Bond of Blood

[Jason Campbell]

Family could be so complicated at times. Take the Campbells for example. Jason loved his younger brother and would go through hell for him. But the two simply could not get along. Jason let their father die. He knew this was how Raphael saw things, or at least he was pretty sure it was how his little brother saw this. And because of that they were barely talking to each other. When he came back to Kalispell and saw in what state their father was, Jason had felt terribly guilty. For his brother. He left the boy all alone with a shattered man. Jason felt terrible thinking what his brother might have gone through. He wished he could explain him why he did all of this, or more like did nothing to be perfectly clear. This was rotting their relationship at the core. The main issue was that he was, one: awfully busy and two: he didn’t want to talk about this in public and make a big scene out of it.

Jason had a lot of work ever since he agreed to stay around town. And with SPECTRE and all putting fear of mutants in everybody’s mind, it just made things more difficult. Jason tried to help the best he could, tweaking medical records and everything, healing those who had been injured in situations you’d rather not write down in a file. He was also helping out a young girl in finding a way to neutralize her power, at least long enough to be able to touch someone without paralyzing them to death.

There were two reasons however why he decided to head to Raphael’s work today. The first was that he recently visited their parents’ graves and it made him want to try again to talk to him. The other was that he heard he had some health problems. He was hurt to think Raphael preferred to suffer or see anyone else but his brother. Did he think Jason would refuse to heal him? He wanted to know if those words he heard about him possibly being in pain or something were true. But as he arrived at his work, they told him he was not there. They said he liked to go out. Ironic, wasn’t it, that strangers knew his brother better than he did?

Jason left Raphael a message, hoping he’d get it and, even better, reply to it. And while he waited for that miracle to happen, he thought he wasn’t losing any time looking around in case he’d find him. Outdoors... well that was vast. He knew he had more chances of him calling back than to find him, just like that, on the side of the road. But he’d still try. Because despite what Raphael might think he was still his brother and he still loved him. He just wished things were easier between them.

[Raphael Campbell]

The roar of the water below, the sound of it crashing down over rocks and writhing, entwining down through the road it cut through the mountainside was... Remarkably therapeutic. The air no longer held the bitter cold it carried in Winter and was surprisingly pleasant, the sunlight streaming down warming the veterinarian's face. He was laid out on his back, his eyes closed, one leg dangling over the side of the fallen tree. It was quite a precarious position, and he had supposed if anyone came across him they would question his sense of self preservation. The fallen tree, struck down in some storm from who knows when, had ended up right across the roaring water, it's roots and perhaps sheer defiance keeping it from braking from the earth and drifting down river. Perhaps not the ideal place to take in the scenery for most, but it seemed perfectly logical to the vet.
With one arm behind his head, his other across his stomach, he took a deep breath and sighed, a small smirk playing on his lips. This, by far, was the place to be... And little to no chance of being disturbed. He'd simply needed an hour or so to himself... He slowly opened one eye, letting his eye adjust to the bright sunlight before opening his other. The clouds in the distance told him it would properly be the best idea to shift before they came overhead.

He furrowed his eyebrows, slowly raising one hand, stretching out his fingers before clenching his hand shut tightly, repeating the movement a few times and watching the sunlight stream between his fingers. Hs muscles had regained their strength, although the few spasms at night were still bothering him enough to disturb his sleep. They'd settle... He was more then used to it by now.
Raphael was struck from his thoughts by the slight quiver in his coat pocket, sighing before pushing himself up from his relaxed position to sit up, dangling both legs now over the side of the tree's trunk. He dug in his coat pocket, pulling out his phone, assuming it to be work calling him back in or wanting his advice on some issue or other. The caller however left the vet with a slightly awkward distaste in his mouth; His dearest brother had left him a voicemail. Instinctively, Raphael shoved the phone back into his pocket before the message had even begun to play.
To say things were awkward between them was putting it mildly... The man was practically a stranger to the vet, and his attempts to get Raphael to maintain some manner of pleasant conversation with him as though nothing had happened was almost pathetic in the vet's eyes. As if he thought all of this could be cleared up with a cup of coffee, a shit joke and a couple of apologies. It was laughable.

Raphael lent forward, his forearms resting on his thighs as he stared down at the swirling rush of water below him, clicking his tongue in thought before sighing in an aggravated manner; He couldn't just leave the man hanging... He'd only keep trying to ring until he got an answer. Raphael retrieved his phone once again, activating the voicemail and putting the phone to his ear. Just about catching what Jason was saying over the water, the vet closed off the message before it had finished. Jason wanted to see him. Wanted to talk... With an exhale of breath, he got to his feet, balancing with almost unnatural perfection on the preciously fallen tree. Walking along it back towards the safety of solid ground, his balance not wavering even slightly, Raphael reluctantly pressed redial. Jason would only keep at it until he got some form of answer from him... Might as well get it over with.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason had never been a nature kind of man. Not that he hated the outdoors. He simply was more of a townsman than the camping type. Of course, he had no problem with his brother being more the nature type of guy. He had the right to live his life as he wanted, he was old enough to do so. It was just yet something else dividing them, even though it seemed quite small in comparison of everything else. Or what could have united them, had they taken the time to consider it. Anyway, all this to say Jason wished he wouldn’t have to go down of his car and walk through the woods to find his brother. He had more chances of getting lost and coming back to the civilized world by the end of the month than finding him in there.

As he looked at the sky and the scenery, he could understand what drew his brother so much to that kind of place. It was calm and beautiful. But Jason still preferred cities. Maybe it was just New York rubbing off on him. He wondered where Raphael could be, in all of this. Did he go there to think about their past life and his regrets? Jason wished he’d let him explain, tell him how much he regretted the pain it caused to his young brother. He knew this would not make up for all that happened. They would need far more than that for water to flow under the bridge again. But Jason wished for a sign from his brother that such a thing was possible.

Not to add that hearing he might be sick scared him. He remembered how their mother was sick in their youth. She couldn’t even get out of bed at the end. Jason was at school then and often feared a call from his father telling him it was over. He saw the pain in her eyes and he knew Raphael must have seen it even more, considering how close he had been of their mother. And now it was his turn. He had no idea if it was the same thing, but it was enough for the doctor to be concerned.

Jason was ready to try and call his brother again when his phone rang. A quick look showed him it was Raphael. He stopped the car and quickly answered. “Where are you?” he asked. There was some concern in his voice he could not manage to hide perfectly. It was almost funny how he’d be worried for a grown up man who was used to live on his own. But he was.

[Raphael Campbell]

His brother had never been a man of nature, far too keen on the urban sprawl of the city. It made the outdoors a relitively safe area to avoid the doctor in, since he rarely ventured off the beaten track. Raphael, on the other hand, knew the twisting maze of trees that surrounded Kalispell like the back of his hand. It was his retreat, his sanctuary, a place of quiet solitude from the pressures of work and the personal emotional weight Jason seemed to weigh on his shoulders each time they spoke. It had been a week since the vet had last spoken to his brother, and why exactly he was being contacted now was uncertain... But his brother seemed to fluctuate, one minute he wanted to try and talk and the next he'd surrounded himself with work in some effort to avoid the vet, Raphael was sure. Just like when they were children... Jason wanted to pick him up and drop him whenever he pleased, whenever it suited him, under this veil of the "Oh so concerned" older brother. It was a joke.

The leaves crunched underfoot as Raphael walked some feet from the roar of the river, pausing as the call was picked up. Before he'd even taken a breath the doctor spoke, questioning where he was, his brother's voice carrying an undertone of concern. Raphael felt a small, saddened smirk cross his lips as he bowed his head a moment; He'd have thought Jason was faking it if it was in his nature. The doctor must have had another bout of guilt over him. 
Raphael let a long pause fall before he spoke a reply, letting the man on the other end wait. "... Well, if you must know I've just been laying on a precariously fallen tree over the river," He spoke in an off hand manner, a hint of sarcasm to his voice as he continued his trek back through the dense trees towards the main dirt pathway. "... But please, don't worry yourself, I'm perfectly fine." He furrowed his brows as he paused, noting how surprisingly good the signal was. Had Jason actually ventured out of town? "... Where are you anyway?" He questioned.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason was really trying to find the time for his brother. He knew they had much to tell each other and a lot of work to do to rebuild a relationship between them. Or perhaps build was the correct word here. Ever since he came back and realized what kind of man his brother had turned into, he realized he had never been much there for him. Sure, he had the excuse of studying medicine in another state and then practicing it, again in another state. But even before that. The difference of age had Jason act as if he merely tolerated Raphael’s presence, pissed when he had to babysit the kid and everything. He felt like he had his part of blame in what caused Raphael to become the man he now was. He knew apologizing would not change much but he wanted to make the efforts. He wished his brother allowed him to. But he supposed he was not the one who had been the most hurt in all of this. Still, whenever he could, he tried to show him he was there.

Of course, if he didn’t have so much work, it would help make him sound serious about it. Instead, it looked as though he extended a hand towards Raphael only to pull it back. But he had the time now. And even if he didn’t, the thought of his brother being sick made him want to take the time. He could still recall their mother and at the thought his brother might go through the same kind of pain... he couldn’t bear it. Just like he couldn’t bear Raphael remaining silent on the line. He was about to lose patience and ask him to answer when he did. And now Jason wished he didn’t know. Then again, he was ready to bet Raphael told him that precisely because he knew it would hurt him. It was the problem with the two of them. As much as they tried to work it out, they always ended up saying something that stung and made the other react badly.

Jason forced himself not to sigh or anything. He had to remind himself Raphael was an adult, that he didn’t have to treat him like a child you need to hold the hand of. He might even have said that only to piss him off. Don’t worry yourself, what a funny man his brother was! “I’m on the main road that goes through the woods, in the middle of... well the woods I guess,” he said, pausing a moment as he looked around for any indication of where he might be exactly. But all he saw other than the road were trees. Not helping. “Look, I don’t want to talk about our parents, okay. I heard you were unwell, I was concerned. Your job told me you might be out here so I tried my luck,” he told him after waiting another, longer moment. He didn’t need Raphael to tell him this was a pretty dumb thing to do. As if his brother would leave to the woods to end up walking along the road. Jason wouldn’t even be able to recognize his car if he was to see it. But he still had to try. Because it was his brother, his only family left.

[Raphael Campbell]

Deep in the back of his mind Raphael was willing to acknowledge that his brother was at least making some attempt to make amends, bit it felt far too little far too late. In the vet's eyes this man had systematically abandoned him as a child, when he needed the support of his brother the most, Jason had fled for his own selfish benefit. Now he expected him to welcome him with open arms, to push aside all of those years of abandonment for the sake of blood being thicker then water? All of those nights Raphael had stayed up with their dying Father, attempting to provide him with some form of comfort in his final years... And where was the golden boy doctor? Living his life away from his family as though they didn't exist. Jason had quite simply never been there for the vet, and he failed to see why now had to be any different. Funny thing, guilt. It seemed to have finally taken effect on the man, and Raphael wondered if this was perhaps the only real reason for the effort he was attempting to put in to building on to the near none existant fondations of their relationship... If their Father hadn't died, would he even be here now? Raphael doubted it.

He smirked sadly at the pause Jason gave on the other end of the line once he'd spoken, knowing what he'd said likely caused him some worry. Despite his ability, the doctor still seemed to worry whenever the vet got himself into some dangerous activity or extreme sport or other. Again, perhaps just stemmed from that guilt... No. Raphael did know the man cared, at least to some degree. He also knew that perhaps commenting in such a way was an immature response, but at this stage he didn't care too much.
"... The road that goes through the woods?" Raphael commented more to himself then to Jason, frowning as his smirk faded; His brother HAD ventured from the urban safety of town to the tangled mass of forest, something quite out of character for the doctor. Had he truly wanted to speak to Raphael so badly, he'd driven all the way up here just in the faint hope he'd come across his sibling in the vast wilderness? He opened his mouth to reply when Jason spoke again, this comment causing Raphael to stop in his tracks, tightening his grip on the phone before slowly moving it away from his ear. He graced his finger over the touchscreen and ended the call, frowning as he swore out of frustration under his breath.

So, THAT was why the man had come looking for him... Once again, Guilt. The only reason to Raphael that ever seemed to drive Jason to speak to him. This was the last thing he needed, to have Jason poking and prodding him. He took a deep breath, tapping his fingers against his phone as he considered his next move as he pocketed his phone. He couldn't very well leave the man looking for him, he'd only panic. With a slower pace, Raphael continued towards the dirt pathway, reaching the edge of the trees. He lent against one, folding his arms as he observed his older brother some metres away. "... So sorry, you got cut off," He called out to get his attention, the small smile accompanied with the sarcasm undertone to his voice indicating that it very well was him that had ended the call.

[Jason Campbell]

It was not as if Jason could not understand his brother’s point of view. He could see how what he did could be seen as him abandoning his brother when he certainly needed him the most. He didn’t want to minimize what Raphael went through by saying it had not been easy for him either. Raphael was just a kid back when their mother died. And when Jason finally came back, it was to bury their father when he was not dead yet. He supposed he had done very little in the past to show how much he meant to him. A letter now and then was not enough to show someone’s worth to you.

Still, every time Raphael was to step backward when he made one towards him hurt the man. More than he would admit or show. He knew these things took time but he wished he could fast forward it a little. He was willing to wait on the sidelines for Raphael to see he was not leaving him this time, that he was here. Of course, this all made sense only if the man bothered to look, which Jason wasn’t certain of. He probably preferred to deny it all. God knows he deserved such treatment.

Jason sighed when the line ended. He cursed under his breath as he tossed the phone on the passenger seat. No need to redial, he knew it was not the line that was the cause of this, it was Raphael. Mentioning their parents was risky after all. At this point, he didn’t bother driving anywhere. Raphael wouldn’t want to see him, he was certain of it. This did not please him of course. He was ready to make this meeting anything but some sort of making up thing, if his brother didn’t want of this. He only wanted to be reassured that the man was fine. He’d leave him be if that was only a sore muscle from too much exercise or anything of the like. But he couldn’t expect Jason not to worry, considering their family history.

He had his elbows against the steering wheel, his hands grabbing his head, his fingers playing in his hair as he sighed again he tried t think what to do now. He didn’t expect to see Raphael after that. Which was why he startled as he heard a voice. At first, he expected it to be some other driver coming to him, wondering if he needed any help or something. But no, there was his younger brother, casually resting against a tree.

Jason got off his car but did not make the few steps separating him from Raphael. He almost feared the man to run away into the woods if he did so. He didn’t care what he said and he needed no smirk of his to know why he got cut off, as he put it. “Can you really blame me for worrying? After what happened to mom...” he told him, hesitating as he mentioned her. He always considered her a touchier subject than their father, if only because Raphael had been so close to her in her last days. “I had to make sure,” he added, as an excuse for this irrational behaviour coming from him. He probably should have just called, even simply leave a message, tell him what he heard and worried and wanted a call to make sure he was okay. Instead he drove his car into the woods, hoping to find a man in there. Can you make more impulsive than that?

[Raphael Campbell]

Raphael knew to some degree Jason didn't exactly have the best upbringing either. Looking back now as an adult he could see the pressure their Father had placed on him from a young age, and he remembered the arguments all too well.But despite all of this, Raphael couldn't see why Jason had chosen to punish him as well as their Father by leaving. what had he done to warrant being pushed aside? Jason had shut him out, barely contacted him beyond the occasional letter. Shortly after the doctor had left Kalispell
Raphael had attempted to visit him, working out the exact journey using buses and trains... But when the day came the younger Campbell child fond himself standing at the bus stop for about an hour instead before returning home. He couldn't leave his Father too... No matter how much the old man seemed to value Jason over him, he was still his Father. If he left too it would only have pushed him all the more faster towards his deathbed.
And now, suddenly since he returned home, Jason suddenly wanted to make amends on the year after year of rejection, and yet he acted almost surprised when Raphael stepped back when the doctor tried to move their relationship forward? Once Jason was done playing the overprotective older brother, he'd return to New York. Why should the vet get invested, when he'd likely only leave him again? He was good at that. Abandoning people.

Raphael kept his slightly amused expression as his brother emerged from the car, quirking a brow slightly. Had he really driven all the way up here just on the CHANCE he'd come across him? The expanse of forest was massive, and the odds of crossing each other's paths was relatively small... And yet the doctor who rarely ventured beyond rural areas had risked coming into the wilderness... Well, that road that ran through it anyway, in order to locate him.
"You're a little off the beaten track for you, aren't you-" And he trailed off. Jason had just mentioned their Mother. At once the vet frowned, his smirk fading as he stood up straight, slipping his hands into his coat pockets. Jason knew that was a tentative subject, and to just come out with it... Raphael had half a mind to leave the man where he was and make off into the forest. But he wasn't going to leave like some startled animal just because his brother had decided to play the Mother card. "... Are you, are you done? Because, you know THAT isn't exactly the best subject to bring up." He spoke in reply, unable to keep the slight poison from his voice. "I don't know what you've heard, but I'm fine. Completely and utterly fine." He approached the man, giving a slight shrug. "So, um, yeah. Wasted trip on your part." He didn't think it would be best to mention the painful muscle spasms. The last thing he needed was Jason freaking out and fussing around him.

[Jason Campbell]

If only Jason knew what Raphael feared the most was being abandoned once more... Then again, his younger brother had no reason to believe him when he was saying he was back for good. Even Jason was not sure about it. For now, he was back and had no intentions to leave immediately. Raphael was a reason for it, of course. But he also stayed to help the other mutants. He always liked research, perhaps as much if not more than medicine. And he could not exactly conduct those researches in New York. Sure, it was a very large city and had to have an equally large community of mutant. But they might not be wishing for one to look after them. Not to add that if they were there, then they learned to deal with their powers. Those who might need his help more were here. Especially now, with SPECTRE threatening them all. Of course, he would not tell all of this to Raphael. Not that he thought the man would not understand. But he believed his reasons to be back were his own and he didn’t want to involve Raphael in this. He probably had enough of a father who did research in vain, didn’t need to see his brother following the same path.

He didn’t feel the point of agreeing with Raphael. They both knew Jason was a city boy. And yes, it had been foolish of him to come here and try to find his brother. But he did. He’d rather avoid Raphael’s teasing on how he was getting out of character. The young man would probably think the reason had more to do with his guilt than the man himself. He supposed he was not entirely wrong. Jason felt terribly guilty for letting their relationship grow into this. And it probably was said guilt that made him want to fix things or worry so much for a man who proved a long time ago that he could handle things on his own.

He looked down however when Raphael finally spoke. He knew, yes, that is was not something he should bring up just like that. But he had to, to explain his point. He remained silent, wondering if he didn’t just say the one thing he really shouldn’t. Just to make it any clearer to him, Raphael just dismissed all of his concern, shoving them away as if this was nothing but rubbish. He looked up at Raphael, noticed he got closer as he talked. “Considering you wouldn’t have come to me to tell me in person there is nothing to worry about, I’m not quite sure this trip was a waste of time,” he pointed out. Yes, that did sound like a slap in Raphael’s face in answer to those he gave him. It seemed to be the only way they communicate. Not that it pleased Jason, but what else could he do? “I didn’t want to bring her either. But she dismissed her symptoms at first and we both know how it ended. You can’t blame me for wanting to see for myself that you’re fine when I hear you might share similar symptoms,” he added. He wished he had been able to hide the slight exasperation he felt from his tone. But he feared Raphael might hear it, which he expected would only ignite things.

[Raphael Campbell]

Raphael, if asked, would have said how he had absolutely no faith in his brother remaining permanently in Kalispell, and as such no faith in the man standing by his word and actually BEING an older brother to him... But beyond the bravado and walls he'd built up around his heart in regards to Jason, the vet longed to be proven wrong, but he had no intention of admitting this nor allowing himself to think on it too much. Why should he bother trying to build this mess of a relationship, when the doctor likely had no indention of staying anyway? This town didn't have his heart, Raphael knew that. The city called his name, a world far from the vet and the town they grew up in. It was only a matter of time before Jason left once more, and this time Raphael was determined it wouldn't leave him with such a heavy heart as the previous abandonment.
Jason's overprotective nature now was still almost laughable to his brother, since it seemed so very out of character. For years Jason hadn't even bothered with him, barely communicating and never visiting, perhaps far too consumed in his hectic, perfect city life, ignoring the skeletons lurking back home... Raphael was clearly an aspect of his life Jason has previously wanted to ignore, and only now had the guilt finally gotten to him. And yet, so many in Kalispell had welcomed the doctor with open arms. Raphael highly doubted the man had been open with his past, since he doubted most would have been so welcoming had they known Jason's history of abandoning his family. Although the vet didn't exactly go out of his way to dirty his brother's reputation, he couldn't help but smirk out of amused disgust if his good nature was praised upon in his presence.

The younger Campbell child felt his smirk returning as Jason commented on the fact the vet wouldn't have come to tell him himself that he was alright, shaking his head a little as he looked upwards towards the sky before returning his furrowed gaze to his brother. "Right. Remind me again why exactly that's a major factor for you? To hear it in person? A phone call wouldn't have serviced?" He spoke in reply, the sharp nature of his words keeping the conversation on shaky ground. Oh... OH. Once again, the doctor had pulled the Mother card. Was he just angling for some sort of verbal battle? The exasperation in his voice told the vet otherwise, but he suspected the man had still brought it up in order to gain a further reaction from him at it's mention. The vet didn't answer him right away, instead leaning his forearm against the top of his brother's car, shrugging casually with a clear level of sarcasm. "Right, so, Jason," He began, gesturing with his other hand in a mocking absent minded manner. "Humor me a moment, and just tell me one thing." He then snapped his gaze firmly to his brother, narrowing his eyeline, bringing his free arm down with a shrug. "WHY exactly am I any different to our Mother, to our Father? You didn't help either of them, and you just said that you're worried I'm suffering with similar symptoms to what Mother had, that you were concerned. Well, forgive me, but why am I any fucking different? What if I WAS suffering with the same symptoms? You planing on using your powers to help me?" His smirk widened, although the sadness behind it was obvious to see. "I doubt it, Jason, I doubt it very much. So get off your high horse of older brother overprotection and just go back to what you're good at, eh? Helping everyone else but your actual family."

[Jason Campbell]

Jason would have preferred for his brother to yell at him. To say what he wanted to tell him, right here, straight in his face. To let everything out for once. But they were both stubborn men and, instead, Raphael chose to stay in his corner waiting for his brother to leave like he expected him to while Jason hoped for a sign from him to give the doctor a reason to stay. They were stuck in that situation. Jason thought he was making efforts, that he showed his good will, his desire to get closer to his brother. The vet simply didn’t want to. He tried not to blame entirely his brother, he knew he did little for Raphael to trust him, but he was hurt by his attitude. Hurt and frustrated. If he wanted to throw a fit because of their parents’ death, then he should do so. He was ready to take the blame for that, he’d give his version and let Raphael decide what he chooses to make of it. But no, nothing. Apparently, he was not worth the saliva.

Of course, Raphael had to think a phone call would have sufficed. He preferred to limit his visits to his brother to a minimum so why go in person to see a doctor, right? “Maybe I wanted to see for myself, be assured of it,” he replied. His tone was growing as sharp as Raphael’s and he did notice the ‘big brother’ kind of tone in his voice. Raphael will probably say to him he had never done anything that allowed him to act like his big brother now. But Jason couldn’t care less. He was and that was enough of a reason for him.

As Raphael towards his car, he did tense up, staring at him. Honestly, he believed for a moment that he’d punch him or something. Instead, he rested an arm against his car and started to talk to him. That didn't exactly help him loosen up, strangely enough. He startled on his emphasis on the ‘why’ as he asked him why he’d help him after ignoring their parents. He should have seen this one coming. He did ask for it earlier. He tried to stay calm as Raphael vented out on him but his jaws did clench and concern appeared in his eyes for an instant as he hypothesised he might have the same their mother had. He wished it was not the case, really. He probably said it only to get a reaction out of him though. Well, mission accomplished.

Jason frowned as he kept talking. He made him believe so little in him that he thought he’d never help before even asking him to. Worse, he said out loud that he did not believe he would ever. “Raph...” Jason began to say, stopping as his tone was probably too soft for him to trust his brother. He sighed heavily and forced his voice to take a firmer tone. “It’s not the same. You’re not like them, you understand. You can still fight those symptoms, if you have any. You can think whatever you want of me but don’t you dare say I’ll turn my back on you.” As he said that, he knew his argument was flawed. He gave the man plenty of reason to think he’d turn his back on him, starting with the fact he already did. But Jason didn’t want to tell Raphael why he chose not to help their parents. Their mother was the only one Raphael loved dearly and he didn’t want to stain her image to him. “You’re different,” he simply repeated.

[Raphael Campbell]

What exactly did his brother want from him? What did Jason want to achieve by seeking him out like this and dragging up issues the vet had long made it clear he didn't want to discuss with the doctor? Raphael couldn't help but assume Jason was almost angling for a verbal fight, perhaps expecting that if his younger brother unbottled his emotions towards him and played all his cards it would leave them with a firmer foundation on which to build up their relationship... But the vet was in no mood for such bonding attempts especially as he felt he could see right through them. This was just another sorry try on the doctor's side to get the vet to speak about his issues, Raphael was certain... And annoyingly, Jason was riling Raphael up to the point where some of it was beginning to boil over.
What did the golden boy WANT from him?! To accept him with open arms after a outpouring of verbal abuse? Or did he want the vet to get angry so he could wallow in his guilt to an even greater degree? It was always about Jason and his needs... It always had been.

Raphael noticed the tense tone lacing his brother's voice, the clear uneasy stance he was beginning to take; And now, beginning his reply with "Raph"... It was almost insulting how far emotionally they were from each other now. Jason didn't even know that the vet disliked that nickname... Andon the doctor's next set of comments, Raphael actually laughed. He knew it would come across as cruel, and perhaps even immature, but the words he'd used and the attempt at conviction within them was so ridiculousto the vet that he coudln't help but laugh. "How DARE I?! Wait, so, let me get this stright. You're placing ME in the wrong here, for sujesting you would abandon me?" He spoke, the poison so obvious now it was practically dripping from every word. "Jason, I don't know if you've forgotten, I know how you like to push me to the back of the life, but you've already played the abandonment card, back when I was 11. So forgive me if I don't take your words at face value."

The vet was getting increasingly irritated by this confrontation, wishing now that he had taken off into the forest while he had the chance; Jason had likely wanted him to get angry, and he was playing directly into his hands, he knew that. It was almost like the doctor wanted to immerse himself in guilt, likely to only make himself feel all the better when he managed to get the vet to forgive him. it was sickening.
Raphael pushed himself off the car, closing the distance between him and Jason, the difference in height obvious now. "... WHY am I different? Because I'm your little redemption project, so you can feel better about abandoning an 11 year old kid with a depressed Father?" He smirked, his face close to Jason's. "You're a fucking joke."

[Jason Campbell]

Jason could understand Raphael hated him for what he did, or more like did not do, to their parents. He could also accept his distrust because he had been abandoned before. But there seemed to be more, like he hated the whole idea that was Jason Campbell. What did he ever do to Raphael to deserve such hate from him? He tried to protect Raphael as a boy from knowing just how bad their mother was. He even envied how he could play while Jason had to work. He never understood when his younger brother would enter the lab and try to join in. Work always meant a lot to Jason, you could even say he was obsessed with it. But he still envied Raphael back then for being able to have fun and be a kid.

He had to admit however that he didn’t think much about him when he left. He regretted it, perhaps more than the rest, when he realized he left the boy all alone with a broken man. Perhaps he hoped for their father to get a grip once Jason would be gone. But he never and seeing his hope shattered so brutally in his face, well it made him feel terribly guilty for not checking on Raphael before. He even thought he should have tried to make the boy live with him back then, no matter how absurdly complicated it would have been. But he could not tell Raphael all of that. First, he doubted he’d believe him. Also, and most importantly, something in him just wouldn’t let him, like some sort of misplaced pride. Or maybe it was just his cynicism acting up on him.

Like a parent who refused to see their child had fallen into drugs and criminality, Jason was ready to find all the excuses of the world for Raphael’s behaviour towards him. He lost his mother too young, their father never loved him enough, he wasn’t there for his brother... Anything was better than admitting Raphael had decided to dissociate from his family, dead or alive. “I went to college!” he exclaimed when Raphael said he abandoned him before. It was not like the whole thing had not been planned. Even if their mother had not died he was supposed to go. He had his student loan ready and a place in a dorm house and his name in one of the best school of medicine in the country. “Dad’s the one who almost kicked me out. What was I supposed to do, turn my back on my future in hope he’ll take me back someday?”

Of course, the way Raphael later put it up made him realize how he took it. Jason tried to contain himself but he could feel a cold shiver going down his spine and making it hard for him not to lose it completely. He clenched his jaws before he’d say anything more he might regret. He tried his best not to add anything but as Raphael’s said he was but a joke he did feel like the younger man had deliver the coup de grace here. He might be standing taller than Raphael but he was on the floor, vanquished. “You’re different because you want to live,” he finally gave up between his teeth. It was something he tried to hide from Raphael. His brother was free to believe him or not. But why would a defeated man lie?

[Raphael Campbell]

Raphael couldn't understand how his older brother couldn't see why he felt the way he did. It was almost insulting, that despite the clear reasons for the vet's distrust and dislike of his sibling Jason still seemed to think that he had only done what was necessary,
that he'd done all he could. Was the doctor truly so oblivious? Their Father had fallen into a heavy depression after the death of their Mother, which only grew steadily worse after Jason left... Raphael was still a child, only 11 and forced to cope with trying to emotionally support a man sinking ever deeper into a spiral of misery. Did Jason attempt to offer the boy aid, or even enquire if Raphael needed any help with their Father at all? Not. Even. Once. Raphael had been left to cope on his own, while his high flying brother flew the nest, leaving behind the turmoil in his wake, seemingly not even glancing back.
Over YEARS the doctor hadn't paid his little brother any attention... Did he even know the exact ability he'd developed? Or know anything about him? They were practically strangers to each other now, and any suggestion otherwise was laughable. The golden boy had turned his back on his own family, when they'd needed him most... Raphael had grown up trying to take care of his Father,
helping him as he dipped in and out of deep depression, all while the man still pined for his perfect first born son. No matter what the vet did, it was never good enough... And to have Jason back now, acting as though his choice to leave had been perfectly understandable... Well, it cut the vet deeply.

Raphael's expression softened a moment with clear undeniable sadness, before it shifted back to one of anger, his hands clenching into fists. "Her career, eh?" He spoke, smirking slightly, closing his eyes a moment as he took a deep breath, suddenly turning away from the doctor and absent mindedly walking away, taking another deep breath and sighing as he folded his arms across his chest. "... Your CAREER. Well, clearly that's where your priority lies. Where it always has done. As long as your life is perfect, who gives a fuck about anyone else, right?" He laughed, before snapping a strong, cold stare at the doctor. "You left a CHILD alone with a man who could barely take care of himself. Did you have to get up in the middle of the night to comfort him, make him food, stop him from attempting soem other fucking stupid experiment to try and save himself?!" He snapped, his bitter tone lacing each and every word he spoke. It was like the doctor had opened up everything the vet had been trying so desperately to keep bottled up. "YOU-" And then the vet paused, blinking for a moment at his sibling. What... Had he just said? That he was different because he wanted to live...? Everything that implied about their parents suddenly hit the vet like a brick wall, and he bowed his head a moment, the grip on his arms tightening. "... What?" He spoke, although he'd heard everything the doctor had said.

[Jason Campbell]

Jason had no idea what happened to Raphael while he was away. How could he, when the boy refused to talk to him. And, of course, it was not the few people who chose to live here after the academy that remembered him. Jason didn’t want to ask too much also. He’d prefer his brother to tell him on his own, not look as if he was doing an investigation on the man. He was his brother, he couldn’t do that! He didn’t even want to check his file at the academy even though it should be easy, with him going there for work on occasion and counting the head of the trainers as a personal friend. The way Jason saw it, Raphael was angry at him for things he had no control on. He liked to talk of Jason as the golden boy of the family. If their father couldn’t get over the doctor or couldn’t stop comparing the two brothers, it was not his fault. He could understand it hurt Raphael but they were adults, they lived their own lives. Carrying that kind of resentment was not healthy. Of course, telling Raphael that might just further anger him. And Jason had done enough of a good job at this already.

“I had no idea! I thought...” he began to say as Raphael brought back the fact he left him all alone with their father. How could he know the man would destroy himself the way he did? Sure, he expected the pain and everything. But not to more or less abandon Raphael also. “I thought leaving was the best solution, for all of us,” he said. At this point, it was clear Raphael was the one throwing punches and Jason could barely stand up against him. He was barely trying to fight him anymore. Why should he, this little dance they were having would keep on, over and over again. Raphael could not get over it. He understood, or at least he tried really hard to. It must have been incredibly hard on the boy, to be forced to grow up so quickly and be the one in charge when he should enjoy his adolescence.

He stared at his brother when he asked him to repeat himself on what he said about their parents. It was enough to give Jason enough to fight still. No way, he would not let Raphael know of this. The man idealized their mother. Perhaps it was why he never thought one second she might have wished not to be healed, not to force her son to be bound to her and heal her constantly like her husband had chose to do. Jason wanted to preserve Raphael from this, as silly as it may sound. He seemed to have only good memories of her, even when she was at her worst. He did not wish to taint them.

And so Jason remained quiet in front of his brother, clenching his jaw as hard as he could, hoping they would not open and risk the words to come out. He even shook his head, showing Raphael he refused to explain further. “You might not want to deal with me but I’ll stay here for a while and we’re bound to run into each other now and then. Don’t you think it’s time to let go of all this negativity?” he said. He wanted to end the argument. He opened his car door but did not enter the vehicle yet. “Maybe you think I’m a lousy brother but I’m a good doctor. I hope if you really end up in need of care you won’t turn me down just because of blood,” he added. Jason had a terrible desire to leave this place. To drive back to town and forget this happened. In the safety of his home, he’ll regain some strength in case they ever end up in a second round.