Xenomorph

Abused - A Brother's Duty

Elijah sighed tiredly as he headed down the hall. He was exhausted. After being woken up with Gavin crying and begging him for help in the middle of the night, driving at breakneck speed down the mountain, calming Gavin enough to bring him home, and actually getting back, he'd retreated to his lab. It was what he always did when he was stressed. Chloe often scolded him for it. He wouldn't stop to think about his emotions or talk it over. He'd retreat to his work and hide. That's what he'd done that night, too. He wasn't like Chloe. He'd never been very good at offering sympathetic comfort. That didn't mean he didn't care. He gave his brother support all the time, and tonight was no different.

Gavin had seemed so small when he'd found him. He'd been huddled on a bench in the small park near Carl Manfred's house. It was a place Elijah had often gone to a few years back, but not so much recently. There was little point with Carl's health being so poor. He could rarely venture outside these days. Elijah's visits was how Gavin knew about it. They'd often met there after his visits with Carl to go into the city or return to the mansion. Gavin had been shivering that night when Elijah found him. The hastily packed duffle bag had been sitting by his feet and he'd folded his arms across his chest for warmth. It wasn't just from the cold. He was in a certain amount of shock. Elijah hadn't noticed his lip or eye until he'd raised his head. He'd had his hood pulled up to hide himself from anyone passing by.

"Eli..." Gavin had murmured quietly as he noticed his approach. Elijah's jaw had tightened as he'd taken in the injuries on his face. This wasn't the first time, but after not seeing him for so long, it looked far worse than he remembered. It didn't help that he'd lost weight since then. Most wouldn't notice. Not with the loose-fitting leather jacket, but Elijah could see it. It wasn't just in his limbs. It was his face. His cheeks were tighter. The rings beneath his eyes were deeper. His skin was paler, even in the dim orange glow of the streetlights. He almost didn't look like his brother. He was like a husk. A haunted shell of what he used to be.

"Fuck, Gavin...Come here..." Elijah had held his arms out, trying not to seem too judgemental as he'd tugged Gavin against his chest. My little brother...How did this happen to you? He couldn't help but wonder if he'd played a part in it. Perhaps he hadn't been a good enough older brother. He should have noticed at the first sign of trouble. He should have done more to talk some sense into him. Maybe he could have made him stay longer. He truly regretted their last fight. If they hadn't argued, perhaps Gavin would have called sooner. Perhaps he wouldn't have felt so ashamed and avoided him for so long. He'd held Gavin tighter as he'd started sniffling quietly. That had been telling enough. Gavin hated crying in front of people. Even as a child, he used to hold his breath, tighten his jaw, and insist he was fine. He'd always been the stronger one back then. Elijah had felt Gavin grip back, trembling hands desperately fisting in his black leather jacket. "What happened?"

"H-h-he-ph-he-ph-phcking-choked me! Phck! I thought I was going to phcking die!" Gavin had continued to sob as Elijah's blood froze in his veins. How had he come so close to losing his brother without realising? Gavin could have died, and he wouldn't have known. He could deal with losing him on the job. That had been a very real possibility for years. He'd come close more than once, but this...To have almost lost his little brother to a shameless abuser. It was unacceptable. Elijah had fisted a hand in Gavin's hair, grounding and soothing him. There had been no question about Gavin coming home with him. He wouldn't let him go to his apartment alone. It wouldn't be safe there. This person likely knew where he lived.

"You're coming back to the mansion...Do you have work tomorrow? You'll have to call in sick if you do." Elijah had left no room for arguments. Perhaps he'd been a little controlling in telling Gavin where he was going and what he was going to do, but he could hardly go to work like that. Elijah's jaw had tightened in a mixture of anger and disgust as he'd noticed the dark ring around his neck. Gavin had been subdued, meekly nodding his obedience as he'd let Elijah take his bag. Elijah had done his best to distract him during the drive.