"Are you okay?"

"For the last time, I'm fine!"

Gio was never the patient type, and his siblings were really pushing the boundaries this one time. Who were they to ask him about his mental health? Not that it was ever there, at least.

"We're worried for you, Oh Gio!"

"I'm fine! Stop asking me that!"

Who were they to care if he was being bullied at school? Who were they to care if he was NOT okay? They had other and better things to worry about! Why care about this jerk who just brought them down?

Peo was frowning, eyes slightly watery as he looked down. Why was his brother like this? He had been acting weird for a long while now. What had happened to his impulsive but lovable older brother Gio?

Mio was feeling the same way. This was not Gio's usual self. Something had happened, and she wanted to know what it was, but at the same time, there was fear. A dark feeling that if she pushed him too far, he could do something stupid and crazy. It scared her.

Nearby, Reo was calling his older brother Teo, screaming like a mother hen quietly for him to get his butt home or else he would come and drag him home no matter how embarrassing it was for the oldest. It was adorable until you put in the context by which he was calling. He was worried for his younger brother, so if he had to lug his older brother home, so be it.

Teo felt the same, so he said, "I'm on my way home. Don't do anything rash until I get home."

"I can't promise for Peo and Mio or even Gio himself, but I'll try."

"That's enough for now. Update me when I get back."

"You got it."

The call done, he exhaled, feeling very tired of this. Why couldn't Gio trust them? He knew that he had some deep resentment for their financial situation, but this was something else. Something told him that this was deeper than that.

"I TOLD YOU I'M FINE! NOW LEAVE ME ALONE!"

That snapped Reo out of his trance just in time to see Gio storming off to his room. The sound of a door being slammed soon followed, and he groaned inwardly. Why was nothing easy?

******

"I'm home!"

"Thank a lot of things in this world," Reo exhaled in relief, clearly glad to see him. "You have no idea how close I was to kicking the door down."

"Kicking the door down would only put us in a tighter position," Peo reminded him. "And you know Hyung doesn't want that."

"I know that all too well, Peo."

"And yet you were planning on doing it anyway."

"I was frustrated, okay?"

Inside, the eleven-year-old could hear his siblings talk, and his hug on his legs grew tighter. Why wouldn't they leave him alone? He was used to all the bullying and insults and mockery. Why did it only matter when he couldn't put up the arrogant mask anymore?

Gio hated relying on people. He hated being weak, and he hated hurting his family, but that's what he did most of the time, and it hurt.

"I'm the worst," he sighed quietly. "Why do I always cause trouble?"

Weak.

Pathetic.

Useless.

Waste of space.

He gripped his head, letting the tears fall as he dug himself deeper into the makeshift ball. He was a failure. Always has and always will be. He was nothing, he was useless, he was just a hindrance.

There was a knock on the door, "Gio, are you in there?"

"L-leave me alone..." he quietly said. "J-Just leave me alone. I-I'll be fine. I've always made it. I-I'll make it again. S-So just let me be..."

Outside, the four shared a glance, surprised and stunned by his words.

"Reo... I think that the situation's bad," Teo bit his lip. He knew what this meant. He had been through it before, so he knew what it was. As much as he hated to admit it, it seemed like it was the most possible option.

He exhaled upon seeing the others, and hesitantly spoke, "It's possible... that Gio's being bullied at school."

"WHAT?!" Cue the shocked yells from the other two.

"I swear they're the worst," Reo growled, eyes alight in anger.

"They would bully Hyung?..." Peo's tone mirrored the anger and resentment everyone knew he was feeling deep down, yet it also conveyed regret and self-hatred. For never realizing it. For never looking beyond the mask he put up all the time.

"Why would they even dare to do that?!" Mio was officially angry, and she showed it by swinging a punch into the air. "I will fight anyone who tries to hurt my baby brother!"

H-Huh? Gio's tears stopped when he heard this. His head slowly moved up as his sister's words registered.

"Same. If I have to crash a Clone into their faces, I would gladly do so," Reo cracked his knuckles.

"Let us hope you don't go that far, but the sentiment is mutual," Teo frowned.

"I will destroy them!" Peo crossed his arms, punching the air as well with an adorably determined look clear. Whoever dared hurt his family would pay dearly! 

Hearing this, Gio couldn't help the snicker that escaped his lips as he slowly got up. Strength was returning to his limbs, even though he did stumble here and there. It was enough to get him to the doorknob. 

He gripped it, but the whispers of the bullies filled his mind. 

If you tell anyone, your family will get the pain. So think wisely.

Just stay quiet and your family will be safe.

His grip loosened. He couldn't... If he did, he would be putting his family in danger. He couldn't do that. Not after all those times. 

He backed away, but as he did, he heard more. 

"Don't go destroying people Peo."

"Hyung, they deserve it!" 

"We can't do a thing if Gio isn't honest with us, though, so you need to be patient. Once we do that, we'll do something about it." 

"If they sue us, I'll make sure we sue them back. They deserve it for treating Gio like dirt. We'll win it for sure!" 

"Don't be so confident, Mio." 

"Sorry, but I'm just angry. Does Gio not trust us?" 

His eyes widened. Trust?...

A small memory came back to him, told to him by Teo when he was a normal child growing up with his siblings. 

"Gio-ah, don't keep things down, okay? We can try to help, but you need to make the first move. It all comes down to your choice."

"I ... I don't want to be like this..." he whispered as he gradually realised something very important; he had been keeping it down out of pride. 

Yet, in family, pride didn't matter. Honesty did. 

Bravery returning, he closed his eyes and grabbed the doorknob again. He saw his grave mistake now; he hadn't trusted in his family. 

Now, though, he knew they could get through this. No matter how hard it was, they would make it. 

Twisting the doorknob, he opened the door and watched their eyes make eye contact with his. 

He exhaled, and finally let his tears show as he said,  "I-I'm so sorry I hadn't told you anything. I-I was scared. T-Thank you for loving me for who I am, flaws and all."

Hearing that, the four of them felt tears fall down their cheeks as well. Finally, he was opening up. 

Peo hugged him tightly, sobbing, "H-Hyung, d-don't you ever keep it down ever again!" 

"I-If you ever do this again, I-I'll throw you into the ocean!" Mio followed. 

Reo and Teo just walked over and joined the hug, their feelings obvious. 

Gio sank himself into the warmth of this hug, and felt only relief.

I love you all...

Nothing will change that... 

Recovery never comes easy, but family is key in this process. That's what Oh Gio learnt the day he finally let his siblings the fractured parts of his heart. The long road to fix his shattered emotions had begun, but together, there is nothing that can stand in their way.

Requester: simplii_official

Prompt: Biklonz story

Notes: This is my first Biklonz story, so I hope you like it.