[How many times can we fall?]

[toremainbehind]

[It's been a week since they've managed to escape.

Neither of them knew who tipped someone off about their location, who helped them escape while everything became hacked and otherwise useless in keeping them contained. It had been their downfall to let Izumo stay in the frontline, his skills almost legendary now with how effective of an assassin he has become over time. Their downfall led to their deaths, and Izumo has ran away with Eric while the remnants of that group tried to go after them.

They didn't know where to go - who to turn to.

For them, this open world was a mystery, even if Izumo has more experience than Eric when it came to the outside world. There's no one they could trust, and little to no money to their name since their captors often took the money Izumo's earned for his kills. But Izumo is adaptable, taking odd jobs here and there in order to earn enough money to save up and find a place to stay.

It's only been a couple of days ago when Izumo first ran into the leader of HOMRA, the Red King and him having traded blows before it came to a tie. They went their separate ways shortly after when an informant came running towards them, Izumo having escaped before he could be questioned.

Now, he had taken Eric to a refuge in a motel. It's small and not one of the best, but it's the best Izumo could afford on such short notice when it became obvious to him when Eric has to rest again.

His right shoulder blade itched from the burns he received from Mikoto, but he ignores it in favor of in-between watching Eric sleep and looking out the window from his perch on the windowsill.]

Comments

[toremainbehind]

Well, I'll certainly give it my best.

[redstray]

[ He nods. ]

You better.

[ He watched as Mikoto went up the stairs to sleep and stifled a yawn himself. It was getting late but he wanted to be with his brother as much as he could tonight. He didn't have to be away from him yet so he stayed. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo places a hand on his head before he finishes up the cleaning.

Eventually, he notices Eric starting to get tired.] Start getting ready for bed.

[redstray]

'm not tired...

[ He was being stubborn ]

[toremainbehind]

Don't be stubborn now.

[redstray]

Fine.

[ He stands up from the couch and heads over to the stairs to start and get ready. He pauses however, shuffling his feet a bit before turning back to his brother. ]

...Are you going to sleep soon?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo pauses in his cleaning.

He glances at the clock, and then at Eric, nodding.]

In a few minutes.

[redstray]

[ He gives a faint smile then, nodding before proceeding to go up the stairs ]

Come up when you're done then.

[ As he waits for his brother, he gets ready for bed. When done he grabs his blanket and goes to sit himself on the couch upstairs. When Izumo comes up he'll find a cocooned Eric, blanket wrapped all around him, waiting for him. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When Izumo's finished, he comes upstairs to get ready for bed.

He nods at Eric at first, a simple signal to wait as he gets dressed and ready. He double-checks to make sure he has everything before he comes to sit next to the cocoon that's currently his brother.]

[redstray]

[ Said cocoon throws a part of the blanket around Izumo, causing him to meld into it. Once that was taken care of he leaned onto his brother shoulder, eyes closed. He didn't want to talk because, really he had no idea what to say at this point. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo shifts a bit so that the blanket is around him properly in the cocoon, immediately tugging Eric into a hug.

It'd be the last time he'll get to hug his brother for a while, so he wants to enjoy it while he can.

After a moment of silence, however, he'll start to sing softly.]

[redstray]

[ He returns the hug as best as he can with one arm, as the other was keeping the blanket on him.

Eric relaxes as he hears his brother begin to sing, he always enjoyed it, he had a good voice and it always calmed him down. He won't hear it for a while so he tried to press it more into his memory.

He quietly hummed along to the tune, happy that things were still the same. That they both still cared for each other, no matter what. The distance a part wasn't going to change what they had ]

[toremainbehind]

[When he feels Eric relaxing, he smiles slightly, and continues to sing.

He's always enjoyed singing to Eric, having discovered it helped his younger brother relax in their youth whenever they went through difficult times. Not once has he failed in doing what he can to comfort Eric.

Now won't be an exception.

Izumo keeps on singing, though it gradually turns into a soft hum.]

[redstray]

[ As Izumo's own singing becomes a hum, Eric continues along, though slowly it quietens down as he began to nod off, but picks up again when he wakes up.

He wants to spend just a little bit more time with him, just a little more. ]

[toremainbehind]

It's okay to sleep, you know.

[His voice is soft, though he's not looking at Eric.

He's focusing on the wall in front of them, his arm tightening around his brother slightly.]

[redstray]

I know...

[ Normally when he heard that remark, it was when they had been running, or after a day with them and his brother coming back from a job.

Sometimes it was because he was afraid of sleeping, something could happen to either of them, other times was like now, where he just wanted to stay by his brother's side just a little bit longer.

It was always safer, warmer, better when his brother was beside him. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo chuckles softly, placing a hand on top of Eric's head.]

Do you remember the stories I've told you when we were younger?

[redstray]

[ He closes his eyes as the hand went on his head, snuggling a bit more into his brother and the blankets ]

Which ones?

[toremainbehind]

The ones with the prince and the dragon, and the two brothers who were separated but then reunited.

[He smiles softly.] Or how about the story where a peasant manage to find a flower that granted eternal happiness?

[redstray]

[ He smiles, remembering them all. ]

Yeah...the dragon one was my favorite.

[toremainbehind]

Do you want to hear it again?

[redstray]

Sure.

[ Hes so excited now]

[toremainbehind]

Alright.

[He pauses for a brief moment before he starts to tell the story.]

[redstray]

[ He listens to it fondly, remembering when they were little and Izumo would tell stories to help him fall asleep, even before they were taken.

His brother did so much for him, protected him, calmed him, told him everything was going to be okay, even if it wasn't, but Izumo made sure things would be okay in the end. Whether it was singing or telling him stories, he did everything he could, to help Eric cope with whatever was happening.

They were brothers, and they stuck together when nothing else could. He couldn't thank him enough even if he tried. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo knows he'll miss this; this little world he and Eric has created for themselves over the years.

However, their world grew bigger now, and they have others they can depend on, but none of it will ever replace the times they've shared.

As Izumo continues to tell the story, he's reminded of all the trials they went through, all the problems they've suffered.

But it's enough, for now, to help him face the future ahead of them.]