The Age of The Masrui

“C-called it off? You’ve left my sister? No…” Henry shook his head, taking a step back. “You can’t do that… you - you guys are like perfect. You’re - why?”

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“He’s asked me to pick my sister up but if he’s drunk I - should I take her there?”

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“I was hoping I’d never have to do this… this is all so ugly.”

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“You’ve enchanted me.”

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Tobias turned his head to allow her more room, breath catching in his throat

"We're - nots... nots wo-workings... nots left yous though, okays? S-s-still here to helps oo."

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"What time does the school day end? Maybe he'll sober up by then and - and what about Luke? Luke isn't old enough to go to school yet, is he?"

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"Enchanted?" Marlowe hummed, raising a questioning eyebrow as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

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"It isn't. Not at all. You don't have to see any of the ugliness."

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Tesni leant back briefly so she could pull his top up over his head. Lips returning to his sin as she ran fingernail down the front of his chest.

“No… but my dads not irresponsible - he wouldn’t get so drunk he can’t care for him if he’s there… somethings wrong.”

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“You can’t just leave my sister because it’s not working right now Dorian. Pull yourself together now come on, you guys can make this work - unless someone’s cheated?”

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“I’m just terrified of this affecting my kids. If then hating me in the future because of how this works out.”

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“Mm, it’s the word I’m using.”

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Tobias closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall as he let out a noise of content.

"They aren't going to know a thing - they'll only know if you or Dorian tell him, Odette." Ronan mumbled, nosing wrinkling as he grew irritated.

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"It's a very.... emotive word. Especially for you." Marlowe whispered.

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"Well, let's go find out what it is." He whispered, getting to his feet and offering her a hand up. "Or else you'll be stressing this whole time."

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"No's, no one's does that's." Dorian grinned, grabbing a glass from the cupboard and pouring a drink before shoving it into Henry's hand - keeping the bottle for himself to swig.

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"Lift me up." Tesni breathed against him. "Lets do it. Right here."

Henry lifted the drink to sniff it, grimacing and shaking his head. “Dorian why are you and my sister splitting up if nobody’s cheated? Surely this is something that can be worked around? You’ve been married for ages, you’ve got the kids. You’re all lovey… why?”

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“It’s not something I - I don’t want to make that call right now.”

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Lux stood up, moving to bury her face against his chest and wrap her arms around his waist, trembling from the assumption she was going to lose her father.

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“You don’t like it?” Altair frowned. “Apologies.”

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“I like this new Tesni.” Tobias chuckled, sweeping his hands under her legs and pulling her up to his waist, moving to press her against the wall as he kissed her deeply

Tesni laughed against his lips, kissing him back deeply as she closed her eyes and they faded to black.

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"No, no it isn't that." Marlowe laughed quietly. "Come on now, I never said that. I just - it's very.. fairytale and you don't - you don't strike me as a fairytale believing person."

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"Tomorrow. 8am." Ronan repeated bluntly.

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"Hey, hey we don't know what is going on yet." Antione frowned as he held her close. "Lets go find out; me and you - you won't be alone with it."

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"N-no. Nots... nots goods. Jus nots goods."

“My sister loves you to pieces and I know you love her the same way… I may be blind now but I have seen the way you looked at each other.” Henry shook his head. “Come on Dorian… talk to me. I don’t think there’s anything you and my sister can’t work out. Not when you love each other this much.”

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“I don’t think I can face hearing him tell me he’s sick and I’m going to lose him. I can’t… alone or with you I can’t hear it Toni, I won’t be able to cope.”

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Odette nodded, swallowing thickly.

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“I’m not… I won’t use it…” Altair wrinkled his nose, turning his head so she wouldn’t see his face heat.

"No, no; no." Marlowe laughed softly, moving her hand to rest her palm on his cheek, brushing her thumb against his skin. "Am I making you believe in fairytale?"

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"You don't know that's what it is, Lux. Would he drink for his own health? Do you think he'd self-mourn like that?"

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"I'm nota able to gives er enough right now, Henry's. Toos muc happening."

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"If I hear nothing I am doing it as I've said - all out."

“No. You don’t give up like that.” Henry shook his head, reaching his hand forward and feeling until he touched the bottle and snatching it from Dorians hand before bending down to put it on the floor with his own glass, leaning forward to pull Dorian into a hug. “You don’t give up on a love like that.” He whispered as he rubbed his back. “There’s always something going on in life and you two have dealt with it so far. If you’ve left her I bet she’s heartbroken. Heartbroken because you’re her world. And you’re not happy either. I’m not letting either of you give this up, not without a fight.”

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“He would knowing the outcome… knowing he’d be leaving me without any parents, he’d know I won’t cope losing him too… he’ll be feeling guilty even though if he’s sick it’s not his fault.”

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“I just… I don’t want my kids hurt.” Odette whispered. “Can I go have a lay down in one of your spare rooms, please?”

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“No. No. Don’t.” Altair wriggled out from her touch. “I’ll go get the housekeeper to start on your breakfast.” He murmured before heading off downstairs.

Marlowe winced, swallowing thickly and taking a few steps back then. Whispering, barely loud enough to be heard; "Sorry..."

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"Not in a spare room but whatever room you choose to yours, of course."

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"But we don't know what is going on right now so... so we need to go and find out don't we? Come on, you can do this."

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"Stops it." Dorian sobbed then, burying his face against his shoulder. "Yo' you have no idea. N- none at all."

“I know my sister would die for you, and I know you would die for her. And you don’t give up on shit like that because you won’t find it again. Talk to me? Tell me what’s going on. What’s so bad that you’re prioritising it over your marriage because that’s what you’re doing - you said there’s too much going on. And you dropped your marriage to make room so - what’s wrong Dorian? What’s happening? I’m here to listen…” Henry held him close, rubbing his back to sooth him.

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“I’m scared, Toni.” Lux whispered shakily.

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“Henry came to stay with us last night… I bet Dorian will want him out too, he made him seem like a burden and part of the problem. He has a spare room… maybe I can move in there with him soon for a while… that way your home isn’t too busy.”

"You being here is no problem Odette; don't start that."

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Marlowe took a deep shaky sigh before wandering out out the room and towards where Altair went. "I uh.. don't... don't leave me alone?"

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"That's okay. But.. the unknown is scarier than the known."

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"Everything! Fucking everything!"

“You guys have got a lot on… part of the reason Dorian left me is because I’m just adding to his problems by the sound of it… I really don’t want to become a burden to you guys when you’re my only family left…”

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“I’m not leaving the house, don’t worry.” Altair assured as he stopped in the hallway to face her. “I won’t be leaving the house.”

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Lux nodded at that, squeezing her eyes so she wouldn’t begin to cry.

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“List it all out, help me understand? Then we can look at how to tackle it all.”

"But you are... leaving. Why?" Marlwoe mumbled, scratching at her knuckles nervous as she lowered her gaze to the ground. "I- I'm sorry if the next few days... weeks maybe... I'm a pain in the ass with the dramatised picture... imagery stuff. It just - reality is scary, Al. Reality isn't... safe like that stuff is and I - I don't feel... safe.. right now."

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"Then shut up and stop fucking arguing with me." Ronan snorted. "You don't want to be an issue stop wasting my time with this and find a room to stay in, let me fight your corner."

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"Don't get too sad yet, we don't know what is happening yet."

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"No." Dorian mumbled. "I won't be leaving you - that's all that matters in your concern to this."

(( Night night ))

Odette flinched at the harshness of his words, shrinking in on herself and heading quickly out of the room as if to hide.

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“I’m not leaving.” Altair frowned then. I just said I wasn’t going anywhere. You can trust me, you’re safe here.”

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Lux nodded, wiping at her eyes before pulling away.

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“You’ve got something going on that’s wearing you down so much you decided that you needed to end your marriage to my sister even though you can’t tell me she’s done something wrong. Which means it’s pretty serious if you’re prioritising it over her. And with how worked up you are - you listen to my problems. Let me be here for you too so we can fix this before it gets even bigger and has permanent consequences.”

((Night))

"You left the room." Marlowe whispered, "Can I - Can I come with you? Every- everywhere? I don't want to be in a room alone. I didn't like it... in the bath..."

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"No ixings it!" Dorian cried, "i- Is done. I'ms done. N-no more He-enry. No more. Le- leave it be."

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Antione got to his feet, offering her a hand up and encouraging gently. "Come on,"

“Oh…” Altair raised his eyebrows in understanding. “Of course, I’m sorry - yeah.” He nodded, holding his arms out to her.

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“You wouldn’t let me give up.” Henry shook his head, squeezing him tightly. “You wouldn’t let me give up, so I’m not letting you give up Dorian. If I have to live then you have to sort your shit out. That’s the deal.”

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Lux took his hand, getting up and heading for her coat.

Marlowe swallowed thickly, stepping into his arms and resting her head against his shoulder.

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Dorian shook his head, not reacting more. Curling in and making himself as small as he could, closing his eyes as he tried to blank everything else.

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"I'm sure it's nothing huge, Lux. He'd of called you if it was, or driven here himself." Antione whispered as he headed out ahead of her.

“How about you help me make some coffee to sober you up mm? Show me where everything is?”

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Lux followed silently behind him, obviously still mulling everything over in her head.

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“I’ll hire you your own security.” Altair murmured as he gently rubbed her back.

"Strangers? No... no thank you." Marlowe mumbled quietly. "I'll be fine. I- I am fine. I just don't- I was in the bath and caught sight of myself in the mirror. I didn't like it, felt like I looked different which I don't, I know I don't. It's easier to pretend like nothing has happened..."

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Antione frowned, reaching his hand behind himself to take hers. "Focus on me for now, I know it's hard, chérie."

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Dorian didn't respond, remaining unmoving.

“Fine… have it your way.” Henry sighed, pulling his phone from his pocket and telling it to “Call Marlowe.” Before putting it to his ear.

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Altair nodded, moving his hand to brush his fingers down her cheek.

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Lux took his hand and moved into his side, leaning into him.

Marlowe swallowed thickly, closing her eyes at the touch though jumped at her ringtone sounding in the other room. Moving towards the source but freezing in the doorway, glancing over her shoulder and giving Altair an apologetic smile. "I - sorry...it's.. can you just stay in sight?"

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Antione was silent the whole way there, pausing just as they got outside Dorian's home. "I'll be right behind you..."

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

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Lux took in a deep breath before heading into her fathers home.

"Thanks." Marlowe whispered, wandering into the room then - glancing over her shoulder to make sure he stayed in sight as she grabbed her phone and answered with cheer; "Hello?"

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"Dorian?" Antione called as he stepped in behind Lux. "What's going on? What was that text about?"

Dorian tensed slightly, burying his head into his knees a little more.

“Dorians drink and he’s left my sister, ended the marriage - I don’t know where she is and he’s not being cooperative, I could use a hand here…”

“Dad?” Lux called, rounding the corner and frowning when she saw him on the floor. “Dad? Everything okay?”

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