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At the top of the stairs, Jonathan immediately headed for Jordan’s room rather than his own. He sat down on the bed, and his brother flopped onto the bed next to him.
"You ok?” Jon asked, “You did kinda get whammied with heat vision there.”
Jordan grimaced. “Yeah, I think I’m alright. I was really dizzy for a minute, but it’s fading now. I think some of the whole super-healing thing must be kicking in, otherwise I’d have been fried to a crisp.”
Jonathan cringed at his brother’s choice of words, his mind flashing back to the video he’d seen in John Henry’s RV. Of his dad murdering his mom with heat vision. And now it could happen here, with brainwashed dad. He couldn’t get it out of his head, the fire, the screams - oh god, it couldn’t happen here, not again, not to their mom -
Jordan called his name, voice tight with worry. Jon jerked, coming back to himself with a start. He realized he was trembling and tried to take a deep breath, only to find that his chest felt tight, like he couldn’t get enough air. Another couple of panicked gasps did nothing to make him feel better, and he put a hand to his throat, turning terrified eyes on his brother.
“Jon, Jon, you’re having a panic attack. I’m gonna touch you, is that ok?”
Jon nodded frantically, and Jordan’s hands settled on his shoulders, pulling his forehead until it touched his twin’s.
“Just focus on me. Try to match my breathing, ok?”
Jordan took a slow, deliberate inhale, and Jon tried to match it, only for his throat to catch in a sob halfway through. He squeezed his eyes shut, brain and body screaming about lack of oxygen. This was what Jordan had been putting up with for years? It was terrifying.
“Jon, you have to breathe. You can do it, come on. In and out.” Jordan took another deep breath to demonstrate, and Jonathan copied him slightly more successfully this time. Jordan smiled encouragingly, his hands a steadying, grounding presence for Jonathan.
As Jon relaxed, he sagged further into Jordan’s hold, burying his face in the familiar scent and feel of his twin’s shoulder. Jordan, in turn, wrapped his arms around Jon’s back, holding him tightly. They stayed there for a minute, just breathing.
“Y’know, I never realized how scary it is to watch a panic attack,” Jordan mumbled. “I’m really sorry you’ve had to see so many.”
Jonathan shook his head adamantly, pulling back to look his brother in the eye. “No, Jordan, it’s not your fault. It’s not like anxiety is something you chose to have happen to you.”
“And not having powers isn’t something you chose either, Jon.”
Jon startled, meeting Jordan’s knowing gaze with a look of guilt. Dammit, his twin could read him like a book. Jordan was right, of course. Right now, he wished more than anything that he had powers, that he could have done something to stop that whole mess in the yard. To be able to protect mom, like Jordan had. To stop dad from being taken. Anything.
“Besides, it’s not like having laser vision or ice breath or anything was useful,” Jordan grumbled, clearly upset with himself. “I’m still too human to make any difference. What good am I if I can’t even use my powers to save dad? To protect you and mom?” he asked tearfully.
“You tried, Jordan, that’s all you could do. Besides, Edge is more powerful than anyone expected,” Jon replied. “And mom will figure out a way to get him back. We won’t stop until we find him.”
Jordan nodded, bringing a hand up to wipe the few stray tears that had escaped. “Mom’s on the phone with John Henry Irons right now,” he noted, and for a second Jonathan was confused before he remembered. Super-hearing.
“We should probably go see what we can do,” Jonathan muttered, though he couldn’t muster up the energy to get off the bed. He felt exhausted, drained, and vaguely nauseous, actually.
“No, Jon, you should get some sleep. I know how wiped you must be.”
Jonathan hummed in agreement, but instead of laying down just leaned heavier on his twin.
“Stay?” he asked softly. Jordan gently pushed him down onto the pillow and climbed up beside him, flinging an arm over Jon’s shoulders.
“Yeah. I’ll stay.”