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She expected a smile, the same one he showed her every other time they met. That they would hug and laugh, make jokes and playfully make fun of each other, and everything would be normal.
She didn't want to believe it. But with the way he was looking at her, pure disdain in his eyes, the truth was clear.
“...Who are you?”
Her dear brother, one of the only people she knew that she could call family, no longer remembered her. The person she felt the most comfortable with, was no longer with her. She couldn't meet this man’s eyes. She stood in front of him, staring at the floor and shaking.
Jay- no- Rogue raised an irritated eyebrow at her.
“I asked a question?”
He's never treated her this way before. She's almost scared of him. What happened? What happened to the person who would read comic books with her, tease her about her crush and had helped her through the darkest time in her life?
This wasn't her dear brother.
This was just a stranger wearing his face.
Zoey forced herself to look up, finally looking him in the eyes. Those eyes no longer matched her own, those electric blues now filled with a coldness that made her shiver in fear. She was supposed to be fearless. What the hell?
She took a deep breath.
“You do know me.” She said firmly. “I'm your sister, Jay.”
Rogue sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, laughing bitterly.
“...This is getting fucking ridiculous...” He muttered.
Zoey blinked. Jay didn't swear. Jay would almost never swear, especially not so casually.
“...Jay, this isn't funny.”
“Did I tell a joke?”
Zoey didn't know how to respond. Rogue, annoyed, clicked his tongue.
“If you don't have anything to say to me, then stop wasting my time. Leave already.”
“...You really don't remember? I can't… I don't want to believe it…”
Rouge groaned out of frustration.
“I don't know what you're talking about-!”
Zoey pleaded with him, her voice wavering.
“Jay, come on, we're family-!”
“I don't know you!!” Rogue shouted. “First Spinjitzu Master, why is everyone trying to tell me who I am?! First that lady tells me she loves me and that we're in a relationship, and now another random woman is trying to tell me she's my sister?! What is wrong with you people?!”
Zoey froze.
“Aw, I didn't want to believe it…” She whispered, looking down at the ground again. “But I guess it's true, huh?”
Zoey forced her head back up and a smile onto her face, making it look as genuine as she possibly could, which wasn't difficult for the actress in the slightest.
“I apologize for wasting your time, Rogue. I sincerely hope we never meet again.”
It was always hard for her to lie to Jay and keep her composure. But this person was not Jay. Therefore, she was able to pull it off with ease.
Leaving the monastery, Zoey felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking back, she saw Kai looking at her with a sympathetic smile on his face.
“Hey, uh… this was a mistake. I'm really sorry.”
“It's fine.” Zoey shrugged. It wasn't fine. “It's not like it's your fault. I'm… I'm gonna go home now.”
Kai nodded, going back inside the building.
Zoey, now alone, fell to her knees.
She cried silently.