Summary

Several minutes after the events of "Brother Dearest", Isaac returns home feeling intensely troubled and conflicted about everything that's happened in the night. He confides in Skylar when she makes a surprise appearance, and she does her best to bring her favorite smile to his face once again. Isaac is twenty-seven in this story.

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The darkened roads felt like a bleak, barren wasteland as my car twisted and turned along it's seemingly endless winding pathway. There was not a single soul to be found...only myself. Almost as if the universe pitied my cause and ordered for every inhabitant of the city to give me my space. It's difficult to say that I wasn't thankful for that.

It was only a matter of minutes before the back of my consciousness informed me that this drive home seemed much longer than normal. And perhaps it was...though I paid it no mind.

I was barely focused. I couldn't focus. Not after what had just happened.

I may have been staring directly at the open road in front of me, but only thing guiding me back to my own domain was pure instinct. Not my eyes. Instinct.

Meanwhile my mind had become a broken record. The night's incident was cycling itself on repeat. I hoped for the longest time that it would go away...that maybe Miss Markov's kind words would cause these bad thoughts to dissipate.

But no...they lingered like the worst of headaches.

And my feelings of frustration and confusion remained.

My phone rang, snapping me out of my trance. I felt the slightest bit compelled to answer...but overall, I was not in the mood to be spoken to. So I let it be, and the voicemail shortly followed just a moment later.

The sound of Audrey's annoying tone painfully pierced my eardrums.

"Hey there, Izzy-poo! Guess things didn't work out so well for you, huh? My foot didn't bruise your delicate little man parts too bad, did it?"

My hands reddened, being the only thing that brought my attention to the angered death grip I had put on the steering wheel.

Good god...

That woman is so annoying...

"Anywho...I don't know if you actually got up to come and find us, but sweet little Toddy told me to inform you anyway that there isn't really much of a point if you are. I mean, like yeah, duh...we're totally long gone now. You'd have to drive off the edge of the earth to find us, really. Y'know, I don't I get why you hate your brother so much. He's such a charming man...waaaay more than you ever were, if I might add. Him and me, we're gonna go a long way with this partnership...I can feel it! I even named his little birdy! He's called Rutra now, and he's just the sweetest little thing..."

I don't understand how anyone could call that demon with wings sweet...

"And to think, we came into this wonderful situation that we're all in now...just because you didn't have the guts to finish to finish the deed. How does that make you feel? Annoyed? Scared, maybe? Oh, I'd be scared too...it wouldn't be long before DarknessClan finds out, right? Ha...I bet they'll be beyond pissed, too. Alrighty, Todd's telling me to get off the phone now, so enjoy tonight on your own or whatever! Byeeee!"

SCREEEECH!

After pulling over onto the side of the road to stop, I slammed my fists onto the steering wheel while clenching my teeth so hard that I might as well have bitten through my gums. Then my jaw unhinged...and an agonizing scream of utter rage shattered the dreadful silence. My own scream.

Todd did this. Todd did every. Last. Fucking. Thing. That is driving me mad right now...
He was put here on this earth to make my life hell!

I should have killed him...

I should have fucking killed him!

I could have wiped that god-forsaken shit-faced grin off his face and ripped his goddamn throat out with that pathetic little knife...but I choked...again...

All because I'm a goddamned coward...

...

What the hell is wrong with me?

Tears were hot in my eyes. I let one fall, but quickly wiped it away before any more could follow. All this was...just way too much to take in. I didn't know what to do...

I was almost tempted to chase after Todd and Audrey, but it pains me to admit that Audrey is actually right...I'd never find them at that point. The night had grown darker, and every hour creeps by increasingly faster. I was so tired...to launch myself into further pursuit would be even more foolish than my frustrating lack of courage. The wise decision would be to drop it. So I did.

I needed to go home.

Some time later...

In the shadows of the evening, barely illuminated by the dim street lamps, my house finally came into view. At last I could put everything behind me, unwind, maybe have something to eat, and then crash into bed for a well needed night's rest. My blankets and bedsheets are to be my saving grace...I would remain entangled in them for however long it would take me to recover from all this.

Alone.

Isolated.

No one deserved to see me, and I deserved to see no one.

Or so I thought...

As I was pulling into my driveway, I finally noticed an additional silvery white car parked just on the side of the curb, in which an exceptionally familiar individual emerged from...glowing with pure happiness at the sight of me just simply sitting there. I stared in awe for a few solid minutes before eventually exiting my own car as well.
It was Skylar who had arrived.

"Skylar, dear?" I called to her. "What are you doing here, I thought you had a family thing to tend to?"

Her smile grew wider as she approached me, taking my hands into her own. "Taken care of. So I thought I'd come by and surprise you. I bet you were super bored, hm?"

"Yeah..." Even after my painfully solemn reply, I tried my best to muster a smile, but it was just not going to happen in that very moment. Skylar's joyous expression instantly faded as she discovered this.

"Your eyes are all watery." She pointed out. "Have you been crying? And...what happened here?"

She turned my head to the side to get a better look at the small cuts on my cheek...left behind by Audrey's rings when she had slapped me. I had forgotten that those were there, I suppose I was so wrapped up with my emotions that it had become one of the many things I failed to notice that night. But now that Skylar brought it up, they stung like hell again...and I realized that they were still dripping with fresh blood.

I sighed, knowing that I'd be conjuring the biggest of explanations that night.

"Come inside." I ended up murmuring. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Is everything alright?"

I didn't respond again, just led Skylar inside after unlocking and opening the door.

My home felt just as warm and welcoming as ever. The fireplace crackled softly with it's perfect radiance of soothing heat as my television droned on with the same subpar program that had been on before I rushed out...and Mr. Pugglesworth remained fast asleep in the same spot on the couch where I left him. Little things such as those made it seem like the house was pulling me into a long, comforting embrace...as if to console me after all that happened that night. I was so glad to be back...

And yet it still wasn't quite enough to put me at ease.

I shut off the TV and took a seat on the couch with Skylar joining me, my gaze drifting down towards the floor.

"I received a call tonight...on my work phone." I began. "Naturally, I believed it to be a client looking to make an appointment last minute, so I answered. And Todd was on the other end."

Skylar's eyes widened. "What...what did he want?"

"To finish what we started at DarknessClan's last mission." I replied. "He captured Audrey to get my attention, and even though she can be a real nuisance most of the time, I couldn't just leave her with him...as she's just as innocent as the rest of the civilians in town. Or so I thought..."

"'So you thought'?" Skylar inquired.

I clenched a fist and gritted my teeth, biting back the urge to let out another scream of anger. There were too many emotions for me to comprehend cluttered up inside. It was beginning to give me a headache.

"She barely even gave me a chance to rescue her..." I continued in a low voice. "Todd had demanded that I create contraptions and science experiments for him if I wanted her back unharmed, and when I declined...Audrey was quick to step up to the plate in order to save herself. She's working for Todd now."

"What?! How???"

"She told him that she can get her family to do his dirty work for the right price."

Skylar narrowed her eyes. She suddenly looked furious, and tempted to launch any object closest to her across the room. Her and Audrey have never gotten along, of course, but Skylar always remained somewhat tolerant and never stooped to any levels of hatred. But that night, I could tell that switch had immediately been flipped. If Audrey had been there at my house, it would not have made for a pleasant time.

I rubbed my arm uncomfortably, reluctant to go on. "When I tried to convince her that she was making the wrong choice...that Todd is a manipulative bastard, Audrey said that 'it must run in the family' because apparently I'm just as bad. She played the victim card on herself all because I didn't become her one true love. Then she slapped me. Her rings gave me these cuts."

"Shit..." Skylar muttered angrily. "I knew that good-for-nothing little witch was trouble the moment I met her, and now she ups the ante by working for Todd? Who the hell does she think she is?!"

"But that's not where it ends..." I said. "I attacked Todd in a fit of rage. We scuffled for a bit until I managed to pin him down and press his blade against his throat..."

"Did you do it?" Skylar asked.

Her tone of voice sounded somewhat hopeful, which is why I couldn't bear to look her in the eyes when I replied, "No...I couldn't. One could say I practically let him get away, even. Wouldn't be the first time..."

"'Wouldn't be the first time'? What do you mean by that?"

"Our last mission. During the battle on the rooftops." I replied again.

I finally glanced back over at Skylar to find that her expression had become unreadable. Like she was trying her hardest to comprehend my words as if they didn't make any sense. Although if I didn't know any better, I would say she was attempting to mask her disappointment in me.

Eventually, I spoke up again to break the silence. "I feel like such a fool...and I bet you think of me as one, too."

"Isaac, I would never." Skylar insisted firmly. "It's just that...you know just about everyone wants Todd dead, right?"

That sentence was so simple, yet so daunting. My heart sank with just the thought of it. "I know, but I just...Todd is still my brother. My last family member closest to me who is still living. No matter how often I try, I cannot bring myself to kill him because I feel that with the right efforts and patience, he might just have the slightest chance of being saved from his own madness. Don't you think so?"

There was a long pause, and this time Skylar averted my gaze.

"Honestly, sweetheart?" She shortly murmured. "No...I can't really say that I do. I want to believe that he can for your sake, but...the man killed your sister and one of my cousins who he didn't even associate with, and will probably kill many more innocents in the approaching future. And for what, to prove a point? A point that says your father was somehow not a totally corrupt individual with a hunger for power?"

"I know, I know...that's why I struggle so hard with this. One moment when I have to perfect opportunity to end Todd's life, I'm suddenly thinking of his possible redemption...thus leading to my failure. And then in the next moment, I'm kicking myself over it while wishing that I had taken the chance." I explained, solemnly.

I buried my face in my hands, overwhelmed yet again by my thoughts and emotions. This endless cycle might have just been on its way to kill me...I was sure of it.

"I will never forget that night, just a couple years ago..." Skylar said. "Me and Dad were driving home, not a care in the world to be thought of, until we slowed down to find baby Pugglesworth screaming in distress at every car passing by. We got out, and he led us to you, laid bruised, battered, and bloodied on the ground...barely conscious."

"I had just escaped the wrath of my demented family." I continued for her, knowing where she was going with this story.

Skylar nodded. "We took you home, and after we got you cleaned and patched up, you told me what happened the next morning. They attacked you, Isaac. And yes, in the end, it turned out Clara had a valid reason and didn't want to hurt you too badly, but Todd and your father—"

"Would've killed me if I hadn't escaped." I finished. "For no good reason, and without a single feeling of remorse."

I still kind of believe that Todd was mostly under the influence of our father back then...always looking to please the man no matter what the circumstances may be. However, I understood where Skylar was coming from when she brought up that incident, she likely intended to remind me of one of the major actions taken against me that my brother has been apart of. Whether or not I would end up remembering that in the heat of battle against him was yet to be determined.

"Todd...isn't a good person, Isaac." Skylar said. "But even so, I'm here to support you no matter what the case may be. If you really see something inside him that proves that he can change over time, then I will travel to the end of time to help you find it. I promise...I will not leave you alone in this."

She rubbed my back, I felt a familiar sensation of warmth well up inside my chest. How could I have possibly forgotten that Skylar, my loving partner, is always at my beck and call whenever I need her? Perhaps the night had a brighter side, after all.

"Thank you...so much, my darling." I said. "But can we keep this between us for a little bit, please?"

"My lips are sealed." Skylar replied. "Now can I fix this please? It's bugging me."

Before I could even respond, her fingertips were quickly glowing with a radiant white light as she lifted them to the cuts on my cheek...and at the corner of my eye I watched them fade away like they were never there to begin with. Not a single drop of blood or ounce of pain resided.

Skylar appeared proud, she always was whenever she uses her healing powers, no matter the severity of the injury she was applying aid to. It was adorable every time, but that night...I for some reason didn't have the energy to display pleasure towards it.

"Sweetheart, you shouldn't waste your powers on me." I said.

"Pardon? I am not wasting them!" Skylar shot back, nudging me playfully. "You were hurt, and it needed to be fixed. And now that it is fixed, you have a reason to smile again. Can you smile for me please, baby?"

I wanted to. I really did. For her.

But I was so broken inside that a smile would be the last thing I could possibly muster.

"I'm not sure if I can..." I murmured in reply.

Surprisingly, Skylar had sported a smirk. "I know what might fix that."

She turned me to face her again, planting a long passionate kiss upon my lips while her arms wrapped around my neck and slowly fell down my backside.

I fell into somewhat a trance as I returned the kiss. Skylar's embrace was warm, comforting...even more so than a simple bundle of blankets and pillows to be nestled in while sat directly in front of the fire. I finally felt safe again in her arms, with just her presence alone. She was the remedy I needed all along to lay every last negative attribute of that night to rest.

And sure enough, within mere moments, it brought a subtle smile to my face.

Another tear slipped down my cheek, I realized. This time not one of sadness, or anger, or confusion...but rather the slightest bit of joy.

We eventually broke our kiss, leaving me with my forehead pressed gently against hers as I was engulfed, and swept away by her sweet scent.

"I don't know what I would do..." I murmured. "...without you."

Skylar wiped the tear away. "There will never be a time where you'll have to worry about that. I'll be here for you, Baby Bear...always. I love you."

"I love you too."

We briefly kissed again, then leaned back into the couch while remaining snuggled close to each other, with Skylar beginning to caress my stomach like she always does. I felt so much better...

A short relaxed sigh escapes me with ease. "I feel hungry..."

"Need something to drown the rest of your sorrows in?"

"Mmhm."

"Well, lay it on me, then. What'll it be?"

"I'm not sure." I replied. "I think a little bit of comfort food is to do the trick. Something sloppy yet disgustingly delicious that will make me feel guilty come tomorrow morning."

"Loaded french fries?" Skylar pondered.

"Not quite..." I said.

She tried again. "Nachos?"

"Perfect." I praised her. "But they have to be gourmet."

Then she scoffed in somewhat of an amused tone. "Sloppy and disgusting, he says, but still gourmet. Alright, sweetheart, anything for you."

"There's...no rush, though. Do you mind if we cuddle for a little longer?"

Her next response was as simple as ever. She gently nuzzled my side while hugging me tight, the two of us exchanging soft purrs as we drifted away with the sound of my crackling fireplace and the dim glow of light it provided for the room.

I love Skylar so much.

To have her there that very night in my time of need meant the world to me. And even if she didn't quite understand my reasoning behind allowing Todd to escape, it was still a fantastic feeling to know that she still supported me, regardless. She was my saving grace in the end, and why I was unable to see that from the beginning was beyond me.

Because after all, she's always had that healing touch...

...capable of mending anything and everything.

Even a broken mind like my own.