fabxprxwett:
Was this an illusion? No, it was him. His best friend, his brother, a person who he would die for. Kingsley was alive and well. The lump in Fabian’s throat persisted but his limbs didn’t stay idle. He closed the distance between them swiftly, tossing his arms in the air and wrapping them around Kingsley in a hug as if he was embracing a ghost from his visions. Fabian buried his face in his friend’s shoulder, grasping and clinging on Kingsley’s robes and not letting go.
“You’re alive,” he whispered, the chant of victory in his head brighter than ever ( could you call this victory? deaths, kidnaps, blood, fire, destruction. this was not a victory ). “You’re alive,” a repeat, hands still wrapped around his brother’s body. That’s when Fabian allowed himself to crumble. A sob left his lips, tears wetting his face and the cloth his face laid on. His fingers curled inwards and dug into his friend’s robes. Prewett was holding onto him as like if he’d let go, Kingsley would disappear again.
“You’re alive.” despite the scent of smoke, which made him return back to the burning Three Broomsticks, Remus by his side and McGonagall forcing them out, Fabian pulled away and looked for bruises, for burns, for blood. His metal-gray eyes caught a few cuts and teary eyes loosened while lips let out a deep sigh of relief. “I… I thought you were… but you’re not. Thank Merlin, you’re not!”
Kingsley didn't allow himself the luxury of weakness. His whole body felt raw and aching and he knew, if given the opportunity, he would sleep for half a day. But Fabian was crumbling in his arms so Kingsley stood tall and held his friend while he wept, scraped together the last bits of strength he could find within himself and handed them over gladly. Anything for Fab. And at the same time his best friend's arms seemed to be holding him together, his body the only barrier between Kingsley and the all-devouring darkness.
“I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive” he repeated into Fabian's hair, a breathless whisper like a prayer, like something he had to say over and over before he could start to believe. He wrapped one arm around Fab's shoulders, buried the other hand in his thick, soft locks and closed his eyes, matching his breathing to his friend's until their hearts beat as one again. Fabian didn't need to finish his sentence for Kingsley to understand. “I thought I would, too, but I'm here.”
Later he wouldn't be able to say how long they stood like that, holding onto one another for dear life, keeping each other upright. He didn't tell his friend to stop crying, instead he just held him for as long as he needed him to, steadfast and calm as ever. He needed nothing more in that moment than this, Fabian, safe and sound in his arms. The world could wait just five minutes longer.
If he were to let go now, Kingsley feared, he would crumble. And he couldn't, not yet. Bot there was something else he needed to know, someone else he'd feared for and so, even though everything within him screamed in protest he finally pushed Fabian away at arm's length, searching his eyes urgently hoping he might find his answer there. “Gid?”
