WARMER TEARS THAN YOU'VE GROWN USED TO

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The house was quiet. It was cold too, or perhaps this was just an illusion brought onto its occupants by Clara's sudden death. She had always known how to make anyone she encountered feel so warm, and nothing but a disconcerting chill was left in her wake. Tom and Erebus had taken her body into the garage, out of sight for the time being until they could sort out the situation with Herobrine.

It came as a sick sort of relief for Erebus when Tom brought him into his arms, shoulders shaking with sobs. Seeing someone that was almost a mentor to him, someone that had always been so strong and composed in any situation, break down in front of him, made him feel so much safer in doing the same himself, for he still wasn't used to sharing his feelings with anyone other than Angel. The two were unable to do much else besides hold tightly onto each other, and for now, that was enough.

It hadn't exactly sunk in that Clara was gone, that she was truly gone from both Erebus's and Angel's lives. Even though he hadn't known Clara for long, he had been able to experience just how kind she was and how much she cared for him, and that had meant so much more to him than he could express. She was one of the main reasons why his self-confidence had begun to return to him, why he had felt so comfortable coming into the physical world - she had helped him to feel truly human, for the first time in his life, without even trying.

Erebus barely even registered the presence of the Feynman family as they returned. Despite how many people were in the house, it still felt so desolate, so lacking, without the warmth of Clara. Angel wasn't present either - she had locked herself in her room, not saying a word to anyone, but Erebus couldn't blame her. She had just lost her aunt due to the decision that she had made, but in Erebus's mind, it wasn't her fault.

It was his.

Angel had chosen to save him over Clara, and he still didn't understand why. She was her family. How could Erebus have ever compared to that?

Richard and Nartha were talking with Tom, providing him with as much comfort as they were able to. Erebus had been asked to recount his experiences with Herobrine, not once stopping to console Gameknight, who had been sent into a state of severe panic at the mention of the name. Despite this, it came as a bit of a surprise to Erebus at the realization that three of the four members of the Feynman family had encountered Herobrine before, not just Gameknight.

Right now, however, Erebus was alone, away from the family's pressing questions that only cemented the situation further in his head. He had other things to do - Clara's blood still stained the floor of the living room, a memory of her death still plagued the house, and he had to get rid of it. Holding the cleaning supplies that Tom had pointed him to, he knelt down beside the pool of blood and began to wipe it away.

Crimson bled through the paper towels that he was using, staining his hands with the same color that his skin had been back in Minecraft. He winced at how symbolic it was - Clara's blood on his hands, both literally and metaphorically - but he couldn't look away from the truth. This was Angel's aunt's blood, her life, spilled onto the floor of this room where he knelt, and it was because of him.

A lump rose in Erebus's throat as his hands began to tremble, and he was barely able to concentrate on what he was doing anymore. He only succeeded in smearing the blood around on the floor more, curling up slightly in his position on the ground as he sniffled, biting his lip and shivering. Only when he felt a presence kneel down beside him did he look up from the blood on his hands, jumping in fright.

"Sorry..." For once, Gameknight truly looked like he was. "I just... I wanted to see if I could help. Can I help?"

Erebus stared at the boy in shock, distrust clear in his expression as he moved back. "Why?" he muttered, his voice too weak to sound angry.

Gameknight reached out, picking up the roll of paper towels. "This isn't right..." he mumbled. Looking down, he began to wipe away at the blood on the floor, his gaze flicking up to Erebus from time to time. "This is my fault."

"Yes." Erebus's tone was blunt - why was Gameknight even saying this? It was blatantly obvious. "You set Herobrine on me because of your own bigotry, refusing to see me as anything other than a heartless monster. And he didn't just torture me - no, he brought Angel into this. Angel, an innocent girl looking for happiness, had to watch a member of her family die because of a choice she made, which could have easily been avoided if you had just gotten over yourself. This is your fault, Gameknight999."

He could see the truth of his words stab into Gameknight like a weapon, but no longer did it give him the same satisfaction that it would have back in Minecraft. A hint of guilt crept up within him, and he looked down, sighing quietly. This was a kid. He was guilt-tripping a kid - how awful of a person was he?

"Back before I entered the game," Gameknight mumbled. "I was someone who was known as a griefer - a player who destroyed things and killed for fun. The only reason I did it was to just- to feel in control, because I didn't have that in the physical world. I realized what I had done after learning that the game was really alive, and from then on, I swore to become a better person. Now that I have something worth fighting for, that's where my strength comes from."

Erebus scoffed, looking away. Another one of his self-righteous rants about how he was so much better than him - this was not what he needed to hear right now.

"Wait-" Gameknight reached out, tentatively nudging his arm, before quickly pulling away as he saw Erebus flinch. "That's not what I meant to say- I just-" He sighed quietly. "You've changed too, Erebus."

"I'm glad you finally noticed," Erebus snapped. Gameknight shuffled a little closer, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"At dinner yesterday," he said. "You weren't trying to hurt me, and I didn't realize that at the time. You were just... You just wanted to protect Angel, didn't you?"

Erebus nodded slowly, confused.

"Don't you see?" A glint of hope shimmered in Gameknight's eyes. "You found someone you cared for. Looking back, I can see now- you guys really love each other, don't you? You found that strength to stand up to me to defend her, even after everything that I did." He glanced down, a look of shame crossing his face for a moment, before returning his focus to Erebus. "Everything that I said to you that day, back in Minecraft at the Source - you learned from it. You're not alone anymore. You found someone that you care for, and I know that she cares for you as well." A hint of a smile crossed Gameknight's face. "I'm... I'm actually proud of you."

A brief silence followed this statement as the weight of Gameknight's words settled into Erebus. He was thoroughly taken aback - the User-that-is-not-a-user, the one who he had fought with for so long, was... proud of him?

"I understand if it takes time to forgive me," Gameknight said, fidgeting slightly with the paper towel he was holding. "Or even if you never do at all... I was neglectful of your situation, especially what was happening between you and Malacoda. I was scared, too scared to realize that you were too." He reached out his free hand. "I'm sorry, Erebus."

Erebus looked down at Gameknight's hand, the boy's words echoing in his mind as he slowly processed this. Drawing away slightly, he shook his head. "I don't think I can forgive you," he murmured. "But... you saying that, Gameknight, it means a lot to me."

Gameknight lowered his hand, his small smile returning. "I'm glad," he told him.

The sound of footsteps behind the two caused them to look up. Richard stood in the doorway next to Tom, looking down at the two of them.

"Dad?" Gameknight tilted his head. "What is it?"

A determined look was spread across Richard's face. "We have a plan."