Once he turns the corner every bent up emotion breaks through like a sudden flash flood. "Damn it." He says slamming his eyes shut as he grits his teeth. Anger, frustration, jealously all spill out as he slams his fist into the stone wall before him.

As he pants the voices of the past call out to him again. "It's okay Abel we can just build another."

"Yeah a bigger one." The young voices are filled with an innocence he's missed so much.

"Where did that go?" He says forcing the tears away.

They cry out as he wipes his eyes. "Aww don't cry." It's Tino's voice, he remembers it clearly but it doesn't make the pain any less. So as he sinks to the floor, leaning against the cool stone he lets the memory play out in his mind. "Berwald didn't mean to knock it over...no come back."

Like he did with Alfred moments before he covers his hears in a weak attempt to stop the memory. He knows exactly where it will end and it's an image no amount of prayer or alcohol can erase. "Please no..." he says in a hushed whisper.

His eyes watch as a twelve year old kitten stands at the edge of the rocky cliff. "Hey Asshole." The blonde boy turns around with a look of annoyance written on his face. "You knocked down my snow fort!"

"So?" The kitten answers with a shrug.

"So you're always knocking it over!" Another Kitten hisses out being no more than thirteen. "I want you to apologize for being an asshole."

The one at the cliff stands defiantly. "No."

"Stop!" He screams out as it falls on deaf ears. In a flash the older of the two races head long towards the boy at the cliff.

As he screams out suddenly his hands are pulled away from his ears while his eyes being to focus on the present again. "Abel what the bloody hell are you screaming about? My god...why is your hand bleeding?" Arthur starts staring at the fresh cut the Neko received from punching the wall. "What, what happened?" His voice grows warm in a second as he kneels down to the much taller man.

"He, he knocked over my castle..." Abel chokes out. It sounds childish but the Omega nods slowly taking his cheek in his palm.

"And did he apologize?" Behind him Natalia watches in silence unsure if the Alpha before her is serious or has lost his mind.

Tears pour down his face. "No." His shoulders shake as the Omega pulls him to his chest. "I didn't mean for him to fall. I was, I wasn't trying to kill him."

"Shhh." Arthur starts to rock the older back and forth slowly. "It's alright Love. It was a long time ago."

Half of her wants to walk away, to call him a poor excuse of an Alpha but, deep down her heart won't let her. "It's going to continue to haunt you if you don't face it head on."

Arthur looks over his shoulder. "Not the time."

"No it is." It comes with a sigh as she sits beside them. "We've all done things in this life that have fucked us or our siblings up so we won't get any peace if we keep going back to the past." His eyes catch hers, sending a chill running down her spine. "I mean I..." She catches herself. "I'm not drunk enough to admit what I've done." With that she stands back up, brushing her dress off.

He shouldn't scoff but it comes natural for the male Omega. "Drinking doesn't solve anything."

"It solves a lot more than prayer ever will. Trust me on that and if I'm correct you both could use one." She turns sharply, her boots losing a bit of fur in the process. "Am I right Arthur?" When he doesn't answer Natalia starts down the hallway. "I'll be drinking Vodka if you two wish to join me."

Arthur watches her leave feeling the Neko rub his head under the Omega's chin. "Feeling better?"

"What did she mean?" It's a quiet question that comes with a hand full of sniffles along with it.

"Well," Arthur starts feeling that the Neko in his arms is calming down if only for a minute. "I." He can't bring himself to say what he hasn't even told his mate yet. "I need a fucking drink."

"But."

"No buts." Arthur pulls him up feeling like the hyena is still playing games with their heads. "She wants to have a drink we'll go have a few." Before the Alpha has a chance to protest he has the Alpha up on his feet. "And you can just have one if you'd rather."

Abel nods looking down at his feet as they walk in silence until as they reach the stairs he lifts his head. "He lived."

"Hmm?" Arthur answers as the Alpha stops.

"My brother can't speak right or...walk but he lived." The wind howling outside is the only thing that breaks the silence growing. "I...ruined our lives that day."

"Was that when you were kicked out?"

He shakes his head taking a step down to the basement. "I was just disowned. I won't get kicked out for another decade."

Arthur follows. They take their time down the long stair case. "Do how did you survive then?"

"Old healer and her Beta took me in. She taught me her 'magic' and he trained me. Not really sure what they saw in me but they were the only ones that cared." He stops looking back towards the floor they left. "Outcasts look after outcasts."

"Only because they know the pain. Love after all is pretty powerful if you think about it."

He can't help but chuckle. "Only if you believe those books Gilbert reads." His heart still hurts but, after keeping the memories locked up for so long it feels good to let them free. Though he hates knowing that Alfred will come looking for answers and he'll have to say something to his younger Omega.

Reaching the bottom Arthur gives him a smile. "Someone has to."

"Yeah, after you Thisbe."

While Arthur smirks slightly it still earns the Alpha a smack to his shoulder. "Shut up and go have a beer."