Time Warp: Did You Miss Me? (Malachai)

[Deleted]

November 1, 2009

Thing had moved very quickly right after Sera manifested. In the matter of a couple of days, she was already being moved out of her room at home and having her things transported to the Hammel Institute where she would serve out the rest of her schooling. Alongside with her brother, Malachai.

Now in truth, Sera would rather the whole thing be a surprise for her brother. She could just imagine his excited face when he realized that his beloved little sister was going to be joining him at school. But that was impossible. Their parents wouldn't allow it and properly informed the boy of her arrival. Still, Sera didn't have to tell him when he was going to be there, right? (Nope, their parents told him everything, Sera was just being a kid).

So, with this plan in progress, Sera arrived and made sure that everything of hers was properly in place. She had opted to stay in the girl's dorms. Sera was sure that she and the girls there would be quick friends, especially after they heard who her brother was. Once she was settled, that was when she finally decided to go down and give her brother the big surprise of her arrival! She separated her hair into two low and loose pigtails that draped down her front, and donned up a slim navy blue jumper over a light blue blouse. Looking in the mirror, Sera tried a small smile. Perfect. She looked cute. (And not at all like a bully magnet).

The smile disappeared as she made her way out of the room and down the hall, down the stairs, and towards the floor with the co-ed dorms where her brother was located. She was tempted to simply walk in unannounced, but that would have been rude and improper. So, Sera straightened out her dress, took a deep breath, and gave the door a few quick raps. Her hands quickly found themselves behind her back as she took a step away from the door and waited impatiently.

[Malachai Roen]

Kai had hoped, and expected, that his sister would manifest eventually. Of course, there had always been the possibility that he would be the only meta child in the Roen home, but given his sister's stubborn and tenacious nature, he wouldn't be surprised if she somehow forced her body into making her a meta (that was a joke, but still). So when he got the call that she'd had her power manifest and was coming to Hammel, he was both excited and, to be honest, a tad bit dreadful.

He loved his sister. He did. But there had always been tension between the two, mostly due to their parents' expectations and Sera's desire to be better than him at everything. Kai had to be honest, he competed with her too, but not quite to the same degree. It was just often a... Rocky relationship.

Nevertheless, when a knock came at his door, the eighteen-year-old looked up, already thinking he knew who it was. He put aside the honors chemistry homework he was working on and stood, walking his still somewhat lanky teenage body over to the door. He opened it up and looked down at his little sister, who looked so innocent and adorable with her current appearance.

Kai smiled at her. "Hey, sis," he greeted, stepping forward to pull the young girl into a hug. His just barely-there stubble rubbed against Sera's cheek as he pulled away. "It's so nice to see you. Are you settling in alright? You should have told me you were here, I would have helped you get all your belongings to your dorm!" He toyed with one of her pigtails before he stepped aside to let her inside if she wanted to. "I asked mom and dad not to tell me the ability you manifested," he told her, looping an arm over Sera's shoulders. "I wanted to see it for myself." Kai gave her a wink, and gave the top of her head a ruffle. "What is it, then?"

[Deleted]

Malachai was right. If she hadn’t manifested when she did, Sera would have forced her way into it. Somehow. There had to be a way of doing that, right? She’s gladly become some genetic experiment if it meant that she would get meta-human powers so that she could go to school with her brother.

As it was, Sera wasn’t displeased with how things turned out at all. The only thing she wished she could change was the fact that they’d only be going to school alongside each other for a year before Malachai graduated.

Hmph…she’d like to think that if he really loved her, then he would deliberately fail this year just so that he could be there for Sera…but even Sera knew that their parents wouldn’t allow for such a thing.

They both had to keep doing their best, and better, if they were to get anywhere in life.

Sera looked up at her tall brother with her usual slit eyes, a stare of wonder coming from them at the image of her elder brother. Now, Sera was quite tall herself already, probably one of the tallest in her class when she left her old school, but even she was dwarfed in the presence of Malachai’s sheer height. The 12-year-old smiled into her brother’s chest as she was pulled into an embrace.

“I’m okay. I’m not so helpless that I can’t move in without my big brother’s help.” Because Sera was independent now! His announcement, and request to see her power, had Sera smiling excitedly. “I’ll show you!” she offered, even though she’d barely had a couple days of self-practice. Sera darted inside and stood in the middle of the room, as if she were on-stage about to perform a magic show. She rose her hands up and concentrated….and concentrated….and focused….

Uuurrrghhh!! Nothing was happening!! “Hold on! I know I can do it, just give me a minute!” she told Malachai desperately, as if she were afraid to be scolded for not being able to do it on the first try.

[Malachai Roen]

Kai was well on his way to graduating this year. In fact, he could probably graduate early if he wished, but he figured he might as well get as many college credits as he could while he was still attending Hammel (not that money was an issue). And there was no real rush; his parents were satisfied enough with his good grades and participation in clubs that they didn't push him too much more.

And, he liked to think that they would want him to be there for Sera as she adjusted to her first year at Hammel. Kai wanted to be, if nothing else. He knew it would take the girl some getting used to, due to her... Personality and quirks.

He would find her some friends. He hoped. Kai just wondered if she was going to bribe everyone here into doing things for her like she was known to do...

"I know, you're a big strong girl now," he told her kindly with a smile, reaching out to squeeze one of her thin arms. "I swear you've grown a foot since I last saw you. You're going to be taller than me if you keep that up." Kai didn't think that would actually happen, but he liked to tease. At her excited shout, he chuckled and followed her further inside the room, shutting the door behind him. "I can't wait to see it."

He stood with his hands leaning on the back of the couch as Sera attempted to use her new ability. When she seemed to be having trouble, and spoke up her desperation, Kai came around the piece of furniture and stood behind her, resting two supportive hands on her shoulders. "It's alright, sis," he said softly. "I couldn't control my wings for weeks when I first got here." He nodded encouragingly. "Give it another go. And take your time. There's no rush."

[Deleted]

Sera smiled, her eyes curling into crescent moons with the genuine movement. “I’m the tallest in my class!” she declared proudly, as if that were something that she could achieve through personal effort. To Sera, however, it might have been. She’d always been contentious about her health and her diet, so Sera had done everything conceivably possible to ensure that she was a healthy adolescent growing at the maximum rate. This of course meant drinking her milk and eating her green vegetables. Sera might not always like what she ate, but she felt it was worth it to maintain her optimal health.

Ice cream and junk food were delicious, but they weren’t things that Sera ever indulged in(lies!).

Nope, Sera had to do her best to live up to her parents expectations. Even if her background automatically made her better than the common man, it was all a waste if Sera didn’t live up to her full potential, a realm of greatness that normal people couldn’t ever hope to achieve if they tried their whole lives.

Which was why it quickly became frustrating when she met an obstacle which she couldn’t overcome. Like simply demonstrating her newly manifested meta power!

ARGGG!! WHY wouldn’t it WORK!??

“No! I know how to do it! I did it before, just…just wait!” She didn’t want Malachai telling her to give up or let it be(he wasn’t saying any of that). And it wasn’t okay, she should be able to do this.

But nothing was happening and more and more was Sera becoming frustrated. And angry. “Arg!!” she screamed in her usual spoiled tantrum voice, dropping both hands to her side. Sera shrugged her brother off her shoulders and walked away. “Work, dammit!!” She slammed her tiny little fists against the cushions of the couch, trying to make it come out through her sheer force of will. Whether it was her will or because her emotions had quickly spiraled out of control, the moment she slammed her hands onto the couch, several slivers of frozen icicles sprang forth from her fists, like she’d just splashed them down in a pool of water that had instantly frozen on impact.

Sera looked down at the result and instantly calmed down. She twirled to face Malachai. “I did it!” she celebrated with a small jump.

[Malachai Roen]

"Are you now?" Kai replied with his own smile. "That's an accomplishment. You've got a strong, healthy body." Kai himself had grown up on a similar diet, but he was a tiny bit more lenient on himself because he worked out heavily on a regular basis and thought he could use the extra calories. Sera was as thin as a waif; Kai was afraid he would break her if he hugged her too hard. So he suggested,"Since you're at Hammel now, maybe we could exercise together sometime. I usually do a lot of weight training, but I run and have been taking yoga for a while too." Sera would probably be great at yoga, as thin as she was. Kai wondered how flexible her limbs were.

Hopefully more flexible than her temperament. Five minutes after seeing each other, and his sister was already threatening to go into one of her tantrums from being unable to use her ability on cue like someone with years of training. Kai took a deep breath and just watched her, prepared to intervene if it got too bad.

"Okay, okay," he said quietly, holding his hands back with an open expression, hiding his exasperation. Kai hoped his roommates didn't choose to come out now and see his sibling go into a fit; that wouldn't be a good first meeting.

He took another step away as she shrugged him off and tried not to let his own temper or hurt spark. She was young, he told himself; she was in a new environment with new abilities, of course she was going to be like this. "It's going to be alright, Ser," he said as soothingly as he could. "Just-"

He was going to tell her to take some deep breaths and calm down, but apparently anger was somehow connected to her ability, because the room seemed to suddenly drop ten degrees and there was ice around his sister's hand. Of course anger would spark it. "Oh! Cryokinesis," he breathed, eyes wide as he stepped closer to study Sera's work. "Great work, sis. Kinetic abilities are really hard to control, especially at first."

Kai had done a fair amount of research on meta-human physiology and studies. It was all very fascinating to him. "It's interesting how you have a kinetic ability while mine is physical," he mused, scratching at his shoulder blade. Kai's back itched and stung a bit if he left his wings in too long. "I wonder how genetics play into determining what type of ability someone has." Oftentimes it just seemed so... Random.

"Are you hungry?" he asked Sera with a smile. "I'm sure you've been busy all day, moving in."

[Deleted]

“I do!” she exclaimed with a sharp nod. She was slight, people had said, but she felt fine in all honesty. While she would indulge in the more greasy and fatty dishes at times, she always felt so bloated afterwards. Sometimes it even made her feel sick. Though if anyone dared to tell her she was too skinny, she would vehemently disagree and accuse them of just being jealous blobs of fat.

Sera beamed. “I’d like that! Yoga sounds fun!” She would probably be rather good at it, but the most important thing would be that she would be able to spend even more time with her brother, doing something fun! She gave him her usual challenging grin. “I bet I can be better at it than you are.” Of course.

Sera didn’t know what the big deal was whenever she got justifiably upset. Didn’t she have the right to? When something was deliberately trying to work against her? And wasn’t being unable to use one’s power at will a good enough reason to be upset? People better not dare to tell her otherwise. The last thing she needed was someone to tell her to “calm down” and that it wasn’t “a big deal”. They didn’t know! They were all dumb and crazy!

But clearly it didn’t get that far. Sera wasn’t aware yet of what the trigger for her power was, but if she got mad enough at it and it worked like she liked, then that only reenforced her belief that yelling about something loud enough would get her her way. “Of course,” she said proudly. “I should have no problem mastering my ability perfectly in no time.”

She was certain that the universe had given her the hardest one ever just to spite her already radiant greatness, but Sera wasn’t going to let that stop her. She’d just spite it right back! “Doesn’t matter,” she stated, brushing a long lock of her black hair back behind her shoulder. “I obviously got the better one.” Sera smiled, like she expected Malachai to shower her in more awe.

Despite her own greatness, Sera had to admit that her brother had his own amazing prowess. Like his cooking. She yearned to be as good as him someday. “Yes!” she said with an excited nod. “I haven’t eaten all day!” And she was still able to get all her work done herself.

[Malachai Roen]

"It is fun," Kai replied with amusement. It could be something they could do together while they were still at school together. To bond, or whatever. He snorted at her challenge and rose a brow. "We'll see about that," he shot back. "I'm better at it than you may think." Especially for his build. Kai did it to help with his flexibility, which otherwise may have suffered with his slowly growing muscles.

He wasn't trying to make things worse, wasn't trying to talk down to her, even though Sera was his little sister and he'd been in her position before. Kai hoped the trainer she was assigned would be able to put up with her temper and teach her how to control it along with her ability.

It did irk him that the ice seemed to 'reward' her for her outburst. Kai knew that the use of one's ability was often tied to emotions (his wings still occasionally burst out when he got upset), but knowing Sera, this wasn't a good thing. "I'm sure your trainer will appreciate your enthusiasm and optimism," he said with a small smile. Kai was just glad it wasn't him trying to train her.

But... Of course this was also going to be a competition about their abilities. Kai, being older and more mature (hah), resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I don't know, sis, have you seen these things?" he asked. Without further warning, he tugged off his shirt and let his wings slide out from his body and unfurl with only a small grunt and grimace of pain. "Even you have to admit they're pretty cool, right?" They barely fit in the small space of the common room, so Kai tucked them away again after a few minutes.

"You haven't eaten?" he exclaimed, brow furrowing as he threw his shirt back on. "Well, come on then, I'll cook you something nice." They had all sorts of ingredients in the home ec. room, he'd throw something together for them. "Come on!" Kai snagged Sera's hand and started dragging her to the destination.

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“Mmm!” she squeaked in excitement. Sera couldn’t wait to get started! She was going to work at this and become better than Malachai before he knew it.

As Sera was still only beginning her training, she still hadn’t made the connection that it’s activation was tied to her emotions, more specifically, to such a negative one such as anger or irritation. Whoever ended up becoming her trainer, it was sure to be a long, stressful road for the both of them. “I don’t see why I need a trainer anyway,” she complained. “I can do it just fine on my own!” Like she did most things. Sera detested getting any sort of outside help. It was her belief that if she couldn’t learn something on her own, then it meant that she wasn’t smart enough or trying hard enough. She was convinced that Malachai was able to do everything he could do without having to get assistance from anyone else. Sera expected no less from herself.

Sera’s eyes went wide as Malachai suddenly stripped off his shirt (eek!) and his wings spread out to their full length, reaching from wall to wall of the common room. Her mouth gaped open as she took in their wonder. Then she caught herself and forced herself into a scowl. “They’re not that impressive,” she lied, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms pompously.

Her attitude didn’t last long, as her very own brother was suddenly offering to cook her one of his prized home-cooked meals. “Can I watch?” she asked with obvious excitement. It was always a lesson in meal preparation to watch her Malachai work at in the kitchen. She smiled smugly to herself as he took her hand in his and started leading her out of the room. “They don’t have kitchens in the dorm rooms?” How substandard.

[Malachai Roen]

Kai took in a deep, quiet breath. He knew Sera likely wouldn’t take any sort of advice willingly, but at least he could try. “Everyone, even me, needs a trainer,” he mentioned in a light-hearted voice. “I know it’s hard to think that we need adults to help, but it can be really stressful and frightening to try to do everything on your own.” He’d been prideful enough to try once; it hadn’t ended well. “And I still see my trainer sometimes, just not very often. Just for tips on stretching techniques for my wings and if they get damaged somehow.” Otherwise, Kai had already pretty much perfected his power through pure hard work and determination.

Kai totally caught the initial look on Sera’s face, and smiled smugly. “Don’t lie to me,” he teased her good-naturedly. “I think they’re great. We both got some pretty great powers, sis.” Even if hers was going to take… A lot of work to control. Not that he was going to say that.

“Hel- I mean, heck yeah you can watch,” Kai caught himself, automatically trying to keep himself from swearing in front of a ‘youngin’’. He grinned. “I’m like an artist in the kitchen. No one dares make fun of me.” Sure, he’d had his share of ‘sandwich’ jokes, but no one that had tried his food had said that again. It was a short jaunt down the stairs and outside to reach the home ec. room, especially for Kai’s long legs. “They do, kinda, but the classroom is a lot better and more well-equipped,” he told her. “Hmm… How does Mediterranean Lemon Chicken sound?” he asked, thinking as they walked. “And you, missy, better eat the whole serving, otherwise I’m going to strap you down and feed you myself,” he teased, reaching over and tickling her tiny stomach. “Alright?” Within a few minutes, they’d reached the room, and Kai headed for the fridge to make sure they had the right ingredients stocked. “Find a seat anywhere, most people don’t use this place outside of class,” he said over his shoulder.