dream, c

[attr="class","follwr"]Her breath hitched, head slowly craning up to see the face she hadn't done so for so long. She'd count the days, forget, and count again, all with loneliness and bitterness in mind, and, and-

Her suitcase was placed in front of her chest as if to protect it. Her fingers clenched, voice still not quite finding itself. Yin's face didn't know what expression to morph into, either, so she watched him, her dear brother, and the contours of his face, the dim glow of his eyes, the softness only she could find in his expression-

"Minzhe." She chocked out. "Minzhe-"

The petite Chinese girl burst into tears, albeit without a sound, save for near inaudible gasps. She was used to crying.

@minzhe

[attr="class","follwr"]Her grip on the suitcase loosened without her even noticing, so that her own arms could wrap around her brother's. It was like an automated response, something she didn't even have to acknowledge for a split second. Her heart was heavy in her chest like a solid lead weight trying to cut through her stomach; letting the acid ruin her insides.

Lips wavered, trembling, as if trying to murmur words that meant more than she knew. Yin took in Minzhe's scent carefully, wondered how he spent the years alone, and put a mental final chapter for the days gone, spent alone with four walls boxing her in.

Her breathing evened out, fingers softly crawling against Minzhe's back, as if trying to find her way into him; so solitude would never have to be faced again.

"Minzhe..." She tried to say a million words, but only one came out.

@minzhe

[attr="class","follwr"]Her eyes were still watery, so she wiped the tears with an unsure, hesitant movement. She looked up to see Minzhe's properly, and managed to form a small smile. It was good to take in his scent again, to know in the back of her mind that he was in reaching distance, that she didn't have to be lost and aimless and sad any more.

Her footsteps were slow like a child's, as she stared at her feet and the path before her.

"Nothing is impossible, if you have the means and the skills." Fangyin's lips curled into a proud smile, taking her brother's words as a compliment.

@minzhe

[attr="class","follwr"]"Of course not, brother." She arrived a month ago, and that was testament enough.

She was staring at her feet, her shoes in particular and how they shone in the dim light in particular, to stop herself from following her brother with her eyes. She'd been told it was um, 'creepy'. Fangyin didn't really want to be um, 'creepy', towards her brother, of all people. It'd been so long, after all. She had to be on her best behaviour.

Her head rose, still brimming with tears when he stood before her, wiping the rest of the tears away. Oh, how shameful. Despite all her experience, tears weren't as easy to stop as she thought they were.

So she nodded timidly, trying to swallow down the stones in her throat and the light headache that was wanting to come and knock on her door.

"Uh." She chocked out, in truth wanting a shower more, but that would be rude. She'd been searching all day and was tired, so Yin nodded.

"Can I... s-sit down?"

@minzhe

[attr="class","follwr"]There was a sense of comfort that blossomed in her chest; so much so she didn't know if she could take it, so she squirmed a little in happiness, a smile spreading across her face.

"Thank you, brother." Her eyes weren't as jaded as before, but she ignored the fork in the stir fry and picked some up with her fingers instead.

"Why won't you sit with me— or do you not want to?" She asked, tilting her head, after she had swallowed her fingerful of vegetables. Yin had to prove she hadn't forgotten her manners in front of brother. It was brother, after all.

She then placed her two hands in her lap, now sitting down on the sofa, nerves pilling up together again. Was it her? Did she do something wrong?

Fangyin was so confused.

@minzhe

[attr="class","follwr"]All of a sudden very aware of his gaze on her, Fangyin wordlessly picked up the stir fry from the table with one hand, so she could pick at it with her fingers on the other hand.

Without asking for permission though, her head leant on Minzhe's shoulder for a moment, then turning to whisper in his ear.

"It's okay now. I'm okay. I don't have to be alone any more." She smiled, still leaning on his shoulder and licking the oil from her fingers.

@minzhe