[The game went well. Very well. And the buzz from the aftermath of people being introduced and players congratulated by their families had come crashing to a halt when Barrett had been pulled aside in private.
He'd suddenly been on his phone, texting frantically, then trying to call. He muttered frantic apologies to his brothers and to Kara, that he had to go check something at the dorm before he met them at home, that he would meet up with them later.
"Something's wrong. Something bad happened in Fragment."
It's a couple hours later that Barrett's jeep finally crawls into the driveway. His eyes are red, and though several of his brothers greet him at the door, there's an obvious aura that something's happened.
A few of them are watching a movie together now that it's late. Barrett tries. But he can't concentrate, and inevitably dismisses himself to his room. The day's tired him out, he claims.
Despite that, he can be found against his bed in the twins' shared room, his phone glued to his ear with his forehead exhausted cupped against his free hand, leaning over his own knees and keeping his face away from the door. He says nothing, only periodically pulling the phone away to redial and wait in agonizing silence.]
Levi hasn't bothered to log into Fragment, not since Barrett left in a panic and he and Kara were likewise informed what was going on. He didn't know Mithrun very well, but it was still a complete shock to the system to hear about a death occurring in Fragment. Shocking still was Barrett's reaction to it all. Levi felt like he was missing something vital to this story, but all he could do was try to get through the evening with Kara and his brothers until Barrett came back.
He was one of the brothers at the door when Barrett finally returned, and from the look in his brother's eyes, he knew it was anything but good. He and Kara had exchanged concerned glances.
After some time of Barrett retreating to his room, Levi tells Kara he's going to go check on him. So after stopping by the kitchen to grab a leftover slice of cake from that night's dessert, he heads upstairs and gently knocks on the twins' door.]
[It's a ragged response. The phone hasn't left his shoulder, still bruised against his neck and arms from the game, with the redhead carrying a deep look of exhaustion and ebbing worry.]
...Sorry. I've been keeping everyone waiting on me. [It's dully muttered as he redials whatever number was ringing in his ear.] I'll be down soon.
[With Barrett's permission, Levi enters and takes in the state of things. It's horrible, seeing Barrett in such a state when today was supposed to be full of fun and celebration.]
It's...not about that, actually.
[He approaches and sets the plate down on Barrett's end table.]
Can I stay with you for a bit? Please?
[He doesn't fully understand what's going on, but he figures he might be able to understand more than their other brothers. This is Fragment-related, after all. He doesn't want to leave Barrett alone like this.]
[His eyes ttavel to the noise of the plate against wood and the clink of metal, catching Levi in his peripheral. There's mild distress in his features, quickly being pulled back.]
Sure. Um.
[He pulls the phone off his ear as it once again goes to an automated voicemail.]
[Levi takes a seat beside Barrett, looking at the phone and then back to his brother with concern.]
I heard what happened. [...] I'm sorry.
[He came in here with a plan, and yet now that he's here, he finds himself unsure of what to really say. Can anything he says make Barrett feel better? He doubts it.]
Yeah. [He's trying to redial the number. His fingers shake.]
Yael told me at the game that no one has been able to reach him all day. No one can reach his caretakers. Hani even tried going to his house. There's nothing.
[He swallows, bringing the phone back up to his ear again. The horrible scratching ring in a vacuum. The pickup of an automated voice. Always an automated voice.]
He was supposed to be at the game today. I just... I talked to him last night. I don't know if he ever got on the plane.
[He watches the process. How many times has Barrett done this since he found out? Did he do it the entire drive back to the house too?
It's painful to watch, and yet he doesn't know if stopping him is the right answer. Instead, he lets it continue for the time being, drawing his legs up against himself and hugging them.]
I wish I had any ideas, I really do.
...
It was never supposed to get this bad. W-We were supposed to be able to...
[No. He can't go that route either. Not now. He takes a breath and restarts.]
Sorry. I just...I wish I could say something helpful.
[The gesture makes Levi yelp with a start, but once the surprise passes, he melts under Barrett's touch. It feels a little pathetic, because he's supposed to be the one comforting his little brother, not the other way around. On the other hand...it's good if Barrett is doing this, right? Distraction is good.
He nods slightly, returning his gaze to Barrett.]
You guys did really good out there. I'm glad you got to play, too. [He knows that's not always a guarantee with second string.] Watching you be a human wall was great.
[There's a slight smile in return, a slight crinkle at the eyes despite how red they are.]
Coach said I can take a first half spot in a couple weeks if I practice as well as I played today. [There's some pride in his tone, muddled as it is under the weight of everything.
He carefully pats his older brother on the head.]
I thought you might fry into a lobster under all the sun. I'm glad you didn't.
[ This is just awful. Awful, awful. She knows PKing is a thing, but this seems vastly different, like something almost...irreversible? Who can say. Fragment is such a goddamn mess and she can only imagine what must be going on in the game right now.
After Levi gets to talk to Barrett, Kara looks at him, nods, and takes her turn. She may not be particularly close to Barrett, but she knows about how the brothers had lost their mother, their sister -- and while she's never experienced the death of a loved one, losing someone in any way, shape, or form...it's painful.
God. When did she become so compassionate?
She's not going to dwell on it, though, as she knocks on his door. ]
[By the time Levi is finished, Barrett isn't even on his phone anymore, simply gazing down at the caller ID with a blank expression. The door is ajar and easily opened.
The redhead will turn his attention briefly, acknowledging Kara, before looking back down.]
I. Um.
I think you should check on Hani. When you have a minute.
[ She doesn't know. She doesn't know about how much Mithrun means to them, so there's a hint of confusion in her voice when that's the first thing Barrett says. ]
Okay. I'll do that after this. I'm here for you right now, though, 'kay?
[His thumb runs against the side of his phone. What if it lights up if he stops looking? What if it rings? Morgan might answer. Someone might answer. Anyone. He can't bear to put it down.]
I'm... ["Okay" almost crosses his lips. But it slips, fails, too hard to force out in a believable fashion. So an awkward silence takes its place, his lip worrying between his teeth.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Saturday 9/2, around 9pm
He'd suddenly been on his phone, texting frantically, then trying to call. He muttered frantic apologies to his brothers and to Kara, that he had to go check something at the dorm before he met them at home, that he would meet up with them later.
"Something's wrong. Something bad happened in Fragment."
It's a couple hours later that Barrett's jeep finally crawls into the driveway. His eyes are red, and though several of his brothers greet him at the door, there's an obvious aura that something's happened.
A few of them are watching a movie together now that it's late. Barrett tries. But he can't concentrate, and inevitably dismisses himself to his room. The day's tired him out, he claims.
Despite that, he can be found against his bed in the twins' shared room, his phone glued to his ear with his forehead exhausted cupped against his free hand, leaning over his own knees and keeping his face away from the door. He says nothing, only periodically pulling the phone away to redial and wait in agonizing silence.]
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Levi hasn't bothered to log into Fragment, not since Barrett left in a panic and he and Kara were likewise informed what was going on. He didn't know Mithrun very well, but it was still a complete shock to the system to hear about a death occurring in Fragment. Shocking still was Barrett's reaction to it all. Levi felt like he was missing something vital to this story, but all he could do was try to get through the evening with Kara and his brothers until Barrett came back.
He was one of the brothers at the door when Barrett finally returned, and from the look in his brother's eyes, he knew it was anything but good. He and Kara had exchanged concerned glances.
After some time of Barrett retreating to his room, Levi tells Kara he's going to go check on him. So after stopping by the kitchen to grab a leftover slice of cake from that night's dessert, he heads upstairs and gently knocks on the twins' door.]
Bear? Can I come in?
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[It's a ragged response. The phone hasn't left his shoulder, still bruised against his neck and arms from the game, with the redhead carrying a deep look of exhaustion and ebbing worry.]
...Sorry. I've been keeping everyone waiting on me. [It's dully muttered as he redials whatever number was ringing in his ear.] I'll be down soon.
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It's...not about that, actually.
[He approaches and sets the plate down on Barrett's end table.]
Can I stay with you for a bit? Please?
[He doesn't fully understand what's going on, but he figures he might be able to understand more than their other brothers. This is Fragment-related, after all. He doesn't want to leave Barrett alone like this.]
no subject
[His eyes ttavel to the noise of the plate against wood and the clink of metal, catching Levi in his peripheral. There's mild distress in his features, quickly being pulled back.]
Sure. Um.
[He pulls the phone off his ear as it once again goes to an automated voicemail.]
What did you need, Levi?
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I heard what happened. [...] I'm sorry.
[He came in here with a plan, and yet now that he's here, he finds himself unsure of what to really say. Can anything he says make Barrett feel better? He doubts it.]
Are you...still trying to get a hold of him?
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Yeah. [He's trying to redial the number. His fingers shake.]
Yael told me at the game that no one has been able to reach him all day. No one can reach his caretakers. Hani even tried going to his house. There's nothing.
[He swallows, bringing the phone back up to his ear again. The horrible scratching ring in a vacuum. The pickup of an automated voice. Always an automated voice.]
He was supposed to be at the game today. I just... I talked to him last night. I don't know if he ever got on the plane.
no subject
It's painful to watch, and yet he doesn't know if stopping him is the right answer. Instead, he lets it continue for the time being, drawing his legs up against himself and hugging them.]
I wish I had any ideas, I really do.
...
It was never supposed to get this bad. W-We were supposed to be able to...
[No. He can't go that route either. Not now. He takes a breath and restarts.]
Sorry. I just...I wish I could say something helpful.
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[As the phone is hung up once again, Barrett simply moves one of his hands to the top of Levi's head. Not a ruffle, just a weight and warmth.]
...You're okay.
[He hears that travelling tone, a topic that nearly goes unspoken. He hates that he feels the same odd twist of uncertainty, for a moment.
It hurts, to see Levi like this. So he keeps the phone clenched in his open hand, eyes staying on his brother. ]
Was the game fun to watch?
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He nods slightly, returning his gaze to Barrett.]
You guys did really good out there. I'm glad you got to play, too. [He knows that's not always a guarantee with second string.] Watching you be a human wall was great.
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Coach said I can take a first half spot in a couple weeks if I practice as well as I played today. [There's some pride in his tone, muddled as it is under the weight of everything.
He carefully pats his older brother on the head.]
I thought you might fry into a lobster under all the sun. I'm glad you didn't.
no subject
After Levi gets to talk to Barrett, Kara looks at him, nods, and takes her turn. She may not be particularly close to Barrett, but she knows about how the brothers had lost their mother, their sister -- and while she's never experienced the death of a loved one, losing someone in any way, shape, or form...it's painful.
God. When did she become so compassionate?
She's not going to dwell on it, though, as she knocks on his door. ]
Hey, buddy. My turn?
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The redhead will turn his attention briefly, acknowledging Kara, before looking back down.]
I. Um.
I think you should check on Hani. When you have a minute.
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[ She doesn't know. She doesn't know about how much Mithrun means to them, so there's a hint of confusion in her voice when that's the first thing Barrett says. ]
Okay. I'll do that after this. I'm here for you right now, though, 'kay?
no subject
[His thumb runs against the side of his phone. What if it lights up if he stops looking? What if it rings? Morgan might answer. Someone might answer. Anyone. He can't bear to put it down.]
I'm... ["Okay" almost crosses his lips. But it slips, fails, too hard to force out in a believable fashion. So an awkward silence takes its place, his lip worrying between his teeth.]
...I don't know what to ask you to do. I'm sorry.