Cw: attempted suicide
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Hero woke up, sometime around two in the morning. His throat felt dry, and the cup he kept on his nightstand was empty. He sighs and stands up.
It's been a while since he'd woken up this early in the morning. Usually he was able to sleep until his alarm went off. But it seemed like that wasn't the case tonight.
Hero quietly walks down the stairs, not a single board creaking. He'd learned which board would and wouldn't creak when stepped on. Just a result of having strict parents, I guess.
As he made his way toward the kitchen, he stops. He could hear quiet, just barely audible sniffling coming from the kitchen. Hero frowns, knowing what comes next. He walks into the kitchen. "Kel? What's going on?" He asks quietly.
Kel looks over at him. He was sitting at the counter, holding a box of tissues in his hands. The trash can seemed full of tear soaked tissues. Kel frowns, looking back down at the counter. Hero sighs and walks over to him, sitting on the stool beside him.
"Tell me what's wrong, Kel." Hero urges. Kel shakes his head, remaining silent despite his useless attempt to steady his shaky, uneven breathing. Hesitantly, Hero places a hand on Kel's back.
Kel flinches slightly, but allows it. Hero rubs gentle circles on his back, just trying to help him calm down.
This has been happening a lot recently. Hero finding Kel crying his eyes out in the kitchen at the dead of night. Kel never explained why or what was wrong. No matter how desperate Hero was to know what was going on with him, he never pushed him too much. He didn't want Kel to have a meltdown.
He knows his little brother has troubles articulating his emotions and speaking them out. It was always easier for him to just… express them. And even then, he still had a hard time doing that. He couldn't cry in public because that's apparently 'him causing a scene.' He couldn't fidget because it's seen as a distraction. He couldn't even go quiet without being called antisocial or an introvert.
"I know you don't want to talk right now, and I won't force you to talk. Just talk when you're ready. Okay?"
Kel nods slowly.
Hero sighs and stands up. Kel quickly looks up with wide panicked eyes. He quickly reaches out and grabs Hero's arm. Hero jolts, stopping in place. "Kel, I'm not leaving. I'm just getting water."
Slowly, Kel lets go of him and retracts his arm. Hero sighs and walks over to one of the cabinets.
This was going to be a while.
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Another day gone by. Another night that Hero wakes up way before daylight.
Hero slowly walks downstairs and into the kitchen. As expected, Kel was there. Hero sits beside him, resting his hand on top of Kel's.
Kel looks up at him, tears streaking his face. Hero frowns and raises a hand to dry Kel's face.
"I wish you would tell me what's wrong." Hero whispers.
Kel sniffles, more tears welling up in his eyes.
"You've been so quiet lately. It's worrying. I'm worried about you."
Kel hiccups, closing his eyes and leaning over the counter, trying to hide his face.
Hero sighs and gently smoothens Kel's hair. His hair was tangled.
Hero pulls Kel into a hug as he begins to quietly sob.
It feels like it took longer for him to calm down.
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The next few days had been fine. Kel stayed in their room and slept soundly. Anytime he was in the kitchen was for water or a snack. But still, Hero always checked. Just to be sure.
When Hero woke up that night, he immediately checked if Kel was in bed. He wasn't. Hero stands up and quickly yet silently made his way down stairs.
For the first time in a while, he could hear Kel crying from the kitchen. Hero quickly rushes to the doorway, only to stop in shock.
Kel stood in front of the sink, tears rolling down his face and dripping from his chin, mouth hung open as he breathes heavily and rapidly. A large knife in his hands, the point directed at his stomach.
"Kel!" Hero shouts as he rushes towards his little brother.
Kel jolts, dropping the knife in shock. It chatters on the floor, thankfully not hitting Kel's bare feet.
"What are you doing? Y-You're going to hurt yourself with that!" Hero says, panicked. He places his hands on Kel's arms, looking him over for any actual injuries.
Kel glances away from him. "Th-That was kind of the p-point." He stutters.
Hero stares at him in disbelief. "Kel. Kel, no." He mutters, blinking away his own tears. "No. No, no, don't do it. Please." He says, wrapping his arms around Kel.
Kel goes quiet again.
"Kel, please tell me you haven't done anything yet."
Kel hesitates, "n-no. I haven't."
Hero sighs quietly. "Oh thank god. Come on, we should get back to bed." He says, pulling away from him. He bends down and picks up the knife, setting it in the sink. Kel nods slowly, "Okay. I'll… I'll be up in a minute. Just gonna get some water."
Hero freezes, "how about I get it for you, and you head upstairs?"
Kel glances at him and then back at the knife. He sighs, "okay." He mumbles, walking past Hero.
Once he's sure Kel is gone, he sighs in relief. He can't lose his little brother. He absolutely cannot lose him.
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Sorry I keep writing so much sad stuff. It's just how I kinda feel right now.
