"Deadly Connections"

By: Emily B.

Author's Note

Okay, here's a really quick update. I couldn't resist updating since I felt the last chapter was one of my weakest. It was one of my shorter chapters as well, so I'm going to try to make this one a bit longer if I can. After I post this chapter, I'm going to work on the second chapter for my other story. Make sure to check it out on my profile. I also have a few other stories that I'm working on the first chapter for and I have a few one-shots that I'm going to be posting. Anyway, I apologize for any typos and such. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Seven: Dinner Conversations

"You're going to anyway," Fanboy sighed out in a muttered voice, standing up from his bed, placing the magazine he was reading underneath his mattress. He stood up from his mattress, which was placed on the floor, the sheet barely big enough to fit on it. He walked over to the door, looking to the pin-up poster on the back of his door. He moved his hands to said poster, ripping it down, causing the woman's large, over-exposed breasts to become torn. He tossed the ripped poster to the floor, kicking it underneath a small chair before moving his pale, spidery hand to the doorknob, turning it and opening the door.

"Fanboy, I feel that I owe you an apology," the redhead mumbled under his breath as he looked to the floor, scratching his elbow in a nervous habit. "I didn't know about your parents or about the, um, the cutting."

"W-what?" Fanboy chuckled nervously, running a hand through his multicolored hair. His hand slid to the back of his neck and rubbed nervously against the area. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't cut myself, I just get into a lot of accidents. That's all."

"But, I heard you tell Oz that you weren't cutting yourself again. So, I just figured that meant you'd done it before," Kyle stated without thinking, quickly rushing his hand over his mouth once again, looking away from Fanboy, afraid of his reaction.

"You heard me telling Oz that I wasn't- You were spying on me?" The green-eyed teen exclaimed, his anger returning as he turned around to face the pale, white wall behind him. He saw a few more pin-ups hanging on the wall that he was facing, but he didn't seem to notice them at the time. "I don't believe this!"

Kyle walked into the room, looking around, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the sight of all the half-naked poster woman that seemed to stare a hole right through him. He coughed slightly, walking over to Fanboy, who was staring down at the street from his two story window.

"I... I was just a little curious."

Fanboy scoffed at the redhead's words, looking back to Kyle as he was approached. He glared with bright emerald eyes at the wizard, looking over Kyle's body, his eyes noticing something he hadn't seen before.

"What are those?"

"Ozala, no snacking before dinner," Oz's mother scolded in a sweet tone, popping her son's hand with a wooden spoon. "That pudding is for dessert."

"Ow, seriously!" Oz exclaimed, rubbing the back of his hand as a red welt began to appear. He looked over the table with wide, hungry eyes, smiling at all of the delicious food and aromas. "This food looks awesome."

The bearded man smirked sneakily as he slowly walked his fingers across the table, reaching his hand out for a dinner roll. He jumped slightly as he hand was once again attacked by the wooden spoon. His lisped voice gave off a small yelp.

"Why don't you go up and see if the children are ready to eat?"

"But-"

"Ozzy," the short-stature, white-haired lady said sternly, pointing up the set of stairs.

"Fine," Oz whined in a mumbled tone of voice, slumping his shoulders as he began to walk in the direction in which his mother was pointing. He waddled up the stairs to retrieve the boys, his red boots causing the stairs to squeak under pressure.

"Don't slouch, Honey."

Kyle's golden eyes widened with fear as he rushed a hand to where Fanboy was staring. He clamped the hand over the large gash on his overly-thin stomach.

"T-those? Those are nothing."

"A huge hole in your stomach isn't exactly nothing, Kyle," the lanky, green-eyed teen pointed out, moving closer to the redhead, reaching out a hand to touch the wound.

"Don't touch it!" The wizard screeched, pulling away from Fanboy to avoid the hand that was heading toward the gash. He nearly tripped over his own two feet as he backed away. Fanboy's hand quickly retracted and fell by his side, his expression both surprised and confused.

"Sorry," Fanboy defensively responded, moving past Kyle and flopping down onto his mattress, looking up at the ceiling. "I was just curious."

Kyle smirked faintly, chuckling a bit at Fanboy's response. He rolled his bright eyes and moved to sit on the foot of the mattress, looking over to the other.

"Well, I guess that makes two of us."

Just as Fanboy was ready to reply, a loud, large knock came from the raggedy door. Both of the teenagers jumped slightly, looking toward the door as it creaked open, noticing the raven-haired man standing at the door. Oz entered the room with a bright smile, still rubbing the small red patch on his hand.

"Hey, are you guys ready for dinner? Mother's got a feast for kings downstairs."

"Oh, well, that's a very generous offer," Kyle spoke up, managing a small smile as he spoke and looked to the plump man. His eyes wandered back over to Fanboy before speaking again. "B-but, I'd really hate to impose on your family."

"You wouldn't be imposing, little dude," Oz chuckled, fixing his mustache with his fingers before walking over to the mattress and putting a hand on Kyle's shoulder, patting it heartily. He looked over Kyle's anorexic-thin frame and then back to the wizard's thin face. "You look like you need some meat on your bones."

"N-no, no, I'm fine," Kyle nervously chuckled, moving his shoulder away from the man's touch. He stood up from the mattress and moved to lean against the door frame. "I, um, I had a big lunch."

"Pfft," Fanboy scoffed harshly, standing up and moving toward the door. He waited for Oz to leave the room before leaning into Kyle's ear. "We didn't even eat lunch. Now, stop making a fuss and come downstairs."

"B-but-"

"Just come on, you don't have to eat anything, you just have to sit there."

The wizard shook his head, watching as Fanboy walked through the door and out into the hallway. He sighed faintly, deciding not to put up an argument as he followed the lanky teen down the large staircase. He frowned as they reached the dining room, looking over the large feast that was spread over the freshly-polished, wooden table.

"W-wow, that's... that's quite a lot of food."

"You should see what the holidays are like," the raven-haired teen retorted, walking into the dining room, looking over the table and then to the faces of the people sitting at it. He made a small grunt as he noticed Oz stuffing his face, Oz's mother cleaning her dentures before adjusting them in her mouth, and his younger brother staring at him and Kyle with sharp, brown eyes.

"Are the holidays this uncomfortable?" The golden-eyed male muttered in Fanboy's ear as he tried to avoid Chum Chum's staring.

"Pretty much."

After a few minutes, Fanboy and Kyle were seated at the over-sized table with the rest of the family. They both looked around, trying to avoid Chum Chum's stare once more.

"What do you want, Dweeb?" Fanboy finally spoke up, speaking in Chum Chum's direction. He scooped some potatoes from the large bowl they were in and placed them onto his chipped china plate.

"Him," was the brunette's simple reply as he nodded his head towards Kyle as a gesture. He moved his hand over to the dinner rolls, placing one onto his plate without breaking the stare he had locked onto Kyle. "What's he doing here? I know you don't have any friends."

"I have friends," the green-eyed teen grumbled in a low tone before clearing his throat to speak. "Kyle's new in town and he doesn't have a place to stay. So, I asked if he wanted to stay here."

Oz's mother walked over to Kyle, who still sat with a bare plate. She scooped a decent amount of steamed carrots from a large bowl and piled them onto his plate, followed by many other vegetables and meats. She smiled at the young boy, patting his shoulder softly as he looked up and smiled politely back at her.

"Well, I don't see any harm in that," the elderly lady stated with a warm smile as she moved back to her seat. "Now, don't just sit there, eat up."

"Welcome aboard, little dude," Oz, too, smiled at the redhead from his chair, nodding his head in agreement with his mother's words. "You can stay with Fanboy in his room."

"Why can't he stay on the couch?" Fanboy questioned with a quiet tone, hoping he wouldn't be heard.

"You know that couch has to be repaired before anyone can sleep on that ratty thing again," chimed in Oz's mother in response to the boy's question.

Dinner continued for quite a while, accompanied by a few spats between Fanboy and Chum Chum.

"Zack, Edmund," Oz sternly stated with a lisp as he looked to his adoptive sons. He pointed his fingers from his eyes to the boys and then back to his eyes as a sign that he was watching them. "You two can fight when you get upstairs, but dinner time is a time for serious relaxation."

"He started it," Fanboy muttered, rolling his eyes as he scooped potatoes onto his fork and into his mouth. He glared at Chum Chum with brilliant emerald eyes and Chum Chum glared back with dark chocolate eyes. They broke their stares and looked to Kyle, noticing he was pushing his food around on his plate with the fork, but wasn't actually eating.

"Why isn't your "friend" eating?"

Kyle snapped out of his slight trance, looking up from his food-covered plate and glanced to the faces that were staring at him. He blushed faintly, stabbing a carrot with his fork and moving it into his mouth. He chewed it carefully, hesitating to swallow the food.

"I'm eating, I'm just not that hungry, I suppose."

"You've been acting weird all day," Chum Chum commented about the wizard's behavior. He pushed some brunette locks out of his face and looked down to his plate, taking a bit out of his food.

"He's only been here for half an hour."

"Doesn't matter, he's still be acting weird. He's even weirder than you are, Zack."

"Don't call me that, and I'm not the weird one sitting at this table."

The father-figure coughed and cleared his throat as a gesture for the boys to stop their argument. Of course, this gesture was futile as the two boys continued to spat.

"I know you're not talking about me," Chum Chum responded hastily, pointing to Fanboy's face. "You're the one with eyeliner smeared down your face. Your hair's not even a normal col-"

"Okay, okay," Oz spoke up, standing up from his chair. He placed his large hands on the table, trying to avoid putting his hands in any food. "I think it's time for you both to go back to your rooms. Zack, it's time for you to take a shower."

"Fanboy."

"Right, right, sorry."