The Hellenic Twins

Explanation

*Roan's POV*
I carefully avoided getting hit by falling objects as I heard a door slam upstairs. I wanted to find her. Tell her everything will be okay but even I can't lie to her face. So I just stood there watching the stairs like she would come running down and save me from this room full of people who don't care about us but she didn't. It was time for her to save herself. Our whole life she has been strong and offensive while I stand back and wait till the fighting is done. She always fights even after everything we have been through she gets up and fights not for herself or her pride but for me. My entire life I just stood behind her like a scared child and let her take all the hits. She puts on an unbreakable mask that is so convincing I think even she believes things don't hurt her. I have always know my sister's next move, anticipated her plays, but what just happened was nothing like the sister I know. River's wall finally cracked and then instead of falling apart she built it up even higher and stronger. I can't get her emotionless stare out of my head. So I just stand there reliving every second of what just happened.
I assume everyone else is as well because when I finally unglue my eyes from the stairs I see them staring at me completely complexed.
Every bone in my body wants to shrink down and run back behind the protective wall of River but I can't. It's my turn to protect her. I have to do what she isn't strong enough to do.
I walk into the middle of the room where River was just floating. "Explain it to me!" I bark as fearlessly as I can. "Explain how you let this happen!"
"I-we- we didn't know..." Tony stammered. I could see the tears brimming his eyes.
I almost let myself feel bad for him but then I remembered I can't falter. "How!"
"Pepper was your legal guardian she made the decision..." Steve explained
"Virginia?" I stammered. "But... why would she..."
"I'm sure she didn't know!" Tony defended her. "I'm sorry. For my part in this. I swear if I had know-"
"You would have what? Come to save us? I sent you letters every week telling you about what was happening! But you didn't even read them did you.... No" I blurted out.
"I had so much guilt for sending you away that I couldn't- I thought it was the right thing!" He stammered.
"Yeah well, what you thought was the right thing left electricity scars and syringe holes in my sister's body!" I screamed at him. I hadn't noticed but I was now in his face just a foot away.
"What?..." he breathed. I could tell the breath hitched in his throat. I could see the tears starting to leak from his eyes. Without a word I dug in my pockets and slammed a piece of paper down on the table.
"What is this?" Steve questioned as he read the note I made on the flight over here while River slept on my shoulder.
"Do you know what those are?.. yeah me neither. They are all the drugs River is now addicted to. She will need to slowly get less and less until she can function without them but for now we are going to need those by tomorrow or things will get ugly." I demanded.
"What do you mean addicted-" Steve began to ask but I cut him off.
" Eichen isn't a school to learn to control your powers it's a school to subdue your powers." I paused before taking a breath and continuing. " they had a rule that using magic was strictly forbidden. When you grow up like River, using magic for everyday tasks, just quitting is hard. Every time she accidentally used her powers they had huge guards take her to a room in the back. Strap her down and poke her with electrically charged rods." I paused again to let it sink in. " when even that was not stopping her they found a different way of controlling her. They injected her with so much of this stuff." I motioned to the list of long scientific names " she couldn't remember what her birthday was much less how to use her magic." I finished breathing in heavily. The room stood silent.
"They drugged and tortured her?..." Natasha asked in a shaky voice.
I nodded my head. Looking between all of them who finally understood her aggressive outburst. They pitied us. I knew this would annoy River later but it was the truth and they deserve to know the extent of their crimes towards our lives.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to get out of this room. It felt like the room was closing in. Getting stuffier and stuffier until I couldn't breath. As gracefully as possible, without showing my panic, I dragged myself up the stairs. Tony's computer assistant thing , Jarvis, told me where to find my room. When I made it inside I found the shower as fast as possible and turned it to ice cold water. Stepping in the stone floored shower, all the breath returned to my lungs. I took in as many deep breathes as possible before sitting down on the cold floor. Still fully clothed I stayed there. I have no idea how long, but I know it was long enough for the window near the sink to transition from bright white, to yellow and orange, and now to just the glow of the moon. I decide to stand and find clothes that would likely be packed into a neat dresser. I was right. I changed fast and after I had just slipped the shirt over my head a knock at the door surprised me.
It was Natasha. She looked curiously at my soaking wet hair and then extended a plate of delicious looking food. If I wasn't so proud I would snatch it out of her arms and devour it with my hands. Instead I politely grabbed the plate.
"Thank you Natasha. You have been very kind to us... even when we were kids."
"They really had no idea, you know." She reasoned.
"Do you believe the would have done something differently?" I countered.
"I Know they would have done everything differently." She answered.
Instead of replying I just gave her a pitiful smile and went to close the door. She moved to leave and then turned back around.
"Hey, Roan."
"Yeah?"
"Just thought you would want to know, River's room is two doors down." She smiled and continued down the hall.
I closed the door. I did't know what it was but I had a feeling River didn't need me right then. She will come when she is ready to. Sometimes we just need some space. Now was one of those times. So I finished my food and fell asleep knowing deep down things would be better here.
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*River's POV*
Waking up was like a nightmare in itself. I screamed sitting up covered in a thick sweat. Sometimes my own mind is my worst fear. Like when I woke up and could see the white covered walls and the piles of empty pill bottles and books with the spines broken because I've read them a million times over. My mind, it poisons me with this hauntingly realistic hallucination. Then it takes it a step further by prohibiting air to my lungs. I gasp into the still midnight air but none comes. Then a miracle, I see the perfectly crescent shaped moon through the window to my right. Instantly the breath flows into my lungs and I see the beautifully furnished room I lie in. I spend a minute staring at the moon as if if I dare look away, everything will stop again.
When I muster up the courage to look away, I'm hit with the overwhelming ache of loneliness. Sitting in this huge room alone makes me nauseous. At Eichen, the cell was so small I could pretend Roan was in the one next to me but here I felt like nobody was close for miles around. Then it hit me. I'm not at Eichen. I can do whatever the hell I want to. So I do. I do the only thing I want to do in this moment.
I stand and make my way down the hall. I touch each door handle but the first two only have a hollow aura. At the third I found a familiar warm feeling when I reached for the door. Carefully and quietly I turned the handle. The room was dark but I saw a mass turn in the bed a couple yards away.
"River?" He muttered sluggishly
"Yup." I answered with a smile.
I climbed into the warm covers on the other side of the huge mattress. I surrounded myself in as much blanket as I could find. As the light faded from my vision I only heard one thing.
"Goodnight Riv..."
And I drifted off to sleep with a smile. He was right, I did have a good night. No nightmares, no worries, just calm blissful sleep. Roan always had that effect on me. Even with the sh*t show that today was he could so easily make it better. I will never understand my father's choosing me over him. Really how anybody could pick me over him. Well, one things for sure. I pick him. Always.

This one is kinda bad but it will get better soon. 😐