To say she was a bit peeved might have been an understatement.
To be perfectly honest, she was annoyed more than anything because this was one of the few nights she went to bed without fretting, or consumed by some other thoughts that kept her up a bit longer than usual.
If only they caught her on one of her days where sleep wasn't coming to her. Elysia likely would have been content with having a visitor at such a late hour
Still, as she reached for the door handle, she wiped the annoyed look from her face. Even if she was a little bit upset, there was no need to show it. Who was to say it wasn't a neighbor that needed help. With the way the knocking had been moments ago, maybe she should put on a more worried look.
Regardless, Elysia opened the door and, to her utter surprise, there stood Jacinto.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
There was rips and tears in his clothes, he was clutching his side and she swore there was blood slowly dripping from the side of his face. He grunted, pushing passed her and stumbled into her living room.
Elysia didn't say anything, still frozen in spot before quickly shutting the door. Turning, she watched as her brother limped over to her couch and he just barely managed to sit on it.
Despite their differences, despite the hatred he still felt for her, Elysia knew one of two things.
Jac wouldn't have come here unless he had a good reason to. The other thing she kept close to her chest, not wanting to think about it.
Her feet took her to the kitchen, gathering a few washcloths, a bowl of water, and some bandages she kept around for emergencies. She used a tray to carry them back into her living room, where her brother still hadn't moved.
It actually frighten her, to be honest.
However, she took a deep breath and walked over. Placing the tray on the table near the sofa, she moved to take one of the cloths to help clean him up when the dark-haired man finally spoke.
"I'll do it. Just go away."
Their eyes met and for the first time in a very long time, Elysia felt truly sorry for him, for Jac. There was such an emptiness in those eyes that shared the same color as her own. It wasn't the first time she had wondered what changed her brother so.
The thing about the Jacinto from before was that he had never been a cold person. He had moments where he was distant and harsh, but never cruel. He pushed her away and she hadn't cared enough to question it back then. Elysia had only really cared for herself back when she was in the Village, if she really thought about it.
Point being, Jac was such a different person now. It was like he was broken, with all the pointed ends sticking out. Anyone that made an attempt to fix and put him back together were hurt in the process.
His hand, bruised and bleeding as well, reached out to take the supplies when her own hand shot out and grabbed his. He hissed and pulled back, glaring at her like some feral animal, ready to attack.
"Don't touch me."
Before, she might have flinched. Since they had been reunited all those months ago, Elysia often felt frighten in her brother's presence. She knew very well what his feelings were towards her, that animosity he felt that made him wanted to lash out at her whenever the chance presented itself.
Now though...
"Just let me do it. You'll only get frustrated because of the pain." She almost didn't notice how her tone changed, much like it had been back then.
"Shut up. Just go off to your room and sleep. Pretend like nothing is wrong just like before." His spat his words out, venom in nearly every syllable.
It hurt, but he was right in that. She had always ignored that pain he was going through. The memory of his confession replayed in her mind, though he hadn't elaborated on what their father had done to him nor Addie.
Then again, it was a wonder how he even knew that had happen to their sister since he left six years ago.
"Jac, you need to let me help you."
"No, I don't. I know how to take care of myself."
Her lips pursed and Elysia shook her head. "I'm not saying you don't. Stop acting like you can do everything on your own and accept help for once in your life."
A growl escaped his mouth. "Then stop acting like you understand anything! You were there but you ignored all those signs!! You have no idea how incredibly self-centered you are!"
It was easy to tell when Jac was getting worked up. It was easy to see that look in his eyes, the one where he just wanted to destroy until nothing was left. How much bloodlust there was inside of him.
And for some reason she snapped.
Elysia was hardly aware she had done it, but her hand had moved on its own and after a moment, she could feel the sting from having slapped him. It had been the first time she had actually done something back to him, to actually retaliated.
It left both of them speechless.
For a moment, she feared that he might actually hurt her. It wouldn't surprise her, but what ended up happening left her just as speechless as the slap had.
All the fire left his eyes and he slumped back into her sofa.
He look absolutely defeated.
It was a better chance than any. Her hand reached for a cloth and she used the water to wet it and wring it dry before she started to clean up his face. Jac made no move except when she prompted him to. His eyes were dull and there was no fight left in him.
There was nothing.
Lifting his chin up, Elysia continued her job to patch up her brother. It felt only right, instead of just leaving it to himself.
She took note that these small wounds were bad, though she could imagine it was worse underneath his shirt. The young woman remembered him holding his side and stumbling about to get into her home.
Who had done this? And why?
"It's okay, Jac. Let's just get you cleaned and patched up and you can sleep in the guest bedroom, okay?"
There was no answer.
He had completely shut down.
Who had broken him? Was it Father? And when had he done such a thing to him? Jacinto had said she ignored all the signs, but really...she hadn't ever known. It just didn't make sense to her, that their father had been cruel and malicious.
What kind of man had their father truly been?
Elysia also desperately wanted to know what had changed Jacinto from rebellious older brother to a broody mercenary that cared for no one, not even himself.
And the sad thing was?
She understood him so well, it was painful.
Jac could hate her all he wanted, but sometimes, she hated herself more for not noticing everything he went through. What kind of sister had she been back then?
A horrible one if she could have said the words she had back then, even if it was behind his back. It was one of the things she regretted most in her life.
"You're still my brother, Jacinto. Just remember that I still care."
Her hand had been reaching out to continue when he grabbed it, surprising her. "We stopped being siblings such a long time ago, I don't think I can believe you."
They stared at each other for a long time.
She gave him no reply and finally, he let go. It allowed her to continue and Elysia made no move to argue against him.
