Chapter 1: Breathe

Warning: mentions of self-harm, eating disorders, rape, and suicide.

Tim's back pressed against the wood panelled wall as he slid down and crumpled to the floor. Tears expelled from his eyes as he choked out a hiccup of air in exhaustion. Jason quickly gathered the sobbing teen into his masculine arms, providing a warm
embrace for his defeated brother.

Tim pressed his face into his palms as he screamed out the pain he had been bottling up. Jason winced at the sound, finding it unbearable to handle. He desperately wanted to fix his little brother. To take his pain and endure it for him.

Jason clasped a warm hand on the raven haired boy's cheek and pressed him into his chest. He gently rocked back and forth trying to comfort Tim, as well as himself. But his kid brother had been broken.

Jason leaned his chin against Tim's head, breathing the scent of his ebony hair into his lungs. He tilted down and kissedTim's sweaty hair that was now sticking to his skin. Pressing his cheek against Tim, he squeezed his brother's small frame as
tight as he could without hurting the kid. Tim's forehead felt hot against Jason's skin. He continued to rock as he whispered a hush to the crying boy.

When Jason moved his arm to get a better grip on his brother, his thumb snagged Tim's sweater sleeve and exposed the pale flesh flecked with pink scars and crimson scabs. The decorated skin of old and recent self-injuries. Jason hadn't realized how escalatedthe
struggle had become for the young teen.

Jason's heart became heavy and he could feel his own hot tears begin to burn his eyes. How could a family of detectives let this go unnoticed for so long? The kid never ate anymore, he stayed in his room all day doing "work", and he never patrolled with
anyone else.

Jason was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt Tim shaking and gasping for breath. He was hyperventilating.

Jason cautiously grabbed theteen's throat and angled his head upwards so he could see his face.

"Tim, listen to me," Jason demanded in a stern, but worried tone. He could see the fear in the bloodshot, blue eyes staring back at him.

"Breathe in. Take a deep breath, Tim!" Jason took an exaggerated inhale mimicking the type of breath he wanted Tim to imitate.

The boy choked on a breath caught in his throat and continued to panic. His small fists clutched onto the older male's jacket.

"Tim!" Jason shouted louder as he repositioned himself on his knees, pulling Tim in front of him, and grabbing the sides of his kid brother's face to hold his head steady. He kept his own face a mere inch in front of the teen's as he tried desperatelyto
force everything around them out of focus.

"Copy my breath, Tim. Come on." Jason breathed in deep, expanding his chest as he took notice of the kid obeying and attempting to take in more air. The taste of stale cigarettes lingered on Jason's tongue as he breathedbreath after hotbreath
into Tim's face.

Relief swept over Jason as he kept breathing deeply until Tim was able to match the same length of breath.

"That's my boy!" He quickly pulled his little brother into his warm embrace for the small victory. "That's it, Babybird!"

Jason brushed his hand against Tim's cheeks to wipe away the excess tears that had accumulated and dried. The only sound at the moment was the inhalation and exhalation of his younger brother breathing.

He softly whispered into Tim's soiled locks, "That's it Timmy. You're gonna be okay." It may have been a lie, but it was more of a reassurance for himself. All he wanted to do was hold his brother as tight as he could and never let go.

"Jason..."

A muffled cry broke the silence as the teen pressed his face against Jason's chest.

"Shh..." Jason cooed as he felt Tim's breath begin to shorten.
"Calm down first, Babybird. We have all night to talk, but I want you to calm down first."

Jason rubbed soothing circles on Tim's back rhythmically. As he tracedhis hand over the fabric of his thin sweater, he could feel the extreme sharpness of every protrudingbone in his back. Vertebrae. Shoulder blades. Every individual rib...

How was it no one hadnoticed the shape his kid brother was in?