To say that Aurum had changed, and that he had gotten new scars, would be one hell of a fucking understatement. So much had changed since Poet had left that Aurum practically wasn't the same person anymore, name and all. He was kinder. He was a father. He was going to be an uncle, soon enough. Not to mention his new position as proxy. Most of it had been good changes, but his body carried the memories of the less than stellar changes. Like the giant starburst scar on his chest that could be seen through his mane when he turned just right, and the bandages that still sat over his right eye, where nothing but an empty hole remained. His entire body was littered with new minor scars, and he carried himself differently, his steps silent and deliberate. Wormwood was just a mere shadow of the past when compared to Aurum, and the lion had felt no remorse in abandoning that old persona, and all of the trauma that clung to it like a rain cloud over a parade.

It had been a calm day thus far, and Aurum had spent most of it just doing his usual duties, returning home to spend home to spend time with Roy and read. He was preparing to go on a walk, figuring he might as well tire himself out physically before he tried to force his body to rest. As he opened the door to his home, he turned and called back inside, tail flicking, "I'm going for a walk, Roy. I'll be back soon enough... be good and try to sleep, please." His voice was soft and parental, and full of affection. He then closed the door behind him, turning to leave his porch... when he froze. Immediately the stink of his old pride hit his nose, and he was baring his teeth instinctively, his wings spreading out and flames engulfing his mouth, spewing through the gaps in his teeth. His one good eye darted around to find the source of the scent, before he looked downward. When he saw Poet, he stood rigid on the porch for a moment, just... staring, flames still licking forth from his mouth. However, after a very long moment, the flames ceased, and his one crystal blue eye filled with hatred. His voice was emotionless and even as he spat, "Why are you here." All of the familial warmth and affection in Aurum's words when they were directed at Roy had been replaced, and now there was just cold indifference.

Aurum could feel anger like fire spreading throughout his chest, and faint little flames licked at the edges of his fur, flaring up before snuffing themselves out. Rhe larger lion moved down the front steps of his porch, not particularly wanting Roy to grow worried and emerge from the house. He wanted to yank Poet down, and throw the other off of his fucking territory. He resisted that urge, however, taking a shaky breath before he spoke, "And? Do you have some kind of point to coming here and telling me this, because I sure as hell don't see one. I don't give a fuck about the pride. I haven't in months. And I haven't exactly cared a whole lot about you either, since you killed our Mom and then took off." His voice raised a little bit at the end, cracking with anger before he forced himself to calm down. Don't make Roy get up. Don't make Roy get up.

It doesn't matter that Poet was being so frustratingly calm. In fact, if anything, that calmness only made Aurum's anger worse. Because here was his brother, the one who had abandoned him, standing in front of his house trying to chat and explain himself like they were still fucking chummy. He stared at Poet for a long moment, his entire body wanting to tremble with the emotions that were running through his mind. Finally, he spoke dryly, his one eye locked with Poet's gaze, "I had to find her body, you know. I was looking for you. I thought things were going well. I didn't like her being around, but at least you were safe. But you know what I got to find instead? I got to walk in and find my Mother's dead body. I got to see the fucking bloodbath that had been made out of Judith. She was never a good mother, at least not to me. But that didn't mean I wanted to find her dead fucking body, Poet![i]" The trembling was even worse as he said the last part, and he felt so fucking worn down already. He continued, digging his claws deep into the ground below him, "And you know what I found? You [i]know what I found? A note. A fucking note, with no more than a simple goodbye, and no fucking explanation! If you killed her to protect me, then why did you fucking leave instead of not being a coward?" There were tears in his eyes now, hot and angry, and his wings were drooping at his sides. He looked... tired. So, dreadfully tired.

"A second chance. You want... a second chance." Aurum said, his voice low and ragged as he looked at the other, his body still trembling. He was so fucking tired, and this was all so goddamn weird and unexpected and he had just wanted to go on a fucking walk. His throat was closing, and he could feel the burn of tears in his eyes, his body wanting to collapse in on itself. He rumbled after a long moment, tears slipping down his face and his voice shaking, "Why... why should I give you a second chance? So you can what, leave again?" His throat was raw, and a huge part of his brain had alarm bells going off, telling him to just fucking kill Poet and get it over with. However, he couldn't, and he knew he couldn't. He had never been able to hurt Poet, even when he wanted so desperately yo be able to.

Aurum wanted to cling onto his anger. He wanted so, so badly to be able to continue to be angry, and tell Poetking to go fuck himself. However, he knew that he couldn't. Because Poet was talking as emotionally as he ever really did, and Aurum could barely breathe thanks to the not quite sobs leaving him, and he knew well that he was going to break. He couldn't help it. He was so angry, but it had also been so long since he had seen Poet, and he had missed the other so badly, even when he hadn't been willing to admit it. After a couple more gasping breaths that made his lungs ache, Aurum finally spoke again, his one remaining eye focused on the ground beneath him, "I don't want to trust you. I don't want to trust you because I know it's not going to end in anything but pain and hurt again. Hell, you're still hiding things from me. But I can't, and I hate it. I can't just turn you away and tell you to get the fuck off my porch, and I'm so mad that I can't." He vented weakly, his legs wanting to give out as he continued, "I'll give you a second chance. I know that I shouldn't, but... I will."