Yakko woke suddenly, as if by some internal alarm. This was something he had become all too familiar with, and he immediately got up. Padding to the door, he stepped out into the hallway with his ears pricked. Sure enough, they soon picked up the sound of faint whimpering. He let out a quiet, sad sigh and headed to his brother's room. When he opened the door, he was met with the now-familiar sight of Wakko tossing and turning, hands clutching the covers and face set in an expression of clear distress.
He wasn't crying out, at least, but Yakko had a suspicion that was more a subconscious effort on his part not to disturb his siblings. Yakko always knew, though… call it big brother instinct. Walking over to the bed, he sat down on the side and placed a hand on the middle sibling's head while using the other to loosen his tight grip on the covers.
"Wak?" he said softly. "C'mon, wake up… it's okay."
His brother's eyes snapped open as he jerked upright with a sharp gasp. Yakko immediately placed both hands on his shoulders, keeping his voice calm and soothing.
"It's okay, bud… it's okay, you're safe."
Wakko's panicked eyes moved to him, breaths coming fast and hard as he trembled.
"Y-Yakko?"
The older brother smiled and pulled him into a gentle embrace.
"Yeah, it's me," he murmured. "I'm here."
When the middle sibling's breathing remained rapid and frantic, Yakko rubbed his back.
"Easy, sib… we're gonna do your breathing, okay? Nice and slow."
Remembering Jayna's instructions, he slowed his own breathing down to a measured, rhythmic pace. After a few moments, Wakko began trying to match it. It took a few attempts, but finally his breathing began to slow down, and his trembling eased.
"That's it," Yakko said. "Keep going."
Slowly, the middle sibling's breathing returned to normal, and his trembling stopped. Yakko drew back to get a look at his face.
"Feel better?"
Wakko nodded but seemed to have trouble meeting his brother's eyes. His voice was soft and noticeably regretful.
"Sorry I woke you up. I didn't wake Dot up too, did I?"
Yakko patted his head with a small smile.
"You didn't wake me up, and no. She'd be here in a second if she was."
Wakko let out a quiet sigh, still looking down.
"She shouldn't have to. Neither of you should have to."
Yakko frowned before sighing as well.
"Wak, I know you're frustrated, but…"
The middle sibling finally lifted his head, glaring.
"Of course, I'm frustrated!" Somehow, he remembered to keep his voice quiet. "Some crazy wanker brainwashed me, and now I'm all messed up because I fell for it and did exactly what he wanted me to do! Now you guys are doing all the work while I'm stuck here and can't even sleep without breaking down!"
He dropped his gaze again, staring at his hands with a bitter expression.
"I should be over this," he muttered. "It wasn't even real."
"Wakko, believe me, I know how ya feel." The eldest Warner placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, prompting him to look up. "But even if it wasn't real, you thought it was, and you can't expect to just bounce back from that. It's only been a little over a week. For what you went through, that's not too long."
Wakko held his gaze for a few moments, then spoke again in a soft voice.
"How… how long did it take for you? To get over Mum and Dad?"
Yakko gave him a slight half smile.
"I wouldn't say I'm over it… I'll probably never be over it. I don't think any of us will."
A frown came to his younger brother's face as he rubbed his arm.
"I just… don't wanna be scared anymore."
"You've got every right to be," Yakko said, his tone gentle. "I didn't wanna be scared either, 'cause I had to take care of you and Dot, and I wanted to do what Mom and Dad would've done. And if ya ask me, I think you did too… you stopped that guy and made sure he wouldn't hurt anyone else without hurting him, even when you had no reason not to. You were thinking about other people before you, like you always do, and that's what Mom and Dad would do. They'd be proud."
Wakko looked at him again, a hopeful look now on his face.
"You… really think so?"
Grinning, Yakko ruffled his hair.
"I know so. And we are too."
His grin widened when a small smile came to his brother's face, his eyes shining like they hadn't in days. He laid his forehead against Yakko's chest, and the eldest Warner thought he could hear a slight quiver in his voice.
"Thanks, big brother."
Yakko hugged him again, resting his chin on his brother's head.
"Anytime, sib."
After a few moments, he looked down again.
"You okay now?"
Wakko nodded, then looked up at Yakko with an uncertain look, clearly reluctant to voice what he was thinking. But Yakko knew what it was, even though he hadn't seen that look since Wakko was little. Smiling, he ruffled his brother's hair again.
"Want me to stay with ya?"
Despite looking a little embarrassed, Wakko lowered his eyes and nodded.
"Yeah… if that's okay."
"No problem," Yakko replied, then moved to lay down and lifted his arm. "Scootch in."
Wakko shuffled over and lay down too, resting his head on his brother's chest as he wrapped his arm around him. For a while they just lay quietly, Yakko running a hand through the middle sibling's hair. Then Wakko spoke again, his voice soft.
"Yakko?"
The older brother looked down at him, his hand hesitating.
"Yeah, Wak?"
The middle sibling nestled closer, smiling that small but genuine smile again.
"They'd be proud of you too."
Yakko blinked at that, taken by slight surprise. But after a moment a smile came to his face too and he began stroking the middle sibling's head again. Somehow, it meant the world that Wakko thought that.
"Thanks, bud," he murmured. "See ya in the morning."
"Night," Wakko whispered back. It didn't take long for his breathing to deepen as he drifted off, but Yakko stayed awake for a while, still running a hand through his brother's hair. He found himself feeling encouraged… hopeful. It was taking time, and they probably still had quite a way left to go, but maybe, just maybe, the deep wounds the middle sibling had received from his awful experience were beginning to heal.
Yakko's eyes moved to the window, looking at the stars. All they could do was hope, just like Wakko had always said. It had always got them through before.