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It begins as a small feeling at the back of his neck, where a scar he’d rather forget sits. It’s small, and he barely registers it as the piano plays nearby. As he walks through the long hallway, the music being played becomes louder. His feet feel numb, yet he is still moving forwards, the click of his shoes echoing through the hall. Inside of him, there is a feeling that he must know who is playing their piano, the one that sits collecting dust, untouched.
As he nears the door of the room the music stops. He uses their umbrella to open it, afraid of some kind of magic possessing the room. He enters slowly. As he does so, he spots a record player, the record inside still spinning around as though it’ll play another track. Before he can reach it and turn it off, a new song plays.
It begins with a “Fuck!”, a clattering and a slight loss of consciousness. A tingling feeling at the same scar drives him into a distant place. He’s still aware that he is here, though. He is aware people are moving. He is aware he doesn’t feel whole . He’s aware of the split and who he is.
“Aesop, hey.” He can hear someone say, less distant than before. He’s vaguely aware that they’re addressing him, but it’s been so long since someone had said his name. It’s been so long since he heard those songs, so long since he had a desire to vomit at the idea of a song that somehow held so many worse feelings than the tune portrayed.
“I think he’s a little far away right now, Fan.” He can hear a familiar, comforting voice say. He’s aware of a tingling sensation in his head and the warmth surrounding him. Aesop blinks a lot more rapidly, coming back to himself and looking up at the two people he needs the most. The colour (although sparse) comes back to his face and he reaches up to place a hand on Fan’s face, the other hand moving to hold Xie’s.
“Hello, Fan.” He says, his thumb rubbing along the others jaw. Fan’s eyes close and he leans into the hand, his facial features softening. You can visibly see the stress easing from his shoulders as he registers that Aesop is okay and alive.
“Are you okay, my dear?” Aesop hears another voice say. He’s still shaking and distantly, he can register a dull pain from his head. He removes his hand from Fan’s face, turning to look at Xie.
“Not really.” He shudders with a slight laugh. It’s obviously painful for him, the other two realise. Fan shifts from underneath Aesop as Xie lifts him up in his arms. As they leave, Fan grabs their umbrella.
Aesop, without realising, starts to cry. He clings to Xie’s chest, letting out pained sobs and shudders. “I think he needs to have some time like this.” Xie says quietly, directed towards Fan. The other nods, stepping forward to open their bedroom door for the other.
They step into the room and immediately feel welcomed by the scent of clean linen and lemongrass. Aesop is still shuddering as Xie lowers him onto the bed and as soon as his body makes contact with the bed and loses contact with Xie, he whines and huddles in on himself. Fan looks at Aesop with sorrowful eyes, carefully crawling towards him and opening his arms. Aesop accepts this immediately, curling as much as he can into the other. Fan looks at him with love in his eyes, pressing his mouth to the others forehead and whispering comfort.
Xie drapes a blanket over the others' shoulders, moving to close the curtains and light a candle. He passes the vanity, eyeing the items which sit there. He picks up the hairbrush, having a strong feeling that it would be needed. As he settles on the other side of Aesop, Xie notices the other has calmed down a lot more.
“He can’t hurt you anymore.” Xie whispers, his hand coming up to stroke the others hair. He nods. They shift, so that Aesop’s head lays in Xie’s lap and Fan is laying facing him. They stay like that for quite a while, the only sounds being their breathing as they bask in the others’ company.
Aesop turns so he can look up at Xie for a moment. “Can... can you braid my hair..?” He asks, his voice soft and timid. Xie nods, and Aesop turns back over towards Fan, who smiles slightly at him. It gives Aesop a warm feeling, the kind of feeling that reminds him that he’s loved here.
He closes his eyes as Xie’s hand comes into contact with his hair, his breath evening out further as he calms down. He doesn’t need to worry about a dead man anymore, he has his partners and The Guide, he has strength and love.
Xie is careful while braiding Aesop’s hair, knowing the other had many scars relating to his head. He places the hair one over the other, three pieces continuously crossing and weaving. He feels calmed by the task, a repetitive thing he can do for comfort.
“I think we should get rid of the piano.” Fan whispers, watching the others in front of him. Aesop’s eyes fly open, his features laced with worry.
“No, it’s important to you both, you can’t do that.” He says, his pitch higher than normal. Fan shushes him, reaching forward to stroke his cheek.
“Not as important as your comfort. I can see how you avoid that hall like the plague, it’s obvious that you don’t like it.” Fan replies. “We can sacrifice something like meaning for you. Love means much more to both of us.” Aesop nods, knowing that he can’t change the others mind.
Xie ties off the braid in Aesop’s hair. “Your hair has grown long.” He muses, shifting Aesop so he can lie down with the others. Aesop yawns and nods.
“The Guide doesn’t cut their hair and it probably affects me, since my hair was shorter.” His voice is very soft, and his facial features are smoothing out. Fan places his hand on Aesop’s hip, Xie placing his on top of Fan’s.
“I think The Guide likes you with long hair, too.” Fan teases. His voice is so drowsy with sleep that it isn’t really teasing, though. It’s much more loving than he likely meant for it to be. Xie laughs quietly, then leans forward to give Aesop a kiss on the scar that surrounds his neck.
“Goodnight, Aesop.”