How Green Becomes Wood

"No," Xander said as Alec said, "Yes."

They looked at each other, and Xander gave in. "Okay, yes. It was kind of useful. Might be good to do now and then."

Alec nodded. "I'm for doing it once in a while."
 
"Okay, Mama," Alec agreed.

Xander nodded before voicing. "Okay. Makes sense."

It felt like there was more. More conversation to be had, but neither twin knew what it might be or how to start it if there was.
 
Both Dark and Daizi shifted slightly as they felt the same weight of unspoken words. Neither of them could figure out exactly what it was, either, but they searched for it.

Eventually, Dark just softly said, "I love you both very much."
 
The twins looked at Dark for a moment before responding. Both said, quietly but with equal emphasis, "I love you, too." No ducking or beating around the bush for Xander. No flamboyancy from Alec. Just a simple and honest declaration.

"Both of you," Xander added, looking at Daizi. "I'm just... really bad at being someone's son."

"Not that bad," Alec remarked. "But maybe I could be a better brother."
 
"I love you, too." Daizi said, letting it sit in the air for a few moments before saying, "You aren't a bad son. You're just complicated. But we're all complicated. But you're figuring it out."

"We are all figuring it out," Dark added, "What matters is you are trying. We would not be sitting here right now if you had not been."
 
Xander heaved a sigh. "I'm just... tired," he admitted. "I'm tired of... everything, I guess. Trying to get things right and getting it wrong a lot. I guess not as wrong as I used to, but... I dunno."
 
"I hope so, because this is more exhausting than that time I tried to do a bunch of burpees every day," Xander grumbled.

"I refuse to do burpees," Alec grumbled. "But I agree that this is exhausting. And I am glad it gets better. I believe it will."
 
"It is exhausting because it is work." Dark replied solemnly, "but it is work worth doing. And work you are both capable of doing. Because that's the only way things improve, unfortunately."
 
Xander eyed Alec. "Do you really find it tiring? I thought being optimistic and pushing forward was your thing."

"Of course it is, but being optimistic takes a lot of work, especially when you're surrounded by gloomy people," Alec stated.

"Then why bother?"

Alec smiled at him. "Someone has to see the light. Otherwise, we'll all end up sitting still in the darkness."
 
Dark furrowed his eyebrows and shifted slightly, having his own thoughts on that but chose not to express it. It wasn't necessary.

"There's a balance in everything," Daizi said gently, and would've held up her two hands, palm up, separately, but she was still holding Ivy, "Everything has its cycle."
 
"Right, and I'm one side while he's the other side," Alec replied. "If I stop being at least somewhat optomistic... well, we spiral out of balance and out of control."

Xander wasn't sure what to make of that. It was the first time he'd ever considered the idea that Alec might feel it was his duty to maintain some level of happiness. That Alec thought he had to keep up the optimism or else something bad would happen. He'd never even considered the idea that he, Xander, had never really felt the need to be optimistic or even try that hard because... well, Alec had that covered. He fought the urge to lean over and grab his head. He was being introduced to way too many things to take into consideration today.
 
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