Something lurched in Nasus’ stomach, pulling at his heart as he watched the emotions dance across Renekton’s face. Something had struck a chord in the Ascended and Nasus faltered, hesitating in the face of it.
His plan was still in place, but his stance shifted, no longer on a defensive guard.
“Regardless of what hatred you hold in your heart now,” he said, hand clenching, “do not look to the past. Look to where you are going to go in next. I do not want to see you like this- both of us like this. I still remember those days when I would steal mother’s cookies from the jar for us to share, then you taking the blame for it… But those days, they have long passed.”
It was a constant war with his heart and his mind. He still loved Renekton, as his brother once meant the world to him. Now, this new world need Nasus’ attention, his knowledge and guidance.
“Maybe we cannot have what we once did… But please, take the time to look around you. This world is different from the one we once lived in. Do not think about what happened then and what you are going to do now. Think of where you will be in the future, what you will do then. We cannot afford to think short term anymore, not in this day an age. And if you find out what to do then… Come find me.”
The wind picked up, sand filling the air between them as Nasus stared down Renekton.
“Please, brother. This hatred, this pain… Is it worth it? In the end, after everything, if I no longer walk this world… Will it be worth it?”
Renekton’s claws dug into his own snout with enough force to draw blood. Crimson flowed through his fingers and onto the sand below, his eyes were squeezed shut. He backed away further. His brain felt like it would explode through his skull. It had been a long time since he last felt his head ache in this way.
Confusion, dread, anger - so many emotions squeezed at his broken psyche. Memories, distant, broken - as though they were from another life - one not his own crossed his vision. He felt lost somewhere between then and now. Renekton was being crushed in the in between of these moments.
“No more!” He roared at last, sounding like a petulant child who wasn’t getting his way. “Enough!” He removed his hands, shaking his head side to side sending blood splattering around him. A growl rumbled forth from him and for a moment it looked like he might rush the jackal, like he might charge him and continue this fight after all... But then his furious eyes widened for a flicker of a moment.
“I... I can’t...” His voice was softer, broken. Instead of charging towards Nasus he fled. He couldn’t handle this - whatever this was - it was all too much on his mind. The proud warrior he once was had become a bundle of fight or flight instincts over time and for the first time in a while he was choosing flgith. Renekton would come back to face Nasus another day. Perhaps. But for now he chose to flee. His brother had won but a small battle against Renekton’s own mind.