VIHAAN.

It wasn’t as though they wore every emotion outwardly, a few of the ones that would have caused those around them to worry were carefully tucked away because time had taught what the limits were to what they could handle alone. Past those limits, yes, it was time to seek out people they trusted for help but up to that point they carried on with optimism. Too few people reached it easily and they didn’t judge, every life had pain to it and sometimes it was a heavy burden, which was all the more reason to try to cultivate some good there for those they cared about. 

“Of course not, I’ve never thought you lacking in it.” Alder smiled, at times it took looking deeper to find, yes, and overlooking some of the anger that burned bright in the dragon, but it would have been unfair to claim Vihaan was without such things. After all, the way he cared for his sister was more than proof enough there was a warmer heart buried deep, somewhere in a spot that pain had tangled up in wisps that made it difficult to reach. Vihaan had occasionally been short with in his anger even with them but never truly unkind. “You just have better reservations over these things than some of us, I make a fool of myself all the time for the sheer pleasure in it. Though I do have to admit frustration has been my vice of choice lately.” Humor at their own expense, yes, because less was certainly not an ideal they followed. Little right or wrong in either way though, was there? Only two different ways of handling what life demanded and what it gave. 

“It’s difficult to appreciate a feeling if it’s all you know, a double-edged sword I suppose.” They had to agree to a point, that the shallow well created from knowing only hardship or happiness made for a life that fell drastically short of what it should have been. “Swords are weapons, some people are determined to fight wars they don’t need to, or have forgotten how to stop fighting because they were never given the choice to until they were and by then it’s second nature.” The tragedy in life was that the troubles it brought could often fell all consuming, that was where the lines had to be drawn. “The scales don’t always tip kindly, or at all. But, eventually you have to tip them for yourself if that’s the case." 

There was a sideways glance towards Vihaan, wondering what was nipping at him and what thoughts had him so lost that day, but the dragon never gave simple answers and Alder never was able to say as little as they would with other people because conversations were so involved. "Whatever is on your mind today I know you can’t let it go but you will let me know how I can help, if I can?”

Most people didn’t take the time to study him long enough to catch all the tiny little hints that were buried in his behavior. That was the gift that was his anger, his weapon that managed to keep most away from want, away from the curiosity that was often sparked by those who were more inviting with themselves.

He could still name all his great loves on a single hand, remember just the way their mouths moved when they said his name - and they were special. They had been let in, let in deep enough to leave a wound - which every single one of them had, but he was probably better for the lesson. Granted, Vihaan didn’t see it that way. Instead, for each person that missed the chance that was his sentiment, there was another wall. By now, he’d become the best kept secret in this entire town.

It didn’t matter now though, there was a coldness that had seeped in, intending to drown him peacefully in it. The irony was probably in the fire that burned within, but not bright enough, not strong enough to thaw what had already frozen over. It was too late, in every foreboding sense of the phrase. After the last one, he was far past salvation and redemption.

“Some would say there is strength in the way you aren’t afraid of making a fool of yourself, of the way you find joy in things that often hurt first. They wouldn’t be wrong, either.” He pointed out with an observant tone, appreciating the way that Alder was still very willing to throw themself into the fire, to burn at the chance for love, be it romantic, platonic, or otherwise. Maybe not love, perhaps that was the wrong word. It was more like experience, but either way it was an admirable quality, one the dragon had long since lost.

“The scales will always favor my sister and I, but we all know that’s because we’re more than willing to destroy the ones that don’t.” It’s a fact, and he speaks it like such. He’s grown out of the old, dead habit of trying to make himself sound like less of a monster. It’s tiresome, and it doesn’t serve him. Maybe it’s the acceptance he’s gifted here, or maybe it’s just plain lack of reason to care anymore.

 Still a complicated subject for them, the blackout, much as they were hesitant to admit the twinge of guilt that came with knowing there might have been a way to gauge what would happen. The fact was, even more uncomfortable, was they hadn’t gotten any warning themselves. Too often those visions were always buzzing in the back of their skull, ignored more and more often, but something that large would have been impossible to shut out the static. 

“I thought, at first, that I was so determined not to make things worse that I avoided knowing it would happen but I don’t think there was any warning.” It was a confession that only at handful of people at most might have heard because Alder held no certainty in if it was because the darkness was stronger than their own visions or if that power was fading with lack of use. The later was a personal concern as lack of purpose meant an end of existence with it. “But in the end most everyone got through it as best they could.” Vihaan and Citali, no doubt, had been gripped with anxiety so Alder said nothing of sympathy for those who had found those days feeling more like freedom. 

“I can’t imagine being sentimental.” They pointed out with a chuckle; that didn’t sound like them at all, did it? What was the harm in such things though when they brought warmth and pleasant moments with them? “Perhaps it’s both, you may be right; there is something calming about the snow. I don’t remember holidays though, that human life is entirely lost and solitude after never made holidays appealing.” The words were not spoken with a sorrowed tone though, and it did tip into humor. “Clearly that’s a habit I should return to, plastic reindeer, pine trees and the lot of it." 

The question caused them to glance at Vihaan, no need to ask the same question to know how much the dragon struggled with that himself. "I rarely feel away from everything, and certainly never far from everyone, even out there. But peace is where you find it, my friend, and it’s different for everyone. Sometimes finding it requires a step outside of what a person knows and taking chances.” Alder had learned to accept that people had their own needs when it came to such things and no easy answer existed. “I wouldn’t say I don’t have frustration like anyone else though, worry, disappointment and all the rest of those emotional complications. I prefer it that way. I wouldn’t trade those moments, they have value too.”

He did laugh at the mere suggestion that Alder couldn’t imagine what it was like to be sentimental. They were far more capable of that than he was, at least outwardly. Vihaan’s sentiments were hidden, never to be seen over the high walls he’d built around them. They were weaknesses, after all. This he knew to be true because it was what his father had taught them, a lesson that had been beaten into the two siblings from as early as either one of them could remember. The memory, even now, had a certain ability to bring forth a wince - but he managed to deny it the satisfaction at the last minute. Instead, he took some kind of solace in the fact that the man would have said he and Citali were one another’s weaknesses.

Well, he would have said that, had they let him live. But, that story was currently  million miles away. Instead, he reached up to allow fingers to play idly across the ring that was around his neck - the one piece of jewelry that was given consistency in his wardrobe. “It’s not that I don’t have sentiment, It’s just rather selective. It’s wasted when you are handing it out to everything, didn’t someone say that less was more?” There was an almost playful grin offered to the other, shaking his head as that hand moved. 

“I still hold out some vague hope that you don’t spend most of your time here, one day I might actually be right.” Alder countered with a mild chuckle to accompany the words, knowing full well how much Vihaan devoted so much time to that singular focus. In part that came from wanting to make sure he knew first everything that was going on around town, both of the siblings had far too much invested to let much slip and Alder thought that to be one of the driving factors to their focus just a little less than the actual well being of the town. Reasons aside though things were accomplished and Alder couldn’t really judge motives, nor did they care to. 

Again, they found themselves trying to twist the negative around while Vihaan chased it, even in jest. “It’s not a bad habit, exactly, you do plenty of good with it. But a break now and then won’t leave the town falling apart.” The smile had returned, subtle that time around, perhaps sparked by the allure of the world outside those doors as they shouldered one open and that first step was met with a few blinks to clear the sunlight from sensitive eyes. 

No direction in mind, it often seemed their steps turned by some automatic pull towards the gardens. Something about the world outside had always held an appeal, the hum of life to it perhaps, free of walls that at times felt too confining. It was absolutely a day to put that aside and indulge wandering, soaking in the summer before it stretched into the crispness of the coming autumn. 

“Do you miss snow? It sounds odd, I know, to say that but I think that’s one of the things I’ve missed the past few years.” Alder was careful with idle conversation, never knowing if their words might turn against them later on, but something had to counter Vihaan’s silence and it felt like a small risk for his sake. “Now that I’ve said that if we have some random blizzard I’ll refrain from talking for a few weeks.” They couldn’t help the joke, one that would be understood only in the presence of a few like the dragon who knew how those stranger powers worked. “It’s just the experience more than anything, it’s a peaceful feeling; something we could all use more of.” The words trailed away, strange as they were in that hot afternoon, they couldn’t unravel Vihaan’s troubles for him, could only listen if he wanted to offer them and if not fill in the empty spaces with something else.

Usually, Vihaan wasn’t one to be constrained within his office. His time in the council chambers only served to further irritate him, most days. People were full of stupid questions he didn’t want to answer, or petty problems he had no intention of solving. He hadn’t taken the position so that he could run around fixing every broken thing in this little town. No, instead he took the position because he and his sister answered to no one - and they needed the power.

“That’s a fair assumption until you remind them all about the blackout.” He didn’t hesitate to bring it up again, even though most people seemed content to dance around it, as if, if it weren’t mentioned perhaps it would promise to never happen again. Vihaan wasn’t foolish enough to believe that, and he’d already set a plan in motion to make sure that they were not powerless again - at least not the dragons. Regardless, it didn’t matter right then and there. He knew what Alder was trying to do, and he appreciated them all the more for it.

Then mention of snow managed to cause nose to wrinkle. Even being of the water, he’d never been a fan of that kind of cold. Maybe it was because of the way everything turned to ice, or maybe it was because it reminded him of a past with his father he was still trying to forget. Whatever the reason, that was definitely not weather he missed, not at all.

“I was never fond of the frozen tundra, but I think you’re sentimental about the way it clears out the streets, the silence when you step out in the middle of the night to blankets of it, and the aesthetic of being curled by the fire, or whatever it is they write all the Christmas songs about.” He’s Grinning now when he says it, laughing almost at the tail end before shaking his head again, shaking off the entire snow thing and instead focusing on them. It’s easier to deal with someone else’s shit sometimes, rather than your own.

Lincoln clenched his jaw, swallowing hard, and stood there silently for an extended moment. “I did what I thought I had to do.” He said softly, “I’m sorry that it pissed you off, and I’m sorry that it ruined… whatever there was there.” He stepped toward the door, offering a small shrug- there wasn’t much he could say. Vihaan was pissed- and he didn’t think that was something the dragon was going to get over, so arguing the point wasn’t worth it. “Dying for love wasn’t part of my plans. Sorry.” 

“If you think I would have let you die, then you really are dumber than I thought.” It was as close as he would get to the admission that he had, in fact, cared once. Perhaps the blood of his past sponsor spoke to that too, but it didn’t make a difference. Lincoln had showed his hand, and Vihaan never did learn forgiveness.

Alder was, apparently, a test to the will of several people and otherwise unaware of it, as it never really occurred to them that the friends they held close and found endearing found their presence to be a struggle against whatever determination they had over personal darkness. The irony in that was a humorous one, or would have been had they known, because the very design of their being was crafted in darkness, far from the light. They saw no reason to lament it though, nor to allow it to dampen who they were with what; choices were what it came down to. And for the people they knew, well, they had faith in them enough to not doubt choices even if the ones made might not have been the ones they would have. It was a matter of space, giving people their own and respecting that within that space dwelt both the good and the bad just as with anyone. 

That smile turned brighter with the acceptance of invitation, always a gamble to if the dragon would allow himself a little freedom, but that much settled Alder was already on to the task of distracting their friend from whatever woes Vihaan would only speak of when he decided to, if at all. 

“Just as well, dealing with too much runs anyone down.” Alder had respect for those on the council but also thought them a bit mad to throw themselves so deeply into such exhausting burdens. Admirable for the sake of others though, yes. That coupled with Vihaan’s personal weights to carry made those sympathies stir for the man. “You’ve been here all day, haven’t you?” Knowing the answer already, Alder was on the move, towards the first doorway offered; because the sun still shone and the air was still warm, and far fresher than in that stale place.

Vihaan had been working more often than not as of late, this much was true. He found it easier to pour himself into tasks that seemed truly meaningless compared to dwelling on his own situation. This was the first time he’d gone so long without speaking to his sibling, and it proved she really was his other half. The fact was one that made him ache, the first time he’d really felt the emptiness that had been left by the piece of him that was in her.

He wasn’t about to go sharing the details of that particular personal endeavor, though. That was a pain that he would carry on his own, as their family affairs had always been private. Some things you were only meant to share with one person, and Citali was it. She would always be it, even if they never got over this. However, his mind was pulled from the laments of his disaster, and instead focused on the moth.

“That’s a trick question.” He finally offered, the tug of a grin pulling at the corner of his mouth, like a child who had been caught with their hand directly in the cookie jar. Maybe he was a little too easy to read these days, or maybe he always had been when it came to Alder. They were far more perceptive than most, he would give them that. Perhaps that aided in his fascination, or his appreciation. Whatever it was, whatever those feelings he avoided were.

Link sighed, crossing his arms across his chest defensively, shifting on his feet again. He looked up toward the ceiling, then down to the floor, trying to avoid Vihaan. He wanted Vihaan to know how he felt, but it was hard to say it- hard to be honest with anyone. 

“When I got out of the hospital, shithead wasn’t at his house, and he’s not in jail, and you’re the only one in this town who has ever given a shit about me.” Lincoln said with a weak huff of a laugh, “Even if you don’t anymore. I just… yeah.” He sighed, “That’s what I came to say. Thanks. And again, I’m sorry. And I’ll go and try my best to leave you the fuck alone if that’s what you want.” 

Vihaan wasn’t going to confirm or deny what it was he was being thanked for. Instead there was just a firm nod given, understanding...acceptance. It was hard to tell, really. The dragon had never been easy to read, that much was for sure. He made no apologies for it, either. There had once been a time where he would have said the same thing for the one in front of him, maybe even vouched for him, but all that went out the window once he was betrayed. 

“I think people are, mostly, able to save themselves, with the occasional reminder.” It was only a hint of humor, as it was also true; there was little substitute for what a person could do standing on their own two feet. Very rarely did people need more than just some encouragement. “Though I would argue that I hardly think deserving it is really an issue.” Something seemingly a popular opinion among their friends; that quick leap to be so judgmental of themselves. It was always the ones with the most on their shoulders though so it was forgivable; never easy to see the good with that much weight to carry. Some, like Vihaan, continued on regardless of the burden and that was admirable, even if it wasn’t always done gracefully. 

Still, anger that had a place, it granted some strength even if it wasn’t the sort that Alder themselves depended on but couldn’t fault anyone for it, so long as it didn’t carry too far. Too eager to see the good, perhaps, but it was a conviction that never failed them. Led to trouble on occasion? Yes, but people were worth trouble now and again. 

“You need a break, my friend, and I really don’t mind being an excuse.” They chuckled and took a step back in that effort to urge Vihaan away from that spot, sometimes just stepping away in the physical sense could help shake off frustrations. 

Listening to them talk was a stark reminder of the hope that he’d lost the minute that he’d gotten news that his own light had finally burned out. It was that same sort of optimism that carried through with them, the contrast had always been something that Vihaan appreciated. He knew now that it wasn’t something he could have, hold. It wasn’t palpable anymore, but it was there to be admired. Like one of the greatest masterpieces - walking, talking works of art. Alder was no different.

He was amused by the light undertone to the humor though, it was easy despite the fact that everything else had been entirely too hard lately. He finally reached out for the glasses that had been abandoned on the desk in front of him in his all too predictable fit of rage, and placed them back on his face. It was habit by now, not that he really needed them. Maybe some part of his subconscious said that they were homage to his sister.

Lincoln raised an eyebrow as the other spoke, the smile that’d crossed his features dropping at the other’s words, “It takes a little more than a couple harsh words to make me cry, Vihaan.” He said, standing up straight and pulling his hands back to himself- he was confident, not stupid. 

He shifted on his feet, his shoulders dropping a little, “Listen… I…” Link sighed, eyes dropping from Vihaan to his boots, and then lifting back to Vihaan. “I just… I know you’re pissed at me, and I just wanted to uh… Ah, shit.” He chewed on his lip for a moment, “I just wanted to say I’m sorry and also thanks.”

It might not have been that easy to make him cry when it came to strangers, but that was one thing they very much were not. Now, this fact was unfortunate to Vihaan after what had happened between the pair, but that didn’t make much of a difference now. As far as he was concerned, the minute he’d made that decision without even so much as a whisper to the dragon, Link had successfully sealed his own fate. On his petty days, he believed the other was dealt the hand he had gotten as a sort of cosmic payback. 

More often than not, she could handle their arguments. She could take his words with a grain of salt, but there was something in the way he was speaking to her now that rubbed her the wrong way. That brought out the obstinate side of her. The dragon reared its head, bristled under her skin. 

This was a situation she wasn’t the most proud of, but after spending days dissecting every possible move she could make, this was the best option - should the freak prove true to her word. And, as willing as she was to explain her actions - not while he was in this mood. Now while he made the demands he did in the tone he had. Citali’s stance straightened and her chin lifted higher.

“You sound like him.”

Maybe that’s what it was that caused the tension in her muscles - the way his words reminded her, all too much, of her youth. Of the way their father spoke. Her mouth opened once more, but instead of throwing out an insult, another comparison, it snapped closed and she turned to leave. 

Like him.

Rarely had they managed to have an argument that truly hurt. None of them had actually barred teeth when it came to the two of them. It was never too much, never unforgivable but the accusation had crossed that right off the bucket list. It was unfamiliar, the hurt that filled his chest. It was a wound that only she could create, after all. It felt almost like it was ripping whatever was left of his heart out again, but this time he surely wouldn’t live to see what happened after it was finally free of the cage of his chest.

He might have gasped under the weight of it all, but instead he watched her turn to walk away and he knew. He knew that this was not going to be an ordinary disagreement. The was a scar that had previously avoided him, one he never thought that he would actually have to wear. Now, it settled into his skin and he hated it. He wanted desperately to peel it back from his bones just to avoid feeling it, to avoid feeling like this.

A pause, refusing to watch her wander any further before he was doing the same. This time however, he was taking keys from the nearby stand. House key was removed with a surprisingly accurate precision, and left on the counter before he left.

On occasion Alder had seen most of the people they knew in less than..comfortable mental states, stress wore a person down over time and it was impossible to expect anyone not to feel the strain. Sometimes even the simplest things could tip the scales, sometimes it wasn’t simply one thing but a handful that combined together left raw nerves in their wake. Too close to the surface, it wore skin thin and tension would snap, one way or another most everyone hit a limit. It was just a way of trying to cope, venting, and while it was the way they preferred it wasn’t uncommon. Ultimately in most cases it was forgivable, rarely did the other person mean any real harm under all the frustration. They thought that still to be the case overhearing the conversation, not really listening to it except that the obvious gritted tone had gradually bled into Vihaan’s voice and that had snagged their focus.  

“Excuse me.” They offered a smile to gloss over the intrusion, giving the unfortunate soul trying to skirt back from the dragon’s mood a chance to escape before those words took on even more bite than they already had. As suspected there wasn’t a question asked, only a swift retreat that left the two of them standing there alone. 

Eyes turned back to Vihaan after the other had left, there was a hint of concern to the lift of their brow when they spoke, quietly so as not to draw more attention to the already tense state the dragon was in. “You looked like you needed a moment.” Something was clearly hitting a thin nerve with Vihaan but rather than ask they waited to see if it would be offered, sometimes people grew more tense with trying to explain and it was generally best not to press it, let them just catch their breath instead.

There were very few people in this world that could manage to calm him, or that he would agree to be calm for. The primary one would be his sister, but it seemed that Alder was a close second. They were one thing that deserved a little more temperance, a little more of a delicate touch than he was usually willing to give. This was probably why he had trained himself to stay away, to keep it at an arms length. The exception to the rule never ended well for him, they were often too pure to be tainted by his own baggage. 

That however, didn’t mean he didn’t feel some kind of odd kinship. Maybe that was the wrong word for it, because it meant a little bit more than most would have given to that particular one. It was the loss of the sponsor, the loss of his own fiancee, that had led him here. It was easy, really, when you had all the dots to connect. 

There was a pause, a long one, while he composed himself to the best of his ability. The malice had been washed from his face after a few solid tries, looking up at the moth. 

Lincoln had quietly stepped into the room as Vihaan was tearing into this person, and watched as they turned and bolted from the room. He stepped forward from the wall, eyes following the person until the door shut, before turning to Vihaan and offering a smile. 

“Wow. I think you actually made them cry, Vi. You are one mean fucker when you want to be, ain’t you?” He asked, stepping toward the other’s desk and dropping a hand onto it, leaning against it. “It’s been a while.”

Vihaan first looked to the hand that made itself welcomed on his desk, which it very much wasn’t. As a matter of fact, Link wasn’t even welcomed in his office. After he had made the decision to go find someone else to sponsor him, a terrible decision if there ever was one, he’d become all but dead to Vihaan. Now, that didn’t mean he didn’t deal with the problem of his previous sponsor in quite the..colorful way, but it meant something. There was a confused look on features, eyeing him for a second. 

The more they continued to speak, the more he was sure they were the embodiment of a walking, talking headache. The thought had been the only one occupying head space for what felt like forever. Eventually, what little patience that he possessed had run out. There was a moment pause, before hand snatched glasses off his face. The free hand rubbed at temples, only to come up short on composure anyway. 

“You’ll have to specify what it is, there are a lot of its that I’m working my way up to with Rune. He’s wonderfully infuriating in how he refuses to acknowledge my dramatics and has to be logical about these things.” Jaxon rolled his eyes skyward with the words, knowing that was one of those better and worse things when it came to his husband. Rune kept him grounded but Jaxon, being who he was, sometimes took it as some personal offense that his excessive reactions were tempered by Rune’s steadiness. Some moments he preferred to vent simply to be doing it, too much energy and too much emotional behind it. “I have no idea why anyone tries to use any sort of logic around me at all." 

Jaxon knew those motions, even if Vihaan reached more out of subconscious reflex than he did outright thought over it, that chain he wore like a noose around his neck for all that it had strangled him with grief over time. It was not a pain he liked to see his friend suffer but maybe the dragon was a better person than himself for hanging on so tightly to memory, Jaxon had tried to gather his life back up after he thought Rune was dead but it had been a good decades in happening, Vihaan’s wounds were still so fresh. Of course that was not the conversation either of them wanted to have, but if it was the one Vihaan needed to have Jaxon was going to shut up and let him do so. 

"Life’s a bitch that way.” He agreed while reaching for his own drink, not quite ready to get as drunk as the night would lead to but at least it was worth getting a start on. “Even when it is good there’s something lurking around trying to drive you crazy. It’s fine, man, talk, don’t talk, however you want to handle it you know I’m going to be passed out on your couch in the morning so you’ve got all night.” Assuming of course that Citali wasn’t in a mood and kicked him out, one never really knew with her and Jaxon’s attempts to befriend her had been rather hit or miss too often.

The suggestion that he throw his problems out for Vihaan to get a look over wasn’t one Jaxon wanted to indulge. Generally he was perfectly happy to rant about what was wrong in his world at any time but his concern had tipped and that axis had centered on the dragon, not as often did he see his friend that deep into misery so that was the most important problem to tackle. But apparently show and tell it was, if that was what it took to ease the walls down where Vihaan would be comfortable. 

“I’m still a wreck, you know how fucked up it was for me to not have any of my powers and it scared me enough that I’m still not good. Paranoia is currently eating me alive and it’s great, really, putting a real damper on any plans I have to talk to Rune about anything serious that we need to discuss.” The drink was lifted and the burn of alcohol brief, a sidebar to the words.  "You know, like all the things he’s going to be pissed off about, I’m sure.“

He didn’t blame any one person or thing for what had happened but he sure as hell would have liked to known why it had. "I didn’t come around to bother you since I figured you and Citali were already dealing with enough stress yourself. But it is giving me a healthy appreciation for how much this whole…darkness thing might actually screw us all over it that’s what caused it.”

“We weren’t taking guests.”  That was a lie considering his sister had somehow thought it was a good idea to sleep with whatever rescue had been hanging around their house, the one that remained faceless but certainly not nameless. His sisters business was just that though, and he wasn’t going to be telling any of that to Jaxon, regardless of how deep their friendship may or may not have ran. There was a pause as he listened to the way the other seemed to unravel so easily, comforted by the way that all three of them had suffered - his misery was typical in that sense, if did love the company. 

“If we’ve managed to live this long, I highly doubt something all of a sudden just decided to roll through and kill everything. There has to be a purpose, and while I intend to find out what that is, I wasn’t fond of the feeling of being robbed, either, for what it’s worth.”  He admitted with a shrug of his shoulders, more comfortable with this part of the conversation instead of the jagged edges of his own emotions. He’d much rather deal with something that had far less teeth, and didn’t require him trying to sow up his own old scars. 

“Maybe it’s God finally come to smite all the sinners or his homeboy Jesus.”  He mused, sarcasm dipping from the words for a moment before laughter broke free of lips. Clearly, the dragon didn’t much care about what the reason was, or who it was - all he needed to know was how to make it stop. It didn’t matter if he had to personally slaughter every last angel in the sky, it would be done. But that was left for another sunny day, and instead he rolled his shoulders, stretching out a little bit.

There would never be a word uttered between them that would ever cause the demise of what they were - of the bond that held them so close. Arguments came and went, rather frequently actually. They were still siblings, after all. She took little of what he said seriously, most days, and had zero issues with being his verbal punching back when. Neither one of them had healthy ways of expressing emotion. 

That didn’t mean, however, that she had to enjoy the way he opted to speak to her during these moments. Eyes wide, a hand lifted, that single finger held between them as her first statement. Whether asking for a moment, or telling him to shush - it was a mix of the two. “One, don’t fucking yell at me like that again.” the hand lowered and came to rest against her hip. “I had no choice.”

To be quite honest, he didn’t give a single fuck - not even half of a fuck, about how she wanted to be talked to in that moment. They weren’t the kind of people that spared feelings, that catered to the niceties of the world around them, but that was one of the things that made them great. He could have told her that she was the biggest cunt this side of the Mississippi and it would, could never change the fact that there wasn’t a single person on the planet that he respected more than her. Eyes rolled, hand waving her raised finger away, right along with the protest.

“Oh, this is hardly yelling.” A reminder, and she knew that he was right. This was nothing compared the volume of some of their more memorable disagreements, and that was the lightest label they would have ever be gifted. The suggestion that she had no choice intrigued him, clearly picking up on the implication. Rarely did anyone manage to play a card that would have backed either party into a corner - they made sure of that much.