Rainbow Connection, AFTG ✔️

1.12

PORTER
CHAPTER TWELVE

By Christmas break, Porter could look in the mirror without flinching.

At the Nest, he'd never had any choices about anything, including his appearance; years of staying underground made his skin look cooler than it should, and he'd constantly been deformed and suffering from the coloration of bruises, if not fully ripped open from knives or canes or racquets. He'd had enough stitches to last a lifetime. He didn't have any when December rolled around.

The sun vanished often during South Carolina winters, but Porter still looked tanner; warm and healthy, like a real person rather than a half-dead puppet. His hair was so much longer than the Nest had ever let it be, and Porter liked it, grown out just below his ears. He didn't have to style his hair flawlessly anymore, and he let his bangs fall in his face in a mess of waves.

He didn't wear black at all, not if he could avoid it. Porter wore orange and red and white and yellow, happy and sweet Autumn colors, and Porter wore green, like his eyes. He had been starting to like his appearance, for the first time since his childhood.

The flinching was gone, sure, but Porter nearly doubled over the sink when he saw the mirror the day after the banquet. He glared at his reflection with more self-loathing than he'd ever expressed outwardly. Too much of his face looked like the boy Riko had kidnapped.

Porter had tried to memorize Vincent's face since Riko brought him to his attention. Whenever Porter pictured his siblings, he saw little six-year-olds playing with him in the yard. Vincent was seventeen now, and Porter had barely let the fact register during his time at Evermore. He was grown, and Porter didn't know a thing about him -- so he clung to that face, that horribly bruised and damaged face that told him everything Riko was doing just to hurt Porter.

Vincent's hair was darker than Porter's, it had been like that since they were little, same with his little twin. Porter had forgotten so much of Vincent's appearance, and seeing him brought it back. His eyes were dark brown, cold, and harsh; Porter could have sworn they used to be amber and honey. Porter could see their relation yet couldn't; they were far from identical, to say the least.

Christmas break brought the Foxes' parting of ways until the New Year. Porter was hardly ready for it but had thankfully made plans with Matt the week before. Throughout the break, he'd still have Nicky and Kevin by his side -- Aaron too, though Porter was sure Aaron didn't like him, or anyone for that matter. According to Matt, his mother wanted to meet the cousins' anyways, and Randy Boyd had paid Aaron's bail, so how could Nicky say no? Nicky was excited to spend New Year in Times Square, and Porter was excited for Christmas. Neil had bailed at the last minute to spend the break with his uncle in Arizona, but Nicky's mood didn't damper too horribly, and Porter was happy he seemed to be having a good time again.

Hayden came to get Renee early in the morning, and the girls all left with him. They'd fly out together, then Dan would take a separate connecting flight. Allison would return to South Dakota with the Bishop-Walker siblings.

The boys took a flight out early in the day. JFK Airport was loud and busy, but Nicky linked arms with him to keep him from getting dragged under the current of the crowd, and Kevin got stuck lugging half of the suitcases for them. Matt's mother was a professional boxer, and his father was a plastic surgeon. Randy welcomed them to New York with a large smile and an expensive three-row car, telling them to not call her Mrs because it makes her feel old. The excitement and luxury were enough for his anxiety and guilt to disappear, even if for just a minute.