3 n 1 (Tracob)

🎶10🎶

Troye opens his eyes slowly, waiting patiently for his eyes to adjust to the bright light.

He looks next to him to see Steele sleeping in a chair, his hand loosely holding his. 

Softly rubbing his thumb over his brother's knuckles, Steele shifts, opening his eyes a few seconds later.

He makes eye contact with Troye tiredly before jumping up into a sitting position. 

"Hey," he says softly. 

"Hi." 

"How're you feeling?" 

Troye shrugs carefully. 

"Do you remember what happened?"  Troye

thinks for a minute, "I remember...a burning feeling..." he slowly brings his hand that wasn't holding Steele's up to his chest, "in my lungs..."  Steele nods, "They filled with too much fluid. They gave you a tube to help get it out." 

Troye lifts his gown to see a tube stuck in his side. 

"They got as much out as they could but..." 

"But what?" Troye asks after not hearing Steele continue. 

Steele sniffles brings his hand up to Troye's face softly and strokes his cheek with his thumb. 

"Steele," Troye whispers. 

"The cancer spread, baby. It didn't get any better," Steele whispers a tear rolling down his cheek. 

Troye shuts his eyes silently, "D-did they say how long or anything?" 

Stele bites his bottom lip, more tears streaming down his cheeks.  "Steele."  "Six months to a year." 

Tears escape Troye's closed eyes.  "Where's Jacob?" he asks. 

"They won't let him in. Family only." 

"He is family," Troye demands opening his eyes. 

"I know, sweetheart. But they won't allow it." 

"Does he know?" 

Steele shakes his head, "I didn't know if you wanted me to be the one to tell him." 

Troye nods, "I wanna see him." 

"Troye-" 

"I want to see him," he says more stern.  "Tro-" 

"I don't care! I want to see him!" Troye shouts bursting into tears. 

He buries his face in his hands and sobs. 

Steele nods before standing up and walking out of the room. 

A few minutes later, the tears stopped, but Troye made no attempt to change positions, keeping his eyes trained on his hands. 

He feels a gentle hand on his back and he looks up and immediately pulls his boyfriend into a hug. 

Jacob rubs his back and hugs him securely.

Troye grips Jacob's shirt in his hands tightly. 

"When can I go home?" 

"I'm not sure, sweetie. Hopefully soon." 

"D-did Steele tell you?" 

"Yeah," Jacob whispers. "Yeah, he did." 

Troye nods.

No more words were exchanged between the two. 

Eventually, a nurse came in and caught Jacob and made him leave, much to the younger's protests.