[A/N: Please don't mix this up with TOTRF. Hahahahha. TOTRF revolves around the royal family, with krs playing Callen. So brother Ribbit appears more than the other characters. (Well, Brother Ribbit appears to take a different path to insanity). This character, Robbit, is a supporting one. So he's not going to be like our adorable little ribbit. XD hahahah. Also, won't be entertaining any complaints now. If you want canon KRS, please read the novel. This is CANON DIVERGENCE. Happy readings!!!!!]

Rok has never done anything without his brother's consent. He may have been a clumsy rascal, but he never stepped up when Cale could do their shit.

Deruth looked at his eldest, who resembled an older brother. He's not sure who is older between them at times, because Cale is always taking the lead for his brother.

"Are you all right, pumpkin?"

Rok kept frowning at him.

This child rarely says anything and has never reprimanded his brother, but Rok is furious this time.

"Cale."

Cale flinches and cowers in front of his brother. This is the first time the easygoing Rok has sounded stern.

What's the deal with that cowardice?

Cale flinches again as Rok scrutinizes him.

You should never cower in the face of your enemy!

Cale takes another step back, flinching once more.

"H, how can I?"

Rok looked really angry right now.

"Nobody taught me!"

Cale faced all of his enemies alone in his previous life. He died at the hands of the enemies he despised. He was powerless. He had no one around.

"CALE HENITUSE!"

That stopped Cale once again.

Rok, the older brother who would always console his younger siblings, raised his voice.

"Do you think you'll be able to save anyone if you keep doing this?" Rok asked his brother. Cale's eyes widened at how he raised his voice at him.

"Do you think we'll be able to achieve that if we keep wallowing in that?! We're no longer at the Thames Villa! We've moved to Henituse County! Who do you think will protect us if we can't even protect ourselves?"

We're going to hurt everyone, and you're cowering in front of the man who stole everything from you!

"You'll just do it all over again!"

Deruth stands between them.

"Rok!"

Rok raised his head and looked at his father.

"Before we met you, this is how we lived," Rok said, sounding like a child, "and you realized it too, right? There's nothing you can do without that power."

Deruth had gone silent as well.

Rok shook his head and moved his gaze away from them.

He may have spoiled Cale and let him do whatever he wanted, but this time he's not going to sit still. Not when Cale looked, he'd already given up everything by standing in front of that man.

They will simply repeat the process by which they lost everything in their previous lives.

"We have no choice but to survive, Cale, but not in this manner."

They had no choice but to go on living despite the fact that they were missing their most important people.

They had no choice but to live with their regrets and carry on because they couldn't die.

He thought Cale had grown out of it.

He assumed Cale wanted to change everything.

But Cale isn't moving, he's not putting forth any effort, and he's living his life as he pleases.

He was happy with his current situation.

Cale had forgotten what they were trying to change. He went to the section where he was supposed to make a change.

"If this is like this, my promise... I can't keep that with you."

"Rok..."

He ignored Cale's call and went to a separate room.

Rok was used to being alone.

Yet, the absence of his half made him feel distressed.

Unlike Cale, he had no family to protect. All he had was himself.

But Cale had them and lived with them; he just acted selfishly, going with the flow of how things in his life came to be.

Cale made those decisions and later regretted them.

Rok is unforgiving.

If Cale makes no effort to change anything, his priority will be to live the life he has always desired.

To be by oneself.

Without anyone to lean on.

Without anyone to rely on.

If his brother does not make a decision soon, everything he has planned will be for naught.

"At the end of the day, I'm still a selfish person."

Rok's only desire was to live.

He sat on the floor with a bitter smile on his face.

He's not used to it, but if he forgives Cale for acting like that, despite what they promised when they were born, he has no choice but to let him go and live their separate lives.

They swore an oath to one another.

It was a silent vow that both of them swore to keep until the end of their lives.

Rok tenses up. He shook his head and sighed.

If Cale continues to be like this, I'll be forced to move on my own.

The cold war lasted a week.

Cale appeared to be fidgeting whenever he was in the presence of Rok. Rok was unfazed and continued to ignore his brother.

They've had minor squabbles in the past, but this is the first time they've seen the older brother act like the older brother.

Deruth looked at his son. He decided to take Rok to talk to him today.

"Son."

"Yes, father."

"About Cale."

Rok looked at him. This child of his really looked mature at times like this.

"If Cale keeps acting like this, we won't be able to survive."

Rok is cruel, but he will not turn his back on his people. He considered Cale to be his closest companion, which is why he can't forgive him for cowering in fear this time.

"Father, have you ever lived somewhere where you didn't have a choice but to survive?"

Rok was curious.

"I had no choice... I had to..."

His previous life.

This new life.

He was created to endure anything in order to protect his brother.

"I have to endure everything in order to protect him."

Luke Thames once told him that as the older brother, he must look after his younger sibling.

Even when he shouldn't be getting any closer to anyone.

He was always the one who got left behind.

"It is my responsibility to teach my brother how to survive as I did."

Two different meanings for two different lives.

Two souls, two ways of living.

Cale lived in a rose-colored world, thinking and regretting in the end because he made stupid decisions before he could change them.

Kim Rok Soo, who couldn't die but kept living.

"There's nothing more wonderful than living..." Rok said, "living what we've worked so hard for."

For his slacker and wonderful life.

Deruth was impressed by Rok's attempt to teach Cale how to behave in front of their adversary. Rok was dissatisfied because he cowered in fear, clutching his pants.

Rok spoke as if they were having a second life.

While Cale pretended as if it were the end of the world.

It was when Deruth realized Cale is running away from his fears and Rok is attempting to make Cale face them.

Cale was upset with Rok because he met someone he fears.

Cale, on the other hand, cowers down in front of that person, as if he wants the world to swallow him whole.

"Do you blame me for being so harsh with my brother?"

Deruth's epiphany stopped.

"No," he said, smiling, "but I'm proud of how you try to teach your sibling in that way."

Rok was there before him. For the five years before they moved to the county, Rok was a beacon of reason and comfort for Cale.

"I hope you continue to guide your siblings in that manner..."

He even questioned whether he was the child's father.

"I'm proud of you, son... I hope you and Cale can solve this problem."

Deruth has no say in the matter.

It's a conflict between siblings.

Rok leans against him. He observed how this child timidly taps his toes while swaying his feet together.

Deruth wrapped his arms around Rok and gently patted his head. At times like this, Rok, his always silent and lazy son, would request to be spoiled.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Can I beat up Cale?"

Deruth snorted and pressed his hand against Rok's side.

"What a brutal way to express brotherly love," Deruth laughs, drawing a small laugh from Rok.

"I'll really beat him up if he gets on my nerves."

"Don't beat him up too much."

"Wow, you actually allowed me that?" Rok laughed.

"Well... if you beat him up, I'm sure you'll beat him up when I'm not there."

"Sure thing, haha."

***

"Good day, little redhead."

Cale looks up to see Adin standing in front of him. He thought this jerk had already left, but he was still here.

He went outside to get some fresh air, but he ran into him.

His entire body shook. His pulse was erratic.

"Hey, I thought I told you not to show your favorite before us."

When he looked up, Rok came to his aid. He was supposed to be with Deruth, but he arrived before him.

"Well, I came to meet the other redhead because my conscience told me not to leave without speaking to him," Adin said with a smile, "you really aren't afraid of me, Rok."

"How could I?"

Cale looked at his brother, who bravely replied to the imperial prince, "you're just a human being like the rest of us; what distinguishes you is your title, nothing more, nothing less."

Only a human being? He is the enemy.

He was nothing more than an ordinary human being before he became the enemy.

Cale flinched as he raised his head slowly.

They're just regular people now.

There is nothing more or less.

Cale bravely raised his head to reach for Rok's hand. It was still cold, but Rok's grip on him tightened.

"Bully..." he says, causing Rok to snort and laugh.

"Am I a bully?" Adin wondered. He was taken aback. Nobody ever really told him he was a bully.

Cale was still scared, but Rok seemed to enjoy bullying this jerk. If they can get that sun-shit royal, they can get this mogu-bastard! There is no such thing as a rocky hill for a man with an iron will!

"Meanie, too! Keep bugging Cale." Cale frowned endearingly.

"What a cute little rascal you are!" Adin exclaims as he looks at the pair. "A strong but lazy older twin and a shy but adorable little twin."

Adin kneels down to their level and pats their heads. It was awkward for Cale, but when he looked up, there was that genuine smile on their supposed enemy's face.

Like my plan?

What plan?

Roping this bastard before he becomes a bastard.

Cale lets out a light chuckle.

Adin looked at him and said, "You look cute laughing like that; I hope I can hear that the next time we meet."

"We're not going to meet."

"You sly rascal, tell me you missed me."

"How delusional," Rok scoffs.

Adin laughs at Rok's remarks.

"Well, I just stayed for a few more days because I wanted to apologize to Baby Cale," Adin said, standing up and handing them a golden plaque, saying, "Treat this as my gift for both of you. Come visit the imperial palace soon."

"All right, rob your treasury."

"If you can get it empty."

"I will," Rok said mischievously. They're talking about money.

"You sound like a plunderer."

"Yes, I am."

"Me too," Cale says, still clutching his brother's hand.

"Marry me then."

"Don't want to." The twins immediately replied.

"Why? You'll marry that First Prince but not me?" Adin really looked like a normal person right now. It's as if what happens in the future is nothing but a distant dream.

"Alvery looks like gold."

They still have their priorities intact.

"We like gold," they stated solemnly. "You only looked like silver."

"Hah! You're the first ever rascal to treat me this way!" Adin laughs again, contentedly saying, "I'm richer than your goldie prince."

"We can check," Rok said, already planning how to use the golden plaque.

"Well, then... see you, and I hope to hear something positive."

Adin pats their heads once more before departing.

"That's new," Cale exclaimed as he walked away.

"He hasn't been tainted yet," Rok said, looking at him. "Let's go home."

He leads his younger brother back home.

Cale obediently followed Rok back to the castle.

"Are you not upset?"

"I am."

"However, you came."

"Shouldn't I?"

"No... thank you."

There was a brief pause. Rok has always supported him from the sidelines and let him take the lead.

"Hyung."

"Hm?"

"I really like it."

"Like what."

"How proud and honored your back looks right now."

It's a cheesy load of crap, but Rok didn't say anything. He continued to walk, a small smile on his face, with Cale close behind.

"It does?"

"Hm."

"It's wide and proud."

TBC