The Fantastic Drowse (Maylor)

I'd Move Mountains For You Kid

The ringing in her ears grew louder with each second her brother stared at her, mouth slightly agape yet no words dared to pass through. She felt her pulse quicken as she desperately willed her tears to not make an appearance.

She should've kept it to herself. What was she thinking?

"Well?" Clare's choked up voice broke the silence, "Say something."

Roger shook his head, letting out a small sigh. "Clare, you've got to be shitting me."

It didn't matter how hard she had tried to keep herself from crying before, she couldn't keep it in any longer when her brother finally spoke, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed gut wrenchingly.

"I'm sorry." She blubbered, taking in harsh breaths as her hands became soaked with her own tears. "I don't have to tell anyone, I don't have to be..." she spoke in between sobs, losing any battle against a breakdown she once had tried to avoid.

Roger stared at her with wide, confused eyes before he realized —she though he was repulsed by her. She thought he was rejecting her.

"Wait, Clare, no!" Roger grabbed her hands pulling them away from her face and into a bone crushing hug. "I just meant... Shit, Clare, I'm sorry." He held her tighter, his hand cradling her head as she sobbed. He'd never heard anyone cry like that, at least not since Brian lost his dad.

And it absolutely broke him.

"Clare," He pulled away, keeping his hands firmly on her shoulders. He loosened his grip when he saw panic in her eyes, swallowing when a wave of nausea hit his stomach. "Clare, I love you, okay? This doesn't change anything, I just... I was confused why you'd be scared to tell me. You know I'd never reject you, never. I mean, I don't have any room to judge." He quickly explained, watching as the panic drained from her eyes.

"You don't hate me?" Her voice was hoarse, tears still dripping from her eyes.

"Of course not." Roger let out a breath, dropping his hands from her shoulders as the young girl sniffled. "You do remember that I'm not exactly the straightest person, right?"

The amount of relief that washed over him when he heard a small laugh come from his sister was immeasurable.

"I just didn't know if you'd be okay with me." Clare swallowed back her tears, sobering up once more. "I didn't know if it was different for girls."

"Maybe for some people, but not for me." Roger said without hesitation.

"But what about mum?" Clare looked back to him to see a pensive look on his face. "What if it's too much? What if Trevor tries to hurt me?"

"Mum isn't like that, Clare. If she accepts me, she'll accept you too." He answered. "And as for Trevor, if he ever even thought about it, he'd be dead. You'll never have to worry about that, I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. Ever."

"He's bigger than you." Clare frowned. "I don't want you to get hurt. Not again."

A dark look took over his face as memories flooded back, he could almost feel the sharp pains that once plagued his life. The scars left on his body burned as he clenched his jaw, pushing back the urge to cry. It wasn't fair to either of them, but it was over now, he was safe. They were safe.

"Trevor... He's not dad, Clare. We're safe. He's good." He didn't fully believe his words. Not yet, at least. But he would try, he'd try his best if it meant Clare wouldn't live in fear.

"But what if you're wrong? What if mum doesn't want me anymore? What if Trevor tries to hurt me? What if he tries to hurt you?" Clare was almost in hysterics, her hand gripping his arm as if it were the only thing to keep her from breaking down again.