Chapter 32
Blaze couldn't stop staring at Ice who was busy helping him pack his things.
He then looked away, wanting to push down the dreaded memories and horrible feeling of failure.
Today was the day he had been allowed to be discharged from the hospital after a whole week of observation.
Throughout that week, he discovered he had been put on probation for aiding Adudu & Probe's escape and had his watch confiscated.
Which was a new development considering last time, that had never happened.
(Guess he'll try to find some way to get his watch back.)
Blaze then found himself sitting on the bed once more as his muscles started aching from exertion. He can't help but blame the Physical Therapy he had to go through.
Being in a coma for a whole month apparently led to some muscle waste. Thus, the need to do some annoying exercises like re-learning how to walk or something equally stupid as that.
Though his doctors were happy to remind him how lucky he was that he did not had any other dangerous complications like contractures and other stupid medical terms he did not bother to remember.
"Api?"
He snapped back to reality as soon as Ice placed his duffel bag beside him.
"What?"
"How are you feeling?" He asked softly, which ticked him off. This annoying need for them to treat him like some sort of fragile glass was starting to get on his nerves.
"I'm fine!" He scowled, "Would you quit asking that?!"
Ice didn't even flinch at the outburst and calmly zipped the bag close, "Alright, I'm sorry. I'm just making sure you're okay."
He huffed and hefted the bag over his shoulder. He couldn't help but be annoyed that he found it a little too heavy when it was just full of clothes and some toiletries.
"Here. Let me-"
"No! I can carry it!"
"Api, you're going out in a wheelchair anyway."
"I can walk just fine!"
"Api, just-"
"Alright, what's with all the ruckus here?" An annoyed Halilintar entered the room while wheeling in a wheelchair.
"I'm not sitting on that thing!" Blaze glared at the offending assistive device, "I have legs and as you can see, they're working perfectly! So put that thing back where it came from or I'll burn-"
He cut himself off as he realized he still didn't have his power watch at that moment. He looked up at Halilintar who just stared back at him with a raised eyebrow.
He frowned deeper.
"You were saying?" His brother huffed in exasperation, "Now stop being difficult and just get on this thing."
"Or I could just walk out here right now." Blaze pointed out as he made his way to the door, only to be blocked by Hali.
"Petir, maybe we should just let him be." Ice tried to say, but the eldest septuplet ignored him.
"It's hospital policy, Api." He said firmly. Not at all intimidated by the other's murderous glare, "You're not proving anyone anything. This is just to protect the hospital from a slip-and-fall liability."
"I'm not gonna slip and fall!"
"Neither was the guy who just broke a finger, but he let the nurse wheel him out anyway." His brother retorted impatiently, "So get your butt on this seat or so help me I'll have to tie you to this wheelchair!"
"Ugh! FINE!" He pushed the annoyingly heavy bag back to Ice who was looking at Halilintar in amazement like he had just done a miracle, before practically collapsing in the wheelchair with his arms crossed in annoyance.
Halilintar rolled his eyes before pushing him out of the room towards the nurse's station where Tok Aba and Gempa where working on his papers.
As soon as the latter saw them, he hastily made his way to them.
"Don't." Blaze spoke up, just as Gempa was about to open his mouth.
Obviously to ask how he was feeling like how he always does when ever he sees him.
"I was just going to ask if you wanted to eat outside." Gempa said with a disapproving frown, but his eyes still held that sadness that won't seem to go away since he woke up.
And honestly, it only made him annoyed.
"Of course not." He spat at him, knowing fully well why he felt ticked off when he was around.
Gempa was taken aback, "I just thought..."
Seeing Gempa's defeated look just made him feel angrier.
"I'm tired and I still have this stupid diet to follow. So what's the point?!"
"I- I guess you're right." Gempa said softly, it almost made him feel bad. Almost.
Of course, his sniping was eventually rewarded with a smack in the head.
"Ow! What gives!" He turned to glare at Hali, who had obviously been the perpetrator.
"Would you stop snapping at everyone already? It's getting old. Not to mention rude." He scolded, "Everyone's been nothing but nice to you and this is how you repay them?"
"Hali, it's fine. He's just a little stressed." Gempa said trying to calm him down.
Tok Aba then called for them and led them to the exit.
Halilintar gave him another warning glare before wheeling him out. Leaving him to fume in silence.
Stress. Hah!
If only he could show them how "stressed" he really was! He'd burn this whole place to the ground if he was given the chance-
He froze just as he was about to stand up from his wheelchair.
He felt a chill run down his spine.
"Api?" Ice, who had held the door open for him, looked back in worry.
"Ah... sorry." He mumbled as he quickly got up and made his way to the exit.
He almost bumped into an elderly patient as he did so and he couldn't help but feel even more terrible at his intrusive thoughts.
Where the hell did that even come from?
"You're looking pale." Tok Aba commented as he slid the van's door open, "Are you feeling dizzy? You can tell us if you're not feeling alright."
"I'm fine, Atok." He insisted, his voice a little distant it got his brothers to exchange worried looks.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
" When can I have my watch back?" Api demanded as they finally arrived home.
"Why? So you can start burning wheelchairs?" Halilintar said as he took his duffle bag.
Api didn't bother to argue on trying to carry it this time since he had far more important matters to fight about.
"No- It's because I want it back!"
"Blaze, you know that using your powers is the reason you've been getting these episodes." Ice patiently held up his hand to help him down the van.
Blaze ignored the help and continued glaring at Halilintar.
"I don't care. I need my powers back!"
"We're on earth right now and there's nothing for you to burn down here." Halilintar reminded him, "Just for once, can't you work with us on this?"
Blaze wanted to argue more when a cheerful voice called his name.
"API!! You're finally home!"
Thorn barges out of the door, wearing a pink apron while covered in flour from head to toe.
"D-Daun! What happened to you?!" Gempa got out of the front seat just to stare at their brother in pure bewilderment.
"I'm making cake!" He proudly exclaimed.
Only for Taufan to run out of the house with a small fire extinguisher in tow.
"Oh no. Please don't tell me you set the kitchen on fire again." Tok Aba was next to appear, face filled with horror.
"Of course not!"
"He accidentally set the mixing bowl on fire." Taufan shot his brother an exasperated look, who immediately looked down as he fiddled with his stained apron.
"I didn't know it wasn't meant for the oven..."
Halilintar turned back to Blaze and tilted his head to the duo, "See what I mean?"
He scowled before exploding, "I don't care if they burn the house down! I still want my power watch!"
He needed it! Not having his powers was driving him insane! He felt powerless- afraid... but most of all vulnerable to possible threats that could take advantage of anything right now.
The dumfounded silence that followed was deafening as his brothers looked at him in disbelief.
Tok Aba on the other hand, slowly crouched next to Blaze before placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
It took him his all not to flinch away.
"I know the past weak had been difficult for you." He said softly while brushing his bangs aside.
For a moment the angry voices in his head was silenced at the other's sincerity.
"But I saw you being so brave and determined during your stay in the hospital." He continued, "So I can understand why you're a little cranky right now."
"I'm not-" He stopped when the elderly looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
In response, he looked down in silence, his own words replaying in his mind.
"I'm... I'm sorry Tok Aba." He mumbled.
"It's okay, Api." The other said as he pat him in the head, "We only want nothing but what's best for you, so please be a little patient with us as well, okay?"
It's easy for Tok Aba to say that because he'll never understand what I've been through.
Another wave of rage hit him, but he immediately held it back and kept his expression neutral.
"Okay, Atok."
The elderly's eyebrows furrowed a bit, but smiled nonetheless.
His other brothers who were watching seemed relieved that their grandfather had at least been able to defuse the situation and Thorn took this opportunity to grab his hand with a grin.
"Want to hang out and play some video games?"
"Sure, and leave all the mess for me to clean." Taufan pouted as Gempa approached him with a chuckle, "I'll help you."
I hate this.
"Api?" Thorn started to look worried.
He pulled his hand from his grip and could feel eyes staring at him now.
I hate how stupidly naïve they all are.
"I'm tired." He finally said when he realized they were waiting for him to speak up. Eyes filled with suspicion and concern once more- it made him want to snap at them again, "I think I'm gonna go take a nap."
"But-"
How dare they try to act everything's fine after everything they did to me.
He made his way into the house and saw Solar engrossed with his book as he walked down stairs. He looked up and was surprised to see him.
He looked like he wanted to say something but froze, eyes suddenly widening as his face turned pale.
Blaze chose to ignore this strange reaction when he could feel his own head start pounding and made his way up.
"Api?"
He released a frustrated sigh and turned, "What, nerd?!"
Solar kept looking at him like he had seen a ghost. After a few seconds, he shook his head, "Nothing. Never mind."
He wanted to snipe at him for wasting his time but knew their Grandpa was going to come inside soon and the last thing he wanted was another lecture from him.
He stomped his way up, entered his shared room and slammed the door shut.
Trying to channel some of that anger through the resounding slam that definitely reached downstairs.
What he would give to have his power watch back just so he can actually release some of this frustration that wouldn't stop building up in him.
"This is all RevBot's fault." He muttered turning away from the door and glaring at the window, staring at the orange-tinted sky.
"Once I find him..." He started only to stop when he heard laughter.
He immediately looked around, trying to confirm that he was alone in the room.
More laughter bounced around him and he finds himself backing away into the window, a bead of sweat running down the side of his face as his heart started hammering against his chest.
Was it an enemy?
"Who...?"
"Api! Help me!"
And suddenly he was back to that planet. Standing in the middle of a snow-covered jungle and surrounded by large crevices.
"Please-"
He turned and saw Ice- struggling to climb out one of the larger cracks. His usually calm face filled with panic and desperation.
"Air!" He yelled, running towards him with a hand outstretched.
He'll make it this time. He'll make it-
"Help-" He watched in horror as the edge Ice had been holding on to cracked and broke apart.
"AIR!"
The laughter suddenly grew louder- it was almost deafening, but he ignored it and ran for the crevice to jump after his brother.
He was going to save him or die trying!
"Hold on- oof!"
Much to his surprise he landed on his feet way sooner than he had expected.
But everything around him was consumed in darkness.
No trees, no grass, no snow... just black.
Where was Ice?
"Aren't you tired of all of this?"
He whipped around to see Reverse Gempa smiling at him gently. Yet his crimson eyes held another story.
"You-" He gritted his teeth, the familiar anger bursting within him and ready to explode just like his flames.
...then he remembered his flames weren't here to protect him this time.
"It's easier... passing all this blame to me or to RevBot..." He started walking around him, "Or anyone who got in your way- but have you ever stopped to think that maybe this had been all on you?"
"Shut up! You're not real!"
This had to be a dream. It obviously was!
He was just in their house moments ago! He rewound time to make sure this wasn't going to happen again!
Reverse Gempa shouldn't be here!
"You're so cute when you're scared, I could just pinch you." The other chuckled behind him. He turned and backed away, eyes wide and shaky.
"What do you want from me?!"
"I'm here to help you." He grinned widely it sent chills down his spine.
"You want to end this loop, right?" Gempa approached him and he tried to step back again but for some reason he couldn't move, "And I've got just the perfect solution for you, my precious brother."
His breath was picking up and he wasn't sure why his body was refusing to fight back or do something as the other got nearer and nearer only to stop once his face was merely inches away from his.
His eyes were as red as the blood he had been covered that day he died that bile rose up from Blaze's throat.
"All you have to do..." Gempa's form flickered.
And before he knew it, he was face to face with his own self- but the only thing that remained was his white hair and manic scarlet eyes as he grinned at him widely.
"...is be me."
The familiar laughter was sudden and sharp that he couldn't help but scream and throw a punch to his impostor's face-
-only for his fist to painfully collide with glass and suddenly he was back in his room with a broken window in front of him.
He gasped in horror and took a few steps back, realizing what he had just done as he heard shouts from below and hurried footsteps heading his way.
He could feel blood dripping from his fist which he immediately held closely to his chest, wide teary eyes not leaving the window.
Still half expecting that that impostor was going to suddenly pop in front of him and- and become him.
"Api!" The door to the room slammed opened and Gempa was immediately in front of him, eyes growing wide when he saw his bleeding fist, "W-what happened?!"
"I- I didn't mean to- I-" His breathing was starting to pick up, and Gempa fussing over him was not helping his rising panic.
"Oh no, no, no! It's- it's fine! It's just a broken window! We can fix it!" His brother tried to hold his arms but he flinched away like he had been burned.
Gempa was surprised by the reaction. He made this face as if realizing something and was suddenly backing away from him.
Blaze couldn't hold back his sob and stepped away from him as well.
Gempa's face crumpled into fear and pain just as more footsteps entered.
"What happened here?!" Petir had approached the broken window, being mindful of the scattered glass on the ground.
"Api? Hey-" And Blaze was being pulled away from the room and soon found himself facing Air who looked back at him in worry.
"Api! Help me!"
He was vaguely aware of his other brothers approaching, but Ice looked up at them and shook his head lightly.
"Please-"
His breath hitched and he gripped Ice's arm like a lifeline while his brother held him as well, being mindful of his injured hand, "Let's stop that bleeding, hm?"
He could feel the other try to guide him to the direction of their bathroom but he remained rooted on the ground.
"Help-"
"Come on, we have to get that treated..."
He looked up at the face of the brother he had lost from the previous timeline and finally let the grief engulf him.
The strange vision finally pushed him on edge and the fear of seeing any form of reverse made him cling to Ice, afraid that he was going to somehow fall right in front of him once more.
He tried to keep it together.
He tried to actively avoid staring at him for too long.
He tried to channel his grief into anger because he did his best to fool himself into believing that everything was fine now that everything had restarted.
But just like the fresh memory of Gempa's death... and now Ice's...
...he couldn't avoid the fact that it had happened.
And he had been too powerless to avoid it all.
How many more of his brothers were going to die before he put an end to all of this?!
His grinning reversed self flashed in his mind.
He choked and let out a sob before burying his face on Ice's hoodie- and his brother surprisingly engulfed him in a tight hug as if he had been expecting this.
He did not freeze and ask what was going on with him.
Instead he let him cling to him and shushed him softly, muttering "It's okay" and "We're here" once in a while like he was some sort of baby needing assurance.
He should be embarrassed.
He should push him away and try to put up a brave face.
But instead, he gripped on the other's light blue hoodie, smudging some blood in the process, trying to ground himself back to reality as he focused on Ice's soft mumbles...
...Petir's loud stomping in the room as he checked for other stray glass...
...Gempa's urgent and insistent tone...
...Solar's soft warnings...
...the gentle hand rubbing his back that could either be Thorn's or Taufan's...
...and...
...laughter?
He sucked in a harsh breath and looked up the darkened hallway leading to the bathroom they were supposed to go.
No... he was just imagining things...
He was just...
Ice slowly pulled away and took his uninjured hand. Blaze was mildly aware of the other trying to get his attention but his eyes were fixed on the hazy figure from afar as he looked over Ice's shoulder.
He blinked- and it was gone.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Let me help you... Api~"
.
.
.
.
.
To be continued...
-*-*-*-*-*-
No fanart this time, but you know me. Will probably upload one tomorrow at twitter for promotion~ ('▽'ʃ♡ƪ)