Brother to Brother
Theo
Ichuckle slightly. Ares, we all know you died for a couple of seconds, right? Dad felt that, remember? I say through the mind-link, but his face doesn’t change.
“Yeah, but was I supposed to stay like that? Maybe my heart didn’t fucking start up by itself. Fuck it, Theo! Answer me!” he snarls, no longer bothering to keep his voice down through the link.
“Does it matter what happened? You’re here, you’re fucking breathing. You’re still you! So, drop it, man!”
He looks at me.
“So, you’re the reason I’m here, right?”
“Fuck off!” I growl warningly.
“ANSWER ME!” he snarls.
“Fine, yeah, I fucking am! Happy now? Fucking, wanker.” My eyes blaze as I glare at him.
Even though he already knew it, the confirmation has shaken him. He lets go of me and steps back, his face pale as he stares at me. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me? Or fucking anyone for that matter!”
“By telling you, what difference would it have made?” I ask quietly.
“It would have to me!” he shouts, turning and punching the bag with all his might before he turns back to me, his heart thundering.
I scoff before I begin unwrapping my bandages. This fight is over.
“Answer me,” Ares says quietly, his voice trembling as he tries to control his anger. “I’m fucking waiting, Theo.”
“What man, by telling you, what would have happened? I made the decision to save you. I’m the one who made the deal. It has nothing to do with you. I paid the price, and it was no fucking big deal.”
“I owe you my life, and it’s no fucking big deal?!”
“That attitude and mentality are why I didn’t say shit. I don’t need you banging on about it being a fucking debt. I made that deal cause you’re my fucking dickhead of a bro, and I selfishly didn’t want to lose you, alright? This ain’t got nothing to do with you. You owe me nothing!” I snarl.
He’s silent, both of us glaring at one another, our eyes blazing before he looks down at his hands. Blood stains the tips of his fingers from where his nails had accidentally cut into my neck.
“So, I was killed… and you made a deal with Hades to bring me back… Who would have killed me?”
“You don’t fucking remember the one thing you actually needed to, man, that’s useless shit.”
“It’s a blank. Do you have any idea why I don’t remember? Does it have to do with you bringing me back?” he asks me. He’s a smart wanker, I’ll give him that.
I walk over to one of the weight-lifting benches and sit down.
“Hades said something about keeping the balance. You were supposed to croak out. And if you did, what you saw would have gone with you. So yeah, he did that, but obviously he didn’t do a good enough job, since you remember this shit,” I remark.
Ares walks over to me. “Thank you,” he says quietly.
I look up at him, surprised. “Bro, did you just thank me?”
“Don’t let it get to your head,” he growls. “But I’ll repay-”
“No.” I cut him off sharply. “There’s nothing to repay. I did what I did because you’re my brother, man. You owe me nothing. If I ever need saving, do it because you want to, not because you owe me. We’re brothers, init.”
He’s quiet before his hazel eyes meet mine. “What happened to us?”
A question I asked myself a thousand times…
I shake my head. “I’ve wondered the same thing.
We fought a lot as kids, but we’d forget all about it within the hour.
We had our rooftop space, and slowly, we all stopped hanging out there, too.
Guess we all are just trying to work out what our own path is.
” But I held on, I remained there. Held onto the traditions that we once made because it’s all I have.
Maybe they think we’ll reunite in the afterlife… that in the end we’ll be together again. But I won’t. Maybe I just want to make this temporary life count, hold on and make up for the time I’ll never have.
I look down at my raw knuckles that are already healing, the emotions I’m so fucking good at hiding threatening to show themselves.
“And I led us down that path,” he says. I look up at Ares, seeing regret in his eyes.
“Damn… did you just admit to being an asshole?” I joke.
“I remember not trusting Jayce, knowing I felt like he was a traitor, but no matter how hard I think, I can’t figure out why I thought that, but I know before I was attacked- or should I say killed- I realised it wasn’t him.
I’m still missing a shit-ton, but there are answers in my memories that are blocked off. ”
“Can Poseidon help you?” I ask.
“I tried. He refuses to mess with the balance more than granting me the power he already has. He has a temper, so once he’s made up his mind, he ain’t going to change it.”
“Geez, really? I wonder who that reminds me of,” I remark.
He frowns at me before he rakes his fingers through his hair, and his gaze sweeps across the gym. “The perspective on life when you know you’ve been given another chance really is different, isn’t it?”
“I guess so. I ain’t had a second chance, ya know?”
“Yeah… Well, let’s change those habits. In the Realm of the Gods, fighting together reminded me of the past, although we were definitely not that strong back then.
“Yeah, no shit. So, I get that you suspected Jayce, but there’s more to it than that, right? I mean, your issues with him?” I push. I have an idea, but I want to hear it from him.
He looks at me and shrugs. “Maybe. I mean, he can do no wrong, init? He’s always the best at everything, always number one…”
“Jealousy is a real bitch.”
“I don’t know if it’s jealousy. I don’t want to be him, nor do I agree with him on everything, but being in his shadow or compared to him all the fucking time is annoying.”
“Yeah, well, the way I see it, we all bring something to the table. We will all do things differently, and I really do think we all have something the other doesn’t.”
“Hmm.” He neither agrees nor disagrees.
“But I’m mainly glad that we don’t look identical.” I chuckle.
Ares nods. “Yeah, thank the gods for that,” he mutters.
“Yeah, although I think you could have done with a couple of inches,” I taunt.
“Fuck off, I have all the inches I fucking need,” he scoffs, before sighing. “I want to know who killed me, and why. I’m going to figure this out. Poseidon or not, I will be getting the answers.”
“We are going to get the answers,” I agree. “Together, all five of us.”
The words have already left my lips when my wolf shifts with unease, reminding me we still don’t know who’s really behind it all. And I still feel like I can’t mark Renji off entirely. Even if that sounds crazy, I feel he has something to do with it.
And if somehow, he is behind this… then what? Because I don’t see myself being able to expose him.
Then why am I chasing the truth?
The next morning dawns cold and rainy, and we’re all training outdoors.
Last night, I wasn’t able to do it. I wasn’t able to go check those cameras or bring myself to let Heaven know. Because I know her, she would have called me out on it; she has a way of knowing what I’m thinking, and somehow, I end up telling her more than I should.
She’ll probably be pissed at me for standing her up, but fuck, what else was I supposed to do?
“Westwood! Focus!” Matherson thunders. I turn, as do my brothers, even though they all know he’s most likely talking to me.
“Yeah, I am, chill!” I call back, giving him a wave as I focus on my sparring partner.
Ever since Aunty Maria took charge, training continues in all weathers. And there’s a minimum of four hours a day. Harsher, tougher and stricter than ever before. In these matches, we bleed, we break bones, we are pushed to our limits.
“Swap partners!” Matherson orders. We all shuffle around, and I smirk when I’m placed opposite Renji.
“My man,” I say as we exchange a nod before we fall into our fighting stances.
“Theo, you’re quieter than normal. I’m shocked,” he says with a smile.
I shrug. “Yeah, well, I’ve had a girl on my mind,” I begin, frowning when Heaven’s face comes into my mind. I push it away and smirk. “And now that I think about it, she’s in your division. Mind helping me out with her?”
He looks at me in surprise, blocking my attack. “What? Who?”
The one in the hijab, I think I kinda like her. Mind putting in a good word for me? I say smoothly via the mind-link. His eyes widen before he looks at me curiously.
“Stop messing about, you’ve never talked to her,” he says as he ducks and aims a kick at my shin.
“She’s pretty.”
“Yeah, I know, and she already told me you were asking about me, so drop the act.” He has a smile on his face now. “What gave me away?”
“Maybe lying that you’re in bed when you weren’t?” I ask. He looks at me sheepishly.
“She uh… she wanted to see me, and I wasn’t going to pass up the chance…” he trails off glancing around. I like her.
Yeah? Well, shame I can’t go after her then, I say through the mind-link dramatically. He chuckles.
“Yes, please don’t. I might get a little possessive.”
“Now, I might just do it to see that reaction,” I taunt.
“I have to take things slowly as it is, and I’m totally ok with that, by the way, it’s good,” he adds quickly.
I chuckle. “Doesn’t sound like you’re too sure,” I tease. So, I do have a question: when you went to meet up with her, did you feel any kind of odd aura in the halls? Or anything that felt off? I add through the mind-link.
He becomes serious. No. What kind of aura?
I shake my head.
I can’t really explain it, but I sensed the same aura the night Ares was attacked. I watch him intently as he frowns, now serious, but he’s either an excellent liar, better than even I am, or he’s telling the truth, and I’m fucking barking up the wrong damn tree.
I mean, I don’t really have shit on him anyway, just the fact that he lied about his whereabouts when he was out trying to meet up with a girl.
Maybe I should have just gone and checked the cameras. Too late now, and I doubt Heaven will agree to help me again when I blew my chance.
When training is over, we hit the showers before we head to another class.
I spot Tatum talking to Heaven, who hasn’t noticed me, clearly happy to see her brother. I guess he’s back from his mission today. Carter and Jayce head over to him, and I decide to take the chance to slip away before-
I feel something sting my ear and swat it, but nothing’s there, and internally groan.
She’s seen me.
I hear the sound of her racing footsteps as she catches up to me, a small frown on her face.
You stood me up, she writes as she falls in step beside me.
“Yeah, I know, I just… got busy with something else, ya know, this stuff happens,” I lie, shrugging nonchalantly like it’s no big deal.
Like what? she asks, and I feel a tad fucking bad that I stood her up – but only a tad.
“Well, I was with a girl and you know how that shit goes, we lost track of time-”
I don’t want to hear it, she writes, looking at me with ice-cold eyes. They glimmer as she glares at me with clear fucking rage. What a waste of time.
Ok, not what I was expecting. Yeah, I thought she’d be pissed, but clearly my excuse just pissed her off more. She shakes her head before she flicks her hair and walks off.
“Heaven!” I call after her, but she doesn’t even look back, walking away. “Oh, come on, Blondie!”
She doesn’t react, and soon she’s disappeared into the crowds, and I sigh.
Fuck. Now, why the fuck do I feel bad?
Today is just not my day.
“Theo! Man, congratulations on your safe return,” Tatum calls.
I turn and look at him, and surprisingly, there’s a small smile on his face as he walks over to me.
“I stopped at the Rossi Mansion to see Sienna, and I heard it was thanks to you that everyone returned safely.” He looks around as if uncertain how much to say where others might hear me.
“I don’t know about that; it was your sister who made the deal,” I answer.
Something flickers in his eyes before he gives a small nod. “Either way, thank you.”
Did he see that exchange between Blondie and me? For some reason, I fucking hope not.
“Well, I did it for Jayce, so don’t thank me,” I say.
He nods. “Well, either way, I’m glad you’re all back. What happened to Heaven?” he asks, motioning in the direction Blondie had walked off in.
“Girls, no fucking clue.” I shrug with a smirk.
“Right.” He doesn’t push it. “So, we’re heading to the Rossi Mansion later. Are you taking your car?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah, definitely.”
“Right, cool. They’re going to use as few rides as possible, so we should be able to fit in two cars.”
“Yeah, we should be able to squeeze in. See you later, then. I’d better get to my next class.”
“Sure thing.”
I turn away and frown slightly. Is it just me, or was he a tad chattier than usual? I mean, unless he’s that happy we’re all back with Sienna. Who fucking knows?
Yo, man, you’re really not going to come to the Rossi Mansion? I ask Jayce through the mind-link.
No, but our family will be there, he answers.
Really? I ask, surprised.
Yeah, celebrating our return. His voice is almost scornful, and honestly, I have no fucking clue what to say to that.
I get it, get his pain, but also know that our families are so fucking intertwined it’s going to be hard to avoid Sienna entirely.
Well, bro, do what you’ve got to do. I’m sure you ain’t missing shit.
Yeah, he answers curtly before cutting the link.
This visit sure is going to be interesting.