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“...” Freminet pauses, sitting down on the floor, holding a small bowl of some kind of mousse or pudding meeting eyes with a very exhausted, disgruntled Lyney. The two stare at each other for at least a minute, and the younger breaks the silence. "You look like hell,"
Lyney snorts, shaking his head. A more awake Freminet would be having a much different reaction but a half-asleep Freminet is a bit more snarky. How his naive little brother will just lose his filter when he is sleepy, Lyney muses. It would be funny if not for how playfully rude he can be due to the lack of filter.
Lyney crosses the room to the counter and opens the drawer with silverware. He then waves a spoon towards the bowl. The younger sighs but still allows Lyney to take a spoonful. The magician rolls his eyes at Freminet’s pout but it is a large bowl. There is plenty to enjoy and there will probably be leftovers to have tomorrow too. Lyney hums, it is, in fact, chocolate mousse with some whipped cream. The mousse is light and melts in his mouth, one of these days he will ask Freminet how he makes it.
"Thanks, I'm going to bed in a minute." Lyney takes another scoop, after finishing the first. Freminet moves it to allow for easier access to the bowl.
"You should shower first." The normally shy teen grumbles while eating another bite. Lyney snorts ruffling the younger’s hair, earning a glare. Normally he would agree with his brother but while the job has been completed so many things nearly went wrong. There will be no repeat of that shitshow performance, Lyney sighs stealing another bite of the mousse. Sleeping now and showering in the morning sounds much more appealing.
"Okay but if I pass out and tragically drown, you have to explain to Lynette why," Lyney teases. Freminet huffs, mumbles something, and takes another bite. Lyney rolls his eyes then gives his brother a look, “I don’t know how long you have been awake but go back to bed soon. It is nearly 5am.”
“I will, just…” The teen trails off, taking another bite of the mousse. Lyney got the point, Freminet’s dreams have not been kind to him. It is something they all could relate to but what the dreams contained is the difference.
It is a midnight ball where your fears, insecurities, and flaws are all in attendance as such the guests are personal to each person. Lyney had many recurring dance partners that night with Lynette and that rich aristocrat, leaving behind Lynette and Freminet, the performances going wrong, and many others. The younger have different fears no doubt but they have always been able to find comfort in one another.
“Would you like some company?” Lyney asks, Freminet looks up at the older confused. Looking similar to an angry puppy, Lyney has to restrain himself from pinching his brother’s cheeks. The diver shakes his head, speaking around another spoonful of the mousse. “ ‘ou’re exhaust’d, so just go tah bed.”
“Just go upstairs, I will even shower like you suggested and then I will join you,” Lyney takes the bowl from the teen’s hands. Freminet scowls, “You-” Lyney sets the bowl on the counter “You are the best older brother? I know,”
“No- you just got back from a mission and are tired,” Freminet stands from his place on the floor and takes another spoonful. Lyney takes his hand and rubs small circles into the skin.
“So? I will have a much harder time sleeping knowing my brother is still down in the kitchen eating Mousse au Chocolat and dealing with the aftermath of a nightmare. Now, let’s cover this up and clean our spoons. Then we can sleep.”
The duo cleaned up easily, Freminet prepared the mousse for the ice box & Lyney rinsed and dried their spoons. After a quick shower detour, Lyney can finally join Freminet in the older’s room. Lyney enters as silently as possible to see the younger is already halfway to dreamland.
Upon getting into bed Lyney can feel the bed shake ever so slightly. Another horrible dream? he wonders. Pulling back the blankets reveals Freminet’s scrunched-up expression and how much he is shaking.
“Oh, mon petit chou,” Lyney soothes in old Fontaine, “Tout va bien, pas de larmas.”
Lyney tucks the teen into his side as Freminet’s shaking gradually slows as he calms and his guard lowers. A guard that is high and the first created from the House of the Hearth, specifically from Father. He keeps his face straight, holding all of his tears in and all the big emotions back. The magician sighs, nuzzling his younger brother’s hair. It is something Lyney is fairly mad at Father for. Even through Lyney best attempt to refrain from holding on to anger in regards to Father, thankful for her and knowing it wouldn’t achieve anything, he still has that anger deep within him. But Lyney knows better, his anger wouldn’t make her stop & it didn’t make Freminet less scared to cry even within his room in the house or anywhere not underwater.
Lyney feels a tug to see Freminet getting comfortable, still asleep. All the tension built up slowly leaves his body, knowing his brother & sister are safe asleep is all Lyney has ever wanted. He shakes his head, those are problems for another time, some far in the future. Lyney blows out the candle and moves to make himself more comfortable. A small sleepy mumble of complaint but his younger settles easily.
It isn’t a great night but it has been a good night.