a mysterious guest {tom}

[Knuckles]

THE BROKEN CLOCK IS A COMFORT

IKAIA MIRISTIOMA

IT HELPS ME SLEEP TONIGHT

Warm gusts of wind whistled through the broken window in the far corner of his bedroom. Sheets flew into the air as rays of sunlight reflected into his eyes. Happy cries echoed through the tiny shack of a house as the twins ran through the halls, feet pounding against the floor, boards squeaking in protest. A heavy sigh fell from his lips as frail hands pushed the thin sheet to the floor. Downcast eyes locked onto the invisible leg lying in place - sometimes Ikaia asked himself if the twins were worth losing his leg, and almost his life, but the answer remained the same.

Yes.

One arm reached for the forearm brace crutches he received while his stump healed. "Ikky awake! Ikky!" A tiny voice belonging to one of the twins ricocheted through his room. The corner of his lips twisted into a large smile spreading from ear to ear as his gaze met the innocent stares of Junior and Ekain. His heart fluttered inside his chest, and his entire world felt perfect. But only one thing was missing. Somewhere far away his own brother was watching from the Capitol as Weaver and Iona competed in the games. It was a terrible fate, and Ikaia was thankful it wasn't him.

The twins crawled into his bed sitting down beside the broken nineteen year old. "Go see ma?" The tsunami had devastating effects on district four, and it almost took his life away, but through all of it, Ikaia finally learned the meaning of life.

"Alright, boys, let's go to Ma's."

Pure joy pranced in front of him as he watched the faces of the twins light up. A smile spread across their face as they ran out of the room into their own room to find clothes to wear. Ikaia's heart melted.

Birds chirped outside his window only fueling the energy lingering inside.

Ikaia reached for his safety pin because he needed it to hold the leg of his pants in place so he wouldn't trip as he walked. Within seconds, the boys were ready, and standing outside his door pleading for Ikaia to hurry. Yet the never understood the complications of only having one leg. But soon he was ready, and together the twins journeyed outside the front door.

A gentle breeze swept dirt from the ground spinning it around in the air before releasing it into his eyes. The sun glistened from the leaves wet with dew. Birds flew freely across the sky. Ikaia stared at the almost dead grass realizing that rain was needed, yet there wasn't a cloud in the sight.

The walk to Kirito's house took a lot of effort, and by the time the three of them reached the gate to the victor's village, Ikaia was out of breath. Sweat rolled from his brow. His shaggy hair plastered to the side of his face. His arms ached from resting them on the crutches he was using. The grass inside the village was greener. The plants had more life. Ikaia wondered what it was like, yet he knew the three victors were celebrities.

A soft sigh fell from his lips as he continued walking until he was standing in front of the door. He tried turning the knob, but the lock was frozen in place. That's odd. Ikaia thought to himself as he scratched his head. A loose fist pound against the door wondering what was going on inside. But instead of opening the door, Ikaia stood there out of respect.

"Ma? I brought Junior and Ekain. Thought we could all spend the day together."

table by elegant

[Tom]

Writing Thinks "Says"

A dull ache in her chest as her mind wanders onto Kirito Miristioma for the hundredth time in the past few days. A worry in her mind as she thinks of how he would be handling the Seventy Third games. The worry in her gut was replaced with that ache of wanting to just hear his voice. To see the smile that bright light to her day. Kirito Miristioma had more control over her than she could ever realize. Rafe got annoyed with her Kirito talk since they had arrived there, but he was still being the brother she remembered as a kid. A younger brother, who acted like her was the older of them, protecting Oasis from the crazies in District Six. The brother who had been there through the abuse her father had done. Rafe was the only person that she thought she would care for, but Kirito came along and stole her heart in nothing flat. And it would be a lie if she didn't believe it scared her.

Oasis was preparing lunch for everyone in the home. A nice and relaxing lunch of some sandwiches and a fruit salad on the side. An easy lunch, but it was a nice relaxing lunch and would be great for everyone to have. Her mother and the neighbor were the ones to teach her that if she was staying with anyone she should pull her weight in things too. Oasis was a part of the household then and she would help with whatever the Miristioma's needed. A smile on her face, a rare sight to see, as she cut up the fruits that were rather fresh and probably came from the orchards in District Eleven that she had travelled through. The smell of the juicy and sweet fruits upon her nose as she quietly cuts them with precision.

Rafe's entrance into the room was a little frightening. His steps echoing as he entered. Her brother eyes the fruits and quickly grabs a piece of cut up fruit. She scolds him instantly, "Rafael! Do not touch my fruit salad." A shrug comes from his shoulder and a cocky smile appears on his face. Oasis rolls her eyes at him like she did every time he did something rather dumb. Brothers were meant to annoy the sister, but Rafe wasn't annoying. He was more of Oasis' comforting safety net as she was his too. The moment would have continued if it wasn't for her sharp ears hearing the knob of the door twist.

A pound at the door, Oasis turns to look at Rafe. His eyes look curious and yet nervous, but he doesn't say anything shrugging at her. Oasis takes the lead since Rafe just continues picking pieces of fruit out of the bowl and vanishes somewhere else. Her eyes roll at her brother's antics, until she hears a voice from behind the door. "Ma? I brought Junior and Ekain. Thought we could all spend the day together." Another Miristioma stands behind the door and her body relaxes a bit. The lock clicks as she unlocks the door. Eyes stare at each other for a second.

Oasis wants to freak out for a second. The man behind the door looked like him so much. Kirito was in the capitol, not in front of her. It wasn't logical for him to be home already with the games still going on. That's when her eyes lands upon the missing leg. Kirito had both of his legs, unless her memory didn't care about noticing it. Then she speaks calmly, a smile upon her face, arms opening the door more to let them in. "Hello, I'm Oasis. One of Kirito's friends. I'm guessing you must be Kirito's twin brother? You two look exactly alike, but different. Your mother is doing something in the back. I made lunch if you three would like some?" Her eyes watched them, even though she had explained herself before he talked, a fear still settled itself in her chest. The friendliest smile she could muster takes place on her face. A thought in her head, you're so screwed Oasis. Screwed was the right word. If she made a bad impression on Kirito's twin brother, then nothing would work out well. It was make it or break it time and the ache in her chest throbbed, wishing Kirito was there to help her out, but luck had it she'd meet everyone without him.

[Knuckles]

THE BROKEN CLOCK IS A COMFORT

IKAIA MIRISTIOMA

IT HELPS ME SLEEP TONIGHT

Silence devoured him as his eyes darted from the wooden door in front of him to the birds flying freely in the sky. The occasional cloud blocked the sun for only a moment before the rays pierced through the delicate, fluffy surface scorching the land. Beads of sweat rolled from his brow, and the twins stood behind him eagerly waiting to run inside and wrap Ma in a nice, warm embrace. But there wasn't an answer at the door. Part of him wondered if Ma was alright because this wasn't like her, and the sound of multiple footsteps shuffling inside only made his palms sweat even more. Ikaia wanted to kick the door in, but he didn't because it wasn't his house - it was Kirito's.

The lock clicks, and the door swings open. Ikaia's was about to walk inside when his eyes landed on a girl he had never seen before. Motioning for the twins to stay behind him, he immediately went on the defensive. Protecting his family was more important, and he couldn't figure out why some strange lady was opening the door -

Who are you?

But the words never left the tip of his tongue. His jaw clenched tightly, and all he could hear was the sound of his heart pounding against his ribs. The weakness he experienced earlier was gone because he had to make sure Ma was alright. But before he could do anything, the girl in front of him blurted out her name. A friend to Kirito? He shook his head trying to take it all in as none of it made sense. Why wouldn't Kirito tell him about this? Was their relationship so far destroyed that even trust became an issue?

A heavy sigh lifted from his chest as his heart plummeted towards the ground with a deafening thud. His one leg felt like jello, and if it wasn't for the crutches holding him up, Ikaia would be lying on the ground curled into a fetal position wondering where he had gone wrong. I didn't ask for this. I never wanted this to happen. Standing on two total ends of the rope made it impossible for the relationship to mend because Ikaia was left out of the loop once more. A river of tears threatened to run down the side of his face. I guess we didn't fix anything after all.

Junior and Ekain ran inside before Ikaia could stop them, and it didn't matter to him at that point as long as his mother was doing alright.

"Oasis." He paused for a moment unsure of how to take this girl standing in the doorway. "We're twins. Of course we'd look alike." A half grin spread across his face for only a moment because his mind was on the point of breaking down in front of a complete stranger, and he didn't want that to happen. "I'm Ikaia." He hobbled into the house before turning around and offering her a hand in hopes she wouldn't leave him hanging. "Kirito's twin." That was all he'd ever be because his life was in shambles despite his determination to fix it.

table by elegant

[Tom]

Writing Thinks "Says"

First impressions had more importance than Oasis could remember. A secret that Kirito hadn't told anyone. Only for multiple people to stumble upon her in his house doing things that she normally would do. Was she a dirty little secret? Was she Kirito's secret from the world? She wouldn't know. How could she know? Her heart always hammered when she got stuck upon those thoughts. Thoughts of what Kirito and herself were. She had to stop before she would go crazy for the whole day, so instead she studied Kirito's twin in front of her.

Kirito and Ikaia could stand side by side and she could tell the differences and similarities. For one, Ikaia was missing a leg and Kirito wasn't. Though there were small differences that she could tell. The Ikaia held himself up was interesting. A more intense and frightening way. Probably the fact that he had no clue who she was until a second ago. Ikaia and Kirito had different eyes. The look in them were different. Different struggles, different personalities, different people with different beliefs and ideals. Ikaia and Kirito both had something different and similar. All she wanted to do then was learn more about the twins. Figure out every little thing she could and become a part of the family, as a friend.

The clenching of his jaw caught her attention, only for a second. A sight falls from his lips and Oasis feels lost. Ikaia looked upset if only for a moment. It only took a moment to feel upset, Oasis would know. It only took a moment to ruin everything you ever planned for. Her father did that to her, but this wasn't the same. Ikaia looked upset from the words she had spoken. Everything she said seemed natural, a little overzealous, but nothing that should upset the twin brother. A sigh escaped her lips. That's when the kids ran past her, to the kitchen from the pace they were going. A small smile pulls at her face.

"Oasis." Oasis wanted to be her old sarcastic self, but that died with Sonja. Like most things good had. She wanted to tell Ikaia that we her name, but something in him and herself made her stop. An uncertainty look in his eyes showed her that he was confused about her presence, the typical reaction into running into her. "We're twins. Of course we'd look alike." A half grin pulling at the twin's face, making her smile back. A different smile that Kirito's twin had. A new thing to put into the back of her head, storing the information to herself. Kirito had a twin, which was interesting to her, she heard him talk maybe once about him in District Four, but that was awhile ago. It felt like a lifetime for her.

"I'm Ikaia." The twin speaks his name finally to her, while stepping inside. An interesting name for an interesting person. District Eleven and District Six had very different naming styles. A smile pulls at her cheeks as he puts out his hand to shake and Ikaia continues. "Kirito's twin." A laugh falls out, a comfortable laugh that is filled with a brightness that she couldn't explain, probably the fact that Ikaia was so formal. Her voice escapes soon after her laugh, "Nope. Sorry, but I'm not much of a handshaker. It's nice to meet you Ikaia." And with all of her strength and happiness, she gave him a hug. A welcoming and friendly hug, it's just how she was. Rafe always told her that she gave the best hugs, now it'd be put to the test. As soon as she pulls away she smiles again, hoping to see the twin before her smiling. Words already upon her lips before she can see him.

"Join me for lunch, Ikaia? I'll be able to explain more of who I am, only if you tell me more about yourself?"

[Knuckles]

THE BROKEN CLOCK IS A COMFORT

IKAIA MIRISTIOMA

IT HELPS ME SLEEP TONIGHT

From somewhere inside the house, Ikaia heard the twins shouting for joy, and a genuine smile spread across his face. Saving their life was one of the best things he had done in his entire life. The twins brought him a sense of happiness that he hadn't felt in so long - they saved his life, and that was a debt he couldn't repay. His life slowly fell apart, and now he was working on building it back. Every ounce of hope he had was once shattered. All the trust Ikaia had built up fled in the blink of an eye. As he learned to love again, the hope and trust returned. The joy he longed for flowed through his veins. Until now. It was as though an iron fist slammed into his stomach. But for the sake of himself, and the sake of this meeting, Ikaia kept it to himself because bothering someone he had never met before would only ruin any hopes of rebuilding a broken relationship with his own twin.

A soft sigh escaped his lips while the muscles in his arm began quivering. Time moved slow, and it felt like an entire lifetime had gone by, but Oasis never once took his hand. It was strange, hearing her laugh, because Ikaia didn't think this was a time to laugh. Ma and Pa raised him to respect those around him, and they did that by welcoming people into the house with an outstretched hand. Through it all her words buzzed through his ears, and he didn't have time to prepare himself. Within a matter of seconds her arms wrapped around him holding him tightly in an embrace. Every muscle inside his body clenched together. His eyes became as wide as saucers, and for the first time in a long time, Ikaia Miristioma wasn't sure what to do with himself. It had been so long since anyone had tried to hug him. The last time was when Kirito returned home after winning the games.

Trying to avoid any conversation, he patted a hand against her back before pulling away, and once more his gaze dropped to the floor, but he sighed and forced himself to make eye contact.

"It's nice to meet you too, Oasis."

Standing in front of her was the hardest a hard moment for him because the only woman he ever hugged in his entire life was Ma, and she was somewhere in the house playing with Junior and Ekain.

Every part of his being wanted to hop away from her because he wasn't finding the words to say. Something was different, and knowing that Kirito brought her hear only made things more interesting for him. All he had planned for the day was to spend time with Ma. He waned to get to know her more since the relationship between Ikaia and Kirito tore apart in the blink of an eye sending Ikaia his own way. But having a near death experience made him realize how important family was.

"Join me for lunch, Ikaia? I'll be able to explain more of who I am, only if you tell me more about yourself?"

It wasn't a part of his agenda, but if it gave the twins something to enjoy for the day, Ikaia was all for it, and the low rumble of his stomach wanted to taste some food. But is her cooking as good as Ma's or Kirito's? There was only one way to find out.

"What did you make?" He asked quietly before turning away from the door. "Hopefully nothing that'll kill me." Ikaia stifled a laugh hoping the sarcasm in his voice was obvious. Something had to happen to break the ice, and he wasn't sure how. But maybe joking around wasn't the best thing to do because he didn't know her, and Ikaia wasn't sure if Oasis understood or not. He only hoped she did.

table by elegant