The moment the boys open their eyes, Mumbo is waiting right by their bedsides. He’s seated in a chair in the corner of the room, trembling hands in his lap. His hair is loose and messy, as if he’s been running his fingers through it numerous times due to stress (He has been). His eyes are rimmed red, with heavy eye bags beneath them.
He hasn’t slept. He hasn’t moved. Not since his hand was forced and he did the only thing he could to save those boys.
And as he sees them slowly wake up, he bites his lip. He doesn’t say a word, afraid he might ruin something. Ruin what, he isn’t sure. But he’d rather not risk it.
So he sits and stares, keeping himself away. He’s already done enough.
The older boy is the first to move, slowly pushing himself up in bed. The blanket crinkles around his waist as he moves to sit up fully. He blinks sluggishly once, twice, and then looks at the bed beside his own. His shoulders relax in relief at the sight of his younger brother. He looks back to Mumbo, and their eyes meet. The vampire stares into dark blue eyes, one’s that are no longer as light as the sky. They’re speckled with dark blue, dark like a sapphire or lapis.
“M…Mr. Jumbo?” He croaks, and oh it sends a stab of pain right through Mumbo’s heart.
He can’t bring himself to look at the boy, not without feeling the anvil of guilt sink into the deepest depths of his stomach. He clenches his fists, tearing his gaze away. Instead, his dark eyes focus on the floor. He doesn’t utter a response.
He misses the younger boy rising like his brother did. “Grum?” The young boy asks, and Mumbo tries very hard not to think about how his voice will forever remain that way. That it is his fault these boys will never grow old.
“I’m here, Jrum. Though I think somethin’s wrong with Mr. Jumbo.” The elder replies.
Jrum, the younger, frowns at his sibling’s response. He meets his brother’s eyes as the two children share concerned glances with one another. Seeming to read one another’s minds, the two nod.
Carefully, they lift themselves up from their beds. The tiled floor is cold against their bare feet, and it makes Jrum pause for a moment, shivering. Grum waits for him and together they approach Mumbo.
The elder vampire doesn’t see this until two pairs of feet are in his vision, and his head raises. He meets the concerned gazes of the children. “Are you okay, Mr. Jumbo?”
A puff of air leaves him, some kind of weak imitation of a laugh. “You both are the ones that nearly died and you’re asking if I’m alright?” He says, voice betraying just how astounded he is.
It’s Grum who answers with a frown, “You look like you want to cry.”
Jrum nods in agreement, “You look the same way I do when Grum catches me doing something bad.”
That’s all it takes for Mumbo to crack. The tears he had desperately been holding back spill over his eyelids and roll down his cheeks. He moves out of the chair to kneel before the two children, wrapping his arms around them both and tucking them against him. His hands find homes nestled within the boys’ dark locks, their heads resting on his shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” He apologizes, voice breaking from guilt. “I—I didn’t want to, but it was the only way to save you both. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for inflicting you with this curse.” Mumbo’s grip on them tightens, but not enough to hurt. He simply holds them close, arms shaking fiercely as he does so. He does not sob, nor does he wail. But he cries. He cries and he apologizes over and over to them. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
It takes the boys a moment to understand why exactly Mumbo is apologizing to them. What “curse” he’s passed to them. And when they realize, they share a look.
The brothers are not angry (Mumbo expects them to be). They do not hold any hatred for Mumbo (He expects them to).
Instead, they are grateful.
They both move to hug Mumbo tightly, “Thank you for saving us, Mr. Jumbo.”
“Even if it was the only way, thank you.”
In that moment, the two decide to do whatever it takes to make it up to Mumbo. Even if they have to spend the rest of their new eternity to do so.
