Whisper and Soul

It was dark in the tower that night. Tarquin Soul lay awake, staring up at his sky blue ceiling, hands folded on his belly. He'd thrown his dinner up again and now he lay here, trying to ignore the hunger. He needed his rest. He had had a long night with his fighting. He was too tired. Eventually, he threw aside the covers and made his way to the kitchen, throwing open the fridge door and grabbing any and all meat in sight. He hated himself. He hated that he wasn't human, his violent nature, his dark powers, his lack of confidence, that he couldn't read and after so many years still didn't understand human customs...

He slammed his hand against a cupboard door, dark energy flowing out. Perfect. Just bloody perfect. "I'm in control." He told himself in a worried whisper. It had been a long time since he had lost control of his powers. Then again, it had been a long time since he had been that sad and that angry with himself. A long, long time since he'd felt hopeless and useless. Tears welled up in his eyes and he punched the cupboard, dark energy wrapping round him like a cocoon. Like it wanted to keep him safe from the outside world. It enveloped him as he allowed himself to cry, but he looked up with a startled gasp as the kitchen light flicked on, shadows dissipating at once.
"Soul?"
He glanced over his shoulder and wiped his eyes. "Whisper..."
"Isn't it a bit late to be up?" She asked, voice gentle as she came closer, crouching beside him and resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Couldn't sleep." He admitted with a slight smile. He welcomed that touch. He leant his head on her shoulder. "I wasn't feeling my best. I am...better now."
"You threw up again?"
His pale blue cheeks darkened to navy. "I, uh...how do you know about that?"
"I've been concerned."
He hesitated before sighing. "I need to refine my diet is all...your concern is...very much appreciated..." He shifted a little closer to her, closer to the warmth she gave off. It made him feel safe and warm, and she was the one person he felt appreciated him. Cuddled up to her like an innocent kitten, he felt protected. Too shy to ever say anything. She absent-mindedly ran a hand through his hair.
"I feel much better." He assured her after a long pause, mood brightening when he saw her smile.
"I'm glad to hear it. I like to see you on top form."
"I'm sure..." There was a hesitation before he pulled away. "Something's wrong."
The concern returned to her face. "What is it?"
He shook his head, unwilling to say.
"Come on, you can talk to me."
After a moment he hung his head. "I think I'm in love..."
She certainly hadn't expected that. "...And?"
Soul drew his knees up to his chest. "With a human. I'm not human. I'm not supposed to feel things for a human. I'm not even supposed to feel things for my own species..."
There was a moment of silence before Whisper's hand found Soul's shoulder once more. "No-one in your world knows love...but if you do, you know what that makes you?"
"A...freak?"
She shook her head, laughing a little. "A better person. A better person than all those monsters back in that world. You're a hero. You put others before yourself, and even when you went against the good side, you could never bring yourself to do any serious damage to anyone. You're a strong person with strong emotional ties." She took his hands and showed him the two rings on his middle fingers. One black with seven blue gems, the other gold with twelve red gems. Both were very tight. It was a miracle they hadn't cut off circulation to the fingers. He stared at them for a long moment before bursting into tears and throwing his arms around her neck, pulling her close in a tight embrace.
"Thank you." He managed.
"You're a wonderful guy, Soul." Whisper assured him, gently hugging back. "I'm sure anyone would love to have you near them. If I was the girl you loved, I'd love you back unconditionally."
He drew back again. "You're just saying that." He muttered, blushing again.
She shook her head. "I mean it." She assured him, leaning in to plant a kiss on his cheek before standing. "I'm glad you're feeling better. We ought to get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
He gave a slight nod. "Good night..." She left and he put a hand to his cheek where she had kissed him. A smile split his usually grumpy features. An old phrase came to mind. "...My light in the darkness..." She who generates light and feelings of good will wherever she went. Whisper.

Angels and Demons

I walked down the street, eyes on the pavement. I was in a bad mood, tears still falling. Around me danced the ghostly visage of my teenage brother. There was still a patch of blood on the road where he had fallen. A small drop of brown, the smallest amount that dropped from his nose that morning. He'd died that afternoon. I turned to keep the ghost in view, and he had stopped now. He was gazing at a bouquet of flowers by the roadside, a lovely vision of yellow and pink.
"Starfire left them there." I explained, keeping my voice low. If I spoke up, they might think I was insane. "The point at which you struck the car..."
"It struck me."
"Yes...it is sort of like a mural, I guess..." I stepped closer and instinctively went to wrap my arm around his shoulders. I can't explain the numb, empty feeling when my arm fell through. He wasn't really there, was he? He glanced at me and gave an apologetic smile.
"I didn't mean to leave you...I didn't even think I could cross over to the afterlife wthout you...maybe that's why I'm here, why I can't go on and come back as something else...perhaps I still need big brother to show me the way. I started to rise out of my body back at the hospital and I just felt cold, but I just thought it was more fun. I thought the doctor would keep going, but he stepped back all solemn, it wasn't right...he should have done more. He didn't listen to me shout at him..."
I took things in and gasped. "You're only here because you're trapped."
"I can't leave the planet, but I can go all over." He disappeared.
"Wait! Where are you going?" I blushed then, realising I'd called out. I quickly turned and continued walking. I didn't know where I was going, but perhaps soon I would reach wherever it was. It was a good half hour before I stopped, finding myself by a fast river. I sat, dipping my feet into the current and breathing deeply, trying to relax. Every now and then water splashed up into my face, just little bits, but still annoying. Eventually I opened my eyes and opposite me was crouched a translucent form, long blond hair down, held off his face by a fancy beaded beret, the hairclip kind. He was wearing a dark kimono and flicking water at me.
"Brother?"
He looked up and grinned. "Took you long enough to notice me. Guess where I've been!"
"...The North Pole?" I wasn't in the mood for games.
"Tokyo. There were a lot of lights and noises. I don't like it much, I've decided. If I want to wear something I see, I just have to want to wear it and I'm wearing it, isn't that cool?" There was a beat before the kimono turned into his normal shirt and a pair of jeans, sandals becoming trainers. "I don't have to worry about them catching fire when I fly, so I can wear anything. Anything!"
I watched him dully before sighing. "You're dead."
"Yet so alive!"
"You're dead, you shouldn't be happy." I crossed my arms. I suddenly felt angry. How dare he be gleeful at his own loss of life. How dare he? "You got hit by a car and even though you were clearly injured, you insisted you were fine. You died because of your own ridiculous pride. Now we can never hug or keep one another warm or safe, everything I did to protect you in our youth was for nothing! And now? Now you sit here opposite me, grinning like a madman. I should not even be able to see you. You should be gone for good, not haunting me and making me feel so guilty! Just leave me alone, you brat! Quit lording your death over me like it is the best thing to ever happen! Are you trying to kill me too? Isn't it bad enough that I lost mother and father? I have to lose you too?"
Lightning leant back, mouth hanging open, shock evident on his face. Slowly, he began to tear up.
"You know, I never really forgave the way you treated me when we were children..." He stood and wiped his eyes. "You were such a bully. You still are. You broke my arm once just because I wasn't walking fast enough for you, but your superior physique and your superior strength and speed and your greater age. You're not better than me, you're not even that tough..." He disappeared then and my eyes widened.

Oh holy hell...that was still my little brother. If I lost him, that was it. I'd just thrown away my last chance to be with my little brother, "I'm sorry..." I whimpered. "I'm so sorry...don't go..."

A Darker Alternative: Gan's Story

In this crazy world of ups and downs where they tried to murder those like us via killer robot clowns, such mundane and human things seemed strange. But here we were, sat within the patch of clouds we called our home. I was watching over my little brother, who had recently lost his dominant arm. He was pale and coughing, and had a fever. I was trying to keep him warm and hydrated, but it was clear what had happened. The site at which his arm had been severed had been infected and poisoned blood was circulating about his body. He was clearly suffering. His breathing was fast and punctuated with whimpers and whines. Finally I tried to get him to take some water, but he just turned away and held up a hand.
I sighed. "What can I do?" I asked softly, brushing his hair off of his sweaty forehead. He took my hand.
"Antibiotic..." Was all he managed to say.
"I can't." I told him, shaking my head. "I've tried. I can't get them without making a...a scene and putting my life at risk..."
A strained smile appeared on his face. He was happy that I was keeping myself safe, but suddenly it struck me.
"Your blood is infected, Tavis...tell me...could this be fatal?"
He licked his lips with a dry tongue and looked away, not willing to answer. That was enough to tell me. If I couldn't get him medicine, he would die. I swallowed anxiously, pressed the water bottle into his remaining hand and walked to the edge of the cloud.
"Gan..." He called weakly. "Don't do anything stupid..."
I glanced over my shoulder and gave a sad smile. "I won't. I promise."

And that was how I ended up trying to sneak into the drug store after hours. It was still open, but the only person in there was the owner, so rather than break something and alert those around me, I walked through the front door. I wasn't wearing my helmet, and I'd let my long hair hang loose, covering my face. It would help hide my mutations a little, I thought, and considering I wasn't wearing my shirt, maybe people might think I was, might see my miscoloured arms as sleeves...a long shot, but my best hope. I didn't keep an eye on the man behind the counter, didn't notice him press the button beneath the counter. I was too busy stuffing anything labelled 'antibiotic' into my clothes. I noticed when people began pouring into the small shop, though, all armed and dangerous. I held my hands up in surrender. "I mean you no harm." He tried. "I have never meant anyone any harm."
One of them came charging at me with a scream. I caught him by the collar and threw him back, and he fell on something that managed to pierce through him. I stared on in shock, but I had to act fast. The others were coming for me now, convinced I was a monster. I had to fight.

So that was that. These people weren't going to go easy on me, so doing so for them could mean my death. I had to fight my best, but I was weak. I hadn't eaten or slept or drunk anything for quite a while, as concerned as I was with my little brother. I was pushed up against a wall with a grunt and I could feel hits and jabs, but nothing major. They'd all crowded too close to do serious damage. And then there was a flash of bright light and an electric charge seemed to pass through them. Lightning pushed through them and I gasped.
"What are you doing here? You're sick, you need bed rest!"
"I followed you. I knew you'd get in trouble." He cut off then as more men and women started to swarm us again. We were driven back to fighting, and suddenly I felt something slash past my throat. I could feel warm blood trickle down my hands and torso, and dropped to my knees, and then I heard a blood-curdling scream.

Through the mass of people I could see a woman removing my brother's right eye with a pair of scissors. He was raking his nails over her face now he'd realised pulling at her hand would be no use. His screams became strangled sobs, and I wasn't sure what to do. I swung my arms out, sending out one last sound blast before passing out. The last thing I saw was my brother unleashing a full-body blast.

I woke up to a sharp pain in my throat. I threw my hand up, just to hear the startled cry from my brother.
"Please don't! I'm trying to help!" He pleaded, afraid I would undo his handywork.
"W-what are you doing?" I tried to ask, but all that came out was a hiss of air.
"It's okay." He told me. I opened my eyes, seeing him look down at my throat, one shining hazel eye, one dark, swollen hole oozing blood and meat. I must admit it was a terrifying sight. He whimpered.
"Please don't. I will be fine, I promise, brother. I'm sewing your injury shut." I wondered how for a brief moment before realising that beside him he had a pin and dental floss...He was using dental floss and a normal pin that would certainly tear holes in my flesh as a makeshift suturing kit. My mind ran through every little danger, and the possibility of choking him there and then, but I took a proper look at him then. Pale and sweaty, clearly quite unwell. Still infected and brutally injured. I reached up and stroked the side of his face and he started crying. I tried to comfort him, but after a moment he began to wail.
"You can't speak!" He wailed, curling up against my chest.
I can't? I frowned, stroking his fair hair, thinking it would be okay.
"But it won't!" He cried.
...Can you hear me?
He looked up. "I can hear you...but you're not speaking..."