"Yes," he said, "it is." He'd believe the lie, because that was a plausible story to tell Cassiopeia if she asked about it. Marius was walking, Pollux ran into him by accident. Of course Marius wasn't coming to the house, and no no.. you don't need to worry about it. Pollux rolled his eyes to himself at the inner dialogue, and glanced sideways at his brother.
He looked...
Well he wasn't eleven and afraid anymore. He looked like Father, a younger version of him with none of their Mother's stern attitude. Pollux kept the whimsical smile from his face and looked away instead, keeping his eyes on the path ahead.
"Are you settling in well?" he asked conversationally, as if nothing about their lives was hard or wrong. As if they hadn't been ripped apart and hurt beyond words. Everything was fine. Of course it was.