Caught myself in the feels a little bit here, fair warning.

Also, I really boxed myself into a corner with the whole naming convention of 'the Balance' here - do you know how boring synonyms for 'balance' sound? Rookie mistake.

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Where there are Endings and Deep Breaths

Sadiq was dying.

He knew it from the moment he felt his own scimitar pierce through his lungs, tissue, and out through his back. From the moment he realized the Ivan Braginski in front of him was not the real Ivan, but a Talent-forged copy. From when he saw the horrified look in Kirkland's eyes before Ivan had stabbed him with Sadiq's own dagger and his eyes went wide with pain.

He was dying. He heaved out a wet, shaky breath and forced himself to move forward, regardless of what he knew and could feel.

He had always known his life would lend to an early death, in all likelihood. Soldiers turned mercenaries did not often live into old age. He had accepted this but to die now, when there was still so much to do, when he cousin was still unavenged…it stung deeper than the damn scimitar still jutting through his chest. If he pulled it out, he knew he'd be dead in moments, and he needed to—he had to make sure Kirkland was alive.

He had promised.

He had promised so many things.

Sadiq crashed into a wall, blood loss making his movement clumsy and heavy. Uncoordinated. Nothing like him. He coughed, feeling blood dribble out as he did, not bothering to try and reach up and wipe it away, and kept moving in the direction he could hear the shouting. He knew that was where he would find Kirkland and Braginski. Hopefully the others, including the healer who used to travel with the crew.

He nearly lost his footing as he turned into an open hallway, the noises getting louder and louder as his vision swam in and out of focus.

Just a little further, that was all, just a little more.

And then, he could rest.

"Alfred!"

Arthur did not recognize the voice or the person screaming after Ivan as he pulled an unconscious Alfred through a damnable portal. He tried to move from where he was crumpled on the floor, knife still lodged painfully in his abdomen, and nearly blacked out from the pain, crying out silently, tears on his face both from pain and from fucking Alfred doing the one thing he had begged him not to…

"Arthur!" That voice he recognized. Seychelles. She was kneeling over him, her hands feeling around his wound, and he jerked under her touch. "Fuck, ok, just hold on ok, Arthur? Toris!"

"Where is Alfred? Where did that psychopath take my brother?"

"Matthew, please! We're all worried but we need to help Arthur first."

Oh, so that other voice, that was Matthew. Alfred's baby brother. He sounded mad and scared, and Arthur did not blame him if he hated Arthur. It was Arthur's fault. Being separated from his brother for such a long time, getting captured, Alfred.

It was all Arthur's fault.

Arthur's head lolled as he felt someone else kneel beside Seychelles, their knees pressing into his side, sticking to the blood-soaked clothes that tickled his nose with the smell of iron. He always hated the smell, iron, it was metal-ly and sharp and fucking shite, he jerked up again in pain as he felt another set of hands press on his abdomen, feeling about and generally making him more miserable. He needed to—he needed to do so many things and he had failed and now Al-Alfred was—Arthur cried out as he felt a hand jostle the knife lodged in him.

"Arthur? My name is Toris, I can heal you, but I need to remove the knife. I need you to not move too much while Seychelles pulls it out, okay?"

Arthur blinked his eyes open and saw the hazy outline of a young man with long brown hair and green eyes. Not green like his, he thought. He always thought his eyes were a limey color and sure, Alfred said he liked but he had always thought they were too bright. No, this man's eyes were a nice green, a soft green, like the seafoam waters off the Shoals that Alfred had shown him, forcing him to leave his maps, always showing him beautiful things because he loved him. Alfred loved him, the only person who ever really had and now he was gone and—

"He's delirious, Toris, he's lost too much blood. We need to just get it out. Basch, Rosa! Come over here and hold down Arthur's legs!"

More hands, so many hands, pressed on him, held him still. The last hands on him and held him still too, just before they took away the only person Arthur had—he needed to go after them, he needed to go after Alfred. Ivan was going to kill him, he said so, Arthur needed to do what he was bloody well meant to do and—

There was a loud crash and more gasps. Arthur opened his eyes again, not sure when he had closed them, and saw Sadiq stumble through a doorway, his poor scimitar still stuck in his body. Arthur sympathized. They matched and Arthur felt a laugh bubble up and dissolve into pained coughs that hurt a lot more before. He did not hurt as much now, maybe he was dying too. Sadiq was dying, Ivan had said so before—before.

"Sadiq! What—oh gods above that—"

"Alejandro, bring him here!"

"You total moron! How could you totally let Ivan get the better of you? Aren't you supposed to be some, like, master swordsman?!"

"Like you…would have…do—ne better, pipsqueak."

"Toris, can you heal them both?"

Hesitation.

Oh, poor chaps. He watched Sadiq's blurry form land clumsily next to him, kneeling and wheezing around the sword skewering him. Alejandro's large hands and arms kept him upright.

"I—I don't—they've both lost a lot of blood. When I heal, if I'm replacing blood, I'm using my own magic to do that and—it's not unlimited. I don't think I can—"

Silence and Arthur felt his eyes drift shut again before he felt a hand close around his shoulder. He blinked and looked up at Sadiq's face. "You are not per-permitted to…die, Kirkland. The trap has not closed yet, little mongoose, not on you—he left you alive…make him re-regret it. Him. Heal him."

"Sadiq…"

"No, him. Do it…now."

Arthur felt Sadiq's hand slip off his shoulder as he collapsed down to the ground, Alejandro holding him in a reclined position.

"Kirkland—do not…do not waste this."

Arthur watched his breathing go labored and wanted to rage that he was not worth Sadiq's life. He was not worth any of their lives. He was not worth Alfred's life. But, instead, at that moment Seychelles must have removed the knife from his stomach, because white-hot agony spread through his body again. But then, he felt a comforting, warm green light settled around him and he…drifted…

…

…

…down…

…

…

…down…

…

…

…and heard something calling his name.

…

…

…something he knew, he thought. Or had always known. Somehow.

…

-Arthur-

Arthur blinked his eyes open and looked around him. He was no longer dying in a pool of his own blood. It looked like he was in a pool of stars, or a grove of dark trees, light dappling like stars, or in a cave with light coming from within.

-Arthur-

He looked around at who could be calling his name. He did not see anyone at first, then he saw ribbons of light that looked like rivers and streams. Shadows that looked like mountains. And from those lights and shadows, a person. Maybe. Neither woman or man. Both, eyes like the night sky, holding a scale in its hands.

Arthur could not help the smirk.

"A bit on the nose, isn't it?" He could hear his voice again. "With the scale?"

-Perhaps-

"Am I dying? Or dead?"

-No. You are healed by one of Ours-

"Oh—then why am I here? Wherever here is?"

-We are dying. The Destroyer, Ivan, will use your Alfred and destroy Us. You must stop it-

"I couldn't before," Arthur frowned, his grief and guilt and anger, all muted. Like they belonged to someone else. "Ivan he—it took him no effort to overpower me. How can I—"

-You can. You must-

Arthur felt a tickle of annoyance and tried not to let it show on his face. He ought to try and be as respectful as he could to the Balance after all. "Yes, but how?"

-Balance-

"You know, that's not especially helpful."

-You do not need Our help, Arthur. You have all you need. All you must do, is what you are meant to do. Provide balance-

It reached out to him then, scale illusion forgotten, and touched his face. Arthur could see what it saw and feel what it felt in a way. Flashes and fragments of the whole, not words but thoughts, expressions and visions. But in them, he could see what was done, what was needed, what was happening.

What he could do.

"What if I fail?"

-The world turns. For better or worse-

"And—the Fey? I made a deal."

-Are they not part of the world? You will know. When the time comes-

"You are awfully confident in this all not going tits up." Arthur did not get a response, but he was not expecting one. "Am I going to remember any of this when I come to?"

-You will know what you need-

And then, Arthur could have sworn the Balance smiled at him and then pushed him and he fell up…

Up…

Up…

…

…

…until he resurfaced with a gasp back in Ivan's castle, blood-soaked clothes still sticking to him and spilling out to the ground around him.

He was still being held down by Seychelles, Basch, and Rosa, and a green light was fading from Toris. He looked haggard and exhausted as he lurched away with the last of the green glow. Feliks was there beside him, holding him tight as he shook with exhaustion. Arthur knew the would in his stomach had healed, he could feel tender, new skin stretched tight where there had been a bloody big gash only shortly before. The fogginess that had been plaguing him from blood loss was fading.

Arthur turned out of everyone's hold and looked over at Sadiq. He was quiet and still on the ground, the scimitar removed and resting across his body, his mask had been fixed over his face. He could have been sleeping if you did not look to closely. He knew Sadiq was gone.

Sadiq and Arthur had not been close. In fact, Arthur oftentimes felt that Sadiq was a churlish asshole whose bigoted ways frequently made Arthur and the rest of their crew uncomfortable. But he had been brave, had always treated Lily and other children with kindness and compassion, and had guided them safely through the more dangerous parts of the Byzantium.

And he had given his life to save Arthur's.

Arthur got to his knees, a bit wobbly, but he waved off concerned hands. He made his way over to Sadiq, kneeling beside him placing his hand on his still shoulder, mirroring the last thing Sadiq had done to him. He closed his eyes against the sting of tears he felt creeping behind them. Sadiq would not want them and would likely call Arthur a sentimental fool for even being in such a state. He took a steadying breath instead.

Sadiq had told him what he wanted from Arthur. He was going to make it count.

He would make it all count.

He staggered to his feet, accepting Seychelles' offered help this time, and looked around at the drawn and defeated faces of his friends. Esther was quiet and small, not at all like herself, and accepted comfort from both Rosa and Alejandro. Despite their best intentions, she and Sadiq had bonded during their journey together even with all their differences. Basch looked angry and unsure of their next move, an expression mirrored on Seychelles' face. Feliks looked tired and upset, holding Toris close after being separated from him for so long.

They had lost this round and paid dearly for it.

Sadiq.

Alfred.

Arthur turned and met a pair of blue eyes so dark they looked like they could be purple and a face that looked so heartbreakingly like Alfred's, there could be no mistaking who he was. They had the same nose and jawline, the same determined set to their face when upset. Alfred was a little taller, his brother closer to Arthur's height. Alfred's hair was a bit more on the golden side than the color of pale wheat and much less wavy, and he was not as pale as his brother. That said, the resemblance between Matthew and Alfred Jones was uncanny. They could have been twins.

Seeing the angry frown and glassy, tear-filled eyes that filled those blue eyes felt like a vice around his heart.

"Where is my brother?" The question came out hot, like an accusation. Arthur did not blame him one bit.

"Matthew, he can't talk, well, he can, but Ivan stole his voice. Alfred could understand him through that pendent but—Gilbert can read lips; we can head back to him and—"

"I can read lips," Basch interrupted Seychelles. At her incredulous look he shrugged and crossed his arms. "I had a life before all this. Didn't seem much point advertising on the ship when it wasn't needed between Gilbert, Kiku and Alfred understanding him."

"Good, tell Basch what happened to Alfred," Matthew demanded, arms clenched tight around himself.

Arthur looked at Matthew before turning to Basch and narrating what had happened. Getting separated, the walls moving and herding Sadiq and Arthur away from the others. Ivan attacking them and utterly overwhelming them. Sadiq getting run through and Arthur getting stabbed and taken by Ivan. Arriving in the hall and how he had taunted Alfred with Arthur's life until Alfred, the utter fool that he was, agreed to trade places and go with Ivan to spare Arthur. How Alfred had agreed and Ivan taking him through a portal before bringing down the stone barrier. Matthew's face got increasingly angrier as Basch relayed the story and he was unsurprised when the young man rushed him and took hold of his shirt in his fists.

"Aren't you supposed to be able to do anything with your Talent?" He asked angrily before Basch and Rosa pulled him back and away from Arthur. "Alfred wouldn't just—he went with Ivan because of you!"

"Matthew!" Seychelles said sharply, resting a hand on Arthur's shoulder comfortingly for a moment before she stepped in between them. "I know you're worried, hells, we all are, but we cannot lose ourselves now. We need to focus on what our next steps are."

Matthew glared at her and shrugged off the others. "Fine. Where do we go now?"

Arthur raised his arm and got Basch's attention so he could relay his words. "The Barrens. Arthur says Ivan took Alfred to the Barrens, where the rest of his followers are."

Basch looked contemplative and nodded at Seychelles. "That follows what that blonde woman told us, why we knew this was all a trap set by Ivan. She said Ivan has been sending most of his Talentborn followers to the Barrens."

"All right," Seychelles murmured, brows drawn deep in thought. "Then, we have to figure out how to get there."

Arthur nodded and pointed at himself. Seychelles looked at him in question. "You know how?"

Arthur nodded yes. It was all a bit hazy but remembered most of his out-of-body experience with the Balance.

He remembered what he needed to know.

"How do you know?" Matthew pressed, distrustfully.

Basch looked at him, got a constipated look on his face at the truly fantastical nature of what he was being told, but dutifully relayed Arthur's words. "He says he saw it. When he almost died, while Toris was healing him, the Balance showed him."

There was a beat of silence before Matthew scoffed. "So, you're a prophet now, too?"

Arthur shook his head and let Basch continue to translate for him. "No, he knows it sounds, um, 'raving' and mad but it's the truth. He doesn't care if we all think he's, oh for fucks sake, 'barmy' whatever that is, he knows how to get us there so if we can all just, I don't know what 'crack on' is supposed to mean Arthur! No one understands your stupid slang except for Alfred—if we can all just follow his lead on this, we can think he's crazy all we want if he's wrong."

"We don't think you're crazy, mijo," Rosa said kindly.

"You led us here," Esther chimed in, subdued and looking at Sadiq. "Yao believes you're key to defeating Ivan and Sadiq—he believed it too, even if he didn't say it."

"We trust you," Alejandro said simply. Matthew looked over sharply at the man, who met his stare back evenly.

Arthur felt a swell of affection for them all and clenched his hands tight to ground himself, nodding gratefully at their show of faith in him. Even after everything.

"So, what now?" Feliks asked, arm still around Toris, who looked better than he had when Arthur first regained consciousness. "We can't just—we can't leave Sadiq here. He deserves his rites and stuff."

"We also need to grab Gilbert and the others," Matthew reminded them flatly. "Natalia was still skewered to a wall last time we saw them. We can't leave Raivis or Asmin here either."

Basch looked at Arthur expectantly. "Arthur says we need to get down the mountain and back to camp. Then, we need Yao and Kiku's help."

Arthur raised a hand at Sadiq and closed his eyes.

-Float after me-

Sadiq floated up and bumped behind him at the command – his body remained frozen in the pose the others had put him in. Feliks nodded his head gratefully at Arthur before guiding Toris back towards where they'd presumably left Gilbert and the others from the compound he and Matthew had been rescuing themselves. Matthew followed them, shrugging off Alejandro's arm and Arthur watched him go, his heart heavy. Arthur took a deep breath and looked at the rest of the crew here, his friends. His family.

"Shall we?" Seychelles asked. Arthur nodded and she gave him a bright, fierce smile. "Then let's go and get our boy back."

If Matthew hadn't been so sick and angry with fear for his brother, he probably would have appreciated the show of power Arthur Kirkland exhibited to get them down the mountain.

They had found Gilbert and the others easy enough, the castle abandoned at this point other than themselves and the dead or incapacitated. Natalia had been captured and Arthur had given he some sort of command that made her follow Oksana after they had unpinned her from the wall. He had asked who the best option would be to command her, who knew her and cared for her and wouldn't abuse the power. Oksana loved Natalia, despite everything, and honestly wasn't the type to go about abusing anyone knowingly.

Matthew had honestly not expected him to care about Natalia's free will or choice in all this.

He's not sure he would have in similar circumstances.

Still, Matthew couldn't deny that Oksana had taken the responsibility seriously and it felt better than any of them ordering her about.

Once they had everyone gathered, Asmin looking at everyone with wonder and Raivis hiding himself behind Toris and Feliks as much as possible, Arthur had created a makeshift elevator cart out of the mountain and guided them down. Matthew had seen Tino manipulate earth like that, but no one else. Arthur Kirkland had done it with apparently a well-phrased command. What had taken the group a full day to climb (according to Gilbert), was done in an hour and they found themselves back in camp, filling in a worried Kiku and Francis as they took in who was missing, Sadiq's body and the former of whom only got paler as Alfred's capture was detailed.

Matthew had lost track of Arthur after that, as Francis and the others all greeted him properly. Toris was swept into the big tent where Yao was apparently still healing from an attack Ivan had ordered, and he arranged for Oksana, Raivis, Asmin, and Natalia to be set up under the big tent as well. Raivis was glad to be close to Toris still, Asmin was happy to ask Yao and Kiku all sorts of questions about magic, and Oksana was content to be left alone with Natalia, talking to her kindly even though Natalia did not answer.

Later, after he had rested some, ate a little, and left the big tent, he spied Feliks coming back into the camp from the bushes and sparse trees, his face drawn and eyes sad. He smiled faintly at Matthew as he spotted him.

"Must be nice to stretch your legs as a free man, right?"

Matthew shrugged. "It would be nicer if my brother was free too."

Feliks frowned. "Well obviously, but we're totally working on that you know. Eyebrows is pretty crafty and dead useful with that Talent. Plus, Yao thinks he's, like, the 'chosen one' or whatever. I think that's a load of bull, but I've never been a big believer in the whole sentient Balance thing. Might have to change that opinion after all this, though."

Matthew could guess who 'Eyebrows' was, and his skepticism must have shown on his face because Feliks sighed and flicked him in the forehead. "Hey!"

"Quit all that scowling, it's bad for your face," Feliks said. "Look, in total seriousness, I get that you're pissed. You got kidnapped and held hostage for, like, months and then as soon as you get your reunion with your big brother, Ivan shits all over it and you wanna blame someone, but I am telling you, Arthur is not that guy. Blame Ivan."

Matthew wished that Feliks pulled his punches just a little bit, it would let him feel less guilty about doing exactly what Feliks pointed out. He felt a flush rise in his cheeks, but he refused to admit anything and decided deflection was his best option now. "Where were you anyway?"

"You Jones boys are exhausting, you know that? Always have to know everyone's business," Feliks sniped. "I was helping Arthur prepare Sadiq. I told you guys, he's got certain rites that need to be observed and seeing as he died for us, seemed the least we could do. We were probably going to light the pyre at sunrise; that's an important time in his culture."

"Oh," Matthew said softly. Feliks' smile was somber.

"Look, Mattie, can I give you some advice?" Feliks asked. Matthew knew he was going to give it anyway regardless of his answer, so he shrugged. "I think you should talk to Eyebrows. You know, of the non-yelling variety. He loves your brother, like stupid amounts. They are actually kind of nauseating about it, and this whole thing? It's eating him up too, especially as I'm totally sure he thinks you hate him and blame him for it. Just something to think about!"

Feliks gave him one last judgmental look and then bounded off, no doubt to find Toris.

Matthew watched him go, a mix of annoyance and chastised guilt rolling around in his gut as he ignored his advice and decided to go and see Alejandro. He felt bad for how he'd reacted when leaving the mess hall and knew he should go and apologize. He made his way through the camp, the early morning light from dawn starting to creep along the horizon. Matthew spotted him with most of the rest of the crew gathered around Seychelles. He approached the group and slipped in beside Alejandro, who spared him a gentle look when he made space for him.

"What's Seychelles talking about?" Matthew asked quietly, hoping Alejandro would not mind filling him in.

"Our plan," Alejandro responded. "After we put Sadiq to rest at sunrise, Yao and Kiku will create a spell which should be able to transport us to the Barrens. It's easily recognizable by other magic users, so not ideal for a sneaking approach, but as Braginski likely knows we will follow him, the thought is it does not matter."

Matthew nodded and focused back on Seychelles. "Kiku confirmed that with Toris' healing, even at limited capacity after healing Arthur, Yao should be able to create this spell with Kiku's help in a few hours, giving us a chance to get some rest before we head after Ivan."

"Mon amour," Francis started. Matthew did a double take as he realized he was directing the endearment towards Seychelles and she wasn't hitting him upside the head. Looked like those two got their heads out of their asses. Finally. "I do not doubt our Arthur, but are we sure he is up for this task so soon? And when it seems our adversary likely expects us to follow after Alfred?"

Seychelles shrugged, her one eye visibly conflicted. "If you want to try talking him down and waiting another day or so, be my guest. I doubt you're going to get very far with him. And he's not wrong; Alfred can't afford us to wait a few days. We don't know when Ivan is going to try and destroy the Balance, but I doubt he's going to wait long."

Francis frowned. "Ah, how cruel it all is, non? To be used against one another in such away."

Everyone went around and gave some sort of sound of agreement; Matthew tried not to let it sway his feelings on anything.

"Best thing we can do now is prepare what we can before sunrise," Esther said, her face hard. "We will make Ivan answer for what he has done, one way or another."

On Esther's rather bleak proclamation, the group split up, Francis following Seychelles off to presumably a tent they shared, Basch, Gil and Esther going to check their weapons supplies, Rosa going to check on Asmin. In the short time the girl had joined their group, Rosa had taken a shine to the little girl and Asmin to her.

Alejandro stayed with Matthew, taking his hand and brushing his knuckles down the side of Matthew's face.

"I am glad you are all right," Alejandro said softly. "I was worried."

Matthew shrugged, leaning into the hand briefly. "It wasn't great, but—Toris helped me. So did others. Oksana a little, and Eduard he—Ivan killed him, but he did a lot for me while I was there. A lot for Toris and Raivis too."

"I am sorry, corazón," Alejandro murmured.

"Yeah. You know Eduard, he, he believed that Arthur was something special too. That he could beat Ivan."

Alejandro was patient with him, like he always was, and calmly looked at him, letting him continue however he needed. To be honest, Matthew wasn't even sure what he was trying to get at here.

Eduard's death had been so sudden that Matthew still found himself forgetting he wasn't there. That he wasn't going to pop around the corner any minute, having escaped Ivan's castle with them and give Matthew cryptic advice as to what to do now. How to stop Ivan and get Alfred back. He had been a constant presence in Matthew's life since his capture and now he was just gone.

Gone, like Alfred might be.

Hells, like they all might be if Eduard's prediction as to what Ivan was doing to the Balance was correct and getting Alfred was the last piece he needed. He didn't know precisely what made Alfred so important to Ivan's plan, but he knew it had to do with his Talent and whatever connection Ivan had to it after the attack.

He missed Eduard, despite everything and all the anger Matthew had with him due to his initial belief in Ivan's mission. He missed him a lot and now the same man who had killed his friend had his brother.

Matthew blinked out of his thoughts and met Alejandro's dark eyes, still unwavering in their patience for him. "Do you think he can? Stop Ivan?"

Alejandro hummed, considering, before he nodded. "You have just met Arthur, corazón, and you met him after a defeat with your brother taken. But I have seen the things he can do. I would fear him, as I have feared Ivan, if it were not for his nature. When Ivan first cracked the world with the earthquakes, he stopped them from happening, at least around us. He released the magic and energy back into the world to return to where it came from. It was inspiring. I am not a fervent believer of the Balance the way those Nordsmen are, but witnessing that power, I admit, I found myself seeing it the way they do."

"But he couldn't stop Ivan when he faced him," Matthew persisted. "And now Al's been taken and…"

He trailed off, not sure even what he was getting at. Everyone seemed so sure that Arthur would be able to take on Ivan in round two and get Alfred back and everything would work out, but he didn't see how. Not when they were thoroughly trounced, lost Alfred, and we laying to rest one of their own as a result of their last showing. All Matthew could think about was Ivan disappearing with his brother and Eduard's terrified face the last time he had seen him alive.

"I think you might want to go and speak to Arthur directly, Matthew," Alejandro said. "If you have doubts or information to share, I think he would be most able to use it. I have faith that he will do all he can to rescue your brother and the Balance, but I am not sure I can reassure your fears any more than that."

Mathew frowned at him, annoyance clear in his voice. "You're the second, person to tell me to go talk to Arthur in the last hour."

"Well, maybe you should heed the advice," Alejandro teased back, gently. He leaned down and pressed a soft, careful kiss to Matthew's forehead, one of his big hands teasing through his hair and examining the bun it was currently in. "I like you with long hair, I think."

Matthew looked away and tried to ignore the blush that comment brought to his cheeks. "Yeah, well, it's annoying. It keeps getting in my eyes."

"Yes, but such is the cost of beauty," Alejandro parried back, a soft, knowing smile stretching his face as he enjoyed how Matthew's face got darker. He squeezed his shoulders bracingly once more. "Talk to him, I think it will help you. Who knows, you may even like him."

Matthew scoffed, but didn't express his doubt about that sentiment any further. And then, with a parting kiss to his cheek, Alejandro left, heading in the same direction Basch and the others had gone, leaving Matthew alone with nothing but his thoughts yet again.

His feet took him back to the big tent where he found Toris resting with Feliks, pale and wan after using so much magic in so short a time. Rosa was there as well, sitting next to Asmin and letting the girl tell her in rapid-fire Common the different things Yao and Kiku were doing to build the spell they were working. Raivis was sitting nearby, trying to keep out of sight. He caught Kiku's eye and gave the Kitsune a small grin in greeting.

"Matthew-kun," Kiku said, stepping away from where he was working with Yao to give Matthew a brief hug. Matthew returned it and there was a silence where they both felt Alfred's absence like a wound between them. "Do you need somewhere to rest? It may be a bit noisy in here while Yao and I work, but there are some cots over by Miss Oksana. Her, ah, charge, is resting on one herself."

Matthew glanced over to see that Natalia was in fact sleeping next to a drowsing Oksana before he shook his head. "No, I—I was actually wondering if you knew where Arthur was."

Kiku appraised him with a neutral face that gave none of his thoughts, but Matthew could guess them anyway. Kiku had no doubt already been filled in on Matthew's interactions with the man. He felt another flare of annoyance at the protectiveness the whole crew seemed to feel was necessary when it came to Arthur Kirkland. He schooled his face into a placid expression and met Kiku's stare until Feliks interrupted them.

"Taking my advice, huh? He's probably in his and Alfred's tent, not sleeping, even though Seychelles told him he needed rest."

"I doubt he'll get any rest," Matthew grumbled back and met Kiku's dark eyes again. "I'm certainly not getting any."

"No, I suppose none of us will," Kiku agreed. "Feliks is likely correct. You can find their tent near the captain's. Head to the left once you leave this tent."

Matthew nodded in thanks and followed Kiku's directions as he left the big tent and headed to the left. He spotted a row of tents and identified Seychelles' by the lilting Gaul language she and Francis were speaking from inside and his eyes focused on the tent beside theirs. He didn't know if he should knock on one of the poles holding it up or not and settled for lifting the flap of the tent open and peaking inside.

He didn't see Arthur or anyone inside—he did see bits and pieces of Alfred all over, mixed distinctly with someone else. It honestly reminded him of his parents' room growing up. His mom's glasses on the counter under a book of his dad's, his dad's brush on his mom's dresser, both of their clothes thrown haphazardly over furniture. He closed the flap and walked around towards the back and started as he nearly tripped across a log resting along the edge of the tent.

And on that log, sat Arthur Kirkland, arms crossed on his knees and hunched over. As he noticed Matthew's arrival, he straightened up and brushed as his face briefly, his eyes locking with Matthew's afterwards.

He looked shuttered and tired, pale still from his brush with death. And still, Matthew could see the appeal Alfred obviously did. His eyes were so green it was distracting and even looking as miserable and burdened as he did, he was attractive, with features that reminded Matthew of those stories about elves and woodland Fey their dad read them when they were kids. Even those eyebrows fit his face and Matthew just knew Alfred loved them.

Alfred was always drawn to anything unique or unusual. Anything that caught his eye. Between the eyes and the eyebrows, his brother hadn't stood a chance.

The silence between them stretched into awkwardness before Matthew remembered that Arthur wouldn't be the one to start this conversation. He cleared his throat as Arthur got to his feet.

"Hi," Matthew started. Before he could say anything else, Arthur held up his hand in the universal 'stop' motion and held up one finger before he darted around the tent. Matthew stared after him, feeling the stirrings of his anger start to burn again when Arthur reappeared, this time with a black slab and bright orange quill in hand.

This will be easier. Matthew looked at the fiery letters in neat, precise writing on the black writing tablet. Arthur gave him a moment to read before turning the tablet back towards him and writing something new. This isn't quite how I imagined this would go before but, I'm Arthur.

"Matthew. I—I'm sorry about, before."

Matthew wasn't sure where the apology came from. He still felt hurt and angry and afraid and wanted to blame this man. But honestly, it just wasn't in his nature to hold a grudge, and this was someone who loved Alfred. He was probably just as hurt and angry and scared as Matthew.

When he'd been avoiding him, it had been easy to imagine Arthur as cool, maybe even unfeeling and unbothered by what his brother had sacrificed for him. That was how he had appeared when he'd first been healed and guiding them down the mountain. Seeing him hunched over, cheeks wet, and eyes haunted now though, well, it kind of ruined the picture Matthew had built in his head. And told him that Arthur was the kind of person who bottled everything up and did his best to keep his perceived weaknesses from prying eyes. He could sympathize.

Don't apologize. You were right to be angry.

"Sure, but not at you," Matthew responded softly. Arthur looked taken aback and his brows furrowed as he looked away. "I don't know everything that happened up there tonight, but it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have said anything that implied that. I—I was just upset."

Arthur shook his head and scribbled furiously, the letters more slanted and messier in his distress. Alfred went with Ivan because of me. Because I allowed myself to be outsmarted and defeated.

"Alfred has always been a bit of an idiot," Matthew said with a small smile, almost laughing at the shocked, almost affronted, look that crossed Arthur's face. "I just mean when it's about helping someone he loves. Once he's made up his mind, there's no changing it. He's always been like that."

I still should have stopped Ivan.

Matthew quirked an eyebrow at him. "Do you want me to be mad at you?"

Arthur blinked and shook his head. He started to write and then stopped a few times before Matthew took pity on him.

"Look, I understand the guilt, all right? I was kidnapped for months and knew that Alfred would do anything to get me out, including something stupid like sacrifice himself for me, because that's who he is. But that's not on me, just like this isn't on you, no matter what you think. Or what I said up there."

Arthur didn't agree with him, that much was clear, and Matthew didn't really think his 'pep talk' was going to convince Arthur of anything. But he didn't look like he was going to keep trying to get Matthew to hit him, so he took that as a win. Matthew sat down on the log and motioned for Arthur to do the same. He did, after a moment of awkward hesitation. Matthew let the quiet between them stretch for a beat before smiled and let out a helpless laugh, drawing a confused look from Arthur.

"Nothing, it's just—the crew got super protective over you and kept giving me stinkeyes so I wouldn't start yelling at you. It was kind of annoying to be honest, especially when I was still trying to be mad at you. But out of everyone, it was you who was trying to get me mad at you. It's just funny."

Right, hilarious.

Matthew chuckled again. "Oh, I bet Al loves that snark. Bickering is one of his favorite pastimes."

Arthur's face went red, and Matthew smiled. He wore that flush across his face much better than he did his grief or his troubles. He paused but then began writing on the tablet, a small smile lighting up his face even more than the flush did.

Bicker a lot as children, did you?

"Like you wouldn't believe. Usually about some plan he'd concocted that I told him was stupid." Matthew shot Arthur a conspiring look and grinned. "If you ever need dirt on him, believe me, I have it. The time he tried to paint his pony green is especially funny. The dye wouldn't come out of his hair for a month."

Matthew couldn't hear it, but he could see Arthur chuckle as he wrote out his response. Please tell me he looked like a head of broccoli.

Matthew laughed as he nodded and after their laughs died down, they lapsed into a more comfortable quiet until Matthew could feel Arthur growing somber and gloomy beside him again. This was more how I had wanted us to meet. No Ivan. Exchanging stories about Alfred to embarrass him. Not like this, him gone and me…

Arthur trailed off as he wrote and shrugged his shoulders and Matthew bumped him with his shoulder. "Then we'll just need to redo it properly once we have him back. You know everyone here believes you can do this Arthur. But it doesn't really matter what we think. Because I know Alfred and I know he believes that you can do this. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone so easily with Ivan. So do it for him."

Arthur met his stare and nodded, scribbling one final note on his tablet before they lapsed into silence and waited for the sun to rise.

Whatever it takes.

Tino looked up as the clouds in the sky above the Barrens swirled violently, as if they could sense a storm coming.

It was calm where they were waiting, but he could feel it all around them. So could the others. Berwald was tense beside him, his hands frosting over every now and then. Oskar jittery and his feet hovering off the ground. Matthias letting out little sparks of flame as he paced. Nikolai tense as he stared out over the horizon, his eyes as dark as the storm clouds around them.

The deep breath before the fall, the quiet before the squall.

"It's almost time," Tino whispered in the halcyon air around them. "They'll be here soon."

"Ivan has Alfred," Nikolai warned. "I can feel his energy through the leylines, at the center with Ivan. It will be worse this time."

"Hn," Berwald agreed.

"Is-is Alfred going to die?" Oskar asked, his usual good humor gone.

"No way we, or more importantly Eyebrows, will let that happen," Matthias scoffed, giving Oskar a confident grin.

Tino nodded and clenched his fist, feeling the ground harden under his feet, ready for what was to come.

Almost time.

WHO IS READY FOR THE FINALE?!

Next update - tomorrow 6/23/2021