My Soul Has Been Crushed. I Love This So Much!!

My soul has been crushed. I love this so much!!

ALWAYS THE FOOL WITH THE SLOWEST HEART — ALBERT J. MORIARTY

📼: angst, yearning, unrequited love, complicated feelings

📼: he loves you but you've fallen for his brother instead.

📼: okay ouch </3 ty for the request, anon :)

albert will never truly finish falling in love with you.

when you ran alongside him past the old, weathered houses lining the summer fields with the afternoon air in your hair, he knew he would never stop falling in love with you. or the time you two sat, cross-legged on the carpet in the drawing room, drawing doodles of each other with bright crayons on paper that had been torn from albert's workbook..

you were etched into his heart, into his soul — he was sure he would forget his own name before forgetting yours.

and when talks of you and albert becoming engaged were brought up between your parents and his, he felt happiness so overwhelming it almost overshadowed the suffocating, negative emotions he'd feel upon merely looking around at the state of his family, at the state of britain. you shared the same sentiment too, and he was happy to see that.

"what are you giggling about?" you'd ask one summer morning when the two of you were in your preteens, having a picnic on a hilltop, protected by the shade.

was it obvious — that giddiness on his face? "i'm not sure what you're talking about." he leaned back on his palms, trying to play it cool. but he knew he was doing anything but convincing you, especially when his fingers tightened around the plaid picnic blanket you two were sitting on.

he loved you dearly, and perhaps you loved him a little too.

seasons changed and time went on, while you were enjoying breakfast with your family one morning — your father broke the news of what happened to the moriarty manor, about the fire engulfed albert's family, how albert, his adoptive brother louis and 'william' were the survivors.

you rushed to him the very next day, worried about him.

"you're sure you're fine? no injuries whatsoever?"

it was the umpteenth time you'd ask him that question, and yet his answer always remained the same: "i'm fine, (name)." a few scratches meant nothing if you were here.

the topic of engagement was dismissed, but albert didn't mind one bit. he was just happy being around you. it seemed like things were finally becoming better for him.

he introduced you to youngest brother louis soon after, his new and found family, and you were very happy for him. he, too, seemed much happier than before — much at peace. louis was a bit distant yet respectful and william, well...

he was really nice, you thought when you initially met him. he was kind, polite, gentle. he was a really good person.

years passed, and all four of you grew up.

now albert watches from the kitchen window, absentmindedly staring at you and william walking side to side in the backyard without a destination in mind.

"can you pass me the salt?"

"..." albert tears his eyes away from the two, smiling at louis. he'd insisted on helping prepare dinner because he could not afford to be alone with his thoughts, neither could his heart handle being close to you two. "yes, here it is."

the way the two of you moved together, so in sync and enamored with each other made albert's chest tighten. he'd sneak in a few stolen glances every once and then, even though it hurt him to, he couldn't help it.

meanwhile, he remain on the sidelines, the perpetual third wheel, the one who could never quite find the courage to make his move. always the fool, always the one with the heart that seemed to beat a step behind everyone else's.

he watches as william places a kiss on your forehead and how your face visibly brightens at such a simple action. a part of him wishes he could be the one to make your eyes glitter like that, to hold you in his arms like william gets to. but he knows that is nothing more than a distant dream.

william is a good man, he's everything. he knows that your heart will be completely safe with his younger brother and yet, he doesn't know whether to feel pity at himself or be happy for the two of you, happy that you found each other.

and as if knowing the turmoil albert is feeling, louis gently pats his eldest brother's shoulder. "brother.."

"it's alright." albert let out a deep, heavy sigh, and when he turns his gaze back towards louis. the youngest brother saw tears forming in albert's eyes. he also noticed a slight tremble in the wry smile that albert fought hard to maintain.

at that, louis fell silent immediately.

the wedding preparations were complete and only a few days later, you would be somebody else's entirely.

for the sake of your happiness and that of his younger brother's, he is resolved to let you go. he knows that the depth of his feelings for you will only bring him ruin, and he knows that he will let it. yet, not a single speck of his sorrow will ever burden you: he will make sure of it. this act of release will be his final, ultimate expression of love for you.

and as softly as it started and as heartbreakingly it will end:

yes, it is true. he will never truly finish falling in love with you.