I Lived, Bitch

“ BEER pong ? ” Ash inquired – his voice not quiet believing what his brother was saying. And if he did, he was laughing at him along with it. “ Is that where your time and focus in college went instead of actually getting a degree ? Some role model you are, Griffin…”

“Yes! Ash, that’s me, Griff, I’m here.” He recognized him, that was more than Ash had gotten from him in years, Griffin was awake and he recognized him, for a second everything felt almost okay. He reached up to wipe a stray tear from his eye, his other hand finding Griffin’s and holding it tightly. 

“Stay with me, Griffin, please.” 

He didn’t think he could bear it if his brother slipped back into the practically comatose state he’d been in before, not after he’d finally gotten him back. Despite his efforts he realized he was crying, and he rubbed at his eyes to keep it from clouding his vision too much. “I- I missed you so much, Griff.”

“Ash...” He repeated again, as if to cement the concept in his head that this adult before him was the little boy he had left. They had the same bright eyes, though, that came to tears far too often...

Griffin’s lips pulled up barely to smile up at his brother. “Not goin’ anywhere. Was just sleepin’...” He murmured as he tried to reach up with his other hand to wipe away a stream off tears, his brow creasing when he found that he was attached to something. His eyes slowly drifted to the IV in his vein. 

” ARE you talking to me or yourself ? “ Ash asked, raising his eyebrow as he handed his brother a drink to celebrate with. Alcohol included. “Because trust me, Griffin, I think I know how to hold my alcohol better than you.” 

Ash paced the floor anxiously; the chances of Griffin getting up were dwindling by the minute and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Even with his brother’s condition Griffin had always been there and Ash wasn’t sure what he’d do if he lost him. It wasn’t a feeling he liked, and he hated the helplessness of it. Revenge wouldn’t save Griffin, though, and he would rather be there if he woke up. 

A sound from the man behind him caught his attention and he was instantly at Griffin’s side, a hand on his shoulder to keep him from moving too much and straining his injury. He was awake, that was half the battle, and Ash finally felt like he could breathe again. He tried to stay in Griffin’s line of sight, praying he recognized him.

“It’s just me, Griff, it’s Aslan, everything’s fine. Try to stay still, you’re hurt, if you get up it’ll make it worse.”

Griffin hated the way the shrill noise stumbled and rushed ever higher. His own breathing climbed to a desperate pace before it all suddenly seized when a hand landed on his shoulder. The voice seemed so strangely familiar. It’s me. Who?

Aslan.

His eyes searched around wildly before he landed on a worried face hanging over him. Griffin blinked. For some reason, this face, too, felt familiar. As if he had seen it every day in the corner of his mind. Aslan. Aslan... Ash? Griffin’s lips parted soundlessly. Was this Ash? He felt like it really was. 

Yes, he had seen his face like this plenty of times. Yet when had he gotten so big, become such a handsome adult? Hadn’t he just been a bite sized ray of sunshine just yesterday?

He reached out, his lips forming that name he had once laughed and shouted and said in broken sobs. Ash. Ash. Ash. Ash, his Aslan.