Niko stood in the doorway watching Cal sleep. Cal always looked so childlike on the rare peaceful nights when the nightmares didn't come. Niko had been thinking about Robin's revelation that he and the brothers had been friends through numerous incarnations. Then at dinner with Promise tonight the topic of the "burden" Niko carried had come up again, leading him to reflect on Cal's true role in his life. Cal was not his burden - he was Niko's teacher. He wished he could make the others understand this simple truth. Without Cal, Niko would have been easily as rigid and judgmental as his father, seeing only black and white, his way or the wrong way. Niko had heard these flaws creep into his own thoughts and language on occasion and knew he was still a work in progress. Cal had taught him how to love, paving the way for him to love others. Cal had shown him how to look past the surface to the person inside, to see the shades of gray in the world and learn to bend a little. To be a better person. To have a full life with friends and love, something his father was incapable of. Cal stirred and a sleepy voice came from the bed "Nik you alright?"
Niko smiled "Yes little brother , thanks to you."