Phobos: Mars' Lullaby

“Can you hear me?” A young man sat alone in a cream colored room, its floor covered in a brown carpet.

He absent mindedly brushed his hand against the floor, coarse fibers rough against his pink paw pads. He felt the blood pump in his crossed legs, heard his heartbeat and breath fill his ears. He smelled the dust in the air, a tinge of heat from the freshly vacuumed carpet, felt his gray jumpsuit sag on his body, zipped down to reveal a plain pink T-Shirt underneath. He flexed his foot paws, feeling his blue striped tube socks stretch and relax against his fur.

“Can you hear me?” The man heard the voice again.

“Yes, I can hear you.” The young man didn’t move his mouth.

“Why didn’t you answer me?” The voice reverberated in his mind.

“I’m just thinking.” The man responded, closing his eyes.

“Think after. Test now.” Mismatched red and green eyes, each one with patterns like the swirling clouds of gas giants, pierced through the darkness.

“Okay… what am I holding behind my back?” The young man twiddled his thumbs. “You’re not, goober.” The eyes chuckled, the young man squinting in frustration.

“Deimas, stop calling me that during tests!” The young man blew puffs of air out of his nose.

“Hehe! Okay, what’s in my hand?” The red eye raised a lid like it was furling a brow.

“Stop licking your hand!” The young man yelled in his head, a shiver running down his spine.

“Ow, not so loud!” The red and green eyes closed shut, leaving the young man in the dark.

The young man opened his eyes, hearing shuffling outside the room.

“I guess that’s enough for today. You can head to the common room now.” The young man heard an older man’s voice, before a knocking came on the wooden door.

The young man stretched his arms and cracked his back. He picked himself up, legs creaking under his weight. His eyes snapped forward as the door flew open.

“Phobos, you hurt my ears!” A young woman marched into the room, gauze taped inside her floppy dog ears.

It was like looking in a mirror, same brown spots, long muzzle, plush fur and bleach white hair. The only difference was the eyes. The young man looked at the woman with his green and blue eyes, having the same patterns as the woman’s, staring blankly at her.

“Are they going to heal?” Phobos looked at the dried blood on the sides of her neck.

“Yeah, the doctor said it will heal-” Phobos cut her off.

“Then why are you complaining sis?” Phobos brushed past her sister.

“How would you like it if I screamed inside your head?!” Deimas yelled, following her brother down the tiled hallway.

“I didn’t mean to. You know how certain textures treat us.” Phobos looked into her red and green eyes.

“I was just teasing, you stupid goober!” Deimas grabbed her brother’s shoulder.

Phobos didn’t look at her sister.

“Fine… just don’t think you’ll escape my teasing. If I’m going to be stuck with you for the rest of my life then at least I’ll have some fun!” Deimas poked her brother’s side, the twin’s face scrunched into a grin.

The two followed the man wearing a labcoat to the common room, the man letting them in before leaving the twins. The room had mahogany paneled walls and a laminated ceiling with swirly patterns. The floor was a dark orange carpet, with clean, but old, worn furniture covering it. Deimas flopped down on a green upholstered couch, flipping a dial on the box television sitting next to it. The box tinged like a bell, the screen soon growing bright with black and white images. She turned another dial, turning the sound down for her ears. Phobos entered the bathroom connected to the common room. The bathroom had yellow tiles running from the floor to the ceiling, with a blue and white bullseye carpet sitting outside the bathtub. He turned the hot knob on the sink, cranking the cold knob to cool the shooting water to a comfortable temperature. He stuck his hands beneath the hard water. The tension melted from his body. He rested against the basin, taking slow, deep breaths as the water rushed through his hands.

“Hey Phobos, food’s here!” Deimas called from the common room.

Phobos turned the knobs, shutting off the water. He dried his hands, rubbing them inside a fluffy towel before he walked out. He noticed a woman wearing a gray nurse uniform handing her sister a tray full of food. Another woman, wearing a similar gray uniform was standing next to the couch, holding an identical tray.

“Mac and Cheese, your favorite!” The woman handed Phobos the food as he sat down on the couch.

A bowl of gooey yellow mac and cheese sat in the center of the tray. Surrounding it was a small bowl of steamed carrots, two bread rolls with peanut butter spreads and a cup of natural fruit punch.

"Are you sure you’re fine dear? I can have my husband’s sister to take a look at you.” The first woman looked at the Deimas’ bandaged ears while wiping the dried blood off of the twin’s neck.

“I’m fine, I can’t even feel it now.” Deimas reassured the woman, patting her hand.

“Well, if you say so. Would you like any company while you eat? You don’t get out of this place and I-” Phobos stopped her.

“The scientists are more than enough for socialization.” The young man took a chomp out of the bread roll.

“We’re pretty tired after today’s tests anyway. Maybe we’ll set up a… playdate, sometime in the future.” Deimas gave the nurses a courteous smile.

The women left the twins to their meals, closing the door behind them.

“Why are there all these geezer shows when we get out of testing? Show me some action!” Deimas flipped through the channels while pouting her lip.

“Stop it, just pick one already.” Phobos finished his last carrot stick.

Deimas stopped, settling on a channel. The cameras were broadcasting images of a theater hall filled to the brim with men in tuxedos and top hats or striped suits and boater caps and women in long, flowing dresses. Deimas kept her eyes on one particular woman wearing a bow in the shape of a bouquet of flowers. She didn’t pay attention to her drink, which smacked against her face and spilled juice all over her jumpsuit.

“Ah! Great, I just got these clean!” Deimas shouted, softly rubbing her ears from her loud outburst.

She ran into her bedroom, leaving Phobos to eat his meal.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?” Phobos looked at the television.

“I present to you, from across the star filled sea, Madame Mars!” A man in a tuxedo announced on the screen, before bowing off an ornately carved stage.

An enclosed theater, with rows of seats reaching as high as the ceiling, grew dark. The audience grew silent. A single beam of light peered down on the stage. Phobos’ ears perked at a clicking and clacking growing closer to the light. The twin slid onto the carpet and creeped closer to the screen, trying to distinguish a shape emerging from the darkness. His eyes grew wide. A woman, a beautiful depiction of the melding of cats and mankind, stepped into the light. Phobos leaned back on his arms.

“It’s just some woman-“ He froze.

The woman opened her mouth. Out of it came a sound like Phobos’ ears were eating warm fudge, filling his mind with a soothing lullaby. Phobos leaned forward, hands on the floor.

“She’s singing, but not like the radio.” Phobos dragged himself closer to the screen.

His heart began to pound against his chest. Phobos watched her move across the stage, his face growing hot as he couldn’t take his eyes off her form. The man gripped his heart, fighting to temptation to stare at the sides of her exposed legs. The sounds of the static filled television faded, the echoes filling the hall receded. Her voice grew close, becoming crystal clear. It was almost as if she was sitting beside Phobos, singing in his ear. The twin’s limbs turned to jello, the man laying flat against the carpet as he stared at the screen. The woman closed her mouth. Phobos shot up as he watched her give a bow. The audience exploded into applause and a fierce hollering filled the theater. The twin placed his hands on the screen, chest heaving and breath coming in short bursts. He watched the woman pick up a bouquet of flowers thrown onto the stage, blow a kiss to the audience and walk into the darkness. ”No no no!” Phobos turned the television knobs frantically and started smacking the screen.

“Come back!” Tears rolled from his eyes.

“Don’t leave.” He placed his head against the screen, the static making his hair and fur stand up.

“What a performance. Absolutely breathtaking!” Phobos heard a man’s voice through the speaker.

He picked his head off the television, tears staining his cheeks.

“You heard it here first at the Tanner Family Theater! Come on down for more amazing acts, not just beautiful singers!” Phobos’ eyes grew wide.

He looked at the corner of the screen and saw a street sign.

“Hodges Street.” Phobos mumbled before climbing to his wobbly feet.

The twin ran out of the common room. He ran past the test rooms, memories of extensive puzzles and problem solving with his sister pushed to the back of his mind. Phobos ran to the end of the hallway. He slid to a stop, right before he was spotted by the guard manning the security check-out. Phobos slid beneath the window, watching the man as he turned away. He creeped towards the door. Phobos placed his hand against the lock, the other gripping the knob tight. He closed his eyes and placed his head against the door. Phobos gritted his teeth, a clicking sound coming from the lock. He breathed a sigh of relief as the lock clicked open. The door creaked, Phobos slipping through the open gap before the guard even knew what happened. Phobos ran down the hall, his socks and the carpet muffling his footsteps.

“Map, map, where’s a map?!” The twin peeked his head around doors and hallway corners, looking inside offices and laboratories he’d never seen before.

He spotted the director’s office. He stepped through the open door, taking in the fine wooden furniture and rows of books filling the room. A map depicting every street and building in the city was nailed to the wall. Phobos traced his finger against the paper, searching for his location.

“Psyche Labs”, mumbled Phobos.

He grabbed a pen and paper off the director’s desk and began writing directions to Hodges Street.

“Phobos?!” The director was standing in the doorway, his face frozen in shock at the twin’s sight.

Phobos shoved the paper in his chest pocket and ran towards the window.

“No wait!” The director ran towards the twin.

Phobos wrenched the window open.

“Phobos no!” The director couldn’t catch him. Phobos leaped out of the window. He was shocked to see several stories beneath him.

The wind raced past his face, peeling back his eyelids and the sides of his face. Phobos flailed his legs, trying to keep them beneath him. Windows rushed past as the ground rose up to meet him. The concrete shattered beneath Phobos. A car flipped over from the crash, Glass windows shattered and a mailbox spewed its contents all over the street. Phobos collapsed. He gripped his legs, gritting his teeth against the twisted feeling’s shooting through his body. Blood pounded through Phobos’ head, wincing with every pulse. His breaths steadied as the pain washed away. Phobos felt water against his face. He looked up. Rain pattered his face, droplets pittering on his jumpsuit.

“That’s the sky?” Phobos leaned back to look at patches of the night peeking through the clouds.

“He jumped down here!” Phobos ears perked.

“He couldn’t have survived that fall!” Phobos slowly rose to his feet, the sound of pounding feet echoing out of the lab’s front entrance.

“I didn’t see his body at the bottom, he had to survive.” Phobos heard the director’s voice as the twin ran down an alleyway.

The twin rested against a wall, catching his breath. Phobos grabbed the paper out of his pocket, listening to the sounds of running and hollering fade in the distance. His eyes traced the route running through a crude map of the city. Raindrops splattered against the paper, smudging the ink. Phobos tried to shield the paper with his hand, but water trickled down his fur and continued to drop on his paper.

“Gah, stop it!” He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.

His body shook as he tugged at the edges of the paper. He let out a deep breath, settling his body. He opened his eyes. He was surprised to see that droplets stopped falling on him, smiling as he stood up. He paused, noticing that the rain had only stopped falling on him. He looked up. The water was blocked by what looked like an invisible umbrella, hanging just above Phobos’ head. He then looked at his crude map. The ink was smudged, but the paper was dry. A puddle mixed with a few drops of ink sat in a crevice cracked into the concrete beneath the twin. Phobos stepped lightly down the alleyway, water being pushed away from his socks. He peeked his head out, looking up and down the street for any signs of the scientists. The street was empty, save for a dimly lit cafe with a few patrons and a lone waitress sitting inside. Phobos ran down the street, watching for street signs and taking turns with the route on his map. The twin made his way downtown, the smells of acrid smoke from rumbling engines, the stench rising from sewers and pounding of feet mixed with an avalanche of mumbling voices. It all pounded against Phobos’ head.

Phobos stopped in the middle of the city. Cars were rushing across the busy streets, blocking his path forward. Phobos looked for a way to get past, but everytime he came close to the herd of people crossing a sidewalk his stomach would clench up, forcing the twin back against the sidelines. Phobos looked up. The sky was clearing, showing a cyan blue moon peering down on the city. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Phobos picked up his foot and held it up like it was on the first step on a flight of stairs. He took another step. Another step. Another. A woman gasped in shock. Phobos opened his eyes. He found himself hanging over the pedestrians, men and women staring up at him with gaping mouths and wide, shocked eyes. They pointed and shouted as Phobos walked above them and into the street. Cars screeched to a halt, some smashing into the backs of others as the drivers were shocked to see the man floating above them. A policeman, munching on an apple, spit out a chunk as he spotted Phobos.

“What in the name of all that’s holy?!” The policeman ran to make way for Phobos on the other side of the street.

“Come on, come on now! Move your cabooses!” The man shooed the people away as Phobos stepped down on the concrete.

The twin nearly collapsed, kneeling with his hands on his knees while panting frantically.

“What did you-? How did you-? Are you alright kid? You look like you’re about to throw up.” The policeman held Phobos’ shoulders, keeping him from keeling over.

“I’m-I’m fine. I need to get to Hodges Street.” Phobos could barely get the words out in between gasps of breath.

“It’s just down main street, down that way then take a left. But why do you want to- Hey!” The policeman hollered after Phobos as the twin ran down the street.

“Operator, I just saw a man walk on air.” Phobos heard the faint voice of the policeman speak into his radio receiver.

The twin took a left, then stopped. His heart began to pound. The theater loomed over him, the strobe of white lights blinding the twin. The patrons were leaving the theater in droves, faces grinning ear to ear as they slid inside their cars parked outside. Phobos looked at their faces, trying to find the one. He couldn’t see her. Phobos gripped his hair, pacing back and forward. He looked at the leaving cars. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A roar of voices filled his head, louder than the fiercest hurricane. Phobos gritted his teeth. Many of the voices grew, giving way to the pictures of a few faces flashing through the twin’s head. A little girl was running into the arms of a man, tired from a long day at work. Phobos shook his head. She was a cat, but a calico and way too young. A woman was lighting her cigarette with the lit cigarette in another man’ mouth. He shook his head, furling his brows. She was beautiful, looked the right age, but the woman was a hairless sphynx. Phobos gripped his hands tight. His heart leaped. A black and white cat was standing in a doorway with a man trying to give her a pen and paper.

“Could you please sign this? My friends won’t believe I got your signature!” Phobos heard the man’s voice, the twin feeling drops of sweat run down the man’s face.

“Okay… one more fan service for tonight.” The woman grabbed the pen and paper and wrote down her name.

“Madame Mars. Oh the boys back at the fire house are going to lose it!” The man took the pen and paper from the singer and ran down the hall.

He ran out a back door and into the street. Just before Phobos’ vision faded he saw a street sign.

“Hodges street. She’s still here!” The twin’s eyes flew open.

He spun around, looking for where the man came from. He saw an alleyway beside the theater. Phobos ran across the street, now devoid of life save for blowing leaflets and the odd couple running to get out of the rain. The twin ran into the alley. He spotted a metal door behind the theater, next to trash cans overflowing with empty popcorn bags and paper cups with bendy straws. The door had no handle facing the alley. Phobos placed his hands and head against the door. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could feel a push handle on the other side of the door. Phobos stepped back, keeping his eyes closed. He held his hands out in front of him, palms facing towards the door. Phobos thrusted his arms forward. The metal door squeaked open. The twin ran through just before the door slammed shut.

Phobos found himself inside a hallway with wooden floorboards, white and green wallpaper and cork board ceiling. Phobos crept down the hall, gingerly stepping over creaking floorboards as he eyed the doors for Madame Mars’ name. His heart thumped and sweat covered his palms. Butterflies swarmed his stomach, nearly choking his breaths. Phobos froze. The twin stood in front of a door with a piece of paper stamped to the front. “Madame Mars” was written in big black letters. The butterflies flew out of Phobos’ stomach and wrecked havoc all across his body. The twin lifted his hand to the door. Phobos held his shaking hand tight, gently knocking on the door. A shuffling came from inside.

“Who is it?” Phobos’ heart leapt into his mouth.

He muffled his panting, sweat beating from his brow.

“Is that you Phineas? If I told you once I’ll tell again and again the answer is-!” Madame Mars flew the door open, a scrunched, furious face softening with surprise at the sight of Phobos.

She had changed out of her dress into a green trench coat, Phobos seeing her bright orange dress draped over a wooden chair.

“Oh, I’m sorry for yelling at you. Are you… are you one of the stage hands?” Madame Mars stood a head over the twin, forcing Phobos to look up to her.

Phobos was awestruck. The television could not fully portray her amber yellow eyes and her plush, curled hair. The twin’s eyes were mesmerized by the sight. Her rich perfume filled his senses, the twin fighting the temptation to fill his lungs with the aroma.

“Are… are you shaking? Did you just come out of the rain?” Madame Mars leaned down to pat Phobos’ shoulders and then his sides, feeling his soaking jumpsuit.

When she touched the sides of Phobos’ chest, a burst of pressurized air shot out of his mouth.

“Will you marry me?” The words flew out of the twin’s mouth. Madame Mars jumped back, holding a hand over her mouth.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean-!” Phobos stopped as he heard Madame Mars begin to chortle.

The twin’s face grew hot.

He couldn’t look at the laughing woman.

“Marry you! I just met you!” Madame Mars squeezed the words out between bursts of laughter.

Phobos turned away from the women, clenching his fists and tears running down his face.

He took a step down the hallway.

“Wait!” Madame Mars grabbed the twin’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry for laughing, you just surprised me. Come in, let’s have a chat.” Madame Mars pointed her hand inside the room.

Phobos’ heart skipped a beat.

He followed the woman inside, the door being closed behind him. The room looked exactly like the hallway outside, rugs on the floor providing the only warmth to a person’s shoeless feet.

“Take a seat on the chair over by the bathroom.” Madame Mars pointed to an ornate looking, chipped and torn padded wooden chair.

Phobos looked around the sparsely furnished room, raising an eyebrow at the peeling wallpaper and flickering lamps.

"A pretty face hiding a rotten core, hm?” Madame Mars opened a steamer trunk.

She grabbed a pair of clothes, striped spacks with black suspenders, orange t-shirt and socks with tiny kitties sewn around the band. Phobos blushed at the sight of her blue underwear, turning his head to shield his eyes.

“Hm hm, what a gentleman. Won’t even look at a woman’s unused undergarments.” Madame Mars walked into the bathroom, pinching Phobos’ cheek as she passed.

Phobos heard a slipping sound. He then saw a green trench coat fly out of the bathroom. “Ha, I forgot to ask your name!” Madame Mars peeked round the door. Phobos nearly fainted, gripping his seat for support.

“Oop, hehe!” Madame Mars slunk back into the bathroom, saving Phobos’ virgin soul.

“We’ll, you probably know me as Madame Mars. None of my friends call me Madame, just Mars. So call me Mars…” The singer trailed off, waiting for something.

“Phobos, my name’s Phobos.” The twin held his hand over his chest, settling his pounding heart.

“Phobos… What a coincidence, my little moon.” Mars trilled, a scraping and clattering coming from the bathroom.

Squeaking filled the bathroom, drowned in a downpour of water.

“So, what brings you to this little corner of the universe? Other than being caught in a star’s pull.” Phobos could barely hear Mars’ voice through the sloshing and splattering of water.

“Well, to be honest it was you that brought me here.” Phobos ignored the sounds of slapping and squishing mixing with the sloshing of water, filling his head with commercial jingles instead.

“I’m asking where you’re from. When’s your birthday? Who’s your family? Stuff like that.” Phobos heard a squeaky bottle sound followed by a gloosh.

“I’m from Psyche Labs. I’ve actually never been outside before… I saw you.” Phobos heard scrubbing and more sloshing.

“Lab? You’re not some escaped clone out to murder your master, right?” Mars tried to contain her giggles.

“Nothing like that! It’s like an orphanage of sorts. Babies are given a good home in exchange for research and development.” Phobos heard creaking. The rush of water faded.

“You mean experimentation? I don’t like the sound of babies being treated like pieces of meat.” Phobos covered his eyes as Mars walked out of the bathroom, dripping.

“Dangit, they forgot to leave me towels!” Phobos heard wood scraping from the other side of the room.

“I-I can help you.” Phobos said, raising his hands in the air. “So eager! We haven’t even held hands yet and you want to cuddle.” Phobos grew red hot, to the point that his ears and tips of his fingers were hurting.

“No wait- I mean- Do you have something to cover yourself?” Phobos heard a shuffling noise coming close to him.

“Okay, this changing board should work. You can open your eyes now sweetie.” Phobos reluctantly opened his eyes.

The only thing the twin could see was Mars’ head and arms resting on top of a fancy, tattered room divider. The rest of her body was a shadowy form in the flowery yellow cloth.

“Like what you see?” Mars had a mischievous look on her face. “Yes- I mean- watch.” Phobos stood up.

He placed his arms out in front of him. Phobos closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

“Is that some kind of… meditation?” Mars’ voice trailed off.

Phobos heard dripping, but nothing dropping down. He opened his eyes. A slow shower of rain was floating off Mars’ body. Her mouth was wide open, speechless.

“Being a lab experiment has its perks.” Phobos’ hands began to shake.

“I would suggest you run and get a bucket.” Veins began pulsing in the twin’s temples as he closed his eyes. A clattering sound came from the bathroom, followed by a clang in front of Phobos. The twin sighed and opened his eyes. The water, held in a shaking and sloshing blob close to the ceiling, splashed inside the rusty bucket.

“Wow! How did you do that?!” Mars had retreated into the bathroom, sounds of rubbing cloth and zipping echoing against the walls.

“The lab-coats call me a psychic, but I’ve never been able to do stuff like ‘levitation’ until I-” Phobos trailed off, seeing Mars walk out of the bathroom fully clothed.

“Until you saw me, right? Wait… you said you first saw me on the TV?” Mars sat down on a wooden, brown cushioned couch.

“Yeah, I did. Once the broadcast ended I… I couldn’t help myself. I ran across town to see you.” Phobos took a seat next to the singer.

“I’ve had some admirers before, but none with your abilities. None as bold as you, either.” Mars gave Phobos a smile only a cat could make.

“I- I hope I don’t give you creepy vibes, I just had an explosion of emotions when I saw you singing. Your beauty was so overwhelming.” Phobos blushed, covering his mouth.

“Ha ha, don’t worry about it! Many people say that about me, except not as… polite.” Mars scowled, staring off in the distance as she twirled her hair.

“I’m also sorry for asking you to marry me. You probably have better men than me lining up to marry you-” Mars grabbed Phobos’ chin and kissed his cheek.

“None like you, with or without your powers. Let’s get to know each other first, consider this our first date.” Mars sat up and walked over to a miniature fridge, grabbing two brownish-red bottles from the top rack.

“I hope you don’t mind fizzy sugar drinks, It’s all I have until the manager pays me.” Mars sat down and handed Phobos a bottle of “Smuggler’s Lodge Brew. Orange Drink.” with a cartoon of a coyote nose sticking out of a handbag.

Phobos stopped right before he popped the lid.

“Allow me.” The twin held his hand out, gesturing for the singer’s bottle.

Mars gave Phobos’ her soda, raising an eyebrow at the twin. Phobos placed both bottles on an old steamer trunk used as a coffee table. The twin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The glass bottles rattled, before the twin heard two popping and clanging sounds. Phobos let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes. The bottles were open, cold steam billowing out with the caps laying flat against the coffee table.

“Bravo!” Mars clapped, Phobos smiling and blushing at the applause.

“So, back to what I was asking earlier. Do you have any family? Other than the eggheads of course.” Mars took a sip of her soda, turning to face Phobos.

“Well, I have a twin sister named Deimas.” Phobos said, twiddling his thumbs.

“You’re a twin? Let me guess, she’s nearly identical, except her eyes mirror yours.” Mars pointed at the twin’s mismatched eyes.

“Well, her eyes are similar, but different. Her’s are red and green instead of blue and yellow like mine. We can see fine, if you were wondering.” Phobos avoided eye contact with Mars.

“It was in the back of my mind, but as long as they don’t hurt you I’m happy. Did you know your parents before the scientists took you in?” Mars stopped herself, smacking her forehead.

“I’m sorry, I spoke without thinking!” Phobos placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s fine. The director told us, my sister and I, that they died during a disease outbreak a couple decades ago.” Phobos traced his finger around the rim of the bottle, eyes staring past Mars.

“Disease hits the immigrant burroughs hard, I barely survived an outbreak of Rat drip disease when I was just a kit.” Mars lifted her shirt, showing scars like claw marks around the sides of her abdomen.

“My siblings weren’t so lucky…” Mars looked away from Phobos, sorrow filling her eyes.

“I heard the same disease that took my parents, Moose cyan fever, is the same one that gave me and my sis these eyes.” Phobos peeled down one of his eyelids, revealing vein-like strands of cyan in the corners of his eye.

“Hm… getting off sad topics, do you have any hobbies? Any dreams?” Mars tapped the side of her bottle. Phobos sat back, scratching his head.

“I guess… I like drawing? I mostly play games with Deimas while waiting between ‘mental’ tests. It’s really the only thing we have energy left to do at the end of the day.” Phobos took a sip from his bottle, coughing at the fizzy overload.

“Gaming is everybody's hobby. It can even be a career if you’re good at it!” Mars mimicked aiming a shot at a pool table with her hands.

“Dreams… I’ve never given it thought, to be honest. I’ve always been content with my sister. Me and her do everything together… until now.” Phobos’ froze.

“Deimas?” The door began to rattle, the hinges stretching and creaking.

“Who- who is it?” Mars shot up, slowly walking towards the door.

The door handle creaked open before Mars touched it. Deimas was standing in the doorway.

Tears were trailing down her cheeks.

Her face was nothing but fury.

“Deimas!” Phobos ran to his sister, wrapping his arms around her neck in embrace.

She froze, arms stretched out in front of her. Deimas’ face slowly melted, a smile crossing her face as her tears were dripping from joy.

“Why did you leave? Why did you leave?” Deimas could barely speak through her crying as she gripped her brother tight.

“It’s okay, I’m with younow.” The twins slid to the floor, holding each other tight.

“He came to see me.” Mars sat on the floor next to them. Deimas looked at the singer, rubbing tears out her mismatched eyes. The twin sister smiled at the singer, holding her paw.

“Thank you for bringing back my brother.”