harry's creature inheritance

The Tension Carries On

Trigger Warning

This story includes scenes of partner violence and emotional conflict. Please read with care and stop if you feel uncomfortable. If you need help, reach out to someone you trust.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, but it did little to warm the cold atmosphere hanging over the house. Sev and Luc woke heavy with the weight of last night's fight, but neither knew how to bridge the growing gap between them and their subs.

Ric and Arthur sat silently on opposite ends of the living room couch, their bodies close but their faces guarded. The sting of Sev's slap still burned on Arthur's cheek, and the hurt in Ric's heart tightened with every strained silence.

Sev stood by the window, arms crossed, jaw clenched. Luc busied himself with tidying, but every movement was stiff, mechanical, like he was trying to work through his guilt. Neither wanted to face the damage they'd done — but neither could ignore it either.

Ric finally broke the silence, voice soft but firm. "Why are you both so angry with us? What did we do wrong?"

Sev snapped his head around, the rawness in Ric's question hitting him harder than any reprimand he'd delivered. "It's not about you," he said tightly, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "We're under a lot of pressure, and sometimes it spills over. It's no excuse, but—"

Luc cut in, voice quieter, "We didn't mean to hurt you. But it's hard to keep everything together sometimes."

Arthur's lip trembled as he met Luc's eyes. "It feels like it's always us who are wrong... like we're the problem."

Sev's hands curled into fists. "That's not true. You're not the problem. We just... we failed you."

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until the door opened quietly. Remus stepped inside, followed closely by Elara, his mate. Their presence filled the room with calm authority.

Remus's gaze flicked over each of them, serious. "What's going on here? This tension, this distance — it's hurting everyone."

Sev glanced away, guilt flashing across his features. "We didn't mean to—"

Elara placed a gentle hand on Arthur's shoulder, guiding him and Ric out of the room. "Come on," she murmured softly. "You deserve some space."

Remus faced Sev and Luc fully now, his tone firm but compassionate. "You're both responsible for the safety and well-being of your subs. Stress is no excuse to lash out or make them feel unsafe."

Sev swallowed hard. "We're sorry. We're trying—"

"Trying isn't enough when people get hurt," Remus said. "You need to own this, fix it, and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Luc's shoulders sagged. "We will. We just... we didn't realize how much it affected them until now."

Remus nodded. "Good. Now, think about what you need to do next."

The weight of the conversation settled on Sev and Luc as they sat alone in the quiet house, the ache of regret sharper than any slap or harsh word.