[ 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.
[ He totally does, thanks. Eli crosses his arms. It doesn't particularly bother him if he just gets a craving for red meat once a month, but it'd be nice to know.
Hank of course is as troubled as Gavin. That can't be normal, right? He's not about to let Elijah Kamski know that he knows fuckall about werewolves, really, but... Well, that's super weird. ]
Uh... no, I've never heard of that happening.
[ Hank looks between them. Thy really are almost mirror-images of each other. Was it a twin thing? ]
I can reach out, ask some people if they know anything about twins and werewolves. [ "People" meaning his ex-wife. Or maybe not, that might be a bad idea, actually. ] Unless you guys are literally sharing thoughts, it really shouldn't...
[ Gavin blinks, then looks back at Eli. Squints. ]
No. Small favors that I can't read your mind, but... [ He scratches at his beard. ] Grandma always said twins in our family had 'deeper' connections, didn't she?
[ Are they like, mildly telepathically linked? Is that even a thing? He reaches up and presses his fingers to his bite mark, looking at Eli. ]
[ Elijah shakes his head. He can't. Thank god. The bite seems to be a connection between Hank and Gavin, but Eli and Ezra go a little deeper than that. ]
Might not be just one place.
[ Hank offers, a little terrified but mostly worried. Honestly, if he's going to have sex with Gavin he really doesn't want that sex to extend to Elijah Kamski. ]
If it's deeper, it might be, I dunno, emotional or something, right? Help me out here.
[ Elijah pauses, considering Hank's words. It's another thing to look up, though he's trying to remember what their Grandmother had said... ]
It's our hearts, wasn't it? She told us that if we were ever apart, we would still remain close where it mattered. In our hearts... which sounds childish and metaphorical, I realize, but, well. This would all sound rather childish if it wasn't real.
[ ...yeah it's definitely good that Eli wasn't unintentionally a voyeur on their full moon naked escapades.
He has the thought that he's still annoyed at Hank's ex-wife for not telling him anything about this shit. He works his jaw, remembering what their grandmother had said. ]
Yeah, it was something like that... maybe it's just how it is. We've always known when the other was hurt or in danger, right? [ He sighs. ] And you just lucked out and get to deal with a mild version of this werewolf stuff, I guess. Did you feel anything besides wanting red meat?
[ Like. Violence or... okay no he doesn't want to know if his brother got horny. ]
[ Someday you'll get to say that to her face, Gavin! Hank really has no idea about this stuff, maybe he should have shown some initiative since his wife left him but he's been depressed so that wasn't really an option.
Elijah thinks back to the full moon. Chloe reports that besides an elevated heart rate and greater desire for physical exercise, he had shown no other changes. ]
So there you have it. That was the strangest thing, I would say.
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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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But at what he says next, he raises a brow. ] Wait, did you?
[ Now this is interesting, potentially worrisome. He turns back to Hank. ] Do you have any idea...?
[ They've always had a connection but it's just because they were twins, right? It's not like they were... actually... oh shit. ]
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Hank of course is as troubled as Gavin. That can't be normal, right? He's not about to let Elijah Kamski know that he knows fuckall about werewolves, really, but... Well, that's super weird. ]
Uh... no, I've never heard of that happening.
[ Hank looks between them. Thy really are almost mirror-images of each other. Was it a twin thing? ]
I can reach out, ask some people if they know anything about twins and werewolves. [ "People" meaning his ex-wife. Or maybe not, that might be a bad idea, actually. ] Unless you guys are literally sharing thoughts, it really shouldn't...
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No. Small favors that I can't read your mind, but... [ He scratches at his beard. ] Grandma always said twins in our family had 'deeper' connections, didn't she?
[ Are they like, mildly telepathically linked? Is that even a thing? He reaches up and presses his fingers to his bite mark, looking at Eli. ]
Can you feel this...?
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Might not be just one place.
[ Hank offers, a little terrified but mostly worried. Honestly, if he's going to have sex with Gavin he really doesn't want that sex to extend to Elijah Kamski. ]
If it's deeper, it might be, I dunno, emotional or something, right? Help me out here.
[ Elijah pauses, considering Hank's words. It's another thing to look up, though he's trying to remember what their Grandmother had said... ]
It's our hearts, wasn't it? She told us that if we were ever apart, we would still remain close where it mattered. In our hearts... which sounds childish and metaphorical, I realize, but, well. This would all sound rather childish if it wasn't real.
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He has the thought that he's still annoyed at Hank's ex-wife for not telling him anything about this shit. He works his jaw, remembering what their grandmother had said. ]
Yeah, it was something like that... maybe it's just how it is. We've always known when the other was hurt or in danger, right? [ He sighs. ] And you just lucked out and get to deal with a mild version of this werewolf stuff, I guess. Did you feel anything besides wanting red meat?
[ Like. Violence or... okay no he doesn't want to know if his brother got horny. ]
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Elijah thinks back to the full moon. Chloe reports that besides an elevated heart rate and greater desire for physical exercise, he had shown no other changes. ]
So there you have it. That was the strangest thing, I would say.
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He turns to Chloe and gives her a little smile, nodding. He still needs to apologize to her probably... ]
So you just angrily did sit ups all night? I guess don't make any business decisions on the full moon now.
[ He sighs again and rubs between his eyes. ] This is giving me a headache. I guess we can just figure it out as it goes.
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