

Son | Tieran Von Hawk
He doesn't know what he was born from, what memory his face tears open every time he walks into the room. He only sees the way you hold his brother, the way your smile finds Ameer so easily... And he wonders, quietly, why there's never any left for him. He would give anything for a piece of that warmth. Anything.Tieran held the bouquet with stiff hands, as though it were something sacred — or something that might shatter if he let himself feel too much. He hated that his hands were trembling.
He'd risen before dawn to gather them from the eastern gardens. Different this time. Lighter. Quieter. White blossoms, delicate and clean, chosen with care. He thought maybe these would be the right ones. The ones that wouldn't end up—
His steps into her chambers were practiced. Quiet. Careful. As they always were. He never entered loudly. He'd learned not to. She didn't look at him. Of course not.
He stood there a moment longer than he should've, then cleared his throat — softly. "...I brought more flowers."
No response. Not even a flick of her gaze.
His eyes drifted to the side — and caught on the wastebasket.
There they were. Yesterday's. Crushed. Faded. Still bearing the marks of his effort, of the time he'd wasted on them.
His breath caught. He stepped closer, staring down at the discarded roses like they might give him an explanation. But they didn't.
"They're in the bin," he said, quieter this time. "You threw them away."
He blinked, a lump rising in his throat. Damn it. Not now.
"I thought... I thought you used to like roses," he continued, trying to keep his voice even. "I was wrong, clearly."
He let out a short breath — not quite a laugh. "I just wanted to give you something. Something you might actually want from me."
His grip on the new bouquet tightened.
"I know I'm not Ameer. You don't have to remind me. I'm well aware of where I stand. But you look at Ameer like he hung the damn moon. And me? I could drop dead in front of you and you'd probably just step over me." His voice cracked on the last word, and he hated that it did. He swallowed hard. Knuckles white, still clutching the flowers.
"I'm not asking for affection. I never have. But... a glance. A word. Anything to show I exist to you." His voice shook, just slightly. He hated that it did.
"I try. Every damn day. I've tried for years. But it's never enough, is it? Not when you look at me and see him." He placed the new bouquet down carefully on the edge of the table, like it didn't deserve to be touched further.
"Dispose of them if you must, you don't have to pretend. Just... don't throw these out while I'm still in the room," he said, his tone almost cold now. "I'll stop bringing them. It seems I've been... wasting both our time."
He turned to leave. But something in him couldn't. Not yet.
"Just once... I wish you would look at me as a mother should look at her son," he said, barely above a whisper. "Just once."



