Ludger's late. He's never late. Or if he's coming close, he calls. There's no missed calls. Julius is five minutes away from leaving the apartment and dragging Ludger home. Trigleph isn't a safe place at night for boys his age. He's only eighteen. Far too young. Always too young.

Ludger, did Bisley finally-

"Brother, I'm home!" Ludger calls as he enters the apartment, "I'm sorry, the tailor I commissioned asked me to come in for any final adjustments. I didn't think we'd run so long, but least I'll look perfect for Sunday!"

Sunday... Wasn't that...? "Ludger... You're not planning on attending Spirius' open house event, are you?"

"Sure am! I bought my own suit and everything!"

Ludger shows off his spoils: a glossed light grey jacket with black slacks and shined black dress shoes. Underneath the jacket is a while cuffed long sleeved shirt and a cute silver bow tie. Like all of Ludger's outfits, it'll look amazing on him.

But its purpose cannot be ignored- it's all for that man.

"Looks good, right? Bisley himself's coming to welcome future applicants! I'm hoping if I go early, I can tell him hello myself before he gets stormed with-"

"You're not going," Julius says, tone flat despite the anxiety bubbling inside him.

Ludger stares back at him for a moment, yet he continues undeterred, "Don't worry! The event's free, and I'll cook dinner before I go! Or if you're worried I'll sneak a drink, I wouldn't risk getting kicked out for-"

"Don't make me repeat myself, Ludger."

"Um..." This time, Ludger realizes he's serious. Though like the first reminder, he doesn't understand the decision's final, "Why can't I go?"

Julius couldn't believe they're discussing this. Why was Ludger questioning him? He used to take his word for things and drop it. Why, of all times, was he insisting now?

"Because you're not," Julius closes in on Ludger, reminding him who's in charge. "If you want to go out that badly, ask your friends if they'll go to dinner with you."

-But contrary to expectations, Ludger doesn't shrink back and apologize for troubling him. A stubborn flame lights in him, one Julius cannot appreciate while it's directed at him, "Julius, this isn't about attending a party! Going to this event's my chance to become an Agent!"

He still didn't give up on that? Despite all of Julius' suggestions for other jobs? His stories of his terrible days at work? His doubts and warnings about his chances of passing the field exam being on the floor? What the hell did Ludger need to get the hint and stop chasing certain death?

Was Ludger's misguided determination because of his new friends from school? The chattiest one, Bisley's secretary's sister if he remembered right, kept gushing on about how girls liked a man who could bring in the dough. Maybe she filled his head with grandiose ideas; Spirius Agents' pay put almost every other job in Elympios' to shame.

Or was it the TV reporting on Spirius' recent breakthroughs into other fields? Julius switched channels whenever Spirius' name came up, but Ludger could easily watch the news reports after school.

Julius can think of a thousand explanations. There's far too many to deal with individually before Sunday. Dissuading Ludger's his best answer.

"You're wasting your time, Ludger. Spirius isn't somewhere you should work. Bisley isn't the boss you think he is, either."

"And yet it's fine if you work there?!" Ludger's voice strains to reach Julius' volume. "Give me one good reason I can't work at Spirius! And failing the field exam doesn't count; I can always try the next year!"

"The reason is because I said so. I work there. I know what it's like. We're done talking about this; you're not going, and that's final."

Ludger's fight dies out, melting into sorrow as tears glisten on his eyelashes. Julius reaches out to wipe them, to bring back Ludger's loving smile. But Ludger walks past him, setting his clothes on the kitchen table.

"...I'm going out," He's walking towards the door. If Ludger leaves, he'll never come back.

His little brother stops as Julius catches him by the wrist. "Let me go! I don't want to argue anymore!" Ludger's struggles are stronger than he remembers, not that they'll do him any good. Ludger couldn't hurt a fly without apologizing to it.

"You're not leaving until you give this pipe dream up."

"Brother..." Julius can't tell if Ludger's tears are from his words or his grip. "Please, I just need a little time to cool down!"

And then you'll run away, Julius' hold tightens with each unspeakable thought that crosses him. Ensnared in Bisley's schemes like a bunny caught in a bear trap. He'll catch you like he has everyone in the DODA. There's no corner in Elympios-in this world-that's safe for you. Not unless you stay where I can protect you.

"Julius, please stop, you're hurting me-"

I can't. You know full well why I can't stop. I've said it too many times. Or have you been ignoring me all this time? This isn't the Ludger I loved. He's changed. He's been poisoned by the world.

Who did this to you? What haven't you been telling me? You can't act like this, Ludger. The world out there will devour every piece that makes you bright.

"WHY CAN'T YOU LISTEN LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO?!" Julius finally voices his frustrations. "I'M TRYING TO SAVE YOU, WHY WON'T YOU UNDERSTAND-"

"STOP IT!" Ludger's foot pounds into his knee, forcing Julius to stumble and let go. On Ludger's pale skin, it's impossible to ignore the glowing red hand print on his wrist. Even the redness around his eyes cannot compare. "If this is how you're going to be, th-then... I'm moving out and never coming back! I hate you, Julius! Goodbye!"

He's too late to stop Ludger from running outside. Everything's lost. His world's pitch black.

Finding Ludger wouldn't take longer than a second- his prototype GHS has a GPS chip to transmit his location. But despite the simplicity, Julius can't bring his hand to even reach into his pocket. The pain isn't in his knee, it's in his core being.

For once, Julius lets Ludger go with hopes he'll return home.

Ludger comes home a few hours later. He makes dinner. It's pasta margherita, as usual. Before Julius can offer his thanks, Ludger takes his plate and locks himself in his room.

Breakfast the next morning is similar: he cooks, then retreats. There's no response when Julius asks him to come out and talk through what happened. Attempts to call him from several different numbers gets shorter and shorter, if he picks up at all. Their home is eerily silent for weeks save for the sounds of their stove every meal.

And yet when the silence is broken? It's not the same.

Ludger talks to him, but he doesn't say anything meaningful. When Julius asks what's wrong, Ludger cradles where his bruise used to be and tells him he's fine. If Julius doesn't drop it, he shrinks back and excuses himself to do the laundry or finish washing the dishes.

He should be happy; Ludger's fallen in line again. Yet when he sees his brother's face each morning, he misses that bright smile and cheerful, "Good luck at work today!".

Ludger, please come back. Without you, I'm nothing. Smile at me one last time. Tell me you love me before I decay into nothingness. Pretend if you have to. I don't care. I just need to know you're still here. Please Ludger.

For the first time in years, Julius weeps.