Chapter Text
Born only moments apart, two were a surprise. Preparation was made for the single child, but the twins left the staff and midwife scrambling. Hence why at some point in the process, and in the ensuing chaos as their mother began to struggle to recover from the difficult birth, no one noticed which of the boys had came first.
Although their first breaths were absolutely interchangeable. They were anything but as they began to develop personalities. Despite this, they were always together, wild in their own ways, but somehow orbiting their own world.
They taught themselves Elvish, a random academic interest that was particularly startling for the temperament of Benicio. But it became clear quickly it was another way for them to isolate themselves from the rest of the family, perhaps not intentionally, but none the less… they would wander the halls chattering in a language only a few in the castle knew. Benicio giving short answers to Lawrence’s excited banter.
They would get upset with one another, but it never seemed to be enough for them to be apart for more than a few hours.
As their teenage years began to change them into men, they became more and more abrasive to one another. But, they kept coming back, never really apologizing, but drifting back into their orbit. Benicio would be doing handstands in the corner while Lawrence explained some new concept he was reading about. No interest in what the other was doing, but together nonetheless.
-----
Portia was the first one to notice that their aggressive streaks were becoming more pronounced. Father’s attention was turned to the recent leaving of Lucius, and the building of that chapel off the courtyard.
So, when she caught them in the middle of a fist-fight, Benicio laughing wildly as his slightly more lanky brother tried to pummel him, she stomped up the grand staircase, tossing her slightly rain-damp cloak off her shoulders.
The twins had begun to fill out, and had some serious growth spurts over the summer. They were ropey and strong, Benicio only slightly taller and more muscular. However, their voices were still struggling to find their depth. So, the sight looked like two men locked in a fist fight, but their shouts were filled with cracking voices.
“What do you two think you’re doing!?” Her imperious shout made the scuffle pause for a moment, blood pouring out of Lawrence’s nose as he snarled, animalistically, up at Benicio who released one more blow before scrambling to his feet. “Hey, Port.”
Lawrence slapped a hand over his face, breathing heavily, and trying to pinch the blood flow closed. “How wath... your ride?”
“Don’t you try to pretend I didn’t see what I saw! What are you idiots doing?” She shoved the two as far apart as she could, even though her shorter height left her between the two towering fourteen year olds.
“He wath--” Lawrence adjusted his hold on his nose, trying to sound less stuffy. “--messing with my alchemy supplies. He mixed a bunch of ingredients, hard to find ones, I might add! And then-- and then--!” Holding out a finger in accusation, his face growing furious once again. “--he drank it!”
“I ralphed, like, all over. No regrets though. Could have been… uh… a cool potion or somethin’. I had to test it. I’m like a scient--”
Portia dodged the swing that Lawrence took, and managed to kick his feet out from under him before the blow landed. She swung herself around, fully prepared for her brother to turn his attention on her, if he had managed to catch himself. But, he fell to the ground, and released the grip on his nose, so blood began flowing down his shirt again.
“Damn, Port. That was… kinda cool.” Benny sounded very amused.
Lawrence rolled into a seated position on the hall’s red carpet and glared at his siblings. “I hate both of you, just so you know!”
Portia sighed, and crossed her arms, flipping her hair from over her shoulder. The white streaks that had appeared when her wolf first emerged catching her eye, it was still odd to see them from time to time. “Brother, you’re acting like a child. And you, Benicio--” Her haughty gaze went to the slightly burlier of the two. “--stay out of Larry’s stuff.”
Benicio looked angry for a moment, then his expression shifted to complacent. “Sure. His stuff is all boring anyway.”
“Just because you’re too stu--”
“ENOUGH!” Portia shouted, stomping her foot. “Father and Katerine have enough to think about without you two acting like roughians! Work it out!” She knew that it was just a matter of time before they would catch the attention of their guardians, but she could deal with it as best she could. After all, she was the most reliable of the children, and she had to do what she must to keep the peace.
-----
The explosion was audible from the courtyard, and Lawrence’s blood immediately ran cold. He stopped mounting up his horse, saddle only partially buckled over the startled and nervously clopping stallion. His eyes followed up the stone walls of the castle to the window where his lab was located, just as a gout of flame that blew through the window. “You absolute idiot!”
Releasing his hold on the horse, he began sprinting towards the door. There were screams echoing through the keep. Some came from the denizens of the household, shouting in fear, trying to track down where the booming sound came from. Then his ear caught one, not fear, but agony.
With all of his strength, he raced through the main entry way and towards the grand staircase.
Aunt Katerine was collapsed on the stairs, her old legs clearly have given out as she had been ascending and heard the shockingly loud sound. On her knees, clutching the stair-rail, she pointed to the smoke drifting from the hall down towards them. “It’s up there! Get the guards!” She caught his gaze as he ran past, and Lawrence felt a stab of shame at the fear in her eyes. She looked terrified in her own home. “Larry, get the guards! Don’t go up--”
But he was gone before he heard the rest of the statement.
A scent he didn’t recognize was mixed with one he did, burnt meat. Huffing through the thinning smoke, he dodged what used to be the door which now was just bits of wood scattered across the plush red carpet.
There was another ‘Pop!’ and a flash of flame somewhere in the smoke that clouded the room.
“Benny? Benny!?” Lawrence threw himself into the room, coughing as the room filled with another surge of smoke from whatever chemicals were mixing.
A breeze blasted through the window, forcing the smoke towards the ceiling for a moment, and he saw his twin pressed against the wall, holding his arms against his chest. Strips of purple-grey skin hung from burnt red and brown wounds.
“Get out! Get out!” Benny’s voice called, shrill as it broke due to pain or puberty. “Shi--”
Another, although smaller, explosion. Blindingly bright light stabbed through Lawrence’s eyes, and he darted into the room, scrambling to shield his brother. He managed a gasp of clean-enough air, “Benny, are you able to--?”
Something was beginning to hiss, like a build up of pressure. “One of the sealed vials must--”
The explosion bounced his head off the wall beside Benny as the force hit him. No heat or flame, but something slammed into the back of his skull. Everything was ringing for a second as he felt his feet stumble, being pulled towards the door. His vision cleared enough to see his twin was staggering from the room, bloody and seared arms wrapped around his waist half-carrying him.
Lawrence returned the hold, lending his own strength to the attempted escape.
Benny was letting out short gasps, his throat rasping in breaths in an odd pattern. “Almost out, bro.”
“I came to--” Lawrence began coughing, the smoke was burning his throat like an acid. Benny began doing the same, trying to make a response between trying to clear his throat , “I got--”
Katerine’s hulking wolf form was at the top of the stairs, and she darted forward, scooping them into her arms as she carried them away from the danger. Her wolf was wildly different from her human body, powerful and strong, even though the muzzle was white with age.
Benny began to let out cries of pain again, suddenly, as if he only just realized that his arms were dangling strips of charred and blistering flesh.