the flat was dark. it was late, hours past midnight. five was sitting on the steps of the landing, flipping a knife in his hand, thinking. he didn't notice his foot tapping on the ground, unsteady breaths escaping him.

"five?" He flinched and turned, seeing josh sit up on his bed, looking at five curiously. "did you have a nightmare?"

"is it that obvious?" five snorted, remembering. josh climbed out of bed, squeezing onto the step beside five, ignoring his protests.

"she can't get you. not here." josh simply said. the twelve and fourteen-year-olds sat side by side, and five had found that he rather enjoyed josh's company. After a nightmare once he'd broken down in his new dads arms, sobbing about the woman who hurt him.

"i know. sometimes it's just hard to forget." five said softly, glancing through the open door of their sisters room and seeing the two of them asleep.

"time for bed." josh decided, gently taking the knife from five and setting it back on the shelf they'd put up so five felt safer knowing they were close. five watched josh push their beds together, as he always did after a nightmare, then climbed into the bed, facing his brother. josh switched off the lamp, the loft falling into darkness, and five reached out, grabbing the hand josh always held out for him.

"go raibh maith agat." [ irish ; thank you ] five whispered into the silence. josh squeezed his hand, but didn't speak. after all, nothing else needed to be said.

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date written : 20 / 09 / 2022
date published : 04 / 07 / 2024
edited : yes
word count : 271