Chapter Text
Austin Lake heard the news far later than the rest of his brothers and sisters. He had been minding his own business, laying on his bunk in the cabin belonging and dedicated to none other than his dear-ol’-dad. Today had been– wait, he shouldn’t say the ‘q-word’. That always fucked things up, made everything crazy. Maybe he could say the q-word. He wasn’t in the infirmary. Ehh…. he shouldn’t risk it. Will would absolutely be on his ass for that.
One of his brothers, Augustus, entered the cabin a few moments later with a splotchy face. Eyes swollen from tears, and his nose irritated from snot.
It made Austin immediately sit up after craning his head to see who has entered.
“Yo… what happened, Aug?” He slid down the ladder and approached his older brother.
Augustus was a kind boy. He was a kind boy with coppery-blonde hair and dark hazel almond eyes with green, topless rimmed glasses. His eyes always looked sad, or filled with a kind of anxiety that could probably never be fixed. Austin worried about that.
Besides the missing arm (which he was one of the only campers who WAS an amputee), he chose to not wear a prosthetic. And Austin thought that made him really cool.
Augustus said it was the texture of the metal, or the feeling on his nerves… but who cares? He acted like it was ‘no big deal’ or whatever. But to deal with the loss of a limb as a child and to not continuously fall apart? He almost envyed that intense determination. Okay, he definitely did.
He should start to focus on the topic at hand.
“Uhm…” Augustus looked down at his feet, rubbing his left arm anxiously, his hand ran underneath the curve of his stump which would have been just above his elbow.
“Is it your arm bothering you again? I can help with that super easy-peasy if that's the case-”
“That's… not the case.” Austin’s older brother licked his lips nervously.
Augustus wasn't one to cry too often— at least in front of other people. He has seen him cry… maybe once or twice? But Aug had swore that Austin not talk about that. So he wouldn't. And he wouldn't now.
“Then… what is the case? You're worrying me, man. Why don’t you sit down?” Austin offered lamely.
Augustus sat on his bed, which was one of the bottom bunks farthest away from the door. You could tell that it was his bunk since he had made the quilt for his pillowcase and sheets himself. He let Augustus gather himself before asking once more about the situation. Badgering him wouldn't do anything.
It took a long time. Augustus’ body shook with small, hiccupping sobs. Austin was…not the greatest in situations like this . He had never been. He wasn't really good at receiving affection either. Maybe something was wrong.
Should he hug him? Pat his shoulder or hold his hand? Should he stay silent until Aug was ready to talk? Or should he try his best and come up with something comforting?
Slowly, Austin wrapped an arm around Augustus, bringing him into his side. He immediately leaned into his shoulder, pressing his nose against his side as Austin awkwardly pat his back. He didn't care about the snot staining his clothes, that was the least of his worries.
“It's about Kayla.” Augustus finally managed, his voice choked and grim.
His heart dropped into his stomach. What had happened to his sister? Was she injured? Something clearly awfully happened. That could easily he deduced with quite obvious reasons.
“What…about Kayla?” Austin gulped. He could swear that Augustus could hear how hard his heart was beating, and how it was surely about to explode out of his chest.
“She’s…. passed away.” Augustus whispered. “There…was an accident… with the climbing wall.”
Austin's eyes widened more than dinner plates as the room was plunged into an eerie silence. A silence that was only broken by his elder brother’s soft sniffles and hiccups.
Kayla’s dead? What does he mean…dead…? How can MY sister be dead? She- we just… we talked yesterday! We HUNG OUT yesterday! She- Austin’s mind slowly goes blank. His sister was dead? How could his only sister be dead?
There had to be some sort of mix up. No WAY! She.. his best friend. His sister. A person that he loved so dearly couldn't be dead! He… couldn't go through that again. Not after The Battle of Manhattan.
Not ever again.
Not after losing Michael.
Not after losing Lee..
Not after loosing ten plus siblings.
He had lost most of his cabin, say for Augustus, Will and Kayla.
Now Kayla was gone.
And he would NEVER see her again.
"What do you- what…” The boy’s words fail him. What was he even supposed to say with the news that his sister just died?
“She..what do you mean there was an accident with the climbing wall?!” He grabbed Augustus roughly by the shoulders, giving him a shake. “Did she fall? Was it the lava?! Augustus! Tell me!”
A small squeak of fear made its way from Augustus’ mouth. Stiffened as much as plank of wood, and tucked his head into his chest as if he could magically become a turtle.
“She.. fell. One of the handholds was loose.. and she fell.” Augustus broke to a fit of sobs again, hiding his face into his small hand. Wails escaped his mouth as grief overcame him almost entirely.
Austin lets Augustus go, his heart squeezing at how his brother cried and how he struggled to process the death of his sister.
“Can I see her?” He asked softly this time.
“I don't.. think that you want to see her, Aust.”
“And… why do you say that?”
What could be so abhorrent that Augustus would think that he would have to say that?
“There was…a lot of blood. I- I don’t think you want to see that.”
“I need to see her.”
With that, Austin strode away from his brother. He pulled his muddy yellow rain boots before throwing open the door. Austin had never ran so fast before. He ran out of his cabin and into the rain, uncaring of how the rain immediately began to soak his clothes.
He nearly slipped on the doc which lead to the other side of camp, which would have caused him to take a dive if he hadn't regained his footing. The climbing wall. It wasn't too far ahead.
As he zipped past the Big House, he caught the gazes of campers giving him pathetic gazes. Gazes of pity or perhaps sympathy. The did nothing to help in this time.
Austin finally arrived at the climbing wall, where there was still a large crowd of people. Peeking over the heads of other campers, was Chiron. He pushes them out of his way. How dare they be wall as he tries to get to HIS brother?!
“Move!” He shouted, his voice screeching akin to a terrified animal. Which made sense, since he was absolutely terrified out of his mind right now. Unfamiliar and familiar faces blend together.
He made his way the front of the crowd. His eyes landing on the mangled body of his sister, cradled in the arms of his elder brother; Will.
Blood stained the grass.
Blood stained the wall of the rocks.
Blood stained Will.
Blood stained Will’s shirt.
Blood stained Will’s arms.
And tears fell from Will’s eyes, dripping and dropping onto Kayla’s unseeing face.
“Will!?”
His head immediately snapped up, his blue eyes wild and red with grief. His curly, golden locks plastered to his face by rain.
“Austin-”
But Austin didn't listen. He slid to Will’s side. Slipping in the mud and staining his clothes. “Will- is she- she can’t really be gone.. can she?”
He crawled closer, brushing the green bangs from her face. Her eyes had been closed earlier by Will, Austin figured. Her legs were twisted unnaturally, bent at horrifying angles.
Her wrist dislocated.
Her ulna spilt in half and jutting out of the skin.
Muscle and sinew through her torn shirt.
Why was her shirt torn?
Her knee definitely shouldn't be going that direction.
Why was there so much blood?
It made him feel sick.
Austin’s mouth suddenly began to overflow with saliva. Heat began to bloom in his face and his chest, causing. him to sweat uncontrollably. His stomach squeezed itself, the muscles contracting violently as it suddenly expelled it's contents. He turned away just in time.
Will placed a delicate and silent hand onto his back. He traces his hand up and down his spine before he rested it in between his shoulder blades. Then, it was a circular motion. He knew that would help the most. Talking wouldn't.
“Boys…” It was Chiron’s voice now. His voice was calm and collected, but still filled with an unmistakable sadness. The centaur’s face pale red with the effort of keeping himself together for the sake of his children. “You two. Go home.. to your cabin. Get cleaned up.”
Mr. D steps out, seemingly from out of nowhere. “William,” The god speaks, his voice uncannily filled with kindness and something else. He never was one to show his emotions. “Let her down now. It's what she would like.”
Will’s bottom lip quivered as he sluggishly followed Mr. D’s direction. Before Kayla was set gently onto the grass, Austin scooped her into his arms. One last time.
He wanted to hug her one last time.
He wanted to be with his sister one last time.
He wanted to hear his sister's voice again.
He wanted to hear his sister’s laugh again.
He wanted to hear her banter again.
He wanted to hear her sing with him again.
He wanted to hear her jokes again.
He wanted her all back again. Not this shattered heap of flesh.
Austin didn't remember taking a bath. Nor did he remember getting into pyjamas and curling up into bed with his two remaining brothers. Augustus and Will, the most precious beings in his life.
The sheets smelled sweetly of lavender. The room was practically silent, save for a small fan as white noise, Augustus’ breathing ans Will’s quiet sniffles.
And they were all close together again. Like they were kids. Kids before the war. Kids before anything bad happened to them. Kids who would smile and play all day in the sun. Kids who would play in the dirt and pick up bugs and carefully put them into a book.
“You're awake, ‘Tin…” Will let out a long, shaking breath as he smoothed a hand over Austin’s head.
“How long was I … asleep for?” He whispered, doing his best to stay as still as possible and not wake Augustus.
“Clovis came along and knocked us all out… him and his siblings, I believe… I don't remember here either. In…” his voice trailed off, and his eyes wonder around the sleepy shadows of the cabin.
A familiar shape took form.
Nico di Angelo.
“Hey…I helped out with some of that.” He gave a small smile, but it didn't end up changing the mood all that much.
“Neeks?!” Will hit his head on the underside of the top bunk with a loud thud, which, in turn, awoke Augustus with a small whine.
“O que está a acontecer...? Está barulhento...” The Portuguese son of Apollo rubbed his eyes with his fist.
Nico’s Portuguese wasn't the greatest, but he was sure that his response would at the very least be satisfactory. There was definitely some grammar mistakes… but Augustus couldn't care less.
"Voltar a dormir, August.” his voice is soft and gentle, devoid of it usual grumpiness.
Augustus was more than happy to oblige. He curled into the fetal position. And how did Augustus wonder that he was constantly in pain if he laid like that?
Austin smiled sadly, and pat his shoulder. His gaze drifted away from his little family and off towards the window.
He was sure that he saw the face of someone familiar.