Title: Screamworks
Author: NeroAnne
Disclaimer: I don't own the following wrestlers. Do I wish? Oh yes. But do I own? Oh no. XD.
Summary: "Jeff could feel everything that was being done to him," Matt whispered, the feeling of Evan's fingers in his hair soothing him only a bit, "…but he just could not move." SLASH.
Dedicated to: Emri-May
{Screamworks}
-Perpetual Smiles-
They didn't stop.
They got worse, in fact.
Randy inhaled deeply, digging his palms into his eye sockets. He could hear them hissing at him and snapping and wanting to be obeyed. But there was also…
"You did the right thing, Randy."
Closing his eyes, Randy could feel himself slipping into a light sleep, his breathing softening as he entered the realm of his dreams. It was the only place that he ever felt sane instead of crazy.
"Cody."
Blue eyes shined merrily, an adorable smile spread over small lips. Randy watched as the opened to say, "I'm glad you finally told, Randy. That was very brave of you."
Snorting quietly, Randy looked around the room. His old room. He wandered over to his toy chest and pulled out a weathered old baseball. Tossing it up into the air and catching it, the man turned back to his ghostly companion. "Will they stop?" he whispered, "will they leave me alone?"
Lips formed a thin line against a cherubic face. "Only if you make them leave," was the somber response. "You control them, Randy. You always have. They are nothing without you. With you shunning them out, they'll just be a distant noise amongst real voices."
Shaking his head, Randy sat on his old bed, closing his eyes at the familiar feel. When he opened them, he noticed that Cody was now kneeling in front of him, watching him carefully. "Do they know you're here?"
Cody shook his head shortly, "But they will soon," he murmured. He rested his chin on Randy's knee, "What do you feel for Jeff?" his tone was curious.
Randy hesitated, his eyes narrowing in thought. Finally, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know," he said softly, "I just want to…help him." He shook his head, "I'd like to hear him talk. To say…"
"Your name?" Cody finished, smiling as Randy's cheeks colored ever so slightly. Cody stood, looking around the room, "I remember here. This is where you used to talk to me. I don't miss it though," the smaller boy smiled widely, "I'm glad you made real friends. And I'm glad I can still help you."
Randy blinked as Cody's bubbly persona suddenly shifted into something much darker and serious. Those blue eyes hardened as they zeroed in on him.
"There are secrets in this story, Randy. Holes that need to be filled. You will really need to try and see the clues I give you, I can't guarantee how much I can help you anymore."
Randy twitched, "You've given me riddles more than help, you little shit."
Cody snorted, arms crossed. "I have to be secretive! I'm not real y'know! I exist only in your head."
Cobalt eyes rolled. "Before you go, Cody…"
"Yes?" the conscious asked gently.
"You're not a ghost or anything…are you?"
Laughing loudly, Cody shoved Randy over lightly and then as Randy fell, he felt himself slowly lifting out of his dream.
As his eyes opened, Randy found himself surrounded by worried faces. Blinking in surprise, Randy sat up, almost butting heads with Ted. "What? Why is everyone staring at me?"
"You just sort of dazed out, man. You okay?" John asked, voice small.
Randy nodded stiffly, looking away from his friend to look towards Jeff. The small blonde was sitting on Matt's lap, his fingers playing with his older brothers dark curls. He looked tired, his eyes half-closed and his mouth parted as he inhaled. Matt was rocking him slightly, humming lowly in the hopes of getting the tiny blonde to take a nap.
The dog was asleep a few feet away from Jeff, her soft snores echoing around the room.
Adam was sitting next to the brothers, his hand placed possessively over Jeff's knee. His hazel eyes narrowed slightly as they met with Randy. "So now you know."
Jeff winced, completely awake now and Matt glared at the taller blonde, trying to stand up but Jeff wouldn't allow it. "I need to use the bathroom, baby." Jeff clung even tighter to his brother.
"Here," Adam opened his arms to take Jeff and made himself comfortable against the wall, hugging Jeff close. "You have to sleep eventually, Rabbit."
"He'd already be asleep if you hadn't opened your mouth," Randy sneered, eyes cold. "And yeah. I know."
Adam glared heatedly at him and tightened his hold on Jeff.
"Know what?" Ted asked meekly. All eyes turned to him and that was Randy remembered that his cousin and best friend hadn't been with them when he found out and when he'd told…
And neither had Adam.
After shooting his cousin a frown, Randy turned his attention back the Adam. "I understand now why you're so protective over him." He began calmly, choosing his words carefully, "but you don't need to be anymore."
All eyes locked on him and Randy frowned, his own stare focused on the blonde man who was quickly beginning to show signs of irritation and anger.
"What are you saying here?" Adam's voice was deathly calm.
Narrowing his eyes, Randy responded with a bold, "The boy is of my interest. I will keep him safe from now on."
Adam set Jeff aside, and stood slowly. He walked until he was face-to-face with Randy, "Are you staking a claim?" he whispered, eyes intense, "because if you are, it's only right that I tell you that there is no way in hell I'm letting someone like you become attached to Jeff."
Randy smirked, "You really think you have a choice here? You may feel like you have a connection to little Jeff because of how long you've known him, Addy, but you will never know the bond that heand I share. Believe me; it is much stronger than whatever you think you feel for him."
Adam bristled, grabbing the collar of Randy's top and rearing his fist back and letting it fly towards the smug smirk on the patients' mouth.
"Adam!"
His fist stopped an inch away from Randy's lips. Turning his head back, Adam glared heatedly at Matt. "Did you hear what he said to me?"
"That doesn't matter," Matt hissed, gesturing pointedly to the bed.
Adam and Randy both looked towards Jeff.
The little blonde had his knees up to his chest, his eyes watching them both sadly. As they each stared into those eyes, Jeff looked away from them, resting his cheek on his arm as he chose to look at the sleeping puppy next to him instead.
Chuckling, Randy smacked Adam's fist away from his face. "You are weak, Adam. You think you know his pain but unless you've ever felt pain like it before, pain from someone you trusted, then you will never know what real pain is."
Ted and John shared a confused look before John stepped forwards, grabbing Randy's elbow, "Randy…?"
"When he's gone, I'll tell you," Randy said shortly, pulling away from his friend, "When Adam leaves, I'll fill you in."
Adam merely snorted, "Trust me; I don't care about what happened to you. I don't want to know."
"Then you wouldn't mind leaving now," Randy snarled, eyes flashing in warning.
Adam opened his mouth to protest but was cut short by Matt, who grabbed his arm roughly, "Adam, we're leaving," the darker Hardy spoke in a firm tone, "We've comforted Jeff and he'll be fine. We need to get back home to help Evan with wedding plans."
"Why are you so willing to leave Jeff here with these people?" Adam cried out, hands sliding into his hair and tugging, "He doesn't know them! Randy is fucking psychotic and he's going to end up hurting Jeff just like they did and you're going to LET it happen just like you let it happen BEFORE!"
Matt stiffened, his arm slowly sliding off of Adam's arm.
The screaming had woken Dynar up, who had begun to bark loudly. Combined with Jeff's whimpers, it wasn't very pleasing to hear.
Adam swallowed hard, eyes drowning in remorse, "Matt…" he reached tentatively for his friend, "Matt, I..." he winced when Matt glared at him, the ravenette's eyes wet with tears.
Sniffing, Matt turned, placing a kiss on Jeff's head. "I'll come back for you, Jeff. I promise. I'll bring you to the wedding. I love you, baby." He hugged his baby brother tightly and rushed out of the room, ignoring his best friend.
"Matt! Matt!" Adam ran towards the open door, "Matt, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" seeing that the Hardy paid him no mind, Adam rapped his fist against his own temple before looking down at Jeff.
"Rabbit, Jeff," Adam knelt down, either not noticing or not caring about Randy's irate hissing noises, "Forget what I said just then. It doesn't mean anything, okay?" he waited until Jeff nodded slowly before he kissed the pale patients temple and shot off after Matt.
There was silence.
Randy sighed as Ted and John turned expectant eyes towards him. He sat on Jeff's bed, bringing the blonde into his arms. "Alright, sit down. You won't like what I'm about to say."
{Screamworks}
The ride back to the house was silent.
Matt drove slowly, refusing to look at his best friend who had been apologizing ever since they began the drive. Gritting his teeth, Matt tried to calm himself before he snapped.
"You know I didn't mean what I said," Adam whispered, "I was angry. I don't like leaving my rabbit in that cage with Randy. I can feel it, Matt. Randy is no good. He can't be trusted."
Matt stepped on the brakes, causing Adam to lurch forewords a bit.
"Matt, what-" Adam stilled as Matt turned dark eyes on him.
"Stop it," the ravenette murmured angrily, "Just stop, Adam. I didn't want to tell you this because you're my best friend but you need to hear this. Jeff does not love you, Adam."
Adam felt his heart churn, surprised at the brutal honesty in the other man's eyes and words.
"Or rather, Jeff will never be in love with you. Jeff loves you the same way he loves me. The same way he loves Chris and Jay and dad and Judy. He loves us like family. Jeff does not love you like a lover, Adam. And he never will and you need to stop laying a claim on him."
Adam blinked rapidly, trying to blink away tears. "But…but I…" he swallowed, "Matt…I…I love him so much," tears streaked down his cheeks. "I want him to be in love with me…" his shoulders shook.
Feeling true sorrow, Matt pulled his best friend into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Adam." Matt knew. He'd seen the look in Jeff's eyes when he was around a certain IED patient. "But Jeff is already in love. And it's not with you." He shuddered as Adam let out a heart-broken wail and allowed himself to cry as well.
To cry for his best friend, who had sadly fallen in love with his broken baby brother…who in turn had fallen in love with an imperfect man.
{Screamworks}
"Would you stop looking at me like that?" Randy scowled, looking away from Ted and John's pitiful faces. Their eyes were red-rimmed from crying and Ted was still shaking. He just couldn't believe that his uncle would allow something like what happened to Randy just continue to happen.
Jeff was finally asleep, but it wasn't a peaceful sleep from the looks of things. His brows were furrowed and his hands were clenched into tight fists against Randy's clothing, holding on for dear life.
"Oh, Randy…" Ted stopped himself as his cousin shot him a warning look.
After a while of silence, John decided to change the subject. "So…what happened to the kid?"
Randy shrugged, "I'm not the one to tell you that. You'll probably want to as his brother or his doctor."
As in on cue, Dr. Michaels stepped into the door, smiling lightly. "Gentlemen," he greeted, making way so that Hunter could join them. "We were having a talk."
Hunter stared over at Randy. "I need you to answer something honestly for me."
"I'll try," Randy muttered, eyeing his surrogate father uneasily.
"If we let you out of this hospital…to see the outside, will you be able to restrain yourself from hurting anyone?" Hunter asked seriously.
Randy stared thoughtfully up at the ceiling. "Depends, I guess. Where do you want to take me?"
Dr. Michaels smiled, "Well…the wedding is coming up. I'm sure Jeff would like it if you came along instead of being locked up in here by yourself." He smiled at John and Ted, "I'm sure Matt would love to have you both come as well."
Randy snorted, "I hate weddings."
"You've never been to one," Hunter grinned, "but this can be your first. If you can control yourself."
"I can't control myself," Randy whispered honestly, "…but Jeff can control me just fine."
Hunter and Dr. Michaels shared a glanced before the bigger blonde nodded. "Fine. Just in case, though, we'll have to…strap you down."
"You're not putting me in a fucking jacket are you?" Randy glared.
Hunter laughed, "No, son. Nothing like that. Just something that'll keep you close to Jeff at all times."
Randy could see the humor in the man's brown eyes and he hugged the boy in his lap together.
He'd seen the way Hunter had looked down at the damn dog.
If this old man thought he was going to collar and leash Randy…then he had another thing coming.
{Screamworks}
Poor Adam. I love him, I do. Too bad Jeff doesn't in this fic. :/
Right then. First thing is first: Thank you, Love and Diet Soda for kicking my ass into gear and writing to me in hopes that I'd update sooner. Hope you enjoyed the read, everyone make sure to thank Love and Diet Soda (cool name, btw) because I probably wouldn't have update this week if it wasn't for them.
Another thing, this story is quickly coming to an end. There are less than 6 chapters left and there will be a lot more action in those chapters, these last two were just info-givers. There's still the wedding, the dark days and the aftermath.
Also, seeing as this fic will be ending soon, I thought I'd let you all know that I've started another fic called Passion Deranged. I will still be updating Rapture and The Burning as well.
Thanks to everyone who is still with me on this fic. Hope the read was good.