The apartment is dark, lit only by the soft glow of the moon filtering through the blinds. I'm lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, trying to will away the ache in my side and the turmoil in my mind. Sleep doesn't come easily, not with everything that's happened. The silence is oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of the building settling.

Then, a knock on the door shatters the stillness.

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. For a moment, I consider ignoring it, but the knocking comes again, more insistent this time. With a groan, I push myself off the couch, wincing as the movement pulls at the wound in my abdomen. Whoever it is, they're not going away.

I hobble to the door, each step a reminder of how vulnerable I am right now. My mind races through possibilities - Kurt coming back, or someone from the Cadi checking on me.

When I finally reach the door, I take a deep breath, steeling myself before I unlock it and pull it open.

Standing in the dim light of the hallway is my brother, Calvin.

My breath catches in my throat, a mix of emotions flooding through me - relief, longing, and a sharp pang of bitterness. He looks the same as always: tall, broad-shouldered, with that quiet, somber expression that's become so familiar. His eyes, the same as mine, search my face, and I can see the worry in them, the unspoken questions.

"Kit Kat," he says softly, his voice a low rumble that cuts straight to my heart.

The nickname, so simple yet filled with so much history, makes me catch my breath. It's a reminder of the brother I've missed so much, and it breaks through the walls I've built around myself.

"Calvin," I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral, even though my heart aches to see him. It's been a month since I last saw him, and before that, another month. That's how it is now - sporadic visits where he shows up unannounced, checking in like he's some kind of guardian angel. I know he means well, but it's not enough. It's never enough.

I step aside, opening the door wider to let him in. He hesitates, his eyes flicking to my side as if he can sense the pain I'm in, but he doesn't say anything. He never does. He just steps inside, the door closing softly behind him.

For a moment, neither of us speaks. The silence between us is heavy, filled with everything we don't say. I can feel the walls I've built around myself, strong and sturdy, keeping him at a distance. I want to let them down, to let him in, but I can't. Not after everything.

"You shouldn't be up," he finally says, his gaze lingering on my face, searching for signs of how I'm really doing.

I shrug, wincing at the pull of my stitches. "I'm fine," I lie, crossing my arms over my chest as if that can shield me from his concern.

He frowns, clearly not believing me, but he doesn't push it. "I heard about what happened," he says, his voice low. "I came as soon as I could."

I nod, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Yeah, well, it's over now."

Another silence stretches between us, and I can feel the weight of everything we're not saying. The hurt, the anger, the love that's still there, buried under layers of resentment and disappointment. I miss him - God, do I miss him - but I can't let him see that. I can't let him in, not when he's still tied to the Brotherhood, still part of the life that's caused me so much pain.

Before I can react, Calvin closes the distance between us and pulls me into a tight embrace. His arms encircle me, and for a moment, I'm too stunned to move. My body stiffens, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. But as I feel the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, something inside me gives way. The walls I've built around myself start to crumble, and the tears I've been holding back finally spill over.

I bury my face against his chest, letting the pain and fear flow out in a flood of emotions. I cling to him, my sobs muffled by the fabric of his shirt. He smells so good. So familiar. So safe. "I miss you so much, Calvin," I choke out, my voice trembling. "I've miss you every day."

Calvin's embrace tightens, and his voice is thick with emotion. "I love you, Kit Kat. I'm so sorry for everything."

The words should bring comfort, but they only make the hurt sharper. I pull back slightly, my face wet with tears, and look up at him with a mixture of anguish and resolve. "You can't just show up and say you love me, Calvin. You chose the Brotherhood over us. Until you leave them, we can never be a family."

Calvin's eyes fill with sorrow, but he doesn't argue. Instead, he takes a deep breath and says, "Kurt is back now."

I shake my head, the weight of his words not quite reaching me. "I know," I say quietly. "I've seen him."

Calvin's eyes search mine, as if trying to gauge my reaction. "Things have changed. He's...changed. Being around him would be dangerous for you."

I shake my head, the resolve hardening in my chest. "I don't want to hear it, Calvin. Leave me out of any mess you two have going on. I'm done with it. All of it."

He nods, the pain evident in his eyes. "I'm just trying to protect you."

With one last, lingering look, Calvin turns and walks toward the door. As he steps out into the hallway, the weight of our broken relationship hangs heavy in the air. I watch him go, feeling a mix of sadness and relief.

The silence returns, heavy and thick, but this time it's accompanied by a fragile sense of hope. Maybe someday, things will be different. Maybe someday, we'll find a way to be together without the shadows of the past hanging over us.

For now, I'm left alone with my thoughts, the pain of missing him mingled with the hope that one day, things might change.

SSeS
Beers