#aritheabandoned

I told Fang about Ari being back from the dead--and, most importantly, on our side this time--and...well, he took it well. Better than expected. Naturally, they're going to butt heads. I'd expect that. I always sort of suspected their rivalry was about more than just the whole Eraser vs. Bird Kid thing. That it was more personal than that. But I could never really put my finger on it.

So! I'm pleased as punch. I honestly thought he wouldn't be able to stand it. Pull a "Choose now, it's me or him" on me again. But he didn't. He...really, truly kept his promise.

I suppose that means I'm keeping Ari, then. The tough part of that is, do we leave him where he is? Or do we bring him around with us? He has his own place right now. Somehow. Do I really want to pull him out of that just to come with us? 

Then again, if it's being paid for by Itex, he's better off getting out of there ASAP. 

Even though we've lost the entirety of Fang's Gang at this point...it feels like the flock is getting bigger right now. With the addition of Ari and...I'm still not sure what to do with Amelie. I can't leave her alone in the city. I've got to help her. Itex is after her. They know she survived that fire, now, and she's next. Maybe I can teach her to protect herself. Take care of her. Heck, maybe she could even pick up where her mom left off! Help us gain information that could help us bring down Itex for GOOD.

Whatever happens with Ari Batchelder and Amelie, though? The original six are all still together. That's all that matters. And we'll stay together. Always. 

//SHHHH I HAV ETOO MANY SHOWS TO CATCH UP ON DONT MAKE ME

there's a gif of Aaron from Graceland and he 

THAT V 

"No...that--...that doesn't make any...A-Ari?" 

Alright. The Voice in my head? I could deal with (not really, but that's another issue for another time). But this was it. I'd completely lost it. Lost my marbles. Gone 'round the bend. Coocoo for cocoa puffs! Maximum Ride had truly reached a new level of insane. 

Hallucinating a dead kid? Not cool. 

I'd seen him slip away. I felt the life go out of his pained, tortured, distorted body. The last word he'd ever said was my name. I held him as he died. 

I buried him, too. Dug the hole myself and refused to let anyone help me. Not even Fang. My right hand, my rock, but it hadn't been enough. Just when I gained something so important--my little brother--and realized that all the cat and mouse games hadn't been our fault? That he was just as much of a victim to them as I was? That we were being played by Itex yet again and forced to be at odds and we could, accepting that, finally be friends? 

I lost him.

I felt it for weeks, let me tell ya. But I had to be strong. For the kids. Beat the holy h-e-double-toothpicks out of everyone in that fight, though. I did it all for him. And there he was. Still, I felt the snark bubbling up in my throat like word vomit. I couldn't help myself. A load, oh-so-graceful snort left me. A real debutante ball princess, I am. 

"Geez Louiiiise! Whoever wrote the little screenplay that is my life CLEARLY never saw Old Yeller because look who's back to play fetch and lick himself!"