Apollo's entrance interrupted Paul's reflections. "Hey," the older man stated.

"Hey."

"You okay? You look a little pale."

"Just…thinking."

Apollo sat down on the edge of Paul's borrowed bed. "About what?"

"None of your business."

"Oh, c'mon! What do I have to do to get you to spill, huh?"

"Nothing! Because I won't!"

"Do I have to tickle you?"

"Fine! I was thinking about…why I did it."

"Which is…?"

"Why are you so darn nosey? Who are you, my mother? My therapist? Is that who you think you are?"

"So you have a therapist!"

"Yeah. Not like I talk to him, or anything."

"Will you talk to me?"

"Fat chance."

"Come on!" Apollo started to play with the hair covering Paul's forehead. "Why did you try to kill yourself? Huh?"

Paul blushed and looked up at Apollo with big, gray eyes. "W-well…"

"Yes, Paul? You can tell me."

"You see, my father, before he left us, was an alcoholic…"

Apollo nodded as he smoothed Paul's hair back. "Go on. I'm listening."

"He used to come home drunk all the time. My brother made sure to always be out when father came home, but I had no place to go. So, my father would…he would…"

"Go on. I can handle it, no matter what it is."

Paul turned on his side and put his face in his bandaged hands. He shook, as if he were crying. "He used to beat me. I still have the s-s-sc-scars!" The shaking became more violent.

"Oh, Paul!" Apollo started to rub Paul's back affectionately. "It's okay. It's all over now."

"Reggie wouldn't even defend me!" Paul squeaked. A few moments later, he continued. "And after father left us, Reggie, he…he…he started drinking, too."

"Oh, Paul!" Apollo cooed, rubbing his back more aggressively.

"And…when Reggie was drunk, he would…he would…"

"Oh, Paul, what would Reggie do?"

"He would…take me up to his room…and lock the door…and …and…take off my clothes…and r-r-r-"

"He raped you? !" Apollo exclaimed in his chords of steel. "Oh, Paul, no wonder you're so sad! What did you do to deserve any of this? ! Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Unable to hold back any longer, Apollo leaned in to kiss Paul on the forehead.

Paul shifted himself, angling his head upwards. However, his calculations were mistaken, and Apollo ended up kissing Paul's nose while Paul kissed Apollo's chin.

"Hey, Paul, were you…trying to do something there?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Did you…know I was going to try to kiss your forehead?"

"Maybe."

"Were you trying to kiss my lips?"

"Maybe not. But maybe."

"Was any of that story even true? !"

"Of course not! Reggie's the nicest brother in the world!"

"Even the bit about your parents leaving you? Was that fake, too?"

"…No." Paul looked away from Apollo, and at the opposite wall.

"Is that why you tried to kill yourself?"

"What? ! No! Stop prying and just shut up for once, okay?"

Apollo was silent for a few minutes.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I am so sorry. I really shouldn't go around prying like that."

"You're right. You shouldn't."

Apollo took that as an acceptance to the apology. He clapped his hands. "Now! Let's get back to therapy!"

"…You never learn, do you?"

"Why did you try to kiss me?"

"Because I like you, you moron."

"Oh." Apollo was taken aback. "Really? Why?"

"Mostly because you're a guy who tried to kiss me."

"On the forehead!" Apollo interrupted.

Paul ignored him. "But also because you care about me. You saved me and whatever." Paul turned to face Apollo again. "There. I spilled. Happy?"

"Very!" Apollo grinned like the moron that Paul had called him.

"Now. I'll ask you a question."

"Oh, okay. I guess it's only fair."

"How do you be so dumb?"

"Hey! Paul!" But Apollo was laughing. "But seriously. Why did you want to kiss a guy?"

"Are you seriously asking that? !"

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Because I'm g…g…g…because I'm g…"

"You're gay."

Paul cringed.

"Well, go on, day it already."

"I'm g-g-g…g-g-g-g-g…"

"Okay. Repeat after me. Michael Jackson in gay."

"Who?"

Oh right, he's Japanese, Apollo thought. Aloud, he said, "Just say it already."

"Michael Jackson is g…g…g-g…"

"Okay. This will prove difficult." Apollo paused to think. "Say 'gas'."

"What? ! No!"

"Just say it! ! !"

"Gas."

"Now say 'hay'."

"Hay."

"Okay, now say 'gas hay'."

"Gas hay. Ga-hay. Ga-ay. G-g-g-"

Apollo held his breath.

"Gay. Now you owe me one for making me sound like an idiot."

Apollo relented. "Okay, fine. What is it that you want?"

"…I think you know, Apollo."

To be continued...