Chapter Text
What exactly is the end
It was a very delicate dance Johan constantly performed. Weighing and measuring the risk of each and every one of these 'unknown variable' in his sister's life. Acquaintances, friends, lovers: at any given moment any one of these variables could so easily point Nina down a path she had absolutely no business traveling. So-while he pulled all the strings in the shadows-on the surface, Johan continued to play the role of the loving, somewhat overprotective big brother. Merely observing. Watching from a distance. Not interfering at all-on the surface.
On rare occasions, such as this morning-he would influence these different variables in her life, when needed. Like gently nudging a pawn into position along a chess board, Johan hoped that this little 'visit' with Bastian would play in his favor. He knew that the further down this dark hole he drug the poor man, the more likely it would be for Johan to be able to use him in the future. The more lines Johan was able to convince Bastian to blur-or, better yet, cross-the better. It had been easy, really, to rely on Bastian to say nothing to his sister. But keeping secrets-that was the easy part. Johan knew that better than anyone. The more-delicate-part of the process would come next. Down the road. When Johan would need Bastian to do more than just nothing.
Yet, in spite of how charismatic and motivating he could make himself, there were still times where the situation became so precarious that it required more-violent-intervention. And-in the worst cases, like the Fortners-he'd simply remove the variable from his sister's life all together. But Johan always made sure to take great care in allowing Nina some autonomy within her interpersonal relationships.
It was a risk, to be sure. But it was a calculated one. And it was also necessary if Johan wanted to avoid arousing his sister's suspicion.
As the tension between the table seemed to die down with Johan's play at humor, he heard the man across from him breath a sigh-of relief, he suspected-before Bastian's voice came a small, soft whisper.
“So-” He uttered quietly into the silence between them. “what now..?” Johan hummed at this with a serene, contemplative glance to his tea.
“I'll be leaving Düsseldorf this afternoon.” Johan softly uttered as he gazed at his own reflection.
“You're leaving? Already?” Johan gave a little smirk towards this question.
'Don't sound too happy about that, Bastian' he silently thought to himself.
“Yes.” Johan replied calmly. “My sister believes I'm going back to Munich for exams.” He said before those eyes lifted from his cup. “And I'd prefer that she keep believing this.”
“But-” Bastian slightly stammered underneath Johan's gaze with the furrow of his brows. “that's not where you're really going.” He said in a slow, dubious voice. “Is it.”
Clever...
Perhaps this man was just a bit smarter than Johan had first given him credit for.
And he was quite possibly a little too smart for his own good.
Only time would tell.
“...where are you really going, Johan..?” Johan sighed through the faint downturn of his lips.
“I found some people who might be able to help me help my sister.” He offered up this cryptic answer as he held the man's gaze, seeing that Bastian was obviously displeased by this response.
“You mean help you keep lying to her?” This came pointed and barbed in accusation.
Yes...
Bastian was very clever...
But it was becoming painfully obvious that he wasn't willing to do what was necessary to protect Nina. Truly protect her.
...not like Johan was...
Because Bastian was weak.
Easily bruised.
And soft.
Perhaps it was this softness, Johan mused to himself, that Nina found so appealing. What Johan saw as weakness was quite possibly what his sister needed in order to heal.
Warmth.
Light.
Tenderness.
Johan knew that he could never offer her any of these things. Not one. Because his love for her-it was a burning, all-consuming fire. And-just like the fire he was so fond of-Johan's love for his sister was just as destructive. And just as deadly-destined to reduce everything it touched to nothing more than ash.
“And you really think these people will be able to help Nina..?” This next question came far less accusatory and more filled with concern, and Johan sighed with the light twitch of his head.
“I don't know.” He admitted with the lowering of his eyes before his voice died to a hushed whisper that could barely be heard above the ambient noise of the cafe. “But-I fear-I'm running out of options.”
And, it was true.
After he'd gotten his hands on Nina's file and read it himself, he'd burned the Red Rose to the ground-and everyone with it. In hindsight-he really should have asked more questions before reducing the birthplace of his sister's monster to ash. But he'd been younger, then. Prone to be dramatic. Theatrical, even. And far more-impulsive. Now, he had much better control over this thing lurking inside of him.
Though he'd never quite learned how to curb his fondness for fire.
“The men who helped me previously are-” Johan paused. “no longer of any use in helping my sister.” He said as he silently contemplated how best to cut these ties and deal with these loose ends. “So I'll be busy looking into this next lead.”
It had become so tedious, Johan thought: burning one bridge while looking for another to cross.
But this, too, was necessary if he wanted to prevent his sister's memories from returning.
“So who exactly are these people you're going to be talking to?” Bastian asked, and a slow-creeping smile curved along Johan's lips.
“Oh, Bastian.” Johan purred through that devilish grin. “If I told you that, my dear,” He paused for effect, holding the man's gaze. “then I'm quite certain that I'd have to kill you.”
Johan watched as Bastian slowly slid his hands from the table onto his lap. His expression came strained with the pensive furrow of his brows as his lower lip tucked between his teeth. Soft brown eyes held that glacial gaze as Johan watched him mentally process how to address this statement. Johan could sense that a part of him wanting to rise to the occasion-like a man-and confront this threat head-on. Though, in the end, Bastian seemed to air on the side of caution as he attempted to brush away his own fear. It was almost admirable, really, the way that Bastian made himself brave.
“Is that suppose to scare me?” He asked in a caustic tone as Johan audibly chuckled with the shake of his head.
“Of course not.” Johan all-but-bat his eyes at the man across the table. “That was meant to be a joke.” He said through a pointed look. “But I'm being quite serious when I say that I am capable of doing absolutely anything for my sister.” He said in a grave tone with a look to match. “And that, Bastian,” Johan whispered. “is what should terrify you.”
Delicately placing both of his hands to the table, Johan rose from his seat and collected his sister's file from the table. It seemed that-for now-he would continue to carry this burden for her. Turning to leave the cafe, the quiet call of his name caused him to pause in his departure from the establishment.
“Johan-” Bastian softly murmured his name as Johan glanced over his shoulder to meet the man's gaze.
Bastian looked-conflicted. As if he were trying to make sense of something he simply couldn't comprehend. There was something-about Johan-that the man seemed to wanted to genuinely understand.
...Johan didn't like that...
Oh, he didn't like it at all.
And this monster inside of him liked it even less.
The thing in him didn't want to be seen or noticed-let alone understood.
“You said that you went through something similar-” Bastian said, his eyes swiftly darting to the file tucked in Johan's arms before lifting to his face with what seemed like a look of compassion. “like Nina.” And Johan gave the infinitesimal twitch of his head with the downturn of his lips.
“Not like her, no. Not exactly.” Johan admitted with the soft lowering of his voice. “I'm afraid I was spat back out from an even deeper circle of Hell than that.” From a darkness even greater still, he thought, though he kept this to himself.
Johan turned away without another word, and disappeared into the crowded street, leaving the man absolutely speechless.
THE END
...but, what exactly is the end..?
the end
the end
the end