His eyes had pleaded with her. Everything in their emerald depths showed a side she'd never seen. Fear. Desperation. Yes. He had to be desperate to be asking such a thing. She could see it through that mask he'd been wearing. That facade of being the bad guy, but for good intent, was all just that. Something to hide behind. The fear of going back had broken it. The disguise was lost, a frightened little boy laying where a strong man once had. "Ben, I can't."
But she could. Everything in her power said not to do it, but she did. It took barely a movement to cease his fears. Those deep green eyes fluttered shut, tears staining his tshirt as his head lolled back, landed softly in the leaf litter at the very bottom of the forest. She longed for something, anything to pull that stillness from his body. Bring back those stories. His shadow puppets and kind smiles. Nothing ever would, even memories didn't serve him justice.
Infantry kicked up leaves as they darted between dying trees, their dark uniforms eye catching between the ever-lingering sight of green and brown. The contrast was not what she noticed, though. Enhanced hearing picked up footfalls, rushed and made heavier by carried weaponry. Teary eyes fell back down to her brother, his body limp in her arms but his face clear of any hurt. He looked peaceful. Max leaned down, planting a kiss to her brother's cheek. "I'm sorry.."
Then she ran.