Work Text:
It was getting late that night, but BB was still out there. He’d been waiting for his brother to come join him, but this one had been held back by something, and had warned him that he’d be late.
Of course, Michael always loved the night, even if the ghosts weren’t always making it easy for him, it was still a moment he enjoyed, and wasn’t about to go do something else while he waited, instead deciding to just enjoy the fresh air, at their meeting point.
It’s strange, he thought, I haven’t seen any ghost for a while… Something doesn’t feel right.
Indeed, he usually always saw ghosts, if not coming to talk to him, passing by him, doing their own things, but, right now, there was nothing.
The air was starting to get heavier as he realized it, his chest starting to feel tighter with a rising anxiety.
He should be here soon… He tried to reassure himself, looking at the message that his brother had sent to him a few minutes ago, saying that he was on his way. Just a few more minutes…
He tried to keep his anxiety low as he continued to wait, starting to pace around, as he couldn’t just stand in place peacefully anymore.
Then, suddenly, he felt a presence approaching, but just the one of someone passing by, or his brother arriving, or, heck, even ghosts, it seemed malicious, and he could feel it.
He barely had the time to dodge out of the way as a masked man tried to stab him. Michael, although he knew the dangers of being a bounty haunter, was so shocked by the sudden attack that he couldn’t do much when this one tried to attack him again, only managing to step back slightly.
Thankfully for BB, as he was about to be hit, a familiar figure ran up to them and punched the man in the face, pushing him away from him, as Michael fell to the ground, having been pushed out of the way by him as he was being saved.
The masked man looked hesitant at first, as he got back to his feet. He seemed to be examining the situation, as the tall figure stood in between him and Michael, glaring at him with an obvious disgust and hatred.
It seemed like it was enough to dissuade the guy to persist, only managing to make him turn around and flee.
“OB?” Michael let out, still under shock.
The older brother hesitated a moment, still not looking back at his brother, as he watched the criminal fleeing. He wanted to catch that guy and make him pay for trying to hurt his sibling, but, he knew that he couldn’t leave this one alone after that, not with his health problems.
“You okay, bro?” OB eventually asked, as he turned around to help his brother back up to his feet. “Did you get hurt?” He examined him quickly, not saying anything about how pale, and how shaky Michael was, yet.
Michael nodded silently to that, still much too shocked to really realize what had happened.
“Let’s get you home.” Older Bro announced, starting to lead him on the way back to their house, well intent in keeping his brother close to him, instead of letting him go back to his own apartment, alone.
OB kept a good eye on Michael as they walked home, this one still unresponsive, following silently. He hated how this one looked, so pale and shaky. He could feel that something wasn’t going to go right with him, but he couldn’t do anything about it yet, as he wasn’t used to taking care of his little brother’s health problems, never really having had the chance, or should he say, misfortune, to see him in those moments.
After a while of walking, they finally made it home, where Older Bro immediately forced BB to sit down on the couch. He proceeded to check up on him, making sure this one wasn’t actually hurt.
It didn’t take long, as OB was trying to find the medicine for Michael’s rising heartbeat, for BB’s heart to react to his anxiety.
OB’s blood ran cold as soon as he heard the sound of something heavy falling down in the next room, where his brother was. It didn’t take him to be a genius to know exactly what was happening.
Abandoning the search of the meds, he ran up to his brother’s side, his face becoming pale as he was met with the sight of this one, laying on the floor, clutching at his heart painfully.
“Michael!” OB screamed in shock, quickly going by his side, kneeling next to him as he check his pulse. “Shit, shit, shit!” He cursed as he didn’t like what he found.
Of course, he knew that this was probably coming, with how his brother was already reacting to the events of the night, but, seeing him having a heart attack, that was NOT what Older Bro wished.
He tried to stop himself from panicking as he quickly took out his phone and dialed the emergency number.
“Come on, bro! Don’t do this to me!” He cried as he waited for help to arrive, trying to apply all the steps that the operator was giving him.
It took much too long for his liking for the ambulance to arrive, but, once it did, things went much faster. BB was quickly taken care of, and sent to the hospital. There, OB was forced to wait in a waiting room until the doctor came back to announce that his brother was safe.
OB tried his best to keep it together the whole time, trying to stay calm and not break down while the doctor gave him the news, and led him to his brother’s side. This one was still unconscious, but he seemed less in pain, his heartbeat, showed on a monitor, much closer to normal than it was.
He waited anxiously next to his brother for him to wake up, knowing that it might take some time, but not willing to take his eyes off of him until he was sure he was really better.
Thankfully, BB woke up after a while, looking very weak, and confused, but alive, and responsive, this time.
OB couldn’t really contain himself more, then. He threw himself at his brother, taking him in his arms and hugging him close.
“Don’t you dare scare me like this ever again.” Older Bro scolded as he cried, holding his brother tightly.
“S- Sorry.” Michael’s shaking voice replied quietly as he returned the embrace.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” OB sighed after a long moment of holding his brother, pulling back slightly, while keeping a firm hold into his shoulders. “Do you have any idea how worried you had me?” He scolded lightly.
“I know…” Michael rubbed his own eyes. “I’m sorry…”
“Just, don’t scare me like that again. I don’t want to lose you, again.” OB mumbled, tears building back up in his eyes as he looked at his little brother.
“I won’t.” Michael tried to reassure, looking back at him with his teary eyes.
After that, OB let Michael rest, although this one asked him to lay next to him, so he could feel safe. OB wasn’t really the type to sleep with his siblings, he didn’t really like showing his emotions much to them either, but, it was a special case, and they both knew that he wanted it, needed it, as much as BB did.
They both fell asleep, holding onto each other in their sleep, reassured in each other’s presences.
When they’d wake up in the morning, they’d soon be joined by their two other siblings, Khole and Keith, that the doctor had called to tell them about what had happened to their brother in the night.
Poor Michael found himself overwhelmed again by all his siblings worrying about him, but he didn’t mind it much, he knew how much they cared for him, and it was reassuring that they were by his side, even if it wasn’t for the best reason.
No one would mention the brown feather found on the floor next to the bed when they woke up.