Chapter 28: Not dead yet

Brent was fucking miserable.

He’d gotten medical help, yay, but now there was a t.v. in the room he was waiting in. Not because they wanted to give him one, but because they had had no choice.

Brent had almost died.

When his brother came to visit him, not Colby, Brent had worried that this would be the day that he would breathe his last breath. His brother had never visited him when he was sick, ever. Was this just going to be the front that the public would ’find out’ about and then Brent would be dead a week later?

Turns out, no, and for the reason that Brent had been suspicious about. His grandfather had done something to the will, and if Brent died before the time was right? Well, everything would go poorly for the rest of the family.

Brent found out, through the gritted teeth of his brother, that his grandfather hadn’t even handed over any of his shares to any of the family members. He’d actually revoked certain privileges that they had as soon as Brent left home because they had ’chased out’ their other brother.

Brent had never viewed it that way, but it was chilling how the man who had cared for him the most in this twisted family had used him to get more control over the family. Brent was too sick to have a fake face on right now, so his brother, in all of his shitty pimp glory, saw that Brent was shocked by the news he was hearing.

It was clear that the man had thought that Brent had encouraged this kind of behaviour. Brent, if their positions were reversed and he was a conniving, messy man in his shoes, would think the same fucking thing of the sibling who had fled. Honestly, Brent was pissed at the man that was supposed to care for him and love him.

He sure had a fucked up way of showing it if he was using Brent’s absence to control the rest of his family. His brother, taking in the fact that Brent was ill, lying against the bed, looking exhausted, annoyed, and a little hurt at hearing the words, came to a realisation that seemed to stun him.

“You…really had no idea?” He asked, shifting in the giant, comfy chair that he had Colby bring in so that he could sit down comfortably in the hospital room. It wasn’t in the mansion, only because they probably hadn’t been allowed to make any changes to the rooms while his grandfather was alive.

That would change shortly, and Brent didn’t give a shit.

“Why the hell would I know something like that?” Brent asked, filter gone. His body ached, he was in pain, he’d apparently almost died from a fever and fuck, he was allowed to be annoyed at this point. No one fucking believed him that he didn’t want anything to do with the family money. He’d barely used it his whole life. He’d barely been allowed to use it, and he actually didn’t need to be so wealthy that gods would weep over it.

“Well…you two were close, even if he attempted to hide it. I just assumed…” His brother trailed off. He looked confused. Brent didn’t think for a second it was him letting his guard down. He never did. It was probably all an act to get more truths out of Brent, but he didn’t need to do that. Brent wanted to convince him that he had nothing to do with this.

Brent just wanted to go home.

Brent coughed, turning his face away from him simply because it was the easier thing to do. He didn’t want to see his eyes as he watched Brent be frail and ill on a hospital bed. It would make him upset if he saw him plotting some stupid thing while he was unable to defend himself.

“Don’t assume shit. Sure, he might have helped me get away from this city. I won’t deny that. He was also the only person I remained in contact with from this damn family, but honestly? Our relationship didn’t go much further than that.” Brent turned to face his brother, scanning him. “He didn’t feel love for me. I don’t think he was capable of it.” Brent told him plainly and when his brother’s eyes widened, Brent almost thought it was actual shock.

“What?” His brother asked and Brent gave a smirk.

“He just felt guilty that I got caught up in his schemes. Our father was also collateral in that scheme as well. He also knew, from an early age, that I wasn’t like the rest of the family. You knew it as well, which is why we’re even in this situation.” Brent told him, being candid. He didn’t have to hide anything. “I want nothing to do with this family, not just because of how I was created, how I was born, or my treatment. I just don’t fit in, and that’s fine. I found people who I do fit in with, who surprisingly tolerate me, and honestly? You could have just called. I might have hung up the first two times, but I would have listened on the third call.” Brent told him.

He coughed again, and when he turned back to meet his brother’s gaze, he looked thoughtful. Shocked, honestly, but thoughtful. He was leaning against the armrest of the chair, his hand covering his mouth as he took a moment to think.

“These are your honest thoughts?” He asked and Brent snorted.

“Think back for a moment and ask yourself when I haven’t been honest? You just choose not to listen to me.” Brent told him. He could have been snarkier than he was, but he was too tired. The snark could wait for later.

His brother sat there for a moment longer, and then sighed.

“Well, now I feel a bit like an asshole.” He admitted and Brent gave a chuckle.

“You should. Colby hates my guts.” Brent told him and his brother gave a chuckle in return. They sat in silence for a moment longer.

“I didn’t have to kidnap you to get you here?” He asked and Brent snorted.

“It might not have been on your timeline because the Guild I’m working for right now is going through it, but yeah. Probably would have been here next week to deal with all of the shit he pulled in his last moments.” Brent told him and his brother sighed.

“Wow. You…really don’t want anything from the family?” He asked and Brent gave a laugh.

“Maybe a decent price on new prosthetics? I have my own money now, I don’t need to rely on hand outs. I just accepted them as a physical manifestation of dear old gramps guilt.” Brent told him and his brother sat back in his chair, looking a tad bit confused.

“I honestly was preparing myself for a stubborn, insolent little twerp who would fight me tooth and claw for the ’rights’ he’d inherited.” His brother admitted, showing a slight vulnerability and Brent laughed.

“What the hell am I going to do with a company I’ve never had a hand in my whole life, I’m not educated to run, and a Guild that I’ve had no hand in my whole life? All they would be are bargaining chips. I know you expect me to be cunning, but I don’t care enough to do that. I just want to sign the fucking paperwork and get back home to help my friend.” Brent told him and his brother processed what he said.

“It might not be as simple as that, but…I’ll see what I can do. If you mean that, of course.” Brent shook his head, a smirk on his lips.

“Always so suspicious. Why don’t you get me a contract or something? Get it notarized and that will probably make you feel better if you have a physical copy of me confirming my beliefs. I just want to get this bloody paperwork finished and then go home. In one piece, and not dead, mind you.” Brent clarified and his brother grinned. He laughed, tossing his head back as he did so.

“You know well enough to clarify your terms.” His brother said. Brent would have almost said that his tone was affectionate. “You really want nothing to do with us? Outside of arms?” Brent nodded at his question. He wondered how many times he was going to fucking ask, but he could have some kindness in his heart.

He was probably quite shocked to realise that. After all, this was something he had always worked towards. It was hard for him to imagine that Brent wanted nothing to do with something that he had probably killed to get. Brent was just lucky that killing him got them nothing.

“I’m truly serious. The prosthetics help with my line of work, and I was basically a prototype from grandfather. I don’t mind continuing to be one either. Who else are you going to test them with?” Brent said with a chuckle and his brother stared at him.

“You would have had a year to live if I didn’t know this side of you.” His brother told him without any wind up. Brent blinked, before he swallowed. He stared at him, meeting his gaze that was a mild mimic of his own. Or was Brent the more vibrant version of him? Brent wasn’t going to say.

“Is that right?” Brent asked mildly and he nodded.

“As soon as the ink dried on the papers you would have signed, you are going to sign, there would have been a countdown for your head. However, if you have no desire for anything related to us, that can change.” Brent stared at his brother. A man used to negotiating, pestering, and eliminating issues that arose in his plans.

“That better change. I don’t even want to be on the same continent as you guys. Hell, I’ve been going by a fake name. A smart person would be able to put two and two together, but no one has said anything so far. We have our own famous people where I’m living.” Brent said with a shrug and his brother seemed interested in that.

“Our family has no pull there?” He asked and Brent nodded.

“Not a simple smidgen. I asked once, out of curiousity if people knew of our family and they just waved me off. They said that because they were a literal world away, they didn’t care about them.” Brent told his brother. His brother looked a little shocked.

“Huh.” He said and Brent nodded.

“Interesting, isn’t it? That we all think we are such a big deal, but once we leave where we are familiar with, we aren’t worth anything outside of what we can offer, personally.” It seemed like his brother took that as a personal dig while Brent turned his attention to the damn t.v. The t.v. playing over and over that the poison gate had exploded and the fucking clock counting down the ’potential’ time limit before everyone inside died.

Kellen would have never approved of something so cruel. He was sure that this kind of shit wasn’t playing on any of the t.v.s in the city.

“It’s a Field Guide thing. You often know who is going to be a weak link on a guiding mission when you meet them. The ones that talk a big game right away usually are going to drag everyone else down. It’s your job as a Guide to trust your body, know your body well enough that you can make it go as smoothly as possible.” Brent said and his brother shifted uncomfortably.

“You’ve been acting as an actual Guide?” His brother asked and Brent coughed.

“Of course. I was created for one damn purpose, why wouldn’t I be using it?” Brent asked, confused, and his brother opened his mouth, then shut it. He just nodded.

“I can’t argue with that. Alright. I’ll get that contract ready, and until then, don’t die, alright? It would make the inheritance situation 10 times worse.” His brother said and Brent waved his hand.

“Don’t plan to get suicidal yet.” Brent joked before his brother left. Brent turned his gaze towards the t.v. It was hard not to watch, even if he didn’t want to. God, he hoped everyone was okay.

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