#actliving

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Two.

"See! This is why I told you to wear scruffy clothes!"

"I told you I don't have any scruffy clothes!"

The four children had gone one a quest to the nearby park, Marcus and William leading the way. They knew a great spot to hang out, and it had the best views. When the large oak tree was revealed, neither twin was impressed.

"I'm not allowed to wear pants!" snapped Celine. "Why didn't you tell us we were going to be climbing?!"

"Because one or both of you would refuse to come, duh." William shrugged like it was common sense. "This is an important thing to tick off the bucket list! Reach new heights!"

"See the world from a whole new perspective!" Marcus, who had taken to climbing during the bickering, had reached the lowest branch and swung upside-down on it. "It's not that scary once you do it the first time. This is the best way to make someone braver!"

Suddenly, Damien realised the point of this. It was another jab at how he didn't do everything like the Barnum brothers did. Why did it always have to circle back around to how his life was different to everyone else's? It wasn't fair.

While Marcus and William were focused on helping Celine climb - because everyone loves her and thinks she's the most important girl ever - Damien opted to sneak to the other side of the tree and sit down. If he pulled his knees up and rested his forehead against them, he might be so small no one can see him. If he knew the park better, he might have even considered walking back to the Barnum residence.. 

"Your turn." Marcus' voice coming out of nowhere made Damien yelp and look up in alarm. Once more, Marcus was hanging upside-down from the branch overhead. There was no mistaking the smirk. “You think we were going to leave you behind?”

If the younger Brooks twin had nothing good to say, he was taught to say nothing, even if everyone else in his family could freely speak their mind. Instead, Damien glanced aside. The lack of answer must have made Marcus realise something, as Damien heard a sigh.

“Look, uh… If you don’t want to do it, we can pretend you hurt something when you tried. I know what William said, but I can let you off the hook this time. Maybe you’ll feel up to it next time.”

This was a surprise. Damien was sure that he would have brought waves of disappointment and mockery.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Besides -” Whatever Marcus was about to say was sharply cut off. He had pulled himself upright to start climbing down, but the movement was too quick and left him light-headed. His eyes were squeezed shut as he kept a firm grip on the branch. At least it was stable enough to hold his weight.

“-cus? Marcus?”

There was some movement in front of him, and when Marcus opened his eyes… Damien had actually, somehow, climbed up by himself to sit in front of him. “A-are you alright? I thought you were going to fall, and I knew I couldn’t catch you if anything happened -”

Finally feeling less woozy, Marcus pulled on a lopsided grin and lightly slapped Damien on the shoulder. “I’m just peachy.”

-

Three.

It was another formal function the Brooks were invited to… and by extension that meant Damien.

(But not Celine. Ladies were not to attend such events alone.)

And so, as was the case many times before, Damien was stuffed into stiff clothes with shoes that were too shiny, and had his hair brushed with such intensity that his scalp stung. Then, once the hair was styled so that not a single strand was out of place, he had been sent down to accompany his parents.

A child should not be forced to take part in discussions about recent trials or upcoming cases or recent business transactions, but this was the world Damien knew. He would grow up at these events, and forever have to stick with his parents even when he was a grown-up.

But this time was different. It wasn't some hall in the city. It wasn't some big, posh house with vases as big as him. It was the Barnum Manor, and it was the function area where so many games had happened. For once, he wasn’t alone. He knew he wasn’t the only child here, and this was his saving grace.

When the initial hum of activity as guests arrived settled into something more ordinary, a small figure crept into the large room. He kept out of sight, only actively rising to stand on his tippy toes to gauge his surroundings. Then, once his target was spotted, Marcus darted over and grabbed Damien by the wrist before yanking him outside. The doors to the garden was the quickest route back to where the Barnum brothers resided.

However, as Marcus opened the doors near the kitchen, he froze. It was so abrupt, Damien bumped into him. 

“Marcus?”

No answer.

Blinking owlishly, Damien leaned forward enough to try and see where Marcus was looking before following his gaze.

The room near the kitchen that the door led into was shrouded in darkness. Marcus was not someone who was afraid of the dark, if his penchant for hiding in closets during hide and seek was anything to go by. No, it wasn’t that simple.

Damien squinted to try and discern the shapes within. Then, his eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of something moving. It was a human-like figure on top, and faded to nothing below the wrist. Beyond a shape, he couldn’t identify any features. It wasn’t like the ghosts Damien had seen before. It wasn’t travelling a path out of routine. Rather, it was looking for something, and had moved on when it couldn’t find that ‘thing’. 

Could Marcus see it too? It wasn’t the time to ask. Damien slipped his hand into Marcus’ to give him something new to focus on.

“It’s not in the room anymore,” he murmured once the figure finally faded. Finally, Marcus seemed to return to the present moment, squeezing Damien’s hand in return.

-

Four.

The Manor was a stressful place to be in ever since William had returned from his last overseas trip, which the soldier declared was his last ever with a faint tremor that Damien was nearly convinced he imagined.

He couldn’t put his finger on what was causing the stress. Well, beyond the obvious factors. Marcus was clearly worried about his brother, and having to babysit William along with juggling his career and the running of the Manor was no easy feat. The brothers were always a breath away from arguing, and Damien was sure that William was being a bigger pain in the neck than he should have been.

(He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was troubling Celine too, but she deliberately kept herself emotionally closed, and so Damien could never have concrete proof.)

In a situation like this, Damien found that it was a good idea to sit down and talk to someone to help get everything off one’s chest. However, the Barnums were a terribly stubborn pair of brothers. It was impossible to get one of them to talk. The closest he could do was time a visit to the Manor when he knew William had left the premise for the day.

“You’re being your old worrisome self,” Marcus assured while tilting his glass of lemonade toward the lawyer.

“And that’s a bad thing?” Damien tried to play it off lightly, but he had spent years mastering the ability to read body language. Marcus wasn’t as subtle as he thought. Even an actor has quirks that slip out subconsciously. The slight shifting of the glass in his hold. The way he couldn’t get completely comfortable in his seat. 

“Of course it is. I don’t want you getting grey hairs before you get married.”

“I don’t even have a partner. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

“Nonsense! I’m going to find you a gorgeous partner who can fawn over you as you deserve. I refuse to have one of my closest friends remain a bachelor. And no one likes a young man with grey hair. Gives a bad impression.”

“You’re avoiding my question, Marcus.” Damien placed his glass on the ornate garden table and kept his eyes locked on the actor. “Are you alright? Have you any plans now that you’re between shows?”

“Of course I’m alright.” The answer was given so confidently, Marcus had no idea that Damien could see right through it. “Like I said, you’re being a worrywart.”

“So then why not come along with me to the ballet this weekend? I’ve been told the Russians are among the best at it.”

“You wouldn’t take Celine or the Colonel?”

“Can you imagine either of them willingly attending something like that?”

“Touché.”

“Besides,” Damien leaned forward to pick up his glass, “I’d like your company. Out of everyone I know, you’d actually appreciate seeing the staging of a completely different production. Just… Think about it, alright?”

“Alright.”

Somehow, Damien knew Marcus wouldn’t go.

-

Five.

Damien was a busy man, but it was nothing insurmountable. His hours as Mayor did have a definite ‘end’ time. After being forced into brutal hours of unpaid overtime while trapped in his father’s law firm, he was glad to let that habit die.

But when he didn’t really have anyone to spend that time with, it made Damien painfully aware of how empty his life was. 

Celine’s affair (with William, of all people!) had been messy and explosive when the news broke. He had no idea that all happened under his nose. She had skipped town, and he was so furious at his sister for being as bad as their parents that he flat-out refused to chase after her. William had opted to coop himself up in the barracks, and not even Damien’s status as the city’s Mayor could permit him access due to still being a civilian.

As for Marcus? Well… Damien knew precisely where he was, but it was so difficult to see him face to face. There was always a reason for Marcus to refuse an audience with Damien. He was sick. He was working. He wasn’t there. There was never an apology, nor was there an empty promise to make up for it at a later date.

But others would arrive at the door, and they would be let in with open arms. So why was Damien any different?

The other flaw of having more free time and nothing to do with it was that he was more aware of people talking. He began hearing rumours. Marcus was wrapped up in something illicit. Or maybe he was wrapped up in a drugs ring. Perhaps he was the ringleader of a criminal organisation. After all, crime had begun to rise in the city after these visits happened, or so people claimed.

But surely that wasn’t the case. It couldn’t be. He knew Marcus. He wasn’t someone who would stoop so low! He wouldn’t move in such dark circles!

(Then again, he had assumed the same of his own twin sister, and look what happened there - no! Stop that!)

Often, Damien had to stop himself, nearly slapping his own cheeks in frustration to try and pull his mind away from making the worst conclusions from nothing but hearsay. 

He needed to visit Marcus. He needed to know the truth.

bonus