Skittles

Warnings: Inner turmoil, comfort, slash (duh)

Chapter Seven

"I'm fine!"

Troy and Sharpay exchanged a worried look. Ryan had been quiet the whole ride to Troy's house. But when Sharpay had begun asking him if he was okay (an obvious no, but it was still asked), Ryan had exploded and became guarded.

"I know you're fine, but let me just get the bandages and you just lie down - "

"Shar, I'm fine!"

"No, you're not fine, idiot!" Sharpay's face was red, and suddenly, she burst into tears. "You can't be fine! You haven't been for years! You take the punch for me and I just want to pay you back! Can't a sister care for her brother? Can't you just accept my help instead of having that stick shoved up your ass?"

The room fell silent.

"Shar...I..."

Sharpay sniffed and bolted out of the room. Ryan watched her leave and sighed, dropping onto the couch. He held his head in his hands and shuddered and Troy couldn't help but think that Ryan looked like a fallen angel. All pale and broken. He shook himself awake.

Ryan felt a drop next to him and looked up at Troy with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Troy hesitated, but he eventually wound his arms around Ryan's thin shoulders. Ryan froze, but relaxed to the warmth and comfort the small gesture held for him.

"I don't mean to be mean," Ryan murmured softly. It was meant partly for himself, but also so that Troy wouldn't think he was brutal. "But - "

"Shh, you don't have to explain." Troy smiled and tightened his arm. "You don't ever have to explain yourself around me." Ryan smiled at him gratefully and buried his head in Troy's chest.

His hair is so soft, Troy thought as he lie his head on Ryan's. He loved the smell of Ryan's hair. Ryan looked up and they stared into each other's eyes briefly before Troy lowered his head so his lips met Ryan's in a soft kiss.

Which is how Sharpay found them five minutes later with some bandages in her hands.

VvVvV

It was lucky that it was Friday night. Sharpay had left the boys by themselves on the couch with a blanket pulled up to their chins and the TV on. She had given them a knowing glance before she departed to her room where, a few minutes later, they heard her TV go on as well.

"What do you wanna watch?" Troy asked as he flipped the channels. He shifted himself into a more comfortable position and Ryan found the move slightly arousing as he lie his head onto Troy's shoulder.

"Don't care," Ryan responded lazily. "You pick." Troy obliged and settled on Chicago. The couple settled themselves to enjoy the movie and sung to the songs.

"I love All That Jazz," Troy admitted.

"Which reminds me," Ryan yawned. "We have practice with Kelsi tomorrow. Auditions are Monday."

"Great." Troy's voice was dripping with enough sarcasm to make Ryan giggle. Troy turned to look at him and their legs brushed against each other, a very intimate touch. They blushed but neither felt like removing their legs. They settled into comfortable silence.

VvVvV

"That was a good movie," Troy said and stretched. He glanced over to find Ryan a deadweight, a steady deep breathing coming from his chest. His head was limp against Troy and Troy, in turn, grinned while unconsciously petting the smaller boy's head.

"You are really something."

Troy turned around quickly and removed his hand. "I thought you were sleeping," he whispered dangerously, embarrassed at being caught at such an intimate moment.

"You should be too," Sharpay replied. "Just came to check on the wellbeing of my younger twin."

"I wasn't...I mean..." Troy faltered and shut his mouth.

"Don't worry. I don't think you were doing anything. Anything I wouldn't approve of at least." Troy blushed. "In fact, I think you're doing wonders for him."

"What?"

"I'm his sister. His twin."

Troy raised an eyebrow to the obvious fact. He suddenly felt a deep sense of melancholy surrounding them. "...yeah?"

"I'm supposed to care for him and love him. You don't have to. I'm supposed to look after him and protect him and help him when he's crying in pieces." She sighed. "You don't have to. It's not expected of you. But you do."

"Of course! I can't just leave him to die!"

"I know. But you wouldn't believe how many people did." Sharpay's voice was bitter and her eyes dark. But Troy suddenly saw in her eyes respect.

"Troy, you know that he looks happy on the outside but - "

Troy nodded. He knew. " - he's broken."

Sharpay nodded. "Be good to him." She walked over to them and put her hand on Ryan's cold cheek. Her cold cheek. They used to be so close, in both appearance and relationship, but now everything was so hard. Her throat tightened and she pulled away and forced a laugh.

Troy flinched. The laugh was so strained and mirthless. It was cold and so unlike Sharpay. "Sharpay..."

Sharpay pulled back and wiped her eyes. "It's just...you have to understand. He's all I have left. If you break him, you break me. I-I...can't believe how little I still hang onto in this world." She smiled eerily and backed out of the room.

Troy felt a stab at his heart. Her words were so powerful, but so becoming of the whole situation. Troy pulled away from Ryan's body. It suddenly felt so wrong to touch him. It seemed as if a single touch would break him, shatter his existence.

He looked so small laying by himself. So lifeless yet so beautiful. Like a porcelain doll. And Troy was so afraid to hold him. Pale, smooth skin called to him. But it looked so cold. Did Troy want to hold something so cold and fragile?

If he touched something cold, he would turn cold too. He pulled the blanket closer, but it didn't help. Suddenly, the world closed in on him. He felt so alone. And Ryan slept on, shivering a little from lack of warmth. Troy wanted to reach out and touch him, but what was there to gain from that? More coldness.

...what was there to gain from helping Ryan? And Sharpay?

The wrath of a madman. Two needy souls. A desperate want for warmth.

"Oh my God..." Troy held himself and clung to the blanket more. Never before had he felt so...lost. "Ryan. Ryan!"

Blue eyes opened slowly from a deep sleep. "Troy?" Ryan asked through a yawn. "Are you okay?"

Troy ignored his questions and pulled Ryan closer to him. He sighed. Ryan was warm.

"Troy? Are you okay?" Ryan put both hands on Troy's face and brushed a small kiss onto his lips.

"I..." Troy shook his head. Ryan had enough on his chest. "Just let me hold you."

Ryan smiled and felt Troy's arms wound him tightly. Like he was trying to hold onto him forever. Ryan sat between Troy's legs and rested his head in the crook between Troy's neck and shoulder, his arms around Troy's neck.

They melted into each other's embrace.

"I think you're doing wonders for him."

Ryan's smile was so sincere and loving that Troy would never believe that he had suffered as much as he did. Troy smiled back. He needed Ryan's love and comfort as much as Ryan needed him.

"I'm gonna protect you, okay? But only if you hug me like this everyday," Troy whispered. And suddenly he felt so guilty. How could he have questioned helping Ryan? Ryan who was so sweet and kind, and who depended him after traumatizing situations.

The warm loving hug made him remember why Ryan was so special. How Ryan made him feel so special.

VvVvV

The room was dark, dimly lit. The television was on mute, but the screen flickered with gruesome faces.

Sniff.

Sharpay was huddled away from the bed and chair. She had put herself into a dark corner facing the television. Her knees against her chest, her arms circled her knees and fresh angry tears fell down, making dark spots on the carpet.

But most noticeable was the sleek, immaculate knife that lie before her feet.

Sharpay sniffled and looked at the knife with a strange gleam. How beautiful it would be to darken the knife with death.

"Ryan..."

Ryan had always suffered for her. Now he had finally found happiness in Troy's arms... But one obstacle stood in his way.

Sharpay's eyes darkened.

"I'm supposed to care for him and love him. I'm supposed to look after him and protect him and help him when he's crying in pieces."

Sharpay admitted to herself that her happiness came with Ryan's. She had nothing but him.

"I'll make you happy forever, baby brother..."

The screen flickered and a woman screamed. But no sound came from her throat as elsewhere a couple cuddled.

VvVvV

Notes: A little different? Freaky even? Yeah...well...

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