"Barley? Are you sure this is safe?" Ian's chubby face scrunched up in fear. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he gripped the bike's handlebars with white knuckles.

He didn't like this.

It didn't feel safe.

The bike wobbled dangerously as he balanced precariously on it. His brother's hands the only thing keeping him from tumbling over.

He was gonna fall.

He was gonna fall and scrape his elbows and his knees and it was going to hurt.

He whined, panicked. The strap of his helmet biting into his skin as he hyperventilated. "Barley," he whimpered. It transformed into a shriek as the bike tilted suddenly to the left. One of his small red sneakers coming in contact with the ground as he instinctively thrust his leg out to catch himself.

The impact sent vibrations crawling up his leg like ants and he shuddered.

He really didn't want to do this.

He couldn't.

He had to get off.

But, to his horror, he found he couldn't.

He was too small to keep the bike standing and swing his other leg over the bike and back onto the ground where he belonged.

Oh no.

Oh no, oh no, ohnoohnoohnoohno-

Tears stung the back of his eyes as struggled to think through the crushing wave of panic.

"It's okay, Ian," the bike straightened. And once again he was safe. He hiccuped in relief "I'm not gonna let you fall. I've got you."

Barley smiled at him, afternoon sunlight painting him in majestic blues and greens and pinks as he held on with both hands to the handlebars in front of him. In Ian's eyes, he seemed to glow, the light making him appear larger than life. And in that moment he was better than any superhero.

"Barley," he lifted his arms up, begging without words for his older brother to pick him up and save him from the horrible clutches of his bike, "I'm scared."

To his dismay, he didn't pick him up. Instead, he only removed one hand and ran it gently through Ian's hair. Petting him.

"It's okay," he repeated. "You don't have to be scared. Riding a bike is easy! Here let me show you," gently he coached Ian on foot placement and how to use the break, and how to pedal. The only thing he wanted to do was get off it but he listened intently to Barley's lecture, all the same. He frowned.

Red rimmed eyes, growing shiny with tears the longer he listened. There was so much to remember. He was gonna mess up. Or forget something. Or, or….

"I can't do this, it's too hard."

"Yes, you can! I believe in you!" His brother encouraged him. Stepping back to hold on put one hand on Ian's back and the other on the back of the bike's seat. "I'll help you. We'll do it together. Don't worry about falling. 'M not gonna let you fall but if you do, I'll catch you. So don't be afraid, okay?" Ian nodded, tearfully. He was still afraid. Still afraid of falling and hurting himself but if Barley was gonna do it with him, would catch him if he started to fall then it wouldn't be so bad.

"Okay, here we go! One, two, three-" Barley pushed with all his childlike might and the bike moved forward, front-wheel rocking side to side under Ian's clumsy guidance. He started to freeze again. More tears bubbling up and running down his face as he clutched to the bike with clammy hands. "Pedal, Ian," Barley shouted beside him. Ian turned his head to look at him.

Their eyes met.

Ian's watery and spilling over, Barley's steady, confidant - a hundred things passed between them as they gazed at one another.

Don't worry, I've got you. I know you're scared but you can do this, Barley's eyes said. I can't I'm not strong enough. Please don't make me do this alone. Please don't leave me, Ian's eyes replied. Never. Never. I'll always be here. I'll always be here to look out for you. I promise I promise," Barley's eyes vowed.

His lip wobbled, a protest on the tip of his tongue yet dying before it could pass his lips. His older brother grinned at him. "Pedal," he gasped between pants. Lungs working hard to talk while pushing a bike and its 6-year-old occupant down the street, "you can do this."

Ian swallowed and put his feet on the pedals. Immediately, the ride became easier; the front wheel stopped its frantic teetering motions as they began to travel in a straight line rather than a serpentine one. A tentative smile crossed Ian's face. His tears drying as he started to have fun.

"I'm doing it," he gasped. Surprise and awe written in every line of his face. Behind him, Barley whooped. Cheering as he sneakily let go. Ian wobbled briefly but continued - all by himself! Barley noted with pride as he tried to catch his breath, following sedately after Ian as he biked away.

"I knew you could do it," he shouted.

Notes:

I'll keep you safe.

Try hard to concentrate.

Hold out your hand,

Can you feel the weight of it?

The whole world at your fingertips-

Don't be, don't be afraid.

Our mistakes, they were bound to be made.

But i promise you i'll keep you safe.

You'll be an architect,

So pull up your sleeves

And build a new silhouette

In the skylines up ahead.

- I'll Keep You Safe, Sleeping at Last, Atlas: Year One