Yay

Yay! A longer chapter for you guys! Warnings: Abuse, swearing, and limes. Enjoy!

Soren stared at his ceiling, gingerly probing his side, wincing as he did so. The fresh bruise was tender, more so than the past ones. I think he broke something, he thought. He rolled off of his bed, standing quietly and padding over to his door. The television could be heard from downstairs, alerting him that his dad was still home and it wasn't safe to come out. Sighing, he slid against the door, cradling his head in his hands. How could he call Ike now? His dad was settled in for good and there was no way he'd show himself after a beating.

"Soren?" asked a near silent voice.

"Yeah, Rey?"

"You still need to call Ike," Reyson said, turning the door knob and opening the door slightly, pushing Soren forward. "Take it."

Soren grinned as Reyson handed him the phone. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

The door clicked shut and Soren glanced down at his arm, punching the number there into the phone. It rang three times before Ike answered.

"Hello?"
"Hi, it's Soren."

"So you actually called." He sounded surprised.

"Are you disappointed," Soren asked worriedly.

"No! So…can we hang out?"

"I'm not allowed to leave the house," Soren answered sullenly.

"So tell me where you live. I'll sneak in," Ike suggested.

"O-okay."

"Nervous about me being in your house?" Soren could practically hear Ike grinning.

"A little bit," Soren admitted.

"Don't be. Now tell me where you live and where your room is. I'll climb in through your window."

Soren raised an eyebrow at what Ike said. Only Ike would do something like that, he thought. So he told him what Ike wanted to know before hanging up and tossing the phone on the bed. He flopped down beside it.

When your dad walks in, your cover will be blown. He'll know you're a fag.

Just shut up for two seconds!

Is that all you have to say? Pathetic.

I am not pathetic. I know I'm not. Reyson says-

Reyson's just as bad as you, so what he says justifies nothing!

Reyson is not as bad as me! Reyson is whole and pure!

Only because you endure the pain for him.

Soren closed his eyes, drawing his knife. It was cool, familiar, his way of atoning for his sins. He ran a single finger down the edge of the blade, slicing the skin, but only barely. The blood beaded from the cut and slid down his finger into the palm of his hand before continuing the journey down his wrist.

The sound of the window sliding open next to him startled him out of his trance-like state.

"What…the fuck?" were the first words out of Ike's mouth.

He sat down and took the knife from Soren, setting it on the windowsill and then shutting the window. Soren didn't look at him, once again finding himself overwhelmed with shame.

"I…I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"You are such an idiot," Ike sighed. "Why?"

Ike pulled Soren into a sitting position. Soren gasped in pain when Ike's hand brushed over his new injury and Ike pulled away, surprised at the sudden tears coming from Soren's eyes. He hunched over as if trying to protect himself.

"Soren? Are you okay?" Ike asked worriedly, being sure to stay quiet. He knew he wasn't supposed to be here and didn't want to alert anyone that he was.

"No," Soren whimpered.

"What is it? What happened?" Ike asked quietly as Soren slowly uncurled.

"My rib…I think it's broken…or at least bruised," Soren managed to gasp out as pain thudded to the beat of his heart.

"From what?" Ike demanded.

"Dad," Soren whispered. "But I'm not supposed to tell you."

"I repeat. What…the fuck?"

"Ike…we only just met and you already know all of this. You probably don't know what to think of all this," Soren said, a strained sort of hysteria in his voice.

Ike sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're right. I don't know what to think. But I'm willing to help you. We could tell some-"

"No!" Soren stared straight at him, eyes widened in fear. "Absolutely not. I don't want him to go to jail."

"Why not?" Ike asked, bewildered.

"My mom fell in love with him for some reason…well enough to sleep with him. Despite what he does, I don't think he deserves jail," Soren tried to explain, not wanting to tell Ike that he thought he deserved the beatings.

"Lust and love are two very different things, Soren. But where is your mom now?"

"She died of tuberculosis. Reyson's mom died in a car accident. That's why I live here," Soren explained quietly.

"I'm sorry," Ike apologized, gently pulling Soren back into a sitting position, carefully avoiding his injured rib.

He's so broken…and so beautiful at the same time. I could easily grow to love him, Ike thought.

Soren cuddled against him, staying curled tight in a ball. Ike let him, knowing how shattered it would make him feel if he moved away. After several minutes of silence, Ike spoke up.

"What are you going to do about your rib?"

"Let it heal," Soren replied.

"And if it heals wrong?" Ike questioned.

"Then Reyson will think of something," Soren answered. As in break it and let it heal again. "There was a time when Reyson had to go to the hospital though."

"He hits Reyson?"

"He was drunk. He thought Reyson was me. Reyson has a calcium problem and his bones are extremely fragile. Two of his ribs nearly shattered and the hospital had to completely remove them," Soren explained softly. "It was the first night I ever hurt my dad."

"Have you since then?" Ike asked.

"No."

"Will I ever meet Reyson?"

"If you want to, you can right now," Soren told him, getting to his feet.

"That'd be nice."

Soren picked up his knife, quickly putting it back in his pocket, sighing when he felt its familiar weight. Ike stared at him quizzically.

"I feel exposed without it. Unprotected I guess," Soren tried to explain. "I'll be right back."

Slowly, he crept towards his door, trying not to alert his dad that he was moving. He quietly opened the door, darting across the hall and knocking almost silently on Reyson's door. Reyson opened it, surprise to see Soren there.

"Ike is here," Soren hissed, glancing at the stairs nervously. "He wants to meet you."

"Me?" Reyson glanced at the stairs as well. Their dad hadn't heard anything yet.

"Yeah. Come on."

Reyson stepped into the hall and swiftly, they made their way into Soren's room. Reyson turned after shutting the door and examined Ike. He obviously worked out. His muscles were hard but he still managed to look thin and lanky despite it. His blue hair was a mess and his eyes were sincere, convincing Reyson that he wasn't just fooling Soren.

"Hi," Reyson said awkwardly. "I'm Soren's half brother."

Ike smiled warmly and Reyson relaxed slightly. "I'm Ike."

"So I've heard," Reyson replied, arms folded.

"Don't sound so guarded Reyson. He's not messing with me, I promise," Soren said quietly.

"Don't vouch for me Soren. Allow me to win him over myself," Ike urged.

"I was just-"

"Trying to help?" Reyson guessed.

"Yeah," Soren mumbled.

"Don't worry," Ike told him.

"Allow me to cut right to the chase," Reyson started. "What are your intentions with Soren?"

"Reyson! I'm not a girl!" Soren hissed.

Both of the others ignored him.

"I'm merely getting to know him for now. I admit that's kind of hard when he's in love with me, but I really only want to get to know him for now," Ike promised.

"And the ones who beat up Soren. What of them?" Reyson asked.

"I'll tell them I'm bi and if they can't accept it, oh well. And I won't let them lay a finger on Soren," Ike answered.

"Sounds good. I will allow you to get to know Soren."

Soren rolled his eyes. "Thank you Reyson, for that pointless questioning."

"I'm just trying to protect you," Reyson said.

"If anyone needs protecting, it's you, Reyson," Soren countered.

"I do not!" Reyson protested even though he knew it was true.

"Well Soren…I really don't want to run the risk of getting caught. I should probably go," Ike told him. "See you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah…you'll talk to the others?"

Ike nodded as he pried open the window. He gave a grin and then darted through, closing it behind him.

"Well…he's certainly hot," Reyson stated.

"Back off, he's mine," Soren shot back, sitting down on his bed.

"He's too perky for my tastes," Reyson said, sitting down next to him. "Besides-"

"You're in love with me," Soren finished.

"Yeah…is this awkward for you?" Reyson asked.

"Pretty much, yeah. But don't worry. It's fine."

Reyson gently hugged Soren, making him tense slightly before relaxing. "Is this okay?"

"I guess. I don't mind that much."

"Good."

Reyson closed his eyes, resting his head comfortably on Soren's shoulder. Soren didn't say anything. He merely sat there, thinking. Ike knows almost every about me…except the whole my brother is in love with me thing…I don't see myself telling him that anytime soon.

"You're thinking too hard again," Reyson suddenly stated.

"Why do you say that?" Soren asked.

"You're chewing your bottom lip," Reyson said, glancing up at him. "You always do that when you think too hard."

"Really? I never noticed," Soren mumbled.

"It's cute."

Soren blushed, wondering why the compliments he was getting from Reyson were making him do so. Maybe he loved Reyson too?

"Reyson…?"

"What is it?"

"Can I lie down?"

"Can I lie down next to you?"

"Yes."

"Then sure," Reyson replied.

He released Soren and let him lie down on the bed before stretching out beside him, throwing an arm lazily over his waist. Absentmindedly, he played with the hem of Soren's shirt while using his other hand to twirl Soren's hair around his finger.

"Enjoying yourself?" Soren snickered.

"All too much," Reyson answered seriously, brushing Soren's hair away from his neck. Without thinking, he kissed the skin there.

Soren tensed immediately, almost as if an electric shock had coursed through him. Reyson's hand left his shirt and gripped his waist tightly to prevent him from moving away and he found that strangely, he didn't want to. Reyson continued to massage Soren's neck with his lips, being careful not to leave a mark.

He tastes good, Reyson thought, lightly licking the skin. He drew away though when little gasps started escaping Soren's lips.

"Soren?"

Soren turned towards him. "What are you doing to me Rey?" he asked in a broken tone.

"Does it feel good?" Reyson asked.

"Yes."

"Then it isn't bad. Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

Reyson leaned into Soren and then kissed his lips again. It was slow, tender and neither tried to deepen it for fear of breaking some forbidden spell. Reyson's eyes flew open when Soren's hand slipped down to gently rub against his leg, fingers dancing over it deftly.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Soren admitted quietly as they pressed their foreheads together.

"Neither do I," Reyson said. "But I like it."

"So do I," Soren agreed.

Then, surprising Reyson, he turned so that he had Reyson beneath him before sealing their lips together in a firm kiss. Reyson twirled his hands into Soren's hair, licking at the seam of his lips in a question of entrance. Soren let him, hesitantly and Reyson slowly plundered his mouth, not wanting to force Soren into anything he didn't want. Eventually, Soren responded and Reyson backed off, letting Soren once again take the lead. Without really thinking, Reyson slipped his hands into Soren's shirt. And that's when it went down hill.

Soren yanked himself away from him, curling up on the edge of the bed in a fetal position. Reyson sighed and sat up, gently helping Soren sit up.

"Sorry," Soren apologized.

"I know you get nervous when people touch you. It's my fault," Reyson said quietly, fixing Soren's hair. "But…did you like it?"
"Yes. But Reyson?" Soren asked.

"Hm?"

"Where did you learn to kiss like that?"

Reyson laughed lightly. "I'm learning as I go."

Soren rolled his eyes. "Do you have to be skilled at everything?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Reyson answered.

"Well…Reyson…I'm going to go to sleep now. I'm really tired."

"Whatever. Good night Soren. I love you."

Soren didn't reply but Reyson wasn't expecting one so it didn't matter.

So what do you guys think? Review please!