Chapter 29

3rd person pov:

It was a calm morning, the kind that promised an easy, peaceful day. Fourth had woken early, as he often did, and spent time in the garden with Gemini, enjoying the warmth of the sun. The air was crisp with the scent of blooming flowers, a reminder that life was still full of small, beautiful moments. But beneath the surface, something was brewing, something neither of them could have predicted.

By mid-afternoon, Fourth had grown quiet, the energy that usually sparked in his eyes fading into a distant look. At first, Gemini didn't think much of it. He'd seen Fourth take days like this before—days when his body seemed to ache from the inside out, his health a fragile thing that often fluctuated unexpectedly.

But by the time they returned to the house, Fourth was visibly pale, his movements slow and unsteady. His breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps, and his hands trembled ever so slightly as he gripped the doorframe to steady himself.

"Fourth?" Gemini's voice was gentle but filled with concern. He stepped closer, his heart picking up speed. "Are you alright?"

Fourth gave a faint, unconvincing smile, but the effort only made him appear weaker. "I'm fine. Just... a little tired."

Gemini didn't buy it. He reached out, placing a steadying hand on Fourth's shoulder. "No, you're not. We're going to get you to bed, okay? You need to rest."

Before Fourth could protest, Gemini gently guided him to the nearest chair. The calm facade Fourth always wore was gone now, replaced by something much more vulnerable. And Gemini didn't know how to fix it, except by being there.

Within minutes, Pond and Phuwin had arrived, the tension in the air palpable. Pond's eyes scanned Fourth's face, his concern deepening as he crouched down to his brother's level.

"What happened?" Pond asked, his voice tight.

Fourth shook his head, his breath still labored. "I didn't—didn't feel well this morning. It just... hit me suddenly."

Phuwin stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor replaced by worry. "It's not like him to hide something like this," he murmured to Gemini, who stood beside Fourth, his hand firmly on his back.

Gemini felt a pang of fear in his chest but forced it down. He couldn't panic now. Not in front of Fourth. Not when he needed him most.

"We should get him checked by the doctor," Pond said, his voice more authoritative now. "This could be serious."

"I'll go with him," Gemini said firmly, his voice unwavering. He stepped closer to Fourth, brushing his hair back from his forehead with gentle fingers. "We're not doing this alone. Not anymore."

Pond and Phuwin exchanged looks, silent communication passing between them. They knew Gemini's loyalty to Fourth, but there was always an underlying concern. Was this love enough? Could it withstand the reality of Fourth's illness?

"Gemini," Pond said, his voice softening but still holding the weight of responsibility. "You don't have to do this. It's too much for you."

"I'm not leaving his side," Gemini replied, his tone resolute. "I care about him,Phi.I made a promise, and I'm keeping it. I don't care how difficult it gets. I'm staying."

Fourth's eyes flickered open, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

Gemini shook his head, his voice a quiet, soothing presence. "You don't ever have to apologize for that. You're not a burden, Fourth. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Pond studied them both for a long moment before nodding slowly, though there was still a wariness in his gaze. "Alright. But you both need to take this seriously. We'll get him to the doctor, and we'll figure this out. Together."

The ride to the doctor's office was a tense silence, broken only by the occasional sound of Fourth's shallow breath. He was still so pale, his eyes unfocused. Gemini held his hand the entire way, his thumb stroking lightly over Fourth's knuckles as if that small action could somehow make the pain go away.

When they arrived at the doctor's office, the staff immediately took them in, the clinical coldness of the room stark against the warmth Gemini was trying to create for Fourth. As they waited for the doctor to arrive, Gemini kept his hand on Fourth's, leaning close.

"I'm not leaving," Gemini whispered, his voice full of conviction. "Not ever."

Fourth squeezed his hand weakly. "I know. You're always here for me, even when I'm... difficult."

"You're never difficult, Fourth," Gemini murmured, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "You're worth every second of it."

Just then, the doctor entered, interrupting their quiet moment. After a quick examination, the doctor's face grew serious, and Gemini's heart sank.

"We need to run some tests," the doctor said, glancing at Pond, Phuwin, and Gemini. "It's possible that the mitochondrial disease has advanced more quickly than we thought. But we'll take care of him. We just need to be sure of the cause."

Gemini nodded, his chest tightening with every word, but he refused to let the panic creep in. He would be there for Fourth—whatever the doctor said, whatever the future held.

As they prepared for more tests, Pond pulled Gemini aside, his voice low but urgent. "You need to be careful," Pond warned, his concern still heavy in his eyes. "This might be harder than you think. Fourth's condition—it could change quickly."

"I know," Gemini replied, his voice firm. "But I won't leave him. He's my priority,Phi.I'm all in and I won't let anything pull me away from him, no matter how hard it gets."

Pond gave him a long, searching look before finally nodding, a reluctant acceptance in his eyes. "Just don't forget that we're all in this together, Gemini. You're not alone in this, either."

As they waited for the test results, Gemini stayed close to Fourth, his presence a constant comfort. He held Fourth's hand, spoke softly to him, and reminded him that no matter what the doctor said, they would face it together.

Though the road ahead was uncertain, one thing was clear—Gemini's determination to be by Fourth's side, through every flare of illness, through every difficult moment, was unwavering.

In that moment, with Fourth's hand in his and the weight of the world bearing down on them both, Gemini knew that love wasn't just about the good times. It was about standing strong when everything else seemed to fall apart. And he was ready to stand, no matter the storm.