Chapter 5: Brain Vs. Brawn

[Third Person's PoV] 

8 stopped at the gate of their house, turning back to where 5 had disappeared, hoping against hope that he would blink back into existence. When that didn't happen, he clicked his tongue in frustration and headed back inside, a storm of emotions brewing within him.

"Where's 5?" 7 asked as she saw 8 return, his face twisted in irritation.

"He's lost in the future, most likely dead by now," Reginald scoffed, continuing to eat his meal calmly, completely unbothered by the heavy atmosphere his words had created.

Suddenly, an explosion of psychic energy burst from 8, his heated gaze locking onto Reginald. His hair ignited into flames, and his eyes radiated with overwhelming power. The sheer force of his rage pushed everyone out of their seats, fear rippling through the room as they looked at 8 in shock.

"What was that thought you just had, you heartless bastard?" 8 growled, his voice thick with anger.

"8! Don't use such words against our father!" 1 retaliated, glaring at 8. "We just lost our brother; that's no reason to take it out on him."

Without warning, 8 used his telekinesis to levitate 1 off the ground and slam him against the dining room wall, a massive crack spreading out from the point of impact.

"Are you seriously defending this bastard right now? You know what he just thought, right as he mentioned 5's possible death?" 8's voice wavered, tears welling up in his eyes only to be evaporated by the heat of his flames.

1 struggled against the psychic hold, his face contorted with effort as he tried to break free. "No great loss… He thought of our brother as something not even worth grieving. And you want to defend him?"

1 gritted his teeth, planting his feet against the wall. "5 should have listened to our father then! If he had, he'd still be here!" With a roar, he used his super strength to break free from 8's telekinesis, launching himself off the wall and punching 8 across the face.

8 flew back, blood spilling from his mouth as he crashed through the opposite wall. Luckily, he had managed to shield himself with a telekinetic barrier before smashing through the walls.

"8!" 7, 6, and 4 shouted in unison, their voices filled with worry as they watched rubble and dust fall from the broken wall. They saw 8's flaming hand grab the edge of the opening, pulling himself out from the debris.

Spitting blood from the side of his mouth, 8 glared at 1 with cold fury. "You're fucking dead," he hissed, his voice ice-cold.

He launched himself forward, throwing a powerful uppercut. 1 took a step back and met his fist with his own, punching down with all his might. The impact of their clash generated a shockwave that sent their siblings flying back, the sheer force of their power rattling the entire room.

The intensity of the confrontation escalated as the shockwave from 8 and 1's clash sent the others crashing into walls and furniture. The dining room was in shambles, debris scattered everywhere.

Reginald, still seated calmly, observed the chaos with a cold, detached expression, as if he was watching an experiment unfold rather than his children tearing each other apart. The tension between 8 and 1 was palpable, with their powers clashing fiercely, creating bursts of energy and flames that illuminated the room in flashes of light and heat.

7, 6, and 4 struggled to regain their footing, fear and worry evident on their faces. "Stop it, both of you!" 7 screamed, trying to get through to her brothers. "This isn't what 5 would have wanted!"

But 8 and 1 were beyond listening. Their emotions were too high, their pain and anger too raw. 8's flames grew more intense, his eyes blazing with a mixture of sorrow and rage. 1, determined and unyielding, matched 8's power with his own, his muscles tensing as he prepared for another strike.

Reginald finally said something, his presence commanding the room despite the ongoing battle. "Enough," he said in a voice that cut through the noise like a knife.

But they didn't listen and continued their battle. 8 grabbed 1 and hurled him toward the ceiling with a forceful push. 1 grunted in pain as he collided with the ceiling, but as gravity began to pull him down, he twisted mid-air and punched downward. 8 flew up to meet him, their fists colliding midair with another powerful shockwave that shattered and destroyed all the windows in the room.

Reginald, still seated calmly, looked toward 3 and gave a slight motion. She sighed, knowing what was needed. "I heard a rumor," she began, her voice amplifying, "that you both stopped and calmed down!"

Immediately, 8 and 1 froze, their heated emotions forcefully subdued by 3's power. 8's fiery aura flickered and then vanished entirely, leaving him feeling calm and relaxed, though inwardly frustrated.

"God, I hate it when you do that," 8 muttered, his tone now devoid of its earlier anger.

"Both of you to your rooms, this instant," Reginald ordered sternly, his voice cold and unyielding.

8 shot Reginald a resentful look, feeling his anger bubble up again, but he quickly clicked his tongue in frustration and turned away, heading toward his room. 1 followed behind, his head bowed, his earlier bravado gone.

As they walked down the hall, 1 muttered quietly, "He was my brother too, you know… I'm hurt by his disappearance as well."

8 paused for a moment, his steps slowing. "Does everyone forget I'm an empath? I know how you feel. I can tell. But my problem with you is that you care more about pleasing our father than anything else. He isn't perfect, and he isn't always right. Stop looking at him like he's a god because he's not."

"He was right about 5—" 1 started to say, but before he could finish, 8 grabbed him and slammed him against the wall.

"Do not go there," 8 warned, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He then scoffed, releasing 1 and storming into his room, slamming the door behind him.

1 stood there for a moment, fixing his clothes, his expression conflicted. Finally, he turned and walked to his own room on the opposite side, closing the door behind him with a heavy sigh.

…

*Knock, knock.*

"Come in…" 8 sighed as he floated down, trying to steady his emotions after the confrontation.

Grace entered, carrying a silver platter in her hands. "Hello, I hope I'm not interrupting…" she said, her smile gentle but with a hint of something artificial.

"No, mother. You're fine. What are you doing?" 8 asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Well," Grace began, "I noticed you were sent to your room without having much to eat, so I prepared a snack for you. I hope you're hungry…" She lifted the lid from the platter, revealing a neatly made sandwich with a drink beside it.

The items levitated toward him, and 8 smiled warmly. "Thank you."

Grace nodded, her expression softening. "...So how are you feeling?"

"What?" 8 asked, a bit surprised by the question.

"I read that sharing your feelings out loud is a good way to process them," she explained, her tone almost mechanical, "and that suppressing them can be very dangerous."

8 chuckled sadly, the weight of the day's events evident in his voice. "I'm alright. It's just… annoying that the old man only sees us as numbers. That stupid bastard just gets on my nerves every damn time."

Grace gently patted 8's head. "Let's avoid using foul language. There must be other ways to express ourselves."

"Right. Sorry," 8 replied, his tone more subdued as he began to eat the food Grace had brought him. "Thank you for the food."

Grace smiled, a more genuine warmth in her expression as she nodded and quietly left the room.

As the door clicked shut, a voice echoed in 8's mind.

*'It still amazes me you call a robot mother… Doesn't it unsettle you a bit?'* Phoenix's voice questioned, curious.

*'No… because as you and I can tell… She has feelings… more than our so-called dad. She cares for us. It's nice to have someone in the house that does…'* 8 responded internally, his thoughts tinged with a mix of gratitude and sadness.