as fragile as a dandelion

forgiven

August's POV

3 weeks later...

I woke up with the feeling of warm breath hitting my bare chest. Dawn was starting to filter in through the shades. I peered down at the source of the breath. Two was curled into a fetal position, her knees at my lower stomach and her forehead touching underneath my chin. Her hand was clutching the compass tattoo on my left forearm, which seemed to be like a safety net for her. I could barely breathe, having her this close to me. I was so close I could count her eyelashes if I wanted to. She was so breathtaking.

Her lips were slightly parted, which was where the breath was coming from. I adjusted my leg, which was tingling, and she grumbled in her sleep, reaching out and snuggling closer. Her cheek was now on my chest, her leg wrapped around mine, and her arms holding onto my stomach. I kissed the crown of her head.

It had been a few days since she last had a nightmare, but I was still worried about her. She had been throwing up in the morning, right after waking up, and looked pale and tired all day long, despite the amount of sleep she was getting. I was waiting until Monica came back from vacation to ask her to run some tests on Two. I knew that Monica would be back this week which meant soon Two would be okay. I wrapped her tighter in my arms, wishing that I could protect her from this evil world that she had been born into.

•••

Even though she didn't throw up this morning, Two still looked like she didn't feel alright, even though she kept insisting she was. Today was the day that we were going to tell Two about Cameron. We had been putting it off in hopes of not upsetting her but it felt like it was time.

Harley dragged him by the arm into the lounge, plopping him down onto a leather couch before doing the same himself. Cameron looked awful. He had dark circles under his depressed, hooded eyes. His once strawberry blond hair was dirty and brown, and his clothes were wrinkled and stained.

As soon as he looked up and noticed Two, his eyes brightened with relief, before darkening again with shame and guilt as he saw her leg stub. He stared down at his hands and I could see his body deflate, and almost hear as his heart broke. I watched him bite his lip to keep from crying, the same way Two does.

As Two's eyes took him in I saw pure sadness in them. A single tear slid down her cheek and her body shook with a muted sob.

"I- I just want to- I know you could never forgive me for what I've done, but I just wanted to say Two, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you over the years, for the hell I put you through, and most of all, I'm sorry for never stepping in and protecting you the way that I should have because I'm your big brother. I should've- I was supposed to protect you..." Cameron broke down, sobbing into his hands.

His body quaked with each sob and I watched as Two's face changed. Her eyes went soft with forgiveness and love. In one surprisingly swift movement, Two was on the leather couch, her arms wrapped around her brother's large, sobbing figure. She rubbed her hand up and down his back comfortingly.

"Shhh. Cam. It's okay. I forgive you big brother, I forgive you. Shhh, it's okay." She whispered over and over.

"Y- You forgive m- me?" He hiccuped.

"Yes. I do. You never hit me, you just stood by, which hurts, but I understand it. You were just scared of Dad. We all were. I get it and I forgive you. I love you, Cam." She started crying into his shoulder and it was his turn to comfort her.