Blessed by Night

When Aubrey said sit down, she actually meant it.

She and her brother were now sitting crosslegged in the middle of the room as they both stared at each other.

No matter how strong he was, Malachi would confess that he was actually feeling more than a little nervous right now.

"Everybody is worried sick about you, you know..." she began. "You're functioning like you're on autopilot half the time, it's like you're not even there.

You just go out to work, come home to check on Serana, and then go to sleep. I'd say you're like a ghost, but ghosts don't exactly run all over the base trying to do everything at once."

"I-I've been a little more active than normal, yea, but saying I'm like a ghost feels like a stretch. I'm still present." Mal defended.

Aubrey didn't say anything, simply nodded while she concentrated on her spell. "Cool... so you know Rose broke up with Aisha and I then?"

Malachi's eyes nearly rocketed from their skull.

"W-What!? But she was just in my quarters when I-"

"We're still friends and all, but we kind of just... want some different things. It's complicated."

Malachi's eyes narrowed. "What kind of diff-"

"It doesn't matter, I'm not talking to you about this because I'm in need of some pity. I'm just bringing this up to point out that in the past... there was no way someone as observant and nosy as you wouldn't have noticed."

Malachi felt like those words were more of a dig than an observation...

Nevertheless, he let his head hang low as he wrestled with the undeniable truth of what his sister was saying.

"I'm just... trying to keep everyone safe, Aubrey. Can you cut me a little break for that?"

"No. Not when you're lying right to my face and going on entire missions without backup or telling anyone!"

"Aubrey, I'm sorry for lying to you, but this is my cross to carry and I don't want-"

"Why!? Who told you that you had to do all of this by yourself with no help!? Is our value in your eyes truly so little that you-"

"No, but look at what has happened because of me, Aubrey! You are all going to lose your powers in a year just for siding with me! I can't ask you to lift even a finger more for me!"

Aubrey wasn't fazed by her brother's yelling, but she still stared at him like she was truly hurt.

"What are you blaming yourself for...? Nothing that has happened to you so far has been your fault, and you should know that already."

Mal covered his face with his hands as he sighed in true exhaustion.

He'd had a hard year.

Not only did he miss the birth of his daughter, but the entire world had kept on moving while he was somewhere off doing Chaos knows what.

Not only that, but Anna and her mother fell into captivity because he wasn't around to defend them, and they still hadn't mentally recovered from the experience.

To top it all of, his saving of humanity by expelling the N'Kai was deemed not good enough, and now he had to die too in order to satisfy the opportunistic greed of the gods.

It was no wonder that he had developed this incessant need to shoulder the problems of the world on his back.

Aubrey wrapped her arm around her brother as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Mal... I understand that you are feeling pressured... but this isn't the time for you to turn your back on us. We all want to stand beside you. Even against the gods themselves... and that includes our mom."

At this, Mal looked away towards the other side of the room.

"I told her not to interfere because I wanted to prove to her... and myself.. that I can stand on my own without her."

Malachi noticed that his sister had gone quiet, and he turned his head to stare at her.

He found her trying not to meet his gaze by whatever means necessary, and looking mighty conspicuous in the process.

"Aubrey Saint." Read today at NovelFire _emp _y,r.

Aubrey began whistling as she stared at the wall.

Malachi grabbed his sister by the ear and pulled. "What do you know!?"

"OWW! NOTHING, NOTHING!"

"Liar."

"I'M SERIOUS, I JUST.... Do you really think that our mother can knowingly stop herself from not helping us? Pretty sure she has some kinda compulsion at this point..."

Malachi released his sister and his gaze hardened.

Once she saw that, Aubrey finally did smack him over the head.

"Ow!"

"Don't be like that." she said sternly. "Have some understanding for her position."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Our mother is the most powerful woman in existence and has been that for a very, very long time. She has lived without any rules, restraints, or having anything denied her for eons.

So naturally, I'm sure you can understand how telling her to sit still and do nothing while her precious son fights for his life might be a teensy bit difficult for her."

Malachi ran his hands through his hair exhaustedly. "Haaa… so what then? I should just accept the fact that she will never listen to my wishes no matter how firmly I try to make them known?"

"No, Malachi but this family isn't just new for us, it's new for her too and she's had a lot more time to be stuck in her ways than we have. Just give her some time, and try to focus more on why she does things rather than how she goes about them."

Malachi allowed his sister's words to properly marinate within his brain, and he had to admit that they made sense.

Even if he didn't want to admit it.

"I guess... I can do that. I don't want her to think I'm ungrateful for all she does and... I owe everything that I am to her."

"Annnd..?" Aubrey prodded.

"I shouldn't keep all of you in the dark... you are not helpless and you are my partners."

"Annnnd...?"

"And I.. I dunno, what else?"

"The current rate that things are going is not your fault and is in no way related to your past actions."

"..."

"...Say it!"

*Yawn!*

"Malachi Jadou Saint!!"

Mal stood up and stretched his body before he started walking towards the doctor who was still frozen.

He lifted up the doctor by his ankle and dropped him headfirst into the shadows that were already looking at their feet.

"...Baby steps, sis. Give me a little time to grow too, yea?"

Aubrey sighed in exhaustion, both from her brother's attitude and the weariness of holding up such a big spell over the whole building for so long.

To save her energy, she decided that it was best to resume this debate at a better time.

"This isn't over, Mal."

"I know."

Malachi finally freed the girl who was sleeping while strapped to the table and lifted her into his arms. "Come on. I'm sure there are more in this place who are just like her."

Malachi started to leave the room when suddenly his sister called out to him in a much more serious tone than normal.

"You owe those girls an apology, Mal. Having multiple partners means that you have to be more attentive and present, not less. Do right by them."

Malachi paused without looking back, and Aubrey could've sworn that she heard his heart clench.

"I got it... thanks for trying to get my head on straight."

"Hey, what is family for if not this, right?" Aubrey smiled.

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