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Alex
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Post by Alex Bryan on Jul 10, 2015 0:02:12 GMT
Alex had taken Landon back to the Capitol, the war in four had become too much for them to stay there. She'd decided the best place to stay was the apartment her and Chris had once shared. After a few months there she couldn't take it anymore. Their memories flooded her dreams, turning them to nightmares. Luckily her cries didn't wake Landon, the last thing she needed was the curious little boy asking questions about his father. Though she knew one day he would, and she'd answer them, bringing back all the memories she fought so hard to forget.
Could she handle them all flooding back? Mackenzie dying, then Chris being murdered, her burning down the barn killing many innocent people. The thoughts played on an endless loop in her mind as she tried her hardest to keep them stuffed away.
Today she'd actually forgotten them for a moment, until the worst had happened. The car screeching to a hault, still hitting the little boy who had decided to chase a butterfly into the road. Her heart stopping for that split second, his little body lay motionless in the road. Within seconds she was by his side, tears flooding her eyes and she tried not to move him. The woman behind the wheel apologizing over and over, but Alex wasn't listening.
"Someone help!" She yells as loud as she can, her hands gently scooping the boy up. Blood covered his clothes, his chest barely kept moving which meant he was struggling to breathe. She had no idea what to do or where to go, her feet carried her quickly towards to makeshift hospital that wasn't too far from the park. It was about a 5 minute walk, but the way Alex was running it was more like 2.
Bursting through the double doors she quickly explains what happened to the boy, a few nurses quickly removed him from her arms and whisked him away. Leaving her heartbroken and alone in the waiting area. Hands shaking as she makes out a familiar face through tear filled eyes. "Porter?" She calls out, assuming her mind was playing tricks on her.
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Post by Porter Crane on Jul 16, 2015 9:24:49 GMT
War. It had been the root of his problems recently. Tearing his sanity to shreds, and his family to bits. Aside from being terrified for their lives and worried about the fate of their home, he'd been recklessly overprotective. He took measures beyond the line of thought and fought his own fights to keep his extroverted siblings for playing the harsh game of life or death. Porsha wanted to explore, wanted to see the damage and note the wreckage. Jai wanted to see if he could help in anyway, wanted to throw himself into the war and aide those who stood on neither side- the battered victims of a battle they never signed up for. Jan just wanted to go out and hit on the female soldiers, try to get lucky and raise a little hope- didn't matter on which side as long as he scored something. All while Porter fought to keep them out of harms way, while he worried and fretted about all the things he couldn't control.
So when a bomb hit a block away from home, he didn't waste a moment to flee their home District and seek out relative safety in Seven.
Any and all valuables were shoved into any available space in their sparse baggage and the rest of the house was tied down. His family was shoved into a cramped row on the train, and their massive dog, Duke, was stashed in a crate at the back of one of the cars, along with their luggage. The trip was stocked full of complaints and anxious nudges and pity fights, but they made it all in one piece, thankfully.
The cabin was quaint, safe enough and seemingly spared of any natural damage. It'd work, it had to.
After everything was unpacked and they all settled in, the first thing they all his siblings did was take off and explore the District- and he was set to follow, he had to.
Two sets of twins wiggled and wormed their way through the village, the town, and a good portion of the lumber yard before one veered off. If it wasn't Porsha causing a problem, then it was Jan. Porter and Jai were the only relatively sane ones- the ones who actually had a brain and thought before they acted. So while his sister flirted with one of the workers in the yard, his little brother took off, playing on the stacks of wood and frankly, that wasn't a good idea. It was Jai who found his twin in a crumpled mess, weeping and clutching his arm to his chest- and god, Porter just flipped. They'd been in the midst of war for months, and the moment they leave his brother gets beat up by his lack of balance.
Not even here for a day and he was already in the hospital to patch up a broken arm.
With a grieving sigh, he'd left his siblings up in the room while he ventured back down to the waiting room for a moment of silence- that didn't quite last. One moment he was debating just ditching his hopeless family, and the next their was a desperate voice crying out his name. Head whipping in confusion, he met eyes with the girl he hadn't quite had time to think about, let alone interact with, with all that had been going on and ran to her side.
"Alex," he breathed out, running a hand through her hair once before pulling her into a hug- knowing she needed it. The girl looked like she was about to break. "God, what happened? Why are you here? Where's Landon?" Pulling back just far enough to take a good look at her face, he waits for her answer, worried even further.
He really hoped stress wasn't a killer, but he knew better.
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Alex
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Post by Alex Bryan on Jul 16, 2015 19:07:20 GMT
Alex couldn't lie, she was slightly relieved when she saw Porter. Though being reunited under these conditions were less than ideal. Her face still stained with fresh tears mixed with mascara, leaving a light grey trail down her cheeks. His arms wrapped around he, she tried to speak but couldn't at the moment so she let him embrace her. Once she caught her breath she looked up at him, her tears still flowing but she could finally explain what happened. "A butterfly, he was chasing a butterfly." Her voice breaking again, tears still in steady flow. "This car came by, and it all happened so fast. I-I should have been paying closer attention." She explains, her arms still clung tightly to him. A doctor emerged from one of the small rooms where they'd taken Landon. "Ms.Bryan, I'm sorry but your son didn't make it. His injuries were just too severe." The doctor gave her a small apologetic smile, before turning to Porter. "You may want to take your wife home." He adds before disappearing into the same little room. Shock took over Alex's small body, she'd lost him. Landon, her only family left was gone. Her body dropped right out of Porters grip as she mumbled to herself, tears even heavier now. "No no no.. I can't.. I can't.." Her voice small broken as she cried out. Hands clutching her stomach as if she were going to through up. She wanted to do much worse.
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Post by Porter Crane on Jul 17, 2015 10:15:19 GMT
No, no he refused to believe it, wouldn't let the words compute in his mind as the doctor spilled them. How? How could this happen? Who let this happen? It couldn't have been that bad, they should have saved him. God, no. He felt sick to his stomach, tears of his own pooling down his face as he hiccuped in a breath, and then another, and then once more until he was silently sobbing. Body jerking with the force of each wave of pain, Porter couldn't soak it in. He knew there was pain, knew why, but couldn't comprehend that the little boy who'd thrown himself at Duke, who innocently shared his ice cream with the dog, who latched onto his legs and demanded that he build a castle- that the little boy he'd grown to love, and care for was dead.
It simply couldn't be true.
Shaking his head violently, he set his own emotions to the side as he felt Alex tug herself out of his grip and crumple to the floor, weeping and broken. Swiping harshly at the tears staining his own face, Porter played the strong part and fell to the floor beside her. Choking back his own whimpers, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. It was all he knew to do- all he could do. Nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck, a hand rising to grip her head and still her movements as he shakily spoke, "Calm down, Alex. Breathe. Come on, focus with me. In and out," he grabbed one of her hands and pressed it to his chest, making her concentrate on calming before anything else, "Come on. In, out. With me, match me. Okay? Just, please, calm down." His voice was splintered not as strong as he needed it to be, but his heart was shattered, and he could only do so much.
He avoided saying it' be okay blatantly, because it wouldn't be, and he wouldn't lie. He'd get to facing it once she could handle it, but for now she just needed to relax so he could get her out of here. That was the first priority above all else.
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Post by Alex Bryan on Jul 17, 2015 18:42:03 GMT
Alex could barely register what had just happened, her son was gone. Dead. As if he'd never even been. Her heart shattered into a million pieces over and over again. Porter's arms around her felt like the only thing holding her together, though she was still a wreck. She tried to focus on his words. Breathing, in and out. Though it felt like she was inhaling glass. Images of Landon playing, running, smiling, then bam. The car. All flashed through her mind. Her sadness replaced for the moment with anger.
Her breathing calmed as her tears slowly stopped and her blood began to boil. Jaw clenched as she looked up at Porter, her eyes still red and puffy from crying. "I have to find the idiot that did this." She tells him, her tone low but stern. Her son would not die without justice being brought upon this person. Though deep down she knew it was her fault, she should have been paying closer attention, but she couldn't think that right now.
Grateful couldn't even begin to describe how she felt that Porter was here, her head fell back onto his shoulder. She realized here wasn't the best place to grieve, Landon was gone, there was no need to stay in that awful place. "I need some air, come outside with me?" She asks softly, standing slowly she wipes the tears off her cheeks and reaches for Porter's hand. Every bit of her being hurting, she wanted to curl up and die. Not here though, she couldn't stand the pathetic looks she was getting from everyone. She needed to grieve in peace.
"I can't believe he is gone, my little boy. Just gone." She whispers to Porter, her voice breaking as tears well in her eyes. They slowly walked outside, she wanted to get as far from the hospital as possible. Though she knew he was here for a reason, so odd were he wouldn't be leaving with her.
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Post by Porter Crane on Aug 30, 2015 4:03:21 GMT
This wasn't fair. God, none of this was fair.
It wasn't possible. How could he be gone? How could he just be erased from the earth? Not even old enough to make a mark in history, but scorching his name on the hearts of those few he graced with his time with. He was nothing more than a fleeting silence in the presence of those doctors and nurses, but to Alex? To Porter? It was like an endless screech of pain ringing in their ears, rupturing their eardrums and sending wave after wave of grief stricken shrieks through their foggy minds. It was like pouring salt in a wound, dousing it in kerosene before tossing a match to it and just accepting the fact that they would melt along with it, falling like ashes to the floor. It was like having a vital piece being torn off, the skin frayed and unforgiving as it twitches in search for its lost half- only to watch it fall out of reach and having to learn to live without it.
It was Hell for Porter, could he even imagine what it was like to the mother who just lost her second killed to the same fate?
Fingers tangled in hair, and clothes, and even latching onto her own at one point, the man only sought out to comfort her- dousing his own pain with the simple knowledge that it was worse for her. He had to protect Alex, he could wait.
Letting out a harsh scoff, he quickly stamped out any revenge schemes she may have with a gentle, "Don't think about that now. Don't let the anger rule you." It was just a thought she had, right? It wasn't like she'd do anything more than call the authorities and make sure the person who did this served their time. Alex was innocent. She was the angel he never believed in until it was standing at his side on the shore of his home district.
Besides, she had more important things to think about other than catching this murderer. She needed time. Silence. A moment to breathe, soak it in, and cry it out. Alex needed to grieve, again.
No one could catch a break in this life.
His own tears dry trails down his cheeks, Porter helped raise her to her feet, nodding in agreement to her decision on stepping outside. Jan would be okay with his other siblings for the time being, he'd just have to be.
Walking, or more rather dragging, Alex out of the hospital with the determination that had brought him here in the first place, he kept her close and tried to keep himself level. Someone needed to have their head in the game, and that always seemed to fall on his shoulders. Once they were through the doors, her ushered her over to a vacant bench placed neatly in front of the hospital, easing her down without loosening his grip on her. Tilting his head to bury against her neck, he just hummed softly, not knowing what else to do to calm her other than cooing the occasional, "Sh, just breathe. I got you."
Not fair at all.
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Post by Alex Bryan on Aug 30, 2015 10:39:14 GMT
All she could hear was his small giggle bubbling in her ears, it quickly turned to pained cries. Louder than anything she'd ever heard, though she knew she was the only one aside from Porter that could hear it. That could feel each shattered bit of her heart breaking as she tried to keep her breathing calm. His words muting the screams for a moment. She wouldn't actually do anything to hurt someone, though right now she felt like she could ring their necks. The thought comforted her for a moment before she remembered she had lost the only family she had left. Her worst fear becoming reality.
The outside air felt like ice compared to her heated skin, cheeks stained with dried tears. She had nothing left to cry, dry sobs just came in waves through her small body. Thankfully Porter was wrapped around her, keeping her from completely breaking. His words numbing the pain for a moment, her breathing slowing as she relaxed into him.
Arms wrapping around him as she clung to the one thing she couldn't lose right now. "It's not fair." She croaked, her voice sounding helpless. "How is that fair?" The question was an out loud thought. Nothing about this seemed right, it wasn't fair that her son lost his chance to live. The thought would have brought more tears, but Alex was completely tapped out.
She only realized she'd been completely selfish when she thought to ask why Porter was at the hospital. "Wait, why were you here? Are you okay?" She asked, a panic tone coming from her lips. The thought of anything happening to him right now would probably kill her.
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Post by Porter Crane on Jan 5, 2018 9:21:11 GMT
Landon wasn't his son. Wasn't more than a boy who he'd bought ice cream for. Who he trusted to handle Duke's leash as he followed behind—his knuckles brushing Alex's. Who he built treacherously tall sand castles with. Who he fell into a pit of giggles with. He wasn't his son, wasn't his blood, but that hadn't stopped Porter from allowing the child into his heart, into his thoughts as his dog nuzzled into his side or a stranger's boy laughed along the shoreline. Landon wasn't his son, but he was his. The few, long hours they'd spent under his mother's supervision had been more than enough for the older man to be wrapped around his finger. He felt something for the boy—something paternal, something more than a need to impress the pretty mother. Landon had slotted into the Crane's easily. Porsha adored the small boy, sneaking him cookies while Alex had been preoccupied with Porter. Jai and Jan had taught him a variety of jokes, ones he repeated relentlessly. It was endearing to listen to him giggle at his own jokes, looking over his shoulder at the two younger twins who gave him thumbs up.
It was a sound he would never hear again. A soft, whimsical noise that no one would hear again.
The boy had meant much more than he ever imagined someone else's son would, and there were no words to describe the way his heart ached—the way he knew Alex was torn in two.
There was nothing more he could do than hold her, comfort her. Nothing he said would make it better, nothing he did would sew the pieces of her broken heart back together. She had lost her son. Someone she had carried within her, the last fragment of her lost lover. She'd lost everything and Porter was merely a stranger. A man she met by chance, someone who welcomed her into his home for an afternoon and not much else. He couldn't wrap his head around that. That she and her small boy had meant so much to him without them even trying. It took one meeting and he was hooked, another and he was yearning for the next moment they could share. No one had made him feel this way before, and right now he wished they hadn't. That if he'd kept his distance, he wouldn't be crying along with her.
But he was. He'd loved the boy he would never see again. He cared deeply for his broken mother.
He only hoped he could mend her shattered heart.
"It's not fair," he echoed softly, keeping his voice low and soothing when he wanted nothing more than to scream—but this wasn't about him. This wasn't his son's death day. He combed his fingers through her hair, lips parted as he hummed out soft tunes for her to concentrate on. This wasn't his first time doing this. When their parents died, he'd sat like this with Porsha for hours—doing his best to keep her from following their mother and father into the sea.
Her panicked voice caused him to startle, and then his heart to swell. She'd just lost everything, and yet, she was concerned for his health. How could he not fall for a girl like her? "Jan fell off some timber and broke his arm. Porsha and Jan are with him now. I’m okay," he promised, smiling weakly as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It shouldn't be this easy to have her close, this familiar.
Biting his lip, he ducked his head down to catch her eye as he asked, "What do you want to do now?" There was paperwork to be signed, a body to be dealt with, and he was willing to stay every step of the way if she wanted. He'd do anything for her.
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Post by Alex Bryan on Jan 6, 2018 8:11:59 GMT
Alex had seen her fair share of death, more than one should. The first was her parents, both killed in a house fire. Alex had only been a teen when they passed, she was too young to be left alone. Her parents had never prepared her for this, how could they? So there she was, a teenage girl left to fend for herself. Her dad had a little money saved away that she inherited, enough to move her into Thirteen. She'd made no friends at first, too deep in her grief to even socialize with anyone. Then she'd made a few friends, a spontaneous game of truth or dare got her out of her shell just a little bit. She thought maybe the place could be livable, until she met Chris.
He'd found her after a fall out of the trees of seven. Her leg was wounded but he'd nursed her back to walking condition. The two had fallen so fast, and so hard. They'd only known each other a short amount of time before he asked her to run to him, to move into his apartment in the capitol with him. She couldn't say no, she didn't want to. She loved Chris, and being away from him killed her. The first opportunity she got she ran into his arms. The two were inseparable, they were with each other nonstop. When Alex got pregnant they were beyond excited, the two marrying right away. Alex knew in her heart she wanted to be with Chris forever, she was his monkey. Then they were blessed with twins, Landon and Mackenzie. The light of their lives, the couldn't be happier with the pair.
That's where her second encounter comes in. A car carelessly speeding down the road, the small dark-haired girl running after her ball. The world came to a halt as her baby's heart did, everything crumbled around her. She couldn't believe her daughter was gone, they were once a whole happy family. Now she was left with an empty hole in her chest. Chris tried his best to fix her, they tried for another baby, they tried focusing on Landon but she was broken. Of course she took care of her son, she held him tighter than anything. They were still a family, and they still always had each other. Chris had a hard time too, Alex and Landon had to keep him together. They did it with no problem, except Landon was too young to know what had happened. The poor kid just knew that when Alex was curled into Chris' side he wanted to be too.
Chris, her last encounter with death and loss. They'd been too pure for this world, damned from the start. The world would take their purity and taint it. The blood and tears did that, but they kept true to themselves. They never strayed from one another, their marriage was never tested. Alex knew that Chris would never leave her, and vice versa. They never wandered, their love never wandered. Chris was the sweetest person she'd ever known. That was why she couldn't even grasp why someone would kill him. The peacekeepers guarding off the area of the road, Alex's heart dropped seeing the familiar dog sitting on the sidewalk. The groceries in her arms dropping to the ground as she raced towards the scene. The peacekeepers grabbing her, but she'd seen the face. It was Chris, his bright eyes now dulled with death. A loud sob escaped her, thankfully Landon was with Adalyn. He'd never have to hear his mom's soul crushing sobs, he'd never have to see his father dead in the street like she did.
He as her last encounter with death, and he was the worst- she'd truly lost everything. The last reminder she had of Chris was now lying in a morgue, waiting to be identified. The only thing holding her together were the arm that were physically holding her. Porter, the man Landon had grown to love. Alex could still here his small voice when he'd slipped and called Porter 'dad'. Porter was the only father type figure he had, the only man Alex allowed him around. Porter and his family had taken to Landon as one of their own. The twins teaching him jokes that she'd hear him telling himself while laying down for a nap. His giggle at his own words warmed her heart to no end. When they weren't teaching him to tell knock knock jokes, Porsha would sneak him treats. They thought Alex didn't see but she did, she didn't care though. They were being so sweet to him, they were acting as his family. Even Porter, Landon loved him most of all. The man would let Landon's small hand hold the leash for his dog, he'd let Landon show him a hundred different seashells just because he wanted to show someone. Porter had built a sand castle the size of a real castle with Landon, squeals and laughs bubbling around the pair.
Alex's heart shattered realizing she'd never hear that laugh, never see him thudding down the hallway in mismatched clothes because he wanted to dress himself. She'd never get to see him again, except one more time to identify his body. She had to go in and tell the doctors that yes, that was in fact her son dead on the table. Porter's words were right, it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that her boy wouldn't get a shot at life. She allowed herself to cry into Porter's chest, he was her safe place right now. His hand combed through her hair, slightly calming her hefty breaths.
Relief washed through her when he'd assured her he was okay. She couldn't- wouldn't lose him. Although she felt bad for Jan, poor kid was going to have to wear a cast for a while. She wished Landon had only broken a bone, she wished he'd only need surgery then he'd be fine. There was no return for him, no medicine could help bring him back. "I have papers I need to fill out." She began in a soft, broken tone. "Then I have to- I have to identify his... body." Her sobs couldn't be held back anymore, there was nothing she could do to control it. The hot tears continued to stream down her cheeks, and although she wanted Porter there she couldn't ask that of him. "I-I can do it alone." She assured him, she didn't need to cause the man anymore heart break.
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