'Broken Image' ♡ (MXM) ♡

- cold and alone -

"You can stop..." A whisper came from the old woman. Tears rolling down her cheek, a soft but pained look in her eyes. Oxzy looked back, confused and shocked. "Please. Stop... I can't see you like this again."

How many times has the old mother seen her child in such a state? Coming home with bruises and blood littering his body. She held back more sobs, seeing her son tightened and his face full of fear and a mix of determination.

Her head rested on his chest, feeling him breathe with pained breaths.

"You can stop."

Could he stop? Can he stop now finally? Take a break, live a normal life with someone he cares for and his lovable pets. Just peacefully alone would be nice.

He knew he couldn't. No way, he had to keep his town safe. He was the only one, and was relied on all the time.

But deep down. He wanted to stop. To push and shout at all the people who rely on his protection, who even hate him. To shout out on how he was done.

Done with everything and everyone. Just like his mother hoped for in her last few days...

"Mgh... Err..!"

Tears silently fell from his face. Small sobs echoed within the dark, cold and forever empty room.

~The Grubs, Imbers home~
The family started to get ready to leave. Kinsey fell asleep so Brit and her left first, the sister carrying her little siblinh while on the phone with someone. Azeral tried to say goodbye while they left, only Brit flipped him off.

He laughed instead of getting offended, walking to the fridge and getting his 3rd beer that night. The oldest sibling started to pack up while the mother was already making her way upstairs to get something.

While the father opened the bottle and the siblings quickly picked up their information, Pierce leaned lazily on the door frame in boredom. His brother stayed close the whole night, watching and listening to the family's drama and "business", but also hoping his brother would talk to him.

The father yawned out, walking past the oldest and to the villain. "You guys should just stay over for tonight!" He said loudly, wrapped his arm around Felix's shoulder but not daring to do so on Pierce. He turned his attention to the oldest who sneered at his idea. "What do you think? We haven't been like this in months! Stay the night like a big family!"

"Yeah no." Corbin said without looking up, stuffing his bag with some papers and letting Octavia put some under her arms before they seemingly finished. "We got work to do tomorrow.

"Work?" Azeral looked at him dumbfounded, giving his oldest daughter and son a look. "Did I really raise you two?"

"No, you were passed out most of the time." Pierce decided to answer, giving a side eye to his father. The father shrank away lightly, hearing sarcasm but no smile from his son. Felix felt his father stiffen and flinch, looking at his brother in approval. "I can't stay either, have stuff to do."

Octavia grabbed her purse before bolting out the door, not even bothering to give her brother a look before dashing out. Corbin looked up to the open door in anger, trying to rush out as well but Pierce stepped in front of him.

The older brother stopped dead in his tracks, his breathing caught in his throat, his whole body shaking violently from the inside. Pierce gave his older brother a smile, looking down at him with half-lidded eyes. "I remember you never used to look at me with such fear brother."

Corbin stayed silent, fearful that if he said something wrong the other side of his face would be burned. So instead, he looked down, keeping the tears from falling out of his eyes.