Robin had been searching for his brother for over an hour and with every passing second, his heart dropped a little further. Oh, Will…
He had a feeling that if Will didn't want to be found, he had little chance. Defeated, Robin leant his head against the tree behind him. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to fight the rising panic that threatened to overwhelm him. He'd lost him. He'd lost his brother. Will...
Every bit of confidence he had felt since their return to the forest had evaporated. He couldn't hold back the quiet sob that burst from his chest. He had done this. He had pushed Will away. All of his promises to never abandon his brother, to always be there for him, to be his family: all of it had turned out to be nothing more than empty words. When Will had really needed him…he had failed him.
The forest was closing in on him. He couldn't breathe. Pictures of Will were racing through his mind. Every word his brother had said over the past few days was cascading across his consciousness. He shrank down, hands over his ears, bracing himself against the onslaught. He was going mad. It was as if the anchor of his reality had been ripped away. All that was left was an endless merry-go-round of memories and feelings.
Suddenly, he froze, Will's words from the campfire ringing in his mind.
Slowly, he pushed himself back to his feet, a spark of hope flaring within him. His first attempt came out in more of a splutter than a whistle. He shook his head and steeled himself. The second time, a clear note rang out. Gaining confidence, he stood straighter and this time the two-tone melody sang through the trees. He whistled again, slowly walking through the brush. On the third try, his heart skipped a beat as a quiet answering note wavered in the dark. Will! Robin stopped walking. Very gently, he whistled again. This time there was no reply. His confidence faltered. He was sure he'd heard something. His heart clenched and he fought not to lose hope again. He was about to try again when he heard the slightest of sounds in the leaves overhead. He stood completely still as the soft rustle came again, and suddenly, there was Will, dropping soundlessly to the forest floor in front of him.
Robin's relieved greeting died on his lips as he took in his brother's appearance. Will was hunched in on himself, his arms wrapped around his stomach like he was trying to squeeze himself together. His entire frame was spasming in grief and his face was twisted in an expression of agony.
"I'm here," Robin choked, pulling his little brother quickly into his arms. "Will, I'm here. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…I'm here, I'm listening. I'm listening"
Will broke. He collapsed against his brother, a heart-rending wailing sound building in his throat. Robin moaned, clamping Will's body to him, heart breaking. "Will…" he whispered. "I'm here, brother, I'm here. I'm not leaving." Will's legs gave way and the brothers folded to the ground. Robin cradled him tightly, trying to steady the two of them as an endless stream of sobs poured from his brother's small form. All he could do was hold him.
In a sudden moment of clarity, Robin realised that this was what Will really needed. He didn't need comforting words or advice. He needed a solid pair of arms to hold him and a brother that would love him unconditionally. He needed Robin to hear his most painful memories and still be there for him, no matter what he'd done. He needed his big brother. Not Robin of Locksley, not Robin Hood, but someone else entirely.
Someone, he realised with a start, that he was already becoming.