Sooooooooooooooooooooo sorry that I didn't update this last night! I started it, but some stuff came up and I had to leave my house. I barely got back tonight, but I did, and I promise I will finish it tonight! Just a warning, this is a really long chapter. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it is what it is!
A few notes: First of all, I haven't had anyone working in these past few chapters at Kanone's because it's Christmas, and he's just so nice that he gives them all their own little vacation. Also, I've finally decided on what disease I'm going to give Eyes, I wasn't too sure about it until a day or two ago. I realize that coughing up blood isn't as big of a thing with this disease as it is with some others, and I know I over played that aspect a little. I chose this one pretty much because it made the most sense in the sense of what causes it. And, unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to get to the whole hospital thing tonight.That's mainly because I don't want to rush it and I have to leave soon. So sorry, I know I said I would be able to do it, but all this crap came up and...just give me one more night. And if I don't get to Trust tongiht, that will be my top priority tomorrow. Please don't be mad at me, I really didn't plan for all of this to happen!
alpha2nd: It is kind of bad, but I promise he won't die from it. Do you honestly think I'm that cruel? Oh, Mike and Jeremy... I kind of forgot about them. Hmmm...I think I can work that it somewhere. Heh, don't hurt yourself, I'm updating! You're welcome for the update, thanks for reviewing!
person: Heh, I would never let our precious Eyes die. I even bring him back from the dead (kind of) in Happiness of thsoe who believe. You'll find out what's wrong with him next chappy. Sorry I couldn't fit it in tonight, but the anticipation will make it all the better! Thanks for reviewing!
When Kanone took Eyes into their, room, he noticed Jeremy was still there, "Jeremy, I need you to leave." Kanone said as politely as possible.
Jeremy looked at Kanone's shirt and his eyes got wide, "Mr. Kanone, what happened?"
"Everything's fine, I just need you to wait for me in the hall, okay?" The boy nodded and quickly left the room. Kanone let Eyes lay down, and then covered him up, "Just try and get some rest, okay? I'll wake you up for dinner."
Eyes nodded, but said nothing. Kanone gently kissed the top of his head, and turned off the light before exiting the room. Out in the hallway, Jeremy looked to Kanone, "You...wanted to talk to me?" He asked in a small voice, wondering what he had done wrong.
"About Mike." Kanone informed him.
"Oh." Jeremy replied, looking down, why did Kanone have to talk to him? He looked back up, "What about him?"
"Exactly how long has this been going on?" Kanone asked, leading Jeremy downstairs.
Jeremy thought back. He couldn't exactly remember when it started, couldn't remember a day when he hadn't lived in fear. Though that wasn't exactly true, he could remember before Mike came here, so there had been a time. He'd always said it was only a few months, but he'd been saying that for god knows how long. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Kanone looked at him expectantly, "A couple years, I guess." Jeremy replied, "I can't really remember when it started, but it wasn't long after he came here." He confessed.
Kanone was taken back by this, "What? You said earlier that it had only been a few months. That was what you told Eyes, too."
Jeremy nodded, "I know, I'm sorry I lied..." He looked away, he'd heard that Kanone got really mean when he was lied to.
Kanone stared at the younger boy, annoyed, "Why did you lie to me?"
Jeremy flinched at the tone, maybe the rumors were true, "I thought maybe you would be mad if you knew I kept it a secret for so long." The younger boy replied honestly.
The older one smiled a little, "I'm not going to be mad at you for this, how could I be? But you know that I hate lying." Kanone really wasn't sure what started this obssession with lying, or rather lack of. He just didn't see the point of lying. If you did something wrong, then you should own up to it. Besides, lying will only lead to distrust.
"I know." The boy replied weakly. He wasn't sure what Kanone would do, he'd never heard horror stories or anything, just that Kanone hated being lied to.
Kanone smiled then and brought the boy's face up to look at his, "It's alright, I can understand why you'd try and keep it a secret. Just don't do it again, okay? Know that you can talk to me."
The boy returned the smile and nodded, "I promise I won't do it again." He asnwered, ten times more confident than he had been.
"Good. Now, what exactly has he done to you?" Jeremy hesitated again, "I know the obvious, everything that you told Eyes. I mean, has he done anything else to you? Has he hit you or anything like that?"
Jeremy nodded, "But he was careful not to leave any marks. Except the last time..." Jeremy remembered, rolling up his torn sleeves to reveal bruises on his lower arms and...
"What are these? He...tied you up?" Kanone asked, inspecting the boy's wrists, "And he tore yout shirt." He commented, noticing the rips on the cuffs, most likely from whatever he was tied up with.
Jeremy nodded, "Some kind of wire, I'm not sure where he got it." He told Kanone, wincing as the older boy brushed his thumb ascross a sore spot.
Kanone drew his hand away, "Sorry." He quickly apologized, then sighed, "Do you feel threatened by him being here?" He asked. If neccessary, Kanone could sell Mike. He hated the idea though, and not only because Mike was one of their hardest workers there. Also because he hated the idea of not being able to help Mike, or rather, not being able to find a better solution to his problem.
Jeremy nodded slowly, "I don't want to cause any problems for you, though." He admitted. He knew how valuable Mike was here, and didn't want to hurt Kanone financially because of him.
"If you don't feel safe here, then I need to fix that. You guys come before the work you do. We'll manage without Mike if we have to."
"I understand, but wouldn't it just be easier to sell me?" He asked, looking up to Kanone.
The latter simply stared, dumbfounded, "How could you say that? You're not the problem here, getting rid of you would accomplish nothing." Kanone smiled softly as he finally remembered who Jeremy reminded him of. He was so much like Eyes when the silver haired boy first came here. It had been bugging Kanone because he knew that Jeremy reminded him of someone so much, but he just couldn't remember who. This realization only made him angrier at Mike, since he now related him to Chase. Though he was sure Mike wasn't quite as violent, they were still more alike than Kanone perferred. This gave Kanone an idea, "Don't worry about anything, I'll take care of it. For now, can you stay in one of the spare bedrooms?" Jeremy nodded, "Alright, I'm going to go talk to Mike. You can come if you want, but it's not neccessary." He offered, figuring maybe the boy wanted closure.
Jeremy considered it. It seemed like a crazy idea, and he wanted to stay as far away from Mike as possible. With Kanone there, however, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. And it was Kanone's idea, he would never suggest something that wasn't a good idea. If Jeremy knew nothing else about Kanone, it was that he was a bit of a genius. So, instead of staring at Kanone like he was crazy, Jeremy actually agreed, "Sure, I'll come."
Kanone smiled and headed back upstairs to the room that most of the workers shared. The giant room had been entirely their choice. When Kanone first built the house, he had about 100 rooms in the giant building. However, some people started asking if they could stay in other's rooms, and soon enough people were constantly moving around all night and making much unwanted noise. So Kanone decided to take care of the problem by knocking out the walls connecting most of the rooms and just having a giant room that they all shared. Of course, there were still a lot of extra bedrooms for those who wanted to sleep alone or just wanted some privacy. Kanone didn't want to know what they wanted privacy for, but decided it was none of his business. As long as they cleaned up after themselves, he didn't have a problem with it.
Entering the giant room, Kanone was greeted with smiles and laughing. One little girl that had been orphened at a very young age came up to him and hugged him, "Good morning, Master Kanone!" She said happily, looking up to him.
Kanone smiled down at her, "Good morning, Alyssa. I've told you before, you don't have to call me 'master'." He informed her, patting her head.
Alyssa leaned into the touch and giggled, "I know I don't have to, but I want to!" She said, still smiling.
Kanone chuckled, not knowing why she would want to call him that, "It's fine with me then." He said.
Another, older girl in her teens saw Kanone scanning the room, "Is there anything we can do for you?" Everyone looked to him, waiting for his response.
"I need to talk to Mike." Kanone replied, not seeing the man in the room, "Do you know where he is?"
All of a sudden, Mike's head peaked out from under the covers of one of the beds, "What do you want?" He asked rudely, not knowing who was looking for him. Kanone smiled at him, and as soon as Mike saw him, he jumped up, "Oh, Kanone, I didn't see you there. You wanted to talk to me?"
Kanone nodded, and motioned for Mike to follow him out into the hallway. Kanone exited with Jeremy close by, and Mike bringing up the rear. After the door was shut, Kanone's cheery smile disappeared and he replaced it with a glare. Mike waited for Kanone to speak, "Mike, we need to talk." Kanone said firmly, letting Mike know that he wouldn't be doing much talking at all. Mike nodded, and Kanone continued, "It's come to my attention that your behavior has been a bit on the poor side lately." Mike stayed silent, but shot a glare at Jeremy. This, of course, made the smaller boy cower behind Kanone, and the man himself get angrier, "You know exactly what I'm talking about, correct?" Mike nodded again, still not daring to speak, "What you've been doing is unacceptable, and I won't have it in my household. I wish I could believe you when you say you won't do it again, which I know you will, but I can't risk it." Mike looked up to Kanone now, waiting for his punishment.
Kanone sighed and looked down to Jeremy, who chanced a look up at him, "I don't want to cause any trouble." He told Kanone, "Maybe he really won't do it again." Jeremy wanted nothing more than to see Mike leave, but he also knew that it would cause all kinds of problems. Besdies, he didn't want Kanone thinking that he'd failed because he couldn't find a better solution.
Kanone smiled down at the boy, wondering how he could be so sweet and giving. As his gaze returned to Mike, so did his scowl, "It would be for the best if you stayed, as much as I hate to admit it. However, if anything like this ever happens again, I'll personally take you to Chase myself."
Mike turned pale at the mention of this, and even Jeremy did a double take. The two had never met Chase before, but they had heard horror stories. It only took one simple explanation to describe Chase; imagine everything that you take for granted here, or the luxuries that Kanone has given you, including food, a warm bed, hot water, and the assurance you have to never be hit. Now take all of those things away, and that's what your life would be like if Chase ignored you. If he notices you for any reason, then what I've just described would seem like a vacation. Eyes had given into the demands of the others and described to them what Chase was like. Kanone remembered overhearing part of it, and one line stuck in his mind, "You'd wish for Hell to comfort you." Those words had sent chills up Kanone's spine, and they still rung in his head to this day.
Mike swallowed and finally spoke after a long silence, "It will never happen again, I promise."
Kanone would ususally have smiled at Mike and told him that he was glad everything was cleared up, but not this time. No, he simply continued to glare at Chase, "It had better not. One other thing," Mike looked to Kanone, a bit fearfully, "I think you owe Jeremy a long overdue apology."
Mike glared at said boy, wondering why he needed an apology. It was obvious that he wasn't sorry, or else he wouldn't have done it for so long. Mike knew Kanone would be able to tell if he was lying, so he instead turned to him, "I can't do that."
This didn't please Kanone at all, "And why is that?"
"Because I'm not sorry." Mike confessed, looking down.
That was the last straw for Kanone. Mike gasped as a hand came across his face, slapping him hard. Kanone had never hit any of his workers before, but none of them had ever gone as far as Mike had. It took a lot to get Kanone angry enough to hit someone, and Mike was lucky that he got off that easy, "If you're honestly not sorry for raping and beating this boy, then I'll take you to Chase's right now."
Mike knew he had sealed his fate, so why not go out with a bang? He looked up and glared at Kanone, "What makes you think he'll pay anything for me? What if he won't take me?"
"I'm not convinced that scum like you is worth any money." Kanone replied, "As far as I'm concerned, he can take you free of charge."
Mike hesitated at this, "You wouldn't. You couldn't! I'm far too valuable for you to just give me away, and you know it!"
Kanone smirked, "I have more money than I could spend in a lifetime already, I don't need you." That was the truth, too. Kanone did leave out the part about not being able to support some 50-odd people with that money. In any case, there were always new people he could get to replace Mike, so he really didn't need him.
Mike sighed, "Fine then, let's go."
Kanone nodded, "You can wait for me outside." Mike was about to complain that it was too cold to wait outside, but figured that arguement would get him no where. Instead, he just pushed past the two and headed downstairs. Kanone sighed and shook his head, "Well, that didn't go at all as planned."
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault." Jeremy apologized, looking down to the ground.
Kanone tilted his face upwards, "Look at me, none of this is your fault. Mike honestly didn't feel sorry for what he did, which leads me to believe that he would have done it again. All we did was keep him from hurting you again, so don't think that you've done anything wrong, okay?"
Jeremy nodded and hugged Kanone, burrying his face in the older boy's stomach, "Thank you." He whispered, barely loud enough for Kanone to hear.
Kanone smiled softly, "Your welcome." He pulled Jeremy back so he could look at him, "Do you think you'll be okay by yourself now?" Jeremy nodded, smiling a little, "Alright, I'm going to go deal with Mike, then. If anyone asks, just tell them that I'll be back shortly." Kanone paused, "Unless, of course, it's Eyes, then just tell him what happened."
"Okay, I will." Came the response.
Kanone ran his hand through Jeremy's hair once, "I'll see you when I get back. Oh, what do you want for dinner?"
Jeremy opened his mouth a bit in shock, Kanone had never asked him to pick out dinner. Jeremy thought about what everyone else would want instead of what he really wanted, "Turkey." He finally replied.
Kanone chuckled, "Chicken it is." Jeremy started to object when Kanone cut him off, "You honestly think I can't tell when you're lying to me? I realize that most of the others might want something else, but they can choose whatever they want when it comes their turn; I asked you for a reason. Now, what do you want for dinner?"
Jeremy sighed and thought for a second more, "Hot dogs!" He said, grinning at Kanone.
The latter laughed, "Alright then, I'll just need to buy the store's entire stock of hot dogs. I'm sure they won't mind, though." Jeremy blushed a little, which made Kanone laugh again, "If it's hot dogs you want, then it's hot dogs you get." Jeremy had to hold himself back from latching himself onto Kanone and never letting go, he really was the nicest person in the world. Jeremy shook his head, nice didn't even begin to describe Kanone. When he looked up, Kanone was already gone, and Jeremy sighed. Now that he didn't have to fear walking around the house anymore, he went off to find something to do.
(A/N: I'm not going to put the whole thing with Kanone taking Mike to Chase's simply because I'm sure you all can picture how that would go. And don't worry, I still plan to put the doctor's appointment in here...somewhere. First, though, dinner!)
When Kanone returned home, he had to knock on his own door to be let in. He wasn't locked out or anything, but his arms were full of hot dogs and appropriate condiments. Who else but Jeremy answered the door and grinned at Kanone. This time he couldn't restrain himself, and he tackled Kanone, wrapping his arms around the older boy's waist in what seemed to be a permanent hug. The momentum knocked them both to the ground, and Kanone cushioned Jeremy's fall with a thunk as he landed on the hard ground.
Jeremy looked up, eyes wide and mouth open, ready to apologize when he saw how Kanone had reacted to the whole incident. Kanone had his head back, and he was laughing his ass off. When he finally composed himself enough to catch a breath he smiled at Jeremy, still snickering, "I had no idea you liked hot dogs so much." The bags had spilled their contents all over the ground, and Jeremy had landed on Kanone, stratling him. Kanone looked down to see that the boy had skinned his knee in the fall. The former reached out to touch it, and Jeremy winced, "Are you okay?" Kanone asked, concerned.
Jeremy nodded and tried to stand, but collapsed right back on top of Kanone. He grabbed his knee in pain, and his eyes reflexively watered, "I hurt my knee." He stated, rubbing it a little.
Kanone smirked, "Well, I can't say that it was the best move. It did wake me up a little, though." Kanone laughed again, and managed to pick the boy up and stand up at the same time (Yeah...he's just that good).Jeremy wrapped his legs around Kanone's waist, and his arms around the older one's neck. He rested his chin on Kanone's shoulder, and closed his eyes, letting the brunette carry him inside. Kanone placed the injured boy on the couch, and went to get some ice and disinfectant. After cleaning the wound, and giving Jeremy the ice to hold on his knee, Kanone returned outside to do damage control on the groceries.
Eyes had woken up a little while before Kanone arrived, and opened his eyes to the loud laughter that had resulted in Jeremy tackling Kanone. He was now fully awake, and feeling a little bit better, so he traveled downstairs to see what was so hilarious. He notcied Jeremy on the couch, ice on his knee, and looked at Kanone questionginly as he carried in a bag full of, "Hotdogs?" He asked.
Kanone smirked and motioned towards Jeremy, "That's what I get for letting a kid pick dinner."
Eyes thought he was going to throw up right then and there, "Hotdogs. For dinner." He said slowly, making sure Kanone knew what he was doing. Of all the foods he had discovered since he came here, hotdogs were not his favorite.
Kanone chuckled, and nodded, "That's right."
Eyes glanced at Jeremy to see the boy beaming, he actually wanted hotdogs for dinner! Eyes looked back to Kanone, "I'm not feeling very hungry." He said, at least he wasn't hungry now.
Kanone knew it was a little bit of sarcasm on Eyes' part, but it still concerned him, "How are you feeling?"
"Better, I suppose." He replied honestly, "I still feel worn out, though, but not terrible."
Kanone nodded, "Alright, well I have to cook...dinner." He informed Eyes, giving the bag in his hand a suspious look, "Why don't you relax and wait for me upstairs?" Eyes nodded and retreated back up to his room after giving Kanone a quick kiss. The length was mostly due to the fact that he hadn't brushed his teeth yet, and he cared enough about Kanone not to put him through that.
After dinner was done with, Kanone saw that Jeremy go to bed, and then went to his own. Eyes had been laying down, but was far from ready to go back to sleep. He was greatful when Kanone walked in to spare him from his boredom, "How was dinner?" He asked, sarcastically.
Kanone smirked, "Did anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't use sarcasm?"
"Nope." Eyes replied, smirking right back at him.
Kanone chuckled, "Well then, let me be the first. You really shouldn't use sarcasm."
"I'll keep that in mind." The silver haired one shot back, coating his voice with sarcasm this time.
Kanone chuckled and leaned in to kiss him, then paused, "Have you brushed your teeth yet?"
Eyes shook his head, "Nope, have you?"
"Good point." So with that, the two went off in search of a toothbrsuh or two, and some toothpaste.
After the strenuous task of teeth brushing was completed, the boys regrouped back in their room, and began taking full advantage of their fresh breath. This was, of course, in the form of makig out. Kanone laid Eyes gently on their bed, and continued kissing him until a lack of oxygen no longer allowed such a thing to continue. Pulling away, Kanone laid down beside him, and smiled as the small boy rolled over to lay his head on the older boy's chest. Eyes wasn't tired at all, but Kanone was, and he didn't want to keep him up. Besides, the former was completely content to just lay there while Kanone drifted off to sleep. Eyes closed his brilliant blue eyes, wondering how Kanone always made the pain go away.
Awwwww, yes much fluff. Alpha2nd brought up the whole Mike and Jeremy thing, and I figured I should get that out of the way before we got into this whole disease thing. Also, I realize that I didn't put Eyes' mother in here, but she'll most likely end up going with them to the hopsital. Which will be the first thing next chapter, I promise! Hope this was enough to keep you not mad at me for another night, review!
