Broken Hands

11. A shared bond

"Tell me what?" Russell's voice trembled, a desperate edge tightening each syllable. His mind swirled with images he couldn't bear, pushing away the thought that his father-his anchor-might slip away now. He swallowed, hard, blinking quickly to stave off the darkness creeping into his mind.

Alex's voice, laced with unsteady hesitation, cut through the silence. "Your dad, Russell... he's alive." Relief washed over Russell, a rush of air escaping his lungs. But Alex's words were wrapped in an uneasy undertone, a shadow in his voice Russell couldn't ignore.

"Alive?" Russell's heart thumped wildly, his pulse racing. He forced his fingers to curl and uncurl, helping him stay calm. "You don't sound sure. Did he get hit? Where? How bad is it? Please, just... talk to me," he choked out, his voice growing thick with the rising panic he was desperately trying to tamp down. Every nerve in his body felt on edge, his pulse pounding in his ears.

"Russell, your dad's fine," Alex replied, his tone softening but not enough to erase the tension. "He got... touched, but it wasn't anywhere vital. He's alive, and he's okay. I didn't want you to worry."

Russell drew in a shaky breath, struggling to ground himself, to embody the strength his father had always modeled for him. "I want to talk to him. Now."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Russell," Alex said gently, "I understand, but he's resting. When I get back, you'll call him. Alright?"

Russell nodded, his head moving almost automatically. "O-okay." His voice barely managed a whisper before the line went dead.

He stood in the silence, still gripping his phone, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him. Grayson's expression softened, understanding flickering in his gaze, while Julian looked on, pale and tense, as if holding his breath.

Russell took in a slow breath, willing himself to stay steady. He forced a small, reassuring smile. "Dad's fine," he said, his voice barely steady. "We'll talk to him soon."

Grayson's eyes lingered on him, a hint of worry breaking through his calm exterior. "Yeah," he replied, nodding. "You're right."

Julian, still frozen, glanced between them, then offered a small nod. They all stood there, grounded by a silence that masked the storm beneath Russell's composed surface.

*****

Russell barely touched his lunch, each bite a struggle against the knot in his stomach. He sat rigidly, his gaze drifting away as if distance would soften the anxiety that sat on his head. But Grayson noticed. Russell's hand raked through his hair more than usual, his lips twitched with unspoken words, and his eyes blinked with a frequency betraying his unease.

In the kitchen, Grayson dropped a bowl of food next to Stray, giving a quiet command before heading back into the hallway. He passed by Julian's room, where Julian sat studying and munching on snacks, oblivious to the tension running through the house. They had always tried to protect Julian from any stress.

He reached Russell's empty room, his gaze shifting to the window. Outside, he caught a glimpse of Russell heading toward the gate.

Without a word, Grayson slipped back to his own room, throwing on a pair of sneakers and a black hoodie. He followed Russell outside, jogging up beside him, catching the slight look of surprise in Russell's eyes.

"Going for a jog?" Grayson asked casually as they reached the gate.

Russell shrugged, cracking his knuckles in a nervous habit. "Didn't know you enjoyed jogging."

Grayson smirked, rolling one shoulder in a shrug. "Gotta keep the weight off somehow."

A faint, half-hearted smile crossed Russell's face, and he muttered, "No breaks."