Blackfeather Woods thinking out loud

Mind games had always been Cicero's thing. Damien wasn't impressionable, but he could not ignore how sure Cicero was about the things he was saying. For a moment, Damien felt nervous, he was talking to someone he'd known his whole life, but the way he spoke, the things he said, were like a whole thing Damien had never known of his own brother.

Damien's life lately had been a spiral of loss and pain, and Cicero represented a lot more than a brother to him. Cicero was the last thing Damien really had to hold on to and not fall in darkness, for it would be his doom. Damien would not come back from a breakdown if he allowed it to happen at this point, and that was why he couldn't afford to lose his brother.

As Cicero approached, Damien took a step back, but didn't stop him from reaching his ear. His hot breath gave him chills, and his ears fell back awkwardly. He hated not feeling in control of the conversation, but mostly, he haten not being in control of his relationship with Cicero, of his feelings.

Damien was left alone with a lot to think about, but his encounter with Cicero had been far from satisfying. They had solved nothing, and Damien was left with more doubts than answers. This was why he'd chosen to keep his distance from Cicero lately... It was just easier.