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Spur couldn't breathe, the panic going through them like ice and stealing their breath away. The thought of what could have happened, the thought of what they could have been made to do.
Jaxper had gotten her out, Jax had saved her like he always had. He and Hexel would always come for them, always.
Always….but what if she hurt them? All Kharkoal had to do was ask and she would smile and do as she was told, a little puppet on ink black strings.
She clung to Hexel who was saying something…something that sounded underwater to them. He sounded mad? No no not mad, scared.
Why was Hexel scared?
A sudden sharp stinging pain brought her back to herself as she realized she has bitten down on their own lip, hard enough that a bit of blood trickled down their chin.
“Fuck! Spur, Sunflower hey.” Hexel wiped at the blood and tried his best to get them to look at him.
“Sorry sorry sorry!” They squeaked out suddenly coming back to themself and realizing they had ripped holes into Hexel's shirt with their claws. They let go quickly only to be dragged back into strong arms.
Safe arms, Hexel was always safe. She sniffled and looked up at him. “Sorry..”
“No no no it's okay, hey relax, breath with me Sunflower.” He hadn't used that nickname for her in a while but it was nice.
It made them feel small again, a little kid hiding in her brother's arms from a bully.
If only it were that simple.
They knew what had to happen, but they just…weren't strong enough to do it themself.
“Hex….Hex they're gonna make me hurt someone one day or lock me back up or…Hex you've…” she choked on a scared sob. “Blake…Blake said…if I went to the in between I could be fixed…Jay could fix me.”
“No! You're on one life Spur I'm not doing that…no.” He held them tighter. “We'll figure something else out.”
“Hex…. we're…. we're out of time.”
“There has to be something else! I'm not killin my baby sister, I won't, you can't ask me to do that.”
“I'm not askin. Hexel if you won't then I'll get someone else to…or…or do it myself.”
Hexel's grip on his sibling was tight hugging them to their chest, his body shaking with silent tears.
“You'll make it quick…I know that an-and it won't be as scary if its you! Or Jax…but I don't think I can do that to them after Amari…so..” Spur reached up grabbing Hexel's face with both hands. “Please?”
Hexel gave a short nod. “Okay..” it was barely a whisper but it was loud enough that Spur heard.
“Thank you..” She gave him a sad smile. “We should do it as soon as possible….”
“I know…I know…” Hexel let go of her slowly. “Come on…let's…go change into something comfortable, and we can…we can cuddle up like when we were kids okay?”
Spur nodded and kissed his cheek. “I love you Hex.”
“I love you too, Sunflower.” He kissed their forehead and went to his own room, opening a chest to pull out a knife, cold netherite, sharp, deadly.
Spur went to their room and changed, taking their hair down and brushing it out before climbing onto the bed. Hexel joined them a minute later and pulled them close holding them like when they were kids.
They lay like that for a bit, Spur's eyes closed, listening to Hexel's heartbeat before she felt it…cold netherite piercing her chest, taking her breath away for a moment.
Hexel held them still, running his free hand through her hair gently and humming a soft familiar lullaby.
She wasn't cold as she slipped into the in-between, it was warm, she was loved.