[M] Kit & Potironette "Rising from the Ashes"
 

This is a private 1x1 between myself and Potironette.

Feel free to read along, but do keep your paws off the reply button unless you are one of us. Thank you.

Warnings: MATURE CONTENT: intimate relations between two males, incestuous themes and references, mild language, violence, some slightly sexual behaviour is quite possible as well. (Don't worry though! Nothing explicit, just perhaps some slight adult themes before a timeskip so other readers understand what is going on.) May infer some non-con.

The scene plays over and over in his mind, haunting his dreams. Every night for the past five years he's had to endure watching his father and eldest brother die saving his baby sister. Some nights, it's not so bad, only the flames and the sounds of their cries as they were burned alive. Other nights, he sees them, forced to watch.

The worst, though, are the alternative scenes his mind creates- where his sister or the rest of his family dies as well.

Jei woke from a particularly bad nightmare, screaming in pain and fear, still able to feel the flames licking at his flesh. he was just about to get out of bed to go find Kellan, when he heard a knock upon his door.

Kell wasn't sure what compelled him to visit Jei. He told himself it was because Jei came to him nearly every night around this time. He was here to so to it that his little brother would be well. Yes, that was it.

"Jei? Jei it's okay. It's me." Kell struggled to master his voice. A hint of worry came out. Thankfully, no more than that.

Jei got up when he heard Kellan's voice coming softly from the other side of the door. He jumped out of bed, rushing to the door, nearly getting tangled in his sheets in his rush. Unlocking his door, he flung it open, and hugged his brother tightly, trembling slightly from the effort of holding his emotions in check.

He whimpered softly, burying his face in the crook of his brothers neck as the tears he'd tried to suppress spilled over, soaking the shoulder of Kellan's night shirt.

Kellan tensed for the slightest moment at Jei's sudden hug, then immediately relaxed his shoulders so that the moment of tension was imperceptible. He wrapped one arm around Jei and stroked his hair with the other.
"It's okay, Jei," he murmured, "It's okay. I'm here Jei, we're all here."


# I need to study so I'm going to be off Trisphee for a while.
# If anything irks you about my writing/moving things along please tell me!

Jei leaned heavily into Kellan's embrace, taking comfort from it. He stood there a few minutes, before remembering they were still very nearly in the middle of the hallway, where anyone could see them... And report them to their mother.

The very idea of his mum finding out had Jei pulling away, albeit reluctantly. "Thank you... " he said, voice hoarse from crying, and the scream to which he'd awoken. Glancing up and down the hall, Jeisyn reached out, taking Kellan's hand, tugging him gently towards his door. "W-would you stay..?" He asked, peeking up at his brother through the soft white hair that fell across his eyes.

Kellan brushed the hair out of Jei's face and sighed softly, "Sure, Jei."
Kellan closed the door behind him with a click and pulled a chair up to Jei's bedside.

He would be a little sleepier tomorrow, perhaps. But that was alright, since this was for Jei. Besides, Mother would only nag at him to get engaged with one of the many society ladies she introduced to him in the morning. Being a little sleepier made sitting through her talks less agonizing, made it easier to keep smiling when he held no interest in marriage with a "fine lady." Made it easier when all he could think about was- he stopped his train of thought by smiling reassuringly at Jei. It was no good to think about such things, and that didn't matter now, did it.

Jei smiled softly, thankful his brother had agreed to stay, relieved because the only time he got a decent sleep was when he snuck into Kellan's rooms and curled up in the older teen's bed with him.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, he tucked his knees up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, waiting for his brother to join him. Frowning slightly when Kellan pulled up a chair instead. 'Of course he's pulling up a chair, idiot... It's wrong, and inappropriate, to expect him to share your bed willingly... He's probably only staying because you asked him to...' a voice, sounding suspiciously similar to his mother, whispered into his brain.

"Kell..." Jei spoke up after minutes of silence, "why're you here? Usually it's me running to you..?"

Kellan shifted from his chair and sat at the edge of Jei's bed, leaning backwards on his hands. It was that again. Why did he visit Jei? He wasn't sure himself. Or it was because he didn't want to think about it?

He pulled himself over and turned to Jei, "Because I was worrying about you." He lifted his hand up as if to muss Jei's hair but stopped. Something inside him said that Jei deserved more than that. That he shouldn't just brush the question off with a regular response. "Because, pretty soon, we might not see each other again." He gave Jei a smile tinged with the slightest hint of sadness, then laid down on the bed.

Jei sighed softly when Kellan mentioned the two reasons, but laid down and curled up next to him still anyways. "You don't have to go anywhere... Neither do I. Not for a few years, anyways..." As the eldest male in their family, Kellan was expected to take over the home and their lands. Jei, however, would eventually be expected to move out of his family home into a place of his own. He had a few years yet before that, though- he was only 15, after all, and wouldnt be expected to leave until he was anywhere between 18 and 21.

"Sure, mum wants you to marry... But you have to find the right woman, which can take a while... Plus, if you want to do things right, then there's the courting period... You're still looking at a year or two before you should be married... And you don't have to be married to take over..." He said, glad to have a distraction from his own problems.

Kellan's eyes widened for a moment in a mixture of embarrassment and surprise. How did Jei know it had to do with marriage? No wait, of course he knew. Mother droned on and on about it so. In any case, Jei was right. There was no use worrying about it now.

Then why did he come to visit Jei? He'd think about that later.

"Come on, let's go to sleep." He said.

Jei smiled softly, curling up against his brother. "Alright." He replied softly, though he just laid there, still somewhat shaken up over his earlier nightmare. He doubted he'd actually get back to sleep any time soon, after that. He evened out his breathing, and kept his eyes mostly shut, listening to his Kellan's heartbeat. It soothed him a little, knowing there was someone else beside him, that he wasn't alone.

(Im at work right now, on my break. So you probably wont see me reply for a couple hours.)

Kellan closed his eyes and listened to Jei's gradually calmer breathing. He hoped Jei would sleep alright.
For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he got used to this.
Kellan's body relaxed as he fell fast asleep. Unconcious, he leaned himself closer towards Jei.

(Okay ^^. I'm really amazed you were able to reply so quickly all the time as it were!)

(Ive gotten too used to typing on my phone... Almost quicker here than on a computer.)

Jei was prety good at feigning sleep. He opened his eyes back up when He was sure Kellan was sleeping, and took some time to study his features in the pale glow of the moon coming through the window across the room. He smiled softly, thinking to himself that whichever girl Kellan chose for his bride, would be fortunate to have such a good looking husband. That thought caused his smile to flip into a frown, remembering that soon there would be no more nights of them curled up together like this, taking comfort from the others mere presence.

In Kellan's dream, he saw a gray door. He peered in through the door, not opening it. A black and white film played. A woman, him, the house. A family. In monochrome and static. He peered out, and another door appeared. He tried to look in, then woke.

The sun was just peeping over the land. Kellan stirred. His eyes blinked open, and he forgot his dream. He smiled lightly at Jei curled up next to him. Carefully, Kellan slid out of bed and pulled the covers over Jei.

Kellan made his way out the door, hoping that no one else would be up at this time.

Jei had only just dozed off as the sun was starting to rise, and woke when he felt Kellan leave his bed. He whined softly as his brother left, curling into the spot Kellan had meen moments before, inhaling his scent from the bedding, before getting himself out of bed. He made his way to his private washroom, running a hot bath for himself, adding bubble bath to the water, letting the tub fill before he stripped and entered, groaning softly as the hot water hit his skin. After a moments relaxation, he grabbed a sponge and began scrubbing himself clean, his body still coated in the dried fear-sweat his nightmare had produced.

He took his time, soaking when he was clean, enjoying the heat. He didnt get out til he was pruned, and the water was growing cold. He rinsed, dried, and dressed himself, knowing soon the servants would be coming to wake him for breakfast, and to try to help him get ready. He hated that, so he was always up early enough that there was nothing left to help him with. That way, nobody else ever saw the worst of his scars on his back and chest.

Kellan slipped into his room at the end of the hallway. He sighed as he touched the spot on his nightshirt still slightly damp from Jei's tears. He hoped Jei was sleeping well now.

Kellan pulled off his nightshirt and set it out to dry, in case the servants should come wondering why the piece of clothing was wet in that particular area. He tugged at his loose hair tie which kept his decently long hair neat and presentable, letting his brown hair fall to the base of his neck.

After taking a quick shower, Kellan retied his hair, arranging it neatly as some gentlemen were expected to keep it. It was a small ponytail, right at the base of his neck. He dressed himself in a starch white shirt and pressed brown pants, then threw on a vest for the purpose of looking more presentable. Presentability. That was all people cared for in society.

He sat at his desk and glanced at unopened envelopes. Was he going to read them first, or would his mother's servant come running telling him how to spend his day? Both were unpleasant.

Jei dressed in dark pants and jacket over a loose grey button-up shirt, hair combed out neatly and already mostly dry. He left his rooms, heading downstairs to the kitchen for some breakfast, not feeling like sitting with the rest of his family, with their pitying looks. He grabbed something light, before heading outside to eat, looking for a quiet secluded spot. Last thing he needed was his morning being disturbed by anybody... The only person he would accept intruding upon his solitude being Kellan.

He found himself a spot near the tall wall surrounding their home, with a bench and a small but overgrown garden. It looked as though nobody had been in this area for a long time... It was perfect. He settled himself upon the bench, soaking up the sunlight as he ate his breakfast.

Kellan cracked the seals on the two unopened envelopes, and pulled out the letters.

Dear Kellan, the two letters began in flowing script.

Kellan stuffed the letters back into the envelopes. Any letter that used "Kellan" without his last name was bound to be from one of the society ladies Mother was so bent on introducing to him. He didn't plan on seeing any one of them again, and he certainly did not need to read their letters. He was kind enough to them in person, but responding to any letter would be doing the both of them a disservice.

Mood ruined, Kellan left the house for a walk. The servants would undoubtedly find him once they awoke, regardless of where he was. Mother was good at getting servants to do what she wanted. She had a silver tongue, or just silver. Kellan wasn't sure which it was.

Kellan strolled along the perimeter of the McKarthy property, where there was an aging wall with vines. Aging, just like this era and this family, Kellan thought. He noted the vines that grew up and over the wall, wondering if one day he'd go up and over as well. He ran his hands along its powdery stones and pushed. The wall didn't give. Of course not.

Just as Jei was losing himself to his thoughts, he heard something or someone approaching, just a little ways away. While curious, he was a little wary- there were those in the house who did not like him, particularly because a pathetic weakling such as himself had survived the fire, yet his father and brother had perished. He leaned down, and picked up a couple larger pieces of stone which had fallen from the wall at one time or another. He stayed sprawled across the bench, enjoying what little warmth the sunlight provided this early in the morning, while still keeping himself alert, ready to defend himself should the nearby presence be an unfriendly one.

Up ahead, Kellan saw a lone figure picking up large pieces of stone. He noted in surprise that the stone seemed to fall from the wall. So the wall can give, Kellan thought.

Walking closer, Kellan noted that it was an abandoned garden. Brambles splotched with greens and reds filled the overgrown space. Grass grew green and tall still, for it was not yet winter. The sunshine spilled over onto the lone figure. Kellan wondered who could be up at such a time. Certainly not a servant. The figure came into sight.
Jei? He was up already?

Kellan walked up to the bench and stepped into the light. "Jei, did you get enough sleep?"

Jei smiled softly when he realized it was only Kellan disturbing his quiet time. He let the stones fall back to the ground, and sat up, making room for his brother to sit if he wished. When asked if he'd gotten enough sleep, he shrugged, looking away, the smile fading from Jei's face. "Enough, Yes..." He replied. It wasn't exactly a lie. He could function with less sleep- he'd done it before, thanks to his constant nightmares. Whether it was as mucch as he wanted, was another question.

Kellan sat on the bench and sighed, "You need to get enough sleep, Jei. It's not good for you to sleep so little." He paused, "Well, I guess it can't be helped." It was a little inappropriate of him to talk to Jei about sleep. He never got nightmares himself, after all.

Kellan reached over and ruffled Jei's hair, his brow furrowing a little in worry, Jei never seemed to get enough sleep due to his nightmares

Jei made a noise somewhere between a whine and a groan- or was it a moan?- when Kellan ruffled his hair, swatting his brother's hand away half-heartedly. "I get enough that I can function day to day. That's plenty. I might sleep more if someone didn't decide to slip away before dawn every morning, though, waking me in the process..." He said, crossing his arms and pouting slightly. It waan't necessarily that Kellan woke him up, just that he left before the boy had fallen back asleep, and he was too scared to try on his own.

Kellan pulled Jei onto his lap, smiling mischievously, and leaned over to watch Jei's reaction.

He was thankful there wasn't anyone on the gardens, otherwise he'd have to utilize more restraint in his manners.

"How about you sleep here? I'll accompany you while the sun's still pretty low in the sky."

Jei squeaked, eyes going wide when Kellan moved him suddenly from the bench onto his lap. "K-Kellan... What if someone sees us like this..?" He asked, voice quiet, as if afraid someone else may be around to overhear. He felt his cheeks heating up, and tried to push his embarrassment away. He loved these secret moments, relished every little touch, every bit of attention his brother paid him. He knew he shouldn't, that it was wrong, that he could be sent away or killed should certain people find out how he felt about his brother, but... There was nothing he could do about it.

Kellan laughed freely, the emptiness of the air getting to him. It was just Jei and him here. Outside the house and free from its confines. Right by the perimeter where the stones were falling. It was the most at ease he'd felt all day.

Kellan ruffled Jei's hair, "Don't worry about it."

As he noticed Jei, reddening face, Kellan felt a prickling heat creeping up his neck. It was quite simple, Kellan felt, to explain to servants that this was merely an act of brotherly affection. But, somewhere in his chest, he felt a little tightening. Kellan had rejected all the letters from the society ladies he met so far. If the servants saw, they might really start talking. And word got around. It was a big house, but a house full of people nonetheless.

As Kellan felt that tingling sensation enter into his cheeks, he wondered, half anxious, if it really was just brotherly affection.

Jei noticed his brother's reddening cheeks, cocking a brow curiously. He didn't mention it, though, much as he hoped Kellan would do the same, and not bring up the flush staining his own face. He leaned against his brother, content to stay in Kellan's strong arms forever, should time permit. He knew it wouldn't, though, so took the time to enjoy it while it lasted.

He shifted a little, getting comfy, his head resting just below his brother's shoulder, over his heart. He found it calming, reassuring. As long as there was that other pulse nearby, his nightmares wouldn't come. "You'll stay with me?" He asked softly, eyes already shut, mind growing fuzzy from the exhaustion that had become a constant companion over the last five years. He could usually hold it at bay, but give. The chance to fully relax and rest properly, it was overbearing.

Kellan wrapped his arms around Jei and smiled down at him.

Jackets touching, Kellan felt the breeze swirling lightly. The sun was still up and warming them. He wouldn't have minded staying that way all day, though he knew he'd be drawn to his duties as the eldest son eventually. Kellan pushed the thoughts out of his mind and watched as Jei closed his eyes.

"Mmmhmm." Kellan voiced softly, "I'll be here, go to sleep."

Smiling softly, Jei let himself descend into sleep, cuddling close to his brother.

(Maybe skip forward a couple hours, perhaps to someone finding them?)

((I'm super happy to let someone find them x'D))

The warm sunshine and Jei's soft breathing lulled Kellan into a sleep. In the overgrown patch, the two made a delicate picture. In the spring of their youth and the autumn of the garden, each holding onto the other. Their faces serene to the casual observer.

When the sun was high in the sky, one such casual observer came walking on by. He had on the starched shirt which every servant wore, only his sleeves and trousers were rolled up unlike any servant of the house. It was the stable master surveying the grounds. He did so each month to make sure the ground was alright for the horses, for horses were his one true love.

Seeing the figures in the distance, the stable master laughed at first, thinking it was two young lovers. Perhaps Master Kellan had finally taken a liking to a girl. Or maybe Serra had caught to eye of some young lad.

Walking closer (he walked closer for his care of horses outweighed any thoughts of propriety or privacy), he noticed with a sudden start that it was the two young masters. He walked up to the overgrown garden and shifted his weight from foot to foot. Of course, this could simply be a display of brotherly affection, the stable master thought, but Master Kellan and Master Jei had never displayed affection for any lady before.

The stable master stepped forwards, rustling fallen leaves, then quickly stepped backwards. He was stuck, caught in the indecision of parting or staying. For the first time, he felt what young ladies of the time sometimes felt, "quite scandalized."

Jei stirred at the sudden rustling of leaves, lifting his head and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He felt rested, so much more than he could ever remember feeling. Looking around for what had woken him, he froze when he caught sight of the stable master.

They shared a look, each feeling the same, before Jei broke from his stupor and turned in Kellan's lap, giving his shoulder a shake. "Kell, we've been spotted..."

Kellan blinked open his eyes slowly. The sun filtered through his eyes and framed Jei's face, falling delicately on his lashes.

As he registered what Jei said, his face remained calm from the after effects of sleep.
Ruffling Jei's hair, Kellan glanced over to the stable master and gave the man a bleary smile, before noting the look of scandal on the man's face.

His heart thumped.

"Good day, sir. Surveying the grounds today?" Kellan asked.

The stable master shifted on his feet, "Y-yeah. Yes I am, young master Kellan. And young master Jei. I don't mind leaving this area for later." The stable master looked at Kellan in a way that indicated that actually, he did indeed mind.

Jei flushed slightly, swatting Kellan's hand away and making an indignant sound as his hair was ruffled. He shifted iut of Kellan's lap, biting his lip a moment as he thought of something to say. "Good morning stable-master..." He said, giving the man a nervous smile. He had no idea what the man would do, having caught him and Kellan in a compromising position... Though they were just sleeping, his mind rationalized. You go ahead with your surveying, then... Do you happen to know what time it is?" He asked, standing and stretching a bit, surprised at how good he felt.

The stable master fidgeted uncomfortably again. "Good morning. The sun's quite high. It's a few minutes past noon, I'll say." He wrung his hands impatiently, "I'm surveying for the horses, if you don't mind." Obviously, he wanted to survey in peace.

Kellan raised an eyebrow with a twinkle in his eye. The stable master's attitude when it came to horses always amused him. He smiled and asked, "I'm a little curious, how do you survey anyway?"

The stable master twitched his eyebrows in annoyance, "Leave before I start accepting bribes from the mistress." The stable master was one of the few servants who refused to deliver messages of any sort for bribes. He was much too occupied with horses, he said, whenever a lady or man asked if he would search someone for them. Regardless, he never got fired for his ability.

Kellan laughed, "Alright." He stood up and smoothed down clothes. Nodding to Jei and the stable master, he walked slowly towards the direction of the house. It seemed to him, as he left, that the atmosphere had gotten chillier, even though the sun was higher in the sky.

Jei frowned, but also got up to leave. "You'd do well to remember who's who next you speak, stablemaster... This is our property, and we were here first. You've no right telling us what to do or where to go." He said, sending a glare at the older man, following his brother back to the house.

The stable master gaped as watched Jei's departing back, quite dumbstruck. Rarely did people of the household assert their authority over him, particularly not the young master Jei. He wondered briefly if his adamant insistence over their departure somehow struck a nerve in the young master. The stable master shook his head as he turned to the garden, there wasn't any time for thinking of that now. The horses might be in danger, especially from who-knows-what grew in the garden. Speaking of which, how did he miss the overgrown garden before?

After walking around the brambles, which the stable master identified as being blackberry, and surveying the few oak trees, the stable master sat on the bench where the young masters had sat on previously. There wasn't anything dangerous, except a few destroying angel mushrooms. They looked harmless but really were deathly. He knew that most horses wouldn't eat mushrooms, but young Suzy might. She had a penchant for nibbling on things she shouldn't.

Glancing down at the white mushrooms in his hands, the stable master wondered where he could dispose of them without some idiot chef seeing them and demanding to cook them.

--------------------------

Kellan opened the great doors of the house and gave a little sigh. Back inside, was it? He turned to Jei behind him and smiled, before turning back. He wondered what he would have to do that day, the thought making his posture a little straighter, a little neater, a little more prim and dignified. The jovial crinkle around his eyes faded, so that his face became a practiced mask.

Returning his brothers smile, it faded once more when hos brother turned back around, as Jei saw the mask fall back into place. Gone was Kell, his brother. Before him now was Lord Kellan. Frowning for a moment as he thought of aomething he could do with his brother... "Kell, I would appreciate some help with my studies, if you don't have something else to do..?" He asked, goving Kellan a chance to get away from his Lord duties, since the servants and their mother wouldn't try looking for either of them in the library, since Jei didn't have lessons that day.