half brothers (FTO au)

chapter 12

Bryan groaned softly as he was awoken by one of his brothers, which doesn't usually happen unless the two were going to a meeting or something. He cracked open an eye and looked at Rian.

''Let me guess. You and Brandeen have a meeting to go to?'' Rian smiled slightly at him.

''Close. We do have a small meeting, but you're coming with us.'' Bryan blinked in surprise as he forced himself to sit up.

''Wait, really?!'' Rian nodded and pulled out a key before taking the metal collar off of Bryan, pulling out another, thinner one as he did.

''You still have to wear a magic blocking collar, but this one is lighter and looser, meaning it should be more comfortable.'' Bryan nodded as Rian placed the collar around his neck, snapping it in place.

''Do you think you can stand on your own?'' Bryan thought for a moment before shaking his head a bit.

''It's been a month and a half since I've been here, not able to walk. I'd be surprised if I could stand.'' Rian nodded and grabbed Bryan gently before standing up, bringing Bryan with him.

Bryan's legs were shaking as Rian held him up, showing that he would have collapsed if he tried to stand on his own. Bryan sent Rian a grateful smile and leaned against him. Rian pat his head and began to walk out of the room-like area, making sure he was still holding onto Bryan as he helped the dragon slayer walk.

Rian and Bryan made it to the main area of the cave, where Brandeen seemed to have been waiting impatiently for them. Rian smiled at Brandeen, who hadn't seem to notice them yet.

''Sorry to keep you waiting brother, I needed to help Bryan stand and walk since he hasn't been able to do either of those for a while.'' Brandeen nodded before pulling out a teleportation lacrima.

''You both ready?'' Rian and Bryan nodded before Brandeen activated the lacrima, teleporting the group of three to the Garden's island.

Bryan flinched and whined softly when the sunlight hit his face, causing Rian to smile softly and whisper to him.

''Don't worry, your eyes will adjust in a moment.'' Bryan nodded while Brandeen and Rian decided to wait for his eyes to adjust before they go to where they are supposed to meet with Eden.

''I think I've adjusted.'' Brandeen nodded and began to walk to the meeting place, Rian doing the same as he helped Bryan walk.

By the time they got there, Bryan was able to walk on his own, still stumbling a bit but able to walk. Brandeen and Rian smiled slightly at this before walking into the room where they were supposed to meet with Eden, only to see Eden talking with Josh about something.

Bryan peeked around Rian, who made Bryan stand behind him, and looked both surprised and slightly saddened when he saw Josh.

''Hello Eden.'' Eden and Josh both paused in their conversation and looked towards Brandeen.

''Oh. Hello you two. I was just about to send Josh on his wa-'' Eden was cut off by Rian.

''He doesn't have to go as of now. And besides, I'm sure mine and Brandeen's half-brother doesn't want to stand around silently while we talk.'' Josh looked confused until Rian moved out of the way, showing that Bryan was behind him, while Eden nodded.

''Very well. Josh, you take Bryan somewhere else in the room while I discuss something with Brandeen and Rian.'' Josh nodded and walked towards Bryan before gently grasping his arm and walking towards a part of the room that is away from where the five currently were.

While Rian, Brandeen, and Eden were talking, Bryan and Josh were sitting in an awkward silence, until Josh decided to break it.

''So... how have things been with you?'' Bryan didn't look at Josh when he answered.

''Well... it's a bit hard to explain. Because I've only been with Rian and Brandeen for a month and a half. Before that was fun. And the first while with Rian and Brandeen was terrifying...'' Josh looked interested.

''How?'' Bryan sighed and glanced at him.

''Well, they weren't exactly the nicest when they first kidnapped me. They would get all cuddly with me, force feed me some strange type of meat that I don't know what it was, keep me gagged, and would threaten me if I didn't eat or tried to pull away when they were getting all cuddly.'' Josh cringed on the inside, knowing what meat they fed to Bryan since everyone in the garden knows what Rian and Brandeen eat.

''But I think they got more used to me. They stopped threatening me, stopped forcing me to eat that strange meat, and while they still get extremely cuddly with me at times, they respect when I don't want to and they stop cuddling with me.'' Josh smiled slightly at the dragon slayer.

''I know that even if they aren't the best at showing it, they do care about me... and I have to admit, if I did get rescued by the guilds, I would miss them.'' Josh smiled at him.

''That's nice.'' Bryan smiled and nodded.

''They were stalking me for about 3 weeks before they kidnapped me. After one week, Bri found out and she and the other guild leaders made a plan to keep me safe, but it seems like someone found out about it and let my brothers know, because they attacked Divinus Magia on my last day there.'' Josh frowned softly and nodded.

After that, Bryan and Josh just began to talk about random things. They did this for a while until Rian walked up to the two, seeming slightly angry, yet Bryan and Josh didn't notice this.

''C'mon Bryan, time to go.'' Bryan nodded and said bye to Josh before getting up and walking with Rian to where Brandeen was waiting, Eden having already left to go and do something.

Brandeen, who was also angry but was hiding it well, smiled at Bryan and Rian before ruffling their hair and using a teleportation lacrima to teleport them back to the cave. They ended up in Bryan's room where they did chain him up again, but they used a longer chain this time and kept the collar on him. Bryan yawned and thanked the two before leaning back against the wall and falling asleep.

Rian and Brandeen both smiled as they left the room. Immediately growling when they remembered what Eden said to them during the meeting.

Remember to always try and have a good day/night. Bye wolf pups!!