sad fat: the squeakquel

Following Fate. (Sterling siblings) [Normal Au]

As soon as he woke up, everything hit him.
The rest. The attack. The fear. The capture.

Raven couldn't tell how long he'd been blindfolded for, but he knew it was a while.
When Nox had him and Ealia separated, he could still see the light through the dirty scarf. Now, everything was pitch black. He knew it could just be that he was in a cave, though. It was hard to breath the thick air in, and the smell of damp dirt invading his nostrils. A faint dripping sound was the only thing keeping his sanity in check. It was all he could focus on to keep him awake.
They had taken him by surprise. The Order of Luu, of course.
Ealia needed to stop, her horse exhausted. She pleaded, and Raven knew she was aware he couldn't resist her quiet little pleas. Looking back, he should have just made them go a little further. While his back was turned, they got her first. She must have gotten hit pretty hard, because she was out instantly. When he turned to see her she was limp, and his heart had exploded. She had looked so... so small. So lifeless in one of Nox's knight's arms. It was all he saw before the blindfold came down and the back of his head bloomed with fresh, quick pain that caused immediate unconsciousness.

Now, he was awake and scared.

This was exactly what they were running from. If Nox got his way....
Raven quickly shook his head and tried to distract himself from those awful thoughts. Think of Sage. Think of your family.
Those thoughts temporarily paused his fit, a quick calm blanketing him.

Sage.

When he left, he hadn't even said goodbye. He had waited until his small lover fell asleep. A soft, long kiss while he slept before pulling away and leaving. Raven felt like a coward for just abandoning him. He was a coward. He should have told Sage where he was going.
That he wasn't coming back.
THEY should have told Sage and Karlos.
The self blame started to rile him up again.
He shifted uncomfortably, straining to flex his fingers. He could barely move them.
The cold, combined with the rope around his arms and wrists stopped any free movements. Minutes passed, his breathing speeding up.
Claustrophobia had a tight grip on him, seeming to squeeze the air from his lungs. He was still groggy from being knocked out, his head throbbing. The anxiety and fear only made the pain worse. His breaths became desperate and wheezing, his legs kicking weakly in front of him. He could barely move even without the restraints. He figured Nox must have put a stiffening spell on him, for his body moved as if it was freezing slowly.
Raven bit his tongue, shaking his head again. He was going to panic more and more until it got worse. He was going to make himself pass out from fear again, he was going to panic and-

And then he heard her.

"Birdie?"

The man had rarely heard her sound so desperate before. Ealia was very soft spoken and passionate with her words, careful to be gentle and quiet. But this version of her voice was cracked and defeated.
He couldn't see her, but he felt her come closer as she touched him.
Her hands were cold and soft, raw from the harsh temperatures but still as comforting as always.

"Birdie."

He choked out dryly, his tongue feeling like a rock in his mouth. It was hard to talk. Mostly likely also due to whatever spell was on him.
He felt her press her forehead to his, her breathing calm but slowed. She was in pain.
He tensed up, but refused to explode. He knew she would only panic if he got worse.
Raven licked his lips, trying to wet them so he could speak a little better.
"Did.. they... hurt you?"
He croaked, groaning softly as he shifted his arms. They were starting to hurt and cause him to tense up.
"No." Came the soft reply, her hands coming back to his face. They were free, he noticed. Meaning someone else was in the room with them.
He clamped his mouth shut, fighting the urge to cuss whoever it was out. He knew they could easily separate him and his sister again.
He had to be docile.

She exhaled exhaustedly, her hands softly resting against his chest as she held him steady.
"They th-threatened them." She whispers, her breath hitching.
"Threatened....wh..o?"
"Sage and K-Ka-arlos. T-They said if.. if we... if I d-don't use IT... they w-w-will k-kill them."
Ealia practically spat out the words, her pace all over the place. Raven had never heard her so scared and angry before.
"I don't- I don't want anyone to die-" she continued. "I d-don't want Karlos- or Sage- o-or even- Sn-Snowflake-"
She was scaring herself now now, a quiet hiccup proving it. The suddenness hurt Raven.
She was not the type to give into fear. She was usually very strong, until innocents were threatened. That seemed to be her weakness.
It killed him that he couldn't even move his arms to hold her.
"No- nnn...no no shhh- Ealia-" he whispered, shifting so she was comfortable.
"You- youre strong, yeah? Who- ha- who else could- who else could take down- a whole uprising? Who- who else could- mmph- escape their fate and- and dedicate their lives to saving others?"
He was trying his best to make her snap out of it. If she fell down too far in this spiral of terror and helplessness she'd give up. That was a flaw of hers. One that could very well determine the outcome for them.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, gently pressing a hand to his shoulder. Giving it a shaky, but equally reassuring squeeze.
"I-I-I'm trying- to find a way to- to get you out- they're not going to- to let me go but I- I can-"
He shook at the thought of her staying here without him.
"No." He said quickly, firmly. Pressing his head to his sister's shoulder. The position was uncomfortable but he just needed to be close to her. She was the older sibling. She made him feel safe. Though he knew she took it upon herself to do whatever to protect him, he couldn't let her sacrifice herself for him.
A small gasp escaped her throat as he felt a steady stream of tears fall onto the side of his face, his heart breaking.
She never cried.
"I-I want to protect them- so bad- I want- t-t-to protect you-"
Her voice was rasped and hurt, the desperation growing.
"I know."
He shakily replied, letting her protectively play with his hair.
As he let her cry and calm down, his thoughts lingered on the ones they left behind. Once again, Sage came into view behind closed eyes.

The last time they were all together, it had been raining. They had planned for a picnic indoors. A "double date" as Sage had playfully said.
They had settled in Karlos's plant room, the sound of rain hitting the glass ceiling as they entered.
Ealia had been sitting on Karlos's lap, gently holding one of his hands in hers. Hers weren't small, but compared to his they seemed like a doll's. Her short, cream colored hair had been put in a small back bun, a little orchid tucked behind her ear. She was wearing a loose pink dress, clearly picked out for her by Karlos.
He was letting her play with his hand, watching her with extreme gentleness.
As soon as Raven had walked in, she looked up with the brightest smile that lit up against her dark skin.
He had felt so much love in that moment, looking from his sister to his lover coming up behind him.
Sage had also done up his white hair, a grin on his face as he ran over and hugged Ealia tightly. His little white gown fluttered as he laughed and pulled Ealia up, letting her lift him and spin him. Karlos had watched a bit anxiously, but smiled. One hand softly holding onto the end of Ealia's dress.
Raven had been so happy in that moment.
Everything had felt so wonderful and safe.

The memory came to an abrupt end as he heard a low snarling voice.
"Time's up."
And then Ealia was yanked away.
He felt himself be shoved back up against the wall, a low guttural moan escaping his throat.
"No- no no- please-"
He gasped out as he felt the person apply pressure to his chest, keeping him back. In the moment, he heard Ealia whisper quietly to him.
"I'm going to g-g-get you out of here."
Before she was ushered away, her warm and comforting presence gone.
"Stay down." The horrible toned voice warned as it moved away from him, a small snicker escaping their throat as Raven heard them leave.
He was alone again.
Alone with his rising fear once more.
"Come b-back."
He whispered, before giving in and crying.
Alone.