How will Eddie react around the children? What does he think of Lisa?

Waylon needs to keep a close eye on his second lover.

I was also working on another small project, writing it here. It's a crossover story of Outlast and Fatal Frame called "Kiss The Moon," if your interested in reading it.

Just two weeks of living with the Park Family, and Eddie could finally declare them as harmless, but very odd.

It's been far too long since Eddie Haas seen any children. Quite honestly, it's unreal to even be standing there with them.

Paul and Henry were both twins that didn't share quite a lot in personality and interest. While they were both four inches taller than the average 12-year-old boy's natural height, and the fact that they were willingly isolated often from the world, they were no different from being normal children. Eddie did like being around them, wanting so desperately to hold them and care for them, but then, there was the constricting fear of being too close to them. Physically, Eddie became ill, and needed to get away from them before he vomited. But then, there was the psychological illness that made his damaged mind try and accept that they were real, and not a figment of his imagination. He didn't want to become an enemy to these boys.

"Paul," Henry bothered his Brother with something in his hand. "Paul... my shirt got caught in the door again." He whined, showing the hem of his favorite shirt ripped.

One examination with his quick eyes, and Paul gave Henry the stern look. "Did you do that on purpose?" He asked.

"No! Why would I rip my own shirt on purpose? That's stupid." Henry scoffed at his strict twin, still clutching his hands over the large rip. "Mom's not home to fix this, and Dad don't know how to sew stuff... Can you fix this for me?" He gave his Brother those darling puppy-dog eyes that would usually win him something in return. But of course, this trick didn't work so fluently with Paul. His Brother just deadpanned at him. "Please?!" He barked out.

"I don't know how to sew, either." He dumbly said. "But I think Mister Gluskin does."

And of course, Eddie heard everything. No, he wasn't eavesdropping. He was just sitting at the couch, in the living room downstairs, while the twins were talking aloud in the loft upstairs. Just hearing his name made the Groom cringe slightly, knowing that the boys would come to him for assistance. And of course, trotting downstairs together, the twins made their way to Eddie.

"Mister Gluskin, do you know how to sew? Henry ripped his shirt." Paul explained a second time, holding his Brother's wrist in his hand. "I think he might have done it on purpose, though."

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Henry defended himself another time, retching his wrist out of his Brother's grasp. "He probably doesn't even want to fix this!" He was obviously boiled up, but not because Paul kept accusing him of damaging his own belongings. It was because Paul wouldn't help him. "Why can't you fix it for me, Paul? Sewing isn't even that hard to do..." He murmured, peevishly, looking ready to thrown a petty tantrum.

Paul sighed, annoyed. "Remember the last time I sewed something for you? It ripped again." He then looked to Eddie. "Mister Gluskin, I don't mean to completely bother you..."

"Oh, no," Eddie tried his hardest not to flip the fuck out. "... I can fix that." He glanced at Henry's ripped shirt.

Honestly, Eddie was quite astonished. These boys looked into his bloodshot eyes, and even stared at the hideous scars on his face, and yet, they found no need to fear him. Henry was the one that wasn't scared of Eddie one bit. He actually found Eddie to look rather amazing and unique with his scars, reminding him of his many favorite anti-heroes in his endless comic book collections he's gathered in his hoarded room. He even thought it was awesome that Eddie could sew anything to completion, fixing them brand new. He even liked his stature, which was funny, because Henry had dreamt of being that tall.

Paul was a cautious one with Eddie, but he too had begun to find Eddie harmless. He did like the same things about Eddie, finding him interesting to listen to when Eddie spoke, and to just look at him when he was in deep, deep thought.

"Do those clothes feel better to wear?" Paul couldn't help but ask, as Henry sat on the couch with Eddie, while the Groom had a sewing needle in his hand, tying in the red sewing sting to the thin tool. "I mean, your tuxedo looked really cool and all..."

Paul was asking about the new clothes Eddie as wearing. The family's neighbor had given them clothes to let Eddie wear, since they didn't have any that would fit his towering stature. Eddie was now wearing something extremely casual - black t-shirt, red plaid jacket, and long demin jeans. He wasn't allowed to wear his old boots, due to the mysterious grime and grease that coated the soles thickly. So, he was just walking around with sock-covered feet. Honestly? It did feel nice, but... He would have loved to keep his old clothes.

While Paul went into the kitchen to check on their house cat in the backyard, Henry watched as his Brother wandered off. "Uh... Mister Gluskin?" Henry looked to Eddie once Paul was out of his sight. "Can I tell you a secret?"

Eddie make no hum or nod of his head. He just deadpanned at Henry, wanting him to continue.

"... I did rip my shirt on purpose." He confessed.

"Why?" Eddie's natural reaction was to ask. He didn't mean to talk, but he couldn't help it.

Henry pressed his lips together firmly, to think hard. "... Paul." He shyly answered weakly. "Paul hasn't been the same, ever since Uncle Royce came over to spend the week with us. Paul's been just acting more distant and quiet lately." Henry frowned to himself for a moment, before his eyes moved down to the rip on his shirt. "I want his attention a lot, so... I ripped my shirt, because I thought he'd notice me again."

Eddie took in the information. He wouldn't know exactly what was wrong with Paul, but he could sense Henry's frustrations on trying to have his big Brother's attention again. Did something happen here between Paul and their Uncle Royce? Eddie would have asked Henry what he knew, but, the lad was just as confused as him.

They acted normal again when Paul came back into the living room, with the family cat in his arms.

The day outside was rather cloudy out, and Eddie couldn't help but stare out the window more often to look at the black and gray clouds rolling by. He didn't think of stepping outside just yet, wanting his darling to come home. Waylon and Lisa were at the hospital, having to get treatment for Waylon's severe wounds and for his missing fingers. Of course, Waylon said he was going to lie through the whole thing, say something that came to him whenever the Doctor would question. Darling was a pretty little liar.

"Mister Gluskin?" Paul's voice called for the Groom, surprising the older man with the sound of a basketball bouncing on the kitchen floor. "Mister Gluskin, do you want to go play some BB with me?" Paul asked, standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

Eddie almost frowned. He actually hadn't played any basketball in one year. He hadn't been playing, due to Mount Massive Asylum's intensive researching and testings on himself and the Walrider. But, when he was able to play during free time in the Ward, the male patients would use the gymnasium in the vocational block - the one Eddie had used it as a makeshift meat-locker to slaughter and hang up every single darling that couldn't fulfill his utmost desires to becoming a married man.

"Where's Henry?" Eddie asked.

"He went with Mom and Dad, remember?" Paul nonchalantly answered.

Eddie cringed. The way the kids would just say Mom and Dad so carelessly...

"Sure, I'll play." Eddie got up from sitting at the bay-window and followed the young lad outside.

Outside for another time, Eddie could smell the heavy scent of water in the air. It could have been the lake nearby, or it could have been rain. Other than that, Eddie felt abnormally lax in the outdoors air. He was actually quite glad that there was no presence of sunlight, being cloaked in the rainy, cloudy day that made him feel safe. Daylight always made him feel exposed. Walking along a sidewalk trail that was leading down a steep hill, Eddie could see an emptied basketball court below, that looked as if it would be surrounded by fog and trees, with no lifeform to present. Truly a good place to tell scary stories after dark.

The basketball court was old and neglected. Being covered behind the tall pine trees, this court looked as if it hadn't seen a living soul in years. The concrete ground was crackled, giving way for grass between the cracks to sprout and root. The poles of the basketball hoops were rusty from seasonal changes, and from the exposure to too much wind and moist. The nets looked brown and rotted, yet still elastic and durable. Paul seemed to know the place well, though.

"You wanna duel or freeplay?" Paul asked, bouncing the ball on the concrete ground.

Eddie shrugged. "Freeplay." He decided.

It's been a while of playing, but, Eddie wasn't rusted out just yet. He could still pick up the basketball and still make sharp pointers with no problem. It use to be his favorite part-time back in the asylum, finding it to be as stress-reliever as he bared through the other hardships the place was putting on him. Paul was an excellent player, too, seeming to teach himself how to play. He wasn't perfect on making hoops, but, the led was a fierce player. The freeplay soon became an unconscious game of dueling, with Eddie and Paul trying to win and outdo one another.

Another throw at the hoop, another strike. Paul was beginning to pick up fast on Eddie's small tactics, able to outwit him in his own game. Paul was definitely not a stupid kid. In fact, he was quite a lot like Waylon. The way he thought fast, and the way he was not giving up, and the way he just had the same, victorious smile like his Dad. Eddie wanted to get his heart out of his throat, but couldn't while he was around this youngling. He just saw so much of Waylon in him, it almost made him want to cry.

Eventually, Paul ended up winning.

"Yes!" Paul threw his arms up in victory. "BB-fucking-Master!" He threw the basketball at the hoop out of excitement.

Eddie couldn't help but chuckle out of delight, breathless, though. No, he didn't let Paul win the game. Paul won it on his own, and Eddie wasn't so mad about losing.

Tuckered out from the game, Eddie and Paul sat on the ground together to catch their breath. Paul hugged the basketball to his chest, while sitting a little more closer to Eddie's side. He didn't feel so afraid of the tall man now, finding him more harmless than threatening. Of course, Eddie didn't like the sudden closeness, but, nonetheless, he liked how Paul was beginning to trust him. It wasn't everyday that someone, other than his Bride, trusted him and was fond of him.

"I wish Henry would play BB more often. He doesn't like it, though. Soccer's more up his alley." Paul began, placing the ball down on the ground in front of him to roll around.

Eddie looked at the boy with some curiosity. "You don't have your... Dad... play often?"

"Well he did play a lot. But now, with some of his fingers missing... It's kinda weird." Paul made a thin line of his lips when Eddie made a short laugh. "Are you going to be staying with us, Mister Gluskin?" Paul suddenly asked. "You're not going to move away soon?"

Eddie shrugged, out of honesty. He didn't know what to do out in society, but, he still had his attachment and love disorder upon Waylon. Of course, he couldn't tell the young lad that. And how would he? It would be more scary to think that the kids' own Father had their new guest as another lover. Eddie didn't want to answer anything too soon, feeling a little bit off. But leaving? No, Eddie didn't want to go away too soon...

"I've no one to seriously go to and stay with, so... If I'm not too much of a bother."

"No, stay!" Paul objected fast. "It's just really great to have someone around again. I hadn't seriously made any friends ever since-" That was when the young boy stopped, lips clamped shut and eyes darkened. He made an uncomfortable shift where he sat. "... Well, I mean, it's just really great." He smiled weakly.

Ever since Uncle Royce was here to spend time for a week...Eddie could remember Henry saying.

A mental smack to Eddie's face made the Groom almost want to fall over. God, did... Uncle Royce do something to Paul?

"I'll admit it," Eddie put his hands up. "Henry mentioned your change of behavior was due to a visit your Uncle Royce made here." He looked to Paul fast, hands down. "... If it's something personal, you don't have to tell me..."

He expected Paul to not live up to the suspicion. He imagined the boy would get up fast and run for the hills. But, Paul stayed put, chuckling even. He stopped rolling the ball around to think to himself. Eddie stared down at the boy with some anticipation, wondering whether he would confess anything.

"Uncle Royce came down here a few months ago, because my parents wanted to go and spend time together for their anniversary. Henry and I didn't mind, because it would mean freedom from our parents. Uncle Royce promised... He promised Mom and Dad that he would look out for us and treat us well, just like a second Dad. But... But just two days in babysitting us, something happened.

" Uncle Royce asked me to come in his room one night, while Henry was asleep, because he wanted to show me something. I trusted him, so I went into his room... But then, he locked the door when I was in, and then he told he to remove all my clothes... He, uh, wanted to see me bare. I kept telling him no, and it just got him angry. He actually grabbed me by the neck and tried choking me, so that I could get scared into undressing. I didn't, and honestly, I think he would have choked me out, hadn't he stopped.

"I was unconscious when he blacked me out. My neck kept stinging, though. Here,"

Paul hooked his fingers around his turtleneck collar to reveal large, brownish bruises at his throat. They were obvious thumbprints that looked deep and covered the spots where his arteries should be.

"For the whole week, Uncle Royce molested me, and tried to rape me. I wanted to get help, but, he kept saying that if I tried, he would do something to Henry... And, Henry was oblivious to it all happening behind closed doors. It was his week to practice his soccer match, too, and I didn't want to say a word. I didn't want him to worry about me. I worried to death over him, though.

"When it was time for my parents to come home, Uncle Royce threatened me not to tell them anything. But, I didn't listen this time. Right when Mom and Dad pulled up to the driveway, got out of their car, I ran outside fast and told them everything. I even showed them the bruises. I couldn't stop crying, honestly, because I felt so sick to tell them every little event."

"... What did your Dad do?" Eddie dully asked.

"Dad was fucking pissed. I've never seen him so freaking fumed before in my life. He confronted Uncle Royce with everything I told him, and Uncle Royce tried denying everything. He tried blaming Henry for the bruises, but, Dad knows Henry better than that. And before Uncle Royce could try and leave, Mom said something to him. I don't know what, but, it invoved a hard smack to his face and more screaming. I think Dad gave him a sucker-punch to his face. God, it was just perfect! Uncle Royce's nose was swollen and bleeding.

" My parents and Uncle Royce are still doing court time about the case. I already showed my bruises, and told them everything I remember to that week... I don't know why he hasn't been proven yet. "

Was that the reason why Paul was so different? Did that one week change him forever? Perhaps...

"... You sound completely fine about talking about it, though." Eddie couldn't help but say.

"It's best to let it go, than stay with it. That's what my therapist said." Paul's eyes half-lidded for a moment, before he looked to Eddie. "Do you understand my reason, though? Why I'm always different?"

Eddie's mouth went dry. Of course he understood, entirely. He knew hit much it would hurt. How betrayed he would feel by is own blood. How one thing could change a person, forever. His heart made an uncomfortable thump when he closed his eyes to think for a brief moment on his reply.

"... Yes, I completely do."

And in no time, Eddie felt the boy embrace him hard. He was startled to feel the boy's head on his shoulder, and arms wrapped around his back. He went stiff when he felt Paul smile happily onto his shoulder, a flutter in the young boy's heart made him swoon. Eddie didn't know how to respond. He was only use to hugging Waylon, and no one else. But, this was a child holding him... One that he wanted to be his Son... Eddie lifted up a shaky hand to weakly pat the lad on the back.

"I wish you were my Uncle, instead." Paul sighed, releasing his arms from Eddie.

Eddie could help but smirk, when he heard that. "Me, too," he quietly responded, before he felt the first drop of rain fall on his cheek.