[ Well, Hank is officially out of this conversation. He sees Gavin's eyes flash and that's as much as he can figure out. He doesn't speak Polish. But Kamski does.
Kamski, who is looking at Ezra like he's... well, like he just told him he was a werewolf. It's true they'd been told stories as children, and the way he had felt when Gavin was hurt was... well, Elijah had looked up every possible reason and science did not have a single explanation for it. Was this the explanation? Hadn't he randomly had a craving for red meat just the other day? ]
How...? [ He's responding in Polish too, of course. This conversation is only for them. Elijah looks over at Hank, then back to Ezra. ] You're joking, right? Is this a joke? I know I haven't called but this is cruel even for you.
[ Ezra swallows, letting himself look vulnerable. He hasn't in front of Eli since they were children, truly, and he knows it's the only way he can get him to believe what he's saying.
He squeezes his wrist gently. ]
I'm the most serious I've ever been, Eli. I wouldn't make fun of you like this. [ He inspects his face, eyes glowing brighter. Maybe it's his senses, or the fact that they're touching. ] You felt it, didn't you? When it happened to me...
[ Not so much in words or voices, but a feeling. ]
[ Yeah, okay, that's... It's strange, seeing his brother like he used to be. Truly now, because his face is even back to normal, except for the glowing eyes thing. While Elijah wouldn't put it past him to come up with some kind of contact lens to do that, it wouldn't make sense to drag Hank Anderson with him if that was the case. And it doesn't make sense that Elijah can feel something. And the fact that Ezra knows... He looks so familiar it hurts. Deep down, Elijah knows he isn't lying. ]
I... [ Elijah looks down and back at Chloe. She nods, a neutral but familiar smile on her face. He's vulnerable now too. Hank better look away. ] Yes, I. I knew something had to be wrong. That you had been hurt, I thought... I thought I felt you die, Ezra. I can't explain it.
[ Ezra steps a little closer, purposely standing so most of Eli's face and body language is hidden from the other people in the room. Suddenly protective again, who would have thought? It does hurt, his chest aching for him. ]
I'm sorry. [ It's all he can think to say at first. ] That you had to feel it too, I never would have wanted that.
[ He swallows thickly, feeling a lump form in his throat he has to talk around. ] It's different but I'm still me. I'm... okay with this, if it means you don't have to be alone. Hank's helped me a lot.
[ Hank hears his name but doesn't get much else. That's fine. They're having a moment and he certainly won't intrude. Elijah Kamski having Real Emotions will just have to a secret he takes to his grave.
As for Eli, well, he can barely express how good it feels to have his brother so close and to hear the concern in his voice. He hadn't realized how much he's missed it. He thought he'd lost it forever. It had hurt so much... ]
I don't understand. [ There might be tears threatening to make their way down his face but he wouldn't dare acknowledge them. The great Elijah Kamski? Crying? Not knowing how things work? It was as frustrating then as it is now. Frustration, after all, is much easier than sadness. ] Tell me what happened. All of it. Please.
[ Ah... there it is. Eli doesn't like not understanding something, hates it the most of all. Ezra steps closer and moves his free hand to rest on his brother's neck, right over where his own bite scar resides.
Oh no, he's going to cry too if he keeps looking at him like that. ]
You always said my biggest flaw was how I never looked before I leaped, right? Hank was going to get shot and I... I don't know. I just jumped in front of him. Half second still thought he had to go home to his son that night.
[ It's hard to remember with Eli right in front of him. He works his jaw around, taking a hoarse breath. ] He just... asked me if I wanted to live. And I did, so I could see you again. That was why I said yes. Then he bit me and... well. Here I am.
[ Ah, a tear escapes. ] But I'm sorry that we're too different now. I'm sorry.
Idiot. [ Of course he did. Of course Ezra's stupid brain wanted him to save someone who didn't need saving. What did Elijah care about what happened to Hank Anderson? There's a reason Ezra's always been the nicer one. Elijah would have left him to die. Even knowing now that he's some kind of monster, he wouldn't have cared. He would choose his brother over anyone else, always. What kind of idiot would do something so stupid?
His brother, of course. His brother who is a good person. Who is sporting a bitemark on his neck and is apparently a werewolf now and okay that's very strange and Elijah isn't sure if he believes all of that but he knows Ezra was dead and now he isn't. He felt him come back. Ezra came back for him.
Eli looks him straight in the eyes. He wants to be the cool older brother, even if Ezra had always been there for him. He knows they're the same, even with this. No amount of changing his name or his birthdate or his face could ever change that. Ezra is alright. As long as he's alive, he will always be Elijah's twin. ]
You think I care about what you are, when it means you aren't dead?
[ He smiles. He's still crying, but. It's fine. ]
You're a Kamski, Ezra. You really should know better than to apologize.
[ That gets a wet, hoarse little laugh out of him. He turns his head to wipe his eyes on his sleeve, sniffing. ]
Guess I forgot. I've been away for too long.
[ And then he fully closes their distance, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and pulling him in for a tight hug. When was the last time they hugged? Probably right before Eli started CyberLife, before everything just got worse and worse.
But there's no one to force a wedge between them now. Ezra buries his face in the crook of Eli's neck, taking a deep breath. Yes, this is right. This is what he needed. He has Hank and he needed his brother too. Pack and family. His twin, his other half. It's as if his wolf instincts know that they were the same mass of cells, once upon a time. Singing for the parts that were separated from him. ]
I'll apologize one more time though. [ Muffled, into his shirt. ] I'm sorry for acting like I was ashamed to be your brother.
[ Elijah holds back just as tightly. Maybe he isn't a werewolf and he doesn't have extra-sharp sense or anything like that, but he knows his brother. Even if it feels different, even if it's been more than twenty years since they were actually this close, Ezra is his brother and he is a part of him that had been missing for so long. He'd almost thought he'd be better off without him, but the pain from his death showed him that he was wrong.
He needs this. He needs to close his eyes and hold his brother. He needs to actually listen and feel his heart against his chest. He is alive. He is safe. Even without Eli's protection. ]
If we're apologizing then I suppose... [ He chokes back a few more tears. He's fine! Hank is over there, looking very intently at the tea Chloe offered him. ] I apologize for never reaching out to you. Pretending I was fine without you.
[ Sorry Hank, at least you can't really understand what they're saying... even though the body language explains it all.
They're just not mean to be separate, as evidenced by how dysfunctional they've been apart. It seems easier now; he doesn't even understand why he was so mad anymore. They're adults, without their parents pressures and expectations on them. Gran would be so happy.
It's a comfort to feel Eli's heart thudding against his own, calming. Proof he's alive, they're both alive. Ezra chokes a little himself, huffing a hoarse little laugh. ]
I was the same way. It's fine, we're fine now. I'm not mad anymore.
[ Hank is good. He said he'd be there for Gavin, so he is. And he's glad he was right about things going well -- brothers are supposed to be like that. Close.
Eli and Ezra had always been close. Elijah continues holding him, steady and strong even if his brother is stronger. Who cares? He'd felt so broken before, but he got used to it. Now that the feeling is gone it's... hard to believe he'd ever lived with that kind of wound festering in him. ]
I know I haven't made it easy... but neither am I. I'm not angry with you.
[ That's exactly it... a wound that made him lash out at everyone else. Push people away so they couldn't see it gaping in him.
It's all better now, though. No more reasons to hurt. Ezra pulls away a little and sniffs. ]
I'm glad. Shit, look at us. [ He brings his hand back to Eli's face and rubs at his tears with his sleeve. ] You've always been such a crybaby. [ Says the guy also crying. ]
[ Ugh, yeah, this beard thing is gonna take a lot of getting used to. He supposes it must be a werewolf thing since Gavin never showed up in pictures quite this hairy, but still!! Please stop. It's embarrassing. But it is nice to hear his brother laugh.
Even Hank, for all that he has no idea what they were talking about besides the inflection, smiles now that Gavin is happy. Good. They worked it out. ]
I go outside on occasion.
[ He rolls his eyes. Fine, they can speak English again. He supposes he might owe Hank something like gratitude but good luck wrenching that out of him. ]
[ They've always been a fuzzy pair (despite all of your manscaping Eli) but he's definitely fuzzier now. All beard all the time. You had one too, you dweeb, on those first smarmy CyberLife interviews you did. ]
Clearly not enough. [ This is what you get for accepting him back in his life, embarrassing you. He has sixteen years of teasing to make up for. ]
Sorry for shutting you out there, Hank. [ He looks back at Hank. Is his expression a little tender when looking at him? Hmm. ]
[ Elijah prefers to forget his Look for those years, thanks. He balks, though he certainly doesn't miss the obvious look Ezra gives Hank. Well, isn't that interesting. Elijah keeps his mouth shut, for now, but you can bet he's looking. ]
Eh, it's fine. [ Hank waves a hand, dismissing his concern. He's having tea and Chloe said she'd be back with something to entertain him so he's a mix of frightened and curious right now. ] I don't wanna get between your twin thing.
[ He stands. Maybe he's supposed to leave now? He isn't really sure what to do here. ]
[ Yeah, that look is undeniable. Elijah smirks wide, mischief in his eyes. ]
Oh, I have lots of questions. The first of which is this: when did the two of you start sleeping together? And does this mean Connor is back on the market? Metaphorically, of course.
[ ...well, the laugh is nice at least. He tries not to smile and doesn't really succeed, but there's an attempt. So he glares back, letting him go. ]
Yeah, missed you being a pain in the ass. [ He flicks him between the eyes again. ] And Connor's never gonna be on the market as far as you're concerned, so keep it in your pants.
[ He knows you, Eli. You're not gonna sleep with Connor!! ]
[ Eli flinches, rubbing his face and looking very put out. ]
You wouldn't have me any other way.
[ He smiles, hiding the question in his statement. He wants things to be normal. To be okay. Messing with each other was normal, right? They'll have to find out what the word means again. ]
And in any case... You know me. Why ask when I can discover things for myself by hacking into every database on earth? Unless you have anything else you'd like to tell me, I can figure this out for myself.
[ He's definitely gonna find out Hank and Gavin are mated before either of them do. ]
[ Gavin puts on a show of appearing to think about it really hard. ]
Yeah, you're right. It'd be weird if you were suddenly coddling me all the time. [ An answer to his unspoken question. At the end of the day, he doesn't want you to change Eli. ]
So, what, you're gonna put 'werewolf' into your Google alerts? Good luck with that.
[ Please do. It's obvious he has Feelings just by how prickly and avoid-y his response was. He looks at Hank, shrugging. Brothers, right? ]
[ That makes Elijah smile. He's happy to at least hear that Ezra hasn't changed so much. He'll still tolerate his annoying older brother, even as a werewolf. ]
If it exists, it's on the internet. I'll find it, don't worry.
[ He smiles again, especially with how Gavin keeps looking to Hank for guidance. Oh, they are definitely fucking. ]
Does any of this-- [ He laughs lightly. ] I know I've been accused of trying to make everything about myself, but nonetheless, I have to ask. Does any of your... wolfishness affect me? Because I may have noticed... something strange to this last full moon.
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Kamski, who is looking at Ezra like he's... well, like he just told him he was a werewolf. It's true they'd been told stories as children, and the way he had felt when Gavin was hurt was... well, Elijah had looked up every possible reason and science did not have a single explanation for it. Was this the explanation? Hadn't he randomly had a craving for red meat just the other day? ]
How...? [ He's responding in Polish too, of course. This conversation is only for them. Elijah looks over at Hank, then back to Ezra. ] You're joking, right? Is this a joke? I know I haven't called but this is cruel even for you.
[ Can't be true, right? No way. ]
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He squeezes his wrist gently. ]
I'm the most serious I've ever been, Eli. I wouldn't make fun of you like this. [ He inspects his face, eyes glowing brighter. Maybe it's his senses, or the fact that they're touching. ] You felt it, didn't you? When it happened to me...
[ Not so much in words or voices, but a feeling. ]
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I... [ Elijah looks down and back at Chloe. She nods, a neutral but familiar smile on her face. He's vulnerable now too. Hank better look away. ] Yes, I. I knew something had to be wrong. That you had been hurt, I thought... I thought I felt you die, Ezra. I can't explain it.
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I'm sorry. [ It's all he can think to say at first. ] That you had to feel it too, I never would have wanted that.
[ He swallows thickly, feeling a lump form in his throat he has to talk around. ] It's different but I'm still me. I'm... okay with this, if it means you don't have to be alone. Hank's helped me a lot.
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As for Eli, well, he can barely express how good it feels to have his brother so close and to hear the concern in his voice. He hadn't realized how much he's missed it. He thought he'd lost it forever. It had hurt so much... ]
I don't understand. [ There might be tears threatening to make their way down his face but he wouldn't dare acknowledge them. The great Elijah Kamski? Crying? Not knowing how things work? It was as frustrating then as it is now. Frustration, after all, is much easier than sadness. ] Tell me what happened. All of it. Please.
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Oh no, he's going to cry too if he keeps looking at him like that. ]
You always said my biggest flaw was how I never looked before I leaped, right? Hank was going to get shot and I... I don't know. I just jumped in front of him. Half second still thought he had to go home to his son that night.
[ It's hard to remember with Eli right in front of him. He works his jaw around, taking a hoarse breath. ] He just... asked me if I wanted to live. And I did, so I could see you again. That was why I said yes. Then he bit me and... well. Here I am.
[ Ah, a tear escapes. ] But I'm sorry that we're too different now. I'm sorry.
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His brother, of course. His brother who is a good person. Who is sporting a bitemark on his neck and is apparently a werewolf now and okay that's very strange and Elijah isn't sure if he believes all of that but he knows Ezra was dead and now he isn't. He felt him come back. Ezra came back for him.
Eli looks him straight in the eyes. He wants to be the cool older brother, even if Ezra had always been there for him. He knows they're the same, even with this. No amount of changing his name or his birthdate or his face could ever change that. Ezra is alright. As long as he's alive, he will always be Elijah's twin. ]
You think I care about what you are, when it means you aren't dead?
[ He smiles. He's still crying, but. It's fine. ]
You're a Kamski, Ezra. You really should know better than to apologize.
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Guess I forgot. I've been away for too long.
[ And then he fully closes their distance, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and pulling him in for a tight hug. When was the last time they hugged? Probably right before Eli started CyberLife, before everything just got worse and worse.
But there's no one to force a wedge between them now. Ezra buries his face in the crook of Eli's neck, taking a deep breath. Yes, this is right. This is what he needed. He has Hank and he needed his brother too. Pack and family. His twin, his other half. It's as if his wolf instincts know that they were the same mass of cells, once upon a time. Singing for the parts that were separated from him. ]
I'll apologize one more time though. [ Muffled, into his shirt. ] I'm sorry for acting like I was ashamed to be your brother.
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He needs this. He needs to close his eyes and hold his brother. He needs to actually listen and feel his heart against his chest. He is alive. He is safe. Even without Eli's protection. ]
If we're apologizing then I suppose... [ He chokes back a few more tears. He's fine! Hank is over there, looking very intently at the tea Chloe offered him. ] I apologize for never reaching out to you. Pretending I was fine without you.
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They're just not mean to be separate, as evidenced by how dysfunctional they've been apart. It seems easier now; he doesn't even understand why he was so mad anymore. They're adults, without their parents pressures and expectations on them. Gran would be so happy.
It's a comfort to feel Eli's heart thudding against his own, calming. Proof he's alive, they're both alive. Ezra chokes a little himself, huffing a hoarse little laugh. ]
I was the same way. It's fine, we're fine now. I'm not mad anymore.
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Eli and Ezra had always been close. Elijah continues holding him, steady and strong even if his brother is stronger. Who cares? He'd felt so broken before, but he got used to it. Now that the feeling is gone it's... hard to believe he'd ever lived with that kind of wound festering in him. ]
I know I haven't made it easy... but neither am I. I'm not angry with you.
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It's all better now, though. No more reasons to hurt. Ezra pulls away a little and sniffs. ]
I'm glad. Shit, look at us. [ He brings his hand back to Eli's face and rubs at his tears with his sleeve. ] You've always been such a crybaby. [ Says the guy also crying. ]
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Please. You're the one who started apologizing. I had to do something or you'd have gotten embarrassed, all by yourself.
[ Yeah, that's definitely it. ]
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Ah, yes, how could I forget? You're always sacrificing your dignity for me.
[ Jokes!! They both know what they really mean. Then he flicks him between the eyes. ]
When was the last time you went outside? You're so goddamn pale. [ Suddenly he's speaking in English again. Hi Hank, were you here? ]
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Even Hank, for all that he has no idea what they were talking about besides the inflection, smiles now that Gavin is happy. Good. They worked it out. ]
I go outside on occasion.
[ He rolls his eyes. Fine, they can speak English again. He supposes he might owe Hank something like gratitude but good luck wrenching that out of him. ]
The occasion just doesn't present itself often.
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Clearly not enough. [ This is what you get for accepting him back in his life, embarrassing you. He has sixteen years of teasing to make up for. ]
Sorry for shutting you out there, Hank. [ He looks back at Hank. Is his expression a little tender when looking at him? Hmm. ]
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Eh, it's fine. [ Hank waves a hand, dismissing his concern. He's having tea and Chloe said she'd be back with something to entertain him so he's a mix of frightened and curious right now. ] I don't wanna get between your twin thing.
[ He stands. Maybe he's supposed to leave now? He isn't really sure what to do here. ]
Just uh, did you explain everything? Are we cool?
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Yeah, we're cool. I explained what happened. [ He looks back at his brother. ] Is there anything you wanna ask or...?
[ ...that tea smells nice. Eli always had the good shit. ]
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Oh, I have lots of questions. The first of which is this: when did the two of you start sleeping together? And does this mean Connor is back on the market? Metaphorically, of course.
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We can't go five minutes without you opening your mouth and saying stupid shit, can we?!
[ Ah, brotherly love. Nothing out of the ordinary here. ]
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But Eli? Eli is having a great time. He stares Ezra dead on, grinning like he's just caught a particularly delicious canary. ]
I needed to remind you of what you've been so sorely missing, brother. Can you blame me?
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Yeah, missed you being a pain in the ass. [ He flicks him between the eyes again. ] And Connor's never gonna be on the market as far as you're concerned, so keep it in your pants.
[ He knows you, Eli. You're not gonna sleep with Connor!! ]
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You wouldn't have me any other way.
[ He smiles, hiding the question in his statement. He wants things to be normal. To be okay. Messing with each other was normal, right? They'll have to find out what the word means again. ]
And in any case... You know me. Why ask when I can discover things for myself by hacking into every database on earth? Unless you have anything else you'd like to tell me, I can figure this out for myself.
[ He's definitely gonna find out Hank and Gavin are mated before either of them do. ]
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Yeah, you're right. It'd be weird if you were suddenly coddling me all the time. [ An answer to his unspoken question. At the end of the day, he doesn't want you to change Eli. ]
So, what, you're gonna put 'werewolf' into your Google alerts? Good luck with that.
[ Please do. It's obvious he has Feelings just by how prickly and avoid-y his response was. He looks at Hank, shrugging. Brothers, right? ]
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If it exists, it's on the internet. I'll find it, don't worry.
[ He smiles again, especially with how Gavin keeps looking to Hank for guidance. Oh, they are definitely fucking. ]
Does any of this-- [ He laughs lightly. ] I know I've been accused of trying to make everything about myself, but nonetheless, I have to ask. Does any of your... wolfishness affect me? Because I may have noticed... something strange to this last full moon.
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