He cannot tell anymore when his brother is really smiling or simply faking it to please him.
Tyki does not confront him about this, though—he knows that Cyril is busy with diplomats, busy with accepting the condolences of fellow politicians about his wife and his poor, poor daughter. How horrible, that they died in such a terrible crash. How terrible, that the person who did it was never found.
Indeed, it was a terrible thing.
It is in bed that, rolling over on his side and tracing the scars on his brother's back that Tyki suddenly draws his brother close. In a fit of childishness, he buries his face into Cyril's back, squeezing his eyes shut.
Cyril breathes in sharply, looking over his shoulder with hazy eyes. "What is it, Tyki?" he murmurs.
"Answer me honestly this time, Cyril," Tyki mumbles thickly. "Do you miss her?"
Cyril is utterly silent. Under his skin, Tyki can feel his brother's heart beat slowly at first—bump, bump, bump—before speeding up, faster and faster like a rabbit. Bumpity-bump-bumpity-bump, frightened prey running from the predator.
"Why do you ask, Tyki?" Cyril rolls over to face his brother, gold eyes dulled from lack of sleep. "Tyki, I'm beginning to worry about this obsession of yours. You always ask this after we—" he stops. Clears his throat, and then continues. "After we go to bed."
"It's not obsession if I simply want to remember her." Tyki reaches up and brushes a stray hair from his brother's face. "And I want you to quit running."
"Who's running? Really, Tyki, you're being very silly."
Tyki can feel his eyes narrowing. "You're forcing yourself."
Cyril narrows his eyes right back. "I most certainly am not. Just go to sleep, Tyki."
"Give me your answer."
But Cyril has rolled over and is already asleep. End of discussion.
As Tyki traces the scars again, he can see a bloodstained smile in the darkest depths of his mind. You can do anything you want with him right now, you know, says Joyd, laughing. He is yours.
"Mine," he whispers, eyes growing heavy. "But do I want him to be fully mine?"
And when he closes his eyes, he can see the blood covered smile flicker once, twice, and then go out like a light.
Updating this every weekend. :D
Zenophobic, thank you so much for reviewing!