Daun looked at his brother worriedly, spoon in mouth. They were at the dining table, having breakfast. Api sat beside him, looking a bit... off.

"Are you okay, Api? You look tired," Daun asked, spoon still in his mouth.

("Daun, don't talk with a spoon on your mouth," Tanah chided.)

"I'm fine. Mind your own business," Api snapped at him, his voice muffled by the spoon.

("Is anyone even listening to me?" Tanah sighed  exasperatedly.)

Daun sighed and put down his spoon. "You don't look fine to me. Are you having nightmares again?"

Tanah, who was mopping behind them, snapped his head towards their direction. "Nightmares?! Is that true, Api?!"

"It's really none of your business-"

"Why am I hearing this now?" Tanah demanded. "How long has this been going on?"

"Uhh... I just wake up whenever I hear Api wake up. I'm a light sleeper, you know?" Daun said cheerfully before his face fell. "But when I try to ask what the nightmare is about, he would just ignore me, like he's doing right now!"

Api's spoon fell on the table with a loud clank and he abruptly stood up. He stomped away from the kitchen, ignoring his brothers' call for him to come back.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Heat.

Smoke.

Fire.

All he can see is fire.

Burning.

Everything is burning.

And he was scared of it all.

Api woke up with a gasp, breathing hard from the nightmare that he just had. 

"Api?" A tired voice sounded from above him and moments later, Daun's head appeared.

"Did you have a nightmare again?" he yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"Go back to sleep, Daun. I'm fine," Api snapped at him.

"No you're not," Daun glared at him. "You walked out on Tanah this morning when he just wanted to know about your nightmare."

Api averted his eyes. "The two of you were annoying. Besides, it's not like you can do anything about it."

Daun had a glint in his eye and he let himself fall from his bed and into Api's. He cuddled closer to his brother and hugged him.

"THIS IS NOT WHAT I MEANT!" Api whisper-screeched at him.

"Don't worry, Api," Daun said, closing his eyes. "I'll protect you from your nightmares! After all, that's what brothers are for!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next morning, Tanah went to Daun and Api's shared room and found them cuddled against each other. 

"How cute," Tanah smiled and taking out his phone, he took a picture of the two.

(Later, when Petir questioned Tanah on the smile on his face, the latter just smiled wider and said, "Blackmail material". Nevertheless, Petir kept quiet.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I didn't know how to put the fact that Daun's wearing a onesie.

Chapter 5 of 18.

Next Chapter: Angin's secret

Lovelots,

Glace, the Queen of Angst