Chapter Text
White didn’t know what to expect when he finally got back to Thailand, a cushy job as a diplomat and living in their old house with his dad. For maybe a few hours that may have been something, he could see himself doing for the foreseeable future. Then after just a mere few hours of being in the country, he physically feels his twin brother getting beaten to almost death. A brother he has not seen or talked to in ten years but felt the absence of for all milliseconds of those ten years. White is trust in a world he has no knowledge of masquerading as a brother he hardly even knows, with ten years of knowledge missing.
He gets the most basic of information from their friend, Todd, but a few names and faces are of hardly any help. He goes by guesswork for a couple of weeks, he goes by it even when he runs into the house he helped burn to the ground. It is the only thing he can do, act the way they expect you to act and hope for the best. It has worked for now, but how long will it last? White hopes he finds the ones who beat his brother before he gets caught. Black is still in a coma and there is no way of knowing when he will wake. Even if his medically induced coma had ended the doctors were unsure when he will wake up.
As concerned thoughts about his brother fade, he makes it to the garage, apparently, there is supposed to be a meeting today, White doesn’t really know about what. Gram had told him to be at the garage around 7 because they had to talk.
Everyone is around the sofa when he gets there, they’re talking about their next step towards Sean’s plan against Tawi. Not much has been figured out about it yet, they can’t go rushing in.
“Look who decided to show up! You’re late, Black.” Ghumpa said an ever-present smile on his face. White doesn’t know what to make of him, sometimes White feels like Ghumpa already knows something, White just isn’t sure what that is or how much.
White sits down at the only spot, next to Gram, who pats him on the shoulder as he takes his place. Gram seems to genuinely like Black, so he had been crossed off the list of suspects as of now. White still doesn’t understand why they hadn’t figured he wasn’t Black if they know him so well, but he will not complain.
The meeting ends, Sean talks about getting another training day ready the coming week so that they are in shape for the mission. White already dreads another parkour-filled training, he is not cut out for this. Black was always the more athletic of the two of them. The meeting ends not long after everyone pitches in as to when they could put time aside for the training. Yok and Gram both leave soon after, having other things to do.
White takes his time, he has nowhere to go really, he is staying with Ghumpa and Sean at the garage so going to his brother’s apartment is out. Aside from Black’s strange group of friends he doesn’t know anyone he can hang out with. Todd is normally busy and it would be suspicious for him to go to him so frequently. So White stays and sits on the sofa and listens to Sean as he bickers with Ghumpa.
Then in an instant, he feels pain that is not his. He feels like he can’t breathe properly, and his insides are on fire and it is spreading out until all he can feel is hot, blinding pain and the need to breathe.
“Black? Hey, Black! What is happening?” he hears Sean but it's as if he was a mile away, it's all fuzzy. White thinks it's the lack of oxygen. “Black!”
Sean had moved to grip his shoulder and straightened him up, he was looking at him concerned and at an utter loss at what to do. Ghumpa had fallen on his knees before him looking worried, phone in his hand ready to dial the ambulance. Then after what seems like an eternity, he can finally breathe. He takes huge gulps of air and relieved he bends forward, head on Sean’s shoulder.
“Black? Hey, are you okay? “ Sean whispered, still concerned. His hand had been placed on White’s pulse point as if to make sure his heart was still beating. White had nodded, incapable of doing anything more.
White is still out of breath, unable to give a verbal answer, just nods his head. His mind is miles away, what could have happened to Black, he was well on the way to being better. His face had become better in the last few days. It was still scarred but not as bruised. He was pulled out of the medically induced coma two days ago so he could be waking up in a week's time or later. However, it seems like something had happened even if he was getting better. The worst timing too, White has to think fast to explain this.
“Sean, is he okay? “ Ghumpa asked, the phone still in his hand. Sean looked up uncertainly but nodded. Black could breathe again, not very steadily but it was way better than before, he seemed okay at least.
“Black are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? What happened?” Sean asked, every bit of a mother hen with the way he was gripping White's shoulder and looking way too scared.
“Ye-yeah I’m okay now. Sorry allergy, it seemed like there was something in the drink I had before coming.” White lied through his teeth. If he really had an allergic reaction it would have come way faster. They didn’t need to know that though.
“Black, that was not an allergic reaction that would have happened the moment you drank, not minutes after it. Want to try again?” Ghumpa asked. He was the hardest to fool as always, White was sure he had already known everything. So this was it, White thought, sorry Black I couldn’t fool them for so long, after all.
“Black? What did Ghumpa mean, why would you lie? What is happening?” Sena asked after moving White so he could look him in the eyes.
“Sorry, I’m really sorry. This was the only way I could think of, please don’t throw me out!” White pleaded, looking at the room at large. Everyone looked at him confused, except Ghumpa he had a pleased little smile on his face.
“I’m not really Black. “ White said through his teeth, looking down now. Sean gripped his shoulder, rougher than he probably intended, and turned him towards him. Eyes full of confusion.
“What do you mean? Who else would you be? Who are you? “
“My name is White, I’m Black’s twin, identical,” he answered.