Mercedes was still reeling from the conversation with her dad a few days ago as she prepared for Sam and Joey. She had a plan, she had help, and soon, once she talked to Sam and Joey, hopefully, they would cooperate. She wasn't sure if she should tell Sam about her father's words, but she would take his word seriously. Since tomorrow was her birthday, she planned a nice dinner for her and the guys, though since this was Joey's first time at her home, she didn't know how he would feel.
River was far too happy about her asking for Sam and Joey that he gave her from Friday till Tuesday instead of til early Monday like usual. Receiving the text to let her know that they had arrived, she went to the garage and waited to wonder what the weekend would be like. She was still wearing her red power suit and a white tank top underneath, matching red pumps when she popped dinner out of the oven.
When Joey told Master River about getting an invite, he was so happy he didn't even torture the poor boy. He also went easy on both he and Sam, saying he wanted to stay on Vixen's good side, so she didn't expect anything. He played the part of betrayer well though he still felt like he would let Sam down. Now in the car, blindfolded and on the way to Vixen's, he wasn't sure what to expect, but she was nice enough he didn't fear the worst, just the unknown.
Sam sat in the car, not at all nervous about going to Mercedes. He felt at ease knowing that Joey would be okay for the next few days and that he would be able to protect him. He hated going to Mercedes on the weekend because he did not know how Joey was and not defending him.
Brax was already there, hoping that things went well. He already held this disliking towards Sam because of his feelings for Mercedes, but he would do his best to push that away. He didn't know Sam. He didn't know their relationship.
Mercedes looked over to Brax as she waited for them to pull in. "So I have to warn you, they are a bit skittish when it comes to new people, they have been hurt and abuses, and I just, I really thank you for doing this.
Brax smiled over at her. "I'll do my best to make them comfortable. Tell me if I'm doing something wrong."
She moved over and hugged him. "You really are a light in all of this. Thank you for doing this. And once we talk to them, you don't have to stick around if you don't want."
Brax nodded. He figured he wouldn't be invited to stay. He wouldn't want to wait to watch the girl he loved to be with someone else anyway.
The car pulled up, and they brought the two of them in through the garage.
Mercedes smiled and pulled away. "Okay, you might want to step out of sight. River is a bastard, and well, he, he is just a bastard who will mess up my plans for the hell of it."
Joey was pulled out of the car; first, he really hoped this went well; he didn't want Master River to find out about any of this. He didn't want to fail Sam again either.
Mercedes saw River eyeing her, and she folded her arms, feeling creeped out. "Master River, so nice of you to drop them off. Again."
River grinned. "Of course. It's my pleasure," he smiled, keeping his hands on Joey's shoulders. "I hope you enjoy this one. He's a treat."
"Joey tensed under his touch, but hearing Mercedes's calming voice didn't add on to it, so that was something.
Mercedes swallowed. "Well, here is the other half for having both of them this weekend; we will see you Tuesday."
"That we will," he replied before returning with Sam and leaving.
Sam waited patiently on his knees, reaching out and taking Joey's hand.
Mercedes hated the way River said things, hated the way he looked at her. She waited for the car to be out of sight, and she let the garage door down, then sighed a relief. "You guys can get up and take off the blindfolds. I have a friend here, and he is gonna help us, okay? Let's head inside. I have food for you, just some burgers and fries I made."
Joey slowly stood but didn't move as he was waiting for Sam.
Sam stood and helped Joey with his blindfold. He truly cared for Joey like family. "It's gonna be okay. We have burgers waiting."
She led the boys to the kitchen, where the table was set. "I even got the ketchup and mustard for you, Joey."
Joey followed Sam inside, and the smell was heavenly. It was enough to make him forget for a moment all the bad. But only for a moment. "T-thank y-you, Mistress."
Brax slowly walked into the kitchen, his eyes immediately falling on Joey. He was so small and scared, and it truly broke his heart. His eyes moved to Sam, and he could see why Mercedes liked him so much. He was tall and very attractive. Brax saw the way they looked at each other and knew he stood no chance.
"Smells good, Merce," Sam smiled. As Brax walked in, he turned and looked at him. His body language changed, and he tensed, immediately reaching over to calm Joey.
Joey felt the tall male before he saw him. It was an odd feeling. Fear and something else he couldn't name. His eyes immediately went to the ground, but when Sam reached over, he took few breaths.
"Guys." Mercedes started as she fixed their plates. "This is Braxton, but I call him Brax. He is a great friend, and we work together. He is going to help me with all of this. Brax, this is Sam and Joey. We need to work to get them back to their families."
Sam continued to hold onto Joey's hand. "It's okay, Joey." He looked up at Beach and waved with his other hand. "Thanks." He wanted to tell Mercedes that Joey had no one else, but it wasn't the time nor the place.
"Hey," Brax nodded, not moving. The heat broke when he saw Joey shy away. What did they do to him?
Joey didn't say anything else; he just took a seat and started eating, he may not have been tortured, but he wasn't fed that well this week, so it was a trade-off.
Mercedes went to fill his cup with Lemonade and brought it back to the table. "Well, first, let's start with the basics. I bought a few things for Joey to add to your stuff Sam, bathroom items, and things like that. You can show him where everything is after you eat. I have also spoken to your family they can't wait to talk again. Joey, if you tell me how to reach your family, I can do the same for you."
Sam felt happiness inside him to talk to his family, but it disappeared quickly when she offered the same to Joey. He didn't know what to say, knowing it to be the truth. Joey had no one outside of the Elite.
Joey stopped eating and looked down to the table. "I-I-I don't have anyone b-but Sam."
Brax took a step towards Joey.
Joey tensed; seeing the man move towards him, he looked to Sam, and then Mercedes and Mercedes offered Joey a small smile.
"Brax, can you let them know what you are doing before you move? It's what I have to do most of the time. People at that place, they, they are true monsters."
Brax nodded and looked at Joey. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "Can I come a little closer?"
"Y-y-y-yes." Joey froze, still not looking at the man; he felt Mercedes take his hand and saw the kindness in her eyes show she trusted Brax. Joey swallowed; he could do this.
Brax slowly took a few more steps forward, stopping a few feet away. "You do have a family now. You have Sam and Mercy..." He bit his lower lip. God, this kid couldn't be more than 20; he looked so frail and sad.
"Family isn't always about blood. You can choose your family too."
Joey looked at him and nodded but didn't say anything; he didn't know if he was allowed to, to be honest.
Brax knelt down, so he was closer to Joey's level. "If you ever need to talk, you can. I know what it feels like to feel like you have no one on your side. But you've already got two people on your side. And now you have three."
Joey swallowed hard though his mouth was empty; he stared at his hands as Brax spoke to him. "O-okay," he said meekly.
Brax nodded and stood up slowly.
Mercedes smiled at Brax. "And you wonder why I love you; it's that soft side you keep hidden." She said, happy that they were seeing the soft side of her friend.
Sam stared at Brax and shifted awkwardly when Mercedes said she loved him. Why did that send a pang of jealousy through him?
Mercedes glanced at Sam and watched him; he was really quiet. She wanted to talk to him but didn't want to leave Joey with Brax just yet.
Joey went to grab his burger. "T-thank you."
Sam kept his eyes on them for a moment before returning to his burger. "Thank you, Merce."
Mercedes could hear in Sam's voice that something was off.
Joey bit his lip. "Can I...can I go to the bathroom?"
Mercedes smiled. "You don't have to ask; remember Joey, this weekend, you aren't expected to do anything but relax. And actually, Brax, do you think you can show Joey where it is?"
Brax nodded. He waved Joey his way.
Joey hesitated for a moment but followed after the man.
Brax led Joey to the bathroom. "You okay?"
Joey nodded. "Y-yes."
"Bathroom is here... I'll wait here."
Joey nodded, walking inside and closing the door before leaning against it for a few moments.
Brax waited patiently.
Mercedes looked at Sam. "Are you okay?"
Sam nodded. "Yup.". He took a bite of his burger.
Mercedes sighed. "No, you aren't. Sam, please talk to me."
Sam sighed. "You... you said you loved him."
Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I do. He's one of my closest friends Sam, I have known him for years."
"Oh." Sam didn't know what exactly to say to that.
Mercedes stood up and walked over to Sam. "Talk to me, Sam, please don't shut me out. Why does me saying I love him bother you?"
"Because I love you," he whispered. "And... I thought..."
Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Sam, I know you love me as your friend, and when you get your freedom, you are leaving me to go to your parents, and I am trying to come to terms with that, but you shouldn't think anything is happening with me and Brax I love him as a friend, not how I-" She shook it off, she couldn't upset him by confessing.
Sam shook his head. 'No. I love you as more than friends," he whispered.
She lifted his face to hers. "You what?"
"You heard me, Merce."
She bit her bottom lip. "You're in love with me?"
Sammy nodded. "Yeah."
She smiled, leaning in and kissing him. "God, I am so in love with you, Sam." She said, kissing him once more.
Sam smiled into the kiss. "I love you... so much..."
Mercedes bit her lip. "I didn't want to push you, Sam; I didn't want you to feel like I just wanted sex or anything from you other than your love."
Sam wrapped his arms around her. "You have my love; you have all of me." Sam exhaled.
Mercedes pulled Sam closer to him, kissing him hungrily, forgetting the world at that moment.
Sam kissed her back.
Mercedes pulled back, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, forget myself when I am with you Sam, I know that's too much too fast for you. These weekends are supposed to be hookup free."
"I appreciate that," he whispered. "I care so much for you, you know?"
She nodded, trying to hide her frown; she needed so much more from him, wanted him, but she restrained herself because it was best for Sam, but now she wasn't sure if it was best for her. "I know." She said, moving away from him.
Sam sighed and looked away for a moment. "But what do you need?"
"I am fine, Sam, always fine." She said more to herself than to him.
Sam didn't want to argue, so he went back to his burger.
Mercedes moved to do the dishes, her mind racing as she tried to figure all of this out. She would be 29 tomorrow, and she was no closer to having a family of her own than she was when she was a kid. Sam may love her, but he will choose his family when it comes down to it; they needed each other. And again, she would be alone. "
Brax could hear the whole conversation. He slid down the wall and sat on the floor, his heartbreaking.
Joey opened the door and noticed Brax on the ground. He didn't know what to do, so he slid down too.
Brax looked over at Joey. "Hi."
Joey could see he was sad. "Y-you okay?"
Brax shrugged. In the scheme of things, he'd be okay. "Yeah. Are you?"
"Yo-you love h-her?" Joey sighed. He had seen the way Brax looked at Mercedes, he may be quiet, but he saw things.
Brax hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, I do."
Joey nodded. "She's c-crazy not to see how great you a-are. D-does she know?"
"It doesn't matter. She loves him."
"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take or something like that." He leaned his head against the wall. "My mom sold me when I was 5." He blurted out, not sure why...
Brax was taken back. "Wait... your mom sold you? What the fuck?"
"She was a drug addict." He said softly. "I had been moving around a lot when the Elite found me." He said, looking away.
Brax frowned. "That's so fucked up," he whispered. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
Joey shrugged. "I've never been good enough that just made it a reality."
"I'm sure that's not true."
Joey looked at him tearfully. "I-I was in there just now...I wanted to... hurt myself b-because I can't go back. I- I cant."
Brax reached out to comfort him but hesitated, pulling his hand back. "We're trying to get you out."
"Master Jericho and Master River won't let that happen. They are horrible. Master Jericho makes me be a table; he said I wasn't worth using for anything but holding his drink or feet."
Brad's stomach turned. "That's disgusting." He felt sick. "How..."
Joey frowned. "Please don't do that...don't pity me."
"I..." He hesitated. "okay."
He decided at that moment that he was going to get Joey out of there.