Fine I guess I'll write all the angst for this damn fandom

Spark

It was still there.

As the twins got dressed and ready for school, Ted noticed the bruises on his brother's back, and the spark grew. He felt awful, but he couldn't stop it.

God, it looked like he was bleeding at one point. He had to at least try to help him. To stop being such a coward.

"Felix? You okay?"

Felix glared at him. "Do I look okay?"

He looked down, but mentally shook it off. Of course Felix didn't want his help, he was simply raised that way.

Or maybe he's just an arsehole who refuses to even attempt to show love or care for his family.

He pushed the thought away and grabbed his backpack, said goodbye to his parents, and walked out the door, Felix following. He noticed that Felix's slow movements (probably due to the injury) earned him a glare from Father. Ted's best guess why was that he was worried somebody at school would notice, and ask about it. That could lead to a lot of things, most of them bad for Father's reputation.

Mother and Father were usually too busy to give them rides to school, and forbade them from using the bus, with all the peasants, so they walked. Unfortunately, one could easily guess that walking wasn't the best way to go when your brother had a bloodied, bruised back and you refused to leave him behind, so when they arrived at school, they were terribly late.

So late, in fact, that they had completely missed breakfast. Felix started to his ✧*✧*Smart Class™*✧*✧ (Ted couldn't help thinking it with a bit of contempt), but Ted grabbed his shoulder before he could get anywhere. "We need help," he said, before Felix could react."

He pulled away. "No, we don't."

"Yes, we do. Look at you, you can barely move!"

"It was just last night. It's understandable that I haven't quite healed up yet."

Ted sighed. "Alright. Fine. Go to your class, then." And Felix tried to, but fell over, struggling to get back up. Ted helped him to his feet. "Now do you believe me?"

Felix did nothing but yank his arm away, glaring at him. "No. Take me to class."

He was always so stubborn. So pushy. Ted was disgusted with himself for thinking such things about his own brother, but they were true. He sighed, letting Felix lean against him as he walked to class, fully aware that the bell was to ring in seconds, so this would make him late to class.

Which meant Mrs. Williams would call home.

Which meant Father would punish him.

Just a few seconds after Felix was seated, the bell rang. Perfect. Yet again, Felix had narrowly avoided punishment, while Ted had to face it alone.

He trudged to his own class, not daring to run. He was raised to follow the rules, after all, and he was already late, anyway.

Mrs. Williams paused her lecture to look at Ted as he opened the door. "Theodore. You're late."

"I'm aware, ma'am."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that sarcasm, young man? I might have to report you to the principal for disrespecting a teacher."

He sighed, knowing nothing he said could change her mind. He'd tried this before, but Mrs. Williams was stern and strict, and when she decided on something, nothing could change her mind.

"Honestly, Theodore. You're a Huxley. You should know to be better than this," she remarked as he sat down.

The next few hours went by like years. He fell asleep in math class, which earned him another call home, as per Father's request that anything either twin does wrong be reported. But he tried not to think about it, because the day was already half over, and next period was his saving grace.

Music class.

Finally, a room he liked to be in, people he liked to be around, and a teacher who wouldn't snap at the smallest thing. His music teacher was reasonable, fair, and the only person he'd ever opened up to.

Today was a Friday, which meant that instead of lessons, they could pick up whichever instrument they wanted and practice by themselves. Ted picked up the guitar, put on the strap, and began experimentally strumming, trying to think of lyrics.

The period was over far too soon, and the twins met back up at lunch. Usually, these thirty minutes went by wordlessly, but Ted had different plans for today. "So, what happened yesterday?"

No response. Clearly, Felix didn't.

Alright then. He tried again. "Can you tell me about that business trip you're going on with Father tomorrow?"

Silence.

One more attempt. "So, uh, weather, huh?"

"Damnit, Teddy, I'm trying to eat."

"Right. Sorry." We can do both, he wanted to say, but he knew that, for some reason, Felix wasn't going to talk.

A few more classes later, and they were on their way home. The Order only met on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so he couldn't find solace there. And even if they were meeting, he had to help Felix walk home. It was worrying that he was still hurt after all this time.

But something within Ted still wasn't worried. It was cheery, gleeful, telling him now he knows how it feels.

They were silent on the way home, until Felix brought up what Ted had been trying not to think about the whole day:

"You were late for class this morning. Father isn't going to be very happy about that."

Ted sighed. "I know."

They arrived at the manor, and Father was there waiting when Ted opened the door. "I'm told you were late to the majority of your classes. Do you have an explanation for this?"

"I was just-"

"Silence. Come with me." He turned to Felix. "You make sure you're ready for our trip today."

"Yes, Father," Felix responded, as Ted walked alongside him.

To Ted, this was normal. He was always getting into trouble, and Felix scarcely ever did. Sometimes, they both did the same thing, but only Ted got punished. And sometimes, he hadn't done anything wrong. It was almost like Father enjoyed hurting him, and made up constant excuses to do so. He'd gotten used to it.

But clearly, Father realized that. And clearly, he wanted his punishments to be more effective, because this time hurt. It always hurt, but something made this time so much worse. Maybe it was the constant insults; Ted was never good at brushing off what people said. That was probably what made him the weak link. Or maybe it was because if he made a sound, he'd only get hit harder. Or maybe it was the threats.

In any case, it hurt to walk to bed. Tears stained his cheeks, blood ran down his back, and nobody helped him walk. Unlike Felix. People helped Felix with everything, he thought bitterly.

He wondered what that trip Father mentioned was. But it didn't matter in the long run, anyway.

It wasn't like he was ever going to be invited.