“What did I do this time, Briar?”

He had been acting distant since Theo came home from Marco’s place and was first now climbing onto his lap. A spot he usually ended up in by the end of the day.

Of course, he got no answer. But he had a pretty good guess.

“Your little nose is too powerful. Don't worry, though; he's a nice guy.”

A familiar knocking came from the entrance hall. Someone was at the door.

Any other knock normally wouldn't paralyze him, but there he was, leaning against the couch, refusing to get up.

With a growl, Briar jumped off and left through the living room door, stalking down the hallway.

He was reminded of when he was younger, when Silas would practically break down the door after finding out some unfortunate thing Theo had kept from the family or the few occasions he let something slip to the neighbors.

After his little 'visit', it would take hours every day for at least a week to get Theo to speak to the rest of the family—or even join them for dinner.

Briar had no idea. He was adopted when Theo moved out, after all. To him, this could just as easily be Devin.

"Theodore."

It didn't necessarily sound aggressive yet. But Silas's voice was still loud. How did he not care even the slightest about annoying the neighbors?

Theo slipped off the couch and managed to get himself out into the hallway, where Briar followed him closely.

With shaky hands, Theo unlocked the door and turned the handle.

Before he could get a good look at his visitor, the door slammed open and hit the wall. He shuddered, nearly jumping back as his breath caught in his throat.

Briar backed away, its tail puffed up.

"Took you long enough."

Theo didn't know where to look, and it certainly wasn’t going to be Silas’s face. It felt like the walls of the small space were closing in on him.

"What? So repressed you can't even respond to me anymore?"

His smile was… disconcerting, to say the least.

"Why are you here?"

Silas closed the door behind himself.

“Because it’s over. We both knew that, though, didn’t we? We were never a real fucking family to begin with. But it’s time I said it straight to your face.”

Theo couldn’t keep his eyes away from him anymore. All that stared back at him were two soulless, empty pupils.

Briar was weaving around their legs, brushing his body against them, to try and mitigate the situation.

“I-I’m sorry you feel that way.” A reactionary response. He was way too shaky to come up with anything else.

“You—“

Once the cat finally caught Silas's attention, his mood tempered for a second.

An unbearably long second, where none of them spoke.

And yet, if only it hadn't stopped.

Theo barely had time to register the clenched fist before it connected with his jaw. His lip got caught between his teeth, tearing the tender skin. Blood seeped into his mouth, its metallic taste mingling with the sharp sting of the split lip.

Staggering backward, he pressed a hand against his lower face, trying to stem the bleeding. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Briar launching himself at Silas, claws extended and teeth bared. He swiftly latched onto his leg, biting down hard.

“Fuck.”

That irritated look on his face. No…

"Wait—"

The instant Silas' shoe hit Briar's small body, Theo dropped to the floor beside him.

"Don’t bother contacting me. Ever." He left the apartment with a loud slam of the door.

"Briar…" His fingers combed through the shuddering cat's fur, petting the impacted area. He maintained eye contact, making sure he understood he was safe.

Theo had betrayed himself once again. He didn't even try to fight back. And after Briar tried his best to help him as well.

A soft meow left the animal as its tail wrapped around its body.

Theo could feel Briar’s heartbeat slow down under his hand, its front leg stretching across Theo's forearm.

"There's my boy."

For a moment, the tiniest smile spread across his lips.

He was, regrettably, used to Silas's aggression. But this was something else. Something… more permanent.

At the same time, a nagging feeling gnawed at him. There was no way this could have gone unprompted.

Either way, all that kept ringing in his head was that he no longer had a brother.

But, did he ever?

The door swung open.

"Hey… Theo." Devin's eyes narrowed when they reached his mouth.

"Wow, okay. I didn't think he left a mark. That's pretty messed up."

Theo stepped inside and locked the door.

"Yeah…"

They walked past white wall after white wall. Theo’s mind was all a blur.

“Want something to drink?”

“I could use some coffee.” He was having trouble sleeping recently. Not that caffeine was going to help.

“Alright, I'll make some and meet you in the living room.”

Theo sat down, placing his phone on the table with the coffee mug.

Theo tugged at the rim of his sleeves, watching it with glazed eyes.

"You're being a bit dismissive. Which makes me wonder… How did you feel about Silas at that moment?"

"Huh? Well, I just… I'm mad."

Devin's eyes lit up.

"Sorry, I was mad. That I didn't do anything."

… His face fell again.

"No, Theo. Him. Weren't you mad at him?"

"Oh... Right. Yeah, of course."

Devin's eyebrows drew together, and he stayed quiet, forcing Theo to continue.

"I feel like you're trying to psychoanalyze me. Stop that."

Seeing Theo timidly pick up his coffee mug and put it to his lips, Devin leaned back, breaking their eye contact momentarily.

"I wish I was better at being there for you. Silently. I know that's probably what you need…"

Theo smiled. He removed the cup from his mouth and warmed his hands on it.

"It's okay. I know you're just trying to help."

Devin returned it.

"I want to know why you're being so held back, though. Why can't you just hate him?"

"Anyone looking in would think I'm crazy for not having cut him off already. But I've had good times. Good memories. He wasn't always bad. I loved him as a brother. Sometimes…"

"But Theo... That's just an abusive relationship, no?"

"You're right, but… it still hurts to lose him, even though I should probably be happy."

"I get it. It's hard if it's someone you've known for a long time.”

Devin paused.

"I still feel like you're too forgiving."

Theo stared back down at the cup in his hands. Warily, he took another sip.

"Mmh…"

"What about Audrey? Are you going to tell her?"

"Not… yet."

With a nod, Devin picked up his own cup right as Theo had to place his back down. A sharp glow lit up the phone’s screen.

It was a text from Marco.

He responded, then put it away in his pocket.

Devin arched a brow.

"Marco. The guy you saw me with at the zoo."

"So it's getting serious, huh?"

"Uhm… maybe. I don't know." Theo's face felt a little hot. It didn't help that a wave of mental images were pressing their way to the forefront of his mind.

"I won't press you on it. Unless you want me to."

"Oh, absolutely not. We've talked enough about me. I just want to relax."

"Want to play something? Watch something?"

"Yes, please. I don't want to think about any of this anymore."

"That can be arranged."

Theo could always rely on him. That, he never doubted.

Standing before a large, mostly glass-stained building stood Marco, wearing an unexpectedly white shirt.

He waved Theo over. But his face dropped when he got what he wanted.

“What happened to you?”

He really didn't need to relive that right now.

“Oh, I just got into a little skirmish with Silas. If you remember who that is. Please don't worry about it.”

“But…”

“I already talked to my friend Devin. I'm alright.”

Marco’s brows furrowed as he glanced off to the side. His body tensed up; it really looked like he wanted to say something. But instead, he pushed the door to the cinema open.

“Okay. Let's just enjoy the movie, then.”

After making it through the lobby and a few dark corridors, they got to the entrance to the auditorium. The number above it shone, matching what they had been told by the staff.

Before them stretched row upon row of seats. The giant screen filled the room with a soft, bluish glow. Commercials played, illuminating the outlines of every seat and the few early arrivals who had already settled in.

Marco’s eyes locked on someone further up the stairs on the side.

Though he didn't know Marco's relation to the person, Theo also recognized him. He’d seen the man a few times before at the cinema. He worked here.

Hurrying to their seats before the lights dimmed, they nestled into them and against each other. However, Theo's attention kept slipping from the screen to the silhouette previously at the top of the stairs.

"Do you know that guy?" Theo's voice lowered to a whisper.

"Just an old acquaintance of mine." So did Marco's.

"Ah, that's all?"

“…Yes. Look, it's starting."

As always, he wanted to ask so many questions. However, all he did was lean against Marco's shoulder, trying to comfort himself and win some favor back. Noticing the faint smile spreading across the man's face, he knew he had succeeded.

Silence swept over the dark room as the movie took over the next few hours of their date.

Back down in the main lobby, the two were on their way to the main doors, shoulders as close as ever.

The story hadn't struck much of a cord with them. Halfway through, they were more eager to get closer to one another in the dark than to pay any attention to what they were actually there for.

It took them a second to realize that the rain was pouring heavily when they got outside.

A quick glance at each other was all it took for them to rush back inside. With labored breaths, they leaned against the nearest wall.

It went quiet as Theo's gaze drifted downward. The white fabric covering Marco's body clung to his skin. It was… very transparent.

He had to stand a little differently once his blood decided to gather in a very inconvenient area.

"I guess we gotta wait it out." First now did Marco notice where all of Theo's attention was going.

"Or… Would you rather do something else?"

"I mean… It would be pretty boring just to wait, right?"

Marco’s grin spread further as he wrapped his hand around Theo's arm, pulling him back into the dark corridors. This time, the ones leading to the bathroom.

Theo’s back hit the wall as Marco locked the stall door behind himself.

But… something was still nagging at him. His uncertainty about doing this in public made focusing on anything but the man in front of him easier.

As he got closer, Theo placed his hands gently on his shoulders.

“I want to know what’s going on with that person from earlier.”

Marco’s lip twitched as a rough hand made its way down Theo’s stomach, lingering dangerously close to his crotch.

“You’re asking too many questions.”

Once he came into contact with Theo’s clothed cock, his grip tightened around its visible shape.

“W-Wait.”

Theo inhaled sharply.

“Already hard, huh?” Sliding his hand inside, Marco closed it around Theo, making him gasp.

“Marco…”

Theo covered his mouth to quiet the moans that so desperately wanted to escape.

“Shh…”

His fingers brushed over the split lip's indent, making him freeze. His hand landed on Marco’s chest, trying to get as far away from the memories as possible.

“I…”

A warm sensation spread throughout his body as Marco kept pumping his hand on Theo’s cock.

He grasped the man’s wet shirt, crinkling it under his shaky fingers, which soon dug into Marco’s skin. The heated sound he got in response made his face flare up.

That's right. His voice. As siren-like as always. Lulling Theo into another world.

He could feel the end getting near. His body trembled. His mind went blank. His back slammed hard against the wall. And before he knew it, it was all over.