How the Night Hides Scars

Chapter 5 | Reunion

CW: Swearing

I heard three male voices as I slowly came too. I recognized one of them as Artemis but I couldn't figure out the other two.

"This is your sister? Are you sure someone didn't cheat? She looks nothing like you." I heard a bitchy male voice say with a British accent.

"Yes she's my sister and nobody cheated. My grandma got a DNA test on both of us when she was four and I was 7." a more familiar voice said

"Akari please control your boyfriend. I know that you don't appreciate these comments so what makes you think I do?" Artemis questioned.

Akari? My brother was alive? I opened my eyes and very looked around the room slowly. I was in an office of some kind sitting curled up in Artemis' lap. He was sitting in an office chair behind a large desk. Across from the desk, were two men who looked about 24 to 25 years old.

One wore a brown sweater vest over a white short-sleeve button-up with a black tie and blue dress pants. He had light brown fluffy hair and square-frame glasses. He also wore some kind of headset around his neck.

I looked over to the side of him and saw my brother. He looked relatively the same. He was wearing an oversized greasy button-down with one side tucked into his light blue jeans that were folded above the ankle. His sleeves were bunched up and he had oil stains on his face. He'd grown out his dark brown hair which was in a ponytail. He looked paler than the last time I saw him.

Akari started to speak "With all due respect sir Cliffton is my husband and I can't control the comments he makes" he mumbled

Akari seemed to avoid eye contact with Artemis, looking around the room until his eyes landed on me sitting up.

Still, a little light-headed I tried to sit up but failed and accidentally hit my head on a small table lamp.

"Oh my god," I heard Akari say with a hint of worry.

"Are you alright Jade?" Artemis asked helping me sit up.

"I think so," I stammered. "Akari is that really you? I thought you were dead" I added.

Akari started to rub his neck nervously. He obviously didn't want to talk about this.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm sorry I didn't contact you or at least tell you that I was leaving. I didn't want you following me. Although it looks like you did anyways" he awkwardly laughed trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm not mad at you, I was never mad at you. I never wanted to believe you were dead but everyone told me that you were so I listened" I mumbled sadly.

The fluffy-haired man nudged my brother.

"Aren't you going to introduce me Akari ?" he asked

"Oh uh, Jade this is my husband Cliffton. He's the head of operations on our missions. He organizes everything from here and monitors them to make sure everything goes according to plan." he stammered.

"How the fuck are both of us gay?" I laughed.

Akari started to laugh as Artemis and Cliffton just stared.

"You're gay?" Artemis asked.

"You're surprised?" I asked him.

"I hate to interrupt but Jade needs to get ready. We have a mission later today and she doesn't have an outfit or any information about how things work here." Clifton remarked.

"Right, You two are excused. Akari makes sure the vehicles are ready to go. Cliffton you take care of all of the technology and make sure everyone is ready." Artemis ordered

Akari and Cliffton nodded and both left the office. Artemis tapped on my leg so I got off of him.

"Follow me," he said walking towards a small closet.