#platonic charturo

[starlightscarsyt]

[Brotherly Bond - DRDT Fantasy AU]

Searing Genesis had been traveling for several days now. It was time to rest and clean themselves up. The four of them stopped at a local inn, with Teruko & Veronika sharing a room, and Arturo & Charles sharing another. The perfect place to catch up with themselves.

Arturo had informed Teruko & Veronika that he would be taking Charles to a small hot springs he found while exploring the nearby woods. Teruko gave em' the okay, and off to the hot springs they went.

…At the hot springs, Arturo was already inside the calming waters, his mask removed with only a towel wrapped around him. He looked over to Charles, who was in a slightly similar state, with his glasses off and the same towel manner, but not inside the springs yet. Arturo sighed.

"C'mon now, it's just us two. You don't need to be shy." His tone was reassuring, at best.

"I-I don't know…I've never experienced this kind of thing before…"

"Hey, I get that. But still, you don't need to worry. We brought our weapons in case anything happens, and if anyone tries to do anything to you, I'll gut them. Okay?"

"…"

Charles nervously sighed and sat himself into the hot waters. He even let his hair flow in the water. Arturo gently smiled at him.

"See? Nothing bad happened."

"Mmm…I guess not." Charles messed with his hair strands.

….

"Is something on your mind, Charles?" The tall elf looked at his mage friend.

"Uh, well…I guess." Charles looked away.

"…"

Arturo scooted closer to him.

"You can tell me, you know."

"…"

"So, what's up?"

….

"…I…I guess I'm just nervous."

"About?"

"…Sometimes…I wonder if I'm even doing enough for our guild. I mean, look at me…I'm a fumbling wreck who hides behind you whenever we're in big crowds, I get anxious to the point I can't properly cast my spells, and…"

Charles stared at his reflection in the water.

"I don't even remember the brother I lost."

"…"

Arturo gets it now. Charles…feels like he isn't good enough. He thinks all of his flaws will only weigh their group down. Well, he can't exactly blame him for feeling that. He was isolated in his home in the woods all by himself for so long. He barely talked to people before all of this. Who wouldn't be nervous with such big changes like that?

…

"…Don't be so hard on yourself."

"Huh?"

"I get how you feel. I mean, I felt the same way when I first left my own village. I thought someone would get hurt if I abandoned my home. I thought they all wouldn't survive without me."

"W-Why would you think that? You're one of the most powerful healers ever!"

"Yes…but the last time I left my village to gather ingredients for more healing equipment…I too lost my sibling for it."

"…Your…sibling?"

"My little sister. I saw her die…right in front of my own eyes. And ever since then…that guilt I had prevented me from ever stepping foot outside my village…all because of that one day."

Arturo's elf ears drooped slightly. Charles would tell this story was painful for him to remember.

"I…I'm sorry."

"It's okay. What's better now is that I learned to grow from that experience, all because Teruko brought me into her guild."

"…"

"I know how isolation feels. And leaving it can be scary, Charles. Same with feeling like you aren't enough. But let me reassure you of something."

Arturo gently laid his hand on Charles' head, softly patting it.

"You are enough, no matter if you think so or not. You're still growing and adjusting to your new environment, and that's okay"

"…!"

"And even if your own older brother is gone, you can count me to be one that will stay by your side. That way…we won't both be alone. One way or another."

"…"

Charles felt himself tearing up. Nobody had ever treated him with such kindness. And more than that…is Arturo really speaking the truth? Is he truly enough?

"…"

"Thank you…" Charles smiled through his slight tears.

"…Of course."

The two spent the rest of their time in the springs…allowing themselves some much needed relaxation. Together, as brothers. Not by blood…but by heart.

[End]