Tasukete [Closed]

[Ren]

Cel’s departure did nothing for Ren. In fact, the boy had hardly registered the demeaning nature of the man’s tongue and the forced laughter on his part. The boy was too consumed in his own mind to care what the King did. Cel could have struck him down and Ren would have accepted it without complaint. The inkling of fear that had previously manifested itself in his mind spiked considerably as it met the rage that flooded his veins and practically boiled his blood. This conflict of emotions had reached a condition of such cacophonic proportions that Ren found himself in a near catatonic state.

And then he was gone. The speed in which Ren came to his feet was startling and his subsequent jerky turn was so full of eye-clouded fury that it was quite possible Ren would smack into either Jun or Namiko without much care. There was a haste to his movements not previously seen, fueled by a mixture of embarrassment, anger and fear. His head bowed in an attempt to shadow his fire-flushed cheeks with his hair as he abruptly made his way towards the door. Ren had one objective on his mind: escape.

Ren didn’t know what to think. There was no rationalizing his emotions; his body was so physically and mentally stressed that the prospect of actually stopping to collect himself felt distinctly foreign. The Nimbus had never experienced a bout of indecision this extreme before. His inability to classify the source of this fear unnerved him, and in the case of Ren, such insecurity was quick to turn to anger.

As he burst out of the throne room, Ren didn’t even stop to look back. He desperately needed some fresh air. The cavern walls suddenly felt constricting; they suffocated him. Ren’s breath caught in his chest, his hands clenched and his pace quickened. The mantel on his arm writhed in a silent seizure, drawing to coil tightly underneath his metal bracer until it was hidden from view.

[Jun]

Jun’s expression was unreadable. His normal smile had been extinguished and replaced by a stone expression of apathy. Even his fiery eyes were subdued as he dropped his chin to watch Ren sink to the floor. They did not settle there for long. Jun was quick to remove his gaze from his younger brother to once again observe the King. In any other situation, Cel’s offensive words would have penetrated directly into Jun’s heart. Instead, Jun found himself hardened to Cel’s laugh; he neither agreed with nor disagreed with the demeaning manner in which his little brother was being treated. At that moment, Jun simply was.

As Cel turned to make his leave, Jun rotated, brought his feet together, dropped his arms to his sides and slipped into a practiced, sharp bow. The sides of his lips tugged upwards into a ghost of his former smile. Once the King was gone, Jun straightened back up, drawing his shoulders back as he turned to cast his eyes upon Namiko. His expression almost immediately warmed, but before Jun could say anything he was startled from his position as Ren shot to his feet. The boy was gone before Jun had a chance to collect himself, but even so, Jun was quick to follow.

Like Ren, Jun couldn’t remember the last time he had truly been angry. Anger, fear, love….Jun felt all of these emotions of course, but at a much more subdued level than most other faerie. His approach to life was conducted in an innocent manner, much like a child, his actions enshrouded in smiles and sweet words. The last time Jun had actually experienced an outburst of emotion had been back during Ren’s birth, and the resulting consequences had been almost too much for Jun to bear. In a sense, Jun was afraid of himself and how he would react should he choose to let his emotions rule in; thus he chose to erase them from himself, allowing only their specters to remain in order to give him some semblance of humanity.

Jun was quick to burst through the door behind Ren, and even quicker to grab the boy’s arm and yank him around. Without batting and eye, Jun lifted his hand and smacked his brother with all the strength he could muster. His gold-flecked eyes were alit with flame, fiery bright and dangerously sharp. The severity of his expression suggested a tenuously controlled anger, the calm before the storm. For a moment Jun said nothing. It appeared almost as if he were battling some inner turmoil within himself. When he finally did speak, his voice was cold, ”What was that?”

Exactly what Jun was referring was left hanging in the air. Ren’s outburst, his momentary loss of motor abilities, even his inability to treat the woman at his side as a person and not an object….all three of these factors weighed heavily on Jun. Despite his anger at how utterly foolish Ren had been to confront the King like that, Jun was more troubled by the fact that there was something wrong with Ren. That brief moment in which Ren’s eyes had glazed over was not a natural occurrence. Jun knew his brother intimately; no little nuance escaped him when it came to Ren.

At the same time, subconsciously, Jun was acting out over because of his own selfish concerns. Unlike Ren, Jun longed to belong to the Unseelie court. Back during his younger years, Jun had thoroughly thrived in the courtly politics, his smooth words and boyish charm granting him favor in the eyes of those previously thought unreachable. When Jun had given it all up to procure Ren’s safety he had been inwardly devastated. Now, the chance to regain his placement amongst royalty was within grasp and Ren’s insubordination threatened to ruin it all.

[Namiko]

When Cel seemed to dismiss them, she dipped her head fast in thankfulness. While collecting her breath, she missed Jun's glance, and was literally shoved aside by Ren's departure. She managed to catch herself on the edge of her seat, but her face swooped towards the ground and startled her. The fear of falling didn't matter, it was the pain of being so thoroughly ignored by Ren that stung bitterly. He'd never acted like this before.

Not being able to hide the worry in her eyes, she followed a few heartbeats after Jun. As she stepped outside and out of Cel's view, her body should have relaxed. Instead, it tensed when she saw how close Jun was to Ren (though she missed the slap by moments), and the heated look in his eyes. After watching him today, the Nimbus found that she greatly admired Jun. In fact, she wanted him to teach her how to project herself more like him. These thoughts were more for a later time, when Ren wasn't on the brink of... something.

What was wrong with him today? The morning had started off like any other, he'd been cool and confident, a little mentally preoccupied but nothing exceptional. Now, now he was so different. He was barely Ren, and she hated it. He was her rock throughout everything, and she didn't know if she had the strength to return the favour. Jun's interference was welcomed; if anyone could reel in the younger man it was definitely him. Namiko lacked the experience and the general ability to talk to him, or anyone else, with the same firmness.

Wanting to step closer, but not knowing what to say, she hesitantly emerged from the shadows and just stood... watching the two. Whatever was going on was important, and her own feelings couldn't compare for the moment. In fact, in her opinion, they rarely ever compared. It was something she had to work on if she intended to be of any use in the courts and Ren's life amongst the Unseelie. If he wanted to stay, that was. He seemed like a wild animal trapped in a cage, and if that was the case, she wanted to free him.

[Ren]

Ren’s body was so locked on autopilot that even when Jun’s iron grip found him the boy showed no sign of stopping. His immediate response was to attempt to rip his still-bleeding limb from Jun’s grasp, but he was entirely too slow. The ferocity in which Jun yanked Ren around and issued that powerful slap was completely unanticipated. Ren took an unwilling step back after the blow and his hand raised, slender fingers delicately caressing his reddened cheek as his nerve-ends alit with firey pain. Still, the shock from the unexpected slap was nothing compared to the astonishment that came with the fact that Jun had actually hit him.

Eyes slightly wide, Ren stared towards Jun silently, his body quivering in indecision. Though his desire to flee was quite strong, the challenge Jun had issued through his assault kept Ren firmly rooted to the ground. His body rotated ever so slightly so that he better faced his brother and Ren dropped his hand back down towards his side. His eyes narrowed and anger flitted across his visage, a subconscious response to Jun’s controlled fury. Had Ren been more in control of himself at the moment he would have marveled in his brother’s sudden change in demeanor. This was a rare side of Jun. Over the hundreds of years they had been together Jun had never acted out of anger, and though the older male was obviously controlling himself admirably, it was a tenuous control.

Namiko’s presence was barely noted; Ren’s entire attention was concentrated on his brother. The tension between the two was palpable. Ren’s fists clenched and unclenched in an effort to calm himself down, yet some foreign entity continued to poke and prod the fire that flickered beneath his skin. His breathing was relatively ragged as he locked his darker eyes with his brother’s gold-flecked orbs. For the next few moments it seemed as if Ren were content to continue this staring contest until one of them yielded. Instead, he finally mustered the strength to speak, ”What was that?” Laughter suddenly colored his words, a sardonic touch that seemed distinctly foreign, ”Are you fucking blind Jun?” There was poison on his tongue, ”He touched her.”

[Jun]

Jun was not blind to the inner turmoil that plagued his little brother. He could practically see every little change in emotion that flitted across Ren’s face. Unlike Jun, Ren was incapable of hiding how he felt. He wore his emotions freely, something Jun admittedly admired. The freedom that came with the liberation of emotions was enticing, but at the same time Jun was afraid for his little brother. Ren was dangerously close to careening out of control and Jun knew he needed to help his little brother re-establish some magnitude of control, even if it were only for a brief while.

At the same time, the resemblance to his father that Ren currently channeled was enough for Jun to take a mental step back. The poison that slithered from Ren’s lips caused Jun’s skin to involuntarily crawl, though as Ren stepped forward into Jun’s space, the older male simply leaned forward, intent on establishing his dominance. He had seen this side of Ren before, though he had never been on the receiving end. Jun knew he would have to choose his words carefully or risk igniting Ren’s temper to a dangerous level; something that would undoubtedly lead to bloodshed that he desperately did not want Namiko to see.

Unfortunately, Jun was fighting his own demons. Though he was more than capable of staying in control of his anger regarding Ren’s behavior in the presence of the King, Ren’s current demeanor was causing unwanted memories to resurface, and Jun was having a hard time combating both. Subconscious fear, an emotion that was decidedly foreign to Jun, slithered through his veins and caused the hair on the back of his neck to rise. He clenched his fists in a manner much like his brother, his nails digging into his flesh and drawing blood. Jun took a deep breath, exhaling and continuing his unblinking stare-down with his little brother.

”Yes, he did.” Jun’s voice was soft, calm, ”Your anger is understandable, Ren, but your behavior is not. Have you forgotten everything I’ve taught you? Your lack of tact in the presence of the King, regardless of his actions, was completely uncalled for.” His hands slowly unclenched as Jun completely regained his composure. His appearance was serene, his fiery eyes finally subdued, ”And now? Do you honestly expect me to quail before you? You’re making a fool of yourself Ren. Imagine what Miss Namiko must think.” Jun hoped that, by mentioning Namiko, he could get Ren to calm down.

[Namiko]

Ren's reaction to the harsh action made Namiko's heart ache. When his fingertips brushed the steadily reddening skin, she wished it was her own to soothe his pain. Although her heart went out to him, she was on Jun's side. It was terrible to be so torn in that moment, she felt like she was betraying Ren by supporting what his brother was saying and doing when it was causing him harm. But a little pain now was worth it, if it meant he didn't suffer torment or death by Cel's hands in the future. She couldn't bear to see another episode like today, he had been teetering at the edge and almost fell in, right before her eyes.

The Nimbus woman had felt sick, her head spinning when she realized how easy it would be for him to push that line next time. She hated to watch what was happening, but Ren needed this. It was unexpected though, the words Ren uttered to pull her from her worried thoughts. He touched her... Her? Her. He was upset because of her. Her hands slowly rose to her mouth to stop from making a sound as quiet tears rolled down her face. He'd almost become the plaything of the most twisted man in the Unseelie courts for her. To defend her honour, and her body.

His voice was bitter, almost crazy with anger. She'd never seen him like that before, and it made her realize that she mattered to the man more than she'd ever thought. Namiko wanted to plead with Jun to let her take his brother somewhere, she had a million things she wanted to say, wanted to know. However, she could only stand there in shock and awe and wait for the situation to diffuse itself. She'd taken two slow steps forward, the involuntary movement making only a slight 'click, click' of heels in the quiet air.

Her hands were still at her lips when Jun finished his thought, so it luckily hid the tears, the sudden blush, and the look of surprise all at once. Even Jun had been considering her feelings in this whole ordeal. For a girl who had spent her life essentially being disapproved of, it was a little overwhelming to have people care. Jun didn't even know her, didn't have a reason to, but he still cared. She was so close, so close to saying something. But what would she say? Would she thank one or both of them? This wasn't the time, this wasn't about her. Well, it was, but more indirectly. Directly, this was about bringing Ren down to earth so that she never had to watch him suffer for his pride.

[Ren]

In any other situation, Ren would have calmed down with Jun’s soothing words. It had always been this way. Ren had a very violent temper that had frequently gotten him in trouble back on Earth. Each time Jun had come to his rescue, calming him down and placating the fires Ren had fueled. All those times he had spent in jail, Jun had been the one constantly bailing him out. When he had murdered the leader of his rival gang, Jun had been there to calm the boy down and cover his tracks. Jun was the one who always kept Ren’s sanity in check – without him Ren would have elapsed into a callous, cruel and uncaring creature by now. Unfortunately, at the moment, this was completely lost on Ren. No matter how hard he tried, Ren couldn’t calm the foreign anger that flooded him. It clouded his mind and destroyed any bit of reasoning he could have applied to the situation.

The boy stepped in closer to his brother, his body quivering with an intense energy. He almost didn’t hear what Jun said – he was too intently focused on his own inner turmoil. Ren was clinging to his self control; he was dangerously close to punching Jun in his smug face. He leaned in closer to his brother, until his face was just millimeters away, ”I think you’ve forgotten something, brother.” His voice was icy cold, ”We’re not all like you. Not all of us are content to stand by and watch someone take what is ours.” Ren still seemed completely oblivious to Namiko, despite the fact that Jun had mentioned her. He wasn’t in control of himself enough to recognize that the words that exited his mouth were potentially harmful to the petite woman. Had he been saner, Ren would have been ashamed of himself.

The darkness in his mind fluxuated sharply, further fueling the fury that was constantly housed in Ren’s breast. As Ren stared into Jun’s subdued eyes, a moment of clarity struck him and he suddenly drew back, ”But that’s not why you’re mad, is it? You’re not angry that I acted out. You’re angry because you’re afraid I’m going to jeopardize your little climb to the top, aren’t you?” A strangled chuckle ripped from his throat. Ren’s expression was dangerously sardonic in nature, ”Way to be a brother, Jun. For a second I thought you actually cared.” He spat.

[Jun]

Jun knew something was wrong with Ren. Even though Jun knew his brother to be a very volatile creature, he was not acting normal. There was something else going on here. Jun desperately wanted to know what it was. Concern flickered through his eyes as he watched his brother struggle with the fury that threatened to consume him. He wanted nothing more than to grab Ren into a hug, to hold him tight and tell him that everything was okay, that he wasn’t mad at him anymore. Instead, Jun maintained his ground, even as Ren leaned into him. The younger boy’s breath washed over Jun’s dewy, gold-washed face, beating it with an anger-filled heat. His expression remained blank, even as Ren’s words cut through him sharply.

He wasn’t wrong. At least, the Jun that Ren knew had always taken a back seat when it came to placating superiors. Jun frequently allowed them to walk all over him if their position called for it. This wasn’t to say that he did not have the pride Ren accused him of lacking. Jun was a very prideful creature. His ego when it came to his own brilliance was unparallel. He considered himself a genius mathematician, a master at strategy and a perfect player in the game of politics. However, Jun had learned to suppress his pride, his ego, in favor of a more toned-down demeanor. He was the king of masks – he could let someone get away with murder if it meant he would climb the social ladder because of it. Status meant everything to him; everything else came second, including his own pride.

Still, there had been a time when Jun was not so in control of himself. Back when he was Ren’s age, when he had first began to invest interest in the courtly game, Jun had innocently played without carefully housing his emotions. He had been a naïve creature, prone to temper tantrums when he did not get his way, though never in the public eye. Though he had always been a soft spoken, constantly smiling, angelic creature, Jun had frequently let his emotions get the best of him. His prideful nature was what had ultimately destroyed their family, and his fierce desire to protect what was his was what had saved Ren’s life.

Ren’s last bout of words stung quite a bit, but they weren’t entirely untrue. It took his younger brother’s accusation to bring Jun to his senses. For a long time he said nothing, his breath caught in his throat. When Jun finally did speak, his voice was even softer than before, ”I do care.” His eyes were once again fire bright as he gaze upon his brother, his back straight. His voice grew in strength, its tone calm but solid, ”But I won’t deny that your foolishness is a hurdle I did not anticipate. I guess I was wrong when I figured you mature enough to handle Alanor.” In that moment Jun appeared to once again put on the fatherly appearance he had frequently enacted when raising Ren. While his face maintained its soft expression, there was a feeling of disappointment that wafted from him.

[Namiko]

Namiko's soft expression wavered only in the amount of emotion she let seep through. That gentleness remained until Ren continued speaking, when the corners of her eyes registered a sense of hurt. 'Take what is ours'? What was his to be so concerned about? Her? Was she an object to him? Did he lay claim on her like a pet to blindly follow him around? Sure, she'd done exactly that and earned her title but still... the only way she was 'his' was by being 'his friend'. And someone who loved him.

Maybe her emotions were swallowing her up too, because she was bouncing back and forth as if going bipolar. The woman wasn't mad, she probably wasn't capable of feeling that emotion- at least, not towards Ren. She was hurt, confused, feeling alienated, excluded, helpless. Watching this movie and wanting to know how to fast forward to the happy ending. There was a happy ending, wasn't there? More tears fell as she was lost in a flurry of worried thoughts. His relationship with Jun was what made Namiko feel safe. She knew that if she fell short, Jun could pick up her slack in keeping Ren safe. He could keep him in line, whereas she could only beg him sometimes not to do something.

He listened, he cared when she said 'it worries me when you say this' or 'it's a little scary when you do that'. He always stopped immediately, but in this situation... she didn't have the position to say a thing. It was about her, how could she give him advice on herself? Especially when she didn't even truly understand why it was about her. As Ren's hurtful tirade continued on, she wondered if what he said was true. Jun seemed too easygoing, was he really the power hungry lapdog that Ren made him out to be? It didn't seem likely... but she knew the younger male enough to know he wouldn't throw out insults from nowhere.

There were so many gaps of the story missing, she suddenly wondered what picture it would make to slide those little pieces in place. Maybe the unfinished view was better for her mind, but ignorance didn't feel like bliss for once. In fact, it felt everything but. She was hanging onto every twitch, every narrowing of eyes and hand clenching, the way Ren's lips shook with wavering control. Yet it still took a moment for Jun's words to filter through her mind, shock taking the place of reasoning. Somehow the last thing on her mind was to piss Ren off more, and that was exactly what Jun was doing. It seemed as if his pride was causing him to fail the young Nimbus when he needed him most.

"Jun..." She finally whispered the man's name in disbelief, her hands clasping tight around her lips. Wide, tear-filled eyes watched Ren's reaction as if preparing for the climax of this suddenly horror film. This wasn't the happy ending, how did they get to the happy ending now?

[Ren]

Ren was oblivious to Jun’s concern. The boy was quite inept when it came to reading the emotions of others. The subtle changes in Jun’s eyes and the softness of the males voice was completely lost on the younger Nimbus. He was too caught up in his own pace that he seemed incapable of slowing down anytime soon. What he needed now, so very desperately, was Jun’s smile. That he could read. Jun’s smiles, at least towards Ren, were always sincere. Ren needed that smile right now, to assure him that everything was alright, that his assumption was incorrect.

He didn’t get it.

Instead, Jun became the father figure he had previously employed when raising Ren. His disapproving stare and accompanying tone did little to quell the beast in Ren. He was in a rebellious mood – King, father, older brother…it didn’t matter. He wasn’t about to cower under Jun’s disappointment like he had done so many times before. Ren was not in the right mind to be shamed back into place. The conflict in his troubled mind had reached its climax and Jun’s little comment was the breaking point. Miniature devils screeched in absolute delight as Ren’s right fist suddenly clenched, triggering his weapon with a soft, nearly inaudible click followed by the shing of metal against metal as the blade extended.

”I’ll fucking show you mature,” Ren snapped as the tension in his body released in an instant. He lunged for his brother, his coiled muscles launching him much like the spring that kept his blade at bay. The small distance between them was covered in less than a second, and Ren’s right hand raised, his fist and blade thrown in a forceful punch directly for Jun’s flawless face. At this distance, the ferocity in which Ren conducted his attack would have been far too much for Jun to overcome. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to.

Ren’s blade stopped less than a millimeter from the space between Jun’s eyes, scraping the skin ever so slightly but not penetrating. Ren’s arm quivered in tension, but this time it was not from trying to suppress his anger. Rather, it was a tension that had risen from the force he had exerted to stop himself in time – a testament to just how much control he had over his body when it came to actual combat. Ren’s eyes were wide, their ruddy depths overcome with horror.

It had taken nearly sending his own brother into a trance to squash the demons that plagued his confused and battered mind.

There was a long pause as Ren stared towards his brother, his lips trembling as shame swallowed him. Everything he had said, everything he had done in the past few moments flooded back to him as his mind was finally able to process the full extent of his explosion. Slowly, his arm trembling from the effort, Ren withdrew his extended limb to a safe distance before he finally allowed it to drop back down to his side. Ren’s eyes, which, until that moment had been locked on Jun’s, his expression akin to that of a deer in headlights, finally managed to break away as his head dropped and his hair shadowed them. His mind raced. What had he done? What had he said? Oh God..Namiko…

Ren’s eyes flooded with tears, though he stubbornly refused to let them fall to his cheeks. He bit his lip hard, drawing blood without realizing it as his body shook from fatigue, his legs threatening to collapse beneath him. His eyes redirected themselves towards Namiko, though his head remained slightly bowed. Ren’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. His heart wrenched as he caught sight of her beautiful face and the tears that graced it. He had caused those. It was his fault. Everything was his…

Without a word, Ren rotated sharply and took off at a flat run. There was no looking back. The last thing he wanted them to see were the tears rolling down his cheeks and the immense sense of shame that had manifested in his eyes. Ren needed to disappear, and disappear fast.

(ooc: this was pretty crappy, but meh ><)

[Jun]

Jun never batted an eye. Even as Ren’s blade scraped his skin, the poison burning the agitated flesh and causing his skin to itch, Jun maintained his steady gaze. His erect posture and serene visage seemed to dictate that he had practically predicted the attack, and in essence he had. Jun had come to the conclusion that no matter the route he took in dealing with Ren the other boy wasn’t going to calm down. Not this time. There was something else fueling his anger, something foreign and distinctly not Ren. Thus, Jun had gone the more dignified route, the route that would allow him a better grip on the situation. Ren had reacted as expected, though Jun was a bit surprised by how quickly change came about in the young boy.

The pain in Ren’s eyes was echoed in Jun’s. The older man itched to reach out, to touch the boy in some way to assure him that it was okay; that he understood that something was happening to Ren that was not in his control. Instead, Jun merely continued his iron-clad stare, his eyes full of disappointment. Despite Ren’s internal conflict and Jun’s personal feelings, Jun would not yield. To reward Ren with love and understanding after such a grievous error would ultimately be a folly on Jun’s behalf. It was obvious by now that he had ultimately failed as both a teacher and an older brother. Perhaps he had been too lenient, too carefree when it came to Ren’s development.

Jun had never been one to discipline Ren. Ren’s birth had been hard on the Nimbus male. He had been thrown into the role of fatherhood far before he was ready, forced to rear the baby of a man he vehemently hated. At first he had despised Ren – the child was responsible for everything that had gone wrong in Jun’s life. Because of him, both of Jun’s parents were dead. Still, it hadn’t taken long for Jun to fall in love with the young boy. Despite the trauma Ren experienced when he was little he had been an exceptionally happy child. He was the only blood relative Jun had left (that he knew of) and even though that man’s blood coursed through Ren’s veins, Jun found that he would give anything and everything to ensure Ren’s health and happiness. Perhaps that was why he had been content to wander behind Ren, letting him roam free and in the meantime cleaning up the messes he left behind. He had hoped that raising Ren in the human world would suppress the distinct faerie-like nature that Jun himself could not escape. In essence it had, but one could only run from blood for so long.

Only his eyes followed the boy as he made his escape. Jun’s heart twisted; each breath was painful. It took him several seconds to compose himself before he managed to look towards Namiko. He had heard her soft plea but had originally decided not to acknowledge it. While he was unhappy that she had played the audience to such a shameful act, he knew he could do nothing about it now. It was very likely that Namiko would misconstrue his actions, those of which were perfectly justified in Jun’s mind. Still, he wished nothing more than to placate her concerns, and that would have to start with an ”I’m sorry.”

(ooc: Nami can run after Ren now or we can continue this a bit, etc etc)

[Namiko]

((I'll save your muses a bit and say we can wrap this up here ;D. Or you can do a final self-narration with Jun's parting, but I'll post in the mists right after this))

The world was in slow-motion, she felt like she was drunk and walking through a tunnel, watching some weird mirage in the distance that didn't make sense. A distorted perception of reality from a mind not functioning properly. This didn't seem like reality, it didn't seem real, the characters didn't fit. It wasn't the way she'd seen either man, and she wanted to believe it was all in her head. Something had gone wrong, something was in the wine, she'd wake up in a bed somewhere with Ren's worried eyes and his half-smile while he told her "it was just a dream, relax".

Abruptly, everything sped up. Her mind comprehended the fact at last that Ren had just nearly smashed his brother's face in, and she could see the first droplet of blood down the bridge of his nose even from her angle. There was poison in his blades, wasn't there? She was suddenly worried for Jun's health, how bad was the poison? What could it do to fae? It seemed unfair when he was the victim, but her attention to Jun's injury shifted as Ren came back to himself. A very unsure, very scared version of himself, but he was there. She could see in his eyes that he was 'home' again in his body. What was going on with him lately? He spaced out in front of Cel, too.

When his eyes found her, she immediately wondered what was on her face, because whatever it was- it shook him. Namiko watched the shame and anguish wash over his features between a hanging veil of hair, and her heart shattered into a million pieces. When he turned and ran, silent tears poured down her face, her lips open to make sounds that wouldn't come. She hadn't noticed Jun still standing there until he apologized, his voice echoing with a sense of defeat.

She walked forward quickly and embraced him, knowing it strange for the fact that they'd barely just met. Somehow, despite her social ineptness, she knew they both just needed someone to say 'it's okay', just as much as she did. "Maybe... I can help... I will try. D-daijoubu?" It was hard, knowing what to say, not wanting to promise more than she could deliver. She also had a bad habit of switching languages when her emotions got out of control. She knew Ren, but didn't understand him the way Jun did. Or so she believed, anyway. It was embarrassing how much she relied on Jun to just... 'do his job' as Ren's brother. It was a heavy burden, and she felt guilty for letting him carry it.

The Nimbus woman waited only for his response before she backed up and began moving in the direction Ren had disappeared to. "I'll find him, it will be okay, Jun-san." She tried to smile, but the look was probably despairing at best. How could she be strong enough for the two men who seemed to be stronger than she ever was? It was frightening, but she didn't give into the thoughts of wanting to be comforted. If she could do this, it would also mean something important for herself. She just had to find Ren, if she could fix that, Jun wouldn't worry. They could make up, things would be okay, that would be the happy ending.

Her steps broke into a full run, though it was slightly awkward in her heels, but decades of practice made up for that. Ren wasn't spotted quickly so she started to veer off the direct path, not knowing which way he'd have gone. Where did he find solace in a time like this? Before she knew it, she was lost, and mist was surrounding her.

[Jun]

If Jun was surprised by her sudden hug, he didn’t show it. Instead he wrapped his arms gently around her, holding her lightly for a few brief moments. Jun’s embrace was warm, comforting. He knew she needed probably more than he did, and the male was more than willing to provide her with some sense of security. In hugging her he also hoped to alleviate some of her fears regarding his own internal conflictions. Jun would be fine. He just needed some time to figure out exactly what was wrong with his brother. To do so would require some input on Ren’s behalf as well, but that would have to wait until the boy calmed down.

Jun lightly caressed Namiko’s head, his usual glowing smile topping his lips as she asked him if he was ok. He dipped his head briefly, ”Un. Daijoubu.” He said nothing more than that, though his fiery eyes twinkled lightly. He could see why Ren liked this girl. She was a gentle soul. Her aura was capable of soothing someone just by being in her presence. Should she remain in Ren’s life, Jun knew she would come to be a pillar of stability for the boy in a way Jun never would be. The thought pained him slightly, but his dismissed it and drew back from her.

He said nothing as she started off, his eyes merely watching her retreating form. His smile flushed out a bit more as she addressed him with –san. He looked forward to sitting down and speaking with her at length about whatever she fancied. Until that time, he would have to be content knowing that he was leaving his brother in capable hands. Ren would listen to Namiko - that much Jun was certain of. ”Be careful.” His voice was soft but carried well. Jun watched her until she was gone.

Once she was out of view, he raised a hand to wipe the blood from his nose with one finger, bringing it forth to stare at it momentarily. The fact that he had been so close to being put into a trance by his own brother should have been a cause for concern, but to Jun it was merely interesting. Jun had only ever experienced a trance one before and he had not enjoyed it. The loss of control, especially at the hands of his enemy, was unsettling to Jun.

Jun’s smile grew slightly, revealing teeth as he inwardly laughed at nothing in particular. It had been a strange day – there was nothing really to laugh about. Jun just couldn’t help but recognize the absolute irony of the situation. There seemed to be no doubt in his mind that his past was destined to repeat itself. He would fall into trance by Ren’s hands; it was only a matter of time. After all, that man’s blood coursed thickly through the young boy’s blood.