The air Anthony breathed in was stale, and his eyes met darkness as he opened them. Momentarily, he'd brought himself to believe that he was blind, but that was nonsense, really. There was no way possible that he would become sightless, then again, he had no idea what had happened the past few hours to bring him to this unknown state.

As he had said before, the air was stale, it tasted old and dead as he inhaled the oxygen into his lungs. He stretched out his hand and felt around with his fingertips. The ground was hard, it was made out of wood, he could tell. Anthony was all the more certain of his when he felt the pinching pain of a piece of that wood going into his flesh. He hissed, quickly drawing back his hand and holding it within the other, riding through the subtle waves of pain until it abated into almost nothing.

After this, he resumed in his search, except going about it much more cautiously this time, by lightly tapping his surroundings, instead of sliding his hands around to places. To his surprise, he barely had to move an inch, when he fingers suddenly knocked into a wall beside him. His fingers then extended to above him, only to be loudly knocked into the ceiling of the space.

Anthony shook his head in disbelief, before bringing his hands up to clutch at his temple tightly.

"No, this can't be happening. These things just don't happen to people like me, they just don't." He whispered, over, and over again. He was in denial, he knew, and it was useless, because he was there, and it was happening, and he was helpless to do anything about it.

Anthony then silenced himself as he heard a soft shuffle, barely audible over the pounding of his heart, but he heard it, he swears it.

There it was again, a hushed scrabbling coming from somewhere inside the tiny cell in which he was trapped in. Frightened whimpering began to erupt from the opposite side of the space. Along with the start of rapid breathing. Anthony was pretty positive that it was another person, the noises that they were making was pretty distinct and obvious.

He stretched out his feet to feel for the person, and as soon as he did so, his feet had collided with something solid. The person squealed, shrinking back and curling its legs as far away from Anthony as possible.

"Sorry, sorry, it's okay. I promise I won't hurt you." Anthony whispered quickly, before anything got out of hand. The rapidness of this person's breathing lessened increasingly, and the tension quickly faded, and the person began to speak.

Anthony, though, could only wish he hadn't. His heart sank as soon as words pierced the thick air that surrounded them.

"A-Anthony?" He whispered, his voice frightened and apprehensive.

It was Ian, God no, why him?

"Ian, baby, is that you?"

There was no reply after that, but he heard a rapid scrabble, and a sudden pressure against his chest. Hands were suddenly patting their way quickly up his torso, feeling around, and quickly making their way up to his neck, where they immediately wrapped themselves around his shoulders. A heavy weight began to press into his side, and there was no doubt in his mind that was Ian.

Anthony felt cold puffs of air blow across his neck, showing him as to where Ian's face was.

"Anthony, what's happening? Why are we here? I'm so scared." Ian's tremulous voice whispered as of right next to his right ear.

Anthony hushed him, quickly drawing up his own hands onto, what he suspected, was Ian's shirt. He patted his way upward, in search of his face. He briskly found his way to his scruffy chin, and carefully depicted the thin, fragile form of his face. He gently cupped the top of his head in his palm, running his fingers through is soft hair and caressing the top of his forehead with his thumb.

"It'll be okay, I promise. I'm here, you're not alone, calm down." Anthony cooed, leaning down to delicately kiss the younger man on, what he suspects, to be his forehead. He felt Ian rest his in the crook of his neck, and shaking it in denial. Anthony felt Ian quiver, as silents sobs were racked throughout his entire body.

And Anthony was helpless to do anything but curl his arms around the man and help him ride out the waves.

One month earlier

It started with a sharp sting, that started from his skull, and traveling, at lightning speed, down into the depths of his head. Only, that was what had begun it. The pain was white and hot, exploding in fiery depths of agony that rode out and throbbed in rapid waves. As if he were out in the ocean, struggling to reach the surface for a breath, only to be hit with another wall of water, dragging you under until there's nothing left in you to struggle anymore.

But, the pain gradually faded, and he was brought back to his senses. He gasped for a breath that he wasn't aware of holding, and looked up, once again, to his raging father.

The man's nostrils were flared, and his eyes were lit with an overpowering fire, that almost sent him cowering into the corner, all in an attempt to escape the man's cold scrutiny.

"Get out!"

What, had he heard correctly?

"What?" He asked, his voice broken, and crestfallen.

"I said, get out! I will not have a fag, such as yourself, rub off anymore of your stench onto anything of mine anymore."

Anthony nods, struggling not to tear up. He couldn't let Ian see him like this when he found him. He couldn't let him see how much his father's disapproval had affected him.

"As you wish, I shall leave."

Anthony made it back to his feet, and left his father's sight. Wondering of how cruel he could be at times.

As soon as the door was closed and he was outside of his father's office, he immediately found Ian waiting for him outside.

"So, how did it- huh!" Ian gasped, catching sight of the swollen knot that his father had punch into his face. Ian hurriedly scurried over, before lightly grazing his cold fingertips over top of the aching wound, inspecting it for signs of it being more serious then it let on.

"He did this to you, that bastard-" Ian was grumbling before Anthony cut him off, "I'm fine, really. He just didn't take the news all too well." He was finding himself, again, fighting back tears, trying so desperately not to break down in front of his love.

He was supposed to be the strong one, here.

"Aw, I'm sorry. I know he was the only family you had, but if he really loves you, he'll come to his senses eventually." Ian said trying to assure him, all the while, still running his fingers soothingly over his bruise.

"Yeah, but you don't know my father." Anthony grumbled, looking down at the cold tile floor.

He heard Ian sigh, deep with sorrow and thoughtfulness.

Anthony looks over and down at Ian's beautiful face, to find him looking away, his breath was slightly wavering and weak.

"Ian, darling, are you alright." He asked in concern. Ian quickly swallowed, looking down before turning over to him, his eyes showing deep grief and worry.

"Anthony, do you think I'm really...worth all this. You're losing everything... because of me, and I wonder if you regret this, us...me?" Ian was looking up at Anthony's face now, but he still refused to meet his eyes.

Tears were now beginning to dribble down his cheeks, and dripping off at the edge of his chin, making subtle patting sounds as they hit the floor.

Anthony shook his head violently at Ian's stupidity, before bending down and pulling him into a kiss. A kiss so deep and heartfelt that neither of them could barely bring themselves apart.

"Ian, God, don't you ever think that again. I love you so much, you mean the world to me. I would give up everything I own, just as long as I can keep you. Without you... I don't know how I would be able to live with myself," Anthony told him firmly, against his lips.

Ian only nods, staring lovingly up into the taller man's eyes, before whispering, "Lets go, Anthony, I don't want to be here anymore."

Anthony nods his head in agreement, curling his arm around Ian's thin frame, and guiding his towards the exit.

Author's Note:

Hey, I hope you like this start, I am feeling so excited for this story, I really enjoy writing and editing it. I can only hope that you will like reading it as much as I love writing it. :) Love you guys.