B R A DxxxxB E L M O N T E
PAIN MAINPULATION
#591868
LOCATION: 374 Wilkerson St.
PAIN MAINPULATION
#591868
LOCATION: 374 Wilkerson St.
x
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
“I don’t advertise it.” Brad’s voice was close to a growl as he straightened up and rolled out his shoulders, willing away the after effects of using so much magic. He chose not to question how they had figured out his powers.
Unfortunately Bo was staring right at him, forcing Brad into reluctant eye contact. Then, they did the unthinkable and raised their hands up, wanting to do whatever the hell had happened again, and Brad blanched. He could still feel the tingling of magic rushing through his veins, trying to break out and reek habit. “Fuck no.”
"You will take away their pain. Because you don't want to hurt anyone. I know you just want to help." Brad shook his head, no words coming. In his experience power like his hurt more than it ever healed, and he didn’t want to be in charge of that kind of power again. "So don't be afraid, Brad. Try it again. Trust me." Bo’s eyes were warm and encouraging.
Brad flicked his eyes down to Bo’s outstretched hand, eyeing it like you would a dangerous animal, they were right, Brad didn’t want to help all the people who were hurt and suffering. But he didn’t’ want to add any more pain. He teetered on the decision for a while before shaking his head. Bo was kind and with good intentions but they hadn’t been there when Brad lost control, they didn’t know what his powers could be like. “You’ve got no fucking clue what happens when I try things.” He took a physical step back rejecting them.
Then he heard his name. "Brad?" A question in a voice he recognised, one of the few people he let his walls down a little around.
“Alex?” He didn’t know what the fuck she was doing, but he ran past Bo, taking a corner into what used to be a kitchen, now crumpled and ashen. That’s when he saw Alex running, or trying to, his eyes instantly searching and finding the dark red stain on her thigh. “How are you here right now?” He asked running over to her, he wanted to take away her pain but he felt his powers waning from overuse, at that moment he couldn’t have even taken away the pain of a splinter.
Not on his own at least.
Without thinking or even warning them, he grabbed at Bo’s hand. On the moment of contact he felt his dwindling powers multiple, then triple, expanding quickly out of control. Brad expected it this time, able to reign it in sharpen it. He looked up to see Bo’s eyes were glowing and when he looked at Alex, again he had gained the ability feel the pain radiating from her thigh.
Brad didn’t even have to touch her to remove the pain. Once he was done he closed his eyes, using his powers to grope through the building, looking for sources of pain, soothing them when he found them.
Eventually, he felt a pulling at the back of his scalp, and opening his eyes his pulled his hand back from Bo. Even with Bo’s help he’d reached his limit. The very instant his fingers drew away from Bo’s hand, a crushing pressure slammed into the back of his skull, punishment for using so much magic. Dropping to his flanks he pulled out his flask for a last swig of whiskey, feeling it was nearly empty he waved it up to Alex and Bo. “Finish it off for me?”
With a cough and wheeze he rose up again, cracking his neck to the side. “So now what do we do?” As he spoke there was a crack and part of the roof came tumbling down around them, along with all the bits of furniture the floor had been supporting.