PRETEND ━━ lyney ( ✓ )

𝟰𝟭

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐄

the calm after the storm

───── ☆ ─────

"𝐋𝐘𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄, 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐃𝐈𝐃..."

"It all makes sense."

Lyney watched through guilt-ridden eyes as his sister shifted from the bed beside him to stand directly opposite him. The magician meekly averted his gaze, for he was too afraid to witness Lynette's wrath. He felt small and vulnerable in a sense whenever Lynette would scold him.

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Asked the female, folding her arms across her chest. "Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you tell me?"

Nervously drumming his fingers against his thigh, Lyney searched the depths of his scrambled mind in an attempt to form a coherent sentence.

"I... I wanted to protect you and Freminet."

"Protect us from what?" Echoed Lynette, "Brother, we have worked under Father's orders for many years now. What possibly could you wish to protect us from?"

"I just... I don't—"

"No." Shaking her head, Lynette reached out to place a gentle hand onto her brother's shoulder. "Lyney. Look at me. Please."

The desperation in his sister's voice was something that Lyney was unable to ignore. Hesitantly, the male peeked upwards, his ashamed eyes instantly meeting with his sister's. No matter how frustrated Lynette appeared to be, her eyes had always betrayed her; for they were filled with a vast warmness that only Lyney himself had the honour of witnessing.

"You don't have to lie to me. You don't ever have to lie to me. We're twins, brother — I know more or less everything about you."

"Lynette..."

"You're scared."

Lyney visibly tensed, a sharp breath pushing past his lips. His eyes narrowed swiftly, a defensive glare consuming his expression entirely.

"I'm not." He begun to insist. "Why is it that you think such a thing?"

"I don't think such a thing, brother... I know."

"You..." The male begun to panic, his fingertips moving in more rapid motions against his thigh. "No... No, you don't and you won't ever—"

"Please stop hiding behind these walls that you constantly have built around yourself," Pleaded Lynette, her voice beginning to waver, "I do know, Lyney."

Lyney shook his head, the truth simply not greeting his ears.

"You don't know how terrified I am."

Lynette pursed her lips into a thin line, her attentive eyes studying her brother's conflicting expression. She remained silent, wanting nothing more than for Lyney to convey his innermost thoughts that stemmed from the deepest shadows of the past. The female said not a word, simply giving the other's shoulder a light squeeze.