Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"I... was never... that's not my evil, despite what..." Andy shakes a little, darkly amused. "No, my weakness comes from my father, not... it was just made... worse from her. I'm weak. I take what's offered and I can't fight for it. Can't... hold fast." He shakes his head.

"But that's not... your reaction is actually one of the better kinds I get. Open, honest suspicion and a begrudging offer of a chance to prove myself? Like gold in Coalside that is. Except of Lovan." The name is spoken like a prayer. "He... He just never cared. I was just a person to him. What was important to him was that I was a person, that I never picked on him for wanting to draw or study maths instead of run around or rough house. I was kind- no, I wasn't unkind to him, so he was kind to me. That was all it took."

[Carver Amell]

"And then he died?" asks Carver, quietly. "And it all went to shit, because what kind of family are you without your heart, the best part of you."

[Tethras Clan]

That hits home cleanly, causing the widow to curl up again. "He was the start of everything good I have had. Lovan was everything good in me."

[Carver Amell]

Carver rubs at his temples, unable to look at Andy. "Bethany was that for us. But.. it gets better. You learn how to be... someone he'd approve of. Someone he would still recognize."

[Tethras Clan]

"...thank you," Andy says softly. "For... yelling at me." For caring enough to do it. For having the compassion to care and the hurt and anger to make me face it.

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, well, you can thank me when you're better." He takes a deep breath, lets it out. "You alright to get up, physically? This place is a fucking pigsty." 

[Tethras Clan]

Andy lifts his head and shifts around a little. "I feel... lightheaded and my vision is a little blurry... and I ache but... nothing feels... hurt-hurt," he says cautiously.

[Carver Amell]

"Good. Let's get cleaning. Tell me if you need to lie down some more."

[Tethras Clan]

"Right... I... gods, I shouldn't have let Lovan's... no. I shouldn't have let my family's house get this bad," he says with a nod, eyes darting to Carver to test his reaction.

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah. You shouldn't. But you can fix it. We'll clean this place up." A pause, then, "And then shut it up and go to Raplin's Oak."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy blinks rapidly. "...where?" he asks, bewildered, as he rises to his feet with very deliberate care, testing each motion before completing it as he tries to figure out how his body is doing. Shitty, in a word. But... serviceable, if he's not dumb about things.

[Carver Amell]

"Where my sister is. Where your children are going." He rubs the back of his neck. "There's this big tree god there, you see, it's supposed to be a great place to... heal."

[Tethras Clan]

"..." Andy stares a moment. "...what kind of god?" he finally asks warily, hand raising to touch his head wound. No, his horns.

[Carver Amell]

"The kind that's worth it for your kids," he reminds him.

[Tethras Clan]

"Right," Andy says, shaking himself. And if... if this tree god smites me dead, then... I at least tried, I guess. "Where should we start?" he asks.