Disclaimer - don't own 'em...
A/N - Hey – well, in light of my exam results which I am SOOOOOO pleased with -skips around brandishing result statements- I've decided to celebrate with a new chapter! Ain't I kind!?! So yeah, this chapter is kinda part two of chapter 11, so I hope you enjoy!
Dedication - Well, I just dedicate this to everyone who has reviewed this story so far – you are all brilliant and I love each and every one of you!
Closeted Secrets
Kevin tried, unsuccessfully to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape him, but thankfully Double D was too caught up in his grief to notice.
"Gay huh? Wow... I never would have guessed..." Kevin again had to suppress his sniggers. It was just too rich. That Double D would be telling him the secrets that Kevin already knew. The secrets that Kevin had told Eddy to reveal to Double D. But he was yet to gain the full story. The disadvantage of never having taken residence in the closet the night before was that Kevin could not have seen first hand exactly what had happened between the two boys, although the sheer torture, the fact that Eddy had destroyed his friend's trust all for nothing, was just too enjoyable for Kevin to miss out on. No matter – as now Kevin could add to the fun by making Double D tell him exactly what happened himself, down to the very last detail. But first, to toy with the fragile boy a little more...
"So... That's the problem? You don't approve?" Without realising, Double D automatically shouted
"No!" He regretted it almost as soon as he had said it. He could have used the new found knowledge of Eddy's sexual preference as an excuse for his tears and for the argument with his long time best friend. Then he would not have had to explain to Kevin any more than he already had. Now Kevin was sure to now that there was something more to his distress. Although, in a way he was glad that he had not used that defence – he would not wanted to be branded with such a closed mind as to take offence to Eddy purely based on his sexuality. He continued cautiously.
"I guess I'd known for ages, deep down. It really does not bother or displease me in the slightest. I'm happy that he feels brave enough to relinquish the burdens pressing upon his shoulders and share his secrets – even if it's merely with me." Double D was surprised to find just how easily the words flowed from him. He realised just how desperately he needed to speak his sorrow, his pain. He no longer cared who it was that he was relaying this speech to, as long as he could tell someone who would listen, and who Double D could trust not to repeat his words.
"So, if you don't mind, then why the tears?" Double D looked at Kevin; a warm smile coupled with concerned, yet understanding chestnut eyes and made his decision. He would tell him. He knew he would be betraying Eddy, but he would only be returning the betrayal that he himself had felt. He could never cause Eddy as much pain as he was feeling right now. He dropped his gaze from the floor and inhaled deeply
"He... tried to rape me."
Kevin's dark eyes glittered in amusement, before he dropped his gaze to the scrawny body before him that had now collapsed to the bed, sobs violently controlling him, shoulders heavily rising and falling in torrents of tears. A broken soul. Such a beautiful, majestic spirit, so easily torn, lacerated by every harsh word, every judgement that he had ever faced, and now, after so many years of resilience, so viciously cut down. Kevin watched as emerald eyes turned to him, deep, shimmering pools of pain, and it was almost enough to make him break down in sympathy for his companion.
Almost.
A voice in the back of Kevin's mind reminded him of the scams, the lies, and the countless amount of times that the Eds had played him for a fool. Eddy had made the mistake of getting on the wrong side of Kevin too many times, and now he was paying for the consequences. Kevin had grown tolerant of Ed over the years. Not tolerant enough to actually like him, but tolerant enough to realise that the cumbersome boy was simply following orders. He was not bright enough to understand that the scams they pulled were dishonest, or to initiate the con-tricks that the three so famously entertained. He was simply the muscle, afraid of what Eddy would do to him if he were to refuse, and determined not to let his friends down when, for once, they were as reliant upon him as he was upon them. But Double D... Double D was more than capable of knowing the outcomes of each cheat. True, he did not dish out the orders as Eddy did, but he was often more than willing to go along with anything his leader had in store for them, and even if he appeared reluctant he would not argue with his friend – and for that he needed to pay.
"What happened?" Kevin's voice imitated shock. He wanted to get as much information as he could, ammunition for when he taunted Eddy later. The blonde would never guess how Kevin knew the details of his actions.
Double D desperately tried to resist, but the urge to relieve his mind of the words he so greatly needed to speak in order to lift some of the pain, the urge to see a comforting smile, a familiar warm face and the aching to share his grief was too much.
"He told me... and well... we more or less kissed..." Double D trailed off, afraid of Kevin's reaction to this piece of information, but aside from a slightly raised eyebrow and faintly stunned expression he did not seem at all phased. This gave Double D more confidence as Kevin nodded, encouraging him to continue with his account.
"I guess I didn't mind that... as first... it seemed kind of natural, he needed comfort and I needed companionship. But that's all it was, comfort and friendship. I thought we both knew that something like this should not happen between us. A kiss is meant as an expression of love, not of compassion, not of empathy, not even of friendship, but of true and profound love. A love that I cannot share with him. So I stopped him, explained why, but he wasn't satisfied... I tried to retreat... and eventually he did back down and I left with a missing shirt, hat and a gash to the hand. He didn't go too far – but I don't know if, given the chance, he would have done..."
Guilt suddenly washed over Double D at the mention of the question that was still plaguing his mind – would Eddy have stopped? He had released his secrets, let his mind open and the words flow from him without even realising exactly what he was confessing to Kevin. How could he have done this? To cast aside his morals, his loyalty to his friend, and openly declare everything that had happened between the two boys to an outsider? Tears again took over. Tears of guilt and of remorse for what he had just revealed, but also tears of anger, of pain. He might feel guilty, but that did not mean that the emotional wounds had healed, if anything they now bled with more severity.
Kevin reached over and gathered the shaking boy into his arms, resting his head on his slender shoulder as Double D's arms flung around his neck, desperate for that contact, for that comfort. Kevin let his hands lazily trace the curves of Double D's back before grinning broadly.
This is where the fun began.
"I'm really sorry to hear that Double D... I can't believe he would stoop so low as to do this to you!" Kevin heard a faint mumble of words from the boy as he sobbed against his chest before firmly gripping his shoulders, parting them and staring devilishly into emerald eyes.
"And no-one else will believe it either..."
Double D's sobs subsided as they were overwhelmed by confusion.
"W-What do you mean?" he asked, not quite knowing what Kevin was implying.
"Well... think about it. The two of you have always been such good friends... always side by side... always so comfortable together... Maybe it's not just Eddy who has a little secret eh?"
"No! I just..." Double D tried to defend himself, but Kevin interrupted.
"You've as good as admitted that you enjoyed kissing him, and who knows what else you two got up to?"
"But..."
"How will everyone react eh? To find out that shy little Double D, brains of the cul-de-sac and al around good guy has actually been crushing on his best friend the whole time?" Kevin laughed, and donned a mock expression of deep thought "Hmmm... of course, Sarah will be disappointed, as well as Marie... but once they find out what sort of man you've become – or rather, you haven't become – I'm sure they'll get over it pretty quickly..." Double D's eyes glazed with panicked tears as he desperately tried to plead with the stronger boy.
"But, I'm not..."
"Oh! And what will your parents say?" Double D gasped in shock. His parents. If they ever were to find out then he would be in for it. They detested their son at the best of times, if they were to pick up a rumour that he had turned out gay then they would certainly not listen to his begs of mercy, his desperate attempts to convince them otherwise. No. They could not find out. No one could find out.
"Kevin please! No! Please don't tell anyone! I beg of you! Gather whatever mercy you may have left and please don't say a thing – not to Eddy not the to others, not to anyone! I'll do anything, anything!" waves of panic washed over the pale boy as he tried to reason with Kevin. He was far beyond the stage of dignity. He would beg, he would plead, anything to stop him. Kevin smirked. This was so like last time, when Eddy had thrown himself upon his mercy... they had both been so trusting of him. That trust was about to be Double D's downfall, just as it had been Eddy's. A cruel smile crept upon his face as he recited the words he had used when it had been Eddy in front of him, wearing that exact same expression of desperation.
"No one is ever going to know your - or Eddy's - secret as long as you do exactly what I ask..."
And there we have it... chapter 12. What a chapter huh??? I'm personally glad that the action is starting to pick up again – as always thank yous to all of my reviewers and please continue to review this fic as it trundles along – and to those who read and don't review - Awww – come on! Please! Just click that lil button down the corner – I love to hear what people think – only if it's just a couple of words
