"Make no sudden movements

And no one need get hurt"

-Psychobabble

Chapter Two

Manipulation

. . . seems to be showing more signs of just being an obstinate teenager rather than having any sort of actual mental handicap. Still, he is unusually sensitive and keenly aware of the emotions and attitudes of the people around him. This, I'm afraid, is what might put him in a dangerous situation later. His violent reactions are leading me to believe that he is having what I like to call a backwards reaction to the intimacy between his parents. What this means is that even the thought that they may still have a sexual relationship with one another seems to cause him to extreme discomfort. Instead of reacting in the typical manner for a young man of his age, ignoring/avoiding the subject, he seems to dwell on it. This digs deeper and deeper into him, causing a distinct distrust and resentment towards them for not acting in a way he would deem "typical".

Another side of this might be the perceived inappropriate nature of his parents 'flaunting' their sexuality to their son. I have two options to explore. One, Jimmy has intimacy issues stemming from a severe discomfort with his own sexuality or two, he is being psychologically, and sexually abused by his parents even if only unintentionally. But that is giving them the benefit of the doubt.

On a side note, however, I seriously doubt they are entirely unaware of Jimmy's presence in the room right next door to theirs which leads me to believe . . .

[]

Jimmy stared at the small pin Edgar had attached to the space just below his collar, it was a dull gray, almost invisible but impossible to ignore now that he'd seen it.

"And how long have you felt this way about her?"

There were no symbols on it, no logos or printed words, it was just a tiny plastic pin. It was barely the size of his pinky nail. Edgar's voice droned on and on, in a similar manner to the static of a radio searching for a station. Little bits and pieces of things that actually meant something seeped through for two second intervals before he finally asked something that warranted an answer.

"A couple of years now, probably as long as I've known her. What the fuck is that?" Just as he said it he leaned over his tiny kitchen table to poke it, startling Dr. Vargas. The older man looked down at the fingers toying with the collar of his shirt. "it looks like you've got a fucking bug on you."

"A gift," Jimmy felt a hand brush his away, "from a former patient. I see you have issues with personal space. Care to explain that?"

"I don't know what you mean." He smirked at older man across from him who stared placidly back. "Does that sort of contact make you uncomfortable, Mr-?"

"I'm starting to think that you distract me from the current subject by pretending to forget my name. I've told you at least five times in the past few weeks so I'm pretty sure by now you must know it." Dr. Vargas leaned on the table tiredly, rubbing his temples before removing his glasses. "Perhaps you should answer my question, it could be vital to your parole." Another tiny quirk of the corner of his mouth and Jimmy faltered.

'And I'm starting to think you think you know me.' An idea came to mind, an evil idea. He leaned forward as far as the table would allow and dropped his head to catch the other's eyes.

Dark, dark brown. Almost black. He shouldn't have been surprised considering his general coloring was in varying shades of Hispanic.

"I suppose I should make my confession then. Edgar," He intoned, fumbling to mimic the doctor's speech patterns, "I must admit that I seem to have this overwhelming need to touch you." Jimmy grinned lecherously, "It's like every time I see you I have to make contact. It's compulsive."

Snap out of it

You're not making any sense . . .

Edgar's reaction would have surprised him had the expression on the other's face not given away his immediate alarm. He'd been reaching out, probably to 'compulsively' grab at the pin again. A hand met his halfway while another brushed his jaw long enough for Jimmy to feel his headphone pop out of his ear. The music died and Edgar's voice went from static to crystal clear in a matter of seconds. The grip curling around his fingers was firm and the thumb pressing into his palm seemed to hit an imaginary pressure point that made him freeze.

Now I've had it up to here

Don't ever try that again

"If you think that's the strangest thing I've ever heard then I must disappoint you." What kind of things could he have heard? His earpiece clattered to the table as it was dropped. Jimmy tried to focus on something other than how intimate the situation felt even though it shouldn't have. He focused on Edgar's strangely formal gray-blue button down dress shirt, down to the black slacks and old, dull watch on his wrist resting on the table. Something kept bring his eyes back up though, back to the little off-colored pin and Edgar's expression.

Worried? Yes. Still touching? Yes.

Concern. Not what he was expecting. Not the right reaction.

It was as if Jimmy had said all the wrong and right things at that moment. Like his little joke had just divulged everything the doctor needed to know. The moment stretched and the silence thickened. 'Not the right reaction. Be embarrassed. Pull away and laugh nervously. Act like you don't know what I'm talking about. Come on, Edgar. Just play along!'

"Does this sort of contact make you uncomfortable, Jimmy?"

'Don't ruin this for me.'

It was just his hand. Not a big deal, right?

Nope. His brain had short-circuited but other than that he seemed to be fine.

Then why are you so quiet so suddenly?

Come on, I bet you're just dying to try me

"I think we can end early today. I trust you won't cause your parents too much trouble again?"

Trust?

So what do we do now?

[]

Word had traveled quickly about his house arrest. Everyone took a chance to take a nice long gander down at his ankle. A few of the guys decided to approach him about it, one in particular spouting off about his own house arrest awhile back. Some fucking club.

Even Ester stopped to stare. Even the pretty foreign girl took time out of her fucking schedule to grace him with a look that suggested all kinds of wonderful things. She was kind of like him, not many friends and a little fucked up from something that may or may not have happened to her back home. Jimmy gave her a little grin and she sauntered off, taking an opportunity to flip him the bird before she turned the corner. House arrest sucked but at least he'd see the very resourceful girl in Chemistry later.

The halls started to clear and the wall he was leaning against pressed its glazed brickwork pattern into his back. Mr. Haney made it clear that he was to wait outside the door until he was ready to let Jimmy in. So when the fifty-something year old man finally stuck his head through the door the teenager did the only thing he could think of, he took his fucking time going in. If he was ever going to get out of the psych doctor's little 'sessions' and get back to his fucking life it was all he could do. It did piss his teacher off when he did eventually get to his seat. He made a show of it too. Giggles erupted from the other students that quieted once the man at the front had slammed something on his desk. Class started immediately, pencils scratching, chalk tapping and Jimmy's leg bouncing with boredom. The added weight, though slight in reality, was enough for him to be constantly aware of it and what he'd done to acquire it.

He supposed that was the whole point of wearing it, to remind you without having to maim you. The teacher looked at him not taking notes and Jimmy glanced down at where the cuff was resting on his leg. There was a double huff of disappointment that garnered another round of giggles from his classmates and a scowl from the front of the room. Things calmed down again and he resumed not paying attention to the lesson. His parole was going to take forever to end.

Jimmy realized that even after it ended, because it would, he would have to keep on his toes or get thrown into jail. Maybe after he got the fucking thing off of him he'd leave. Go somewhere very far away.

The door was visible from where he was sitting, and in the middle of a daydream he happened to look up and see Ester's big brown eyes staring at him from the corner of the glass. She motioned for him to come to the hall but he shook his head no. Couldn't risk it, couldn't get in trouble and get expelled. His parole wouldn't allow for it. She had to understand.

And she seemed to, if her smile were any indication. She disappeared and Jimmy turned back to staring at the wood grain of his desk. It reminded him of the table in his kitchen.

The kitchen, Edgar holding his hand, fucking freak, hitting his dad in the head with a wrench, the thin walls of their home . . .

Bad thoughts, he didn't want to think of that. God his parents were so fucking disgusting.

Safe thoughts, Jimmy was so bored, Edgar was boring, Edgar . . .

He'd said that Jimmy could tell him anything, so basically their conversations were Vegas . . . Sin City, Edgar playing Texas Hold'em.

Edgar the dealer, heh.

Edgar the MOBSTER, Jimmy almost laughed out loud. He had to rest his head in his arms to keep from erupting into giggles. After taking a moment to gather his composure he looked up to see that thankfully no one had noticed. Once it felt safe to slip back into oblivion he imagined Edgar in a stylish black suit with a Tommy Gun in his hand. It actually looked kind of cool in his head.

Sin City . . . he could just imagine all of the things he could get away with. What if he and Edgar really were in Vegas . . .

Imagine all of the things they could get away with.

{}

"There are rules to be followed, protocol. You break the rules and we break you."

"And just how do you plan on breaking me?"

"Now, you see Jimmy, it's that mouth of yours that's gonna get you into some serious trouble. I'm a nice guy under normal circumstances but you push me and you might not like who I become."

"Aww, come on Edgar, how long have we known each other, huh? You know I'm good for it. Why the hell would I fuck things up now?"

"Attitude. Watch yourself or I might conveniently forget our deal. You were the one who didn't show up yesterday. I had to have six of my best guys track you down. You wasted a lot of resources running. You owe me an even bigger debt now."

"Good."

"Wipe that grin off your face. Acting so smug. I might start to believe you cost the Hotel that money on purpose and I won't like that revelation. There we go, now, don't move. I'm gonna cut you free and you're going start working on your end of the deal."

{}

Jimmy didn't realize class had been dismissed until Ester slipped in after the teacher walked out without a backward glance. He was disappointed and a little ticked when he heard his book bag slam to the ground just as the daydream was getting good. Edgar taking his time with the ties . . . and now Ester was grinning at him. If anyone looked smug it was her, not him. She slowly backed away from his desk, her eyes on his the entire time. Taking the hint he picked up his stuff and took off after her. Jimmy decided anything was worth skipping those last two periods. Edgar would understand.

He wasn't surprised to see a car roll to stop beside him on his way home two hours later. Especially since he should have waited by the parking lot for his mom to come and pick him up.

"Get in."

"Fuck you."

"Not an option. Get in the car if you want to fix this situation you've put yourself in."

"Fine, fucking fine. Whatever." Jimmy felt such a blithe disregard for ditching those last classes, in comparison to what he had been doing it seemed so pointless. He'd regret it later, he always did but for now he'd bask.

In a car.

With Edgar.

"Should I even bother to ask what you decided was so much more important than attending Chemistry and Government?"

"I was spending time with Ester." The older man sighed and Jimmy gave an inappropriately suggestive stretch that popped his back and left him sprawled in the car seat.

"Do you think doing things like this is going to help you? Do you honestly believe that sneaking around after midnight and leaving class to have sex with a girl is going to lift your parole?" The teenager looked up languidly to watch as Edgar turned the wheel of the car. The guy had pretty hands, his fingers kinda long and graceful. He could probably play an instrument with them.

Edgar the Violinist.

"I figure it doesn't really matter. What the hell am I gonna do after school ends?" Edgar the Teacher.

"You could learn a trade. Take a few college classes to get a feel for what you might want to do. You could be an artist."

Edgar the Artist.

Edgar the Writer.

"I'm no good at art."

"There are plenty of other things to try. Millions of things. Everyone is a right fit for something."

Jimmy didn't verbally respond to that, only allowed himself a few more dirty thoughts about Edgar curling those hands around his wrists and slamming them above his head before turning to stare blankly out the window. He watched the trees and street lamps whirr by, blurring like the lines he'd once defined as what made a person friend or foe. Everything was jumbled now because soon he would regret what he'd done. Nothing at that point could be considered worth his freedom. Just as he was thinking about it a tiny tidbit of nervousness crept into his stomach

He was so fucking close to getting out and away for good. What the hell had he been thinking?

Oh shit. Was it too late?

Jimmy sat up in his seat, that uncomfortable nausea of worry fully taking hold of the base of his sternum as he looked around. This wasn't the way to his house.

Where was Dr. Vargas taking him? Were they going to his parole officer? What the fuck was going on?

"I got a call from your Dad and the school. He doesn't want you home right now." Oh shit.

"For skipping two class periods? That is fucking ridiculous."

"Actually he called me before your principal did. Apparently you set the stove on fire yesterday after I left. You're lucky the school called after I talked to the judge about it. I'm not even sure how I convinced them to turn the other way on this one."

"That was an accident. I even cleaned that shit up myself after I apologized to my Mom, that bastard hovering over me the whole time screaming about what a burden I can be. He wants to talk burdens he should really take a look in the mirror and then shove his head through it once he realizes he's being a fucking hypocrite." Suddenly the hole in the right knee of his pants looked really interesting. He waited for something, anything from the man to his left.

The rest of the drive was silent. Soon they pulled up to a plain, two story square building where Jimmy could see his Mom sitting on some brick edging by a set of stairs. Beside her were several gym bags and large plastic sacks of what he could only assume was his stuff. His laptop was being held in her arms and her eyes were staring at the concrete. She looked so much less vibrant than he could remember her being when he was little.

They parked and Jimmy jumped out of the car. He didn't hear the doctor follow him as he cautiously made his way up to his mother. She only looked up when she caught sight of his shoes shuffling closer to her. Mrs. Reeds smiled tiredly at him and Edgar hung back not wanting to intrude.

He didn't have to force himself to hold still as she smoothed down the small pieces of his hair that fell in front of his ears. She looked him over her expression turning nostalgic. It was as if she was seeing him the way she had years ago. Were they both missing the way things used to be? He was essentially looking down at her so now it was a little hard to imagine he was just a kid again. Back then they'd been so brave.

Back then they'd only had each other.

Jimmy didn't want to feel that tiny pinprick of anger at his mother for feeling so lonely all the time but he couldn't help it. He hadn't been enough for her, she just had to let that asshole back into their lives. Things were so complicated now.

"This must be really terrible of me. I'm a terrible mother."

"Where am I gonna go?"

"Here," She motioned to the building behind her, "Just until your parole ends then we'll figure something out. You could get a job, get an apartment. God only knows you've always wanted one."

She wasn't mocking him, she could never feel satisfied about the way things had gone for her family. She seemed so weathered, so fragile now. Jimmy didn't want to touch her, didn't want to be the one to break her. They didn't hug, there were no tears shed and no more words exchanged as the three of them hauled Jimmy's stuff inside the clinic. She just kept smiling at him, trying to be brave again because she knew he'd need it.

It was the last thing she could give him.

[]

End Chapter Two

Next up; Chapter Three: Defiance

Edgar meets his next new patient and decides that something doesn't feel right about him.

A/N: I am looking for a beta because I just seem to be missing a lot of tiny mistakes. If anyone is interested let me know.