Hidden and Silent (SpyxFamily)

Ch. 7: Part Four

"Careful. You'll fall and die."

Damian looked back at Demetrius from the edge he'd been peering over to the ground far below. "Why do you always think I'm going to die?"

"Because you're extremely breakable and you'll splatter like a bug on a windshield if you fall.

". . .There's a safety bar." Damian rattled it to emphasize. "I'm wasn't even looking over the bar. I'm looking over the side."

"Doesn't matter. You'd find a way."

"Tch." Damian said and turned away from him, but didn't do it again.

The view from the ferris wheel grew wider and wider as they neared the top, dwindling slowly as it descended again. This was the first ride Demetrius had suggested and Damian could see why. He saw beyond the park when they were near the top and it was all laid out before them like it was meant for really tiny people.

He glanced at Anya again on Demetrius' right.

He was surprised she was here to see this, too. She had avoided the rides all morning and suddenly decided to get on the train when Demetrius invited her. She hadn't let go of him since. Like she was afraid to and Damian wished he could ask why.

Considering they were both subjects he supposed a relationship between them made sense, though from Forger's behaviour, it seemed something more was going on. He guessed it connected with what happened at the lab and Demetrius knew something.

Because they were both subjects.

Subjects.

It was still weird that a description of Forger and Demetrius included that word. Whenever Damian thought he was acclimating, it washed over him again that this was actually real life.

He wondered if he would ever truly get used to the idea.

Again, he looked to Forger. He wondered if he would have ever gotten mixed up in this if he hadn't gone after her at the zoo. He wondered if he would have ever hung out with Demetrius like he was doing now.

Forger must have noticed his gaze because she turned and met it. She hadn't been shying from him in that regard and instead returned it with wary, subtle hostility. It didn't bother Damian like he thought it would. He knew she didn't actually hate him.

He wondered what was in her head. What she was thinking about. What had changed for her to act this way. How long it would take before he made some headway. He wondered how to talk to her. He'd never had to think about it before. Their interactions before were based mostly on their rivalry and the moments of camaraderie between their quips were natural. Almost unnoticed, they were so seamless.

But talking to her now felt near impossible. She had put up so many walls and he didn't have the climbing gear to scale them. He was jealous of Demetrius who didn't seem to have any trouble connecting with her.

When Forger broke from his gaze, he realized how intently he'd been staring at her. He turned away again to look out the side.

He had been taught it was rude to stare, but for some reason, the lesson couldn't seem to stick when it came to Forger.

Though it was the only form of communication he had. She didn't pay heed to anything else.

———————

This had definitely been a big mistake.

Demetrius thought as he hefted Anya. How had he ended up carrying her? He'd only meant to help her out of the perpetual state of mental constipation she seemed to be in, and she'd clung to him like she'd never let go.

He had planned to, that's for sure. A couple rides holding her hand was fine. But after that? When he was about to go on another with Damian which required Anya to release him, she looked like she was about to cry and have a mental breakdown.

He sighed, irritated.

After they'd had a break for hotdogs, she was falling asleep on her feet and now here he was. Carrying her.

Demetrius was not fond of children. Damian was another thing, but his obligation to other subjects was just that. An obligation. It didn't feel right to turn away from them, it was purely moral. He had no particular care for them. Anya was no different. Sure, she was another esper and that created some unspoken, unbreakable ties, but. . .

His eyebrow twitched.

Involving himself had been a big mistake. Now she was attached to him and while he was good at cutting people off, he didn't know how he would dissolve Anya's need for his support or companionship.

What a pain.

The Forgers passed through the rotating bars as they left the park and Damian finished off his cotton candy, throwing the stick in the trash.

At least Damian had had fun, Demetrius thought. He didn't care that the Forgers had come, only that he and Damian had had time to hang out. They hadn't in the past and Demetrius found it. . .interesting. He hadn't really hung out with anyone before and it was a novel concept.

As they reached the car, Twilight unlocked it and Demetrius slid inside after Damian.

Before Demetrius had broken away from his father, he had often wondered what living was like. What being a teenager felt like. What many things felt like and now that he was on the outside, he found there was a lot more to experience than he realized.

Having a brother was one of them. Of course he knew he had a brother, but having a brother. He didn't know it could actually mean something. A. . . meaningful relationship.

Demetrius had always wanted to keep Damian safe, he'd always cared about him, but not until they'd begun to be brothers did he realize how much he'd wanted it. It felt akin to being in a frozen wasteland all his life, and suddenly finding a warm, tropical spot somehow protected from the raging snow and wind.

It was extremely strange and random, but he didn't mind it.

Mr. Forger started up the car, pulling out of the parking lot, and Demetrius let Anya slip to his lap. He slouched in the backseat.

He thought he could get used to having a brother.