008 I am you and you are me

[kinships]

[A: Open to All; wandering around Bombfield.]

[Cain had tried desperately to keep his eyes open, the endurance of a clone and the fearful adrenaline from the situation helping with that. But at the end of the day, he was still only a ten year old child and he couldn't stay awake for days on end. Eventually, as morning crept over for the third day

Comments

A

[kinships]

...Abel?

[He's still groggy, waking up, confused at where they are.]

[custodismundi]

[he had moved as quietly as he could, come morning -- the silence of the shelter broken only by the soft shuffling of the priest as he'd so... so carefully plucked his baby brother from where he'd been lovingly laid out upon one of the bunks below ground. Cain was cradled close in the crook of his arm, even if it was an awkward climb up the ladder this way-- but the boy was still near weightless to him, soft head of hair lolled onto his shoulder

[kinships]

[Why were they above ground?

There was enough food and water to last them for a while yet, and so it was a stupid risk to leave the safety of the bunker and wander around the ruined town. America had told them that there were cannibals, not to mention the air was probably toxic, so...

And even if Abel wanted to help, there was no way he would take Cain with him. He knows how protective his brother is over his well-being, and there are only two reasons he would take him out into danger.

Either he was severely ill, or Abel was, and they needed help.]

What's wrong? Why are we out here?

[custodismundi]

Just... relax, okay? Try to go back to sleep if you can.

[he shifts his hold on him slightly, but his attention has already returned front and forward where he's stubbornly moving because the alternative is unacceptable.]

It's-- gonna be okay.

[kinships]

Abel...

[Don't try to fob him off, he is no fool about to roll over and accept that this is normal.]

Why are we outside?

[custodismundi]

[yes, well. he's doing the only thing he knows how in situations like this... and trying to pretend it isn't happening. ;/]

I think...

[...something. his head hurts ;(]

...we should... find Clark. We shouldn't have...

[...]

We should... stick by our friends, Cain. [just keep moving.]

[kinships]

Abel, stop. Stop!

[This isn't right, something is so very wrong here and it's making his stomach clench with sudden fear.]

Don't... don't lie to me, tell me what's happening.

[custodismundi]

...I can't stop. [he can't; if he does, he knows it'll be hard to get going again. he just wants to find Clark -- he can do that much. he's sure he can do that much... he absolutely can't fail his little brother after all of this.]

Please, just... hold tight and try not to breathe too deep, okay...?

[kinships]

[There's the answer to his question, and it's the one he had most dreaded hearing.

Sick... the air... radiation? It had been a nuclear explosion, after all, and Cain knew what one of those could do from his studies. Add that to the fact that he felt fine... a little fatigued, perhaps, but not sick by any means.

There was only one conclusion.

His voice is edged with a little more panic now, a demand as his eyes widen.]

Stop! Abel, stop now! Put me down, you--

[custodismundi]

[ah. his chest pangs painfully... of course his brother was... smart. intelligent. a genius intellect; he would be able to put the pieces together, but... Abel had sincerely hoped that he might've been groggy enough after this ordeal to slip back to sleep with the comfort that all was okay.

he keeps moving, in any case. no matter what else happens... that won't change until he's found what he's looking for.]

We're going to find Clark.

Don't panic. You'll breathe faster... just relax. [he's calm himself, somehow. at least... he seems to be. ;(]

[kinships]

[Find... Clark?

Clark is no doctor; and besides, no doctor can treat radiation poisoning anywhere... not the sort that came after a nuclear explosion. Which meant.

Which meant.

Which... meant... he was handing him off to someone else to be taken care of. It meant it was fatal, it meant his precious brother was dying.]

Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop!

[Don't ignore him, Abel. Don't.]

[custodismundi]

I can't. [he stresses this again, his eyes burning -- it isn't the air or the smoke or fatigue; it's his heart that's killing him now. the sound of his brother's voice rips right through him.]

I can't stop. Please, don't... be afraid. It's going to be okay. It's-- okay.

[...why is it after all this time, and so many centuries of chasing after death, when it's looming over him at long last... he finds himself wanting to cling to his god forsaken life the most? he's... a fool. he's such a stupid, stupid fool...]

[kinships]

[Afraid? He's TERRIFIED. His brother is his whole world, always has been, and the only reason he's made it this far himself. The smiles, the optimism, the determination, the future... it was all for Abel. Without him it meant nothing.

Without him, Cain was nothing.

He has never felt such all-encompassing fear, it's twining around his chest and freezing all thoughts in his brain. He feels like he's drowning on dry land as he starts to try and scramble around where he's being carried on Abel's back, trying to hold him properly and look into his face.]

...No. Don't... Abel, don't...

[custodismundi]

[his footsteps falter at that -- Cain squirming and the way he's tugging at every single god damn heartstring he's got seems to wind him and his knees feel like jelly. he locks them jerkily to keep steady, struggling to hold onto the little wiggler.]

C-- Cain, h... hey! Be careful...!

[kinships]

[Careful is for other times, careful is for when he's not suffocating in fear.

He slides down off Abel's back, using his own advanced dexterity and Abel's weakness to his advantage, almost falling as he stumbles around to stand in front of him and look up into his eyes.

Ah.

...

His... eyes are glazed and his face is pale, sweat beading on his skin in a thin feverish sheen. He's sick, he's... really sick. He doesn't know if he says anything; but if he does, it's far from intelligible. Eyes wide and staring, all masks stripped away to reveal the most raw and naked of fears.

Brother... don't leave him.]

[custodismundi]

[he hadn't been afraid, before...

but he is terrified, now.

Abel meets those eyes, his own wide in response. that single look... it takes his breath away. it makes his heart want to lurch to a stop for how bad it aches... stomach turning and the whole world seems to tilt dizzyingly for a moment before he humors the urge to sink. down, to knees in front of him -- reaching his hands out to apologetically cup his brother's cheeks, brow furrowed in apology and fear.]

D... don't.

[don't... look at him like that; don't-- be afraid, don't... Cain ;;]