Chapter Text
“Have you brushed your teeth?” A hazy sight of a man dressed in lilac pajamas, lined with a white edge and fuzz slippers had his arms over his hips, throwing a simple question towards three shorter figures of children in front of him. A dark shadow cast upon his face, concealing his features from view while he speaks to the children with a soothing voice, gentle yet stern words dripping from his tongue.
The man had his face covered for none to see, a gentle smile pasted upon his cheek could only suffice much on warming the face of an undistinguishable man with a dark gloom dripping over his forehead like blot. His face scribbled with dark graphite, animations of moving lines remove the upper features of the man’s look. A faceless character in movies who chooses to hide expression from the public so much for a man whose only role is to accompany the three characters beneath him.
The bathroom light flickered behind them, the door open while stains of water coated the tiles inside the room like evidence of their activity. Three different colored stools, one in pink, one in green, and the last one being a neon orange were lined up in front of the bathroom sink and even them could not avoid the spills of water made by the children occupying it a minute ago.
The left one nodded first, a sight of soft teal strands spilling in every possible direction decorated the children’s head who gave an absent gaze, looking up casually to the towering figure laid in front of him. He had a pair of eyes that matched the questioner, a bright sky blue who'd bore a hole into his own — in fact in the sea, the blue would glow a soft hue that guides through dark caves and open yards during night time where the moon’s shine did not pass through the water’s layers.
The one standing in the middle observed her brother intently as he nodded, threw her gaze back to the questioner and nodded profusely with a similar absent stare, squeezing an exhausted dragon plush that squeaks when pressed. The noise it made was a tired small screech, worn from the abuse of the little girl who would not stand still in her spot.
“And you, little man?” The lilac bundled man drew his gaze to the last figure standing on the right, who immediately grinned back and threw his hand to the back of his head. “I haven’t.” He proudly states, closing his eyes while he dreams of his siblings looking over him with eyes full of sparkles, shining with admiration over his bold move.
“You’re so cool, big bro!” He repeated inside his head, imagining a pair of mismatched yellow and sky blue eyes praising him for his rebellion with excitement dawning on her face. “Heh, I know. You shouldn’t follow me, this move is only for the elder bros.” he crossed his arm and the other pointed at himself with his thumbs, a wide smirk plastered across his face.
“Yeah! You’re so brave to rebel against Papa, Nile!” A more boyish voice commented, his admiration the same level as the other.
However when he opened his eyes, ready to accept a few compliments here and there — instead of the applause he yearned for, he was met with three pairs of squinted eyes full of disapproval staring at him.
“What?” He asks in surprise and confusion.
The dark shadow looming over the questioner’s face did not leave, he pinched his nosebridge in frustration. “Go back to the bathroom and brush your teeth.” He commanded with a tired tone, hurrying the child back to the washroom. The boy groaned in annoyance yet complied, his arms hung back to the side of his body while he dragged his feet back to the wet bathroom to brush his teeth.
The questioner turned his gaze back to the two children standing in front of him, “Now, you two can go back to your room or wait for your brother first, I will be there shortly to tuck you in with your fathers.” He explained. The boy nodded and the girl followed shortly, taking her hands in his own and made their way to the front of the bathroom’s door to spy on their brother.
Azul clearly was exhausted from a long day at work to come home to three children who seemingly had a mind of their own — two of them sharing a brain cell while the other having none was undeniably crippling. Jade, being the responsible man he is, was making the bed for Azul and the two twins to share, making sure the sheets were fresh and cold, pillows tucked and straightened, and blankets spread out. However sometimes Floyd would comment on it being a waste of time if they would mess it up when they go to bed anyway. Azul would follow up by scolding him for being dense and proceeded to explain in great length how good presentation lures customers in.
Floyd, obviously, bored out of his mind while he listens to Azul ramble about customer service, fell asleep mid lecture and was woken up with a tug on front piece with an angry Azul who tugged on his ear and continued to scold him.
A small chuckle came out of Jade’s mouth as he reminisced about the memory, the sight of his brother wincing and pulling away from Azul carved a place inside his head, permanently hammering itself inside forever for Jade to remember.
Call in the morning when you wake
Maybe tomorrow, we're okay
A raspy exhausted voice mumbled a question out, “How many of them died?” He asks softly, he firmly grips onto a side pillow laid beside the bed for his comfort. The shadow shading his head loomed over to cover once more, ashamed of what is to be revealed beneath the mask. It serves as a shield, screaming “don’t look at me!” to the people who focused their eyes to the man, either cover what makes you ‘you’ than lose face against the crowd, lower lip twitching from being pressed together so hard.
“…Three. Two girls and one boy.” Jade answered quietly, caressing the questioner’s forehead tainted by sweat with gentle strokes, careful as if caring for a delicate treasure, however didn’t take notice of the blot spreading to his glove, graphite black like venom crawling upwards his arms faster than imagined. “…Floyd is accompanying them.” He continued after a brief pause, breath hitching yet he kept his tone deliberately calm. “He didn’t want to leave their side.”
The questioner hummed back. He pretended not to take notice. “Figures…” he murmured, the corner of his mouth lifting dryly.
“The nurses insisted on ushering him out, but he didn’t comply and got into an argument.” Jade continued, gently lowering his head on top of his arm whom he placed on the bed rails guarding the patient laying inside. The darkened eye sockets on the eel’s face was prominent, accentuating his lack of sleep the past days when he focused his gaze on the questioner’s scrunched face.
The room lay in a subdued hue, lit only by the muted amber glow of the medical lamps mounted along the ceiling and walls, light reflecting faintly against panes and metal bathing the room in an orange warmth meant to be comforting, but instead bred anxiousness, a false comfort no one else could sense more than reassurance. The air they breathed scented sterile, the oxygen they breathed seemingly overwritten by the acid tang of disinfectants smelling like lime. No trace of the violence from hours prior remained, scrubbed away so thoroughly it felt unnatural, leaving behind only the clean aftermath of something that should never have been so easily erased.
The questioner’s fingers twitched without his consent.
“Did they —“ his voice cracked and he stopped himself for a brief moment, composing himself by swallowing hard before opening his mouth. “Did they ever cry?”
Jade’s hand paused, retracting his gaze from the timidly laid man beside him. “No.” He started. “They were very quiet.”
That, more than anything else, shattered what little composure he had left. A thin, broken sound escaped his throat. The black bloomed faster, growing rapidly as it consumed the vessel like a fresh meal. “Good. They didn’t have to suffer any longer than that.” He stuttered halfway, his shoulders trembled as he curled slightly inward, clutching the pillow tighter as though it were the only thing tethering him to the present. “I carried them,” he whispered, the words scraping raw as they left him. “All of them. I felt them move, you two felt them move. I even memorized the differences, I—“ his breath hitched violently. “I didn’t even get to hold the three of them.” Jade leaned in, lowering his forehead to rest briefly against Azul’s knuckles who he brought close, an unspoken apology converted into a small gesture of reassurance. “You nearly died,” he said quietly. “Your body shut down before anyone could stop it. There was no choice.”
He shook his head weakly. “There’s always a choice,” he muttered. “I just wasn’t allowed to make it.”
Maybe tomorrow, we're okay
When it's a sunny day
“Azul, the bed is ready.” Jade’s towering figure appeared in the doorway, dressed in silk garments dyed in a dark teal color that disturbingly matches his hair perfectly, decorated with a subtle repeating pattern, lined with a golden embroidery and black buttons lined up till reaching the end of the top piece. The end of the sleeves were decorated by lengthy black cuffs, giving it a slightly elegant look.
Azul snapped awake, the weight of the vivid memory cleared from his mind like fog disappearing as he walked forward. The present rushed back in an instant, the distant sound of water still running in the bathroom and the loud chattering of three children made him aware of his surroundings
“…Right,” Azul murmured, voice low, the fatigue in it impossible to hide.
He straightened slowly, joints protesting as though the day had taken personal offense at his persistence. The shadow that had earlier obscured his face lifted as he pushed up his delicate glasses, what loomed and seemed to consume him beforehand disappeared in an instant. He turned his head slightly, glancing toward the bathroom where the youngest child was still dutifully scrubbing at his teeth, exaggerated motions visible through the half-open door.
“He’s almost done,” Azul added, as if needing to justify the delay. Jade inclined his head in acknowledgment, gaze drifting briefly down the hallway. “Floyd is attempting to stay awake,” he said evenly. “Though I suspect it is a losing battle.”
As if summoned by the statement, a muffled voice drifted from the bedroom. “I’m totally awake, Jade—ngh—”
There was a thump, followed by silence.
Jade’s lips curved faintly. “Momentarily, at least.”
Azul huffed under his breath, something that might have been a laugh if it had possessed more breath behind it. He rubbed a hand over his face, then lowered it, posture squaring with habitual resolve. Just as he did, the bathroom door creaked open.
“I’m done!” The boy announced, bursting out of the bathroom with enthusiasm, the corners of his mouth wet with water stains leaving behind his two siblings who only looked past as he was running back. Azul crouched automatically, eyes narrowing with exaggerated scrutiny. He tilted the child’s chin gently, inspecting like a jeweler examining a gem. “…Acceptable,” he concluded at last.
The boy grinned, radiant with victory.
The other two looked at each other and abandoned their post by the door, scampering over to join them. The eldest leaned subtly into Azul’s side, fingers catching in the fabric of his pajama sleeve, while the girl pressed her dragon plush between herself and his arm, as though anchoring herself there.
Azul froze for half a second.
Then he rested a hand on each of their heads.
“Alright,” he started, rising again. “Bed. Before I reconsider my generosity.”
They didn’t need to be told twice. The first one to move was Nile, followed by his absent-gazed brother who took the time to hold his sister’s hand first before following him to the shared bedroom.
Floyd had joined them at the very end to tuck the children in, despite battling his drowsiness, he complied on giving a goodnight kiss to each of them and almost fell back into slumber on one of the children’s bed, which Azul tugged his ears awake and dragged him out of the room with Jade shortly following behind. Floyd protested all the way down the hallway, his complaints slurring together into something halfway between coherent words and drowsy grumbles. “Azul, c’mon — I was helping,” he muttered, feet dragging as Azul maintained an unyielding grip on his ear. The eel twisted slightly, attempting to pry Azul’s fingers off without success, only to earn a sharper tug in response.
“Helping,” Azul replied flatly, not slowing his pace. “By occupying half of their bed and snoring loud enough to rattle the walls?” “I wasn’t snoring,” Floyd yawned, stretching despite the situation. “I was… breathing enthusiastically.”
Jade followed behind them at a measured pace, hands folded neatly behind his back, the faintest glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He did not intervene, experience had taught him that this particular exchange would spread like wildfire and eventually cost him his own ear if he did. And once Floyd was deposited unceremoniously outside the bedroom, Jade gently slid the door shut with careful precision.
They moved down the hallway together, footsteps muted against the carpet. The house had settled into its night time stillness, dimmed lights and mess of toys scattered around the area yet the culprits were nowhere to be found. Lamps glowed softly in corners, casting elongated shadows that swayed faintly with the movement of water outside the windows. Floyd had already collapsed onto the couch, face-first into a pillow, limbs sprawled with no regard for comfort or dignity. Within seconds, his breathing deepened, unmistakably asleep.
Azul glanced at him, unimpressed. “…Unbelievable.”
Jade reached for a blanket draped over the back of a chair and placed it over Floyd, adjusting it just enough so it wouldn’t slip off. Floyd mumbled something unintelligible in response but did not wake.
“Come,” Jade said gently, turning toward their bedroom. “You need rest as well.” He softly whispered to Azul. For a brief moment, the man hesitated. Yet he complied and followed.
The bedroom was quiet, peaceful, away from the chaos Floyd would create if he wasn’t sprawled out on the couch outside. Everything had its place, everything arranged with deliberate intent. Jade had already prepared the bed, sheets smooth and cool to the touch, pillows aligned perfectly. He was secretly celebrating after seeing Floyd blissfully asleep on the couch, knowing that at least for a few hours till his brother awakes with confusion in the living room, he will be having Azul to himself tonight.
Azul removed his glasses and set them on the nightstand, rubbing at the bridge of his nose where they usually rested. Fatigue settled deep into his bones now that the house had finally gone still, the adrenaline of the evening ebbing away and leaving only the ache behind. He sat on the edge of the bed, followed by Jade who carefully joined him on the other side.
“I saw you dozing off in the hallways earlier. Has it come back?” The eel started, shifting to his stomach while he supported his head with his palm. Azul halted, freezing for a moment, thinking hard as his face creased in displeasement.
“No.” He lied, “I was just… thinking about the kids.”
Jade’s face faltered into a slight frown, yet had been quick on masking his worry. “It must’ve been quite a thought for you to not take notice of me shouting three times before.”
“Indeed it was…”