Magnus sat on the porch as he beheld the night sky enveloping the farmlands. It was peaceful, too peaceful. He had missed this kind of atmosphere. And yet, this was the same kind of atmosphere that made him think about everything.
He didn't want to hurt Maddox earlier but when he had shot Maia in the head, he felt his own heart stop. He heard Damian's shout and rage right beside him and it entangled with his own rage and despair.
When his first priority should've been Maia, he had run towards Maddox and tackled him to the ground. His anger was very visible as he wanted to spout the questions towards Maddox and hurt him for shooting Maia. But he couldn't.
Because he couldn't hurt any of them.
The front door opened and out came Makoto, his long raven hair tied messily behind him and two cups of steaming coffee in his hand.
"You know that drinking that won't make you fall asleep right?"
He asked his little brother but he just let out a shrug before giving him one cup to which he gladly took.
"It's not like we'll get some sleep anyway"
From inside he could hear Maddin's soft hum and the quiet breathing of Maki. He turned around just enough to see Maki sleeping soundly in Maddin's lap on the large couch.
"Except for the youngest of course"
Makoto teased before he shut the door behind him and sat beside Magnus staring right upfront too. Magnus gave him a soft chuckle.
"What's Maddox doing?"
He asked and Makoto took a sip from his cup before answering.
"Brooding in the backroom. He said he wanted to be alone. Dad's sleeping on his room and Ate said she'll look after Maia and Damian's room"
Magnus nodded before he took a sip from his cup. The freshly brewed beans hit his nose before it even reached his tongue. He was grateful for the strong aroma because all he could smell before was the scent of Maia's blood being carried by the strong wind.
"I won't take back what I said about Maia starting the chaos. I meant every word of it"
Magnus only stared at his cup.
"Do you hate Maia?"
He asked, voice soft and small but Makoto only shook his head.
"When I saw you guys earlier, saw that snow white hair and red eyes, I did hate her. Thought about how…"
He stopped seemingly searching for the right words until he shook his head.
"When you win the games you are offered a chance to become a mutant so you'll be able to win the next games. The government offers that path and some do take it only to end up dead or unrecognizable because their body couldn't handle the mutation. Worse, they lose their soul and mind. I thought Maia took that path. That's what made me angry."
Magnus' attention was wholly on Makoto now. He hadn't known that tiny detail and he was sure neither did Maia. In a sense Maia hadn't won her games because she blew up her arena for that rebel cause.
"Were you offered?"
Magnus asked carefully and Makoto nodded as an answer. He clenched his fist around the cup he was holding.
"I thought she took it for the power just so she could bring everyone back. I thought she was in cohorts with mom. I hadn't even thought about the possibility of her being a victim"
There was enough softness in Makoto's voice that made Magnus realize that he was being genuine.
"You saw mom's plan better than any of us"
Makoto shook his head and answered.
"I saw what she wanted, what she would've done and I know what my own gifts can do. Put those pieces together and you'll see the larger picture"
"Still better than any of us"
Magnus only commented and another minute of silence passed by before Makoto said.
"I saw the downfall of the rebels"
"What?"
Magnus stared hard at Makoto once more as he dropped another truth bomb at him.
"The chaos that I saw…"
He said, his eyes never leaving the darkened horizon.
"It was the rebels being defeated, captured, tortured and in the games. And in that arena I saw all seven of us, standing, all bloodied up and coated in aura. That's when true chaos emerged"
Magnus would've flinched at the doom lingering around the corner if not only for one word. Seven.
"Do you know where Marvyll is?"
Makoto raised an eyebrow at Magnus as if asking him if he was serious but Magnus only wanted answers, and when Makoto realized this he gaped at him.
"You really didn't have any idea?"
He asked genuinely and before Magnus could even retort to it, he added.
"She said she'll linger around Maia and Maki. The last time I talked to her she said she'll stay by their side"
Talked to her, his brother had talked to their sister. The only one he never really found. He knew where she was and knew that she had been staying near Maia and Maki.
Near Maia and Maki. The voice. Only Maia and Maki heard that. But they didn't see anyone, they just heard her voice.
Then it dawned on him like a chill running on his spine.
"What was Marvyll's gift aside from her intelligence?"
Magnus' breath was almost knocked outside of his lungs as Makoto answered.
"Invisibility"
~
Maia had awoken later to the bed groaning right beside her. Her eyes heavy as she tried to pry them open and saw Damian facing her, eyes shadowed as they stared at her. Then she realized that her fingers on his pulse were still there. Still holding onto him.
"I'm not going anywhere"
He said softly and that was all she needed to hear before she let out a soft whimper. Damian pulled her closer, her head now resting in his chest while his fingers danced carefully in her hair.
"Let's not scare each other like that ever again"
Maia nodded and let out the tears that she thought had stopped flowing earlier. A moment of silence passed. Damian brushed his lips on top of Maia's hair and said.
"It wasn't a fluke. You can heal others too"
They had been contemplating on it for a while now. Maia had been able to heal Sol during her battle with Artemis but she hadn't been sure if she could do it again. They both thought it was a fluke and they didn't want to test it out by getting each other injured. But now, they know the answer.
Maia can heal others. She can heal anyone.
"Still… I'd rather we don't have any need to use it"
Damian let out a soft chuckle and the rumble made Maia's own heart sing in relief. He was okay, Damian was okay, alive and well, all because of her gift.
"Agreed"
He answered a little later as he closed his eyes once more. As Maia closed her eyes and let sleep take hold of the both of them once more.