((Ok, first chapter of a new story I'm working on. I haven't decided what genre it'll occupy besides romance... Maybe tragedy? We'll see. Anyway, enjoy some Trinity Blood AU with my favorite characters!))

He wasn't here. He was late. What was keeping him? He said he was going to be here at 4:30, and now it was... 4:35!! Something must have gone horribly horribly wrong! What if he forgot?! Or worse... What if he was in a terrible car accident and suffered severe injuries, or even died! God, WHY?! Waking up every morning wasn't worth it when he was gone! Cain let out an anguished sob and collapsed on his bed, face first. He only spent a few minutes there before he went back to look out his window, which was three stories above the ground and had a lovely view of the lush, manicured grounds of St. Augustine's Mental Health Facility. Not that he cared. He gripped the windowsill, biting his lower lip so hard it turned red and swollen with blood. His aquamarine eyes eyes were brimming with tears when his bedroom door opened and a tall, slender man—like Cain himself—with short, messy silver hair stepped in, taking off his coat.

"Hello, Cain," he said softly, and his blond twin blurted a joyful cry and embraced him, wiping his tears on Abel's shoulder.

"ABEL! I'm so glad you're here! I thought you weren't coming! I was terrified that something went wrong!"

"We go over this every time," Abel smiled softly at Cain as he was released, "I will never, ever forget to come visit you. I promise."

"I-I know... I remember you telling me that last time," he was wringing his hands now, his gaze as he looked up at his younger twin like that of a meek and frightened child, "But I can't help it... Even if you make a promise, and you've never broken one yet... I can't help but think... What if something happened to you? Then I won't ever see you again..." Abel sighed.

"I know. It's all right," he patted Cain's shoulder, and then, desperate to move away from such a depressing subject for Cain's sake, he gestured to the empty easel with Cain's vast tray of watercolors set up neatly beside it.

"Have you painted recently? You have beautiful art, and I haven't had anything new to hang up lately." The two took seats in the plush armchairs beside the easel, Cain sitting with his hands in his lap, clenched together tensely.

"N-no... I can't think of anything to paint. I can't find any... Any inspiration... Nothing's coming to me... I think something's broken..." he ran his hand through his shoulder blade length blond hair once, scratching his scalp as if trying to fix whatever was 'broken.' Again, Abel was desperate to find something that might brighten Cain's mood.

"Did you see? There's a poetry reading next week in the fourth floor auditorium. You like poetry, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," there was a sudden glow in his blue eyes as his attention was diverted, "And I want to go. I'm going to go. I'm not going to forget this time."

"Good," Abel smiled, "If you'd like, I can bring you dinner tonight. Noelle is a wonderful cook, and I'm sure that Esther would be more than happy to come visit her Uncle Cain."

"All right," he brightened so much, his smile was almost dazzling. It had always been that way, ever since he was little. At least... Until around a year ago... But Abel didn't like thinking about it, and Cain couldn't really remember it. Cain didn't know why things were the way they were these days—he couldn't even keep track of dates and times anymore—he only knew that he lived in this odd place, and that the only thing he had to look forward to from day to day was visits from the only family he had. Seth had never come. But Cain didn't know that either. To him, Seth didn't even exist.

"It gets so lonely here... I don't have anyone to talk to..."

"You know we can't have someone here living with you, though. It doesn't do you any good."

"I know... Why can't I live with you?" Abel swallowed hard. He'd been afraid that was going to happen... He was expecting him to ask.

"Because..." he hesitated, "It's too dangerous. I'm sorry Cain... I don't want you to get hurt, all right?"

"Okay..." he sighed. He'd give anything to be allowed to live with Abel and Noelle and Esther... Anything at all. He knew he'd be safe there, and he'd never feel afraid... So why don't they let me? He asked himself. It was because something was wrong... Because he wasn't right in the head. He knew it. He really was broken inside, and that's why they wanted to keep him here... He sniffled, and the tears started to fall. Abel leaped out of his chair,

"Cain, please don't start crying," he knelt and hugged Cain again, who sobbed on his shoulder.

"A-all I want is to keep see-ing you... I don't w-want you to go away! When you leave, there's nothing! I hate this place, Abel! I hate it!" Abel embraced his brother tighter, feeling his eyes burn with the sorrow he fought back. He didn't want Cain to live here either, but... It was for the best. There was simply too much going on at Abel's home for him to be truly safe there. When too much was happening, Cain's senses were overloaded and he lost it. Cain was very strong and very dangerous when he needed to be, and if Noelle really was pregnant... He didn't want to endanger his unborn baby, or his beloved wife.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." he kept repeating, rubbing his brother's back, trying to soothe him, gripping him as tightly as Cain was doing to him, as if his life depended on it. He really loved Cain, and would do anything to see him smile, but not at the risk of his safety.

Once Cain had quieted, Abel pulled away gently, stroking his brother's hair affectionately as he wiped the tears from his eyes,

"I'm going to go get Noelle and Esther, and I promise that I'll be back soon, all right? I'm bringing dinner with me, so don't eat anything."

"O-okay..." Cain stuttered, going to curl up on his bed. Abel patted his head again, "You promise?"

"I promise," Abel smiled, "Esther has all kind of things to tell you."

"I love you, Abel..."

"I love you too. I'll be right back." He clicked the door shut behind him. Cain lay curled up on the bed for a long time. Or, to him it felt like a long time. How long did Abel say he'd be gone? He'd been gone so long already. What if he didn't come back for days? Or... Weeks? Cain groaned, and clutched his head tightly. Why was it so dark in here!? The sun was going down! He got to his hands and knees on the bed, and looked around. A tall, dark shadow loomed over him, cast along the wall, reaching out with long, dark tendrils to grab him and suck him in. He cried out, and dashed for the wall, flipping the light switch, the light magnified in this tiny room with its stark white walls and muted furniture. Cain sank to the floor, and clutched his knees, burying his head between them.

"Come back, Abel..." he muttered, "Please come back this time too..."