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Michael walked silently behind his little brother, letting him lead the way for him, his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, his eyes never looking up from the ground.
The previous night had been quite eventful, with the freaking out, followed by the apparition of that angel freak, just when he was feeling much better, getting shot, AGAIN, and having to battle for his life.
He hadn't sung like that in so long, even before the whole incident a year ago, he had already stopped doing it, as it was damaging to his voice, and it had been a little too much effort for his voice, now mostly gone.
Of course, the night hadn’t stopped there, as, while he had been trying to sleep, but couldn’t, due to the pain from his fresh bullet wound, he’d suffered from another heart attack. It had been a miracle that his little brother had heard him falling to the ground, waking him up, and had hurried and managed to help him calm his heart.
He hadn’t left his side since that, having fallen asleep against his brother, not wanting to leave him after something as bad as that, and fearing that he wouldn’t be able to wake up in time and hear him again if Michael had another episode, or needed medical attention.
Of course, when morning came, Gf found them sleeping against each others, accidentally waking them up when she took a picture of them, letting out a small sound at the cuteness of the scene.
After a small breakfast, they all had a long discussion, well, mostly Bf talking, and Gf agreeing with him from time to time, while BB couldn’t talk much because of his broken voice, and was too exhausted to really argue much anyway. The couple agreed that Michael shouldn’t stay in his apartment for a while, as the angel now knew where he lived, and as it was too dangerous, in those circumstances, for him to stay alone. It took a bit of convincing from Keith, but he eventually managed to make his big brother agree to come back home with him, to come live with his family again until things settled down a bit more.
And so, here they were, walking slowly towards their family house, the one place that BB had been actively avoiding for a year, too afraid of their reactions about his life choices, and of putting them in danger because of his bounty hunting job.
They’d had to drop GF off close to her house before going toward their own, leaving a good opportunity for BB to run away, but, he’d been so exhausted, both from the poor night’ sleep, added with the heart attack, and from the fresh wound, still hurting him as they walked, to even dare try. And, the last thing he wanted was to abandon his brother again, and worry him even more, after he almost died in front of him again.
“We’re home.” Keith announced, his happy tone barely covering his nervousness, as he looked back at his brother.
“...” Michael stayed silent, staring distantly at the house.
He’d never thought this would be his reason to return, and he didn’t really feel good about the situation. He knew it would be hard, seeing his siblings again, after basically abandoning them and not giving them any news for a full year. He was going to get scolded so bad, and he couldn’t even really defend himself either, as his voice would be much too quiet to argue against them.
He sighed as Keith tugged on his sleeve, trying to get him out of his own head, to get him to follow him inside. He reluctantly did, trying not to feel terrible for making his baby brother worry about him even more with the way he was acting.
Of course, his sudden return didn’t really go as smoothly as Keith would have wished.
When they entered, they were met with their older brother and Khole, both of them talking in the living room, who immediately stopped to look in shock at Michael, not having seen him in a year.
Khole didn’t last long before she started crying and launched herself in her twin’s arms, not noticing when he almost fell from it, wincing as she accidentally touched his wound, making the pain increase.
“Big Bro! I missed you soooo much!” She cried happily. “Welcome home!” She greeted with a wet smile when she finally let go of him, at Keith’s quiet prompting, telling her not to make him pass out, as she was known to do with the poor Bf when she hugged him a little too tight.
Michael was a bit taken aback from her reaction, but also reassured. He should have known that she wouldn’t hate him for leaving, and wouldn’t even think of being mad at him for that.
Of course, he also knew that he couldn’t wait for the same kind of reaction out of his Older brother.
“So, you’ve finally decided to come home, huh?” OB said bitterly. “What grants us the honor of your visit?”
“OB!” Khole pouted at his saltiness. “Don’t be like that. You should be happy that Michael is back.” She scolded.
“HAPPY?” OB Snapped. “HOW SHOULD I BE HAPPY AFTER HE LEFT US FOR A FULL YEAR, NEVER GIVING US ANY SIGN OF LIFE? WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE!” He shouted, his anger not managing to hide how upset he was, having been worried about his little brother for so long.
BB stayed silent as OB continued to tell him about how he felt abandoned, and how he should have, at least, let them know he was okay from time to time, instead of playing dead.
“Be- BB did mean to worry anyone.” Keith tried to defend, forcing himself to not revert back to his habit of speaking in beeps. “He was just worried about putting us in danger.” He tried to look at BB, to get some help, some agreement, but only found him staring at nothing, eyes empty. “He didn’t want to worry anyone.” He still tried to defend his brother.
“WELL, HE SURE FAILED THAT ONE!” OB huffed loudly.
“Older Bro!” Khole intervened again. “You know that he’s been through a lot. He needed space, time, that’s all.”
“IS THAT A REASON TO PLAY DEAD FOR AN ENTIRE FUCKING YEAR TO YOU??” The older brother threw his arms out in frustration.
BB could barely hear what was happening around him anymore, despite how loud his brother was being. He knew that he deserved it anyway, but, he had something else troubling him at the same time, making it even harder for his tired brain to focus on what was happening with his brothers.
He knew it was a bad idea to come home now.
The truth was that he hated how he’d run away from his own home, from his problems. He knew he’d just used his bounty hunting job as an excuse to run away, so that they all wouldn’t have to deal with his depression, his trauma, and with his heart problems. He felt so horribly guilty about it.
“Are you okay, BB?” Keith asked, startling Michael a little.
“Yeah…” This one replied quietly, with the small amount of voice he still had. “I’m fine…”
“Are the ghosts bothering you?” Bf asked, having noticed how his brother was looking around at nothing now and again.
“Ah-” Michael was taken aback a little by how easily his brother had understood what was happening. “Yeah… Nothing too bad. They’re just saying I shouldn’t have abandoned my family, and that it’s my own fault. Nothing much. Besides, they’re right.” BB tried to give a weak smile to reassure his brother, who’s face had turned into a frown.
“Beep Bap Boop Skip Bap.” (I know you’re not telling me everything.) The little brother whispered to him. “Beop. Beep Bop Beep Bop Bep Boop Bap.” (Please. You promised me you wouldn’t hide anything anymore.)
“I-” Michael took a moment to recollect himself a little, before sighing. “Beep Skip bap boop bap beep. Ska boop bip beop.”
In their little beeping language, BB explained that the ghosts had been telling him that his family hated him for abandoning them, that they were right to be mad, and that they would throw him out. They were telling him that they never wanted to see him again, and would have preferred him being dead instead of coming back home, that he didn’t deserve the second life he’d been given when he got killed.
“ENOUGH! Will you two fucking stop talking in beeps and boops?!” OB snapped at them, annoyed that he couldn’t really understand much of what they were saying, as they were talking so quietly and in their made up language, the one that he was still having trouble understanding himself.
“Leave them alone, Older Bro.” Khole sighed. “They just don’t feel comfortable talking normally in front of us about whatever they’re talking about. You know how they are with those things.”
“Beep bap bop! Beop bap!” (Don’t listen to them! You know they’re wrong!) Keith immediately replied to his big brother, who was turning paler, his body starting to shake as he kept looking around himself more frantically.
“Bep Boop Skip Ska dop. Bep beep bop beep bap beep.” (But they are right. It’s my fault, I worried everyone again.) Michael looked down to the ground, his face getting hidden behind his hair as he wouldn’t look up again, his shaking becoming more visible. “Beep bap beop bap bep bop beep.” (I deserve to be hated, and thrown out, and to die.)
“NO, YOU DON’T!” Keith snapped, surprising everyone in the room, although it barely managed to make BB look up to him for a second. “Nobody is going to hate you! Don’t listen to those stupid ghosts! You don’t deserve to be thrown out and to die again!” Keith cried.
“Wait, what?” OB said in shock. “What the hell are you two talking about?”
“Keith is right! You don’t deserve any of that!” Khole agreed, tears pooling her eyes as she looked at her upset brothers. “Nobody is going to throw you out of the house. Right, Older Bro?” She turned around to get their older brother to reassure BB as well.
“Wha- Of course. No one is getting thrown out of the house. Why the fuck would you think that?” The poor boy was so confused, already starting to feel horrible as he realized that his anger might have caused something bigger without his knowledge.
“Don’t listen to them, BB.” Keith cried more quietly, as Khole approached them both, pulling the both of them in a hug.
“We’re your family, we’d never hate you.” Khole stroked her twin’s hair comfortingly. “We were just worried. We’re just happy that you’re back home, and that you’re okay.”
No one mentioned how Michael’s silent crying had started to become quiet sobs, as he desperately clung to Khole and Bf, trying to get himself to calm down.
“Just, don’t run away from us for a year without telling us anything again.” OB scolded lightly as he joined in on the hug, knowing that they all needed the comfort.
After a long moment of crying, Michael finally calmed down enough for his siblings to let go of him, leaving him more space to breath.
“S- Sorry…” He mumbled, as loud as his voice would allow, which wasn’t very loud. “I’m s- sorry.” He rubbed at his eyes painfully, trying his best to ignore the exhaustion and the pain that were getting worse.
“It’s okay. We’re not mad.” Khole reassured quickly, giving a quick glare at their older brother, to make sure this one wouldn’t say anything that could make Michael start to have another breakdown.
“Yeah. We’re not mad…” OB said awkwardly. “I- Hm… I’m sorry for yelling.” He apologized, before Khole could think of giving him a look to ask it of him. “We’ve just been so worried when you disappeared for a year without a word.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Anyway, what the fuck happened to your voice?” He pointed out, trying to change the subject.
“Right. You look terrible, too. Are you alright? Are you sick?” Khole started to worry, realizing how pale, and still shaky, her twin was, on top of his broken voice.
Michael didn’t respond to that, exchanging nervous glances with Bf. Neither of them were really comfortable with the idea of explaining why they were there, and what happened the night before, after that whole breakdown.
“What happened?” Older Bro insisted, squinting at them, knowing that something was up.
“What’s wrong?” Khole asked with concern.
Bf couldn’t look away from BB. He’d noticed how bad his brother looked, and that it was worse than before. He wasn’t sure what he should do. On one side, they owed an explanation to them, but on the other, talking about it might trigger another episode for Michael.
“How about we sit down?” Khole eventually offered. “I’m sure we’re all thirsty. I’ll go get some water.” She announced as the others nodded.
After she came back with the glasses of water, and something for Michael’s throat, Keith agreed to explain everything to them. He explained how he’d received a call from BB asking him to come over, and how the ghosts had been warning him about his killer coming back to finish the job. He told them how they’d been attacked by that angel on the roof, and how he’d shot BB again, forcing him to fight back with all his voice, making the angel flee after they had a talk.
Of course, the siblings were shocked at that, and the Older brother was ready to go out and find that angel to teach him a lesson on trying to kill his brother for a second time, but they calmed him down, saying that it might be dangerous for them all if he did that.
Meanwhile, Khole was mostly concerned about their safety, and about her brother’s wound.
Speaking of which, it seemed like the stitches that Gf had put on it had gotten loose during the whole event between the siblings, as blood started to become clearer onto BB’s hoodie.
The moment they all noticed, they started to freak out, while BB tried to play it cool, like the previous night, pretending that it was fine. Of course, he got scolded by a worried Older Brother for that, who quickly instructed Khole to go get the first aid kit.
“You’re lucky I know how to stitch you back up.” OB huffed as he prepared everything he needed, ignoring the obvious scars that covered his brother’s thin body as this one took his hoodie and top off, so that he could take care of the wound.
“Shouldn’t we take you to the doctor?” Khole worried as she came back with the med kit.
“No. It’s okay. I’m fine.” Michael was quick to refuse, feeling his heart skipping a beat at the idea of being back into the hospital for another gun wound. “I’ll be fine.”
Surprisingly, OB didn’t say anything about his refusal, even though he knew that it would be much better than him stitching his brother’s wound. As much as he wished he could force his brother to go to the doctor, he knew that it wouldn’t help the poor BB, with his health problem, and would stress him out further than necessary.
The siblings went silent after that, a heavy ambiance settling onto the room, as the older brother worked on Michael, trying to be gentle and not hurt him, while this one tried to keep himself from having another attack, as his heart was already trying to beat its way out of his chest again.
Keith, noticing that something was wrong with his brother, and realizing that it seemed similar to what had happened during the night, sat closer to his brother, putting a hand on his leg and starting to tap a gentle rhythm onto it.
Michael glanced at his little brother as he did that, ignoring the confused look that their siblings were giving them. He quietly followed his brother’s taping, trying to calm his heart down.
After a moment, as OB was still taking care of the wound, Khole decided to start humming in rhythm to the taping, surprising all of them with it. It was rare for her to sing with her brothers, let alone sing by herself in front of them, as she was usually much too busy to take that time with them, unless they asked her for it.
It didn’t last long, but it was very helpful to Michael, as it helped him relax more, and calm his heart down.
“What was that about?” OB asked suspiciously as he put away the first aid kit, having finished patching up his brother and cleaning everything.
“No-” BB wanted to say that it was nothing, but Keith cut him off to explain for him.
“BB’s heart was acting up again.” This one stated, giving a quick look at Michael, letting him know that he wasn’t happy with him trying to pretend that it was nothing again.
Bf explained to them that tapping a rhythm on his brother’s leg was helping him, as it was allowing him to follow it to match it to his breathing. He, of course, had to explain that he’d found that out the previous night, as Michael was having a heart attack, and that he’d had to improvise.
BB stayed quiet as OB scolded them for not calling a doctor about it, pointing out that if it hadn’t worked, the situation could have become much worse for Michael.
“Now, now. I think We’ve had enough emotions for one day.” Khole intervened to change the subject. “You look exhausted, BB, we should let you rest.”
“He practically didn’t sleep last night.” Keith noted.
“Then, you better get your ass to bed.” OB ordered with a sigh, running his hand through Michael’s hair to reassure him that he wasn’t mad. “We can talk about the situation after you’ve rested.”
Michael nodded, letting himself be guided back to his own bedroom, that he’d not seen in a year. He didn’t really take the time to reminisce about the old days, too exhausted for that, as he immediately went to lay in his bed, Keith coming to rest by his side, to make sure he’d be fine after everything that had happened.
It didn’t take long until the two brother ended up tangled together, both sleeping peacefully.
The next day, after a long conversation, and some arguing, it was decided that Michael would stay home for a few days, maybe weeks, until he felt safe to go back to his place, that he insisted on keeping, despite the danger of knowing that the angel freak knew where he lived.