M put his elbows on the table and covered his ears, brushing his hair out of their way. He didn’t want to hear Braith’s thoughts. He didn’t want to hear anyone’s thoughts any more.
Casually adopts Metaphorical Whembroke
nah
Protects M from all things in this world.
Braith, sensing M's distress, went back to guarding his thoughts, but through a pepper stem at the back of Neo's head, slyly, to get him to start talking to his brother.
M shut his eyes and sighed deeply, rubbing his thumbs over his tired, dry eyelids. He felt old and unattractive in his old skin.
Neo glanced back at Braith, shrugging helplessly.
Braith sighed as he dropped his finished food into serving dishes. Despite being distracted, he was quite happy with how everything appeared to turn out. Now if it only tasted good. He had no idea how to talk to the other god sitting in his kitchen.
(Dude I’m reading Deathnote and I keep thinking about M when I see L and I’m c r y i n g)
Neo smiled when Braith approached, setting a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks. It looks wonderful.”
M peered out at them from his mind’s eye, his actual eyes still shut. He wasn’t sure if he was hungry or not. He did eat yesterday. Then again, it was just a little package of crisps…
(OMGGGGGG That exactly how Ive been imagining him. I thought thats where you got your inspo from tbh. XD))
Braith carefully set the plates down, smiling at Neo. "Do you have a preference on the wine, M?" He asked, attempting to be civil.
(Lol. Thanks. Really, M is nothing like L, other than the job and nickname. And the lack of shoes. M’s a lot more sarcastic and bitter than L. It’s a difference.)
(Also the first thing I thought of M doing in response to the question was slamming his hands down and being like, “ALL OF IT” but i’m not gonna do that.)
M sighed softly as Neo thanked Braith softly.
“No,” He responded, “I don’t care.”
(XD YESSSSSSSSSSSSS)
Braith bristled the tiniest bit, but instead of bursting, he turned back to Neo. "My love? Would you pick one please?"
M buried his face back into his hands, sighing into his cold skin. He tucked his feet under his body, hunching in posture.
Neo smiled unsurely, leaning back in the chair with a mouthful of food.
“‘mI don’t care,” He slurred, swallowing a bit.
Braith stood, nudging M's plate closer to him. "Eat." he says, before giving Neo another pointed look and disappearing into the wine cellar.
One of M’s eyes flitted open, then shut again. The food smelled wonderful, and Braith seemed desperate for some kind of show that both of them were enjoying it. With a faint sigh, he pulled away from his face, rubbing his eyes one last time before going to pick up a fork.
Braith lingered in the cellar for far longer than he needed too, he hoped his prolonged absence would make the brother's talk. They needed it. Right? He frowned as he gripped the neck of the wine he chose.
When Braith returned, the atmosphere was awkward from Neo’s side, and in a chilly silence from M’s side. Though the latter Demigod was eating, which was good.
Braith almost howled as he sat. He could not believe the stubbornness of the men before him. He carefully poured Neo a large glass of wine before doing the same for himself and M. "How is it?" He asked slowly.
Neo thanked Braith softly and took a sip of the wine. He smiled in response to Braith’s question and kissed his cheek.
“It’s wonderful.”
Meanwhile, across the table, M drank the entire glass of wine with a bat of an eyelash, not effected whatsoever.
Braith's eyebrows shot up, but he said nothing as he poured another glass for M, staring daggers at him. He wondered loudly again why he had even come if he was just going to angrily yell at his brother and generally ignore Braith. A spear of worry went through Braith regarding the man before him, but how does one get through to him?
M glowered back, his jowls aquiver as he glared and glared. He took the wine. He didn’t thank him, just glowered at him over the edge of the cup.
By the gods. Braith awkwardly sat between the brothers taking smaller and smaller bites as they glared at each other.
M shifted on his feet, his gaze dropping suddenly. His head tilted down too, and his gaze fuzzed over.
Neo squirmed in his seat, trying to focus back on the food.
"Ummmmm…." Braith began, unsure of how to proceed forward. He didn't want to say anything that make the situation worse.
M shook out his hair. This made it floofier and dropped around his face as he ate. It hid his eyes from sight. This seemed to be intentional.
Braith munched. Glanced at Neo. Continued to munch. He waited for Neo to say something to his brother that might start a conversation. The gods knew, Braith had run out of ideas.
Neo seemed to be helpless. He was always helpless in situations such as this. It meant M wanted to be alone.
M set his fork down delicately and untucked himself. He picked up a napkin, wiped off his face and set it down on the empty plate.
“This has been very quaint. But I must get back to my duties.”
Braith stared at him open mouthed. "O–Of course. If you insist." He stood formally, unsure why he did so, but remained standing. "I hope you had–a pleasant evening…" The words tumbled from his lips with no sign of stopping.
M set his wide pale hands on the table and stood up, shaking himself out. His head remained dipped and his pale face hidden.
“It was fine. And I do insist. I cannot allow myself to get distracted any more.”
“Distracted from what?” Neo asked suddenly, standing. “I didn’t give you anything to do.”
M rose his gaze, his eyes suddenly mean, sharp and piercing. Neo seemed to flinch under it.
“Unlike what you believe, dear twin, I actually have a life,” He hissed through gritted teeth. His hands gripped into fists.
“Good day,” He dismissed himself with a flourish, plucking up the bottle of wine on the table for his own.
Braith unfroze with enough time to dart in front of M, stopping him in his tracks. The man towered over him, much like Neo but somehow this was much more alarming. "That is my wine you plan on stealing. I will not have you leave without a proper 'Goodnight'. Neo may be your brother but he is still your King and you still must show respect. You can dismiss me like a dog, but not him."
M glowered down at him, a slight wrinkle creasing his nose.
“He is not my King. He is yours.” He batted Braith out of the way, only for his hand to get frozen in its place.
Neo had a hand sticking out, his eyes were inflamed with a light purple and his clothing and hair was lifted up with some kind of angry force.
“Do not touch him. Go.”
