A/N: I don't own Bro (Matthew), Eddy, or some of the other characters. They are owned by Danny Antonucci and AKA Cartoon. I do own the original characters of the story though. I don't make any money from writing this story either. Be sure to read Two Eds and a Bro if you haven't yet. Also, check out the ongoing prequel "A Clockwork Bro" as well. Hope you enjoy the story.
The prison Eddy entered had very bland décor. The cement walls clashed with the bleach-smelling white tiles. The prison had not even bothered to add in a couple of throw rugs or generic paintings in the waiting room he sat in. The chairs, themselves, were also uncomfortable and were a grayish blue color. Old magazines sat on wooden tables. The only things that hung from the walls were certificates over the condition of the prison. It was as if the prison interior designer was trying to make Eddy and other prison guests as uncomfortable as possible.
He wore a visitors ID that hung from a string around his neck. He idly read one of the financial magazines as he waited for prison staff to allow him to see his own brother. He had not talked Matthew in about four years ever since Matthew was arrested for attacking Sasha in Sasha's own bar. Eddy has not even seen Matthew ever since the turbulent trial where Matthew's past trauma as a child was presented as evidence of Matthew's own instability for everyone in the courtroom to hear, including Matthew's and Eddy's own parents.
While his parents were already extremely stressed over the trial, the first day that Matthew's attorney brought forth evidence that Matthew's past trauma contributed towards the crime, his parents' health took a downturn for the worse. Margaret, he and Matthew's mother, was inconsolable. Carl, he and Matthew's father, spent hours after trial dates hunched over toilet, dry heaving. Matthew was molested by a registered sex offender and kept his silence for fourteen years. His parents had to sit in the courtroom, listening to every horrible detail. It was like sitting in a rape trial where no rapist was present in order to be charged. Matthew was the one on trial over his and his lawyer's claims that Matthew had a psychotic break from reality.
Eddy's parents were the reason why Eddy was sitting in the waiting room of the prison. His parents were too old to care for Matthew. Their health is not what it once was, which is why Eddy's dad gave him the car lot. He had to break the news to Matthew, even though he had not told Edd yet. He was going to wait as long as possible to avoid telling Edd the news.
The police escorted him to a short white room with brick walls, a steel chair, and a TV monitor that sat on top of a wooden table. His brother was on the other side of the screen in orange garb with two prison guards right behind him. Matthew had his sleeves rolled up, showing a cobra tattoo that had extraordinary detail done to the tattoo.
"Hiya, Bro," Eddy greeted, "seems like you have been working out quite a bit, your arms are toned as hell."
"I'm given an hour a day for exercise and I don't miss leg day. I had to do something to keep myself from getting bored," Matthew explained. "Though, I only have one more week to deal with this hellhole before I'm released. It's about damn time if you ask me."
"That's actually I came." Eddy replied, "Mom and Dad's health is not what it used to be. Mom had a heart attack a year ago and Dad's not doing too well either. You're going to stay with me and parole out of my house. Sockhead or I can take you to your appointments and part of your Social Security can go towards helping us with the bills."
A couple of weeks ago, Matthew was found eligible for Social Security Disability. He was left crippled when Kevin had stabbed Matthew in the back when Matthew attacked Kevin's cousin, Sasha. Due to the injury, Matthew could not do very much heavy lifting or over an hour of strenuous tasks. Matthew pretty much had the same issues that Sasha had when he was stabbed in the back by Matthew. Combined with Matthew's mental illness, he was able to get it without too much of a problem, but he would not receive his first check until a month after he gets released from prison. Matthew and his lawyer had fought the issue for a year and finally got it.
"Oh, so you and Princess live together?" Matthew's tone was strangely pleasant. Eddy wondered if Matthew moved on from his lustful yearnings for Eddy's current boyfriend. He hoped so. He did not want to deal with his brother hounding after Edd again.
"Yes, Sockhead's my boyfriend, duh!" Eddy responded, hoping that Matthew takes a hint without getting pissed. Matthew seemed strangely calm though. The short man wondered if it was due to the medications the prison staff had put him on.
"So when was the last time you fucked him?" That was the next question that came from Matthew. It really irked Eddy on how casually Matthew asked that – in a prison of all places.
"Bro, that ain't a question you should be asking your own little brother! Sheesh!" Eddy complained.
"So how long has it been?" Matthew repeated. Eddy could hear the hint of perverse amusement from his brother's voice. Eddy growled in annoyance. The gall of Matthew to ask something like that – So what he has not been able to sleep with Edd? It's none of Matthew's business anyway.
"It's been a while," Eddy admitted, "work has been hectic for me and I just haven't felt up to it."
"How long is a while?" Matthew asked, amused.
"Gee, I don't even fucking know. Eight months maybe? With my work schedule, I haven't had the time to spend with him. It just blows right now." Eddy admitted. He needed to get some things off of his chest and vent, even if it was to the most untrustworthy person in Eddy's life. Ed was too, well, he was Ed. His parents and Edd did not need to know all of the problems that were going on with the car lot at the moment.
Eddy had seen a strange glint in Matthew's eyes that he did not want to know the reason for. "So what's this I hear about Lucas being the co-owner to dad's car lot?"
"It's only temporary until things at work improve," Eddy then pouted, "I can't believe Lucas told you about the car lot!" He heard his brother snicker at his pouting. "Anyway, it does not matter. I just wanted to tell you what was going on and catch up with you." They talked for a while regarding how much Matthew's girls have grown and what their parents were up to. The whole visit was a nice visit overall.
Once Eddy got back to the house, he made his way straight to his and Edd's bed and collapsed on it. The house once belonged to Edd's parents, but when the two were declared legally died, the house went to Edd. The two lived in the house together since they graduated high school. They were so excited to have a house to themselves that there was not a room in the house that was unchristened by end of the first week.
Now, with the long nights Eddy worked at the car lot, he was lucky to still be able to hold his head up by the time he got back home. Edd offered to take a part-time at the library in town to help with expenses, but Eddy shot down his offer. The car lot was Eddy's burden alone. All Edd knew was that the car lot was having financial issues, but Edd did not know the circumstances or the shit he had to put up with to keep the car lot. The truth was that the car lot was paid off, but he was still indebted to Lucas for it and the young millionaire expected the money paid back to him in full with interest, one way or another. Despite Lucas' sheltered upbringing, the guy acted like a stereotypical Mafioso when it came to money.
Eddy felt Edd crawl into bed with him and felt Edd's frail arms wrap around his large frame. Eddy relaxed under the touch and caressed Edd's face. He looked into Edd's face and seen the admiration within those eyes staring back at him. He quickly leaned over and pulled Edd on top of him, holding Edd against him like he was afraid to let Edd go. In a way, he was. He missed spending more time with Edd. He missed that way the Edd's touch could send away his troubles and the way he could talk to Edd about anything as old friends and lovers.
He kissed the top of Edd's head. Edd was wearing his cleaning gear over his casual clothes and smelled of bleach and Lysol. "I adore you, turtledove!" Edd whispered to him, sweetly. Eddy whispered that he loved Edd back. He could tell that the loneliness was killing Edd slowly. On the surface, it would appear that Edd was fine. Edd took care of the domestic duties and took online classes while Eddy was at work, without the sticky notes. Eddy put his foot down on that issue. The sticky notes creeped Eddy out. However, he knew that the loneliness from being home alone a lot growing up caused Edd duress, even when he was alone in the house for extended periods of time as an adult.
He knew Edd hated being left alone and felt guilty that he was the one leaving Edd home alone a lot. Ed was good about visiting Edd regularly, but since Ed found out about May's pregnancy, Ed showed up at the house less and less to help May out. Eddy couldn't really blame Ed. If the scientifically impossible happened and Eddy knocked Edd up, he would wait on Edd hand and foot to ensure that Edd was comfortable – or at least try to. Good thing life was not like one of Ed's trashy comic books or Eddy really would be in trouble.
Eddy bet that May's sisters, Marie and Lee, were both excited over the news. Ed had a mutual romantic separation with Marie and Lee two years ago. They decided that four was a crowd and Marie and Lee broke up with Ed with no hard feelings. The two Kanker sisters were each seeing someone else at the moment. Since he found out about the foursome between Ed and the Kankers back when he was just a teenager, Eddy's relationship with the Kanker sisters have improved. Marie worked at his car lot as a mechanic and Lee would show up sometimes to bring Marie lunch. He would have pleasant conversations with Marie briefly before she had to take off for the day.
He almost dozed off in the refuge of Edd arms until his cell phone went off, playing the song "Opportunities" by the Pet Shop Boys. Eddy groaned. The song was one that Lucas programmed into his cell phone to play when Lucas called him. Eddy wanted to destroy his phone within that very moment. He should have shut his phone off, but he would've risked a chance of Lucas adding more to Eddy's debt for not responding to his call.
Eddy gave Edd an apologetic look and reached over to the end table to answer the phone, gruffly telling Lucas that he would be there shortly and hit the `End' button to prevent himself from cussing Lucas out. He gently kissed Edd and let him know that he had to get back to the office. Edd was visibly disappointed by the news, but nodded his head.
"I love you, Sockhead," Eddy replied to comfort his lover. Eddy then remembered that he still had not told Edd yet about Matthew. "Can you get your old bedroom cleaned by the end of the week?"
"Yes, I suppose I can," Edd nodded, "why?"
"Look, Matthew is going to be staying at our house after he gets released. He didn't have anywhere else to parole out to and I volunteered to let him stay with me." Eddy lifted up his cell phone to get the time. "Shit, I have to get to work."
"Wait a minute . . . Eddy?" Edd tried to gather his thoughts after being dealt a bombshell. "We haven't discussed this! Wait a minute!"
"Can't talk, Sockhead. Duty calls." Eddy gathered up his work supplies and headed out of the room and down the stairs.
"Eddy-" Edd seemed at a loss for words. Eddy quickly exited out the door to avoid an argument. He already had enough on his plate already. He could only hope that Edd would appreciate his efforts in time.