#waymarkerprogenitor

@waymarkerprogenitor || Continued

Julius gingerly took the cup of tomato soup. “Thank yeh, umm…“ He didn’t really know what to call Ms. Anastasia yet…

Trinand’s heart actually skipped a beat at the sudden statement, his face getting redder than a tomato. What the h e l l was Julius thinking? “J-Julius! What the hell are you talking about?!” he stammered, flustered.

@waymarkerprogenitor:

Julius didn’t reply, didn’t look up. His gaze was fixed directly on the hospital bedsheets covering his body. His hands gripped the sheets - at the very least, the doctors were kind enough to keep his request to keep his glove on, hiding the black stains of the catalyst. The familiar beeping of the heartbeat monitor kept going, not letting either of them forget the reason why Julius was bedridden in Trigleph’s general hospital.

He was just talking with his younger brother, catching up on the day’s events. Julius had been feeling faint, but he expertly hidden it, years of hiding any discomfort making it easy. However, a combination of missed medication and extreme fatigue had started a painful coughing fit in the middle of the conversation, followed by a sudden collapse. The next thing Julius knew, he had awoken in the hospital, hooked up to the various medical contraptions.

And a tearful, worried brother by his bedside.

“… I…” Julius started, voice soft and hesitant unlike his usual strong and sturdy tone. What was he going to say to Ludger? How could he even apologize – Ludger said he knew, that the doctor had informed him. Ludger knew that Julius had cancer, and he kept it secret for all this time. “… I never wanted you to know. Not like this.” He didn’t have to look at Ludger to know his little brother was angry. Probably furious with him.

He closed his eyes, and rested his head against the pillows, feeling small. He probably looked different right now - Julius had noticed that he was getting thinner, so he kept on wearing clothes that hid everything. “…did they tell you how long?” The last time he talked to his doctor, he had a year. That was a few months ago.

“You don’t have to say anything.” Ludger assured his brother, reaching over to card his fingers through Julius’ hair. He might lose it all very soon, so best to soak it in before disease or treatment forced it all to fall out. Truthfully he wasn’t too keen on NHL was, but they explained in layman’s terms that Julius currently had stage four cancer, but he was diagnosed long ago and refused treatment... instead opting to take several medications so his symptoms weren’t noticeable. 

The younger Kresnik had a mind to ask why he’d do this, but he already knew. And if his brother wasn’t in such a critical state, Ludger would have punched him. Maybe worse. 

As Julius relaxed onto the pillows behind his head, he asked if the doctors told him how long he had. It was a rhetorical question (Why wouldn’t they tell him when he was this bad?), but he just shook his head regardless. “...It doesn’t matter. Now that I know, I’m not going to let you avoid proper treatment anymore, Nii-san. Even if you’re okay with working yourself to death, I’m not! I can’t believe you’d think hiding this from me would make me happy--!” 

Ludger paused to take a deep breath. Getting angry and yelling at his brother wouldn’t somehow cure him. “I got a job this morning before you woke up so I can pay for the expenses. You’ll have to stay here for a while, but I’ll come visit every day after work. I told the nurses my hours so we could maybe meet when you’re allowed to be up.” Ludger bent down so he could leave a gentle kiss on his brother’s forehead. 

Trinand shook his head. No. Ooohhh no. This was not happening. Julius was NOT dying on him. Putting a hand on the hand that grabbed his arm, Trinand let out a shakey breath. “N... Nah. I won’t do it...! You know why? Because you’re gonna live through this...!” Denial wasn’t going to help, Trinand.

The mage tried to think quick. Shit, why didn’t he specialize in Healing. It would be so useful here. Rummaging through his bag, he tried to find something that would help. Anything. They didn’t use up all of their healing items already, had they? No, no no no...

Julius lifted his hand, touching the wet, sticky liquid that seeped through his chest.

He knew, logically, that it was blood.

And if he brought his hand out, he knew he’d see red.

And, suddenly, the realization that he was bleeding, that he was hurt - perhaps fatally - hit. Pain bloomed from his chest, and Julius couldn’t stop himself from falling to his knees. He couldn’t even utter a pained gasp as he landed on the ground, face scraping against the stones.

Julius closed his eyes.

Maybe it was time for him to sleep…

Footsteps.

Faint footsteps.

A voice.

”Oh, goddess. Please be alive. Please still be alive.”

No, it wasn’t time for him to sleep.

His brother still needed him!

Julius groaned, trying to staunch the blood from escaping his body, clinging on the thought of his brother. “… barely… but still… “ He tried to pick himself up, arms shaking.

The bullet had cut through his intended target easily. And flown right into another person.

He’s screwed up. Someone innocent was hurt because of him.

“No...” He murmured as the figure fell harshly to the ground. Rushing over he found it was Julius. He hardly knew the man, but still. He’d shot him.

“Oh, goddess. Please be alive. Please still be alive.” He held both hands out and began casting Chi Healer.