Rin was being shoved against the wall, a crazed look in his eyes and his breathing ragged. Their step father had an arm shoved firmly against Rin's chest, almost too high. Almost choking him. His twin fought back at first, but learned that there was no escaping that hold. Not on his own. Never on his own. But Rin was alone during his episodes.
He was always alone yet not alone at the same time.
"Ye done havin' a five year old tantrum, boy?" Their step father spat.
Silence. Rin never responded. Not anymore. At first he'd scream and shout about the 'shadows' behind them. Or the 'things' about to choke their mother. He'd fight them. But all anyone else ever saw were fits of rage and breaking things.
Except for Lex. He knew. He saw. But he tried not to. He tried to encourage his brother to keep those things to himself. Or else their step father would snap.
Like he was now.
The twins hated the man. They only put up with him for their mother. Their real father was no where to be found. He cut all contact off with them.
"Did ya hear me, BOY?!" His step father shoved Rin against the wall again. Lex was reminded of some of the larger shadows he'd seen before. Like the shadows that lurked just out of the corner of his eye. Rin saw them too. And knew Lex could see them. He slid a look to his twin, a silent plea. Lex just shifted his weight to the other foot, eyes hooded.
--------------
I was a fool.
Always a fool.
Even at a young age, watching my brother suffer and my parents no longer able to stand one another.
Maybe...maybe if I'd stepped up sooner. Or taken more of a stance to support my brother, things wouldn't have gone as they had? But then...if I'd done that...would I have become the man I was now?
--------------
Another episode.
Again.
This one was bad.
Rin had been having a rough time lately. He wasn't sleeping much and refused to sleep unless his twin was there too. Never alone. Rin never wanted to be alone. And Lex had seen the way the shadows were drawn to him. The way the lurked in areas that shadows should not be. But today, today was one of the worse spouts of freak out from Rin. Maybe it was his lack of sleep. Or he'd just had enough of being so submissive. Or was fed up with being shoved into walls.
He fought back this time. Got a good hit on their step father, as the stupid man didn't expect him to react. And, like all the other times, Lex just stood there. Watching helplessly as their step father lost his temper and hit Rin back. But he wasn't helpless. Never had been. And for too long he'd stood quietly while his twin fought alone.
But not this time.
Lex ripped his step father away from his twin, shoving him back against a wall. The man was fairly large, but Lex was no pushover either. And he'd caught him off guard. He leveled a dark gaze on his step father.
"Don't you dare touch my brother again." He hissed out, hands clenched.
"Lex...." Rin whispered from behind him.
"And don't you ever accuse him of being a liar!" He stood tall and proud, glowering eye to eye with with his step father. "I see them too. And I'm not crazy, as you've kindly said so many times to my twin."
He was done hiding. Done leaving Rin to stand alone. He would stand right by his side from now on....
--------------
My brother. My twin. My other half. I let you down. I should have been a better twin. Should have been the man you saw clearly in your eyes. The one that I denied for so long. Too many years I wasted trying to find my head. Realizing what a fool I was. I tried, dear Rin. When I finally found a part of what you saw in me, I tried. Tried to support you. Tried to find a way to help you. Defended you when I could. But it was too late, wasn't it?
I knew the truth. Always had. But the rational part of my mind tried to deny what I knew.
The shadows whispered soft, sinister things to us when we were little. I heard them like the gentle beating of a moth's wings. However you, dear Rin. You heard the darker things they whispered. Saw them lurking just out of the corner of your eye. You tried to warn us. Tried to warn me. But I didn't listen. Not really. And for that, brother mine, I am deeply and forever sorry. I hope...from the bottom of my heart, that you can one day forgive me. Be it in some world between places. Or in another life.
..............
Was it enough...?
Strange. This creature. Large with flames and bones surrounding it. A canine of sorts? What are you? Should I know you? Why aren't I afraid...?
Was it enough?
Was what enough? I don't...don't understand...I feel so blank. There is something missing. Something important. I can feel it. Just out of my reach. I can't seem to reach this creature either.
But was what enough?
....my life? My goals? Who was I? What did I do? There is something there. Just...there...
Hunter. Yes. That's who I am. Was. Forever will be. I kept my promise, didn't I? Battled the nightmares that stole you, my twin, my other half, from me. I was given the chance to fight, as you did for so long. Alone and scared. Going out of your mind. It was you, brother mine, that showed me the way to be who I am. Was... I am a Hunter. I did what I could to make up for all that lost time. For everything I didn't do before. I stopped pretending. I grew up. And...and I was given a second chance. Was it you, brother mine? Perhaps. But I couldn't save him either....and Becca. Dear Becca...
Was it enough, my Lexington?
Mordy. Or what must have been Mordy at one time. The almost transparent form of the hellhound sits beside me. Like a faithful hound at his masters side. I couldn't help the small smile from forming. Or from reaching out to run my fingers through the coarse fur. Was it enough? Yes...yes it truly was. I was given a second chance to have family. To have people I cared for. Becca and Cody. I met them and found that part of me again that I though lost for good when Rin was taken from me. And I found the courage to face what I denied for so long. I have done what I can. Been the best I could.
I am proud of you, Lexington. My Lexington. The hellhound whispers, head nuzzling against my side as his pulsing light begins to fade...
I was all I could ever be.
Be proud of me, brother mine ~
-----------------------------------------
No. Becca. Cody...
NO!
"Brother!" He tried. It was pointless. And too late. Just like then...too late to help his twin. Too late to save Cody too. But he still tried. With all that he had left in him.
A howl. Long and low filled his mind. It was the last thing he heard. The only thing he could focus on...
Then...
....nothing but the sound of a glaive clattering to the ground. Flickering... And dying.
