Steve was working through the stress as well as anyone else. He was trying his hardest not to lose his temper or boil over whenever something went wrong, but what with the elves being assigned their new positions for the year, that was becoming increasingly difficult. The eldest Claus was finally able to step away from the fray, if only for a few moments, whenever he made his way towards the exit to use the bathroom. A short while to himself would be just the thing to clear his mind, and he'd be back in top shape whenever the inevitable mess-up came around once again. At this point, Steve was prepared for anything.

He was not, however, prepared for Arthur to run into him halfway through the door, his frame trembling roughly and his eyes a bloodshot color. Arthur seemed just as surprised as Steve was, and he took a step back, grinning sheepishly up at his brother.

"H-hey, St-eve..." he managed.

Something is wrong. All of the sirens were going off in Steve's brain.

"Arthur, are you- Arthur!"

He had just enough time to realize once Arthur's eyes rolled back into his skull that he was falling forward, his legs giving out from beneath him. Steve practically leaped forward, catching his brother before he hit the ground. All of the elves around began to gasp and point, which was not helping the situation at all. The only one who seemed to have a conscious of what was happening was Bryony, and since she'd heard Steve call his little brother's name in such an anxious state, her head was the first one to spin in their direction. She was already by their side whenever Steve hoisted Arthur to his feet, allowing him to lean into his shoulder.

"Arthur, hey! Are you with me?" the elder Claus asked, receiving no answer. The elves began to surround them.

"What's the matter with him?"

"Is he okay?"

"What's wrong, sir?"

"What happened?"

"Back up!" Bryony shouted as Steve lifted his brother into a bridal position, seeing as he was in no position to walk himself. "Leave 'em be! Get back to work, ye' hear?"

"Bryony, I'd appreciate your help," Steve mumbled as he walked out of mission control. Bryony nodded, following close behind the two. As they made their way back to Arthur's room, Steve tried to rouse his brother. "Arthur? Little bro? Hey, you there?"

Arthur only managed a groan, burying his face closer to Steve's chest. The older Claus rolled his eyes, though prominent anxiety still lingered around his body like a threatening aura. Bryony's hands were clenched into tight fists as she looked up at Arthur's lanky form with worry. She could see the way his body was shaking, even from below him. Steve didn't slow down the entire way back to Arthur's room, and the she-elf had a difficult time trying to keep up. She only managed to get ahead of Steve whenever they finally reached Arthur's room, and Bryony had to jump up and open the door for them. The minute the door was open, Bryony rushed into Arthur's bathroom that sat to the left of his large bedroom. She rummaged through the small basket that sat atop the toilet and held his washcloths before hopping atop the sink and running the grey rag under some cool water. All the while, Steve was situating his brother onto his bed and under the covers. He'd noticed how profusely Arthur was sweating while he had carried him through the hallways, so he made sure to roll up his little brother's sleeves in an attempt to cool him off without removing his sweater. Bryony wrung out the washcloth before hurrying over to Steve, handing it up to him before clambering onto Arthur's huge bed. Steve grabbed the chair from Arthur's desk and scooted it forward so that he was able to sit right next to his little brother's bedside.

"Thank you, Bryony," Steve muttered before dabbing the rag over his brother's pale face. Arthur heaved a sigh before letting out a light cough. It was the first real sign that he was coming back down to earth, and Steve's shoulders visibly loosened with relief. He removed the rag, only to push the stray strands of hair away from Arthur's slick forehead. At this, the younger Claus's eyes fluttered open, though they were dull and unfocused. His eyebrows pinched together, and he swallowed thickly. "Hey, Arthur. You alright?"

Bryony walked up to Arthur's head, sitting down next to him as she began to pet his mounds of fluffy hair. Arthur hummed at this, a small smile gracing his lips.

"H-hey..." he managed. "'M... sorry about that..."

"No, that's alright," Bryony answered before Steve could. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Steve placed the cool rag over Arthur's forehead, leaving it there, for now, to help his body cool down. He took hold of Arthur's left hand, squeezing it. "What happened back there?"

Arthur shook his head; a slow, labored movement. "I... erm... I haven't been... feeling the best."

Steve's eyebrows rose. "Ah, really? You didn't think to tell me before, whenever I asked if you were okay?"

The young Claus frowned, averting his gaze, not saying a word. Steve sighed, picking up Arthur's hand in his. It looked like the two were about to have an arm-wrestling match, which would've been a hilarious thought if they weren't in their current situation. Bryony bent down to place a short kiss on Arthur's brow, continuing to run her small hands through his tufts of wild brown hair.

"Have you been sleeping?" the she-elf asked, trying to change the subject, even if by the slightest bit.

Arthur nodded. "Just a little while ago... I've slept."

"How much?" Steve challenged, raising an eyebrow. "Because, Arthur, if you were getting the proper amount of sleep, you wouldn't look the way you do right now."

Arthur closed his eyes, and he started to find it harder and harder to come up with convincing lies. Then again, he didn't really want to lie to anyone. He just didn't want them to worry, which he ultimately failed at. It wouldn't be the first time. "I... I've tried to sleep. But, ya know... I get busy reading letters, 'n I..." The young Claus shrugged his shoulders, which didn't do much to help his argument. "It hasn't been much. M-maybe an hour at most..."

"All week?" Steve sounded flabbergasted.

His younger brother nodded, and the poor kid looked like a kicked puppy. Steve knew the last thing Arthur wanted to do was disappoint him, or anybody else. But this was unacceptable.

"Arthur," he said firmly, "you cannot do this to yourself! You're running on an hour of sleep for the entire week, it's no wonder you collapsed on me."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Bryony questioned. She sounded genuinely hurt, and Steve couldn't help but feel that he was butting in on something he shouldn't be. Arthur opened his eyes once again, though they could only rise to about half-mast. Steve almost gasped whenever he noticed there were tears in his little brother's eyes. It'd been a long while since he'd seen Arthur cry; the young Claus didn't seem capable of it. He always looked to the positive. He made sure to stay enthusiastic, always working to make sure the kids got the magical Christmas of their dreams, even before the 'Missed Child" catastrophe of the week prior. The last time Steve could specifically remember his little brother crying was when Arthur was about ten years old. Steve himself had been fourteen, and the two were working on a surprise they'd made specifically for their father, Malcolm. It wasn't anything stupendous, just a big card complete with glitter and markers and vibrant colors, basically letting Santa know that they loved him and admired him. It had been about two days before Christmas Eve. Steve could remember, even at the young age of fourteen, having a sort of resentment for his father, and how he always seemed to overlook Steve when it came to the important matter of Christmas. Of other kids, and what they wanted. Arthur had been so insistent on making this card, and despite Steve's hesitant willingness to go along with it, he had found himself growing annoyed with the project when it was only halfway done. He'd snapped.

Arthur, who had only been excited and supportive up until that point, took the blunt force of all of Steve's pent-up anger. Steve couldn't remember what he had said, and he doubted Arthur did, either. But Steve could definitely remember how his little brother's face slowly began to crumble, and how tears filled his eyes, and how he'd covered his mouth with his hand before rushing out of the 'Letters' office and into his room, slamming the door behind him. The memory made Steve's insides twist up uncomfortably, especially since he'd never actually apologized for it. Now, he was faced with the same predicament. Arthur was crying, and though it wasn't hard, wracking sobs, his silent tears seemed to sting all the worse.

"I..." Arthur began, his voice wavering. His hand tightened around Steve's. "I-I know... that you guys have a hard time t-trusting me. I know I... mess things up all the time, a-and... I can't seem to do anything right." Bryony moved one hand to wipe the tears away as they fell, which only made Arthur cry more. "I'm Santa, now, r-right? That's me. An-and, I can't even... I can't even help you guys do the simplest things. I-I'm not good at anything, except writing letters." Arthur turned his head to face his brother, and Steve's heart nearly shattered in his chest. "Writing letters doesn't help you, S-Steve." The young Claus brought his free hand up to wipe his face, but Bryony took it, instead, wrapping it gently in her palms. "'M... so sorry I couldn't... I can't... do anything without making a m-mess of it. I'm s-sorry..."

Steve didn't know how to react, let alone what to say. It was clear that these thoughts had been eating away at Arthur's conscious, and through his fevered delusion, they were all finally making their grand entrance. Bryony stole a concerned look in Steve's direction, which he returned. In truth, the only reason Steve had been able to get through this week at all was because of Arthur. Even if he was clueless at times, he always offered creative solutions, and a pat on the back whenever he noticed how overwhelmed his older brother was. He always came into mission control with a smile and a set determination to take the day by storm. Steve never said it, and he was kicking himself for it, now, but Arthur was his biggest inspiration. His biggest supporter. His best friend. The older Claus had pushed him so far away up until this point, and it had taken a large toll on Arthur. A bigger toll than he could've imagined. He had a chance to change things, now, and he figured he might as well get started.

Steve released Arthur's hand, stood to his feet, and knelt down, scooping his ill brother into a tight embrace. Arthur stiffened for a moment but gladly accepted the gesture, moving his arm sluggishly to hug Steve back.

"You," Steve said, his voice low and sincere, "are the only reason why I'm still going."

Arthur let out a small gasp, more so felt by Steve than noticed by Bryony, but it was there all the same. The eldest Claus pulled away, taking a seat in Arthur's desk chair once again and grabbing his brother's hand. Arthur looked surprised, but love shone through the dullness of his eyes. He was there, even if only a little.

"Arthur, you're the only person who's been able to stay sane through all of this," Steve continued. He shook his head whenever Arthur huffed, a hurt expression falling over his features. "You are the one keeping everyone else going. You're the one pushing me to be better, to do better. All of this is thanks to you." He squeezed Arthur's hand, suddenly seeing him again as that teary-eyed ten-year-old that he'd refused to reconcile with. "You haven't messed anything up, Arthur. You've pushed yourself to your physical limit, yes. But you haven't ruined anything. You've made everything better." Steve offered his brother a soft smile. "You've made me better. All I'm asking from you now, though, is to rest. I won't have you working anymore until I see fit. Understood?"

"But-"

"No. Please, Arthur. Please rest. You deserve it."

The young Claus smiled, a small and grateful thing, and allowed his eyes to close again. His body relaxed, and so did his hand. Steve felt his heart growing warmer as he stood up from his seat. He placed a quick kiss atop his brother's hair. "I'll take care of the rest." He turned to look at Bryony. "Could you-"

"I'll stay with him, sir. No questions asked." The she-elf was still holding Arthur's right hand in hers, rubbing her thumbs over his skin. Steve nodded.

"Thank you, Bryony."

The wrapping elf shook her head, but her smile remained. "No thanks necessary."