"Where's brother bwaze? He pwomished me we pway."

Ice froze on what she was doing upon hearing the question.

Quake also stopped what he was doing and was listening in, worried about her 14-year-old daughter who was trying hard to maintain her composure.

Ice struggled to keep her voice steady. "He's just asleep, Thornie."

"B-but, he pwomished me we will pway," the 5-year-old green-eyed boy said, pouting.

Ice tried to put a smile. "I'll tell you what, when he wakes up, the first thing he'll do is come over to your room and you can play."

Thorn smiled weakly from his position on the hospital bed and let out a small yawn. "Pwease tell him when I wake up, Icey. I'm sweepy."

Ice felt tears brimming in her eyes as she choked on her words. "Don't worry. He'll be there when you wake up."

Ice stroked his hair as Thorn slowly closed his eyes. "Say hi to Blaze for me, Thorn. Tell him I love him."

Quake slowly wrapped her arms around her daughter as she broke down, the sound of a flatline ringing in the background. "The males in our family were never meant to live long, Ice. I knew that when my husband died," she whispered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another very short angst. I have so much ideas in my head yet I don't know how to write them all down as a story.

I posted this on my Instagram story as well.

Also, I'm planning something big for the new TDE plot. I'll have to complete the story offline before I publish them one by one.

And I just want to share that lately, I'm becoming more and more interested in codes and mystery so watch out for the next oneshots.

Also, to those who can decode the title will have the next oneshot dedicate to him/her. And it's not as easy as it looks like. Though I'll give a clue: it's not morse code.