Work Text:
gone
Brooks threw the razor blade into the sink before bringing the bottle of cheap beer to their lips. They didn’t even like beer.
Gone.
Brooks brought the cigarette to their lips, taking a long drag before going back to the sip of beer. They hated the taste of cigarettes, but these were his favorites– it would be a shame to let them go to waste.
GONE.
Brooks looked into the mirror, tilting their head as they stared at themself. Dark circles around their eye, skin red, irritated and bloody. Bringing a hand up, Brooks rubbed at their eye, dragging it down their face. Letting out a groan, Brooks grabbed for the nearest shirt to have some decency.
GONE. GONE. GONE.
Brooks took a deep breath, choking down tears as they looked at the shirt before looking back into the mirror. There must be a reason. It’s okay. They’ll be back. He always came back in the end. Brooks pulled the grey shirt over their body before walking out of the bathroom, pocketing the Marlboros. Taking the last drag from the one in their hand, they shoved the hot butt into their bare thigh, hissing at the pain.
GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE
Brooks shot up from where they lay, shaking furiously as they pulled out their phone. It was buzzing. Buzzing?
Brooks checked their notifications. The only people who could bypass their Do Not Disturb was Art and him. There was no way it was him, though. They called Art back as they rubbed their eye with their palm.
“Yeah? What’s up.” They croaked out, cringing at the sound of their own voice. It was dry and hoarse and so obviously hungover. Brooks winced at the soft sigh that came from the other end, it wasn’t meant to be mean spirited. But Brooks could feel the disappointment.
“You should come over.. Come see this.” Art's voice rang through their ears, Brooks sighed and looked at the time. 12:04.. Not bad.
“Yeah. Give me a minute, I’ll be over in.. Like an hour.” They murmured, clearing their throat and pushed the hair from their face. As ‘Byes’ were exchanged, Brooks hung up the phone, pushing themself up from the sh- their bed.
Brooks walked back into the bathroom. It definitely wasn’t very pretty, crimson soaked the tile below their feet, the white porcelain of the sink–of the tub.
Brooks grabbed their hairbrush. Pulling at their long hair, they looked down at the blade in the sink from the night before.
Brooks grabbed the blade.
Ruffling their short hair, Brooks walked into Art’s apartment. Brooks itched at their arm, the familiarity of the smooth, black fabric gliding under their fingers sent a calming feeling over them. “I’m home!” Brooks shouted sarcastically, waiting for Art to come greet them.
As Art turned the corner, drying a dish, he stopped in his tracks. Brooks raised an eyebrow. “What? Do I have something on my face?” They grumbled, rubbing around their face. Shaking his head, Art continued to walk towards his sibling. “Your hair. You look a lot li–”
“Shut up.” Brooks cut him off, pulling his hoodie closer to their shoulders.
Art only nodded before continuing. “Mav is back.” Brooks' head shot up to look back up at Art.
“...what..?” They choked out, biting their lip. “Is anyone..” They took a deep breath before backing up towards the wall. It felt like everything was towering over them. gone Gone Gone. GONE.
“You’re shitting me.” Brooks croaked out, looking up at their brother before tugging at the chain around their neck. “Look, if this is some.. Sick fucking prank, I swear to God..” Brooks forced out a laugh between sobs.