Chapter Text
Ezra Zachariah Fell has done well for himself in life. More than he expected really. He married a wonderful man. They had a lovely little shop in Soho where Ezra restored and sold old books (well Ezra says sell but he rarely had the heart to part with his darling books), and his husband Anthony ran a plant nursery. It was more than he could have ever hoped for really.
Most of Ezra's youth he was always in the shadow of his brother. His brother the genius, the athlete, the social butterfly. Ezra had never been any of those things, he was shy and spent most of his time absorbed in his books, he was often looked over. People adored Martin though, always so smart and charming. Ezra adored him too. Martin didn't feel the same, he always put up a wall between himself and Ezra no matter how much Ezra tried to tear them down Martin was always cold to him. Everyone's obvious favoritism of his brother hurt but Martin's rejection hurt him more.
When the time came that their parents divorced and they had to choose between staying in New York with their father or moving back to London with their mother Ezra chose London. It was an easier choice than he thought it would be, a chance at a fresh start somewhere new. Martin stayed in New York. Martin never spoke to Ezra again.
At first Martin's totally rejection was hard on Ezra. It was the most severe and pointed of his brother's many rejections. Ezra tried reaching out many times over the years but it never worked and eventually he just stopped trying.
Ezra had of course been right that moving to London would be the best thing for him. He flourished there. No longer in his brothers shadow he could spread his wings. He made friends in school. One day he met the most beautiful boy he'd ever seen stealing apples from the school's garden. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Ezra was doing so well for himself that he rarely even though of his brother at all anymore. He still loved him of course, and on the occasion that he did think of him his heart would ache with the loss of what could have been (he had cried when Martin didn't come to his and Anthony's wedding. He had hoped that maybe Martin would be his best man), but he was content now knowing he had done all he could do.
He hadn't given his brother much thought in quite some time until one terrible morning when he turned on the news and saw his own face staring back.
"Tonight the serial killer 'The Surgeon' may finally be behind bars. NYPD has arrested Dr. Martin Whitly in connection with at least 23 murders. Neighbors say their relief is mixed with shock that one of New York's most prominent families may have produced a monster." Ezra Zachariah Fell, formerly Ezra Zachariah Whitly, goes pale as his tea cup slips from his fingers and crashes to the ground.
"Angel? What was that? Are you all right?!" Anthony rushes in, his golden eyes filled with worry.
Still in shock all Ezra can manage is to silently point at the television.
"Oh dear God." Anthony whispers. Erza would agree if he could feel anything beyond a numb sense of shock. Martin, the shining star, the athlete, the charming genius, his twin brother is a serial killer.