His Greatest Fear

Disclaimer: I do not own The Demon's Lexicon or any of its characters. All of it belongs to Sarah Rees Brennan.

It was funny how things worked out. The source of his greatest weakness was also the source of his greatest fear. Alan. He seemed to be the source of Nick's greatest everything.

Despite Mae's lesson's, he still didn't understand love, but he knew he cared about Alan. Nick would do anything to protect his brother. Only through Alan could this demon be controlled. That made him Alan's greatest weakness.

Then, Mae had told him about fear, and he was fairly sure he had understood it. But Nick had never felt true terror until Mae had told him what Alan planned and what Alan feared. Alan had made the decision to trust Nick but now regretted that decision.

When he heard that, Nick's veins felt like ice had flooded into them. A cold, uncaring hand closed around his already too-human heart and attempted to crush it. He couldn't see or feel the sunlight any longer as the thought that Alan might leave him, might disappear from his life forever entered his mind.

And Nick knew he wouldn't be able to find him. Wouldn't be able to follow him. Nick wasn't like Alan. He couldn't scheme or make plans. He could only act. If Alan wanted to hide, to keep himself away from his demon brother, he would easily be able to.

But Nick didn't want that. He couldn't let that happen. And so, he came to a decision – the only one he could. He would do anything. Whatever Alan wanted – he would do it. If Alan wanted Nick to be stripped of all his powers, he could take them. If Alan wanted to keep the demon's spirit inside the container of a human body, he could trap him.

Nick was willing to do anything, go along with any plan, follow any order, give up any power, be trapped anywhere, pretend to be anything as long as Alan didn't leave.

After his decision was made, each second that passed seemed like an eternity. And Nick knew all about an eternity of waiting. Before this life, before his inhabitance of the body of Nicholas Ryves, he had spent eternities waiting to be called into a human body. That had been horrible, wishing and waiting longingly for the light and warmth of the human world. But this, not knowing if Alan would still want to leave even after Nick agreed with all his plans, this was pure torture.

Then, the morning when he would talk to Alan finally, finally came, and it had taken everything he had to force the words out. However, in the end, it had been more than worth it.

He had been stupid to doubt his brother, but Alan had lain all his fears to rest. Alan promised to never leave, and while Alan did lie very often, Nick just knew that Alan wouldn't lie about this.

Alan would stay, and somehow, everything would turn out okay. As long as Alan stayed.

A/N: Hey y'all. Welcome to the end of my second Demon's Lexicon drabble. I hope you enjoyed it. It's the (maybe) long-awaited, eagerly anticipated second fanfic. Once I finish the third book, I'll write one for that too. It's a self-appointed goal that I will make happen. Anyway, as for this drabble: like it? hate it? wanna tell me everything that was wrong with it? Knock yourself out (aka Go for it)! See you next fic.