reminiscence in tears. morgan-inigo.
He’s being selfish. What he really wants are a few minutes to himself—to cry his eyes out, to absorb the fact that his little brother isn’t the same as he was four weeks ago, to call mother. Inigo swallows past the lump of guilt in his throat. It’s apparent Morgan feels slightly more at ease when Inigo is there. He’ll settle for sending Mother a quick text.
Thumbs tap rapidly on the phone’s touchscreen. It’s rarely out of his hands these days; if he’d just had it on him back then, could he have been there in time? (Logic tells him no, nothing would have changed but logic has never ruled his brain). Inigo assures Mother he’ll call her once he leaves the hospital before slipping the phone in his back pocket. Katerina sits at the nurse’s station, talking animatedly with a fellow nurse.
“Excuse my interruption, ladies! I’m simply in search of some water.” Inigo summons a smile, though it lacks his usual cheer. Ever kind, patient Katerina nods. “Just a second, Inigo.” Usually, he’d offer some flirtatious comment, tell her not to rush. Mustering up the energy is too much of an effort right now. Tears prick at the back of his eyes until he can’t hold it in anymore. Elbows prop against the counter, head falling into his hands. How can anything be normal again? Recovery is going to be a long, long road, one Inigo will follow Morgan down without hesitation. Still, fear claws at his heart. What if they can’t come back from this? What happens if Morgan never recovers his memories? What if—
An arm wraps around his shoulders. Inigo starts, furiously wiping at his face as Katerina hands him a tissue. “Thanks, darling,” he dabs at his eyes. She slides a stack of paper cups and a water pitcher across the counter. “He’s a strong kid. Give him time.”
Inigo sniffs in response, grabbing the water and cups before returning to Morgan’s room. Robin helps her son take a tiny sip. Inigo, who knows his brother better than himself, darts into the attached bathroom, emerging with a wad of toilet paper. He silently begins to wipe away the tears on Morgan’s cheeks. Just like Morgan used to do when they were kids.
“You know, I think I hold the world record for crying.” It’s an attempt at a joke, one that rings a little flat to his own ears. Inigo gently removes his hand, glancing at his aunt and uncle. “I, uh, should probably get going…”
Although he can't see his brother's tears, can't hear his cries, Morgan still knows when he's weeping.
It's like a sixth sense. A weight builds in his chest, a sense of unease; something is wrong, something that needs to be remedied as soon as possible. He's always hated when Inigo cries (has he? He can't remember); it's like the sun being blotted out from the sky by dark clouds. Ichenka, who always had something to grin over, shedding tears was...
More painful than losing any memory.
Gentle hands on wet cheeks bring him back. It's easier to focus on that than how mortifying it is that he can't even get a drink of water on his own. Amber gaze flits up to meet the deepest brown.
"Until I see a medal, I don't think you hold the world record." Lips quirk slightly. They’re trying—but that smile falls the second elder brother moves away.
"Don't leave me.” A whispered breath, sudden fear overtaking him. This, this is familiar, so horribly familiar.
( The same feeling as blacking out before managing to hit call. The same feeling as fearing he was about to die alone in the trash heap that was his wrecked car. )
"... Please. I... I would rather you stay here, with me. We can cry together, okay? Both of us can get that medal. Reminisce in our tears, or... something."
Arms are too weak to lift up much, but a frail hand finds a callused one. A gentle squeeze, another, and a third. “We can do that together, right, Ichenka?”