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Itzal was in the north for what was likely to be both his first and last time. Sure, he'd wandered into neutral territory, but he'd definitely never strayed this far north before. If it hadn't been for that bird Azrien insisting that he knew where his long-lost brother was, he wouldn't have come. But the punky stallion had given not only the correct name of his brother but also a description that matched what he remembered of the twin he'd once been very close to. He held his steady pace, eventually stopping atop a hill to rest. His gaze went to the direction he was headed in, watching a young colt run around while his family watched. If things hadn't turned out the way they did, he could've been like that. Playful. Carefree. But that was something he'd never be. He would always be emotionally frozen, empty.

He didn't mean to, but the pleasant weather lulled him into a light doze. While he was sleeping, the colt spotted him and ran up the hill to inspect his find. Then he rushed back down, heading to his sister. "Hey, Lyn. Guess what?" Although Plouton Kronos appeared composed, his eyes were alight. "I found a stallion that looks like Dad."

"I'm not making it up!" Plouton insisted, nodding to his mother's question. When his grandmother addressed his father, he turned to face him. "He looked like Dad. Honest! He was red and had swirly marks and two of them made a little heart."

Haides had been all but dozing when his son's description reached his ears. His eyes immediately opened, the stallion slowly pulling himself to his feet. He didn't respond to Serenity's question; he silently moved towards the hill. Plouton, giving his sister a satisfied smile, trotted after him. He had a spring in his step as he followed his father up the hill. He blinked when his father simply laid down so that he was back-to-back with the red stallion. Unsure of what else to do, he just sat there and watched.

A back pressed to his. A familiar feeling, a familiar connection. "... So you really are here." A quiet huff. His companion was amused. "I should be saying that to you. How'd you know where to find me?" Itzal's expression didn't change in the least, but, to the shadowy stallion that had joined him, it wouldn't matter. "A little bird told me. A little, obnoxious bird." Haides opened his eyes and smiled. "Punk then. He still owes me a visit..."

Itzal opened his eyes as well, getting to his feet at the same time as his twin. His gaze fell on the little colt he'd been watching earlier. "... He looks like you." Haides cracked a smile. "Of course he does. Itzal, this is my son, Plouton Kronos. Plue, this is your uncle Itzal." Plouton beamed when he was introduced. "Hi, Uncle Itzal." The red stallion stared for a moment. "I'm an uncle. ...Huh." He inspected the colt for a moment more before turning to his brother. "He may look like you, but he definitely has Mother's personality." As Haides wordlessly started back down the hill, Itzal followed him. However, he stopped several feet away from the mares at the bottom, refusing to move any farther forward even when Haides did so.

"Itzal, this is my adopted mother, Serenity; my mate, Jaromila; and my daughter, Jeralyn. Mom, Mila, Lyn, this is my twin brother, Itzal." Itzal was glad his brother did the introductions; he would've surely botched them if he'd tried. He dipped his head in greeting. "It is nice to meet you." Despite his sincerity, he couldn't force any emotions into his words. Feelings, after all, were hard to create when they were all sleeping or dead.

So Haides had found a family here. His brother had been fortunate. Much more fortunate than Itzal had been. Good. At least one of them had been spared a life in living hell.

Despite the offer, Itzal stayed where he was. The daughter was so like him it was a little worrying. Jaromila was similar to their mother; he could see why Haides was drawn to her. And Serenity... she was so bright that it was almost painful. "... I cannot." No. He wouldn't take a single step more. The collective emotions would crush him. The stallion's gaze met his brother's for a mere second, but that was all that was necessary. "Lyn, why don't you play with Plue for a bit?" Good. The children shouldn't hear the types of things that were likely to come from Itzal's mouth. Those two were innocent; he didn't want to taint them the same way he was as a foal.

Plouton nodded and bounced after his sister, oblivious to the serious aura that hung in the air.

Haides glanced at his brother, who simply shook his head. "It's fine," he replied to his mother's question before turning his attention to his twin. "... You should've told me earlier."

"I wanted to see your world once before I went back to mine." Itzal's empty blue gaze shifted to Jaromila and Serenity. "I should leave before I cause any damage." He wouldn't let himself be the cause of anguish in his brother's life.

Itzal addressed the question first. "I know myself and my parentage too well to believe otherwise. That, and I was trained to kill northerners early in life." His eyes glided over to Serenity. "I'm well aware of the Six's conquests, Miss Serenity. My foster parents enjoyed bragging about southern successes." Then he went back to Jaromila's question. "My emotional state is... fragile. Although I have ways of dealing with it, none of them are capable of being maintained in such a... colorful environment. ... I also have no verbal filter. I'd rather not corrupt your children with my morbid thoughts."

"The choices I have made have preserved my sanity despite the fact that I spent half of my life being raised by two of the psychotics that murdered my mother and stole me from my siblings. I unfortunately also inherited our biological father's unpleasant temper." Though that was an understatement. The comment about paths made his gaze meet his brother's. "... No. He would've found his way again."

Itzal turned back to Serenity. "That is why they were sent away. I cannot talk in front of them because I do not know what is appropriate or inappropriate to say in front of them." People to talk to. That was the last thing he needed. How naive these mares were. "That mentality... is why I can't stay here. My emotions are in stasis. It is a sort of... emotional hibernation, which gives me my current, semi-apathetic state of mind. If that hibernation is broken, the likelihood of sanity being retained is less than a percent."

"In other words, he believes that if he attempts regaining his emotions, he'll end up being overstimulated and going psychotic," Haides summarized. There was definitely very little emotion behind those blue eyes; there was just enough to differentiate between him and a corpse. Yes, Haides was concerned, but Itzal was his twin; he knew better than anyone how stubborn their family could be.

Itzal shrugged, apparently not bothered by Jaromila's comment. "That is because you are not me." He didn't expect her to understand. From the concern in his eyes, however, Haides did. Turning back to his brother's mate, he addressed the second comment. "That's why I don't plan on letting them wake up."

"Of course I am. He's my brother." Haides went quiet, watching his brother for several moments. "Getting through to him would be easy," he finally replied. "Surviving it would be hell." He had no doubt about that. The stallion had no difficulty seeing the cataclysmic possibility that Itzal saw in himself. "But you don't have to whisper." His gentle gaze fell to his mother. "He knows what you're asking."

Itzal closed his eyes, his mind slowly sifting through the possible replies he could make. He wanted one that could accurately portray his situation to this northern mare who knew little--if not nothing--of his past. "... If living in a monochrome world is the price for preserving his happiness, then that is the price I will pay."

Haides leaned down and gently wiped the tears away from his mother's eyes. "... I'd like to meet them." He didn't know what else to give besides that implied hope that they were still alive and well. His gaze went back to his brother. "At his core... he's the same as when he was taken," he said softly. "Stuck halfway between safety and me." The foal that had followed but feared. "He followed me away from our mother, but stopped when he realized where I was headed." His father. The terrifying, relentless demon of a stallion that had single-handedly defended them from harm. The defeated beast whose life was slipping away...

Itzal fidgeted when he saw his twin wiping away Serenity's tears, averting his gaze. Emotion practically radiated off the pair; it was uncomfortable.