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[turnofemperor]

Life had been... busy since the start of all this, so to speak. Between the chaos that'd rampaged through most of campus and Cayden's own rushed pact with Narc- Allen, he'd been on the move nearly non-stop. The only times he'd been able to get a rest was when he managed to make his way back to the room he was sharing, completely exhausted, and

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[oneofthreepaths]

Ravel felt worse than useless. He didn't know what to do to help and shuffled off to the back by first Ky and then his brother and then it seemed like everyone he came across just made him feel all the more like a burden being passed on. He knew he shouldn't feel so, that everyone was just trying to keep the students without the ability to fight (read, useless) safe, but he couldn't help himself. He'd wandered down the halls filled with worried faces and tight lips, some crying, some just starring down, others trying to distract themselves with some semblance of normality . . .but nothing seemed right. The wave of mental pressure had driven him back to the room, his nerves not helping with his mental shields and he longed for the familiar room back in Loki

[turnofemperor]

He didn't move when Ravel entered, didn't say a thing when his brother climbed onto the bed and curled against him.

He just smiled. Slightly propped himself up with one elbow, turning his head to look at the top of Ravel's out of the corner of his eye and spoke in that soft tone he reserved for when his brother needed comfort. Which he looked to need very much right now.

"Of course I'm safe. I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to me."

[oneofthreepaths]

That's a promise you can't keep. That was what Ravel wanted to say. But saying that would only get them two started on another of their arguments of what was destiny and what was choice. Ravel didn't want to fight right now. He just wanted to hold Cayden close and not let him go out, not let that tall man with his long blonde hair and smirky smile take him out to fight. He wanted them to be away, back in Australia even. He shifted so he could bury his face in his brother's back, smelling the familiar scent.

"I know."

[turnofemperor]

He arched his back a little, awkwardly, because that spot was always a little ticklish.

"You don't sound very comforted." He let himself drop back down onto the pillow under his arm, closing his eyes as he exhaled into the soft material.

"Are you doing all right here?"

[oneofthreepaths]

Ravel turned his head to rest on the side of his face, looking out past into his brother's hair. They had the exact same colour hair, bright blonde, though Cayden's was a bit more sunbleached.

"Why wouldn't I be? There's nothing I can do anyways." He tried not to sound bitter. The last two weeks of stress was not good for him and he didn't want to burden his brother further.

[turnofemperor]

He blinked and twisted his head as far as he could to look at Ravel directly.

"What do you mean there's nothing you can do? There's plenty." It never ceased to confuse him how much Ravel seemed to miss, especially when it was obvious to Cayden.

[oneofthreepaths]

Ravel didn't move from where he lay, half on top of his brother. He just looked at Cayden, silent and then away. He ran his fingers along his brother's shoulders, beginning to lightly massage the muscles in the back, working at the knots. His world never seemed to leave Cayden's existence and all he could think of was that there wasn't anything he could do to fight alongside him, help him.

[turnofemperor]

Cayden couldn't help the small smile, nor the soft sigh at the press of fingers against his back. He laid his head back down, tilted to the side so he could still see Ravel out of one eye.

"Not everyone can fight out there. But there are plenty of other things that're needed here. Food, comfort, even a distraction to help take their minds off what's going on outside, even for a minute."

Another steady exhale, barely disguising a groan of content.

"I think there's some people who'd like to see a smiling face as much as I would when I'm here."

[oneofthreepaths]

Ravel found a small smile somewhere inside of himself and leaned forward as he continued to kneed and press at the tight and tired muscles.

"I don't think you'd approve of my distractions", he tried, keeping his tone light.

"And everyone seems. . .to know where they belong. Helping. I just feel lost when you're not here." His fingers found the junction where Cayden's neck met the shoulder and he pressed down, working at the tension.

[turnofemperor]

"So find your way to a place where you belong," he mumbled, already being pulled into drowsy contentment with each press of Ravel's hands, "It's better if you look for it than waiting for it to find you."

Nevermind how cheesy it sounded, that's what Cayden believed in and was working towards. Pacting with Allen had been one of those steps in the right direction.

[oneofthreepaths]

"Why can't I just belong with you, love?" Ravel continued the massage, fingers pressing down, raking down his back slowly and continuing at his lower back. Ravel scooted a bit so he was now lying on his Cayden's lower half so he could pull Cayden's dress shirt out. Untucking the shirt, he could now better work the tension in his lower back. Touching, feeling his brother, he felt better. Cayden was here, with him, safe, resting, protected.

[turnofemperor]

He inhaled a bit sharply at the feel of skin against skin, but paid it little mind, far too used to touches like these from Ravel.

"The world's bigger than me," he spoke, still in that soft voice, "I want you to experience all of it."

[oneofthreepaths]

"I experience a lot of things already." Ravel said with a hint of knowing, keeping his hands moving.

"The world's not as great as it's cut out to be."

[turnofemperor]

"Not that kind of experience," he huffed for a moment before settling back down, "And besides. Isn't it better than home?"