❝ cracked reflections ✖ { xavier and cecil }
It felt like a dream, almost. Not so long ago, he would be sitting by the high Christmas tree (probably gotten on the very last day before said date) on their large house, surrounded by his sisters and his only brother, eagerly opening the presents despite the fact thaty they were no longer kids. Xavier would sit by the fire with their dog and would smile to himself, because it was not perfect, but they remained together and they were supportive of eachother. The next days after Christmas he would usually try to spend time with his siblings, either visiting Jamie on the hospital even though he was a hassle or getting Ava whatever she wanted. The last couple of years, however, had been different. And he never once imagined he'd be visiting his twin brother in jail just a few days after the twenty-fifth.
Visits were not as easy as he hoped, since the crime that had Cecil there was far from small, but he had eventually charmed a couple of guards and people were not as weary of him as they had been at first, mostly because of the resemblance he had to the killer. The word was still hard for him to even think about, but after two years, he figured he'd have to get used to it eventually. He did not know if presents were allowed, so he hid the small chain on his pocket and smiled to the people in turn, doing the rightful procedure before being walked to where his brother awaited. Xavier didn't even bother with the casual chatter, too busy clenching his jaw with nervousness. They had once been really close, but he had never felt as far away as he did now. It was like they were almost strangers, and that made him unbelievably sad.
The room was almost empty, except for the two chairs and the small table separating them. His father knew enough people to manage to get him some more privacy than normal visits did, but the guard that remained by the door was not a friendly one, so he always felt extremely uncomfortable. He had to shrug it off, though, and focus on what really was important: Cecil. Taking his usual seat, his green eyes quickly looked up at the sound of the door, almost choking at the sight. They had once looked so similar, and now couldn't look any more different. He remembered his annoyance when people confused them back on his younger years, but it truly made him sad to see almost no similarities between them. Not like he would say it out loud. Or maybe he would, he was not sure if he truly wanted to do it, or see the reaction it'd provoke.
Mixed emotions crossed his eyes--he wasn't there simply to wish him happy holidays, there were many questions he needed answers to--, but he forced himself to give his brother a sincere smile, hands resting comfortably over the table as he did so. The awkwardness and uneasiness in the room was almost tangible. "Hello, brother." He said, his voice somewhat cranky. He cleared his throat, letting his haze drop to his bare hands. "It's been a while." He had told himself he'd visit him often, but their parents' divorce, school and then work, and the recent attacks made it hard for him to do as he pleased. If he could, Xavier thought, he would have Cecil out of there and he wouldn't have to visit. Life wasn't that simple.