•𝟔.𝟓𝐊•

( warning—this chapter contains a panic attack
if you wish to skip the scene, it will be marked with *** at the beginning & end! )

꧁•𖢻•༻*✽*༺•𖢻•꧂

꧁•𖢻•༻*✽*༺•𖢻•꧂

𝕿he day began as any other, really...

𝔄s sparkling sunbeams spill through the windows, the tolling of the bells wake Reserras from his blissful slumber, and a radiant smile blooms on his lips when he sees his shadow at his side–laid on his stomach with an arm draped over Res' chest, breathing softly and rhythmically.

𝐺𝑜𝑑𝑠, ℎ𝑒'𝑠 𝑠𝑜 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙. The sight stirs the butterflies within his belly, 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑝 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠. He brushes the nightblack hair from his face, and kisses his head.

𝔛aden stirs with a sleepy grin quirking his lips, "Mm, Ressy." His onyx eyes flutter open as his muscles ripple beneath his tawny-brown skin when he stretches slightly under the sheets.

𝔗hen, in a single smooth movement, he pulls Reserras astride him as he twists onto his back, thumbs rubbing circles on his bare waist.

"Morning," his deep morning voice stirs something within Reserras' belly, but it 'tis the lazy smile on his lips that brings a furious flutter to the beat of Res' heart.

ℌe returns the smile, leaning down to kiss Xaden's head again. "Morning," he whispers against his skin, then flattens himself atop his beloved with a content sigh, ear above Xaden's beating heart as his hand traces shapes on his back.

"Did it go well?" He asks, referring to the run the night prior, and he 'twere too content with dozing in his lover's arms to notice the slight falter in the steady beat of Xaden's heart nor the second of hesitation it took for him to respond.

   "Well enough."

   ℜes hums beneath his breath, sensing something amiss with Xaden's response, only assuming the fliers 'twere getting impatient with the shadow of the threat growing ever darker and decides not to question him on the matter and ruin the peaceful morning.

   𝔗he hall outside the door slowly but surely fills with chattering cadets on their way to breakfast, and Res knows they need to leave this soft moment behind. He softly sighs when he begins to stand, only for Xaden to tug him down into an unexpected, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒, kiss.

   ℜes hums contently into it, smiling against Xaden's lips when the man so sweetly, so tenderly, holds his cheeks in his hands, and by Gods, he loves it, loves the way his large hands engulf his cheeks and envelope them in his warmth.

   𝔒nly once their lungs demand air, do the lovers pull away and leave the warmth of Reserras' bed to get dressed.

   𝔄fter they 'twere assured the halls were empty of anyone else, they leave the dorm and walk down to the gathering hall in an easy silence, and that 'tis where Reserras notices it.

   ℜaelon's absence.

   𝔍oining his squad at their table in Fourth Wing's section, Reserras bites into an apple, eyes searching the familiar faces of his squad for Raelon–whose since been sitting with Second Squad after Threshing–only he doesn't see him.

   "You guys see Raelon?" He asks, and they all glance around the spacious hall before shaking their heads. His dark brows crease, 𝑜𝑑𝑑.

   𝔊lancing at the raised dais where leadership sits, he doesn't see his brother's silver hair either. But he does catch Garrick's fleeting glance, eyes filled with... worry?

   𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑?

   ℑt makes his heart begin to gallop in his chest, 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑? 𝐷𝑖𝑑... 𝐷𝑖𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡? He mentally kicks himself. 𝑁𝑜. 𝑁𝑜. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦, 𝑋𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑛, 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑'𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑚𝑒, 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑'𝑣𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤.

   𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒, ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒, Reserras tells himself. His brother 'tis most likely caught up with some other cadet he spent the night with, or perhaps he just isn't hungry this morning, 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠.

   ℌe shoves past the rising nausea building an acid cauldron in his stomach as best he could, pushing away his tray when the scent of meat only worsens the sickness curling his belly.

   𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒.

   "𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛𝑒," Grian soothes, lending Reserras his emotions, settling his galloping heart and easing the rising panic. Reserras takes a full breath–in through his nose, out through his mouth–quelling the nausea.

   𝔖hadows swirl around his ankles, gliding across his legs beneath the table and winding around his waist to caress him soothingly, reassuringly.

   𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑠, 𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛? 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑠𝑘 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ?

   𝔊rian 'tis silent for several moments, "𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑠."

   𝔚hat Reserras 'twill not realize for several months, is Grian never asked his brother's dragon, for he already knew where Raelon 'tis.

ℜeserras 'tisn't his only rider whose attended Basgiath, he remembers, he knows.

   𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. 𝑆𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑠 –

   "You alright, Res?" Ridoc nudges his shoulder, and Reserras blinks.

   𝑁𝑜, "Yeah," he nods. "Just not very hungry." Which 'tisn't a complete lie, he's since lost all his appetite.

   ℌe glances over his shoulder at the leadership table once again, hoping he'll see Raelon's silver hair... but he doesn't, only Xaden's gold-speckled onyx gaze already looking at him.

   𝐻𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛'𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔. 'Tisn't a question, so why didn't he tell him? 𝑃𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 ℎ𝑒'𝑙𝑙 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑢𝑝 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟...?

༻*✽*༺

     —𝕿he hours flew by in a blur, and now after flight field then history, Res sits within the Battle Brief lecture hall, behind Violet and between Ridoc and Sawyer, staring at the door whilst secretly hoping Raelon 'twill arrive as the quadrant pours in.

𝔗hough, when Professor Devera begins class, he still hasn't seen his brother, and now... his thoughts begin to spiral, morphing into a maelstrom of worry and sheer, brutal terror.

   ℌe couldn't focus on the debrief of the most recent attack, nor the questions and replied answers between the cadets and professors, only where his brother might be.

   𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛? 𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛, ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ?

   "𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑝𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛."

   ℜeserras tightens his grip around the feathered quill within his grasp, clenching his sharp jaw, 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑚 𝐼 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 "𝑝𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛" 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔?

   "𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛𝑒," Grian growls, but Res only scoffs beneath his breath, softly shaking his head. Pay attention? With his brother apparently missing, and his dragon not responding? Absolutely not.

   𝔅ut for the sake of not making a fuss in the middle of class, in front of the entire damned quadrant, Reserras swallows past the rising panic, diverting his attention to the velvety shadows caressing his waist to settle himself until the bells toll.

   𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. He tells himself, repeating those words like a mantra or a prayer, but it doesn't stop him from worrying, nor his heart from damn near pounding out of his chest.

   𝔚hilst across the hall, Xaden needn't his signets to feel nor sense the fear rippling through his beloved, and it pains him like nothing before... because he knows where Raelon is.

   ℌe 'twas there the night prior when they came for him. They 'twere doing another run but'd fortunately packed light, claiming they skipped dinner and that it weren't against the Codex to fly with their dragons before curfew, and the others bought their lies.

   ℜaelon certainly didn't make it easy for them, but 'twas an inevitable evil all second-years must face. He knows the sheer hell they put them through, more so because of whom their fathers 'twere, but he knows Raelon will come back from it.

   𝔗hough, he also knows his Ressy 'twill be beside himself with worry, for he's already lost one brother to this death sentence, he couldn't loose another–𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚.

   𝔖gaeyl's scoff resounds through his head, "𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜, 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑛𝑒? 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒."

   𝑇𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛? 𝐼'𝑑 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑘 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡. It 'twasn't just the Atonals who lost a brother that day three years ago, but him, as well. He won't let himself loose another, not if he has any damned say in it.

   𝔉ortunately, the remainder of Battle Brief swept by quickly, and after the bells rung across the ravine, he trailed behind those assigned to the gym–which includes Res' squad–afterwards.

   ℌe took his rightful place at Reserras' side as they watched the members of Second Squad spar against themselves or other cadets from Fourth Wing.

   𝔒ccasionally, he'd brush his shoulder against Res', silently telling him he 'twere there, but Reserras hardly even acknowledges him, instead he stares blankly at the mat, beginning to tear apart his cuticles.

   𝐹𝑢𝑐𝑘, 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡.

   𝔗hin dribbles of blood 'twere already leaking down his slim fingers by the time the shadows gently tugged his hands apart, and Reserras crosses them behind his back, weaving his fingers through the velvet darkness as if they 'twere Xaden's own hands.

   𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒.

   ℌis chest threatens to constrict beneath the heavy weight of his steadily rising panic with every second, every minute, every hour he doesn't see Raelon.

   𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚.

   𝔈ventually, Emetterio calls Reserras' then Ridoc's names, and he shakes his head as he steps onto the mat, only he couldn't shove his thoughts behind iron bars like he normally could, no, he can hardly even focus on Ridoc.

   ℌe dodges and spins away from Ridoc's daggers, but his gaze 'tis faraway, distracted, his beloved could tell, his squad could tell, he 'tweren't returning any of Ridoc's attacks, he 'twere slower... too slow.

   ℜeserras couldn't dodge the blade in time, and grunts when Ridoc's dagger slices itself across the scar on his neck–𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑢𝑡.

   "𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟," Fola snarks, but Res couldn't find it within himself to respond.

   ℜidoc immediately steps back, "Shit, I'm sorry. Are you okay, Res?"

   ℜeserras touches the leaking wound, looking at his blood-stained fingertips, then blinks and nods, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just.. need to get it stitched up again." Even his voice sounds distant to them.

𝔛aden steps onto the mat with a frown. "I'll take him to the infirmary," he tells the instructor.

𝔈metterio nods, then Xaden grasps Reserras' elbow and leads him off the mat and out of the gym, Second Squad's worried gazes following them until they disappear beyond the double doors.

𝔄 frown drags Violet's lips down, somehow knowing its because of his brother. Has he not been seen since breakfast?

"Think its about Raelon?" Sawyer asks, still staring at the doors, as Ridoc steps off the mat–Rhiannon taking his place to spar against her opponent.

"I hope nothing's happened to him," Violet says, crossing her arms over her chest. Ridoc joins her other side. "He hasn't been himself today," he worries. "I mean, he's always broody, but today it seems..."

"Melancholic," Sawyer finishes.

𝔗hey nod their agreement, returning their gazes to the mat, hoping their squadmate's brother will turn up soon. Though, Violet has noticed a certain absence of a handful of second-years today, 'tisn't just Raelon, she knows, and wonders what's going on with the upperclassmen.

ℑn the infirmary, Reserras sits on one of the numerous beds, numbly staring at his fiddling fingers as one of the healers stitches his neck. Xaden stands at the foot of the bed, arms crossed atop his chest, onyx gaze worriedly observing his Ressy.

ℌe got distracted, he got careless, he got hurt. 𝐹𝑢𝑐𝑘, 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝐼 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑖𝑚?

"𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑦," Sgaeyl says.

𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑠𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑦 –

"𝐵𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡," she interrupts. "𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑚, 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑡. 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑛𝑒, ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠, 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟."

𝔛aden sighs mentally, knowing Sgaeyl is right, even though he hates it.

ℌe supposes there 'tis only one thing he could do, then–be there at Res' side to keep him from spiraling, and he has no issue with that.

𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒, he tells himself, all but forcing himself to believe it.

ℌe didn't survive so long by trusting hope, no, only himself, his dragon, and his family. He trusts Raelon, trusts his sheer fucking will. He will come back.

𝔗he healer wraps a black bandage around Res' throat, offers him pain mediation he wordlessly denies, then leaves the riders with a kind smile to attend to other patients within the long hall.

𝔗ugging the blue fabric curtain closed, engulfing themselves within the shadows, Xaden joins Reserras upon the bed with a sigh. His beloved doesn't even blink, still staring at his lap.

"Ressy?" He says softly, and Reserras blinks, "I'm fine."

"You are not fine," Xaden brings Reserras' hand into his own, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles.

"Do you know where he is?"

"No," and it shatters his heart into a thousand little pieces to lie to him, but... but what the fuck else could he do? He couldn't tell him, 'tis forbidden. 𝐹𝑢𝑐𝑘, ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝐼 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 ℎ𝑖𝑚?

"𝐵𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑚," Sgaeyl tells him. "𝐷𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛, 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒."

"Res – "

𝔅ut Reserras speaks up, "Where the hell is he? Did.. Did something happen last night? If," tears fill his eyes, "if... i-if he's... Just tell me, Xae. Please," he pleads, a single tear slipping from his blind eye.

   𝔄nd Gods, does it break Xaden's heart completely. He lifts his hand to tenderly stroke it away, kissing his scarred cheek. "Raelon is alive, Reserras."

   ℜeserras bites his lip to withhold a sob, nodding shakily as tears glisten within his brisk depths, another lone crystalline droplet of so much grief, so much fear, slipping down his cheek, gently tracing the length of his silvery scar. 

   𝔛aden kisses it away, tasting the salt of his sorrow, and withholds his own emotions. 𝐻𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑚𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑓 𝐼'𝑚 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑚.

   "Raelon is alive, Ressy," he promises, leaning his head against Res' and kissing his cheek again.

   𝔄nd Reserras expels a long breath, forcing himself to believe Xaden's words, for it 'tis all he could do.

༻*✽*༺

     —𝕿he second the last bell rung at the end of classes for the day, Res 'tis all but soaring through the halls in a blur of silver and black to Raelon's dorm.

𝔓erhaps he's just bedridden with sickness, he tells himself, even if he doesn't believe it.

𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒.

𝔄midst the halls, talking with the other wingleaders, Xaden sees Reserras and immediately begins to follow behind him without a word of farewell to the others, his heart breaking all over again when he realizes where his beloved 'tis headed.

ℜaelon won't be there, and he knows he'll need to calm Reserras down without telling him the forbidden truth no first-year 'tis allowed to know–𝑏𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘 𝑑𝑜 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡?

𝐻𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤, Xaden thinks to himself, trotting up the stairs of the dormitory hall behind his beloved, ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤... 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡.

'𝔗isn't fair, none of it 'tis, 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟, but 'tis just the way of this godsforsaken place and he must respect it if he wants to keep his Reserras safe–𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑠 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒–which Xaden very much does.

***

𝔒utside his brother's dorm, Reserras knocks, only to receive no answer. His heart begins to gallop, thump, thump, thumping in his chest. He pushes open the door, finding it empty of anyone.

   𝔗hump, thump, thump.

   ℑts all he hears as he runs his hands through his long hair, chest beginning to heave with heavy breaths.

𝔗hump, thump, thump.

ℌis heart pounds like the drumbeats of war, rattling his bones, and, suddenly, his legs begin to tingle as a full breath refuses to seep into his desperate lungs.

"𝐵𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒, 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑠." Grian's voice sounds miles away.

𝔗hen his legs begin to wobble when a wave of dizziness hits him, the room beginning to spin around him with every breath he couldn't seem to catch.

𝔛aden 'tis there, holding his cheeks and soothing words to him, but Res couldn't hear him through the muffled ringing in his ears, past the thump, thump, thumping. He can't breathe.

𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛. 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒? 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒? 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒!

𝔗hump, thump, thump.

𝔊rian attempts to lend his emotions to Res through the bond, to settle his panic, but his rider doesn't even seem to acknowledge it as his legs suddenly give out beneath him when his vision tunnels.

"Reserras!" Xaden catches him by the waist, gently lowering him to the floor with Res leaning against the bed as he kneels in front of him, onyx gaze glistening with torment to see his beloved's agony so raw, so unbridled.

ℌe can't breathe through the panic coursing through his veins, Xaden knows, and so he holds his man's face in his unyielding, unwavering, hold, forcing Reserras to look at nothing but him, "Breathe, Res, breathe. Slowly."

ℜes' cheeks are ghostly white, his pale blue eyes widened in panic, because he doesn't know where his brother is, because he couldn't catch his breath, chest hiccuping with rapid heaves and wheezes.

   "I... I can't... I... c-can't..."

   ℌe holds his chest–thump, thump, thump–galloping heart beginning to ache with every short breath he couldn't catch. 𝐼𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑡𝑠, 𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑡𝑠, 𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑡𝑠.

   "𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒!" Grian's deep and guttural bellow ripples through the terror overclouding his mind, but Reserras couldn't truly hear him.

𝔇esperate, thinking of the first thing that comes to mind, Xaden surges forward and engulfs Res' lips with his own. Fuck, he hopes this works, he'd rather not use a vascular chokehold to knock him out for a few seconds.

𝔅ut, as always, Res' breath hitches then stops entirely when he recognizes the familiar embrace and gives into it, and, slowly but surely, his panic subsides and Xaden pulls away, holding his Ressy's cheeks, keeping their heads pressed together, as his beloved takes a full breath that trembles.

***

𝔄fter several more deep breaths, Xaden speaks up softly, "You're alright, Reserras," his thumbs trace his cheekbones. "You're alright. Raelon is alright."

"H-How," a hiccup, "how co-could you know?" His voice is hoarse, his chest still jumping with occasional hiccups, silent tears slipping from his red-rimmed, glistening eyes.

"I just know, Ressy. Raelon is tenacious as hell. He'll be back soon."

ℜeserras holds Xaden's wrist, rubbing his thumb down the back of his hand, then a gut-wrenching sob tumbles from his lips, and where one fell, hundreds more seem to follow in its wake.

   𝔄nd Xaden's heart shatters as he tugs Reserras onto his lap, twisting around until he 'tis the one leaning against the bed, cradling his beloved in his arms. He hushes sweet nothings as he combs his hand through Res' soft hair and traces his spine with the other.

   "I can't loose him, Xae," Res cries, desperately clinging to his shadow like he 'twere his sole lifeline, the only thing tethering him to this earth, to keep him from loosing his mind–hands clutching his arm. "I can't."

   "You won't, Res," 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 ℎ𝑒'𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠. The Atonals have always been a family of resilience, nothing ever takes them down so easily. He kisses Res' crown of silver, "You will not loose him, Reserras, I promise you."

   ℌis promise soothes his wary mind, the steady beat of Xaden's heart against his ear helps to settle his own galloping heart, every breath that is mint, leather, and that sweet mixture between citrus and floral eases his hiccuping chest until his cries begin to fade into sniffles.

   ℜeserras shifts to curl up on the floor with his head on Xaden's lap, who continues to stroke his pearlescent hair tenderly. The soft, silvery locks tumbling through his fingers. Res' brisk eyes close at his touch, a small sigh escaping his lips.

   𝔈xhausted from the emotional turmoil of the long day, Reserras soon falls asleep in his lover's embrace, breath softening within minutes. Xaden softly grins at his Ressy, yet 'tis laced with sorrow, leaning down to kiss his head.

   "He'll come back," he whispers, more to himself than his sleeping beloved.

   𝔄fter a moment longer to settle his own nerves at watching Reserras fall apart, Xaden lifts Res into his arms and lays him on the bed, tugging off his boots then his criss-crossing sword-sheath, setting them aside by the weapons rack.

ℌe lays beside Reserras after leaving his own boots and sheaths by the wooden rack, cradling him against his chest–his steady breath tickling the exposed skin above the collar of his shirt.

   ℌe presses a gentle kiss to Res' silver crown, guarding his beloved whilst he slept the night away, hoping Raelon 'twill return by the weeks end.

𝔗o ease both his and Res' worries.

༻*✽*༺

—𝕿he hall 'tis seemingly endless, a yawning chasm of pitch darkness stretching out in either direction no matter where he looks, the echo of his footsteps bouncing off the walls.

   ℌe didn't know where he 'twere going, couldn't see anything but darkness.

   𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛? 𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑎?

   𝔑either of his dragons respond, and worry begins to swirl through his being, where the hell is he?

   𝔅ut then, he hears it... groans, pained groans.

   ℜes hurries his pace, swearing he recognizes them, yet the endless chasm only seems to grow longer with every step and soon he looses all sense of direction.

   𝔗hen, he hears something else amidst the ringing silence, a scream of sheer agony, and he looses his breath as he stops in place–Raelon's scream.

   "Raelon!" He yells into the darkness, only for his voice to echo around him. Raelon! Raelon! Raelon!

   𝔗he only response 'tis another scream that shatters his heart followed by a broken cry of his name, calling out for him, pleading for Reserras to help him.

   "Where are you?" Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?

   𝔗he second after the echoes faded and the hall fell silent, he saw it. An iron door awaiting at the end of the hall with flickering mage light seeping through the crack at the bottom.

   𝔚ithout wasting another second, he sprints toward it, skidding to a stop in front of the door. Reaching for the wrought handle, his foot slips and his gaze drops to the stone floor, only to see a puddle of blood seeping beneath the crack.

𝔗he heart within his chest begins to race. 𝑁𝑜. 𝑁𝑜. 𝑁𝑜. The door 'tis shoved open, and his heart doesn't sutter, doesn't gallop, but stops entirely at the gut-wrenching sight he's meet with.

𝔄 figure shrouded in darkness, vaguely resembling the man who ordered the execution of his parents, 'tis stood in front of Raelon–whose chained to a chair in the center of the chamber, bloodied and bruised.

"Raelon!" He cries, lunging forward but his feet suddenly won't move anymore. He looks down, blood seeping around his ankles and holding him in place like iron shackles. 𝑁𝑜, 𝑛𝑜! 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒!

𝔗he figure slices into his brother's skin with a knife of black steel, and Raelon's cry shatters Res' heart.

"Its all your fault," the thing taunts in a voice neither old nor young, male nor female, yet it spreads quaking chills across his bones nonetheless. "You weren't there to protect him... just like Raerion. And now look what's happened." It chuckles so maliciously, walking around Raelon as its long fingers stroke his silver hair before holding the bloodied blade to his throat. "You've lost another brother. Your fault. Your fault. Your fault!"

𝔄nd Reserras could only stand there, held by the thick and disturbingly warm blood around his ankles, as the blade 'tis plunged into Raelon's heart.

"NO!" He wails, looking into his brother's eyes as Raelon gives him that gentle smile–only this time, 'tis oozing with blood dripping between his lips instead–before the life leaves those azure eyes and his head hangs limply.

"No. No. No! Raelon, please! Please!" Reserras thrashes against the binds that hold him, tasting blood in his throat as he screams and cries for Raelon, begging him to wake up.

"𝑊𝑎𝑘𝑒!" A familiar voice breaks through the despair latching itself onto his bleeding heart, ripping it apart with unforgiving claws that drag him into an abyss with no end, only darkness and grief.

𝔚hilst in the waking world, the soft whimpers of his beloved stir Xaden from his slumber, eyes blinking sluggishly in the darkness as he looks at Reserras beside him and his heart stutters at the sight.

ℌis man's brows are scrunched over his squeezed-shut eyes as crystalline tears trickle down his cheeks, catching in the moonlight dripping through the windows.

"Stop, stop," he pleads hoarsely, clutching the sheets within his fist.

𝔛aden props himself up on his elbow, gently yet firmly shaking Res' shoulder as he coaxes him away from the nightmare, "Wake, Ressy. It's just a nightmare. Wake up."

𝔚hen he wakes with a startled jolt, Reserras latches onto then digs his nails into the hand on his arm, then releases his grip when he sees 'tis only Xaden, breaths ragid and uneven as his heart thump, thump, thumps rapidly.

   ℜes drops his hand to the bed. "I'm sorry," he breathes shakily. Sweat gleams on his ivory skin and dampens his silvery locks, sticking strands to his cheeks and neck, and Xaden tenderly tucks a lock behind his ear, gently hushing him as tears fill Reserras' eyes.

   𝔏aying back down, he tugs Reserras into his arms, who nestles into his scent and warmth, ear above his beating heart as he breathes slowly and deeply to subdue the rising sobs.

   𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛...

   "𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑎 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡."

   𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒.

   𝔊rian doesn't respond, yet his presence within his mind remains, sending tidal waves of soothing calm into Res' being to settle his heart.

   𝔄nd it helps, physically, that is. Mentally, he's beginning to spiral.

   𝔛aden combs his fingers through Res' pearlescent hair, gently detangling the slight knots within the long locks. "Raelon?" He asks softly, and feels Res nod. "I.. I lost him." He sighs, "It's been three days, Xae. Where the hell is he?"

   ℌe only sighs, tracing random shapes on his back and the protruding slope of Res' spine with his other hand, "Get some rest, Ressy. He'll be back soon."

   "If you know where he is, please.. tell me."

   𝔛aden 'tis silent for a long moment, ".. I can't, Res. Its forbidden for first-years to know, and even saying that is a risk to you without being able to shield."

   𝔚ith his eyes still closed, Res scoffs, "So you're willing to intervene at Threshing, Sgaeyl too, but you won't tell me where my brother is?"

   "That was different, Res, and you know it." His tone 'tweren't harsh, though, nor scolding either. He knows Res 'tis only worried for his brother, he doesn't hold that against him, never would.

   "Doesn't really seem all that different right now," he grumbles.

   "𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛𝑒. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 – "

   𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦! He shouts down the bond. 𝐼𝑓 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 –

   "𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡. 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠."

   ℜeserras pauses. Marth has bonded twice before Raelon, and every bond a dragon makes with a human is stronger than the last, he wouldn't survive Raelon's death, so his brother 'tis still alive, somewhere.

   '𝔗is some comfort, but... 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘.

   "Ressy – "

   𝔈xpelling a soft breath, Reserras rests his chin on Xaden's broad chest to look into his beautiful eyes–the gold flecks sparkling in the moonlight. "I'm sorry, Xae. I'm just... tired and scared. I didn't mean to snap."

   𝔛aden only hushes him, flattening his palm on his cheek to trace his high cheekbone. "You've nothing to be sorry for, Ressy." He sighs, "I'm worried, too."

   𝑂ℎ, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔.

   "Sleep, Reserras." He says softly, kissing his head. With a little grin, Reserras lays his ear above his heart, letting its gentle lullaby soothe him, and closes his eyes, trying his best too.

   𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒, 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑛.

༻*✽*༺

     —𝕺n the fifth day of Raelon's disappearance, after classes 'twere over in the hour before dinner when sunset began to fall over the world, Reserras lays upon his brother's bed, clutching the pillow that smells like Raelon to his chest, nose pressed into the grey silk.

𝔈very night since, he's slept in Raelon's room with Xaden at his side, and he's hardly eaten–much to his man's worry–whom sits on the desk across from him, legs dangling off the edge as he looks at Reserras, brows drawn sorrowfully.

𝔗he sun slowly slipping beneath the horizon casts Xaden in an ethereal golden glow from behind, but Res couldn't focus on his beauty, for its been nearly a week and still no sightings of Raelon, or even Marth.

𝔛aden hasn't left his side, like he's worried Res might just snap... 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙, ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛'𝑡 𝑢𝑛-𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑, 𝑖𝑓 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 –

𝔑o, he can't think like that... but the thought haunts him anyway, remaining in the back of his mind like a dark shroud, rotting away by the day and slowly spreading its foulness through his thoughts.

𝔖ighing, looking at his miserable Ressy, Xaden's heart clenches as he clutches his brother's pillow like a frightened child after a nightmare–𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛, 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒.

𝔗hen, suddenly, like a beacon amidst a seemingly endless storm, through the shadows beyond the door he feels the ripple of a familiar presence walking down the hall, and he smiles, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑖𝑡'𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑛. He slides off the edge of the desk the moment the door creaks open, mage light spilling into the room.

ℭreasing his brows, Res sits up and turns around to see whomever it 'tis Xaden's grinning at, only to cry his brother's name as he all but leaps across the distance between them. Throwing his arms around Raelon, he holds his brother as close as the physical boundaries of the world 'twill allow, tears of sheer relief trickling down his cheeks.

𝔗hough, Res hadn't yet noticed the cuts and bruises marring Raelon's face, but Xaden does and his lip curls into a silent wince at the pitiful sight. A split lip–𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑒–a black eye, along with a thick gash across his cheek. Xaden didn't even want to know what he must look like beneath his bloodied and slightly ripped leathers.

𝔅ut Raelon held himself strong despite the pain coursing through his battered body–he'd go to Nolon later, now, before anything else, he needed to see his brother, knowing he'd be beside himself with worry and grief. And for his own comfort.

ℌe did it, he survived that hell, even if he couldn't feel half his throbbing face.

ℜes' familiar scent fills his lungs and begins to heal his wary mind better than any mender, and he nearly sags against him. He's home, he's finally home after five days of agony, of merciless torture.

ℜaelon gently soothes his younger brother's cries, stroking his silky hair and spine until Reserras settles and steps away from the embrace. His eyes widen at the state of his brother, "Who did this?" His voice shakes with rage.

"It doesn't matter, Res," Raelon's voice 'tis gravelly from disuse–he didn't give them anything, no groans, no cries, no screams.

"Of course it does. Give me their names, and I'll shove my daggers through their throats."

𝔅ehind him, Xaden smirks–𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑦–as Fola chuffs proudly within his head. Raelon snickers, soothing his silvery hair before holding his cheek within his palm.

"Its alright, Ressy. I'm alright. There's no need to go off on a murder-spree."

ℜeserras huffs, leaning into the warmth of Raelon's palm as he holds his wrist. "Where were you, Rely?"

"I would tell you if only I could," he sighs, "but its forbidden. I will disappear like that again, Res, but just know, I will always make my way back to you and our family. I don't want you to worry, alright?"

ℜes' grin wavers, "But I will anyway."

𝔐irroring his brother's grin, Raelon kisses his silver crown then lets his hand slip from his cheek as Xaden approaches. With his hand on Raelon's shoulder, he firmly squeezes the broad limb as he presses their heads together.

𝔗hey needn't say anything, knowing the hell Raelon just went through.

𝔛aden kisses his brow, "𝑻𝒉𝒂 𝒎𝒊 𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒅, 𝒂 𝒃𝒉𝒓𝒂̀𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓." He tells him, then steps away and stands beside Reserras. "You look like shit." Raelon huffs in amusement. "You should get to the healers." ( i'm proud of you, my brother )

𝔄nd without any argument, Raelon does so, telling his brother he'd be back after dinner before heading to the infirmary–where the rest of the cadets in his year went after they 'twere released.

𝔚hen the door closes behind Raelon, Res expels a breath with worried eyes staring at the door, twisting and turning his mother's ring. Recognizing that look in his eyes, Xaden kisses his head and nuzzles his hair, "Come on, Res. He'll be here when you get back."

"He better be."

𝔒utside the gathering hall, before they enter, Xaden pulls his Ressy into a kiss. "Your tray better be empty when you leave," he whispers against his soft lips.

   ℜes snorts, rolling his eyes yet a smile tugs at his lips nonetheless, "Yes, Mother."

   𝔄fter grabbing his tray from the dinner line, Res finds his squad amidst Fourth Wing's section and joins them. Ridoc greets him with a smile, "Well, you seem better. Is Raelon back?"

   𝔅iting into a plum, Res nods. "Yeah. I don't know where the hell he was the past five days, but he's back, so that's really all I give a shit about."

   "I noticed some of the other missing second-years coming back an hour ago, looking like they just fought off a drift of gryphons." Violet speaks up, peeling an orange. "Its weird."

   𝔄 hum rumbles through Res' chest, 'tis certainly mystifying and he knows there's definitely something the upperclassmen are forbidden from telling them, but so long as his brother always returns from... 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑔𝑜, he doesn't care.

   ℌe spares a glance over his spiked shoulder at the raised dais, where, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒, his shadow 'tis watching him. Res takes another bite of his plum whilst very pointedly meeting Xaden's eyes, winking as he chews. He scoffs in amusement, shaking his head as he returns his attention to whatever Bodhi 'twere saying, and Res chuckles beneath his breath.

   𝔗he rest of dinner went by smoothly yet not quick enough and the second he returns his empty tray to the window with his squad and leaves the hall, he's parting from them in the dormitory hall to head to Raelon's dorm.

   ℌis heart 'tis already pounding by the time he arrives, standing outside the door nervously, because... what if he's not there? What if this has all been some fucked up dream conjured by his frightened mind?

   𝔈xpelling a breath, he knocks on the thick wood, his heart thump, thump, thumping with every second until the door opens and his brother's gentle smile greets him warmly.

   ℌe takes his first full breath since this nightmare began. 𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. 𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒.

   𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, he winces, 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠, but his heart still beats, that's all that matters to Reserras as he steps into the room and closes the door behind him.

   ℑnstead of saying anything, Res merely tugs Raelon into an embrace, one his brother gladly returns.

   "I missed you, Rely." 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑙𝑦.

   "𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑡," Fola grumbles.

   ℜaelon grins, resting his chin on Res' shoulder as he closes his eyes, "I missed you, too."

𝔗he thought of his sweet siblings 'twere the only things to keep him strong through those five days of agony–returning to the warmth of their embraces, seeing their smiles again, just... just them.

ℌe tucks his face into the crook of Reserras' neck, breathing in slowly and deeply–sandalwood, leather, and citrus serving to settle his nerves and soothe his battered soul.

ℜeserras doesn't know what happened to his brother–and knows he 'twouldn't, 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛'𝑡, say anything about it–but he knows it wasn't pleasant. He saw it in the cuts and bruises, feels it in his brother's weary bones.

𝔄nd he feels such an urge stoking a fire within him to make whomever did this to his brother bleed, beg for an ounce of mercy he would never grant, but quenches the rising anger. 𝑅𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑤, ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡.

𝔄nd so, after dressing for bed, they slip beneath the sheets and Reserras holds his brother to him, brushing his fingers through Raelon's, since washed, hair while tracing the slope of his nose. Raelon slumps into him, expelling a long and exhausted breath–he hasn't slept in the last five days either, not truly, not restfully.

"You look like you got mauled by a dragon and shat out the other end," Res smirks. Raelon snorts, "Gods, don't I feel it, too," he groans, shifting slightly to elevate the ache in his bruised ribs.

ℜes chuckles.

   "So," the older brother grins, "did I miss anything interesting?"

   "Aside from me getting my ass beat in sparring a couple times, not really."

   ℜaelon scoffs, incredulous, ignoring the screaming protest of his ribs when he sits up on his elbow to look at his brother, "Wait, my baby brother, one of the best fighters in the quadrant, lost a match and I fucking missed it?"

   ℜolling his eyes, yet grinning nonetheless, Reserras huffs, "Seems so."

𝔚ith a chuckle that twists into a wince, Raelon nestles in his brother's arms once again, tucking his head beneath Reserras' chin with a content sigh, closing his eyes.

𝔖ilence falls over the brothers for several minutes, neither saying a word whilst moonbeams dance across the ceiling and the mage light on the nightstand softly flickers with blue heat.

ℜeserras admires the rippling shadows on the ceiling above, still languidly finger-combing his brother's hair, nearly wishing they 'would blanket them in soothing darkness, to shield them from the vicious world beyond these walls.

ℌe hums to himself, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠. But he 'twill never have to face it alone.

"Raelon?" He speaks softly amidst the serene hush enveloping the room, not wanting to wake his brother should he be asleep.

𝔗he answering hum of acknowledgment tells Res he's still awake. "Always come back."

"Until the end," Raelon recites their promise to each other.

𝔄nd that 'tis enough to soothe Res' worries for the night, allowing himself to slip into a peaceful slumber wrapped in his brother's scent and warmth, knowing he'll still be there when he wakes.

__________•༻*✽*༺•__________

༻ 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆 ༺

🤧. Ressy would definitely notice if his brother was missing for RSC, my poor baby boy, 😭.