Seven Seconds For A Lifetime

Why not take five?

"When the sun goes down to let the moon breathe, what was the first thing you thought to yourself?"

That was the question he had been asked multiple times by the second eldest ever since he had woken up in the past for the one mistake he had done that caused his second eldest's life.

"Since when did you become so poetic?"

Taufan- Angin- shrugged, "Ever since you left us Cahaya."

A pang of guilt stabbed him through his heart, he never left them, not in this timeline, no. He was here, what was he talking about?

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I just, the dreams." He lied, He knows that. But why was he so intrigued?

He raised a questionable brow at him, "What dreams?"

He sighed, "the dreams where you.. nearly died. Almost every night. Ever since the Retak'ka incident, all I see is you. Dead and unmoving."

The seventh born winced, that never happened in this timeline. Sure in the original it did but that was before he did the most stupidest thing of all.

He died in the original time, and so did his brothers. But he was here to fix all that right? He's here in the past, as absurd as that idea sounds, he's here.

Taufan placed a hand on his shoulder, "you're guilty." He said, voice sympathetic and remorseful that he almost forgot the feeling of receiving the endless teasing and love from the chaotic brother.

"How am I guilty? I'm not!"

"No sane person would claim they're not guilty unless they truly are. You just said you're guilty without even realizing it, Cahaya."

"I..."

Was he guilty?

"I'm not." Taufan smiled, it was soft. Something he used to love seeing at his face. It made him feel at ease, happy. Taufan brushed a strand of hair away from his little brother's face, all the while the smile still lingering at his face.

But there was something in those eyes, something deep, something painful. Something he can never pin point what.

"It's okay."

"Wha? Taufan you're not making any sense-"

Then there were tears, Taufan was crying. But why?

"Cahaya- You can never change what the past holds-"

He flinched, how did he know? He never told anyone! Right? So how!? He aggressively (desperately, he refused- no-) removed the hand that was firmly but gently placed at his shoulder.

"Cahaya-" he called out.

"I can! I can Taufan! Just- just trust me-" desperation toned his voice, he was here. He can change it- why was Taufan saying that he can't when he was seriously right here!

"Cahaya-" he tried once more, the pit growing at his stomach as he watched the youngest break.

"I'm here! I'm right here! I can change your deaths- the events I can-" even the strongest can break, because Cahaya had been a witness of the loops for as long as he could remember.

It's normal to easily break in front of the familiar faces he grew up with.

"Cahaya-"

Stop it, stop trying. It'll only get worse stop it Cahaya please- it's not worth it stop-

"NO! I'm RIGHT here Can't you see it!? I can change everything Taufan! Every single thing if you could just trust me-"

"CAHAYA! STOP! It's not worth it- enough please-"

Tears were at the brim of those silver eyes. Both of Taufan's hands were at his shoulder, trying so desperately to snap him out of it. "Please Cahaya- Stop it. You're wasting you're breath-"

"I can't- I have a chance to fix everything-"

"Cahaya. The past is the past, no matter how many times you tried fixing it, it will always happen- I-... i-it's useless, Cahaya."

If possible, his wide eyes widened even more.

"No.. no- Tau- no I can't- I can change it- I can change everything- I can-" The wind user cupped both his hands at his cheeks, not making a moving to wipe the tears that streamed down his face, "No, Cahaya. You can't change it. What you need to do, is spend the remaining time of your life for something else that matters. Fixing the past.. it's just going to take your own life 'Haya."

"I- but-"

He placed his index finger at his baby brother's lips, shushing him and instead, brought him up to a hug. "Not everyone has to be strong."

And so, even no matter how he hated it. He lets it happen, he gives up. He'd been in and out of time travelling for more than he could count, call it a time loop but this time, longer than the last.

He had done everything he could so that none of his brothers would know, but in the end. It just happens. It always did, admitting defeat has never felt so tiring.

When the sun goes down, what was the first thing you thought to yourself?

>>>
Last loop of time travelling, day one: Completed.

Lesson acquired: PAST IS THE PAST, IT MUST REMAIN THE SAME AND WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO BE.

Short story of timetravelling AU: 1/7
Based on the song: Seven seconds to breakdown by Lydia the bard