Hyacinth

Chapter 01. Trust

The leaves hummed their all familiar tune as the wind clashed against them, howling for the aged oak tree to give in against their ever going battle. A boy would lay as still as a mouse on the tree's base, his bright, youthful eyes gazing up to watch the wind battle the viridescent leaves. His eyes had always been his favorite part of himself, although perhaps he was blinded from praise. His brother had always described his eyes to be as mesmerizing as the sky on a hot summer day, but only the days the boys father had not let them go to play in the field outside their cottage. He remembered those days like it was yesterday. His brother would always glance over at him with a mischievous grin, occasionally he was shocked that something could be so similar so many times without fail; it was almost like he was watching a movie. After their father would turn his back the two brothers would sneak away outside, only to be met by their eldest brother awaiting to sabotage their efforts. He was always in the same position, sometimes he thought that his brother was frozen; a statue that never moved unless pushed. He never did figure out why his brother never stopped this repeat of events, even though all three of them knew what would happen.

"Tommy!" A familiar voice called out

Tommy lifted his head from the oak tree he once relaxed his head on and looked ahead, to see his brother, Wilbur.

"Wilbur! You're back!"

The boy jumped up from his seat on the grass, champagne colored hair catching the wind as he ran forward and threw himself into his brothers arms, wrapping his arms around his brothers back and resting his head on his brothers soft, auburn colored sweater, the wool scratched him in a nearly teasing way, but the boys excitement kept him from caring.

Tommy felt his brother's rough, battle scarred hands gently caress his soft, golden brown hair, a feeling he had missed.

"I missed you too, Toms."

Wilbur's hoarse voice was soft, it wasn't something Tommy heard often.

"Did something happen to you?"

Tommy choked out, his worry for his brother showing, but Tommy tried to mask it with an awkward laugh. He removed his head from his brother's chest and looked up at him, Wilbur had a sad smile on his face.

"Wil-"

He was stopped by Wilbur's hand moving from his hair to his finger brushing over Tommy's lips, shushing him. Tommy glared at his brother, rolling his eyes in annoyance before realizing something must've really hurt his brother out there, though Tommy couldn't exactly tell why, he didn't seem to be in any type of excruciating pain, so why was he acting like he had been stabbed straight through the heart?

"Tommy, sit with me will you?"

Wilbur asked, his voice laced with agony as he sat down on the soft green blanket of uncut grass and weeds.

Tommy reluctantly followed, bringing his knees up to his chest as he looked as his brother sitting in-front of him.

"Tommy, you trust me, right?"

There was an urgency to Wilbur's tone that panicked Tommy, so he nodded quickly.

"Of course I do," Tommy paused momentarily before giving his brother a suspicious look.

"Why're you asking me this all the sudden?"

Wilbur sighed, suddenly realizing he couldn't keep the truth from his brother. Tommy was young, curious, and although he'd been through a war at age nine, the boy still seemed to have the energy of a month old puppy. It angered Wilbur that Tommy's world would be crashing down around him, and although he had sworn to his father that nothing would ever harm his brother, Wilbur had been failing to keep that promise continuously.