"Are you okay Soren?" Reyson asked as he shoved a forkful of macaroni into his mouth.

Soren nodded, pushing his food around on his plate. "Just tired."

"If you say so. You know you can tell me anything, right, Soren?" Reyson questioned.

"Yeah, I know. I just…don't wanna talk," Soren muttered.

Silence reigned over the rest of the meal and Reyson watched Soren worriedly. He barely touched his food, only eating a bite every few minutes. Is something wrong with him…more than usual anyways? Reyson thought. Soren's voice surprised him, shattering the silence.

"Reyson…did you mean what you said?" Soren suddenly asked. "Do you…love me?"

"Yeah…I meant it…" Reyson mumbled awkwardly. "Why?"

"No reason. I just…needed to know," Soren replied, taking another bite. "Can I listen to you play the piano again?"

Reyson was startled. Soren hadn't requested that in two years. He only asked when he had nightmares the night before or was distressed and needed a way to calm down.

"I…sure," Reyson said, puzzled by the request. "Any specific reason?"

"Just want to hear you play," Soren answered, turning around and rummaging through the cupboards. He finally revealed what he was looking for, a plastic container. He dumped the macaroni in it and stuck it in the fridge.

"Reyson?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Can we just talk?" Soren questioned, turning to him.

Reyson nodded, startled by the abrupt request. "Yes. But Soren. Let's be honest. You say you want to talk and then you never do."

"I…I really need to talk now. Please," Soren said in a shuddering voice, stepping closer to Reyson.

What are you doing? Trying to get comfort from someone who is only giving it to you out of pity?

I…

"Soren? Are you okay?" Reyson asked softly, noticing how Soren suddenly grew still, biting his lip and staring at the ground, expression completely blank.

"Reyson…am I disgusting?"

Reyson was shocked. "What? No! Why would you ask something like that? Of course you aren't! Did someone say you were?"

"No…" Soren mumbled. "I just-"

Reyson grabbed his elbow and forced him into the living room, making him sit down on the couch. "You think you are. I know you do. But you aren't. So stop thinking it."

"You're saying that out of pity," Soren muttered, his words echoing those of his thoughts.

"No I'm not. Why do you think that?" Reyson demanded, seizing Soren's freshly wounded wrist, making the black haired boy flinch. Reyson's eyes widened with realization. He seized the edge of the jacket and shoved it up, displaying the fresh wound, which began bleeding again due to the rough treatment it had just been dealt. "Soren!"

"Reyson…please don't lecture me right now. Let me talk," Soren interrupted.

"Fine. Talk."

"You…you can't possibly care for me, Reyson. And if you do, it's only out of pity. I'm disgusting. I'm filthy and dirty and I'm only soiling your pureness by being close to you. There is no way you could ever care for me. That's what these are for," Soren whispered, quickly, furiously.

"Shut up Soren. I do not. And I know you're only saying what Dad tells you. I recognize the words," Reyson told him steadily. "It isn't hard to believe you are cared for despite what you think you are. I don't think I'm horrible just because I'm in love with my own flesh and blood!"

"You could never be horrible. You're whole and pure, no matter what you do," Soren murmured darkly.

"What can I do to prove I care Soren? Tell me so I can do it. I don't want you to do these things to yourself."

"But I deserve the pain."

"No you don't so stop saying that you do before I do something drastic," Reyson ordered.

"Like what?"

"Like punch you."

"You'd only hurt yourself."

"Exactly."

Soren stared at him. Maybe he does care. He's willing to do that for me…maybe he does.

Shut up. He's bluffing. He wants to use you.

"I…" Soren started.

Reyson grabbed his good wrist, forcing them to look one another in the eyes. "I would do anything for you. I love you Soren. I know you love Ike. I also know you are totally going to kill me for this. But I don't care."

Reyson leaned forward, gently molding his lips over Soren's, eye closed. Soren stared at him, wide eyed. The pressure on his lips was hardly anything and it was obvious Reyson wasn't going to do anything to deepen it. They stayed joined for several heartbeats at their lips, neither moving.

Finally, Reyson drew back, eyes opening. "I care for you Soren. So whoever is telling you I don't, don't listen anymore."

Soren jolted away from him and ran up the steps, shocked by what had just happened and too afraid to face it. Reyson didn't say anything as he did this. He had been expecting that reaction but he knew it meant that he had proven to Soren he cared. Slowly, he got to his feet and made his way up the stairs almost silently. He opened his door, which was right across from Soren's, and stepped inside, closing it firmly behind him. I hope you can save yourself Soren because I've done all I can.