(Untitled)

[qsilver_md]

Kevin is sitting in a secluded booth, alone.

He got a letter with his coffee, yesterday, and he'd rather read it over again in privacy.

Comments

[qsilver_lab_rat]

And Darien plops down across from him, simple as that.

[qsilver_md]

He looks up.

"Hey, Darien."

[qsilver_lab_rat]

"Kev."

He inclines his head.

[qsilver_md]

"How're you?"

[qsilver_lab_rat]

"Good," and he sips his own coffee.

"Get my letter?"

[qsilver_md]

He takes it out of his pocket, where it still is after talking to Charlie. He's practically memorised it in the last day or so.

"Yeah."

[qsilver_lab_rat]

He nods again.

"Get what I meant?"

[qsilver_md]

Kevin nods back. "I do. And I'm sorry."

[qsilver_lab_rat]

He shrugs, as if shifting something off his shoulder.

"Just... pissed me off. Made me feel like, hey, he's not listening to me, why the hell should I listen to him."

[qsilver_md]

"I never meant that to be the way it came across, Darien. I just... it's supposed to be the older brother's job to protect, isn't it?"

He was told that enough times, when they were children.

[qsilver_lab_rat]

"No."

And he looks at Kevin carefully.

"It's family's job to protect family."

[qsilver_md]

"After Mom died... do you know how many people told me something along the lines of 'look after your brother'?" He shrugs. "When you're that young, it sticks."

[qsilver_lab_rat]

"Sure. But then you grow up."

[qsilver_md]

"You do. But you don't forget."

[qsilver_lab_rat]

"I know," and he shakes his head, "but it's just... I mean..."

Another headshake.

"Kev, it's part of the problem when I try and tell you something and you brush me off just because your problems don't involve the cops."

[qsilver_md]

"I'm not trying to brush you off. Just trying to explain my part. And I know my work had its problems."

Problems maybe even Darien didn't know about.