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The doorknob came tested before it gave way under the twist of the hand. As the door opened, a voice called into the silence of the apartment.
“Nina!” A young man's voice carried through the space of the small entrance as he crossed the threshold before closing the door behind him. “Nina! Are you home?” The young man called again as he began to comfortably navigate through the narrowed hallway that opened up into the warm, inviting space of the main living area. “Hello?!”
“...hello...” Another voice softly lilted back in an effeminate tone-though not a woman's voice-and the young man froze where he stood just outside of the common room.
And a pare of familiar pale blue eyes peered up at the young man through a lidded gaze, taking in his stunned expression through a measured countenance.
“Nina's not here at the moment.” This stranger's voice hummed softly through the makings of a benevolent smile. “She's running a little late from work, I'm afraid.” The two young men silently regarded each other-coming similar yet so opposite in their appearance.
The man who stood his ground at the threshold of the living-room was in his late twenties, and tall-possibly reaching six feet. His looks and attire came bathed in warm browns and beige with splashes of green and red. Like Autumn. With short auburn hair and chestnut eyes that narrowed suspiciously along the uninvited guest sitting on the sofa.
This stranger. This man. This uninvited guest. The whole of his appearance came almost blindingly radiant-like the summer sun. Like an otherworldly creature from the heavens with strands of golden-spun hair that framed the face of an angel with liquid pools of ocean blue for eyes. Those eyes seeming as cold and depthless as the sea, and as treacherous as the riptides lurking underneath. And just as mesmerizing and dangerously magnetic in their pull as they regarded the other man in silence.
“Who are you?” The man asked hesitantly-though he did try to bolster his bravery in the face of this phantom's appearance as he took a step into the room. “And how did you get into our home?!” He demanded, causing the stranger to give the elegant raise of his brows to this-through he remained silent to the man's question. “I'm calling the police to report this break-in!”
The stranger laughed at this. Actually laughed-a sound that was as unsettling to hear as it was absolutely beautiful. Beautiful like the man himself as he looked down to the coffee table in front of the sofa with the twitch of his head.
“By all means,” The stranger hummed softly through the attractive curve of his lips before those eyes lifted from the table to regard the man in seriousness. “if you feel that strongly about it.” He said in a quiet voice, taking the cellphone from the pocket of his trousers as he placed it on the table. “Call the police.” This came in soft challenge, and those ocean eyes never left the man's confused gaze as the stranger offered him another little smile of amusement. “But they'd hardly consider it a 'break-in' if I've been given a key-” The stranger murmured in that delicate, refined tone as he held the other man's stare. “and an open invitation to be here.” The warm, benevolent smile along his lips turned just a little smug with the twitch at the corners as he held the man's confused expression. “But where are my manners?” This fell from the stranger's lips in an eloquent, demure tone as he gave the slight cant of his head, his voice shifting just a little lower. “Care for a drink?”
It was then-with the sweeping gesture of this stranger's hand-that the man finally notices the elaborate place-setting along the coffee table. The porcelain tea pot from the kitchen, along with the cups to match, had been elegantly placed on the table as the stranger took the liberty of pouring a cup for the man who continued to just stare at him in befuddled shock. And the man couldn't help it when his expression shifted from one of confusion to irritation at being treated like a guest in his own home. Taking another step forward into the living-room, he met this stranger with the same demand.
“Who are you?”
The stranger avoided the man's gaze along with his question as long slender fingers grasped the cup of tea he'd claimed for himself. Gazing serenely into his own drink, the stranger veiled the smile beginning to blossom along his lips with the rim of his cup as he took a delicate, poised sip of the hot beverage. Gingerly placing the cup back along the saucer on the table, that magnetic gaze lifted back up to the man who was still waiting for an answer to his question. And the stranger smirked at this as he registered the man's irked expression.
“My name is Johan.” The stranger murmured in a light tone with that same beguiling smile, watching in amusement as recognition and understanding began to slowly dawn on the man.
“You're..” The man's voice faded to nothing as the stranger repeated himself with a little nod.
“Johan.”
“...Nina's brother..?” The man muttered through the furrow of his brows as the stranger's smile grew into a grin.
“The very same.”
“I'm so sorry.” The man stammered, brushing the back of his neck with his hand as his expression shaped itself into a look of chagrin. “I should have known.” He said, a light blush painting his cheeks as he stepped further into the room. “You look so much like her.” This fell from his lips as all caution and mistrust left his body. “It's nice to finally meet you in person.” He said through a tone of earnest sincerity and eagerness, finally taking a seat in one of the chairs next to the coffee table. “I'm Bastian.” The man offered his name in greeting, and Johan seemed almost bored by this.
“I know who you are, Bastian.” Johan uttered this man's name with the lowering of his voice and narrowing of his lidded gaze. “You're the man living with my sister.” He said, causing the man to tense uncomfortably in his seat before Johan offered him a kindly smile. “Don't worry.” Johan hummed with a little smile and light chuckle of laughter. “My sister speaks very fondly of you.” And the man seemed to relax some as he finally offered Johan a little nod of the head.
“Well, Nina's told me nothing but good things about you, Johan.” He offered in return, and Johan smiled at this before placing the rim of his cup to his lips for another drink of his tea.
“That's because I never give her cause to do otherwise.” He hummed in a demure, polite tone as his eyes remained fixed on the teacup.
“But-” The man's words came a little slower as he eyed Johan dubiously. “I don't remember her telling me you were coming to visit.”
“That's because I didn't tell her I was coming.” Johan hummed lightly in a nonchalant tone through another little smile. “So how could she tell you?” The smile grew along his lips as he held the man's gaze.
“So you wanted to surprise her.” The man stated slowly, seeming slightly unnerved underneath Johan's inquisitive, electric gaze.
“Mm, yes.” Johan replied in a soft whisper. “In a way.” He said, holding the man's somewhat guarded expression. “Though the surprise was meant more for you.” Johan's long slender fingers came steepled against his lips as he ever-so-slowly leaned forward in his own seat while he stared Bastian down through an uncomfortable pause of silence.
Bastian squirmed in his chair. Johan smirked behind his fingers. And when Johan finally relented, swiftly sitting back along the sofa, this sudden movement caused the man to visibly flinch. Johan couldn't help himself. He honestly couldn't.
He chuckled.
“So tell me, Bastian,” Johan's voice took on a light, pleasant tone as he meticulously folded his hands in his lap. “how long have you been with my sister?” He asked in such a way as to disarm and invite an honest answer.
“We've been dating for a year and a half.” Bastian answered as he finally took up the cup of tea his guest had poured for him-taking a sip before continuing to speak. “And we've been living together for the last six months.” He said, and Johan nodded with a contemplative expression.
“I see.” Johan murmured quietly, almost to himself with another little nod before his eyes flit back up to the man's face. “And exactly how well would you say you know her?” And the man seemed to be confused by this question as his brows knit together with the baffled twitch of his head.
“I'd like to think that I know her quite well.” Bastian replied through a small pause before his gaze narrowed in a pointed stare at his girlfriend's brother. “Why?” He asked a little too bluntly for Johan's liking.
“Did she mention that the two of us spent some time apart from each other as children..?” Johan asked in a polite tone that didn't quite seem to match the look he spared the man sitting across from him, and Bastian gave a slow nod.
“She did.” He offered, and Johan nodded as well.
“And has she said anything about her foster parents?” Johan asked in a featherlight tone. “The Fortners.”
Bastian looked away then. His gaze landed hard on the coffee table as his lips came pressed together with the sigh that pushed through his nose.
“I know that they're dead.” Bastian uttered lowly with the jerk of his head. “But the way she avoids talking about it, I think something terrible happened.” He said before giving the rough shrug of his broad shoulders. “I just always assumed it was an accident or something.” He muttered. “But I think it was really traumatic for her.”
“It was.” Johan interjected as Bastian's chestnut gaze rose from the coffee table to look him in the eye. “They were murdered.” Something about the way Johan had so casually mentioned this caused the man's stomach to churn.
“Really..?” Bastian asked through a furrowed gaze, and Johan offered a wordless nod of the head as he held the man's shocked stare. “Did they find out who did it?” He managed to ask, and Johan shook his head.
“I'm afraid not.”
“Well, for Nina's sake, I hope they catch the monster who killed them.” Bastian retorted, and Johan merely offered a passive hum of agreement as he took another demure sip of his drink.
“You must understand that my sister has been through a lot.” Johan murmured softly through a whisper and downcast gaze to his cup. “So I would like to know your intentions for my sister and your future with her.” Bastian's eyebrows raised in question.
“Excuse me?”
“What lengths would you go to,” Johan asked through the slow raise of his eyes from his drink. “in order to protect my sister's heart?” And Bastian's expression seemed to crumple into a faint scowl of irritation towards this question.
“Nina's not some fragile china-doll.” Bastian quipped. “She's not some weak, frail little girl that needs to be protected.” This fell harshly from his lips as he glared at Johan. “Clearly, she's stronger than you give her credit for.” He stated in a firm tone as Johan remained strangely silent, listening. “She's warm. Kind. Honest, and loving.” He said. “And she's real.” Bastian continued, seeming to lose some of his anger in favor of the fondness that crept into the lowering of his voice. “She's not the one depending on me.” He said, bravely holding Johan's gaze. “I'm the one depending on her.”
“I see.” Johan hummed softly through the soft curve of his lips as he looked back down at the table. “You must forgive me my over-protectiveness.” He whispered lightly as he gingerly grasped the cup in both of his hands. “I sometimes forget that neither one of us are children anymore.” Those eyes lifted up as Johan looked at Bastian in such a way as to cause the man to frown. “To say our childhood was-difficult-would be putting it very lightly.” This fell from Johan's lips in that soft, tempered voice as a small, almost empathetic sigh pushed through Bastian's nose.
“I didn't realize that.” He admitted quietly, seeming to have been humbled some by Johan's words. “Nina never talks about her childhood, or when she was young.” Johan gave the faint twitch of his head as he avoided the man's gaze.
“No.” He murmured lightly to himself. “She wouldn't.” This fell from his lips in a strange, cryptic whisper. “I've made sure of it.”
“...what..?” Bastian balked at this, eyes narrowed with suspicion and concern. “What do you mean by that?” He demanded, and Johan didn't answer immediately as his pale blue gaze lingered along the cup in his hands.
“What do you know about Monarch programming, Bastian..?” He finally asked, meeting the man's question with one of his own, and Bastian seemed somewhat taken aback.
“What is that?” He asked in baffled confusion, thrown off guard by Johan's question.
“Trauma-based mind control...” Johan replied through a tone of forced indifference and calm. “Manipulation of memories, thoughts, behavior-patterns, and identity through prolonged and systematic abuse.”
“I don't get it.” Bastian snapped, his head spinning as his eyes darted along the man's face. “Are you saying that's what Nina went through-” He asked. “as a kid?” And Johan gave a faint nod.
“Myself as well.” Johan answered as he finally looked up from the cup still in his hands. “Though I imagine what I was put through was far worse than even that.” He admitted, then gave a passive shrug. “But I forced myself to learn from my experiences.” This fell lightly from his lips as he held Bastian's almost horrified gaze. “And I used that knowledge to manipulate and control Nina's memories.” He said without remorse, pausing briefly to allow Bastian to absorb this before continuing. “I've made sure she has no memory of the awful things that happened in our past-” He said. “in order to protect her from herself.”
“You did what?!” Bastian snapped in anger, gripping the armrests of his chair as he leaned forward. “You can't be serious!” And Bastian's righteous indignation was met with a deadpanned expression.
“I'm quite serious.”
“How could you do that?!” Bastian snapped in anger with the raise of his voice. “To you own sister!” He continued. “I thought you said that you loved her!”
“I do.” Johan countered calmly in the face of this man's anger. “Very much.” He said with the slow lowering of his gaze. “Which is why everything I've done, I've done for her.” His voice seemed to grow hollow along the eloquent sound of his words as he continued to speak, looking away from Bastian. “In order to devour the monster inside her, I needed to become something even worse.” Johan murmured in a soft whisper. “I became her sin-eater. And-” He paused with the faint crease of his brows. “in the process, I've committed a great multitude of my own.” Johan uttered softly-without guilt or shame-with the almost infinitesimal twitch of his head. “Terrible, awful sins.”
A hush fell along the moment then, as if Johan were in the process of reliving each of his supposed crimes in silent contemplation before those ocean eyes lifted up to meet Bastian's indignant expression.
“Everything I did-and still do-is necessary, I assure you.” Johan said, seeming unbothered by the man's anger towards him. “In order to make sure that my sister remembers only what I want her to remember-” He said. “and that she forgets everything else while I carry the burden of remembering for the both of us. To keep her from knowing the truth about herself-and-to protect her from me, and who I really am.”
“I could tell her!” Bastian shouted with the raise of his voice as his fingers dug into the armrests of his chair. “I could tell her all about what you've just told me!” He threatened. “What you've done to her. Playing God with her memories.” And Johan gave a faint sigh from the nose with the elegant, chastising cluck of his tongue.
“And what purpose would that serve, Bastian..?” He calmly asked with the tilt of his head and slight narrowing of his lidded gaze. “Do you really want to hurt my sister like that?” He said with the shift and lowering of his voice. “Why would you want to place that heavy burden on her shoulders..? Hm?” And Johan could see how Bastian faltered in his anger.
“She deserves to know the truth.” He mumbled through a defeated tone and furrow of his brows. “You can't keep that from her forever.”
“Why not?” Johan pointedly asked in a soft voice with the quirk of his head, waiting for the man to answer.
Bastian didn't.
Just then, the front door came open and a joyful, happy voice called into the apartment.
“Bastian!” The two men in the living-room turned their heads towards the call of Bastian's name. “Bastian, where are you?” The woman's voice asked as it migrated slowly towards the living-room.
With a somewhat panicked look, Bastian turned towards Johan then, who's expression was completely calm and collected as he silently placed his index finger along his lips to encourage the man to remain quiet.
“I know you're here, Bastian.” The woman's voice called, seeming to take on a more playful tone. “So you'd better not be hiding so you can scare-” She stepped into the living-room, faltering in her words and approach when her blue eyes locked on to a matching pair-and Johan smiled at her from where he sat on the sofa.
“...boo...” He whispered through a simpered smirk towards the woman's shock and surprise at seeing him before the woman's face lit up with an absolutely radian smile.
“Johan!” She all-but-ran to him as Johan stood to meet her before she crashed into him in an embrace.
Johan let out a soft grunt from the impact before chuckling towards his sister's enthusiastic greeting.
“Welcome home, sister.” Johan softly replied through the even softer smile shaping his lips as their eyes met again.
The two gazed at each other fondly in a brief moment before the woman's brows furrowed in an expression of irritated vexation as she punched Johan in the shoulder with her tiny fist.
“Why didn't you tell me you were coming?!” She demanded through that little scowl as Johan chuckled in amusement while rubbing his shoulder where she'd hit him.
“If I'd told you I was planning on coming for a visit, then it wouldn't have been much of a surprise, now would it.” He said in a light, chiding voice that caused the young woman to dramatically roll her eyes at him. “Besides,” Johan continued in a smooth tone as he regarded his sister, giving her his full attention. “I wanted some time alone with your boyfriend to properly introduce myself before you came home from work.” He grinned playfully to her, causing the young woman to frown at him before looking to Bastian.
“Please tell me he didn't say anything embarrassing about me.” Nina said, sounding a bit mortified as her beautiful ocean eyes pled with her boyfriend before she scowled at her brother in accusation. “Or try to scare you off.” She said as she went to hit him again-and Johan recoiled with raised hands in defense, though he knew his sister's anger at him was all for teasing and show.
“I've been a perfect guest.” He said, reassuring his sister that he'd been on his absolute best behavior as he held her dubious gaze. “Honest.” He continued, glancing over at the coffee table with a soft smile. “Look. I even made your favorite tea so Bastian and I would have something to drink while we talked like civilized gentlemen.” He said, turning his gaze back to her with an angelic smile.
“I know you better than that, brother.” Nina countered, and Johan didn't argue with her on this matter.
Reaching past her to gather his own teacup and saucer, Johan silently made his way into the open kitchen as he rinsed the dishes off in the sink before delicately placing them on the counter. When he came back into the living-room and gathered his jacket from the sofa-putting it on-Nina frowned at him with the crease of her brows.
“You're leaving already?” She asked, sadness and disappointment ringing in her voice as Johan offered her an apologetic expression.
“I'm afraid so.” He murmured softly through the sigh that pushed through his slender, delicate nose. “It seems that the good doctor's finally discovered that I'm in town.” Johan said with a more put-upon tone. “And apparently he's thrown his entire schedule wide open, demanding that I come and see him right away,” Nina frowned towards her bother's apprehension as she, too, gave a small huffed sigh.
“I don't know why you keep avoiding him.” She said in a light, chiding tone that seemed to mirror her brother's.
“You know how I feel about doctors and hospitals, Nina.” Johan mumbled quietly to her, avoiding her gaze. “Besides,” He said as he looked down to the floor with the small furrow of his brows. “my health has never been good. You know that.” Johan softly grumbled. “And a simple check-up won't change anything.” Nina sighed before lightly pushing his shoulder to gain his attention.
“Always so dramatic, brother.” She murmured through a gentle tone of compassion before that little scowl shaped her kind features. “Now go on and stop making him wait before Kenzo decides to come here for a house call.” And Johan's thin, elegant eyebrows shot up into his hairline.
“Kenzo?” He balked at his sister's informality. “Since when are you on a first-name basis with our doctor?” He asked through the pursing of his lips and narrowing of his gaze. “That's becoming awfully familiar with him, don't you think?” And Nina rolled her eyes at her brother.
“That's only because he likes me more than he likes you, brother.” She countered a bit smugly, and Johan softly chuckled with the bemused twitch of his head.
“True enough.” He admitted. “But then-” Johan fondly smiled at his sister. “what's not to like?” He said, leaning in to place a tender, chaste kiss along her forehead.
“Enough flattery, Johan.” Nina smile through a slight, self-conscious blush as she placed her hands on her brother's shoulders to direct him towards the door. “Now go!” She giggled as she felt Johan dig in his heels.
“Fine, fine.” Johan grumbled playfully. “I'm going. No need to push me out the door.” He said as he felt his sister ease up on him. “I'll see you tomorrow, dear sister.” He hummed softly, giving pause before offering a not-so-subtle glance towards Nina's boyfriend. “That is, if Bastian here is fine with me coming to steal you away in the morning for tea and breakfast before you go to work..?”
The silence that trailed behind this polite request seemed to stretch on and grow until the man still sitting in the chair finally relented with a wordless nod of the head. Warm, chestnut eyes darted along Johan's face in an attempt to discern the man's expression before Bastian ended the uncomfortable silence between them.
“Sure...” Bastian slowly said, holding Johan's ocean blue eyes as the two stared each other down. “Of course, Johan.” He said. “That'd be fine.” And Johan offered the man a benevolent smile while Nina stood off to the side, seeming happily content that it appeared the two were managing to get along with each other.
“I'll see you in the morning, then.” Johan turned to peck his sister on the cheek before making his way out of the living-room. “Bastian?” He called over his shoulder, causing the other man to turn his head towards him. “See me out?” Johan politely asked.
The two regarded each other through a moment of uncomfortable silence before Bastian nodded again, standing from his chair as Nina smile at him.
“Bye, Johan!” She said with a small waive as Johan smiled at her from over his shoulder. “Tell Kenzo I said hello!” And Johan chuckled.
“I will.” He assured his sister as Bastian followed him to the front door of the apartment without saying a word.
When he was certain that the two of them couldn't be overheard by his sister, Johan smiled at the man through a narrow-lidded gaze.
“That was a splendid performance, Bastian.” He purred lowly through a whisper. “Well done.” This caused the man to bare his teeth in a sneer as he gripped the collar of Johan's jacket.
“How dare you!” Bastian grit through his teeth as Johan met his anger with cold indifference. “You couldn't possibly think that I'd actually be okay with helping you lie to her.” He hissed, his eyes darting along Johan's unreadable expression as his brows furrowed, pushing Johan away from him. “What do you expect me to do?”
“I expect you to do nothing.” Johan retorted flatly in a low whisper as his eyes darted along the man before flitting back up to Bastian's angry expression.
“Then why did you even bother coming here and telling me all of this?!” Bastian hissed as his eyes darted along the smooth plains of Johan's handsome face.
“I told you because, despite hiding the truth from my sister, you needed to know.” Johan lightly whispered. “Because I fully intend to remain a constant in her life and-therefore-a constant in yours.” He said in a quiet voice, eyeing the man with some scrutiny. “And since you're living with my sister, it seems-for now, at least-that your intentions are the same as my own.” That skylit gaze he shared with his sister flit to the man's face as Johan silently regarded Bastian a moment before beginning again. “You see, we happen to share a common interest in making my sister happy.” He said in a hushed tone. “And-seeing her with you today-despite my reservations, I have to admit that you do make her happy.” Johan said, holding the man's gaze with a stoic expression. “So keep doing that, Bastian.”
Though Bastian didn't say anything to this, he offered the small nod of the head as the anger along his face seemed to slowly recede and dissipate with Johan's words.
“I happen to be very good at reading people, Bastian.” Johan murmured, holding the man's gaze. “Which makes me an excellent judge of character.” He said in a low whisper. “You're a good man, Bastian.” He said. “And I happen to like you-” This fell lightly from his lips. “more than that, I've come to respect you.” He said through a pointed look to Bastian. “So I'll do you the favor of giving you this warning.” His gaze narrowed along the shift and ominous lowering of his voice. “If you break my sister's heart-so help me, I'll rip yours from your chest.” The blood drained from Bastian's face before his features shaped in silent outrage with the way Johan smirked at him. “I'll see you in the morning when I come to pick up my sister.” Johan uttered quietly as his fingers wrapped around the doorknob to let himself out of the apartment Bastian shared with Nina as silence followed in the wake of Johan's departure.
THE END
