Enhance 2: Chapter 22

If there was one thing that Yumi had learned she couldn’t fight it was the call to nature. In all her years whether it be in a cage in the labs or with her family here in the apartment. She’d tried to fight it just to spite the scientist but even her accelerated metabolism couldn’t stop things while she slept. Wetting the bed as a grown woman wasn’t a pleasant thing to wake up to.

Getting out of bed she looked at the empty spot beside her and the stared at the broken plate and discarded food against the wall. Shade wasn’t back yet or Shade wasn’t trying to be in bed with her. Considering the last time, they spoke she was fine with that. She was still pissed, still hurt, and still shaking in the tips of her fingers. But it wasn’t something she could hold onto. She didn’t have the energy to hold onto it.

Walking out of her room slowly she went straight to the bathroom as fast as her stumbling steps could take her. Sitting on the toilet she leaned her head back and finally groaned. She closed her eyes and took a very slow and very deep breath. It was a good piss that’s for sure. Something told her that the color of the toilet water was going to be pretty unpleasant.

Flushing, she walked down the hallway. She stared at the slightly open door. She saw the light flashing through the crack and wondered if Feint was still up working. Who was she kidding, of course she was. The woman was a workaholic. Especially when she was stressed and couldn’t relax. She envied that.

She started to walk back toward her room but her legs sent her somehow toward the living room. It was dark, the tinker room door closed and no lights from beneath the door. Darren’s room was likewise closed. None of them had any sort of consistent schedule so if anyone was awake she couldn’t guess it right now.

She went over to the chair and plopped down in it. It was only then that she could finally tell just how bad she smelled. She sniffed at her arm pit and recoiled, turning up her nose sharply. She didn’t even want to check the rest of her. Shuddering she leaned away and put her head against the back of the chair. She put her hands into her hair and recoiled at the feeling. She needed to wash it. Badly.

Wiping her hands on the chair, she put her hands over her face and shivered feeling the wave of emotions starting to crash over her again but she took a deep breath and tried to fight them. To not drown in them again because three days of that was exhausting and she wanted a breather.

But the guilt and frustration crept up the planks of her sinking row boat. A weight that dragged her down like cement blocks around her ankles. Her eyes stung and she sniffled trying to fight back tears because she hated crying. The crying didn’t help her but she wasn’t strong enough to stop it yet.

She slid out of the chair slowly and fell against the floor, her butt hurting on impact. But when she lowered her hands she stared at the last member of the house. The boxy furry face of the Rottweiler that Phase had adopted. She sat down staring up at her with her tail wagging and face inquisitive. With an uneven voice she asked, “What do you want you dumb mutt?”

Roxie just panted and stepped forward sniffing at her legs and licking one lightly. Yumi regretted not putting on pants before roaming around the house. But the dog moved and pressed her muzzle against her face. Yumi grumbled and tried to push the animal away. “Stop it. Stick around me and its bad news. You’ll get a broken paw. Or like spayed or some shit.”

Roxie licked her face lightly and Yumi couldn’t take it and felt her tears spill down. Wrapping one shaky hand around Roxie’s neck she pulled the dog closer. “Goddammit you stupid dog. Why do you have to be so good?”

Roxie licked at her cheek as she cried and then put her head on her shoulder. Yumi brushed her fingers through her fur and kept holding onto her. “I’m such a shit person Roxie. I’m a shit friend. Shit family member. People rely on me. Phase believed in me. And I got him shot. He could be dying for all I know.” She shook her head. “But everyone wants me to keep going. Says I’m better than this. I just want to be fucking done with it all. Fuck DJ for believing in me. Fuck Feint for hugging me when I cried the first time. Fuck everyone. Especially you, dumb dog.”

She held onto Roxie tighter as the rottie licked her face and she mumbled every swear under the sun that she could think of. Her crying devolved into hiccups as she forced herself to catch her breath. She kept brushing her fur and looked at the dog. “Why’re you even up? No way you’re hungry. I know that Echo fed you.”

“Roxie like’s you. Almost as much as she likes me.”

Roxie’s ears perked up and she dislodged herself from Yumi’s slackened grip and darted across the room. Yumi watched Phase crouch down and wrap his arm around her neck as she jumped and rubbed herself against him. Her tail wagged and he laughed as she licked his face and he had to fight her off all while talking in that soft baby voice of dog owners. “Yeah Roxie. Hi. It’s me. I know girl. You’ve missed me a lot. Been under the weather. But I’m finally up and about.”

Yumi just stared at him like she was seeing a ghost. And he looked like one. His normally dark skin was a few shades paler and his eyes were tired. But it was his hair. Before there was only one white stripe going through it now there were several, almost like an entire quadrant of his head had been dyed white.

Finally making the dog calm down Phase shakily got back to his feet. Groaning he and holding his stomach lightly he walked over to her. She scrambled to her feet slowly and looked up at him. She reached out slowly and wrapped her arms his neck tightly pulling him in closely. She cried again holding him despite his many groans of protest. “You’re alive. You’re awake. You’re okay.”

“Yeah Yu. I’m okay. Now please let go. Before you choke me to death.”

She let go of him in a hurry and stumbled backwards. She hit the couch and fell back into it. Phase walked over and sat beside her. “God. Don’t get shot Yu. It sucks.”

“I’m sorry Phase. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Stop it Yu. Please. You’re my family. I’ll always take care of my family.”

“It shouldn’t have happened. If I had been better or smarter.”

“Who would have known he had a gun? I didn’t and I was fighting him.”

“But-“

“Stop it. I’m serious Yumi. Stop beating yourself up,” he reached over and put his hand on her head turning her to look at him. “Have you asked yourself why you came in there yet?”

She blinked at him confused, “What?”

“Why’d you come running in there?”

“Because I had tried to comm you and couldn’t. Thought I’d heard some voices and then there was the feedback and I heard a crash,” she rubbed her eyes. “Plus you didn’t unlock the door and I got worried.”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what?”

“Exactly what I said,” he said. “Our communications were garbage. You heard a lot of signs that things were bad so you came in to help me. And you were right. It just played out badly. No one’s mad at you Yumi. I’m definitely not. If you didn’t show up things could have gotten worse.”

“Yeah worse than you getting shot,” she mumbled under her breath.

He shrugged, “Well I could’ve got kidnapped again.”

She started to say something again but went quiet and stared at the ground. He might have been right but it still sat badly with her. She dug her fingers into the sides of the couch and Phase wrapped his arm around her shoulders tightly. “You know you smell awful right?”

She blinked looking back at him, “Shut the fuck up. You stink too.”

“I was in bed three days.”

“So was I.”

“I was healing.”

“I was too. Kinda.”

“Kinda my ass.”

They looked at each other, staring one another down and finally just broke into laughter. The kind of laughing that only someone who knew you could do. In the middle of their laughs both of their stomachs started growling. They laughed again, softer this time. “Guess we haven’t eaten in a few days.”

“Let’s find something to eat,” Phase got up slowly and groaned.

“You know kinda don’t hate the hair change,” she said reaching toward locks of white. She brushed her fingers through his hair and laughed. “White might be your color.”

“Heh, think so?” Phase pointed toward the bathroom. “Let’s shower and then eat. I have to go check on a certain someone so you can go first.”

“She didn’t see you first?”

He shook his head, “She was asleep. Didn’t want to wake her up.”

“Okay. Go. I’ll be quick. Probably,”

He started to walk away when Yumi grabbed his hand, holding him there for a moment. He looked back at her trying to keep an easy smile on his face.

“You’re one of my favorite people Phase. In the whole world. And having to imagine a world without you in it for a little while,” she shuddered forcing herself to breathe again. “I. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He blinked slowly and turned to face her again. He squeezed her hand and nodded, “I know it was scary. But I’m okay. We’re okay.”

She hugged him again tightly which this one surprised him and whispered, “I swear. I’m never letting anything happen to you.” She took a step back from him wiping her eyes and smiled and for the first time in a long time it reached her eyes.

Phase walked away and told Roxie to stay in the living room. He kept his hand on his stomach but the itchy pain had started to fade away. It had been hard when he woke up, his stomach throbbing with angry pulsations. But the longer he was awake the more it had started to fade away and even now it had faded to just a nagging pain.

Walking back to their room he pushed the door back open with a slight creak. The noise made Feint jerk to an upright position from her chair. She blinked drowsily and yawned stretching. But she looked at the empty spot on the bed where Phase had been for the past few days and jumped to her feet.

But she didn’t panic. She turned around slowly and stared at Phase who just smiled waving at her. “Hey Fei.”

“You’re awake.”

“Yeah. You weren’t. Didn’t want to wake you up.”

“I fell asleep,” she said reflectively. “And you’re walking. You’re okay?”

He nodded and she walked over to him. She touched his face and he was warm. She ran her fingers through the white in his hair and frowned. She raised his shirt and saw the scars in his stomach, fully white and healed over. Dropping his shirt, she kissed him lightly and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He held her as well and sighed. “You had me scared Phase.”

“Sorry Fei. At least I had you looking over me.”

“I had to. Wish I could have looked after her more.”

“Yeah,” he frowned looking away. “Yeah.”

She took a step back and smiled, yawning again. “You stink Phase.”

“Oh come on. I can’t smell that bad,” he smelled at his chest and arm and made a face. “Okay fine. Yumi’s showering now. I’ll go after her.”

“Yumi’s showering?”

“Yeah. We had a chance to talk a bit.”

“Good. She’s been. Not herself because of this. You’re special to her.”

He blinked and then nodded, “Yeah.” He smiled gently. “After I shower me and Yumi are eating. You joining us?”

Feint fought a yawn and shook her head. “No. Unlike you I’m exhausted. Don’t get into any trouble and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Trouble? Me?”

“Don’t fucking start,” she pointed at him and stepped away, clearing away her computer and notes. Stacking them up and putting them on the floor she got onto her side of the bed rolling over. Now that he was awake, the weight in her soul lifted and she was just tired. “Love you Phase.”

“Love you too Fei.”

Phase stared at her, holding onto the side of the door frame sighing. He went to the dresser and the closet getting some fresh clothes. Taking a step back he closed the door properly this time. Walking back into the hallway he heard the water for shower turn off. The bathroom opened and Yumi came out a towel wrapped around her chest and another her hair.

“All yours leader.”

“Holy shit there was a person under all that dirt and grime.”

“Shut the fuck up,” she glared. “I’ll flush the toilet while you’re in there if you keep talking.”

“You know plumbing doesn’t work like that anymore right?”

She just let out a frustrated noise but smiled at him and kept. She took step toward him and heisted and she blushed. Phase hadn’t seen that face on her before, at least not directed at him. They looked away and smiled, “It’s all yours leader.”

She went to her room and was greeted by the aggressive smell of must from before. Coughing she covered her mouth and scowled. “That’s not great.” She mumbled to herself. She walked forward and then paused staring at the plate on the ground and made a face.

Taking the towel off her head she let her hair frizz out in every direction. She grabbed a handful of it but let it bounce back. Looking down she saw the mess that she’d made. Going down she picked up as many pieces of plate as she could and then grabbed the food as well. It wasn’t perfect or clean but she got as much as she could. Setting it down on the corner of the dresser she put on some clean clothes.

Settling on a tank top and some pants she went back to the corner and picked up the food using her towels and dropped them in trash. Pulling out and trying the bag she started to toss it out. Carrying it out of the room she stopped almost running straight into Shade. She and him stared at each other eyes wide and confused.

Shade stared at Yumi and she looked better than he’d seen her in in a while. She smelled clean, she looked refreshed in everywhere, even in her eyes. But now she looked skittish, on edge. Almost guilty. But he remembered what he said to her. Remembered the last time they talked and he looked away.

Yumi looked at him and her first instinct was to be frustrated. To be angry. Remembering the harsh thing’s, he’d said. Remembered she’d tried to hit him in the head with a plate. But then she saw the bruises at his eye, the small cuts on his cheek and neck. Some of them were still bright with blood.

“You’re up.”

“You’re back.”

“You’re clean.”

“You’re hurt.”

They looked at each other again and this time they dwelled on each other. From the towels he could see the contents just enough and she saw a small carton balanced in his hand and two spoons on between his fingers. She could just barely make out the flavors of the ice cream.

“You don’t even like mint.”

“Not really, but you do.”

 “Why?”

“Peace offering,” he made a face trying to find his words. “Sorry.”

“You were right you know.”

“What about?”

“When I stopped moping around and got out of bed he woke up.”

His eyes widened slightly, “Phase?”

“Yeah. He’s awake. We talked. I should have listened sooner.”

“No. I shouldn’t have said what I said. At least. Not like that. It was shitty. I’m sorry.”

“Well I threw a plate at your head.”

“You also missed. But still. I deserved it.”

“Please DJ. Let’s just. Drop it. What happened to you?” she touched the bruise at his eye and he flinched away from her touch slightly. “What?”

“It hurts.”

“Big baby. What were you doing?”

“Doing some work with Rogue. We may have gone one stop too many after the last one.”

“Moron.”

“Look who’s talking.”

They smirked at one another and finally hugged tightly. They held onto each other like the other would disappear if they let go. Shade let out a deep breath and whispered, “You smell good.”

Yumi grinned, “I better. You eating with us?”

“No way. I’m going to go collapse and make love to the bed.”

Yumi opened her mouth to add something to that and refrained getting to her toes and kissing his forehead. “Leave room for me.”

“Always.”

They kissed softly, less desperate than their hug but it said more than their words could have on their own. When the separated she kept a hand against Shade’s chest. “DJ.”

He paused, “Yeah?”

“I. I love you,” she looked away hesitating.

That caught him off guard slightly but he smiled at her, “I love you too.”

She nodded and then stepped away pushing him, “Go rest. I’ll be up for awhile.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

She watched him kick off his shoes, set the ice cream on the dresser, and then collapse down onto his side of the bed. She kept the garbage bag in one hand and picked up the ice cream and walked toward the kitchen. She popped the top of the ice cream and started eating slowly hearing the microwave.

“Dessert for dinner?”

“No Echo. Just wanted some. I’ll eat real food.”

She walked over moving with an energy and pep in her step. She came to Yumi and hugged her tightly, the taller girl squeezing hard. “Okay Echo. Chill out. I’m okay.”

“I know and I’m glad for that among other things,” she replied. She moved into the kitchen next and hugged Phase much to his shock. “And I’m glad you’re okay as well.”

“Hey Echo why are you functioning right now?” Phase asked.

She looked at her arm and rolled down one of her sleeves, “Rogue delivered a dose to me. I wasn’t running low but it’s nice to make sure I don’t go low. So now I’m feeling very good. Plus my powers started going off and I felt you two moving and I had to see you.”

She dropped down to her knees as their Rottweiler came over. “And of course, I had to see you too Roxie.”

“You hungry too then?” Phase asked.

“No, no need to make another plate for me. Just gonna get some water.”

The microwave dinged and Phase snatched the plates out. He handed one to Yumi and kept another as he walked back to the living room. Yumi sat on the couch with him and Echo fell into the chair. Roxie lay down at their feet her tail hitting Phase’s leg lightly.

“Home sweet home huh?” Phase asked.

Yumi nodded, “Home sweet home.”