Ethan wasn't always like this.
He used to laugh; not the malicious ones he lets out when he hurts someone, but real laughs. Back when all they had to worry about was not getting caught when stealing cookies from the "Forbidden Cabinet" when their babysitter was in the bathroom. They did such stupid things when they were little; they'd pretend the corn-on-the-cobs were light sabers at cookouts, or that the piece of cardboard at the end of the paper towel roll was a pirate telescope. They'd build forts and have peanut butter wars and hold strikes against showers and throughout it all, Ethan laughed.
He used to sing too- much to everyone's dismay- and he played the drums like nobody's business. He even got Aiden to try out an instrument; that's how his love for the guitar started. Their dad let them use the basement for their musical needs and dreams, and in elementary school they often fantasized about being in a band and becoming rock stars. All they needed was a lead singer- it had to be a boy though, because girls were G-R-O-S-S.
He was caring too. He's still is, but it's hidden now, so that all people see is the cold, heartless mask he portrays to the world. But when Aiden started having problems with his temper in middle school, Ethan suggested they try sports. Unsurprisingly, Ethan was right, and as it turned out the twins were killer athletes. They tried out for anything they could, and they made everything. Their track friends even had a dorky saying, "Look out! The Faust Twins will frost you!" It was stupid and painfully unclever, but the twins secretly loved it. Everything was easy, comfortable; they were in their element.
Then things went downhill.
One weekend, Ethan was out running- he'd always been the try-hard out of the two- and he didn't come back after a few hours. Naturally, Aiden went looking for him, and when he saw his brother laying in the dirt with blood on his shirt he nearly had a heart attack. He called his parents, and they met him about a half hour later, when Ethan had just started to stir. When he woke, he bolted upright and started screaming. Their father carried him to the car and told Aiden and his mother to wait outside while he started the car, and before Aiden could push the fact that his brother was covered in blood and that they needed to get him to a hospital, a needle was being pressed into his arm and his mother was whispering "It's for the good of the family," in his ear. Then everything went black.
…
When Aiden woke, the first thing he noticed was that he was tied to a tree. Not roughly, but just tight enough so that he couldn't get himself free. Suddenly, a man approached him. A blind man, Aiden guessed, by his walking stick and sunglasses.
"Why, son, you seem to be in a bit of a pickle."
Aiden thought he seemed like a weird, helpless old man- boy was he wrong.
"Yes sir, I am. Do you think you could help me out of this?"
The man's eyes appeared to bore into Aiden's, even through the sunglasses.
"Who would do this to such a young child?"
Aiden held his head higher. "Well, I'm 13, so I'm not exactly a child anymore, sir. It was just a couple friends of mine pulling a prank, that's all. Do you think you could help me out now?"
The man turned his head to the side. "You know, you calling me 'Sir' is making me feel awfully old. I prefer Duke."
Aiden sighed. "Okay Si- um, Duke. Can you please help me out of this rope now? I really need to get home, I have a curfew and-"
"You know," Duke interrupted, "I really don't appreciate you lying to me Aiden."
That gave Aiden a start. "How-How do you know my name-"
"And," he interrupted again, "it's absolutely horrible that your parents tied you up here."
Aiden paled. "Um, Sir, I think I can get out of this myself-"
Duke smiles. "Oh, you will. And I told you, call me Duke. But, I have a feeling we'll have plenty of time to establish nicknames. Now," he took a step forward, "you can go save your brother."
Aiden saw red as pain flared in his shoulder and the world went black again.
…
When he woke, he noticed that night had begun to fall. He glanced up and saw the full moon starting to peak through the clouds, and he gave an unconscious shudder. Surprisingly, he was able to free himself-the rope seemed so much lighter now- and he wasted no time running back to the house. It started to come into view, and if it had been any other situation he would've taken note of how fast he got there. But Aiden couldn't focus; he had an underlying fear that something bad was happening inside.
Aiden didn't stop running until he reached the basement. He ran down the flight of steps, and the first thing he saw was his brother crying, tied up by this machine that was electrifying him or something; then he saw his mother staring at him in disbelief. His father was holding a device- what Aiden later learned was the remote used to control the electrical current running through Ethan's restraints- and he started yelling, something about his mom using the wrong dosage, but Aiden wasn't listening. He looked at Ethan, who's eyes were begging him for help, and then he looked at his parents. Those-those monsters were hurting his baby brother and he felt a primal anger rush into him, and for a moment, instead of everything turning black, it turned red.
And then everything went black.
…
When Aiden woke up, Ethan is shaking him. He tunes out his nervous babbling until he realizes they're in the field again; they're where they found Ethan. He sits up and sees Ethan looking at him with scared- gold?- eyes, and when he looks away Aiden follows his gaze to see the creepy man from yesterday. The man smiles.
"Try to remember to call me Duke this time."
…
Not much happens after that morning. They find out things later on; "Duke" is short for Deucalion, they're werewolves, their parents were werewolf hunters, they killed their parents, and Ethan is gay. Sure, stuff goes downhill again, but besides changing their last names to Powers and getting rid of their southern accents, nothing eventful happens. Nothing seems eventful after that weekend.
Except Daniel.
Daniel- or Dash, as the asshole preferred to be called- came along and Ethan fell in love with him. There's no use elaborating on it because of course the douchebag ripped Ethan's heart out and it pushed Ethan over the edge. That's when he stopped being the sweet twin, the quirky twin, the twin that everyone loved back at their old school- that's when he developed that arrogant, narcissistic mask and started screwing or killing anyone he wanted. Obviously Aiden saw right through it, but that didn't mean others did.
That's the main reason Aiden's here now, standing between Ethan and Duke, as Deucalion stabs his claws into his stomach, and Aiden gets a feeling of satisfaction at the utterly shocked expression on his face when he realizes which twin he's stabbing. He quickly takes out his claws in a futile attempt to reduce the damage, but it's been done. Aiden's falling to the ground, and he thinks he hears flesh ripping and Duke screaming in pain, but he can't be sure because his senses are starting to waver.
"Aiden! What the hell! When did you, how did you- why? Why did you jump in front of me?"
Aiden chuckles. "Maybe I have a claw kink, Faust."
Ethan blinks at their old name, their real name, and shakes it off. "Aiden, this is no time for jokes, you're hurt, really hurt, why would you do this-" Ethan chokes on the last word and Aiden realizes just how deep Deucalion's claws went.
He tries to think of a single answer. Ethan has a chance here, a life here. Danny is Ethan's mate, and even though they can't tell yet, he can. Aiden has nothing here; Lydia was just a mission. Besides, it's a way out- there's no way he could just leave Deucalion, he's the reason Ethan's alive in the first place. And why not just let go? Why not just move on; Ethan was always supposed to have the better future out of the two, and now Aiden could look on, and personally make sure Ethan's future was bright. He would've laughed at the thought of him sounding like the parent for once, if his lungs didn't feel like they were about to explode. He thought about how pitiful it was that the only memories he recalled before dying consisted only of him and his brother, but for some reason he still smiled. Even after all the shit he's been through, he still has his brother. He hopes-knows- Ethan will have more than that, and that's when Aiden decides to give the one answer he knows will sum up all his reasons for what he did, an answer he wouldn't mind having as his last words.
"I did it because you're my baby brother and I love you."
Omg I have no idea where this came from I just
I had an idea and I couldn't stop typing like I was legit possessed omfg
Well I really hope you guys like it ^_^
And I'm so sorry for not updating Shattered Suns and Red Moons, I tried to today and I just couldn't.
Hopefully tomorrow's episode will give me the urge to continue it!
As always, this was unbeta'd and reviews are cherished(: