The Stage is Set

A Brother's Call pt.4

Rescue me - OneRepublic

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Reaper's soul stills before its pounding is the only thing that rings through his head. That voice. It couldn't be. He slowly turns around, not ready to have his soul break in two. He's not prepared to have his hope crushed. As he peaks over his shoulder, he feels his sockets burn again. His feathers fluff out as his talons curl into fists under his cloak. His gaze softens, almost breaks into pieces as he stares. He feels his breathing stutter, his soul skipping a beat as he stares.

"Ink?"

Reaper watches as a blob of ink slowly forms into the rough shape of Ink. The empty sockets face him, and Reaper knows they're staring at him. Reaper covers his mouth as the ink slowly floats over and crumples. The blob's skull lulls to the side as Reaper inches closer. Reaper moves to hold the blob close. It's cold and wet, but he can't find himself caring. He pulls the blob closer as he starts to cry. Shrill cries leaving his throat as he tries to rock the blob as if it were his small chick. He wants to ask what is happening. Where are they? He has so many questions and can find no words in his reach to ask them. Yet the blob holds him just as tightly, doing nothing but existing in its older brother's arms.

It shifts his hold, pulling back to look at that achingly familiar face. It gently brushes tears away as they continue to rain. It feels nothing but relief and love for the being holding them. There isn't enough of him in it to remember. It just comforts him like it had in the past. It brings a sense of comfort back to Reaper as it was designed. Comfort and call back. Something it has done so often in the past that it is ingrained in him. It holds his face, cooing gently as it wipes away tears. Soft shushing sounds as it runs a hand down the cheek of the other. Nothing more than comfort and love. It had promised him long ago to always be there for them. For him and Cross. To do everything it can to protect, comfort, and love them. They had been brothers, brothers it had never had before.

Reaper leans into the comfort. "Ink?" His voice is quiet. It breaks with fresh tears as he moves to hold the hand resting on his cheek. The hand is dwarfed by his.

The blob tilts its skull before smiling sadly. "Hello." It stands up so Reaper doesn't have to hunch over as much. "We need you." Reaper's breath hitches, "We need you." Tears start to fill those empty sockets, mimicking the idea of falling. "Cross is alone, I can't protect him."

Reaper sucks in a breath. "What?"

The blob starts to tremble. "Please come. We can't do this alone. We're tired." Reaper cradles it to his chest. "Ink is tired. Please, Reaper, save him. Find us. Save us."

Reaper nods before thinking He holds the blob tight to his chest, hoping his claws don't cut into the hope he holds onto. His talons unfurl as he tries to move as fast as he can. The room is too small for him to spread his wings, and his legs weren't made for running. So he settles for hopping around the room to get his messenger bag. He lets go of the blob, placing it on the table to sit and wait. He grabs the bag as he plans what he needs to bring. He frowns as he looks around. He doesn't even know where to start.

Reaper doesn't notice how Geno peeks into the room with a sad smile.