Title: The Burning
Author: NeroAnne
Disclaimer: I don't own the following wrestlers. Do I wish? Oh yes. But do I own? Oh no. XD.
Summary: Deep down, they hated each other. Deeper down still, they lusted for each other. All the way down at the bottom…they loved each other. On top of all that, though, they envied each other.
Note: Clearly, I need help.
ZZZZ
-Auditorium-
"Thrust your hips a little bit more, Jeff," Kozlov told his prized student, watching with careful eyes as Jeff's delicate hips thrust in, out and then swung to the left and then right. His eyes sparkled, seeing the rhythm become perfected in less than a minute.
Christus watched from the seats in the audience, smiling softly as his boyfriend danced onstage. He felt a hand fall on his shoulder and he looked up, seeing brown eyes flashing above him.
"Saw the kiss. Am I to assume you're together now?"
Christus smiled, moving aside to let his mentor sit, "You'd assume correctly." He waited until Hunter sat down before turning his head, "Hunter, I cannot thank you enough…If it weren't for you convincing me to come down here, I would have never met him."
Hunter smiled lightly, patting the Finn's shoulder. "You're a good man Christus. Every good man deserves a good love in his life." The older man turned his head to watch Jeff, trying to mask the hurt in his eyes.
Christus watched his mentor silently for few minutes before looking to Jeff as well. "You're a good man, also…"
"Yes…but I have my good love. Perhaps if it'd been a bit earlier, Jeff and I…" Hunter shook his head, smiling sadly, "It was not our time." He turned back to Christus, approval and adulation shining in his brown orbs. "But it is your time with him. Cherish it."
Hunter saw something then, something off in Christus' eyes. He blinked at his pupil, waiting for him to say something.
"I believe I've made a mistake, father," Christus murmured, keeping his brown eyes on Jeff's moving body. His eyes darkened, mouth growing dry as Jeff continued his fluid dancing. His lithe body moving like a river…gorgeous eyes closed as he danced to the beat…a light sheen of sweat decorating his bare stomach, droplets sliding down to pool above the waist-band of genie costume he wore.
Ripping his eyes away from the scene of rapture, Christus looked Hunter in the eye. "You see, I did something earlier…mere weeks before I got into contact with Jeff. It's something that started at random…and the progressed to something….further. "
Hunter could see the shame and regret in his pupil's eyes and he knew this was something that bothered the younger man greatly. It wasn't often that Christus actually called him "father". He frowned. "Do you feel comfortable telling me what it was?"
"…I only wish to forget it." Christus replied, smiling up at Jeff as the song finished. He felt his heart flutter as Jeff smiled back, his beautiful eyes glowing happily. "I will forget."
Hunter understood, not pressing the matter.
Sometimes, things too hurtful were better left unsaid.
Hunter straightened as Jeff made his way towards them. He smiled at the beautiful boy, standing to look him over. "Well, you prove to be as gorgeous a genie as you are a geisha."
Jeff's cheeks colored and he smiled, sweeping a hand through his purple locks. "Thank you, Hunter…" he trailed off, glancing down to Christus, seeing his blank state. "Are you okay?"
Christus blinked a few times before smiling, standing also. "I was merely stunned by your beauty, kulta." He leaned down, pressing his lips against Jeff's forehead. "Well, is it time to be getting you home?"
Jeff sighed, "I was supposed to be home an hour ago. Matt is going to kill me." He giggled as he was pulled into Christus' embrace, the older boy leaning down so they could share a sweet little Eskimo kiss.
"I'll take care of Matthew," Christus told his young love interest. "You don't worry your pretty head over anything."
Easier said…then done.
{T*B}
Matt raked his fingers through his thick hair, trembling and trying to ignore the feeling of a fire burning in the pit of his stomach.
Jeff still wasn't home.
In fact, he hadn't seen his baby brother since he kissed the foreign copy…
The copy who was now the boyfriend…
Matt dragged his hands down his face, coming to a stop with his hands crossed, tucked under his chin. He heard voices coming closer and he looked up from the kitchen as the door opened.
It didn't take long for Christus and Jeff to come inside, Jeff freezing as he noticed his older brother.
Christus and Matt locked eyes before Matt's eyes strayed down to the arm the Finn had around Jeff's small waist. He swallowed thickly before crossing his arms, waiting for an explanation.
"Uh…I passed my test," Jeff spoke suddenly, smiling lightly, "I got only one question wrong."
"Good," Matt replied evenly. "Go up to your room. I have to talk to," he looked up at the Finn, "Christus."
Jeff opened his mouth to object but before he could, he was turned around to face Christus.
The older student leaned down, his lips wrapping around Jeff's lower lips as they kissed. The Finn wrapped his arms around Jeff's shoulder, as the younger boy's hand lightly moved up to Christus' neck.
Matt stared in uncomfortable silence, waiting till Christus broke the kiss to cough pointedly.
"Go up to you room, kulta. I'll be up there in ten minutes," Christus whispered to Jeff, leading him to the stairs. He slowly let go of the younger Hardy's hand as he walked upstairs.
Slowly, the older boy turned to face him and Matt straightened his shoulders.
"I said no." Matt spoke calmly, "Jeff's too young…and you're only here for your summer break. Does Jeff know that? Does he know that you're going to leave him in a while? When are you going to-"
"When are you going to admit that I'm right?"
Matt froze.
Christus' eyes bore into his own and slowly, the full lips parted again. "You love your brother more than you should. Well, I feel sorry for you because I love him also."
Matt smirked, "Do you know that the little brat wants me, too?" he could see the question in the Finn's eyes. "Oh yeah. The only reason he's settling for you…is because you look like me."
The Finn took a menacing step forewords and Matt stayed where he was, eyes narrowing in challenge.
"Matt?"
Both men looked towards the door, where Torrie was staring at them in confusion. Her eyes trailed over Christus before looking to Matt, "Baby, what's going on?"
"Nothing, babe," Matt murmured, "Go upstairs."
"Oh," color came to Torrie's cheeks, "Um…I kinda wanted to…" she rocked on her heels a bit, "I'm having some…urges."
Matt winced, listening to Christus chuckle. He rounded on the taller male, about to tell him to shut it, when he noticed the guy making his way up the stairs, "Hey! I'm not done with you!"
"Satisfy your girlfriend, why don't you?" Christus taunted, "In the mean time, I'll be satisfying your brother."
Matt growled loudly, fingers twitching. He turned to Torrie, who jumped. "Is sex all you can think about?"
She stared at him in shock before glaring angrily, "Yes! It was all you could think about before knocking me up also, you bastard!"
Matt groaned as she ran upstairs, shutting the door to his room violently. He sighed, dragging a hand down his face.
'Fuck it all…'
{T*B}
Jeff looked up as Christus entered his room. He blinked, seeing the grim smile on his boyfriends face, "Are you alright?"
"Mm," Christus nodded, settling himself on the bed next to Jeff, "Your brother is rather…hotheaded."
"You noticed?" Jeff quipped dryly. He turned onto his left side, staring into his boyfriends eyes. "You look a bit upset…tell me what's wrong?"
He bit his bottom lip as Christus analyzed him. "…What?"
The Finn merely smiled, inclining his head so that their mouths touched. His hand moved down to Jeff's side; pulling the younger boy close so that their chests pressed tightly against one another's.
Jeff melted into the embrace, his fingers sliding into the older boy's curls. He opened his mouth to the exploring tongue, sighing in pleasure as Christus' hand rubbed his jean-clad thigh.
He pouted once the kiss ended, listening to Christus chuckle.
"Don't worry kulta," the Finn purred seductively, "When I do decide to take you, I promise you nothing but soul…shattering…pleasure," he said, giving Jeff small little pecks in between the words.
Jeff smiled, the words making his heart flutter against his chest, "I'm holding you to that."
Christus left about an hour later, leaving Jeff sprawled out on his bed, blowing pieces of purple hair away from his face. He heard knocking on his door and he looked over as Matt entered, hiding something behind his hand.
"Look, Jeffro," Matt began calmly, eyes on the floor, "I know you're not a child…and I want to apologize for being such a…"
"Dick?" Jeff supplied, smirking lightly as his brother frowned. He blinked as Matt held out what he'd been hiding.
Skittles…?
Jeff felt his blood boil. "What the hell are you trying to do? Buy back my affection?"
Matt sighed, "Jeff, don't be a pain, just accept it and let's move on."
"Forget it," Jeff cried out, sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of his bed. He stood up, walking close to Matt, "You're seriously trying to buy me into a truce?"
He swallowed thickly as Matt's dark eyes finally bore into his.
"Might as well be the first one. The rate you're going…you'll end up a prostitute and a lot of people are going to buy you into doing what they want."
Jeff swung before really even knew he was doing it. He felt his wrist being grabbed and he kicked at Matt, grunting as his foot smacked hard against the older brother's thigh. He felt Matt charge at him, the wide shoulder usually used in football reaming into his gut and picking him up off the ground.
He squeaked in pain as his back hit the ground harshly before he instantly began to pummel Matt with his fists. He felt his knuckles connect with Matt's shoulder, neck, and cheek before Matt swung back at him.
His head whipped to the side, Matt's right fist catching his cheek hard. Jeff gritted his teeth in pain, and swung his own fist forewords, punching his older brother right on the mouth.
They scuffled around on the floor, Matt pinning his baby brother to the floor and grabbing his collar, using it to slam Jeff's head into the ground over and over. He grunted as Jeff's knee dug into his side, his ribs aching at the blow.
Jeff's legs reached up, wrapping around Matt's arms before he swung them down, pulling Matt off of him. He quickly stood up, driving his foot into Matt's side a good few times.
Matt grabbed Jeff's foot, twisting it and opening his arms as Jeff fell down on top of him. They continued their fight, even going so far as to tug hair.
Ten minutes later, the brothers were panting harshly, glaring at each other from across the room. Matt was sitting with his back to Jeff's door, legs spread out in front of him. His curly hair had slipped free from its braid, and it curled wildly around his face.
His lip was split open, blood caking against his lower lip and chin. His arm was wrapped around his left side. There was a small cut above his eyebrow, and nail marks running down his neck.
Jeff was sitting with his knees tucked under his body. His purple locks were matted haphazardly all around his face, his emerald eyes peeking through. His cheek sported a new bruise to cover up the fading one Lesnar had left behind.
He had one hand cradled at the back of his head, rubbing it gingerly. There was a bit of blood from a cut right underneath his elbow, trailing down his arm to coat at his fingertips.
Jeff broke the intense gaze, eyes on the floor as they began to well up with tears, "Get out of my room," he whispered, standing up slowly. The ankle that Matt had twisted buckled underneath him and he fell, falling face-first onto his bed.
He let out a muffled groan of pain and turned his head, looking back to Matt. "Why do you hate me, Matt?"
He watched as Matt's head lowered. He blinked as Matt's shoulders began to shake and he inhaled sharply as Matt let out a muffled whimper.
"God, Jeff…I don't hate you. I love you."
{T*B}
Matt swallowed hard, staring up at his baby brother.
"…Jeff. Do you remember the time I started acting so cold towards you?"
He watched Jeff nod before he answered, "A while after momma…"
"Died," Matt ended softly, tears sliding down his cheeks. "Jeff…I was only twelve. I was just getting close to her…it wasn't fair. I loved mom. I love her. She left too soon…and she…she said…"
-Flashback-
He kissed her left hand softly, pressing his forehead against it soon after. He slowly raised his head, staring across his mother's bed, to his other family members.
Jeff was curled up on their father's lap, sleeping away. His blonde hair was starting to grow out; it reached his cherubic face and curtained his cheeks adoringly. His cheek was resting on their dad's chest as he slept, tear marks down his cheeks.
Their dad was sitting on one of those upholstered chairs. The older man had his neck craned back to meet the wall, his eyes closed as snores left his mouth. His left arm was wrapped securely around Jeff, the other hand cradling Ruby's right hand.
'Poor old man,' the twelve year old thought sadly, 'he worried himself to sleep…' his eyes moved down his baby brother. Jeff had been having problems sleeping lately.
He would always have to crawl into the nine-year olds bed, to hold him while he cried through his nightmares…
Something their mother would do…
"Matthew…"
Matt's eyes snapped back down to the woman lying on the bed.
Replica brown eyes stared back at him. A thin, but sweet smile graced peach colored lips…
"Momma," Matt breathed, staring at his mother with wide eyes. He felt his heart beat faster, grabbing her hand as she lifted it to his face. Their joined hands cupped his cheek and Matt felt the tears fall.
"My beautiful boy," she whispered softly, brown eyes twinkling. "…Do you know what's going to happen?"
Choking back a sob, he nodded.
"Do you understand?" Ruby whispered, smiling as her first born nodded once more. She turned her eyes to her husband and to her last baby and she smiled serenely, moving her thumb over Gil's knuckles.
"Mom," Matt whimpered, watching his mother turn back to him, "Please don't go…I…need you."
Ruby smiled sadly, tears prickling the corners of her eyes, "…I'm sorry, my love…" she felt her breath hitch and she calmed her breathing, "Be a good man, Matthew. Graduate. Find love. Marry…have beautiful children…" she smiled, "I'm not worried about you, Matt. I know you'll be amazing."
She sighed softly, "Take care of your father…and take care of our Jeffro. Don't let him be sad. Love him. Care for him. He's your baby brother and he always will be. Please don't let my…passing, ruin him. Please look after him?"
Matt sobbed quietly, nodding his head. "I will mom…"
"Good man," She whispered softly. Her hand stroked her son's cheek one last time and she turned her gaze to Gil and Jeff. "Goodbye my loves…"
Matt cringed as the machine that had previously been beeping fell into a flat sound. He covered his face with his hands as his father jumped, alarmed at the sound.
"…Matthew, take your brother."
Matt looked up, holding his arms out for Jeff as their father stood, slowly leaving the room. Matt eyed the door closing before looking down at his sleeping brother.
Jeff's eyebrows began to scrunch together and his lips trembled. He let loose a low whine, tugging on Matt's shirt.
"…Shh, shh, Jeffro," Matt whispered to his baby brother. "…I'm here for you."
"I'll always be here…"
{T*B}
He hiccupped quietly, breaths coming out quickly as his heart thudded against his chest.
Jeff was staring at him from his bed, tears sliding down his pale face to land on his covers.
Matt sucked in a deep breath, "You're mine now, Jeff…not his…" he lowered his head, "I'm supposed to take care of you."
"I'm supposed to make decisions that you can't make for yourself…momma told me to guide you…and I've been trying for so long but you don't want to listen…" he swallowed hard, "…but I haven't been listening either."
"I know that I make you cry…I know that sometimes you want to diebecause of how I make you feel…and I'm sorry…for being such a hard-ass and for being so mean. I just…" he curled up into a ball, sobbing harder now. "…I just need to make sure you don't leave me like momma did."
He cried hard, hearing Jeff slide off of his bed. He could hear the teen crawling towards him, and he felt the thin arms pull him out of his fetal position. He pulled the crying teen onto his lap, burying his face in the purple locks as Jeff cried against his neck.
For the first time since their mom died…
Matt held his crying baby brother in his arms.
{T*B}
Aweeeeee.
Love on.