Disgraced: Twins of the Zodiac

It's All Just An Act....Study Date

            The sound of her fists contacting the two-ton punching bag ricocheted throughout the house almost like gunfire. He could tell that it was Aurora. This was her regimen when her mind began to wander into starvation from neglecting herself. He, himself had even begun to fall under the effects of his sister’s situation. However, this was something that he would not allow her to know.

    Jeriko prayed that Aurora’s session would end before Jennifer arrived, her punches sounding almost like a shotgun fire with every hit she landed on the punching bag. It surprised him, quite frankly that Mags hadn’t caught wind of the loud noise and acted on it in the first place; but then maybe she had and Aurora just glamoured her into not paying it much attention in the first place. Sometimes, Jeriko had to wonder, even concern himself with how extensive the damage might have been concerning what they’d done in brainwashing Mags. 

    Both he and Aurora were skilled in the art of mental manipulations as it was one of their many special abilities. However, they were never on the receiving end of such power, and so didn't really know what prolong usage of it could result in if they continued to do it. And the last that Jeriko wanted was for something bad to happen to Mags' mental health because of he and Aurora's mind tinkering. Jeriko was sure that his twin felt the same as he. This caused Jeriko to silently brainstorm on better ways to subdue Mags' memories of abnormal.

    The incessant punching came to an abrupt stop, causing Jeriko to pause from his thoughts. He waited a moment or so before relief flooded him. She was done and just in time because Jennifer was due to be present at any moment.

    “What is she doing here?”

    The mellow and cautious tone of Aurora unsettled Jeriko for a moment before he turned around in what seemed an attempt to explain. His lips parted just as the doorbell rang,

    “We can talk about this later,” Jeriko replied in an attempt to end the conversation.

    Aurora watched her brother walk away before within the blink of an eye she was standing in front of her twin. She ignored the frustrated look on his face before she spoke, blocking his way.

    “No. She can wait. This can be discussed now.” Aurora returned with subtle frustration.

    “Ro,” Jeriko sighed. “I am not in the mood for you. I have company,” he said moving past her and continuing through the foyer. His steps were abruptly halted when, once again, there she was, standing in front of him.

    “Well, brother, if she is dead you will not have any company anyway,” Aurora said calmly. He knew exactly what she was insinuating without her going much further into the conversation.

    Under her calm demeanor, Jeriko was still well aware that his sister did not know the meaning of the word ‘bluff’; and if he did not answer her question, potential death would incur. 

    He sighed. “Aurora, if I’m going to act like a teenager, then I need to experience life as one. Teenage boys invite their girlfriends over for study dates.”

    “First, you are far from some teenage boy. Second, you’ve lived enough lifetimes to experience this ten times over,” Aurora returned, her arms crossed with annoyance. 

    “Maybe you’ve forgotten, but the only thing I recall is running for centuries at a time attempting to escape your mistakes.” Jeriko hissed in frustration.

    Aurora scoffed, looking away from her twin a moment, trying to disregard the hurtful thing that he had said. She took a deep breath and disappeared. Jeriko thought she was gone and when he started for the door again, she reappeared, this time, with a laced cigar in her hand. She began to light it.

    “Don’t you think she’s getting a little too close? A little too fast, brother? You've always been careful about that and you do not find it the least be questionable that you are letting her through your guarded walls so fast” She asked. "I have never seen you so blatantly disregarding of our secrets...not since-"

    “What does that matter to you, Ro?” Jeriko cut her off, slightly flustered by what his sister was about to say. He preferred her not bring up a past that was lost to him because of her. He knew that she didn't see it that way-that she didn't realize that he'd lost his heart and his life because of Aurora. She fought against him leaving the life that he'd made but his obligation to her would not allow him to abandon her. Still, the difficult decision that he had to make did not change the lingering resentment that he had for Aurora. "For you to have even mentioned something so...sensitive..." He hissed. "You got what you wanted back then so I guess it doesn't matter to you how talking about her makes me feel,"

    Aurora grimaced, rolling her eyes upward before took in a deep huff of her cigar, holding it in a minute, before she exhaled. She then looked at her brother, disappointment in her eyes. "I wanted no such thing," She sighed. "You know that" Aurora started to walk past her brother in resignation when she paused.“I am not the only one that has made mistakes in the past, Rik. Maybe if you remembered that from time to time, then…” Her words trailed off; Aurora, instead, scoffed and shook her head, realizing that trying to convince her brother that he wasn’t always the victim was just a lost cause. “I’m going for a walk.” She left her brother standing there, as she headed for the door.

    Jennifer stood there. It seemed that she did not know what to say in such a moment that seemed so awkward. It was evident by the stance and look of both Aurora and Jeriko that an argument took place. So she stood there in silence for a moment before she finally spoke. “Hi.”

    Aurora did not speak, only stared at Jennifer. There was something about this one that she did not trust. But she would not say anything; no, she decided to allow it all to come to a head on its own. Maybe that was what her brother needed. Or at least that was what her thoughts were for the moment. If Jeriko wasn't going to listen to Aurora's doubts then maybe he had seen the situation through until he garnered a few doubts of his own.

    Before Aurora left, she took a slight pause. “Oh and brother-one thing I will agree on.” Her head only tilted slightly before she spoke. “This all is just that...an act. Remember that.” she said before sauntering past Jennifer. “Hello, dear.”

    Jeriko watched Jennifer look at Aurora walk away before she spoke a low hi. She then turned around and looked at Jeriko again, whose expression quickly changed into that of a smile. 

    Jennifer sighed and forced a smile before it immediately disappeared. “Your sister really doesn’t like me.” 

    Jeriko took her by the hand and pulled her into the house. “If she didn’t like you then she wouldn’t have joined the cheerleading squad.”

    “Oh please, Jer.” Jennifer scoffed, turning around to face him just as he was closing the front door. “We both know, she did that for your sake, not mine.” Her hand stay entwined with his own as she kept walking, taking in the nice decor of the house. “Let’s face it. Aurora Valentine hates me.”

    She was right. Jeriko knew this, but he wouldn’t elaborate on it. Instead, he grabbed Jennifer from behind and pressed her against the front of his form, squeezing firmly before snuggling against her ear. “Jen, it’s not that Aurora dislikes you,” Of course, that is probably a large piece of the puzzle, he thought. “She’s just not much in the way of a people person.” He said. “Don’t hold it to her charge. My sister hasn't had the easier life and because of that it's not particularly effortless when it comes to trusting others. Because of this, Ro is very introverted,”

    Jennifer sighed. “Yea, I guess whatever happened to her was pretty bad.” She assumed. “She’s obviously not new to this spirit squad thing or tryouts. Things like that.” She looked at Jeriko curiously. "I know...that I may be overstepping my boundaries in asking, but...what happened to her?"

    “Life happened to my sister, Jen.” Jeriko replied, sort of irritated that she thought it was her place to ask such a personal question in the first place. It wasn't Jeriko's place to tell anyone about Aurora's past, especially Jennifer. "You're right," He finally added. "You are definitely overstepping boundaries in asking about my sister's personal life. And I'd be not much of a good brother if I told you about it. Then, I'd be overstepping my boundaries. I cannot do that,"

    "I...I understand, Jer. I'm sorry if I made you feel awkward by asking," 

    He kissed her head. "It's alright," He reassured. "Sometimes I feel like with the life that my sister has had to lead, the least that I could do is keep her personal hardships private,"    

    Jennifer looked up at Jeriko with a warm smile. "I completely get it," She replied. "You're such a good brother," 

    "Thanks but there are a few moments where I could have been better," He confessed.

    "There's always those moments," Jennifer countered. She laid her chest on Jeriko's chest. "Whatever she went through must have really matured her. Sometimes," She chuckled. "Aurora talks like someone way older than what she is-like she's like a hundred years old or something," She teased.

    “Ha, right.” Jeriko sheepishly chuckled. “I guess, sometimes, it can feel that way.” He said. “Especially, when you’ve gone through the things that Aurora has gone through.” He couldn’t help but think about the hardships that his twin went through when they were children; just because she wasn’t like the others...like him. Something that wasn’t her fault more so their parents.

    It was the biggest reason that he could never leave her side; and the biggest reason that he had so much resentment, not for the Zodiac, but for his mother and father. So many mixed feelings that he had yet to sort out in all of his years of living.

    "Must have been a real doozy," 

    "It was," Jeriko shook his head, returning from his reverie of thoughts. “But as I said, it is not my place to talk about them,” When he saw the disappointed look on her face, he chuckled. “Aren’t you here for a study date?” He teased. “I sure don’t want to spend this time talking about my little volatile twin sister.” He smirked.

    Jennifer caught his hint and simply grinned as she wrapped her arms around Jeriko and looked into his beautiful and charming serene eyes. 

    “I don’t want to spend this time studying either.” She winked. Jeriko’s head moved down slowly as Jennifer tip-toed to move up until their lips began to meet.

    “Oh, hi!” 

    They quickly retracted when they saw Mags standing there, her expression sheepish as she walked in on them.

    “Mags!” Jeriko had forgotten that she was around, and looked at Jennifer sheepishly, who herself had seemed to be a little embarrassed. He wordlessly told her that he was sorry with his gaze. Something about Mags catching him interlocked with another female filled him with guilt.

    “I’m so sorry!” Mags apologized. “I didn’t know that-”

    “Don’t-don’t apologize for walking around in your own house, Mags.” Jeriko chuckled. “I’m the one that should be apologizing.” He smiled at Mags before returning his gaze to Jennifer, they both thinking the same thing; guess this will just be a study date after all. Realizing this, Jeriko decided that he’d might as well do the cordial thing and introduce Jennifer. “Mags, this is Jennifer Luxe...." He couldn't resist hesitating as he added. "My girlfriend.”