So that you understand how I put the age part… Anyone that Aries knew that died is always put in the ages area. Anyone that is in the story/relative to the story is there too.
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A little on Aries’s past; Found Family
Gwyar/Aries, age 16
Chile(best friend), age 16
Clio(Chile’s sister), age 12
Quincy(ex), age 17
Smith(ex), age 18 (deceased at 15)
Aurora(sister), age 20 (deceased at 11)
Irene (mother), age 46 (deceased at 37)
*~*~*~*
Gwyar had, no matter how much he wished to say otherwise, not been doing well the past week. In trying to keep his mind off the fact that Quincy wasn’t coming back this time… Well, he’d made himself busy. The arena always had open slots for fights, after all, and those letting him stay with them always could use more money.
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But things had gotten quiet eventually, and he’d been allowed to leave, he’d been given time to himself. The arena was closed today, they’d been too busy apparently. Too many positive wins. So there were searches going on, more or less. So they’d had to close for the day, just in case. The investigations would be closed just as quickly though, in a day or two, and then the arena would open back up after a third day. That was how that had worked, for the past year or so now. And that was how that would continue to work.
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Regardless though, that meant that today was quiet. The first quiet day he’d gotten since reading that damn note that Quinn had left. Telling him that he had to leave, go somewhere new, and wouldn’t be coming back.
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Don’t get him wrong, the injuries from the past week were still there. Still just as bad. Still keeping him from completely shattering, though maybe he already had. But the bruises and cuts weren’t really enough to keep his mind from circling back to the note, to Quincy, to how much he had failed.
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Which was how he ended up in the old abandoned park that he really was starting to get fond of, bloody and pathetic. Sitting against a tree and clawing at his arms, hands underneath his sleeves, trying to convince himself not to stain the tree behind him by beating his head against the bark. So far, he was fairly certain that he was failing.
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Just like he’d failed Quinn. For all he knew, Quincy could’ve- Could’ve- And he didn’t- He didn’t have a phone- He didn’t have a way to ask- Oh gods, what if Quincy was dead? What if he’d died and Gwyar wasn’t there and he was alone and he- He-
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He gasped in a breath, long nails raking against his arms, head going back against the bark. He’d failed, he’d failed, he’d failed- Quincy was dead, Smith was dead, Aurora was dead, everyone was dead and he was alone. They’d all left. Because he’d failed.
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Somewhere, behind all the panic, shame, guilt, tears, and burning hate- There were footsteps, quickly gaining speed, until they stopped, and someone was crouched in front of him. A hand ran through his hair, gentle and grounding- Enough so, at least, that Gwyar could see that their mouth was moving. That they had short and messy black hair, heterochromatic eyes of bright blue and golden brown. That they were taking exaggerated breaths, using the hand that wasn’t running through his hair to count up to and down from four. That they were Chile.
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Chile. He hadn’t seen Chile in a while. He must’ve come looking for him since the arena was closed. His hands shifted out from his sleeves, and immediately the hand in his hair was pulling out and going to them, holding them, Kyle leaning his forehead against his own. Simply sitting there, breathing and trying to get Gwyar to copy.
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And he did. Eventually. After a few fails to do so. But he’d been able to breathe. And as soon as he was able to, he was apologizing. Because Chile shouldn’t have had to find him like this. Because he’d failed.
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“Hey now, no need. Just keep breathing with me, Ari. You want to go to my apartment? See Clio? She loves your stories. And I haven’t seen you much recently.”
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He breathed, shaky, trying to keep himself calm. “‘m sorry.”
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“Don’t worry. Just come to my apartment and we’re even?”
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Gwyar wanted to argue that the consequences should be harsher, he wanted to apologize again and again… But if that was enough to make up for his misdeeds for Chile? He breathed in, shakily nodding his head. Kyle smiled softly, helping him to his feet.
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The two walked in silence for a bit, Chile holding onto one of his hands to deter him from scratching at anything. About halfway to the apartment though, Chile spoke. “So… You want to tell me about what happened, and why I found you in our favorite spot hyperventilating?”
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He stared at the ground, not meeting his friend’s gaze. “I uh… I was just thinkin’, that's all.”
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“About what?” Kyle’s voice was gentle, and he must’ve made a face because his friend made an understanding sound. “Hey, you didn’t make him leave. I promise. You know how he was, always moving, leaving for weeks and showing back up, getting in with the wrong crowds. He probably bit off more than he could chew, you know that. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s way too stubborn to not be.”
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Gwyar gave a small chuckle at that with his throat tight all over again, and then stopped in his tracks, looking at his friend and swallowing hard. Chile looked at him, stopping too. His shoulder was clasped, and he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around his friend.
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Chile wrapped his own arms around him, loose and careful. “You’re alright, Ari. You’re fine. You got me and Clio, always. Promise. He might’ve left, but we aren’t going anywhere. I promise. You’re basically my brother, and stars know that Clio sees you as a brother too. You’re family, and we don’t plan on leaving you anytime soon.”
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The two stayed like that for a moment longer, before continuing on their way to the apartment. And when they got there, walking in through the door and seeing Clio laying down on the couch… The two made their way to Kyle’s small bathroom, grabbing a wet rag and gauze before making their way to the slightly larger kitchen and dining area.
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Cleaning the wounds and wrapping them took barely any time at all, experience making the entire ordeal far too easy. The gauze was somewhat scratchy, not good quality as that was kept for Clio, but Gwyar didn’t complain. And why would he? There wasn’t anything to complain about. Not in the cozy, peaceful air of the apartment.
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By the time the two went back to the small living room though, Clio was awake and blearily blinking at them, Kyle handing over the usual medicine she took to her. “Mmm.. Chi? Ari?”
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And they sat down, beginning to talk to her. To catch up on last time. The two never hinted at the arena as they spoke, because Clio didn’t need to know about how Chile managed to get medication for her as an emancipated minor. And no one should ever know about the arena.
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And even though they didn’t speak about Quincy, or about this little family they had… Things were bad, and would probably be bad forever. But they were bearable. And they were bearable because of each other. Because of this little family that he’d somehow managed to find himself in.
Fall 
Night 
Fog Moon: 
