Echo in Her Mind

Thirty-Four.

Ruben started at the sight in front of him. He felt the drinks leave his hands before he could even process what was happening. Dessi was appalled at his clumsiness, not suspecting anything, and left to replace them, which he was glad for.

He was at a loss for words as he kept his eyes on the terrified looking Bethany, and the nuisance sitting next to her. Why did she look so frightened that he was there? Was she afraid of him?

"What are you doing here?" Ruben wasn't sure who he directed the questions towards.

"Is there any way to speak to your brother that you haven't seen in years?" Aaron laughed, and Ruben desperately wanted to punch the smile off his face. He vaguely remembered when he himself was forced to smile all the time, unable to control his actions or anything about himself.

Ruben was thankful for The Watcher's lack of control right now, because he was fuming. He was sure steam was coming out of his ears because of it, and he watched as Bethany's eyes traveled between him and Aaron in shock. She was probably trying to decipher how in the world they could be brothers, since they looked nothing alike.

"Can I speak to you a moment?" He directed his question towards Bethany. When she stood up out of the chair, Ruben forcefully grabbed her by the arm and drug her to the back of the bar.

"What are you doing here?" He spat at her. Ruben was physically shaking at this point, unable to keep his composure.

"I came to have a few drinks." She shrugged, not understanding to actual question he was asking.

"What are you doing here with him?" Ruben rephrased, about to reach his breaking point.

"I'm not here with him. I came here and he was working, and asked if I wanted company when he got off." Bethany shrugged again, as if what she was doing wasn't a big deal. "Is he really your brother?"

"How long have you been here with him?" Ruben asked, completely ignoring her question.

"A couple hours."

Hours.

Ruben had to stop himself from punching the wall next to him.

"You need to go back to the hotel. Now." He spoke as calmly as he could manage at this point.

"What? Why? I'm having a good time," she said. Ruben's breathing got heavy. She was having a good time with his brother, not him. He stared at her and noticed the pinkish tint to her cheeks, and how her eyes were glazed over. She was intoxicated, but she was doing a very good job of hiding it from him.

"Do not make me repeat myself, Bethany." Ruben watched as she rolled her eyes at him. "Leave, now."

He knew this wasn't going to be easy, with how spunky she had become, but there was no way he was going to let her stay here with Aaron.

"So, what, you're allowed to parade around town with someone barely clothed, and get into bed with them, but I can't hang out at a bar that your brother just so happened to work at, because you said so?"

Ruben pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He liked it a lot better when she didn't fight him on every single thing he said.

He didn't want her to remain with his brother, or have a good time with him. Aaron was everything that Ruben wasn't, and certainly more put together than he would ever be. He didn't have a bad bone in his body, and Ruben didn't want Bethany to become drawn to him like others have in the past.

Aaron never disrespected their parents, and was never almost exiled from their dimension like he was. The worst thing he ever did was deny his fate with Maria, the angel that their parents had so carefully chosen for him.

That thought brought back memories that Ruben didn't want to think about right now, as he stood in front of Bethany; the beautiful angel that he and his brother had always wanted.

"Everything okay over here?"

Speak of the devil, Aaron walked up to them and stood directly next to Bethany. Ruben had to stop himself from springing forward, and invading the closeness between the two of them.

"Yeah, everything is fine," Bethany spoke, and directed her attention to him. Ruben watched as her eyes lightened as she looked at him. He knew that Aaron was a much better choice for her, and if The Watcher hadn't screwed Bethany up with her gift of subconscious killing, she certainly would've ended up with him after everything Ruben had done. That certainly wasn't going to stop Aaron from trying though, regardless of the fact that she was Ruben's destiny, or not.

Scumbag.

"Why don't we get you another drink, Bethany? My treat." Aaron suggested, and she nodded in confirmation.

If they weren't in public, Ruben would show his true form, and beat the crap out of Aaron for this. He might have been the good son in the family, but Ruben was the better fighter, even if Aaron was stronger than him.

He watched as Aaron reached his hand out, placed it over Bethany's shoulders, and guided her back to their place at the bar. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her as she walked away, completely disregarding his demand for her to do back to the hotel.

Ruben knew that he had said he was going to let her go, but did he really want to let her go into the arms of his brother?

Absolutely not!