Chapter 6 : Between Brothers
As Raven sits at the dining table, slowly eating his breakfast, he hears the creak of a door opening.
Grim steps out from his room, his expression as dark and dangerous as ever. Raven notices him but says nothing, lowering his gaze to his plate.
Their mother, however, looks up and smiles warmly. "Grim, come. Eat with us. The breakfast is ready."
Grim doesn't respond at first. Instead, he walks straight over to their mother, his heavy steps echoing in the quiet house.
Without a word, he wraps his arms around her from behind, hugging her tightly and refusing to let go. His hold is almost desperate, his head lowering slightly as if hiding something he doesn't want them to see.
Their mother lets out a small, surprised gasp but quickly relaxes, her hand reaching up to gently pat his arm. "Grim… It's alright, dear." Her voice is soft and soothing.
After a few moments, Grim finally lets her go and sits down at the table. His intimidating presence feels like a dark cloud, but his mother only looks at him with gentle affection.
She begins serving him breakfast, her movements slow but careful.
They eat in silence for a while, the clinking of plates and utensils the only sound.
Raven sneaks a glance at Grim, noticing how his brother's face remains cold and distant, as if the hug from earlier never even happened.
Out of nowhere, Grim speaks up, his voice gruff but not as harsh as usual. "Oh, Mother… Why don't you go out with me today?" He pauses before continuing, his tone awkward but sincere. "You can have something you want… We can go shopping if you'd like."
Their mother blinks in surprise, clearly taken aback by the offer. For a moment, she just looks at Grim with gentle, loving eyes. "Alright. I will go."
Grim's expression doesn't change, but something in his eyes softens, a flicker of relief.
Raven watches the exchange, feeling both glad and strangely left out of whatever silent bond his mother and brother share.
Grim looks over at Raven, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Raven, do you have some work today?" he asks, his tone neutral but with an underlying edge.
Raven leans back in his chair with a faint, almost mocking smirk. "Oh, I'm not busy. I'm not free either. You know... someone like... like someone." His tone is casual, but the hint of sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed.
Grim's expression darkens instantly, his veins visibly popping out from his neck and temples, his fists clenching on the table. His gaze is nothing short of murderous, and for a moment, it seems like he might lunge at Raven right then and there.
But their mother's presence keeps him in check. With a growl of frustration, Grim forces himself to stay quiet. Without a word, he abruptly rises from the table, the chair scraping against the floor.
"I'm done. Mother, you should get ready. I'm going to get ready, too," Grim says, his voice strained but calm enough to hide the rage simmering beneath.
He turns away and heads toward his room, his heavy steps echoing down the hallway.
Once Grim is gone, Raven sighs and looks over at his mother. "I'll be heading out too. I'll see if I can... find something to do." His words are vague, but his mother doesn't question it.
"Alright, Raven. Just be careful, okay?" she says gently, her eyes full of concern but also trust.
Raven heads towards Lyra's room, his footsteps light and careful. Reaching her door, he knocks softly but gets no response.
Frowning, he slowly opens the door and steps inside.
The room is dim, the curtains only slightly parted to let in a faint glow of daylight. His gaze falls on Lyra, lying curled up on her bed, her breathing soft and even.
He walks over and sits beside her, the mattress sinking slightly under his weight.
For a moment, he simply watches her, the peacefulness of her sleep somehow easing his own worries.
Gently, he reaches out and brushes his hand through her hair, his fingers trailing over the silky strands before moving to her face. His touch is soft, his fingertips tracing her cheek as he murmurs, "Sister... Sister... Wake up."
Lyra stirs, her eyelids fluttering before slowly opening. She looks at Raven with bleary eyes, still clinging to the warmth of sleep. "Mmm... Let me sleep a bit more," she mumbles, her voice drowsy and weak.
Raven chuckles softly, though there's concern in his gaze. "Why don't you wake up already? The house is going to be empty, and you'll be the only one left here. You should get up and have breakfast. Mother already made it for you."
Lyra groans lightly but eventually forces herself to sit up. She swings her legs over the edge of the bed, her posture slouched and her hair a tangled mess. The black dress she's still wearing only adds to her disheveled appearance, though it somehow makes her look both beautiful and exhausted at the same time.
Raven raises an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her with mild curiosity. "Why are you wearing that black dress while sleeping?"
Lyra's eyes widen at his question, and suddenly, everything that happened before comes crashing back to her.
The memory of Grim carrying her home, her own exhausted tears, the weight of it all. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she lowers her gaze, unable to meet Raven's eyes.
Before he can say anything else, she abruptly drops down on the floor with her hands covering her face. Raven blinks in confusion, his eyes widening slightly at her strange reaction. "Uh... Woh. What are you doing? What's with that reaction?"
Lyra shakes her head, her voice muffled by her hands. "It's nothing! Just... Just forget it!"
She quickly stands up, her expression still flustered but her movements hurried as she heads toward the door. "I'm going to get fresh," she says, her tone both defensive and embarrassed as she rushes out of the room.
Raven watches her leave, completely baffled by her sudden change in behavior.