A.N.: Sorry for the late update but my computer was having some serious issues. But I hope you enjoy the chapter. Lighter.
............
December 23.
The Douglas brothers are out for their usual night stroll to get reacquainted with one another's days, much to Colt's anger and dismay of having to hear anything that Rocky-the-man-jokey, as Darren is now calling him, has to say he still came along anyhow to speak with his younger brother and no one else.
"...Well, I'm just gonna get it out there," Tum says glad that its dark enough to hide his blush. "Paige and I made love."
Both brothers were stunned to say the least; mostly Rocky he didn't think Tum Tum would actually go through with it since his little brother is usually more passive when it comes to making the first move.
Colt chuckled quietly. "How was it?" He asks curious to know what his brother would think of his first taste of sexual feelings.
"Umm... it was terrifying... I kept forgetting everything that I needed and wanted to do but-..."
"What did you forget?" Rocky asks his gaze at the night sky.
"The condom, the music, the chair being pulled ou-.."
Again he's cut off by Rocky who looks at him wide-eyed. "You forgot the condom?"
Waving his hands Tum Tum says. "I did but then I got up to get it, so I used it, don't worry."
Letting out a breath of relief he says. "Good."
"The sex itself was... intense... I honestly thought I was gonna pass out from the heat and the breathlessness." He lowers his gaze to his sneakers; he still wears the pairs with blinking lights on them. "Is sex always like that or does it get boring because you're so used to it?"
Rocky thought that over but Colt answered right away. "Tum tum, sex gets better with age and experience, trust me, because older sometimes is wiser and you can try all kinds of new things."
Further embarrassed Tum wished that he hadn't looked at his second brother then asks. "Like what?"
"Like positions, speeds, toys-.."
"Colt knock it off." Rocky snaps. "Not everybody has sex like you."
"I think you've got it wrong, Rocky, not everyone has sex like you."
Rocky didn't need to ask what that was supposed to mean because he already knew. Tum Tum doesn't so he felt obligated to know. Honestly he's felt the tension and charges in the air between the two of them just waiting to go off. Now is the time to get to the bottom of it he guessed. After some point whenever he called one of his brothers and mentioned the other to them the called just about hung up on him or chewed his head off saying that he could careless what happened to the other one. Never good to hear from people who are as close to one another as he is with his family.
"So what's up with you guys? Are you fighting over a girl again?" He teased to break the tension.
"Tch." Colt scoffed.
"Hn." Rocky looks in the other direction.
"Okay, the silent insults to each other have been issued now will somebody talk? Please?"
"Tum Tum, the thing is.... Colt and me aren't really getting along these days because" He looks at his brother being sure to direct his words and tone personally toward him. "he's turned into a fag hating, jackass."
"Oh shut up. I'd rather be a hater than a queer."
"What queer?" Tum asks, slightly on page with them.
"Oh what, are you too embarrassed to tell your younger brother that you suck cocks, but you'll gladly tell off the campus?" Colt quips.
Flustered, Rocky balls his hands in and out of a fist. 'Calm down Rocky, he's just trying to rile you up again.' Sighing out a calmed breath he says to his younger brother. "Tum, I was going to tell you but every time I wanted to I held back- I don't know, I guess I was just nervous about how you'd react, that maybe you'd tell mom and dad."
"I wouldn't tell mom or dad." Tum says in a plain honest tone.
That wasn't the way Colt heard it. "Ya see! Even Tum is ashamed of you. ...And unlike you he doesn't wanna insult our family and tell our parents about how sick you've become."
"And would you!?" Rocky barks a hard glare trained on his brother. His Chinese sign may be of the dog but that doesn't keep Wolf out of that pack they're just a more primal breeding. "Would you hurt our parents by telling on me for being with someone when you don't even know if it will last? Tch," He scoffs. "of course you'd say something." He shrugs it off. "you're best friends with Darren now, and you idiots would do anything to sate your need to make us feel like shit."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa- what? Colt, seriously?"
Colt rolls his eyes. "So we made up, it happens- Rocky is the real problem here, let's focus our attention on that."
"No!" Turning to face his brother, all walking has ceased, Tum Tum says bluntly. "You're acting like a real ass Colt, you're gonna treat your brother like shit just because he's found a way to be happy? Have you forgotten about what happened to him or something, I'm not saying that Maria is the reason he's decided to date Robbie but cut him some slack and let him find his footing until he feels better."
"Ha!" Rocky chides.
"And Rocky," Turning to face him now he says calmly enough. "Dude, I'm happy for you... I really am, but you can't be mad at Colt the way you are because you had to know how something like this would effect people whether you're happy or not it won't always be all the matters to some people. So please understand Colt's feelings and don't jump on him for being stupid. I honestly think that in time he'll come around."
"But-.."
He cuts Rocky off. "But even if he doesn't, you're brothers first and no love can come between that... besides, Robbie doesn't even have to be around you two when you're together. He's not here now... so why are you so hostile and mad? Can't we just calm down and be a family and stop trying to hurt each other just because we disagree and someone wants to be right?"
The two eye each other curiously and then with a nod, they hold out hands giving it a firm shake.
"Thank you." Straightening, he starts to walk again. "Now can we please get back to me/ I'm feeling kind of important over here and you creeps are spoiling my mood."
"Sorry." They both say in unison.
Walking in silence, Tum steals glances at his second brother. "....Not to bring up a bad conversation but, what the hell with the Darren thing, though? I thought the guy was public enemy."
Colt shrugs. "When he's not being a shit, he's actually pretty ok. We even have lunch together sometimes. Is it so wrong to make amends?"
"I guess not, I mean, I'm friends with his brother and he's never once given me a problem."
Rocky listens silently while they speak to each other.
"I can't believe he lost his leg though, that must be a real pain."
"He did?" Asks the blond.
Colt's thigh vibrates alerting him to his phone. 'Looks like Darren and his friends are making their move. Sorry Tum, but I always get what I want, and if I don't want Rocky and Robbie together I'll see to it that they break up no matter what.'
* * *
Robbie turns over on his bed a smile on his face as he can smell Rocky's shampoo on the pillow case in front of his nose. They figure its pointless having separate beds when they could just have one well-sized one when they push the two twins together. Having his room back is the best thing that's ever happened to him, to be honest, he's never felt safe alone in that dorm. He could swear he heard people whispering outside the door some nights; the voices were a blank to him except one was a bit familiar but not enough to see a face clearly. He once touched the knob when he thought one of the people outside had but no vision came to him so he figured it was paranoia from having to sleep alone. He's glad that Rocky told everyone the truth, and that they don't have to hide anymore- some people have even offered him a smile as Rocky suggested but they never meet his gaze either from being ashamed that they had laughed at them or made fun or because no matter how they treat the situation they'll never accept it. That was fine with Robbie, he would rather take silent human respect than the beating and insults, though, not everyone saw it that way and some of them still shoved him or called him names- Rocky as well if they were together at the time, but he knows that no one would dare call the ninja names alone. Rocky has stopped his violent need for him, in some ways he liked that in other ways he sometimes thought people would kind of deserve it but that's only the devil lurking in him, it happens to everyone at some point a random negative thought.
"How're we gonna get the door unlocked?"
Eyes open he sits up in the bed. He's not imagining things, someone is out there. 'Get the door open, fuck.' Getting out of the bed he hurries over to the closet grabbing a bat. Standing beside the door he can see the knob turning, when the lock clicks to say its in secure, the knob then rattles violently up and down.
"Do you think he's even in there?" Asks another voice.
"Why would he not be, campus is locked down for the night." Replies a third voice.
'Three of them.' He notes. 'If they break in here I'll hit the first one over the head with- no, I'll swing it at their forehead to knock them back into the others, then I'll run like Carlos to Talisa's room.' He didn't think Eureka could handle it if they followed and brought a fight on. Raising the bat over his head something dawned on him. 'Hold on, the door will be in my way. My plan won't work if I have to move around it.'
Walking out a bit he tries to switch positions at the door but it was a little too late as the door swung open allowing the intruders in. Aiming the bat at the first person he swings only to have to knocked away from him like it were a stuffed bear. The bat clattered to the floor and so did Robbie just as quickly, his arms braced out next to him. He grunts in pain when a knee crushed down on his wrists, kicking his legs wildly he tries to shout but tape is put over his mouth muffling his cries.
"Hold his legs." Says the tallest one.
Robbie managed to kick the guy going for his legs in the jaw rather hard backing him off but someone else grabbed his legs in the recovering males place. "I got 'im, I got 'im." He assures the ring leader.
Rolling his eyes, he lays still. 'Alright, so they got me. Just beat me up and let me get back to sleep.' Trying to see them through the bit of moonlight coming in through the half open window, he can't make out any clear faces they're all wearing masks. 'The masks are a bit much, though, I already know its Darren and friends... only thing is why they're still harrassing me. Are they really that balsy that Rocky's threat meant nothing to them? Whoa...'
He's lifted into the air and dragged out of the room.
December 24.
"And guess what, daddy?" Arc says his big voice disappearing from the phone for a second before he came back. "I got all your gifts right here, aunt Edi' says I can shake them but I can't open them."
Rocky laughed. "She's right, you've gotta be patient."
"Did you been shaking my gift?" His broken sentence asks curiously.
"I've shaken it, I'm very curious as to what it is. I might have to sneak a tear at the corner."
"Nooooo!!!" He cried out in mock seriousness.
"I won't, I promise."
"Is master Splinter there?"
"Our grandpa? He's here, do you wanna talk to him?"
"Yes, please." The boys claps his hands.
"Hold on," He waves his grandfather over to him. "Its Arc, he wants to talk to you."
"He does?" The man beams. He hasn't been able to meet the boy yet but he's very excited to. "Hello?"
Smiling at the scene, Rocky walks away after whispering to his grandfather to say goodbye for him. Heading into the kitchen he kisses his mother on the cheek. "Can I help with anything?"
"Yes, you can tie your brother to a chair to stop him from sampling the cookies."
"Tum Tum." Rocky shakes his head is mock disappointment.
Swallowing a bite of chocolate and peanut butter chip cookie, he asks. "Well, if we're sending them to people don't you wanna know that they all came out alright? That's what they teach at culinary school."
"I'm gonna have to wonder about that school." Jessica jokes. "Can you roll out that dough and make some shapes, I wanna send these to Georgie's family and Erika Pinkney from the hospital."
"Okay." Rocky grabs a ball of dough moving it to an empty counter top.
"Colt, play White Christmas again." His mother request from the male sitting in the living room playing lounge club with the piano.
"You got it."
Jessica and Tum start singing in muttered voices, Rocky chuckles saying that he never did learn the words to the song. His phone buzzes in pocket. "Shoot." Leaving his station he heads to the sink to rinse his hands, drying them on a napkin he tears from the dispenser, Rocky then answers his phone. "Hello?"
"Rocky, I'm sorry.." There's a dry laugh that followed those words. "I don't know what I thought I was doing, it only made them more excited."
"...Robbie?" Rocky asks.
"Yeah, its me."
Feeling his heart stop he asks. "Where are you? What's wrong?"
Jessica and Tum Tum could hear the grave tone Rocky has taken and stop their work to listen in incase they can help.
"I'm um... ha, you know what, judging by the sounds I'm probably in the boiler room at school."
"What do you mean probably? Can't you tell?"
"My eyes are swollen shut, I can barely hold the phone I'm shaking so badly, can you please come get me?" He sighs. "I'm afraid that they'll come back."
It sounded like he'd started to cry and that was all Rocky could stand at that point. "I'll be right there. Hold on." He hangs up. "I gotta go back to school for something."
Tum tum knew what that something might be, so he helped his brother out by saying. "More thefts?"
Thanking his brother with his eyes he nods. "Yeah, Robbie's computer was stolen. He wants me to help track it down."
"I hope he finds it." Says his mother opening the oven. "I can't believe students are stealing from each other, what is this world coming to."
Rocky made a mad dash out of the house and into his car.
..............
"Robbie! Robbie!?" Opening his mind he feels a light buzzing coming from the far right corner of the room. Hurrying over that way he sees the male huddled into fetil position sitting against the wall. "Robbie," Kneeling down he whispers as he unties his hands and feet. "its me, Rocky."
"I know. Thank you." He sounds very beaten down and tired.
Rocky can see why, whoever did this- and he's sure he knows who, did a number on the male this time. His bruises are past purple and turned black, his eyes are reddening to purple and he has this cut and that on his face. A split lip has swollen at the corner of his mouth and his legs look scraped up by fingernails. That's when it hit him.
Feeling his breath still, Rocky asks in a serious tone. "Robbie why are your pants down?"
Robbie parts his mouth to answer but he could only cry instead, as painful as crying with beaten eyes is, it was his only response.
'They couldn't have... they wouldn't? To keep us away from each other they would go this far?' Rocky wraps his arms around his lovers back holding him close. "I'll get them back for you."
"Don't. Don't, they might just do it again."
That tightened the blond's grip as anger seathed through him.
"Ow."
"I'm sorry." He loosens it then. "Here, let me get you back to the room."
"I can't. I can't go back...." Robbie says standing on shaking legs; pulling his jeans closed, he sighs. "Its not safe."
"It will be, I'm not leaving your side from now on. I'll stay at school over the holidays, that way no one can bother you again."
"No, no, you have your family to be with."
"Then let me loan you some money so you can go home to yours."
"And let my mother see me like this? I'd die." Arm around Rocky's shoulders he takes a step leaning heavily on the male.
"Who was it?"
"They had masks on but, I think it was Darren and his friends but I can't be sure." His words hitched as pain shot through him. "Aaah! Dammit!" He spat. Kneeling down, he holds his butt trying to ease the pain.
'Those bastards... I'll make them all pay.' Rocky thinks as he kneels down in front of Robbie. "Grab on, I'll carry you piggy back."
Robbie laughs. "Thanks. You know, there were five of them- from what I could feel." He teases giving the male a squeeze. "They think they've got me down but I've had bigger." He nuzzles his bruised cheek against Rocky's shoulder.
"Robbie don't joke.... but at least I know that's your way of saying you're gonna feel better."
"Oh so you've caught on, guess I should stop being so predictable."
'You should, I know that you're really only joking because you're very hurt. You always do that.' He walks slowly so the male isn't jostled too much. He remembers to vividly how much it hurt when it had happened to him. But all five of them? They have to pay. They just have to.
.....................
Rocky lays the male down on their pushed together twin beds then climbed in with him, holding him around his waist. "Can you get some rest? Do you maybe want some pain killers? Or something to eat or drink?"
"No, I'm good."
"Robbie you have to go to the hospital, they raped you?"
"Yeah but like I said- I've had bigger, and besides, nothing was torn so it seems pointless."
"But you don't know that.... you could... I don't know, just tell the doctor we had rough sex or something."
"No chance in hell I'm gonna make you look bad. I do think they should have some kind of punishment but my crafty passive aggressive ways should eventually wear on them and they'll leave me alone. Nothing worse than looking like a dick because no one retaliates on your actions and yet you keep it up."
"If only they cared about that. I... I have to do something, though- maybe not beat them up but something."
"Alright, but, can you do it later? Right now, I just wanna get some rest."
Nodding Rocky hugs him. "Of course. I'll be right here and you can come to my house to spend Christmas and the rest of winter break... I'm sure my parents won't mind."
"What about Colt?"
"If he's gonna act the way he is than he deserves to see us flaunted in his face, he can have all the attitudes he wants."
"What if he tells on us?"
"Then we'll take that one step at a time, but for right now, get some sleep."
"Okay." Taking a deep breath he allows his aching body to sag into the mattress.
Rocky lay beside the male watching him sleep, the troubled lines on his face melted away leaving a bruised but still handsome face. Rocky can't let this happen again, because, like to as he does he can't always be around the male. 'I have to go see that creep. I have to make him stop ....even if it means putting myself at risk for more punishment, better me than Robbie.'