The following days after Io administered Mend were some of the longest that she had. More so than even the days she spent with the cannibals and their sadistic pleasures. Whereas that time had been full of nightmares and madness, this? It was like waiting for a flower to blossom. That anticipation of a new beginning and with it the hope that one's dreams will bloom.
For Io, this was not a re-do of her life, but the transformation of what it meant to be alive. To connect, love, and nurture. This was far from a do-over for her. Io read about families in some books here at the library and the concept of it sounded hopeful. Something did not exist in the drudgery, that was what her world. Now she had the little one, no, a brother, she found out when she had wiped the child's feverish body down.
The sickly one, a girl, was in the room's corner. Io had to practically hog-tie the brat to scrub the grime off. The only bright side to her new pet was that the girl's eyes were almost the same green shade as Io's new brother. Close, but not quite. Whereas Io's little brother's gaze held an intensity of sorts, her new pet was almost sweet. At least when she was taking care of Io's brother.
On a distant level, Io could respect the leechling's tenacity to cling to its provider. If not for the sake of Io's brother, the first time the leechling had touched Io, her head would have left her body. However, it was important to compromise with family. Not on everything, but matters as minor as this, it wasn't worth the potential divide the leechling's death could cause between Io and her brother.
Maybe the brat could be an indoor pet? The girl was too soft to survive on her own. Io mused, her lips quirking in a barely-there smile. Io's brother must have been the one to keep the both of them alive. Why? Io didn't have a clue, but whatever. She would speak with her brother about setting boundaries after he recovered. He needed to learn that his life came first. There was no need to starve himself for something that could not survive if left alone. This leechling may resemble her new brother, but Io would not tolerate a leech causing his demise.
Three days passed and during that time, a sort of truce between Io and the leechling was established. The girl would behave as long as she was could stay in the same room, but if Io tried to force her into another room, then she became a hell-cat. When Io wiped down her brother's body, the leechling warily watched Io's every move as she cleaned the sweat off and redressed the boy in one of Io's shirts. That was another thing Io needed. Clothing.
Io didn't like her but that didn't mean that she would not take care of the pest in the meantime. The girl had been hellacious to get dressed, but eventually, Io had been able to get the little leech into one of her shirts. Io had then taken some cloth and ripped it into long strips to and wound them around her brother and the girl's ankles, wrists, and feet. It wasn't perfect but it kept them warm. Children's clothes were impossible to find here in The Ruins. Io's brows furrowed as she rethought her assumption. Maybe it wasn't. Io hadn't specifically looked for young children's clothing, so she'd just have to see if she could find anything worthwhile and if not she could make their clothes herself.
Io glanced up at the girl standing at the end of the chaise lounge where Io's brother lay. The girl was so intent on watching the boy that she didn't even notice Io's scrutiny. For the first time, it felt like Io got a really good look at the girl. It wasn't that she hadn't been aware of the leechling's attachment, but it was just for survival... Wasn't it? There was something about the way the pest look at Io's brother.
Io's eyes narrowed as she stared at the leechling. It wasn't disgust. That Io was sure of. She had seen that emotion in the eyes of the instructors back at the Standard Elite Learning Facility enough to know that. Not hate either. What was it? Io could feel her brows furrowing again as she mulled it over. She looked focused, but not. There was a lack of indifference, but Io just couldn't put her finger on it. Frustrated, Io finished up wringing the warm but damp rags she used to keep her brother clean.
"Girl, turn now," Io commanded tersely as her fingers rested on the edge of the blanket.
"No." The leechling clinched her tiny hands in her shirt. The strange look was replaced with a firmness that belied the girl's usual softness.
The temperature of the room fell as Io's ire grew. Just because she couldn't kill the little parasite did not mean that she would not punish her. Just as Io reached over to pick up the termagant for a heart-to-heart talk when she felt something hit her back.
"No touch! Leave her alone!" A hoarse voice cried out. Io immediately stopped and focused back on her new brother. Her heart thudded painfully. He woke up! Little did Io know, but the coldness that had been ever-present in her gaze began to melt. Io picked up a bowl that had been sitting next to the chaise lounge.
"Girl, go get the water," Io rested her hand on the boy's forehead and checked for fever. Now that he was awake, everything would be better. Without having to be asked twice, the girl grabbed the cup off the table and filled it with the water from the pot Io had set on a raised grid in the fireplace earlier in preparation for Dagan.
The girl carefully walked back, her eyebrows scrunched in concentration. The water was not too hot, but it was warm to the touch and she didn't want to waste a single drop! Her brother was awake and he needed his strength!
Io poured the ground insects that she had painstakingly caught into the warm water and held it to the boy's lips. The boy looked at her blankly, opened his mouth and let Io pour it the nutritious mixture down. The girl pulled at his sleeve after he finished gulping the last bit. "Oni lookit, lookit, I have new clothes and you have new clothes two and she gave me food too."
As soon as the girl said that, the boy's gaze grew sharp and he let out a feral scream. His green eyes burned from rage and somehow he found the strength to launch himself at Io. Io shocked caught the small bundle, but that wasn't the end. Her new little brother pummeled her shoulders, screaming as he tried to bite to kick her. Eventually, Io was forced to hold the small flailing body away from her.
She was at a loss, though, for what she had done. The wound had healed; the parasite was here and had even gained some weight. They were clean and warm. While Io was lost trying to figure out where she went wrong, the girl calmly held the flailing boy away from her.
"Hey! Hey! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!" The leechling finally got the boy's attention, and Io's.
"Stop it!" She demanded.
Io's eyes went wide and then narrowed in irritation. This little leech! How dare she try to order Io's brother around. Why she was just a- ... Io's eyes went wide. Her brother listened. Now that the boy had calmed, Io put him down and stepped away. Not that she was scared or anything, but it had certainly been a surprise when he had thrown herself at Io.
The leechling marched right up to the boy and stuffed her finger in his face. "I fine. Io no touch." It was like a puppeteer cutting off the strings to a puppet. Just that quick, all strength left, and the boy started to slip off the chaise lounge. Io caught her unruly brother and gently laid him back down on the chaise lounge.
"I safe. No touch." The girl said again, and Io had to admit she was surprised. Maybe there was more to the leechling than she had thought. Perhaps she had been too harsh in her judgments, but that was an entire episode of self-introspection for later. For now, it would be best to watch how this played out, after all. Now that her new brother was awake, Io and he would be family.
"Na-name," Io spoke tersely. Inside, she cursed herself for being unable to speak smoothly. It was just that she was nervous. She bungled up their first meeting and now he was mad, but it's okay, Io could fix it.
The boy looked at Io sullenly, but Io just waited. The silence stretched until finally; the girl blurted out. "Oni, Little Oni. And I am Little Cher-ith. Ow!" The girl's face scrunched as slapped a hand to her mouth. Her gentle green eyes tearing up.
Little Money tugged the girl close and pushed on her jaw. With an "Ahhhh" She showed him, and the boy praised her for being good.
Io could feel a twitch under her eye. No, she had been accurate in her judgment. The girl was a leech. However, it appeared that it was not her fault for being one as Io's brother was the one that had raised her to be a leech. Hmm. Io could fix that and maybe, Io could have not just a brother but a sister as well. Io watched the girl for a moment. She would just need to be re-educated.
"Speak clearly. What are your names?"
When the children answered, Io let out a soft "Oh," and left the room. Once she closed the door behind her Io quickly went down the stairs and stepped outside. The snow was falling but Io couldn't find it in herself to care. Those names were disgusting. Io hissed in aggravation. What her brother must have gone through because she knew based on their first interaction and when he woke up, that he would sacrifice himself before letting anything harm his sister. She could practically feel her body vibrating in anger on behalf of the children. She wasn't about to call them such disgusting names.
Once she composed herself, Io went back into the room. The twins got up from the couch and brought a blanket. After being stared at for a moment, Io kneeled and wrapped the twins up in her arms. The twins stilled, muscles tense, but soon relaxed.
Io buried her head in their shoulders and she could feel her eyes burning and it felt like her face was wet. Io lifted a hand to wipe it away. Was she crying? The last time Io had cried, had been when during her time with the cannibals. What they had gone through though? She knew how ugly humans could be, but even then she never knew... They were still babies.
Io pulled back, but she gently held onto their hands.
"I have something to ask of you both."
The boy nodded, "Yes, I will pay you back." He vowed.
'Yes, Little Oni, and I pay you back." Little Cherry repeated as she exaggeratedly copied her brother.
The boy nudged his sister. "I pay. Leave Little Cherry alone. I be good. I pwomise." His normally vibrant green eyes dulling with every word that came out of his mouth.
"Don't call yourselves those names and no, family doesn't have to pay back for doing what family should do. We take care of and protect each other. Do you understand me?" Io waited for an answer, but the kids just stared at her blankly and Io wanted to smack herself. Of course, they didn't understand. When would they have learned how? For Io, it had taken her many books and time. How could she expect her siblings to comprehend something that had taken her months to ponder over?
"What I mean is that we don't hurt each other or don't let others hurt us." The twins hands whitened and she could tell that they were talking but she couldn't make out what they were were communicating about. On the bright side, Io didn't need to wait long. With a long sigh, the boy relaxed as his gaze sharpened. Whereas the girl's eyes held a hint of softness, the boy's determination raged like a fierce electrical storm.
"Fine. We don't wike those names. It was what those people called us." The boy admitted. His hand caught his sister's hand as he calmly watched her. The action spoke volumes about how protective the boy was. Few children would rush into danger for another, let alone take the blow meant for someone else without being sure they'd survive first. The boy was a rare find. Loyal and calm unless he needed to protect his sister. Then the calm facade fell away, revealing the rage that burned within the boy.
Io looked at the boy deeply.
"Dagan." She stated.
"Eh?" The boy looked confused and Io had to admit that it was... adorable.
"Dagan." She repeated patiently, "It means 'Of the Earth,' and while you are not a grain, you are like a volcano, quiet, but you can be explosive. So yes, Dagan is your name, for it is a representation of all that you are, my little volcano." Io told Dagan, unable to keep herself from teasing her little brother at the end. With a little blush, the boy looked away, trying to force a serious expression onto his face, which was ultimately ruined with the corners of his mouth curling up into a small smile.
"Dagan," the girl whispered, testing it out. "Mn. I like it, Dagan. Dagan. Dagan." Every time the girl said Dagan her voice grew lighter and more carefree and the last time she spoke her brother's name. She whirled in a circle, giggling merrily.
Io watched the boy, Dagan, Io corrected herself, as she watched shoulders straighten up ever so slightly. She would need to see if she could find some books about how she could help. This was a start. As for the girl. Io knew the girl was innocent, but for the boy, the girl was like a light that he had sheltered in the darkest of places.
As annoying as the pest had been, she had tried. The girl had babbled incessantly to Dagan when she thought Io hadn't been paying attention. Her mood was cheerful if somewhat forced. One night Io stepped away from her watch over Dagan and returned only to find the girl clutching his hand in hers, as told him to wake up and that even though they were safe now, she still needed him.
"Sorcha. Girl, your name is Sorcha. A brilliant light for your brother and maybe," Io bit her lip, "me too. Of course, after you learn to take care of yourself and quit being leechling." Io clarified. The girl's eyes went wide and stared at Io.
"I light? I shine?" Sorcha clung to her brother, and when the boy nodded slowly, Sorcha giggled and clung. "I shine." Her eyes curved in joy and for the first time, Io could feel her heart warm.