. third .
[In his old world, Aeneas had thought children were the ones to suffer the most from any kind of war. He had seen it in his people, felt it every time his son mentioned Creusa’s name and how he missed her. In this world, he himself had been one of those abandoned children, watching almost dispassionately the family he had been thrown into. From his parents, he expected nothing and he had made sure his sister expected just as much. Not that she needed aid. Serena’s almost entire world was resumed to their home and her school, the few friends she managed to grasp and their dogs. Children could be fragile.
Was it any wonder he had accepted this without much questioning?
Aeneas wasn’t a rich man, not by any chance. He didn’t throw his money out for himself, he basked in Serena. He kept everyone in his household clothed and fed, protected because his home was his place, his and no one else’s. Inside those four walls, he could keep someone somewhat safe, even though the outside world was different and confusing. When Troilus had mentioned the silent girl, the problems she had faced, the horrors. He had opened his door, what else could be done? A child was a child and every child needed protection.
And so he said yes, explaining things carefully to Serena, patiently because this would be a big change for someone who was used to her things in a severe routine. He explained it was someone like her, a little lost, lacking someone to look after her. Aeneas could almost swear his sister had understood just why he was doing this. If her hug, two tight arms around his torso were any indication, she certainly did.
The spare bedroom was pulled apart, cleaned and aired and then prepared for its occupant. The dogs barked and moved around his feet as demanding as ever and he was happy. While he wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the situation - really, with whom would he speak - he missed the sheer amount of people he had once called family. And to see Serena planning, taking herself a little more off that shell she so many times closed herself in, it was enough to make the man simply pleased.
“She will like it?” Me, Aeneas could hear in her voice even as she stared at the closed door, in the way she wrapped her fingers around his. Me, will she like me, will she like us. Serena always spoke in halves and he interpreted.
“Love it. Adore you. How could she not?” The biased brother said simply, his arm moving to fold her small shoulders. “Just be you.”
Both siblings waited side-by-side, dogs patiently by their feet like mismatched guardians - protectors, guardians, angels, who knew what they were? And when someone knocked at the door, he walked forward, opening the door gently with the cautiousness of someone who had seen frightened people in his past and knew what to do. Invite them in.
He smiled, faintly, openly and pushed the door ajar. For his family.]
Was it any wonder he had accepted this without much questioning?
Aeneas wasn’t a rich man, not by any chance. He didn’t throw his money out for himself, he basked in Serena. He kept everyone in his household clothed and fed, protected because his home was his place, his and no one else’s. Inside those four walls, he could keep someone somewhat safe, even though the outside world was different and confusing. When Troilus had mentioned the silent girl, the problems she had faced, the horrors. He had opened his door, what else could be done? A child was a child and every child needed protection.
And so he said yes, explaining things carefully to Serena, patiently because this would be a big change for someone who was used to her things in a severe routine. He explained it was someone like her, a little lost, lacking someone to look after her. Aeneas could almost swear his sister had understood just why he was doing this. If her hug, two tight arms around his torso were any indication, she certainly did.
The spare bedroom was pulled apart, cleaned and aired and then prepared for its occupant. The dogs barked and moved around his feet as demanding as ever and he was happy. While he wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the situation - really, with whom would he speak - he missed the sheer amount of people he had once called family. And to see Serena planning, taking herself a little more off that shell she so many times closed herself in, it was enough to make the man simply pleased.
“She will like it?” Me, Aeneas could hear in her voice even as she stared at the closed door, in the way she wrapped her fingers around his. Me, will she like me, will she like us. Serena always spoke in halves and he interpreted.
“Love it. Adore you. How could she not?” The biased brother said simply, his arm moving to fold her small shoulders. “Just be you.”
Both siblings waited side-by-side, dogs patiently by their feet like mismatched guardians - protectors, guardians, angels, who knew what they were? And when someone knocked at the door, he walked forward, opening the door gently with the cautiousness of someone who had seen frightened people in his past and knew what to do. Invite them in.
He smiled, faintly, openly and pushed the door ajar. For his family.]