AU: 1 BROTHER

[forkedroad]

Since meeting and traveling with the Tanners, Annabelle had seen a lot. A lot of death, destruction, and chaos; all the darkness that she'd always felt magnetized towards, even coveted, had stared her in the eyes several times in their journeys. It humbled her, and finally, had even scared her a little. She didn't let as much on, very often—the two boys had seen her rattled a couple of times, but she always recovered with stoic grace into her eventually typically impish facade.

A year or so into being with them, she pondered loss, having learned why they were alone. She wondered about her own family, and her own heart—if she would feel that sort of grief.

She decided if she lost either of the Tanners, she would.

But it was grief uncompared to Lauren's—she'd never heard such soul shaking wails of despair in her life, and sitting awake in the corner of his room, she can still hear it. Though Lauren has stopped crying, she can't shake the image of his face in the fresh of it. And it hurts her, too—she loved Susan as well. She cried and screamed as well. But quickly, perhaps too quickly, she's gone and steeled herself; she had to be strong for the remaining brother.

She doesn't sleep, and she's not sure if Lauren does, either. But late in the night, she slips out, whispering she would be back—just in case he's awake. She returns hours later, when the sun is up. She feels cold, and wonders if he does as well. The lack of sleep and the despair has left a chilliness in her bones, but the cold morning air hadn't helped.

Quietly, she moves carefully to the bed. They're staying in an inn—the owners have been kind about the cost of their stay, because tragedy is starkly clear when it strikes. She moves the sheets and comforter back, wordlessly moving beneath them. She settles on her side, laying beside Lauren to look at him.

She has no words, and she's not sure if it's okay to touch him. She seems stoic, because she's shocked—but she feels her grief would be imposing.

Comments

[mylastchance]

He has no idea how much time has passed when she's returned. If he's slept at all in her absence he isn't aware of it. He feels like he's been awoke all night, and the dark bags under his eyes are testament of this. He fell asleep, he knows he did once. He had a dream, Susan was there and yelling at him for something or other. He doesn't remember, just the feeling of loss he'd felt all over again when he'd awoken once more. His eyes are red and he looks an utter wreck. His clothes are a dirty mess, likely parts of them are stained with blood from where he'd help his brother's body close.

The night is dark and the hours long. He still can't quite believe this is his reality. When Anna returns to the bed he doesn't move away, like he normally would to give her space. Instead he shifts closer, taking her hand in his own. She's cold and it shocks him at first. His own body was warm, if only because of the covers he'd surrounded himself in. He may not know how long she was gone, but he knows when she left it was dark and that now it is growing light.

"Don't go." It's a request, more than a command, but there's some touch of desperation to it. He didn't want to be alone right now.