Title: The Fire in Your Eyes
Author: NeroAnne (combo of Trish/Jeff's middle names.)
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy and the rest of the wrestlers in this fic, unfortunately, I don't.
Setting: Back when they Hardy Boyz still had Lita, back when Jeff and Matt were just youngin's and back when people like Triple H and Undertaker ruled.
Summary: Matt Hardy loves his baby brother, Jeff. He loves him more than Jeff will ever realize…but what he doesn't know is that there are other people who love Jeff…people who love him in a very frightening way.
Chapter 7.
Jeff's eyes fluttered open. He stared around the bright room, his eyes slightly squinted. He looked towards the floor and giggled.
Adam had a small puddle of drool on his pillow, and he was making funny noises. Jay had rolled off the bed and was now hugging the cool floor, breathing easily.
Shifting his green eyes towards the girls, Jeff smiled. Sweet Trish had her head on Amy's shoulder. Her nose would twitch every often, and her lips were pulled into an adorable little frown. Amy though, was sleeping with a rather haughty smirk on her face. Her red hair was spilled down her shoulder, and she had one arm wrapped around Trish's waist.
Jeff chuckled before looking down at his brother. Carefully shifting his weight, Jeff studied the elder Hardy.
Matt was so beautiful…he had such a peaceful look on his face when he slept. His eyebrows were furrowed slightly, and his features completely relaxed.
Jeff watched in awe as Matt blinked his eyes open. Green locked with dark brown.
"Jeff?" Matt husked, his eyes beginning to focus. He brought a hand up to his face, slowly trying to wake himself.
"Good morning," Jeff cooed, smiling playfully. He ran a hand through Matt's raven black hair.
Matt smiled, "Morning," he glanced at the others, "How long have you been awake?"
Jeff shrugged, "Just a few minutes."
Matt tilted his head, "Did you have a nightmare?"
"No," Jeff whispered softly, burying his face into Matt's neck.
Ignoring the excitement running through his body, Matt gently rubbed Jeff's back, "You sure?"
Jeff nodded, "Uh huh," he said softly. He breathed in his brothers scent, smiling. Matt always smelled nice…
"Okay…if you're sure…" Matt licked his lips, "Wanna make breakfast?"
Jeff's eyes brightened, "Sure!" he jumped off his brother and zoomed towards the kitchen.
Matt chuckled and followed, draping his blanket over Jay as he went.
When Matt entered the kitchen, an amusing sight greeted him.
Jeff stood on the counter, looking through the cabinets for pancake mix. He let out a happy squeal when he found it, "Hey, Matty! I found the-" his sentence ended in a gasp as he lost his balance.
Matt's eyes widened, "Jeff!" He ran forewords and caught his younger brother. He tightened his arms around Jeff once he had him and narrowed his eyes, "Be careful," he said sternly.
Jeff blushed, "Sorry," he whispered.
Matt sighed, "It's fine," he gently lowered Jeff onto his feet. "Come on then, they're bound to wake up soon." He snatched the pancake mix from Jeff.
Jeff watched his brother with half-lidded eyes, his heart still pounding hard against his chest. Wow…Matt had caught him…and he didn't even flinch when his weight hit him…he was so strong…
Matt caught Jeff staring and raised a brow, "What?" he asked, opening the fridge to take out milk.
Jeff merely smiled and shook his head, "Nothing. I'll make eggs."
Matt shrugged, "M'kay."
Jeff smiled and kissed Matt's cheek before fishing around the fridge.
Matt brought a hand up to his cheek and smiled, "What was that for?"
He only got a wink in response.
Adam cut a piece of pancake and stuffed it into his mouth, "Not bad, Matt. I always assumed you sucked at cooking."
Matt shot him a glare, "Assuming makes an ass outta you." Grinning when Adam spit out milk to keep from laughing, he turned to look at the others. Matt and Adam decided to eat in the kitchen. Jeff, Trish, Amy and Jay were all watching some type of chick flick in the living room.
"Hey," Adam whispered, "I checked over the list…as far as I know, there are only a couple of people who could have raped Jeff," he swallowed another bit of milk.
"No need, Adam. I know who did it," Matt kept his eyes glued on his brother, watching him as he laughed along with the others.
Adam's eyes widened, "Really? Who?"
Matt opened his mouth but stopped. Someone was coming.
"Good morning, Matthew," his father, Gilbert greeted. "Morning, Adam."
Adam smiled, "Morning."
Matt grinned, "Hey pops."
Gilbert looked around, "Where's Jeff?"
"Daddy!"
Gilbert looked up, watching as Jeff ran over to him. He let out a chuckle when the younger boy promptly tripped.
"Jeff," Matt whined, "I told you to be careful!"
Jeff got up and stuck his tongue out at Matt before hugging their dad, "Hiya dad, want some breakfast?" without waiting for a reply, Jeff skipped over to the counter.
Gilbert rolled his eyes, "Matthew, come with me. I need to talk to you."
Matt blinked, "Am I in trouble?" he asked slowly.
When he received a glare in return he pointed quickly at Jeff, "He did it! I swear it! He always does it, I was the good kid!" he wailed.
"Hey!" Jeff tossed an egg shell at Matt, "I was good too!"
"You came home with a stomach piercing at age 14!" Matt argued.
"Yeah? You lost your virginity at age 14, now what!?" Jeff smirked.
Matt flushed in embarrassment, "You little bastard! I told you not to spy on me!"
Jeff laughed, "We had bunk beds, Matt! You think I couldn't hear whatever her name was screaming?"
Matt growled, "Yeah? Well you hid a tattoo from pops. I don't have tattoos."
Jeff frowned, "Well, pin a rose on your nose."
Matt blinked, "What?"
"Matthew, come on," Gilbert said softly.
Matt got up, walking past Jeff, who smacked him in the but with a spatula. Adam stayed at the table, laughing his head off.
-Outside-
Matt breathed in the North Carolinian air and sighed, "Man, why did I ever leave home?" he said aloud.
"To follow your dream," his father answered, his tone soft.
Matt tilted his head, "Dad? Are you okay?"
Gilbert stared out at the sky for a minute, before turning to look at Matt. "Matthew…did something happen to Jeff?"
Matt swallowed thickly, "What do you mean?" he asked, playing dumb.
Gilbert sighed, "Ruby came to me last night…in a dream…she seemed really worried about Jeffrey…and she seemed really worried about you," he stared into his oldest son's eyes, "Did something happen to Jeffrey?"
Matt clenched his fists. 'Oh, mom…I'm so sorry I couldn't protect Jeff…'
Matt stared straight at his father, "Dad…Jeff was raped."
He licked his lips at the horrified look on his father's face.
Shuddering, Matt closed his eyes, "And I let it happen…"
"What?"
Wincing at the tone in the older man's voice, Matt continued, "I went out with friends while Jeff stayed home hurt…I left him alone where anything could happen…and I'm sorry…"
"Matthew…"
Matt looked away.
"I swore to protect him…he's my only brother…he's a part of me…hell…he is me…and I let him down…" Clearing his throat, Matt forced his eyes open, "But…I know who did it…and dad," he waited till the older man met his gaze, "I'm going to kill him."
Gilbert didn't doubt that he would.
Mah, I don't like this chapter too much.
I think I spent too much time making a vid for this story.
If anyone wants to see the video, let me know so I could give you the website.
To my fans: Your appreciation is EVERYTHING.