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Luka seriously can’t stand Jonah.
No matter how many times the Queen of Hearts stands in front of the Black Army’s headquarters, with a slight, smug grin fading into a tender smile upon seeing his younger brother. Luka could only sigh at the sight of Jonah, finding his legs frozen to the ground as he could only helplessly mutter under his breath subtle, but unsavory comments about the latter. His hands clenches into tight fists momentarily, before relaxing them at his side, then begrudgingly shuffled his way to the waiting Jonah, whose hand was placed at his hip, tilting his head to the side.
“Luka! My darling little brother! It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you!” He’s been trying to keep it that way. “Why don’t we go walk around for a while? It’s been so long since we’ve done any brother bonding.” Luka couldn’t muster a response, but settled for a halfhearted hum. Jonah found it satisfactory enough, and began walking towards the bridge separating the Black Territory, to the neutral.
He was always one step ahead, he muses. Luka outstretched his hand in front of his face, as if he was reaching out to his older brother, but he pushed down his arm with his other, mournfully shaking his head. Jonah was always so far out of his reach, even when he was still living with the former in childhood. He knew he would never be destined for the title of the Queen of Hearts, handed down generation to generation, that his parents would never see him in the same light as they did to his brother; but he didn’t care. His dear older brother, Jonah, would always be there for him.
How have times changed.
But Luka’s thoughts were soon halted, letting out a soft groan after bumping into Jonah’s back. “Absentminded again? It’s okay, we’re already here.”
Lifting up his head, he’s surprised to see a more secluded location. Knowing him, Luka expected to see himself in the bustling town, covered in head to toe with whatever extravaganza Jonah had prepared for him. The soft, rustling of the trees soothed him in an instant; the sweet melody of various small birds charmed the Jack of Spades into cementing himself where he stood, his mouth agape, his eyes glimmered with enchantment, but he would never dare reveal his thoughts.
Almost nothing seemed amiss, until a dessert table in the middle of the lush greenery popped into his peripheral view. It was decorated in pastel pink, green, and purple too, with heaps of macarons elegantly stacked on top of a plate, and what Luka deemed an unnecessary amount of mille-feuille was also present at the scene. Luka nearly let out an exasperated, but gratified sigh at the sight. This is just what he expected from his beloved big brother.
Beloved? He’d never thought he’d hear himself use that to describe his own brother. After all, why would he, when childhood bullying and parental neglect caused him to run away from the Red Territory to join the ranks of the Black Army, who cared not for family blood when taking up the mantle of their titles, but military prowess instead. Jonah himself may not have been the instigator of his terrible experience with the Red Army, quite the opposite actually. Jonah was his sole protector, the one who fought back against his bullies and assured him that even though he was second born, he was never useless; Jonah made him feel loved when he was never loved by his own parents.
But when Jonah would no longer protect him anymore, it was almost as if his whole world was shattered. The pedestal he so carefully maintained chipped away day by day, until that fateful day he left the Red Territory. Of course, he missed Edgar, they were the best of friends after all. But Luka needed his own freedom, a place where he could belong without the need of his brother.
As his mind began to wander back to his days with the Black Army, he thought back to a conversation he had with Sirius and Alice. How they told him that he should try amending his relationship with Jonah, with such tenderness in their voices, he could do nothing but agree. They told him, that even if it didn’t work out, he tried his best.
“Jonah…” Luka’s voice came about in a whisper, clutching his arm tight in his hand. “We need to talk.”
Jonah was silent, sitting down on the right hand side of the dessert table before taking a deep inhale. He then pulled his most affable smile, gesturing for Luka to take a seat first, “Over tea and desserts.” He’d urged, taking the highest macaron stacked, and plopping it in his mouth, while Luka made his way to the empty chair.
His mind was racing, even though he was the one who wanted to talk to him, Luka had no idea what he was going to say. Unload several years of inferiority and damage on Jonah? Ask for an apology? Luka was grateful for his more docile nature, if he was more bold like Fenrir, he would’ve probably spilled out everything he was thinking in that very moment.
“Jonah, I—“ His breath hitched, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. “I can’t handle this anymore. I left the Red Army, I left my life as someone from the Red Territory behind.” A tear falls down his cheek, but Luka quickly averts his gaze, turning his head to the right. “Nothing you do will bring me back. Our relationship is irrep—“ But he couldn’t finish his sentence, choked sobs replacing the words he wanted to say. He could’ve finally expressed the feelings he kept inside for years. “I’m— I’m not going to come home. So please…”
Luka began to wail, throwing his head back with his body slumped against the chair. His heart hurt so bad, it was almost like he was going to die at that very moment. “When— When you left me alone, I was so upset.” Luka curled his body inwards, grasping his arms with an overwhelming despair. “I thought I meant nothing to you, I really thought King Lancelot was more important to you than me.”
Jonah was at a loss for words, his mouth opening, before closing, opening once more, and closing again. His eyes darted around the dessert table, throwing another macaron into his mouth before standing up and rushing to his brother’s side, picking him up and hugging him in a tight embrace. “Oh Luka, you’re my darling brother. I owe King Lancelot my allegiance, he was the one who told me I should no longer be concerned with how others think of me, as I am the Queen of Hearts no matter how horribly beaten I am by our childhood bullies, no matter how dainty I may seem.” Jonah then whispers, “I never meant to neglect you. I’m so sorry.”
Jonah’s embrace tightens, burying his face in Luka’s shoulder. “I don’t know what to do—“ Luka sobs, pushing weakly against Jonah’s chest. “I don’t want to see you again, but I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t see you—“ Jonah quickly interjects, “Quiet. No need to speak anymore, Luka.” And so quiet Luka remains.
They stay in each others’ arms for what could almost be considered eternity, listening to each other’s heartbeats that begin to settle down at an even pace. Luka no longer feels so overwhelmed, he felt freer and more comfortable in Jonah‘s presence than he’d been for the past few years.
“I’m sorry Luka. I really didn’t mean to come off as pushy. I really do care for you, you’re so important to me. I— I hope I can do better for you.” Jonah murmurs uncharacteristically, and Luka finds it in himself to wrap his arms around him back, and a response comes much easier than before. “It’ll take time, but thank you.”
Maybe Luka can stand Jonah after all.