?"

"Nothing, Stell," he sent her a smile as fake as her own, "Just a nightmare."

She nodded, touching the young man lightly on the arm. "They're okay, Joe," she reminded him, heart cracking when the addressed turned away and nodded stiffly. "The Villains want Nick for the Bane and he is smart enough to exploit that so they won't hurt Kevin."

"We don't know that."

Stella shook her head, lips pursed. "Alright, we don't. But Nick is smart and Kevin is smart and they both are strong. They are alive, Joe, and they are waiting for us to rescue them. We can't make them wait any longer."

Joe looked over at her, a longing look on his face when he saw the hope on hers. "I just can't believe that until I see it."

Stella gripped the countertop, desperately wishing her palm was smacking Joe's face. "Then look harder and fight harder until you can believe it."

"You don't get it, Stella!" Joe threw his hands in the air, moving away from the girl. "You're an only child. You'll never understand."

Stella's hands found her hips. "They're my brothers too, Joe. They have been for fourteen years." She turned, showing off her back. "And I'm believing as hard as I can that we will find them and stop this entire thing. It's time you do too."

"Actually," came a tiny voice from the doorway. Both whipped around, eyes widening when they saw Macy partially hiding behind the doorframe. "I found the Bane. Three blocks from the subway station on Fifth Street."

"How!?"

Macy shrugged, daring to walk into the doorway. "The Villains must have made a mistake or something. All I know is that it is far away from any other Villain – like someone took it and ran."

"Nick?" Stella dared to question.

"No idea. I couldn't feel the person, just briefly the Bane."

"Trap?" Joe questioned, looking hesitantly at the girls as he began to inch out of the small room.

Macy shrugged. "I don't know. I find powers and people; I can't sense things like Kevin."

"I know, Mace," Joe forced a smile as he clapped her on the shoulder. "You did great."

The girls watched Joe walk towards the stairs before bolting after him, becoming his shadow despite his protests.

"Stay here," he ordered once he reached the door, prying Stella's fingers from his arm. "I can't lose you both either."

"But if it is a trap," Macy began, looking to Stella for help, "Then you'll need back-up."

Joe sighed, looking away from the two. "No offense, but your powers aren't exactly the best for fighting. I can't be everywhere at once – I can't protect both of you." At this admittance, both girls fell back, a look of both complete shock and sad understanding crossing their faces.

"This isn't your fault, Joe," Stella gently told him, only to be responded with the cold slam of the front door. "Why can't he believe that?"

Macy shook her head, watching from the window as the young man ran down the street. "Because he is the only one that is free."

"There's Frankie -!"

"Who would never voluntarily be put into this sort of harm's way," Macy finished, pulling Stella over to the fire-poles. "Come on, let's tell my mom about this."

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Joe charged down the road, head always on a swivel as he turned onto the desired road. His heels skid against the pavement, breath getting stuck in his throat from the sight.

"Go!"

Joe blinked at the cry, not comprehending the order from his younger brother.

"Joe, you idiot, run!"

His eyes went to chains connecting Nick's wrist to the lamp post, unable to feel anything but anger at the thin trail of blood staining the road at the younger's feet. He watched Nick yank the chain and him wince, but not seizing despite the pain.

"It's a trap, dope!" Nick called again, taking a moment to turn his attention to Joe before pulling at his wrists again. "Get out of here!"

Joe finally snapped to his senses when Nick gasped out, fingers twitching after a rather violent pull. He charged forward, taking the chains and attempting to break them, but they didn't snap. Confusion welled up in his face and caused him to nearly lose his footing when Nick jabbed his elbows into the Heroes stomach, forcing him to stumble back.

"No," Nick tried again; pulling further away from his brother, but his restraints prevented this. "Go, Joe, please!"

"I'm not leaving you!"

"Then you'll die!" Nick blurted out, leaving Joe cold. "You need to go." Nick's breath hitched in his throat, hands covered his lower stomach. "Please," he breathed out, looking at his brother through his eye lashes, "Please go."

Joe chose to block out Nick's pleas. He gently removed his brother's hand from their hold over his stomach, and with Nick's short nod, lifted the tattered garment that was once a shirt.

"Now do you understand?" Nick breathed, wincing again as the numbers strapped securely to his body dropped another ten seconds. Joe too backed away, his fingers tingling from the electric current that ran from the device as soon as the time hit 80 seconds. "If you take it off of me, it will detonate." Only then did Joe hear the tears in Nick's voice. "Run, Joe. Save yourself."

The addressed slowly lifted his head, eye meeting.

"No, please go!"

Joe pulled the teen close, arms wrapping firmly around him as if trying to shield him from the world.

"Joe, run, you dolt!" Nick screeched, trying to pull away. "Please! Kevin's ok! Save him; you're the only one who can!"

But Joe didn't move.

"Please," Nick begged, ignoring the how his eyes burned from the fear cascading down his face. "Please, Joe, please go." His breathing hitched and his was again clamped between his teeth, but nothing stopped the whimper from escaping. At this shock, his skin was left nearly numb, tingling as if the limbs had fallen asleep.

"Joe," he tried once more, stopping his attempt at escape. "Don't die because of me. Stop this from happening to other Normals. I had a good run…we all knew this day would come."

Joe pulled away, hands still firmly clamped on Nick's arms.

"Please, Joe; I'm begging you," Nick whispered, putting everything he had into his urgency, his plea, but Joe's soft and sorrow-filled face didn't change. "Don't give up," he cut off for a moment, feeling himself twitch from another shock. "P-please," this was all he could force out; his tongue was too heavy and lips too numb.

"Sixty seconds," Joe finally spoke, pulling his brother close again. Both were shivering from the pain and fear neither wanted to ever face, and now that it was upon them, neither knew what to do. "Don't ask me to leave, Nick."

"I h-have to."

"Touching," a new voice entered just as Nick's knees gave out. Joe was quick to support his brother, lowering him to the ground when he realized he wasn't going to regain his strength. His own muscles too burned, but he was still new to this torment and was able to remain strong.

Fifty seconds.

"But not needed. Nicholas," Necrophere addressed, kneeling a few feet from the brothers, holding out a stick.

Joe gasped, looking between the white dove dangling from the end and to his brother, whose eyes were half closed.

"You can stop this," the Villain bribed, noting how Nick watched the pendant swing. "They don't have to die?"

"Th-they?"Nick stuttered, hissing out in agony before he finished the word. He took a moment, time he knew he didn't have, before opening his eyes again.

"Yes," Necrophere pointed behind them, to the corner of a building. "Around that corner, your other brother, Kevin, is tied. If time runs out…"

"Prove it," Joe ordered, pulling his baby brother even closer. Kevin was suddenly forced into view by a force unseen, his cheek slamming into the pavement as he struggled. But the older froze when he finally saw the full extent of the situation.

And the Villain chuckled. "See, Nicholas?" he paused, waiting for the teen to stop whimpering before continuing. "One move and it will all go away."

Nick locked eyes with Kevin, something flitting between them. With just over thirty seconds left on the timer, Nick reached out, glaring at Joe as he grabbed his wrist.

"I have to do this."

Joe's fingers slid off Nick's skin. The teen hesitated, fingers convulsing horribly as Nick let out a short shout, burying his face his Joe's shirt. But as soon as the bout was over, his fingers closed around the chain. But the timer kept going.

"Stop the bomb!" Joe screamed, watching Nick carefully turn the Bane over in his hand. "He has the pendant!"

"Ah," Necrophere pointed, standing up and taking a few steps back, "But he must use it to save himself."

Nick's head snapped up, looking at the man like he was insane. "I don't know how!"

"Figure it out." Necrophere laughed as Nick gritted his teeth, pain flashing over his face. "And I would be quick – you only have 17 seconds left."

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Chibiyu: Until Next Update!

Written on 3/23/12