Crying certainly wasn't what Elliot had expected to do. Oh, he figured there'd be a few tears, but for the most part he'd expected David to be the emotional one. That it was he, Elliot, who let the dam be breached, made him realize just how much he'd been holding back over the past few years. There had been plenty of days filled with abject hopelessness over the thought of never being reunited, but from the day his parents died up until this moment, he hadn't given in to the tears.
Furthermore, if he'd known that, at that moment, his younger brother was experiencing a bout of protectiveness over the countless people who had tried to tell Elliot his brother was dead? Elliot would've laughed, hugged David even tighter, and would proceed with pulling himself back together. He'd never had a problem being the strong one, putting on the brave face when it meant keeping David safe. It came easily to him. Just as it was easy to tamp down his urge to cry.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Elliot began to pull himself back together. Easing out of the hug, he drew his sleeves across his eyes, wiping away as much of the evidence he could, although his red eyes were a clear giveaway that he'd been crying.
"Brotherly bond," he huffed a laugh. "Yeah. That sounds about right. In this case, logic was an ass I severely wanted to kick. Multiple times. Maybe with a sledgehammer." Elliot swallowed thickly when David said he was the strongest person he knew. "If that was true, there'd be a lot less people left in the world. And besides that, look at you. Clearly you're just as strong, if not stronger."
Luck and immune. Funny how often those words were used in the same sentence. It also reminded Elliot that he hadn't come here alone. Feeling a rush of guilt for abandoning Rae, especially after she'd taken a tumble into icy water, Elliot turned his head to peer over his shoulder at her. She was the one who'd sent his little brother to this place, to this safe haven, and he owed her so much.
And then David asked the question Elliot had been most dreading. From the tone of his voice, it was clear that David already suspected the truth, but he wanted to hear it from Elliot. It should've been a simple thing to say. They're dead. Two words, explaining everything. But they stuck in his throat. He stared down at the floor in front of him. And nodded. "They've been gone since this whole thing started," he said quietly.