I hurried into their house, the duffel bag clutched tightly in my hands and burst into Lukas' room. I wasn't sure why I was in such a hurry. It's not like he was in any immediate danger. Lukas had always been alone, and solitude had never been fatal for him.

I released the bag and shut the door behind me. Slowly, I approached his bed, and Lukas shot me a wide-eyed glance as I drew nearer and kissed him on the lips. I couldn't tell if it was just my imagination or not, but he responded with a brief kiss before pushing me away. I couldn't help it. It just felt like I had to. After almost dying, I felt like I deserved a kiss, and Kol was literally dying in the hospital. So I opted for the next best.

"Why did you kiss me?" he asked with the most perplexed look. I flushed and looked downward, then chuckled softly trying to mask my nerves. "Uhm that seemed like.. It seemed like the thing to do..." I answered him. Lukas laughed. "No, Daniel, that wasn't the thing to do. How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not interested."

I was taken aback, to be honest. I was convinced he had feelings for me. "But... You were like... jealous of your brother this entire time. You wanted me—I know it," I said to him, my voice tinged with confusion and frustration.

"Jealous of Kol? For you? I'm sorry to tell you this, Daniel, but you aren't all that. Besides, you slept with my brother, why would I ever even dream about dating you?" Lukas asked me, as though I was the world's dumbest person standing right in front of him. I folded my arms across my chest as my eyebrows met in slight confusion and annoyance.

"Kol can have you, I don't care." He shrugged.

"So then what was your problem? If you weren't into me, why were you so against it?" I questioned.

"I told you this already."

"Yeah, well tell it to me again," I said.

Lukas sighed deeply. "He cares for you, he spends time with you, hell, he went on this stupid misadventure for you—Kol would never do that for me. Anna wouldn't do that for me, and neither would Carl. My family is completely insincere and uncaring. This is the only time I've ever seen even the slightest emotion in Kol... Because of you. It's not annoying, to be honest," he admitted, his voice laced with a mix of jealousy and resignation. I do recall him saying something like that in the past and I can definitely understand where he was coming from. It couldn't have been easy growing up in a family that seemed indifferent to your existence, and the jealousy he felt towards Kol's connection with me made more sense now.

"Oh..." I muttered awkwardly. His family sucks and everyone knows it. I can only imagine how their family dinners go, that is if they have them. To be honest, they seem like they all eat in separate places, and if two of them happen to be in the same place at once then that's considered eating dinner together.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for something you have nothing to do with." he sighed, "It's okay, though, I've dealt with it since my parents died, I can deal with it now."

"Oh," I mumbled, "What is the deal with you guys? C'mon, it's about time you tell me." Once again, Lukas let out a deep sigh. He is clearly upset by the way the conversation is headed, but I don't care. I want to know. I think I would be in their lives a bit longer, honestly, because I actually like Kol. I mean, there are obviously things he needs to work on, but I like him. And I like Lukas as well. His standoffish attitude just pulls me.

Lukas hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to speak. "Look, it's not something I like talking about, but I guess I can tell you... I'm pretty sure you won't stop asking until I do," he rolled his eyes. He paused for another couple of seconds, clearly gathering his thoughts, then continued, "Our family used to be well-off, but our parents made some really bad financial decisions that left us literally on the verge of bankruptcy. We lost almost everything, and after they died, well shit just got worse... funerals aren't cheap..."

I nodded, starting to understand the family's situation a bit better. "And you? Why do you distance yourself from everyone?" I asked.

Lukas looked away for a moment. "I didn't handle it well. I blamed our parents and felt like they let us down. So I distanced myself from the family and focused on me, I guess." He shrugged. I stared at him intently. I could see the pain in Lukas' eyes as he spoke, and I realized that this family had been through a lot.  Lukas continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "When our parents died, we separated even more. Our parents weren't the best. They were on vacation for the majority of our childhood, and we were literally raised by nannies and maids. Anna was always caught up in her own world, never paying much mind to us. And Kol and I, well, we were not as tight-knit as people expect twins to be, and that's just how it always was. I guess after Kol found other stuff to keep him occupied, 'family' was just completely off the table for him."

I listened, absorbing the family's history and the pain that had driven them apart. It was clear that they had all been affected by their parents' dumb actions and obvious neglect. "I'm sorry..." I said softly, although I knew my apology would change absolutely nothing. Lukas shrugged, his expression still troubled. "Yeah, it's a mess. And Kol... he's trying to find his own way out of it, even if it gets him in trouble." He rolled his eyes.

"Wait, you knew about the gambling?" 

"Obviously. I just don't meddle, I guess." What the fuck? How could you know your twin is doing a bunch of bullshit with the little money they already have and chose not to 'meddle'? But I nodded my head in understanding anyway. 

Lukas had retreated to his bed, and I found myself sitting on the floor, the duffel bag beside me. The conversation had taken a heavy turn, and I didn't know where else to take it. Their family's issues were overwhelming, and I realized I preferred dealing with my own troubles rather than diving deeper into theirs. My curiosity had been satisfied, and I was ready to change the subject.

"Anna told me to thank you," I said after a lengthy pause. "Why am I supposed to do that again?"

"I sent the cops there, idiot. You think they just knew what was going on?" he scoffed.

 "And how did you know we were there?" I quizzed.

"I called you, and you denied me. And I called again and you answered, but I don't think you knew you did." He explained. I nodded my head in understanding and continued to smile at him. "You sort of saved us."

He shrugged.

"I think you deserved that kiss." I winked at him.

"Whatever, Daniel. Where's Kol?" he asked dismisively.

"He's at the hospital... he was shot, in his shoulder, lost some blood. He was also beaten to a pulp..." I said to him, hoping he doesn't burst into tears. But knowing him, that's something he definitely would not do.

He nodded his head at me and then looked down. As I stood up from the ground and headed toward the bed, with the duffel bag in clutch, Lukas's gaze followed me, his expression mixed with curiosity and confusion. He pointed at it, obviously intrigued. I couldn't help but smirk slightly as I responded, "Okay, so don't freak out, okay?"

"Can't promise that."

"Fuck it." I rolled my eyes and then unzipped the bag. I turned it over and spilled its contents. Lukas' eyes widened. "Oh shit."

"Same thing I said. Help me count it."

——

Counting the money felt surreal; one hundred thousand dollars was an unimaginable sum. What Boris and Har had planned with such an amount was beyond my comprehension. I watched as Lukas, visibly stunned, took in the sheer magnitude of the cash.

As I began to allocate the money, I casually mentioned, "Fifteen grand goes to my drug dealer friend who's convinced I owe him my life," trying to add a touch of humor to the situation. Lukas, always the realist, simply rolled his eyes, not bothering to question my absurd statement.

I continued, "The other thirty-five grand is for Bird and me. I'll give some to my mom, of course."

 "You sound as though you got this money the honest way. You didn't." Lukas deadpanned. I waved off his comment with a chuckle.

"You're too negative, Lukas. So, are you in or not?" I asked, segregating the fifty grand intended for him, Kol, and whoever else they chose to share it with. The rest of the money was crammed back into the duffel bag.

Lukas reluctantly agreed, and we decided to pay a visit to my injured brother in the hospital. Lukas wasn't too keen on the idea, preferring to stay home, but I wasn't having it.

"Get up, dude. We're visiting your brother," I prodded him, giving his thigh a couple of playful slaps. I dropped the duffel bag on the floor and shoved it under his bed, confident he wouldn't betray my trust.

Concerned about the money stacks on Lukas's bed, he asked where to put them. I collected the cash, carried it to his closet, and stashed it away, eager to leave his room and escape the monotony of our conversation.

——

Hospitals. I've been to too many hospitals. I hate them. Nothing good ever seemed to happen there. It was where you got that gut-wrenching news about your loved ones, where you watched your mother slip away, or learned that your sister was battling an insidious cancer. I don't understand why people are sent to hospitals if the majority of the time they end up dead. It was a place filled with despair, where hope was a fragile flicker in the darkness.

But this time was different. As I pushed open the door to room 218, I was met with an unexpected sight. Kol sat upright on the hospital bed, idly flipping through TV channels. I couldn't help but stare at him through the large glass panel separating us, while Lukas entered the room. He called me in as well, but I decided they should have this moment. I looked on as Luke awkwardly stood in the room and his lips moved. I turned away. I shouldn't impose.

Minutes later, Lukas came out of the room and nodded for me to go in. I walked into the room, and it felt strangely quiet and lonely. It was just Kol and me, and the room seemed almost too sterile, devoid of any warmth or familiarity. The absence of his family members created an eerie atmosphere, and we both sat there in silence, waiting for someone to say something and dispel the tension in the room.

"Kol. You aren't dead. Congrats." I grinned at him as I walked to the bed. I ran my finger along the edge of the bed as I went closer to him. Kol's face bore the evidence of a recent struggle. The cuts that had marred his features had been treated, and now they appeared as angry, reddish welts, fading from their initial fierceness. The healing process was evident in the way his skin was trying to mend itself, and though the wounds were not completely healed, they no longer oozed blood or looked as raw as they once had. His face, still faintly stained with traces of dried blood, bore a few patches of reddened, swollen skin that served as a testament to the ordeal he'd endured. A prominent bandage covered his upper arm, securely protecting the gunshot wound he'd sustained, the fabric stained by a mixture of sweat and blood.

Kolton rolled his eyes at me. "Do you ever change?"

I shook my head slightly, my voice softer this time. "No... I don't see why I should." Kol reached out and took my hand, and I moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. Our eyes met, and I absentmindedly played with his fingers, tracing patterns as we sat in a moment of quiet intimacy. His battered appearance was a stark reminder of the danger he had faced, and deep down I felt a bit horrible about it. This is sort of what I expected when I first met him and then came to the hospital. I wanted him to look as busted up as he looks now. Boris and Har are too vile. I'm certain they would have killed him, just like they would have killed Lukas the first time. It wasn't right to plan a hit on him the way I did, but they were both very twisted.

"You should," Kol replied to me.

"You should," I said. "You're the snitch. See, this is the universe working, right here. The universe knew you deserved a beating, so it got you one. Strange how that works."

"That's sound like bullshit, Danny."

"Yeah, whatever you say, Kol," I retorted, playfully rolling my eyes at him. He gently pulled me closer and planted a tender kiss on my lips. I inhaled the familiar scent of the hospital mixed with the medicinal aroma, feeling a strange blend of emotions. Our kiss deepened as he slipped his tongue into my mouth, and my hands instinctively moved to his face. But as I traced the contours of his features, my fingers encountered the painful reminders of the injuries he had sustained. I couldn't help but flinch, and I noticed a mirrored reaction in him. His face, swollen and marked with bruises, was a stark contrast to his usual appearance, and it was hard to ignore the toll that his ordeal had taken on him.

"I don't know if I want you anymore...  You aren't as good-looking as your brother anymore." I grinned. Kol rolled his eyes. "Oh please." He brought me to him and kissed me again. I must admit, this feeling was like none other. Having him kiss me, after everything that happened. I genuinely thought he was going to die. I thought I would have never seen him again, and frankly, I was prepared for it. Seeing him here now, laying on this hospital bed, bruised and bandaged, and still wearing that annoying smile, actually makes me feel okay -- because he could have been dead.

I pull away from the kiss to speak, "How did you know?"

"What?" he asked, his brows furrowed.

I cocked a brow and tilted my head, as if to say you know...

"The money, idiot. How did you know it was there? You clearly went there with the intent of finding it," I said. I couldn't help but notice our fingers still interlocked.

"Oh," he replied, and my curiosity piqued. "I overheard them talking about it. Well, not about the money specifically, but they did mention they had something valuable."

"Wow. And what exactly was your plan? Please, enlighten me."

"I have no idea," a soft chuckle left his lips and I shook my head. Of course not. I leaned in again and placed a kiss on his lips, "Well, thank God you didn't die. Lukas isn't as good as you."

"You literally just told me the opposite, you asshole."

I smiled again and shrugged. We continued chatting for a while, discussing the money, the whole ordeal, and everything in between. Lukas had disappeared somewhere, but it didn't bother me at the moment. I was simply content with where I was.