After Leaving the Bridge

Self-Induced Insominia

Yuya wasn't sleeping.

This normally wouldn't worry the three brothers, as Yuya hadn't truly slept since the night their mother found out.

What worried them was that he was refusing to sleep at all.

The ten year olds had been dealing with Yuya's memories and nightmares for the past four years now, but throughout all of it, Yuya would at least attempt to get some rest.

Everyone in the house knew that he'd be awoken by the images he saw behind his closed eyelids, but they all worked in order to make him as comfortable as he could be after the fact.

He'd stopped sharing their beds when they all turned nine, despite the reassurances given by his brothers that he wasn't a bother. Yuya felt that, if he was going to have to live his life being plagued by nightmares, he might as well get used to sleeping alone.

His brothers wouldn't be around to comfort him forever, after all.

Yuri, Yugo, and Yuto had adjusted to this decision though, and still took it upon themselves to be there for their brother who was suffering. After four years of nightmares and two years of shared dreams, the older boys were so intune with Yuya's night terrors that they would already be at his bedside by the time he shook himself from the dreams.

So when all three brothers woke up one morning with a full night's rest and Yuya already in the kitchen, helping their mother cook breakfast, they grew suspicious.

Not once had Yuya failed to dream of the past since that night four years ago, and not once had they failed to be awoken after sensing his distress.

Yuya looked as he heard the familiar footsteps of his older brothers making their way down the stairs.

"Morning!" He called to them cheerfully, setting plates on the table, "breakfast is almost done. Mom made her special pancakes!"

Yuri looked at his Yugo and Yuto, confusion coloring his face. The three sat down at the dining room table and waited for their mother to finish. Yuya sat himself down in his usual seat, a cheerful smile on his face as he kicked his legs under the table with glee. He seemed so... lively, today.

Their mother stepped out of the kitchen, a plate of pancakes in one hand and a plate of sausages and bacon in the other. She set the plates down and made her way around the table, kissing her childrens' foreheads as she walked to her seat. "How are my beautiful boys doing this morning?" She asked.

"We're doing good, mom," Yugo said, the same smile he always wore when interacting with their parents. It was in moments like these that Yuri remembered that Yugo had been an orphan for 90% of his lifetimes. The happiness his brother must have felt when he finally had the loving parents he'd always seen other kids with must have been as fulfilling as Yuri finally having a family who actually loved him.

Yuri filled his plate, a smile of his own appearing as he ate. "We slept well. Like a bunch of logs, actually."

Yuto nodded and gave a soft "hm" in agreement. Yuri sighed and continued. Yuto never really put in the effort to talk first thing in the morning. He could still speak, it wasn't a physical impairment or anything like that. The blanket of sleep just wrapped around Yuto like a heated comforter, and Yuto was never in a rush to take it off. It'd sometimes take hours for them to hear him actually speak.

Just because we can understand your "hm"s and "huh"s doesn't mean you can just stop talking, Yuri grumbled in his head. Say something, dammit!

Yuto looked at his brother and smiled, the twinkle in his eyes saying that he knew exactly what Yuri was thinking, never a word leaving his mouth.

I saw that, you little-

"So," Yugo interrupted, not knowing of the catastrophic foodfight he'd just prevented, "how'd you sleep, Yuya?"

All eyes turned to the youngest. Yuya gave them a bright, closed eyed smile, as he replied, "Like a log, Banana head." Yugo bristled and gave their younger brother a punch on his arm.

"You're lucky you a cute kid, lil bro, or I'd be angry," Yugo huffed, "But I'll be the bigger guy this time, and let that slide." He gave Yuya a smug look, the two of them communicating with their eyes just like Yuto and Yuri just were.

Yuya flung a piece of his sausage at their blue eyed brother, and Yuri watched the (inevitable) food fight begin.

And as their mother scolded their younger brothers for making a mess with the food she lovingly prepared for them, Yuto and Yuri shared a meaningful look as they continued eating.

That smile Yuya had given. It was the smile he always gave when he had something to hide. The one he always gave when he was lying.

Their little brother isn't sleeping.

Now they just had to figure out what to do about that.

The subtle glance Yugo gave them told Yuri that he might have an idea.