Spoiler! :
Warnings: One instance of anti-gay language and one instance of cursing.
~*~
It was always blood Nina had to clean.
When Aiden dropped a trio of plates on the floor, - the ceramic exploding into a million broken pieces, embedding into Aiden's foot like shrapnel from a bomb - Nina had swept away the shards of porcelain and bathed his foot in a bucket of alcohol and water, watching as the blood dyed the liquid a deep red.
When Aiden got punched in the face for the first time, -an older boy at the park, with a silver ring that made a sharp cut across his forehead - Nina had pulled Aiden to the water fountain, putting her last band-aid on his brow once the cut was clean, watching the dripping blood dye his dark blue eyes a deep red.
When Aiden had dropped to his knees, his hands pressed hard against his head, - Tyler apologetic and frantic, rushing inside to call an ambulance, the wooden bat rolling to the fence - Nina had dragged him to the bathroom and wrapped a towel tight over his head, watching as the blood stained his cornsilk blonde hair a deep red.
He was fire, fervent, burning and destructive and she was water, calm, healing and safe. They balanced each other out as siblings are meant to do.
*
The first time was when Nina was eight, Aiden with Tyler and Daniel in the backyard, doing something idiotic; trying to play basketball on skateboards while shooting at each other with Nerf guns or something to that extent. Nina and Chloe had heard them, yelling and laughing, but were more focused on Barbie and Ken's outdoor date, arranging the plastic flowers in the tiny vase on Barbie's table.
Then Aiden slipped off the skateboard, his body colliding against the cement sidewalk, a moment of silence before they all ran to him. He got up slowly, his arm a river of blood, polluted with bits of gravel and dust. Chloe had squeaked with fear, wide green eyes watching as drip-drip-drops of blood splattered against his clean white shirt. Tyler and Daniel hovered behind them, silent and slightly ashamed.
There were no parents in the house to comfort Aiden and fix him in a steady-handed adult way. Nina's mom had just left, to the supermarket to buy hot dogs for lunch and they could have ran for Daniel's mom, two blocks away but instead, Nina lead Aiden inside, to the bathroom.
Aiden hadn't begun sobbing or anything, but tears spilled out of his eyes every time he blinked, making tracks down his cheeks. Nina tore a piece of gauze off the roll and dipped it into the bottle of alcohol, wiping it over the long cut, watching as blood soaked the damp gauze. She was breathing as softly as possible, tiny shuddering breaths, so she wouldn't smell the blood, like liquid metal, which would roll down her throat, wisp around her lungs and suffocate her.
"Your ballet show is tomorrow, right?" Aiden's voice was small and low.
Nina looked up and the smallest smile came to her lips, "Yeah, you're gonna come with Momma and Dad and Chloe."
"Are you gonna do that tippy toe thingy that you always do in the mirror? It looks like it hurts."
"No, Ms. Bella said that only the big, big girls, like thirteen year old's can do that. It hurt a lot at first, but I'm used to it now." There was a tinge of pride in her voice.
"I didn't know you can get used to things hurting. I don't think I'd be able to. It always hurts me when I fall and cut my arm or my knee or something."
"I guess...I guess this is a different type of hurt. One that even if you don't want to, you have to get used to." Nina answered. She sprayed Neosporin on Aiden's arm and waited for it to dry.
*
The last time was when Nina was sixteen, Aiden with Tyler and Daniel in the parking lot of the bowling alley, doing something idiotic, yelling at Anthony Melvin, the older boy who had always had a problem with Aiden. Nina and Chloe had heard them, - Aiden and Tyler yelling, Anthony laughing - but were more focused on Daniel who was on the ground, his head bent between his knees, telling Nina in labored breaths that he needed his iron pills or he'd pass out.
Then Aiden punched Anthony, his fist colliding against Anthony's eye, a moment of silence before the other boy punched back and they fell to the ground. Chloe made a small choking noise, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as Aiden and Anthony tumbled around on the gravel floor, a tangle of arms and legs and anger and the pain of loyalty, of pride. Nina ran to Aiden's car and grabbed the first aid kit she kept in the glove compartment, stealing one glance at the fight on the walk back - Aiden was straddling Anthony's chest, punching him over and over - before going to Daniel and giving him two iron tablets.
Tyler was saying something, low and reasonable to Aiden before grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the fight. Aiden shook him off and walked away. Anthony got up from the ground, his face a bloody mess and spit on the floor by Daniel before going back to the bowling alley. Chloe was on the ground with Tyler watching over Daniel as his breathing became easier. Nina knew where she belonged.
"Aiden?" Nina's voice was small and low.
There was no answer but Nina could see her brother, sitting against the wall, the street light illuminating his bloody nose, the cut on his forehead, the yellow beginnings of a black eye.
He was still angry so Nina gave him time, didn't speak while she took out a tiny alcohol pad and swiped it across his forehead, tilted his head back and held a paper towel to his nose to stop the flow of blood and sprayed Neosporin across his forehead. Aiden pushed himself off the ground, arms crossed, staring at the empty street in front of them.
"It wasn't my fault. I didn't start it this time." His voice was hoarse, his jaw clenched tightly. Nina sighed.
"You punched him, Aiden."
"You heard what he said to Daniel. He started it."
"You punched him first, Aiden. Are you going to beat up every person who calls Dan a fag?"
"It's just not fucking fair!" He turned and punched the wall, Nina watching as blood dyed his knuckles a deep red.
"Oh, Aiden. Life isn't fair."
*
It was quiet then, silent, other than the sound of crinkling band-aids and the steady breathing of siblings.
~*~
Spoiler! :
Gender:
Points: 805
Reviews: 336