Chapter 8. What Can't You Steal?

Edd had never ran so fast in his entire life. Well, that's what it felt like at the time, anyway.

Panting, Edd ducked into an abandoned alley and pressed himself against the grimy brick wall. His heart felt like a jack-hammer that was trying to break through his ribcage. Those drunken strangers had scared the life out of him, even if they had only been looking for a few laughs at Edd's expense.

He waited there, frozen in fear, for at least forty minutes before he slowly made his way back to the clock, the place he'd promised to meet Kevin. It would be just his luck to have missed the redhead. There was no sign of the drunk youths, but there was Kevin, all dark clothes and walking around, probably looking for Edd.

Edd had hoped a day in the city would help him calm his nerves and to forget about all the tension and animosity that he felt at home. But it had just made things worse. Kevin spotted him and quickly walked over. He looked a little angry and concerned.

As he walked, Kevin took one close look at Edd's ghostly face and his expression softened. Without slowing, Edd just walked straight into Kevin's chest, hugging the taller man. The relief that washed over him was dangerously smothering; Edd found he could hardly breathe.

"How do you always get yourself into these kinds of messes, Double Dork..." Kevin murmured gently, his arms going around the frightened boy.

"I'm sorry," Edd breathed.

Shushing him, Kevin rubbed his back and sighed. They stayed like that until Edd calmed down enough to pull away from his safety blanket.

Kevin looked down at Edd and frowned. "You look terrible." He reached out and fingered Edd's shirt.

Looking down at it, Edd found it badly torn. Probably from his frantic escapee run. Remembering something, Edd looked around until he saw his plastic bag of books. He moved over to them and squatted down to get a closer look.

The bag had been kicked around and urinated on- that much was obvious from the stench alone.

"Are those yours? Who did that?" Kevin asked.

"Just a group of drunken idiots," Edd sighed, hugging his knees.

"Want me to go find them and break their noses?"

Smiling despite himself, Edd stood back up again and looked at Kevin, who looked quite serious. "Even though I'm sure you actually would do just that, I'd really rather just go home..."

Nodding in an understanding way, Kevin gestured with his head for Edd to follow him and walked off. He rounded a corner and walked straight up to a black Ducati motorcycle and mounted it.

"I didn't know you owned a motorcycle," Edd said feebly, shivering from the cold. Kevin, seeing this, immediately took off his lined leather jacket and passed it to Edd and, when Edd resisted, insisted he take it.

Kevin smiled and handed Edd the only helmet, gesturing for him to get on behind him. "I do now," Kevin said over his shoulder once the Edd had his arms around his torso, smirking largely before starting the engine and taking off.

-~X~-

When they stopped for gas, Edd's stomach had demanded food loudly and ultimately given away Edd's secret hunger. So Kevin took him to a twenty-four-hour cafe and forced him to order whatever he wanted.

As they waited for their food to arrive, they sat across from each other in a booth. Edd eyed Kevin.

"You stole a motorcycle?"

"Are you disappointed in me?" Kevin asked bluntly, not sounding like he actually cared whether Edd was or not. He drank a whole glass of water in two gulps.

"Well, no, not exactly."

Kevin raised a surprised eyebrow at him. "Why not?"

Edd smiled genuinely. "Because, you only did it to come save me."

"Says who?" Kevin leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. Edd knew that particular defensive mechanism. "It's a pretty sweet bike, I might've just taken a liking to it."

Shaking his head, Edd just smiled. He knew the truth.

"Hey, do you want your jacket back?" Edd asked, gripping the lapels to take it off already.

"No, no, keep it for now."

Their meals appeared on the table before them, and only then did Edd realise he'd been staring at Kevin in all his carefree, strong glory. He dug into his food, not looking at Kevin again. They ate in silence, because if Edd wasn't going to break the silence and start a conversation, it would never happen. Kevin paid for both their meals, and Edd didn't argue- only because he'd thrown his wallet at the drunk people dramatically before running; hoping it'd distract them enough to let him get away.

"Kevin?" Edd asked as Kevin went to put the helmet on Edd's head before they left the cold, dark car park outside the cafe. A few lights were on, but the majority of them were either weak or flickering threateningly.

"Yeah?" Kevin stopped and looked down at Edd as he pushed the helmet away from his head and looked up at the redhead. Edd swallowed hard.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure..."

"Blake...he mentioned last night- well, something about you..." Edd's gaze slipped down to the tarmac. "He said something about you liking me- during the argument and afterward, in my room."

"He was in your room after that?" Kevin asked stiffly.

Edd found himself jumping to correct Kevin's thoughts. "H-he just wanted to talk- we just talked. Just for a few minutes."

"And he said I liked you?"

"Well, not exactly," Edd mumbled, feeling awkward.

Kevin dropped his hands to his sides and just gazed at Edd. "Then what exactly did he say to you?"

Blushing profusely, Edd shook his head, chickening out, but Kevin gave him a look that forced him to continue. "He said that you...lust after me," he managed, wringing his hands together nervously.

Surprisingly, Kevin smiled and seemed to loom a little closer to Edd. He placed his right hand on the motorcycle behind the raven-haired boy which brought them a little closer still. "Do you want me to?" he asked slowly. His voice was purposely low and rich.

"What?" Edd squeaked, leaning back a little.

Laughing, Kevin shook his head and leaned away from Edd. "Blake is a loser," he stated dismissively, shifting the helmet as if to put it on Edd's head and end the conversation.

"S-so you don't?" Edd asked, determined for an answer. No matter how much Kevin tried to evade it. Even if it did destroy him completely.

Looking at Edd seriously, Kevin frowned a little. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Because I need to know," Edd breathed. He could still feel his cheeks- hot and flushed.

Running a hand through his hair, Kevin glanced at Edd one more time before exhaling deeply. "Aw, fuck it. This won't end well, but yes, Double D, I do," he blurted firmly.

Startled, Edd raised his hands to his mouth. He truly hadn't expected that answer. He'd expected that pathetically hopeful part of him to be crushed down before it'd had a chance to bloom. But now it was like a frost had surrounded it. Both happiness and fear clouded him. He had never allowed himself to consider that Kevin might think of him like that. Everything with Blake had already been too much for him without adding another guy into the mix.

"Speak," Kevin demanded, looking regretful. "You're scaring me."

"S-sorry," Edd said. He gulped. "I just hadn't expected that answer."

Kevin looked down at Edd with furrowed eyebrows. "Did you hope I'd say no?"

"No," Edd said quickly and without thinking. He blushed a little. "I just don't know what to say now."

Sighing heavily, Kevin grabbed Edd's torn shirt and tugged him into a hug. Edd closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. What's going to happen now?

"Double D...don't start to think of me differently. That loser was right when he said I'd been jealous from the start. I've liked you for a long time."

"Why-...why didn't you say anything?"

Scoffing, Kevin squeezed Edd slightly and rested the side of his head against raven hair. "I only figured it out for sure when I kissed you. Before that was just suspicion. Plus I thought you and Blake were banging."

Edd cringed a little and immediately felt guilty.

"You're not exactly the type I usually go for," Kevin continued.

Edd nodded, remembering when Kevin had called him special. "I don't understand this, but who am I to tell someone else what they feel," he shrugged lightly, his shoulders brushing gently against Kevin.

Chuckling, Kevin released Edd and held him out at arms length.

"And don't worry, I won't jump your bones now you know or anything," he promised.

That thought sent shivers down Edd's spine. "What is going to happen now?" he asked softly.

Looking thoughtfully at Edd, Kevin suddenly smiled and shrugged his shoulders loosely. "Fucked if I should know."

"Kevin!" Edd reprimanded. The redhead rolled his eyes.

"C'mon, lets get home," Kevin murmured, and he lifted the helmet onto Edd's head again when he nodded and did it up nice and securely.

The ride home was fast. Edd clung to Kevin and didn't feel bad when he rested his head against the firm back he was presented with. He was so tired, and Kevin was so warm. Edd was sure he'd be freaking out if he was on a motorcycle with anyone else. But he trusted Kevin more than was probably even safe. So much so that he almost fell asleep.

But they arrived before Edd could drift into dream land, though, and Kevin parked his 'new' bike behind the house next to a large bush.

He guided a drowsy Edd into the house and towards the stairs, but that's where Edd had trouble. There was a lot of stairs and Edd was so exhausted.

Rolling his eyes again as Edd tripped and almost fell, Kevin swept Edd off his unsteady feet and, despite the quiet protest, carried him up the stairs.

Inwardly a little giddy at the action, Edd wrapped his arms around Kevin's neck and pressed his tired face into his shoulder. Kevin's confession (forced or not) somehow had torn down a particular wall and yet erected a completely different one at the same time. But, knowing Kevin liked him gave Edd some sort of twisted confidence.

At the top of the stairs, Edd completely missed the fact that Blake stood there, rigid, as Kevin carried Edd into his bedroom. Kevin and Blake shared a blank look, one quite like the one they'd shared upon Blake's first arrival, before Kevin looked away.

He placed Edd down onto his bed with a plop and began taking off his jacket. Edd looked up at him sleepily, allowing this. With a sigh, Kevin straightened back up and threw his jacket over Edd's computer chair carelessly.

Edd tilted his head at Kevin, his brain a little less uptight because of his drowsiness. "Will you stay with me?" he asked.

Blinking down at Edd with surprise, Kevin raised an eyebrow.

Edd laughed a little but shook his head at Kevin. "Not like that. Just sleep with me- no! Not like that! Um..."

Kevin smiled. "I understand. But I don't think that's a good idea."

Confused, Edd frowned. "Why not?"

With a chuckle, Kevin folded his arms. "You're so innocent and naive. I just told you a little while ago that I lust after you and then you say you want me to sleep in the same bed as you? Innocently?"

Blushing, Edd shifted a little. But he understood. "Oh."

Nodding, Kevin headed for the door. "See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Kevin," Edd sighed contentedly, rolling over and closing his eyes as his light was switched off.

As Edd slept, he was vaguely aware that at about two in the morning a presence was in his room. It pulled back the covers of his bed and climbed in. Warm hands slid over his shirted torso to pull another body against his back. In his only half-conscious state, Edd snuggled back against the person he'd known wouldn't be able to help themselves after an invitation like that.

-~X~-

Body waking before his mind the next morning, Edd opened his eyes to the sunlight that filtered in through his curtains. He recognised the heat behind him and turned with a sheepish, nervous smile, scooting away a little from the unfamiliar touch. He didn't know what he'd been thinking, inviting Kevin into his bed last night like that. He'd just felt so close to him. So safe. So comforted.

But Kevin didn't have his red hair. Edd frowned, then gasped. "Blake!"

The blond blinked open his eyes, obviously only just waking up, and looked at Edd's horrified face. "Eddward, I can explain," he began slowly, cautiously, but didn't have a chance to say anything else for Edd punched him square in the nose.

It wasn't a very good punch; poor aim, poor strength behind it, but it startled Blake and made him fall out of Edd's small single bed and onto the floor. He yelped in surprise and pain and Edd tried jumping over him to get to the door.

But Blake desperately grabbed the material around Edd's ankle whilst he was in mid-air above him, which stopped Edd from landing properly. He went to hit the carpet face first and tried to block his fall with his arms. He heard a sickening crunch and screamed.

Blake immediately let go and sat up, eyes wide, seemingly terrified of what he'd done. He scuttled back until his back hit the bed, never taking his eyes off Edd, who was curling in on himself in pain. The door slammed open and Kevin appeared. He accessed the situation so fast no one had the chance to blink, and went straight for Blake. Gulping, Blake shook his head furiously and raised his arms defensively.

"I didn't do it- I didn't mean to!" Blake contradicted himself out of fear, but Kevin's foot still connected with his face with devastating force.

Yowling in pain and holding his bleeding face, Blake cowered away from the redhead. Kevin turned to Edd and knelt down to his level.

"Double D, where does it hurt?" he asked, surprisingly calm, his hands resting on Edd's frame gently.

Edd tried to sit up and Kevin helped him. "M-my arm, I think it's broken," he whimpered. But he was handling the vicious pain well.

Face one of steel, Kevin nodded. "Go down to the bike and wait for me. I'll probably be finished by the time you get there. I'll take you to a hospital."

"Wait for you?" Edd questioned, his voice tight whilst he dealt with the pain and the shock of the situation. He was ignoring Blake, though it wasn't hard when the blond was as silent as his furniture.

"The prick in the corner is going to get the beating of his life. All in five minutes," Kevin stated firmly, his jaw set and squared.

"Kevin-"

He cut him off. "No. Go," he left no room for argument.

Edd glanced at Blake to see subtle tears (probably ones of pain) rolling down his cheeks, his body language screaming that he was terrified.

"No," Edd said, looking at Kevin pleadingly.

Growling in frustration, Kevin refused to look at Blake. He nodded, though, and helped Edd up. "Fine."

As they reached the door, however, Blake piped up, much to Edd's horror: "You two fucking deserve each other," he spat out between heaves of breath. "You're both fucking insane bastards. I'm done with you." The last line was obviously directed just at Edd.

Edd sent Kevin a 'please' look, but Kevin didn't seem to see it. He turned on his heel and marched back to Blake, who was now cowering again.

"You dumb ass prick," was all Kevin said before he began kicking him again until he screamed. Then he raised his foot above his leg and brought it down in a calculated angle. Bone snapped loudly throughout the room, closely followed by the loudest scream of the morning.

Edd yelled and pulled at Kevin with his good arm to make him stop. Kevin obeyed and, guiding Edd, left the room without a glance backwards other than to grab the jacket he'd left there last night.

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Edd tugged on Kevin's shirt until the young man looked at him with empty eyes. "Kevin, you scared me," he whispered fiercely. He knew he was shaking a little.

After blinking a few times, Kevin closed his eyes, stopping momentarily before opening them and looking at Edd apologetically. "I'm sorry," he said simply. There wasn't much else he could say. "I just get angry sometimes."

Edd didn't respond and instead took the jacket from Kevin and quickly slipped it on.

Then they walked again until they were behind the house and before the bike. Kevin glanced at Edd's arm as he clutched it against his chest.

"Can you hold on to me?"

Nodding, Edd wiped at his face with his hand- although he hadn't cried, and waited for Kevin to strap the helmet on him, then mount the bike. Edd got on behind him and Kevin started the engine up.

The ride was slow this time, and Edd cringed and winced as his arm bumped around. He held it as close to his chest as he dared.

The hospital was a blur, and Kevin handled everything for him: talking to reception, filling out forms, and then getting Edd some water from a vending machine as they waited to be seen by a doctor. They didn't speak; Edd was still frightened and Kevin was still a little tense. Edd wanted to go see the doctor by himself, so when his name was called, Kevin just sat there as Edd stood and unsteadily walked off. Running a hand over his face, Kevin sighed loudly.

The doctor was nice enough and Edd lied about how he'd gotten the broken arm. He said he'd fallen over in the bathroom. The doctor not only bought it but went on to rabble about how many patients he gets who fall over in their bathroom. Edd wondered how many of them were lying, too. Thinking back to Kevin as the man rambled, Edd quivered at how violent Kevin could get. This boy- this man, who claimed to like him, seemed as if he wouldn't hesitate to beat the crap out of just about anyone.

There was a temporary splint, an X-ray, and some numbing anaesthetic. It took a while. After vaguely listening to the 'don't get the cast wet' part, Edd politely said thanks and goodbye and left. Luckily it wasn't a bad break.

Kevin was still in the same spot, reading a glossy, girly magazine with a disturbed frown. Edd couldn't help but smile in humour at him.

"Kevin, you ready?"

Immediately dropping the magazine, Kevin stood up and looked at Edd's arm. "How'd it go?"

"Fine," Edd answered, waving his cast around a little. He glanced down at the magazine. "Have fun?"

Gingerly looking down at the magazine with a woman with bright red lipstick on the front cover, Kevin shrugged. "There's some messed up stuff in there."
Edd smiled a little at Kevin. It was hard for him to have this tension between them. He wanted it gone.

Kevin saw Edd's smile and seemed to relax a little. He grabbed Edd's good wrist and tugged.

"Considering we've missed quite a bit of school already-" Edd cut him off mid sentence.

"School! Oh gosh I forgot all about it!" he cried.

Smirking, Kevin continued. "As I was saying, considering we've missed quite a bit of school already, and we have a pretty legit excuse, lets go home and watch movies and eat popcorn."

Edd gazed up at Kevin's careful face. "Sure. That sounds nice." He smiled, pretending he wasn't still thinking about school.

On the way home, Kevin stopped at a video store and went in by himself, saying he'd pick out some great movies and surprise Edd. He came out with a huge bag of popcorn and a bag of second-hand DVD's. He tied them to the back of his bike on the rack and sat in front of Edd. Just before Edd was about to slide the helmet over his ears again, a mobile phone rang.

Kevin fished it out of his denim jeans pocket and answered it. "Hello?"

There was a muffed feminine voice speaking on the other end of the line, but Edd couldn't make out what she was saying.

Silently sighing, Kevin ran a hand through his shaggy, red hair. "Yeah, I know.

"No.

"Yes.

"I'm busy.

"For a long time.

"Listen, Jasmine, it's not going to happen, okay?

"I really don't care.

"Get a life already," Kevin sighed the last line before pressing a button on his phone and ending the call. He shoved it back in his pocket and looked as if he wasn't going to explain what that was all about.

"Who was that?" Edd asked quickly before Kevin had the chance to start the engine.

Sighing audibly this time, Kevin tensed a little. "A girl I banged a while ago. 'Bout a month."

There was a pause before Edd nodded calmly. "And there's going to be a lot of those ringing you?"

Kevin looked over his shoulder at Edd blankly for a minute, searching his face, before he dug out his phone again. He shifted it in his hand and then threw it with force at the brick wall of the video store and watched it shatter explosively upon impact.

Gaping, Edd squirmed. "I-I didn't mean- I didn't want you to do that!"

"I know," Kevin said before he started up the engine and steered the bike towards the exit, completely ignoring the few pedestrians who were staring at them.


The next chapter is called, Not With Anyone

Teaser: Silence ensued. Kevin crossed his arms. "Hey, don't judge me."

A/N: Someone I know dramatically threw his phone against the ground with the intent to destroy it- which he certainly achieved. It was quite a dramatic moment and everyone just stopped and stared at him, speechless; it's not something you see everyday, what with people's attachments to their technology these days.

Also, trust me on this, you're going to want to read the next chapter...