Ultimatum

Prologue

The day it happened they were 5000 miles away.

In their defence, Harriet hadn't even wanted them there - it's not as though any of them knew such a thing would occur on her wedding day. How could they have known?

Police officers had surrounded the building, stationed between every pristine pleated pillar; the wooden doors had been carelessly kicked open by a fire extinguisher. The entire ceremony froze around the couple as they separated from their marital embrace.

When Harriet had turned to meet her mother's smile, the cuffs hooking around her bony wrists dampened her grin. Her confusion was met with an overheard recital of rights and the officer's eyes- coldly stiffened like lumps of coal.

And with a promise of a forever bound to another came a promise of a forever bound at the wrist.

The day of the trial was when the decision was made.

A stoic brunet strode down the bleak corridor: hands swinging beside the subtle curves of his hips and accidentally brushing trembling fingers. Although he remained entirely devoid of emotion, his husband was another matter.

It was just before they met the vacillating double doors that the redhead was suddenly halted by the taller.

Fingers threaded between his own with the same calm arrogance that rippled through his expression. It moulded around his sharp features to form a stiff mask. His sunglasses jutted over the bridge of his nose.

His face was a little fairer than its Summer olive, obstructed by shiny black frames that slide slightly against his cheekbones. His raised brows are soon completely exposed.

"Your glasses." He muttered under his breath, gently pressing his palm against the younger's pale cheek. His fingertips disappeared behind transparent lenses.

An uncomfortable smile peppered his cheeks with crevices, comforting the delicate curls dangling over his forehead in a scarlet cascade. He knocked the sunglasses back into their original position.

"Alright?"

Hesitance snaked around the shorter's neck, tightening to suffocation. Slowly, he'd nodded - regardless of his skepticism, the man had accepted the half-hearted response.

Just before adjusting his glasses to cover the honey solidified into a donut around his pupils, he dropped his husband's hand to his side. He ignored the desperation clinging to the side of his face as a result of the younger's trained stare.

Upon the pair's entrance, two eager gazes leapt towards them: the enraged and the relieved.

Beating his sister to speaking, Harley stood straight and shifted away from the wall.

"You two took your time gettin' here." He stated after glancing down at his chrome watch. Once his eyes were met by his older brother's, he broke into a grin. "I imagine there was a lotta traffic in the sky."

Dexter shook his head. "Shit, man. You have no idea. This one cloud must've been a fuckin' reincarnated snail or some shit- it was so slow, our flight was delayed by a half hour."

"Reincarnated snails are the worst, bro." Harley blew out a resigned breath before briefly slinging his arm around the man's neck and hugging him. Chin atop his brother's shoulder, he glanced at Theo. His jaw tightened at the friendly smile the redhead had forced onto his face.

"God, I know." Dexter huffed out, playfully slapping his brother on the back. "I was surprised I hadn't grown a beard in the time it took to move." At the redhead's murmured agreement, Harley scoffed out rough chuckles. He pulled away from him and walked back to his seat, dropping onto it.