[sup][h2][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lWCxMiz.png[/img][/center][center] [color=black]K Y R I N & I M A N I [/color] [color=b76e79][color=54626f]K Y R I N[/color] [color=white]&[/color] [color=b76e79]I M A N I[/color] [/color] [/center] [/h2][/sup] [sup][center][/center][center] [color=black]A P H R O D I T E ' S C A B I N[/color] [color=gray]A P H R O D I T E ' S C A B I N[/color] [/center] [sup][center][color=black]I N T E R A C T I O N S : With Eachother[/color][/center] [center][color=black]Collab Between: [@Rodiak] & [@Metztli][/color][/center] [center][sup][/sup][/center][/sup][/sup][center][color=black][sub][/sub][/color][/center] [sup][center][/center][center] [color=black]_______________________________________________[/color] [color=gray] _______________________________________________[/color] [/center] [/sup] [color=gray][indent][color=2e2c2c].[/color] The events that had transpired earlier had left Kyrin confused. After leaving Elias alone on the cliff with the imaginary key in hand, he couldn't stop himself from smiling all the way back to cabin ten. He felt silly, almost. He couldn't figure out the feeling in his stomach or why his heart had fluttered seeing Elias's stupid face when Kyrin waved the key in front of his face. How could someone like that guy make him feel like this? Make him forget just for a few minutes that most of his life had been riddled with horrible shit. Make him forget that maybe, just maybe, he could allow people ; that. And then it was over. Just as quick as the feeling had come now, it was gone when he caught his own reflection on one of the windows. Memories began to flood in. One by one, all showing him that he was wrong. He couldn't risk getting hurt like that ever again. [color=54626f]"Stupid."[/color] Kyrin frowned at his own reflection before hurrying inside cabin ten. There was no one inside, good. With no sister insight, he made his way into their shared kitchen. He opened one of the cupboards and pushed some of the cereal boxes to reveal a bottle of Johnnie Walker Scotch Imani had smuggled the first day of summer camp. He rolled his eyes as he poured himself a glass. It was funny. Aphrodite had fallen for two accomplished men and given birth to two beautiful daughters, all of them so confident and so proud to be themselves. Then there was Kyrin. His father was nowhere in sight; he didn't even know the bastard's name. Pathetic. Just like Kyrin. With a sigh, the boy stared down the poured scotch before downing the glass he had poured. He debated putting the bottle back in its hiding spot again but settled with taking the whole bottle with him up to his room. He didn't want to hear Imani's worried words. He didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes. Once in his room, he kicked off his shoes and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge and staring at the dry plant sitting by the window. It had been a present from Imani. He had kept it alive for the past year or so, but now it was slowly dying. Kyrin didn't have enough energy to water it or care for it. Now it was just left to dry out with the view to the rest of the cabins. Imani hummed softly as she walked into the cabin. She had just finished spreading the word around about Katherine's party with Madame Croix on her tail. The cat slipped past Imani's legs and hurried up the stairs with a soft and almost poised [i]meow[/i]. She rolled her eyes at the spoiled cat as she stepped into the kitchen, stopping on her tracks when she saw the empty glass on the counter. She quirked an eyebrow as she approached the glass and picked it up, smelling the strong alcohol immediately. It couldn't be Ariana; she wasn't even here. [i]Kyrin[/i] She put the glass down and rushed to open the cupboard, pushing the boxes of cereal out of the way to see the bottle of scotch gone. Imani's heart stopped. "[color=b76e79]Fuck.[/color]" She turned around and hurried up the stairs. No, no, not again. Imani couldn't find Kyrin like that again. The sight of blood had scared her shitless that day. To see her younger brother lying on the floor unconscious with a pool of blood around his head. She could still remember clearly how she had rushed to his side and took him in her arms, ugly crying and yelling for help. Kyrin had fallen during a drunken stupor and hit the side of his head. Luckily, one of the healers had been passing through to stabilize him before it was too late. Imani had cried so hard that day, afraid she could have lost Kyrin. Back then, it had just been the two of them in the cabin. She had stayed by Kyrin's side until he had recovered, and he was well enough not to need her. Although she could see how he hated all the attention, Imani continued to stay by him. Afraid that he would pull something like that again, she had to keep an eye out for the younger boy. Krin never talked about that day, no matter how hard Imani tried to bring it up. Like he was running away from it. Now both of them pretended as it had never happened. "[color=b76e79]Kyrin?[/color]" She called out as she approached the door to his room. Her cat was scratching at the door and meowing loudly for Kyrin to open up the door. She frowned, reaching for the handle. Imani could feel her heartbeat in her ears as she pushed the door open ready to call for help if needed, but she only stared at Kyrin standing by the window. "[color=b76e79]Hey... Kai?[/color]" Under her, Madame Croix ran past her and to the boy's bed. She curled up in one of his sweaters comfortably while Imani walked over to Kyrin. "[color=b76e79]Hey, are you okay?[/color]" Her eyebrows furrowed with worry when he didn't respond. Kyrin had been so lost in thought he hadn't even noticed Imani's cat scratching at his door. He had already drunk three glasses worth of scotch already, but he couldn't quite feel it yet. He wanted the numbness that came along with being drunk. To dull away some of the pain in his chest or, better yet, make him forget it altogether. But he was already there; Kyrin just couldn't feel it anymore. [color=54626f]"Didn't know you'd... be back so early,"[/color] Kyrin finally turned to look towards Imani's direction, an easy smile spreading over his lips. He put down the bottle on his desk, almost missing it by an inch, before walking over to his bed to pet the cat. He didn't want to look at his sister in the eyes, not while he was like this. Kyrin was sure he would see the disappointment in her eyes; or worse, pity. Imani frowned, watching the younger boy hobble to his bed. "[color=b76e79]Kai, you have to stop this.[/color]" She walked to the edge of the bed and sat next to him. She had been relieved to see him still standing there. She reached over and took his hand slowly and gently, knowing that he could be startled at any moment. "[color=b76e79]I'm worried Kai. What if it happens again? What if it's the stairs and not the table?[/color]" She squeezed his hand, looking at him and almost begging for him to look back at her. She was in no way disappointed in him; she was worried—worried sick. He didn't flinch away from her touch. Imani's hand felt soft and warm against his cool skin; it was almost welcoming. [color=54626f]"I'm fine, Ani."[/color] Kyrin pulled his hand away from hers and rested it over Madame Croix's head, his fingers gingerly working under her chin. He didn't want to hear this. He didn't want to have this conversation. Not now or ever. Kyrin knew what he was doing. It wasn't the same as last time. He had just had some drinks this time; he hadn't even finished the bottle. Imani's worries didn't stem from anything, he knew. Kyrin didn't want anyone's help. He didn't deserve it. [color=54626f]"Don't. Nothing is going to happen, okay?"[/color] Why couldn't she just be like the rest and leave him alone? Just forget about it or ignore him. She had always been there for him since day one. Always asking how he was doing, always asking if he had eaten or slept well. Kyrin had been so unused by the sudden attention from Imani that he hadn't known how to handle it all. It had felt overbearing and suffocating at first; he had been so used to others ignoring his existence or just bossing him around. Imani shattered that. She showed him that she truly cared for him, and yet almost four years later, he was still unsure that it was real. Even now, he didn't know if her worry for him was actually there or not. [color=54626f]"I'm fine, okay?"[/color] He repeated, this time his voice a lot harsher. Why couldn't she see that he was fine? Kyrin hadn't been completely drunk this time. He hadn't tripped or broken anything or hurt himself; he was fine. "[color=b76e79]You're not fine, Kai. I'm worried that one day I'll wake up and you won't be here.[/color]" Imani looked down when he pulled his hand away. She understood that it was hard for Kyrin to accept any kind of help from others. She knew he was afraid to get hurt, but why couldn't he see that Imani wasn't just someone else? She was family, real family. "[color=b76e79]Please, Kyrin.[/color]" She reached over to him again. [color=54626f]"I said I'm fine! Why do you always have to butt in? Act as if you care so much?!"[/color] Kyrin looked at his sister this time. Despite the harsh voice, his eyes were distant, almost looking past Imani. "[color=b76e79]You're not fine. You've been smoking a pack a day, you've started drinking again, and you keep pushing Ari and me away. Stop being a stubborn asshole, and let us help you![/color]" Imani tried to keep her voice calm, but Kyrin just couldn't open his eyes and see how much she cared for him. How much Ariana did too. [color=54626f]"How? I barely know you, I barely know Ariana."[/color] Kyrin put Madame Croix on the bed and stood up from the bed. He walked across the room to the desk again; this time, he opened one of the drawers and pulled out a fresh pack of cigarettes. He fumbled with the packaging a bit before he was finally able to lit one of the cigarettes. Imani hurried over to Kyrin and snatched the cancer stick from his lips just as he lit it. She glared at him as she slipped it into the scotch bottle, letting the cigarette fall on the honey-colored liquid. "[color=b76e79]I am still you sister.[/color]" She took the box away from him and shoved it into the pockets on her skirt. "[color=b76e79]I still love you, no matter how much of an asshole you are. I need you to understand that, Kyrin.[/color]" She took his hand, her eyes softening and looking over him. "[color=b76e79]We love you, okay? Ariana and I love you. You are our family.[/color]" With her other hand, she reached up to brush some of his hair off his eyes, a small smile gracing her features. "[color=b76e79]And you can't get rid of us.[/color]" Kyrin stared at Imani. He had frozen in place and watched as she snatched the cigarette and box from him. [color=54626f]"Imani-"[/color] He tried to say, but she continued to talk over him, shoving her care and love for him into him by force. He didn't have a choice. Imani wouldn't allow him to run away anymore, that was clear. Kyrin knew he couldn't push her or Ariana forever, and it felt like the walls he had built over the years were slowly cracking. It scared him. [color=54626f]"I..."[/color] He didn't know what to say anymore. Kyrin wouldn't admit that he needed help or that there was something wrong in the first place, but Imani was so persistent. So adamant in helping him that Kyrin couldn't just say no when he knew she wouldn't accept that answer. [color=54626f]"... okay."[/color] He didn't pull away from her this time; instead, he let her brush away the strands of hair and looked down at their hands. It was okay to be scared. It's okay to be afraid. Those same words he had said to Erin were now ringing in his mind. It would be okay like she would be. He had a family now, a real family that [i]wanted[/i] to there for him. That actually cared for him and didn't just keep him around for the extra money. It was okay to be scared. Imani nodded, pulling Kyrin in and wrapping her arms around him. "[color=b76e79]Come, I'll make a nice onion stew to sober you up.[/color]" She pulled back, looking at her younger brother for a second before taking his hand like a little kid and pulling him along. "[color=b76e79]Oh! [i]J'ai presque oublié[/i].[/color]" She turned around and walked over to the desk to take the now ruined bottle of scotch with them. [color=54626f]"Imani, I-"[/color] Kyrin frowned, looking down again at their hands. [color=54626f]"Ta..."[/color] "[color=b76e79]No need, Kai. You're my family, don't forget that.[/color]" Imani squeezed his hand gently as they entered the kitchen. She was happy that Kyrin hadn't pushed her back this time; it was a step forward and she was proud of him. [/indent][/color]