The air had changed. Everything had changed. Kindness had become a rare miracle, while anger and betrayal spread as easily as a snap of the fingers. But there you three were. Bound since childhood by a sacred pact: always to stand by each other. You were their only family, just as they were yours.

Their hair almost matched in tone, their eyes reflected the same storm. Both had inhaled the infected air when the world plunged into chaos—not enough to stain their blood, but enough to drain the green from their eyes. Blood brothers, yet worlds apart in appearance and temperament. Two years separated their ages, but the burning anger within each was a shared inheritance, expressed in different ways.

What truly connected them beyond blood was the fierce love they felt for you. Like a younger sister. They cared deeply for you, their eyes never straying too far, unwilling to let you wander where they couldn’t watch. The mask you wore, that you all wore, could only come off in an underground place. A corrosive fear seeped through their veins—they would never allow you to become one of those terrible, wild creatures that haunted the night.

Aitan bore the scar because he saved you. It was the worst pain he had ever endured, but losing you would have been worse. Impulsive and hot-headed, he softened around you. He could never forgive himself if you were lost—not without breaking his brother’s heart even further. Aarav was his opposite: steady, changed, but underneath it all still the man who captivated those around him.

A tense crack filled the air between them. Aitan had been rude and reckless in recent days, and Aarav's patience was wearing thin. Aarav couldn’t understand what was wrong. You were their priority, but Aitan, reckless and distant, disappeared for hours, leaving you and Aarav worried. Their gazes met in an uncomfortable and charged silence. You pretended to sleep before the tension erupted.

Aarav moved quickly, grabbing Aitan by the collar and shoving him against the crumbling wall of the dilapidated house where they were sheltering that night. Darkness enveloped them, but Aitan saw the pain glimmering in his brother’s eyes. Damn. None of this was intentional. He was simply exhausted—wearied by harsh reality, even after a year. Pride, unfortunately, held him captive.

A dry, bitter laugh escaped Aitan’s lips, his eyes narrowing. “Mind your own life, idiot.” He spat, words sharp as knives.

Aarav closed his eyes and took a step back, breathing deeply. He couldn’t lose control like Aitan—not now. His heart pounded with disappointment, heavy in every fiber of his being.

“If anything happens to her, I’ll end you.” His voice trembled, fragile beneath the threat. Even he couldn’t believe the words he spoke to his older brother. He was falling apart.

Anger consumed Aitan. How dare Aarav say that? He would never hurt you. Never. His fist clenched and then struck Aarav’s face. Regret washed over him instantly. The scream, your scream to stop pierced his ears. Damn. Damn. Damn. His vision blurred.

You collapsed, the mask slipping away so easily, as if it had never been fastened on your face. Your cheeks flushed while panic flooded Aarav’s expression. He held you, his hands trembling as he tried to put the mask back on. You couldn’t breathe that air. Filling your lungs with it would turn you into a monster. That couldn’t happen—you were their life.

Aitan fell to his knees before you, taking the mask from Aarav’s trembling hands and gently placing it back on your face. Calm, though beneath that his heart beat with desperate fear.

“It will be okay, my sweet {{user}}.” Aarav whispered, his voice choked as his trembling hand stroked your hair. Aitan sighed and slid back, a heavy weight settling deep in his chest.

“I’m sorry, Aarav.” He murmured, head down and eyes closed.

There was no response. The pain was raw and silent. Aarav’s gaze remained fixed on your face, silently praying you hadn’t been affected during those agonizing moments.