Broken like a shattered mirror [Ems]

His heart ached. An endless fire soared through his veins as the world ceased to exist for only a moment. Iain has charged him, left him with his last will in case he fell in the games. But right now wasn't the time to think about it. Ikaia remembered the pain and agony he felt the moment Kirito's name was called. He remembered the amount of pain he felt when the peacekeepers ripped him from the arms of his twin as the door slammed shut in front of him. Not once did he imagine he would feel the pain once more.

Sweet, innocent Iain shattered a broken heart into thousands of tiny shards over and over. Ikaia was used to pain, and to the feelings of hopelessness, but this one was different. He knew President Snow had set out to make an example of district eleven, yet using his cousin, and a thirteen year old girl was one of the worst possible ways of doing so. In the eyes of the Capitol Iain and Carrita meant nothing. Their lives thrown away as a stupid sacrifice; however, Snow had another thing coming.

Sighing to himself, Ikaia walked through the door to the victor's house. His heart leaped into his throat the moment he saw his cousin curled in a ball on the shards of glass spread across the floor. A lump formed in the back of his throat. The thundering of his heart roared through his ears as he slowly made his way over towards Tobias. If he learned one thing from Kirito, it was to be calm and gentle. Sitting down beside him, Ikaia placed a hand on Tobias' back. "Shh. Shh. I'm right here Tobias. I'm right here, and I promise to never leave you."

Seeing Tobias break down destroyed Ikaia from the inside out. A storm raged throughout his entire body. Waves of agony devoured his soul threatening to break the tiny boy in half as he stared blankly at the grey floor. Ikaia wasn't the best at helping people because his entire life was spent gathering the plants while Kirito did the rest. Ikaia worked behind the scenes always making sure everything was set perfectly before his twin went to work, but right now his twin wasn't here to save him. Ikaia was alone trapped in a building with a broken man carrying the weight of the world.

Yet reality slapped him across the face the moment Tobias turned to face him. Red stained eyes. Red, puffy cheeks. Tears slid down his face rapidly, yet the entire moment was lost the moment Tobias spoke. Ikaia had given up hope the moment Kirito's name was called for the reaping a couple years ago. He felt the agony. The pain. The sorrow as his body fought within himself doing everything in its path to find the will to live. But not once did he ever question himself trying to find the point in trying.

Tobias was broken. Shattered into millions of pieces as he prepared for the worst journey of his entire life, and Ikaia wouldn't leave his side. Every second Tobias was awake, Ikaia would stand beside him keeping him company because he needed it when Kirito was in the games, but nobody was there to help him. Sighing, Ikaia took a deep breath allowing the air to fill his body. But when he exhaled, the words flowed freely. "I kept hope, Tobias. Even in the darkest of nights I found something to hold on to. It was hard lying in bed without him. It was the hardest moment of my life, but I couldn't give up. Kirito would've wanted me to remain strong." Ikaia paused for only a moment allowing silence to surround him. "And Iain would want the same from you, Tobias. You can't give up. As long as he's breathing and has a pulse, there's always a chance."

A fire grew inside him spreading rapidly through his veins scorching every innocent fiber in the process. Snow was quickly destroying the innocent left inside. Devouring the heart of an honest person until nothing was left but a hollow shell of a puppet controlled by the Capitol. Ikaia was his own being. Someone who wanted to live his own life with Kirito by his side, but the games happened. The games ruined the relationship. Shattering the bond the twins formed until nothing remained, yet Ikaia promised Iain he wouldn't leave Kirito ever again, and that was one promise he planned on keeping along with the promise of never leaving Tobias behind.

Watching the emotions overtake his cousin was painful. The agony. The pain. Everything, but it wouldn't compare to the upcoming days of watching Iain as the tributes tried to slaughter him. Iain wasn't a murderer, and Ikaia knew that, yet he held onto the hope that somehow Iain would survive.

"Ikaia, don't leave me. Please stay with me. I wish I would've been there for you, and I'm sorry. But please don't let me face this alone." Hearing Tobias beg shattered what remained inside him. Ikaia felt his heart plummet further and further into the pits of his stomach with every passing breath especially when Tobias apologized for not being there when Kirito journeyed through the games. It tore him apart. Slaughtering his soul as he stared into the eyes of Tobias. For the first time since he entered the house, Ikaia found himself at a loss of words because right now Tobias shouldn't apologize for not being around, Ikaia should apologize for not saving his brother.

But in a split second, he caught himself wavering as his body shook in fear. A brigade of tears threaten to fall down his face, but somehow Ikaia managed to stop them. His mind raced, and his heart pranced inside his chest as he tried to find the proper words to say. Inhaling sharply, he allowed himself a moment to think. To break free from the grasp the puppet master had on him as the words finally fell in place. "Tobias, I'll always be here. I'm not going to leave you alone. I promise. I promise I'll always be here. No matter what."