The Phenomena of Fireflies and Star... - Chapter 38: Chapter 38
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Clemente Residence
Blackbird Peak
7:35 PM
"Fireflies," Tyler said, pointing up at the wooden outdoor lamp that Apollo had most probably made. A sparkle of fireflies flew around the lamp at the top of the bamboo pole.
"Oh," Ames chirped in delight, following the direction of Tyler's finger. "Just like the old times!"
"Hmm," Tyler's only response. There was no going back. There couldn't be. Things simply were different now. He was just glad that he could be here and support his baby brother. What he'd given up to come back home, he'd give up again just to protect Ames. His greatest regret would have to be his absence in his brother's life when his presence would've made such a difference. He leaned on the wooden column of the front porch while Ames sat on the top step.
"Hmm?" Ames echoed questioningly.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here," Tyler said, looking down at his brother. Ames looked much stronger now. He had always been lean, but his time in Division HQ had probably involved a lot of physical work. "I should've been here."
"Tss," Ames reacted, tapping Tyler's leg. "Nah. I handled it. Max and I did."
"Apollo," Tyler corrected him.
"Apollo, right," Ames repeated, scoffing. "This whole alias thingy is confusing. Necessary but can be a real bitch."
"Tell me about it...," Tyler remarked, sighing as he sat down next to his brother. He looked back up at the fireflies just minding their own business. "In my—our—line of work, that's normal. Still plays with my head, though."
"I'm sorry I made you worry, kuya," Ames said, resting his head on Tyler's shoulder. "Thank you for coming back."
Tyler gladly returned the gesture, resting his head on Ames's.
"I can't let what happened happen again," Tyler said, his tone swearing. "I won't. Lesson learned on my part."
"It won't," Ames replied.
Tyler certainly hoped so. He knew he could count on Apollo. The man had done nothing but love Ames like he needed oxygen to survive. If Tyler was ever going to lose sight of his little brother again, he would make damn sure that Apollo wasn't going to.
Now that he was back in town, he intended to do all the necessary heavy-lifting to secure the two most important people in the country right now.
Even if Ames would hate him in the end for it.
"You're right," Tyler said, slinging his arm over Ames's shoulder. "It won't."
Kerubin Settlement
Blackbird Peak
8:01 PM
He'd told Ames and Apollo that he was coming back to bring them their clothes and other stuff. Ames had insisted earlier to head straight to Apollo immediately, having gotten exhausted beyond words of not being together. Tyler was more than glad to run the errand himself, but he still had somewhere to go. The night was rather cold. He was glad he had a jacket on. Leather and asymmetrical, just like he'd always liked it.
He walked toward his black sport bike. The personal light source attached to the buckle of his belt had been helpful for the dark way down. It also helped that he wasn't scared of the dark. The place really gave justice to its name. Except that, well, there were no birds. The rocky inclined path leading to the Principado settlement would've hurt his groin if he had insisted on riding his motorcycle all the way up, so there stood his black Onyx X, lonely beside the remains of a house up ahead. His helmet hung from the motorcycle's right ape hanger. The area was a good break between two inclined paths.
'So much to do, so late at night,' Tyler thought as he reached his motorcycle, mounting it immediately and preparing it for the ride ahead. The headlight was a blessing, cutting through the darkness of the place. He put his helmet on next, keeping the visor up. He kept his hopes up, too. What he had to do wasn't leisurely. Ames and Apollo had already done their part in the war, having won the most important battle. The war itself was from over. 'Better get to it.'
Blackbird Peak
7:35 PM
"Fireflies," Tyler said, pointing up at the wooden outdoor lamp that Apollo had most probably made. A sparkle of fireflies flew around the lamp at the top of the bamboo pole.
"Oh," Ames chirped in delight, following the direction of Tyler's finger. "Just like the old times!"
"Hmm," Tyler's only response. There was no going back. There couldn't be. Things simply were different now. He was just glad that he could be here and support his baby brother. What he'd given up to come back home, he'd give up again just to protect Ames. His greatest regret would have to be his absence in his brother's life when his presence would've made such a difference. He leaned on the wooden column of the front porch while Ames sat on the top step.
"Hmm?" Ames echoed questioningly.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here," Tyler said, looking down at his brother. Ames looked much stronger now. He had always been lean, but his time in Division HQ had probably involved a lot of physical work. "I should've been here."
"Tss," Ames reacted, tapping Tyler's leg. "Nah. I handled it. Max and I did."
"Apollo," Tyler corrected him.
"Apollo, right," Ames repeated, scoffing. "This whole alias thingy is confusing. Necessary but can be a real bitch."
"Tell me about it...," Tyler remarked, sighing as he sat down next to his brother. He looked back up at the fireflies just minding their own business. "In my—our—line of work, that's normal. Still plays with my head, though."
"I'm sorry I made you worry, kuya," Ames said, resting his head on Tyler's shoulder. "Thank you for coming back."
Tyler gladly returned the gesture, resting his head on Ames's.
"I can't let what happened happen again," Tyler said, his tone swearing. "I won't. Lesson learned on my part."
"It won't," Ames replied.
Tyler certainly hoped so. He knew he could count on Apollo. The man had done nothing but love Ames like he needed oxygen to survive. If Tyler was ever going to lose sight of his little brother again, he would make damn sure that Apollo wasn't going to.
Now that he was back in town, he intended to do all the necessary heavy-lifting to secure the two most important people in the country right now.
Even if Ames would hate him in the end for it.
"You're right," Tyler said, slinging his arm over Ames's shoulder. "It won't."
Kerubin Settlement
Blackbird Peak
8:01 PM
He'd told Ames and Apollo that he was coming back to bring them their clothes and other stuff. Ames had insisted earlier to head straight to Apollo immediately, having gotten exhausted beyond words of not being together. Tyler was more than glad to run the errand himself, but he still had somewhere to go. The night was rather cold. He was glad he had a jacket on. Leather and asymmetrical, just like he'd always liked it.
He walked toward his black sport bike. The personal light source attached to the buckle of his belt had been helpful for the dark way down. It also helped that he wasn't scared of the dark. The place really gave justice to its name. Except that, well, there were no birds. The rocky inclined path leading to the Principado settlement would've hurt his groin if he had insisted on riding his motorcycle all the way up, so there stood his black Onyx X, lonely beside the remains of a house up ahead. His helmet hung from the motorcycle's right ape hanger. The area was a good break between two inclined paths.
'So much to do, so late at night,' Tyler thought as he reached his motorcycle, mounting it immediately and preparing it for the ride ahead. The headlight was a blessing, cutting through the darkness of the place. He put his helmet on next, keeping the visor up. He kept his hopes up, too. What he had to do wasn't leisurely. Ames and Apollo had already done their part in the war, having won the most important battle. The war itself was from over. 'Better get to it.'
End of The Phenomena of Fireflies and Star... Chapter 38. Continue reading Chapter 39 or return to The Phenomena of Fireflies and Star... book page.