Damien flinches, quickly apologizing, whereon I huff, saying that it’s not his fault and all that crap and that he’s only trying to help.

“I think that’s the nicest thing you ever said to me.” he says teasingly.

I wonder why, dickhead.

“If you don’t watch out, it may be the nicest thing I’ll ever have said to you.” I say mockingly, smirking at him. 

He laughs awkwardly. “Than I better be nice.”

Okay, maybe I should make amends. Or whatever.

“Don’t you dare!”, I shout instead, “Just be yourself and everything will be just fine. Don’t pretend to be someone else just so folks like you. Understand?”, I ask.

He smiles at me gently, blushing again. I snicker “How come you blush so easily?”

I mean, dude, I'm not even trying to be particulary nice. Or flirty. Stupid imbecile.

Damian groans. “I don’t usually do that.”

“So it’s because of me?” I taunt, wiggling my brows.

“Is there something you can’t counter?” he questions. Duh.

“Sure is, just try long enough, it’ll work eventually.” Shaking his head, he sets me down on the closed toilet lid, asking if there’s at least anything I can do on my own.

I just shrug and say that I am very well able to take a piss on my own but that aside from that I can’t do much. Should've been obvious by now but whatever. I mean, they broke both my arms, legs and several ribs. I really don’t know how they managed that in the few minutes they hit me.

Bad bones?

Due to crappy nutrition? Wouldn't be suprised to be honest.

But what I really ask myself is why they did it. Like, I never said I was gay, and being gay is no reason to hit someone. It certainly isn't the best reason one could come up with to hit me. But that’s only my opinion.

Damian lifts me up and pulls down my shorts, which proves to be difficult because of the casts I’m currently wearing. Apparently, they brought me to the hospital while I was only semi-conscious. Seriously, I can't remember jack shit after I fell asleep in the nurse's office.

Damian hesitates before he pulls down my briefs as well, blushing furiously. I’m actually a little annoyed that he’s so shy already. 

“Something wrong?”, I ask. I know that I’m quite attractive but why should he care? I mean, we've got the same equipment. Even if he’s gay too, that doesn’t mean he flushes whenever he sees a naked male. He also plays a lot of sport and sees his teammates like this all the time.

So, really, no big deal.

“I… I’m gay.”, he mumbles. “Do you want me to stop?” So he really is gay. Huh.

I roll my eyes. “Why should I care?”, I ask. And I mean it.

“Don’t you feel a little uncomfortable being naked in front of me now?”

“Why would I?” I wonder. He's such an idiot. “You’re a guy as well, you know, got the same parts as I do. And looking doesn’t hurt, does it? And I mean, just 'cause you’re into guys doesn’t mean you’re into me?”

He hums, lifting me and the toilet lid up before placing me on the toilet. “You know it doesn’t work like this?”, I ask as he wants to leave the room. “Seriously?”, he asks. 

“Well, I don’t know how you go to the toilet…”, I say. He walks over to me, helping me with red cheeks and ears, he actually looks kinda cute like that. Still an imbecilic idiot though.

Damian also helps cleaning me up with a wet cloth. “Could you maybe, possibly, help me the next few weeks?" 

I hate asking shit like that. Who wants to own anyone a favour, even if they're a moron like him?

"They seem to have arranged a wheelchair so I can at least listen at school."

How considerate, really.

"I don’t know how many courses we have together, but I think it should probably be at least half of them. I’ll still need help doing literally anything. What do you say? Or, well, would want in return?”

“It's all of our courses. Just so you know. Also.. Can I stay at your place for the next few months? I have some problems at home, so that’d help and, uh, I could also look after you better like that?”

He looks at me pleadingly. How come he knows it's all of our courses? Is that common knowledge? Am I really that ignorant? How likely is that anyway? Okay, there aren't exactly that many alternatives but still... 

Urgh, the dickhead is making me overthink this shit.

“That’s fine by me I guess." It's not like I have a choice.

"But you have to sleep in my room" 

And I have to tell father. He doesn’t like strangers in other rooms than mine, kitchen or the living room. Friends are such a nuisance.

"The locked room is off-limits, understand? Don’t even stand in front of it and don’t talk about it or mom or anything family-related in front of anyone you might meet. Also, you have to leave your stuff in my room and always lock the door, even if you only go to the toilet, father could stop by any moment.” 

I ponder for a second.

"Prefarably, don't touch anything." Yep, that should be everything.

“Uh… Is there a problem with your father?” Damian asks, looking worried.

“He is alright as long as you leave him alone. Answer all his questions, even if you have to lie. It doesn’t matter if he hears something else later, he doesn’t care. Also, you absolutely have to leave him alone should he cry. Can you cook?”

“I can cook a little. Do you?”

“Maybe.”, I smirk. “You can collect your stuff and after school we can use my car to drop by at your place. Can you drive?"

 "Yeah...", he mumbles, "You have a car?"

 "Got a problem with that?", I ask, rising my brows. 

Stay calm, Arda. I'll just make the best out of it.

I remember my blank room, the missing colors… 

“Bring also some knick-knacks and curtains and a carpet if you have one. My room is kinda… empty.”, I say. That's the understatement of the year.

He salutes and carries me back to Lassys room. “Oh, and may I call you Dam?”, I ask. Damien's way too fucking long, seriously.

“Only if I can call you Addy.” he says. Got some guts, gotta give that to him. Or he's just generally lacking some brain. 

“Deal.”

We shake on it and he excuses himself to pack his stuff. I spend the rest of the day watching anime, Lassys father helping me with going to the toilet and brushing my teeth. Overall a day well-spent for someone like me. 

Lassy sleeps on the couch as long as I occupy her bed. I also ask her for some bed sheets and tell her about my home so she understands my request. Just the necessary parts, obviously. She complies happily, taking some yellow-orange ones and also packs me some sweets.

I think I don't completely hate having friends, I didn’t even really notice how lonely I was. Sure, it’s a little more stressful than usual, but that’s alright. I like talking to Damian, even though he's a shit-brained idiot and I love teasing him until he blushes crimson. I also like battling Lassy and annoying the hell out of her.

Of course, I still miss mom, but now it feels as alright as it'll probably ever be.