#also. ik four leaf and neeks have a strange sibling-ness

[semblanche]

Neeks and Four Leaf! Sleepy Son and Twister!

They've been walking so long. They've been walking so long, and Neeks is so tired.

He'd be tired anyway, no matter how long they walked, no matter how far. But today is worse. Every day is worse. His knee throbs beneath him, burns like someone lit a match under his skin. The bone itself feels seconds away from splintering.

He leans against his cane and sighs, a shaky breath that hisses like steam through clenched teeth. They're in an alley, that much he can see, but - are they safe? Can they stop here for the night? His knee screams yes, but -

"Are we there yet?" Four Leaf asks, one arm slung around Neeks's shoulder. His words are slurred, eyes half closed. The extra weight definitely isn't doing any favors to Neeks's less than stable knee, but Neeks would sooner cut the whole thing off than shrug Four Leaf away.

He moves so Four Leaf can lean on him better. His knee flares in protest, but he ignores it, running his fingers carefully through the thick golden curls.

"We're not going anywhere, honey," he says.

Four Leaf frowns, eyes shifting to focus on him blearily. "What about mom and dad?"

"They kicked us out, honey."

Four Leaf frowns again, nose scrunched as if trying to remember, then gives up. "I'm tired," he says plaintively.

Neeks runs a hand through his hair again, taking care so that the honey gold strands won't get caught in his rings. "You just woke up."

"I did?"

"Five minutes ago."

Four Leaf once again falls silent, lost in thought. Or maybe sleep. Neeks lets him and scours the area again, taking in their surroundings with a grain of salt. Six trash cans (good for hiding), two seemingly empty garbage bags (in case it gets cold), an empty brick wall (unmarked gang territory)...

"I'm sorry," Four Leaf says, and Neeks blinks down at him, startled.

"What do you have to be sorry about?" he says. "It's not your fault my mother is batshit insane and we don't have a place to stay."

Four Leaf winces a little at that, but doesn't refute it. She's both their mother, technically, the shared force linking them with a thin strand of blood and tissue, but it's also clear that Four Leaf has gotten nothing from her except his name.

("Four Leaf," their mother had cooed, cradling the small bundle in her arms like she never wanted to let go. "My lucky little four leaf clover."

It was before she'd stabbed Neeks in the knee and their father had suggested, sheepishly, that maybe they find some place else to stay a while.)

Neeks looks like her. They both know it. Dark eyes like olive pits, dark hair like tar. Even when he smiles, it shares the same lazy tilt to it that drives the boys insane. He likes to thinks he's made it all his own. His mirror begs to differ.

"It's my fault we're so slow," Four Leaf says, jolting him out of his troubled introspection. "You'd travel faster without me."

"A nice thought," Neeks says, nodding at his knee. "Once again ruined by my lovely mère."

"I'm always sleeping." The words are spoken through a yawn, only pieced together through Neeks's force of habit. He laughs. He can't help it.

"I'm fucking crippled. Who am I to judge?"

"I'm not there when you get in a fight."

"I don't fight." A wink. "I love."

Four Leaf's eyes are drooping now, his body growing heavier on Neeks's shoulder, but still he strains to stay awake, to finish what he started. Neeks's hand in his hair is probably not helping, but he makes no move to push it away.

"I'm never - there for you," he says. "Half the time, you're ... alone."

"I'm not alone," Neeks says sharply. He abruptly straightens up, stopping Four Leaf's half limp form from crumpling on the ground. His knee, temporarily soothed to a dull throb, flares up again, sending spikes of pain shooting through it like stars. He bites his tongue just hard enough to drown it out. "I'm not alone, and I don't want you saying that ever again. I don't give a shit if you're asleep half the time. You're the only thing keeping me sane the other half - and God knows I need that. I don't want you saying that shit again, alright?"

"'m sorry," Four Leaf says, a yawn biting into his words.

Neeks just shakes his head. The sun is setting soon, and he knows they need to catch it before it's gone completely. This alley might have to be their home for the night.

He sets himself down carefully, teeth still digging into his tongue as his knee sparks in agony, and then pulls Four Leaf down with him, nudging his head onto his shoulder. Four Leaf lets him, a puppet in his hands. It almost gives Neeks chills.

"I'm not alone," he repeats. "And neither are you. Alright? We're one fucking mess of a pair, but we're here, and we've got each other's backs. Okay? Four Leaf?"

"Mmm," Four Leaf says, and his eyes are closed. Neeks shakes his head again.

"Sleep well," he says, half rueful, half fond. Four Leaf hums a note that could be a thank you, love you, or even a you too. Neeks's guess is as good as any.

Above them, the sun has slipped down behind a building, just a faint halo of red against a sky of gold. Four Leaf's hair shines in its light. Neeks toys with it absently.

You're alone, the sky sings. You're alone.

Sleep well, he thinks back. Sleep well.