Chapter Title: Kossi's End
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
Author: Obi the Kid
POV: Dashen (Tanner is 11, Dash is 17)
Chapter Summary:
Series Summary: A series of non-chronological stories taking place in the world of my OC's Dashen and Tannerlin.
Rating: PG
Characters: Dashen Lesedi, Tannerlin Vai (Jedi)
Four years ago…
This was it. The end. Kossi was dying, I'd known for a while now that it was close, but now…the moment had finally come. I held him to me. He was too weak to do much other than lay boneless in my arms, but I cried enough for the both of us.
We were here, in the dirty and tiny apartment we'd called home for these two years since our parents had passed. He was in my bed, where he'd said he wanted to be when the time came. I'd wrapped him in his favorite green blanket and tucked a small piece of red cloth into his hand. That cloth had belonged to a robe that our mother and father had given him for his last birthday before they died. It kept them in his heart and he carried it with him always. I made sure it was held securely in his hand.
"When you see Mom and Dad again, Kos, you give them a big hug for me, okay?" My arms went tighter, if that was even possible. I felt him struggling more and more for each breath. "I'm sorry, little brother. I've tried so hard to take care of you and look after you. I couldn't stop whatever this was. I'm so sorry."
I stopped long enough to push the river of tears off my cheeks before taking Kossi's free hand in mine. He couldn't speak. He'd lost the ability two days ago. But he was able to squeeze my hand in such a way that I knew exactly what he was saying. 'Not your fault. I love you, big brother. Thank you for taking care of me.' Simple, honest and to the point. That was my brother. He wore his emotions and his heart on the outside; a what you see is what you get type kid. A good boy. The best brother.
My heart was being ripped from my chest.
I did eventually respond to that hand squeeze. Time was short. Perhaps only a few minutes more and Kossi would be gone. He'd be gone. My little brother. My whole world.
I would be completely and absolutely alone.
"You and I didn't get enough time together, Kos, but it's been the best job on the planet – in the galaxy – being your big brother. I hope you know that. How much I love being your big brother."
His grip loosened some. I felt him slipping away from me. The muscles in his face lost their tension. His once bright eyes trekked towards lifeless. I hugged him even tighter. Blanket secure; keeping him warm and close to me until that last breath of life.
His small hand pressed mine one last time and I pushed my face into his. "Love you, Kos. Always."
All went quiet then, his breath, his life. There came an eerie pause of silence and then I lost it. I just lost it. Bawling like a baby. Rocking my dead brother back and forth in my lap. Lamenting in my grief. Broken in my heart.
I buried him the next day. Next to our parents. Unmarked, but near our favorite shade tree where we'd spent so many days goofing off and being kids. I'd kept him wrapped in his favorite green blanket, but not before I cut a small square of it off. That, I would keep. For me. To remember.
Present Day…
Tanner's hand on my arm shook me out of my memory. The small square of light green cloth, he set back into my palm and wrapped my fingers around it. He'd found it sunken into the corner of the couch and didn't know what it was. I chastised myself for being so careless as to misplace it while at the same time, understanding this was a sign for me. It was time to tell Tanner about Kossi's death. The details. Tanner had been with me for almost two years now; he was family. He knew the basics of what had happened, but he was too considerate to ever really ask more than what I'd offered. He deserved to know.
I sat up and told the story.
Once the tears had dried up, I said to him, "It's funny, you know? I have a hard time remembering things I did last week, but I call relive every single second of Kossi's final days like engraved into my mind. Thanks for finding this, Mouse," I stroked the soft fabric of the green cloth clutched in my hand, "I'd never have forgiven myself had I lost it. It keeps him with me and helps keep my head screwed on straight too."
There wasn't a verbal response to my words. Tanner had his own history of loss and pain, so he knew what I felt. He also knew that sometimes, just being there was comfort enough; that I didn't really need the words to go with it.
"I think I'll turn in early tonight. Remembering that day…hard on the heart, you know?" I pulled my arm around Tanner's shoulders and held tightly. "See you in the morning, little brother. Tomorrow's a new day."
Tanner fixed breakfast for me that next morning. A bantha bacon omelet with honey syrup on top. It had been Kossi's favorite and therefore mine by default. I couldn't help but smile. This kid may not be my brother by blood, but he'd earned his way into my heart, almost right alongside my brother.
Kossi.
My brother who loved life and loved everyone…would be honored to share the space.
The end.
