Lunar's POV
His hands wrapped around my throat, tightening against my trachea as my lungs grasped for the air's hands. The oxygen failed to rescue us as his fiery irises went from anger to pleasure, watching our struggle to breathe, "Pl-Pl-Please, I-I can't breathe."
"Good," His voice was a sadistic song, a smirk tugging on his lips as the world became spotty, his violations to my regions fading with the world, "You only breathe when I allow you to, Plaything. You serve me, I own you."
My eyes opened wide, frantically looking around. The site of Mr. Hayes' defined back in the satin sheets soothed my fear, my breath relaxing, but my cheeks fire at the remembrance we were naked from the previous night. I squirmed, trying to get free and causing Mr. Lincoln drowsily to mumble, "If you keep wiggling like that, you're going to make something else wake up."
The fire within my cheeks screamed into lava, his hand sinking between my thighs and pulling me tightly against his body, his face nuzzling into my neck as he nibbled my collarbone, "I-I-I really need to get back h-home."
"You're an adult," He murmured through my flesh, purring contently, "You don't need to go anywhere."
His protest to my departure felt warm and nice. His fight to hold me felt so inviting and delicate. I wanted to melt into his skin, but I needed to get home. If my parents didn't worry, Mathis would… I fear her worry more than theirs.
The vibration of his voice tingled my skin as Mr. Hayes stretched and turned to face us with a sleepy grin on his lips, a playful roll of his eyes as he raised an eyebrow, "Arguing again, are we?"
"I-I'm not arguing," I tried not to pout, "I-I'm being good, I promise. I'm a good boy."
"You're arguing right now, Little One," He was as relaxed as Mr. Lincoln, fixing my hair before he booped my nose.
"I-I am n---," I shut up as he chuckled at my catching myself, realizing he was doing this on purpose, "I'm not stupid."
He caught my tongue as soon as I stuck it out at him, "I think somebody's getting an attitude. Can't have that, can we?"
"No, we cannot," Mr. Lincoln bit down on my collarbone, a weak groan escaping the back of my throat as he sat me up, holding my wrists behind my back, "I guess we'll have to teach him to behave."
Mr. Hayes took control of my mouth by shoving his tongue between my teeth and kissing me, replacing Mr. Lincoln's hands with his own. After a few minutes, silk rope was wrapped around my wrists, then tied around my thighs, keeping my legs open as they pulled from me. The kissing was a trick and test to distract me. How cruel. The lack of freedom to wriggle made the back of my mind start to wander. Wandering to a place that was dark and twisted. A place that started flashing like lightning in a dark storm.
"You're getting pretty good at that, Ryker," Mr. Hayes chortled as I struggled with the rope, failing at an escape as I did well to keep my composure. I was very vulnerable in this state, and it was incredibly embarrassing, my cheeks burning as he continued to speak, "I'll cook us some breakfast, do as you wish."
"My turn to fill that pretty little mouth, Pet," My eyes widened at his exit, Mr. Lincoln smirked down at me as he grabbed my jaw, forcing my attention back to him. My heart became loud within my ears, but relaxed at his words, my mouth slowly opening like he gave a command. He smiled and rewarded me with his shaft shoving between my lips, gripping my hair as I choked at the pressure in my throat. My settling earned his hips to fuck himself down my throat. My cheeks burned like hot cocoa, his grip tightening on my hair as I looked at him, "F-Fuck." His hips moved harder and faster at our eye contact, I could feel drool swelling up and dripping down my chin, only striving for him to go rougher down my throat as he groaned down at me. I could feel his shaft throbbing in my mouth as he pulled away from my face, grabbing the back of my head tighter, "I'm untying you and you better bend over."
"I'm untying you and you better bend over." I could hear the thunder, lightning flashing when I blinked. My heart ran like scared bison as Mr. Lincoln began to aunty me, tossing the ropes onto the floor. I was frozen, staring at the rope like it was thrown into the mud at the park. My throat swelled like the rocks did to my knees, but my body became an autopilot, turning me around as I was told, "Turn around and take it like a good 'boy' and you'll get a treat. That's how this works, Plaything. You do what I say, and you get my respect."
My face hid in one of the pillows, the back of my mind trying desperately to ground itself by counting. One Abaddonian, Two Abaddonian, Three Abaddonian… K-Keep counting and it'll be over, nothing to it…
The shaking grew worse as his hands yanked my hips closer to his, prepping us both. I could already feel the tears dwelling, but I tried to keep them in. Anthien doesn't like when I cry without him causing it, and he hasn't done anything yet. I have to be good so it won't hurt more.
...M-Mr. Hayes? Elysium, why can't I say it out loud. My world was falling apart. Why was I asking for Mr. Hayes anyway? Who is that? I don't know a Mr. Hayes. Everything was dark and rainy, the thunder deafening, the lightning blinding.
My nails dug into the pillow I gripped tight. I couldn't move, couldn't speak. I was petrified at the rubbing against me. My brain was screaming but everything was on an off-switch. My eyes shut so tight my vision grew spots like the hands that once held my throat.
...Please, don't.
I was stiff as a board at the delicate kisses that coated and nibbled my thighs, my eyes staring into the pillow I'd torn as Mr. Lincoln cooed, "I'm not going to do that, Pet. Not ever. Not to you, not to anyone. Whoever did I'll kill with my bare hands."
Everything came rushing in. The lights. The sounds. The touching. The burning. It was so loud. So terrifying. So…humiliating, dehumanizing. Damaged Goods to Delicious Gods. My voice sounded so inaudible and broken, as my face buried back into the pillow, "...I-I want to go home."
His silence had me wait until I heard his exit before I shot up, clothed myself, and then ran down the stairs like a mouse escaping the cats. I was the embodiment of terror, fear, petrification. Nothing here felt safe, I didn't feel safe.
Home, home, home.
I ignored the voices in the kitchen, darting out the door. I didn't stop, I kept going, even when I thought I'd heard protests or what sounded like I was being followed. I wanted to be where it was safe. Where everything stopped, even the world. I didn't care how stupid or silly or manic I probably looked with my tears and messy hair, cars screeching and honking at my running through traffic. I wanted to get away, go where I could be safe. I didn't even stop when my parents' ringtone came through my phone, I kept running until I reached the ugly piss-scented yellow door. My knees buckled before I knocked, my elbows resting on the concrete as my hair gripped into my hair and I broke down into violent sobs.
Mathis' shoes greeted me as the door opened, her body dropping next to me as she stared wide-eyed. For the first time she was seeing me cry, seeing me fall apart, "Lune, what's wrong? What is happening? Why are you crying?"
"I-I can't do it, Matty," I hugged her so tight she gasped from her crushed lungs, my sobbing so noisy her mother came around the corner.
I can't keep pretending things are fine, I need to tell someone. I can't hide it anymore. I can't smile and wave it off. I can't hug him and act excited to see him. I can't let him touch me and then sob and scrub my skin raw at night wanting his presence off me when it won't go away. I can't breathe the same air as him and then hide in the laundry room holding bleach, telling myself if I drink it my lungs will be clean.
"Go ahead, Plaything, drink it," He mocked, forcing the jug to my lips, "Go on, do it. I'll tell your mommy you were doing some silly challenge. You know she'll believe me, too. Not going to do it? Then get the fuck up and stop acting like a baby."
If I drink the bleach it won't stop him. If I cry it won't stop him. If I scream it won't stop him. Worst of all, if I tell, it won't stop him. It'll all encourage him. He'll hurt everyone I love.
"I can't fucking do it anymore."
***
Lunar's POV
For two weeks Mathis wouldn't leave my side when we left our homes. I was thankful, I didn't want to leave the house alone. I refused to go back to the Company, and I couldn't tell my parents so she'd help me sneak out of the house and we'd hang out at the park while I'd call in and say I was sick. I was partially surprised they weren't calling my parents to tattle on me, let alone letting this slide instead of firing me. Then again, they probably were worried I would come out about what we did at their mansion. Who are you kidding? Who'd believe a rat like you? Don't make me laugh. Y-Yeah, you're right…
The feeling of being watched never ceased every time we left the house. It grew worse every day and was the reason I grew afraid of leaving the house on my own. I wish I knew where the feeling was coming from, or, even better, that it'd fuck off.
"I-I have questions," Mathis finally breathed out, looking at me with worry after taking her eyes from her shoes. Her tone was a plea, filled with fear at not knowing things, but also the thought of my upset.
"Y-You may ask them, Matt," Turning from her as I swallowed. I couldn't look at her. I wished she wouldn't look at me, either. I wanted to be as glass as I felt so I could be see-through. So everyone could see me, but not see me. It was better that way when people could see my presence, but looked through me.
"Why won't you eat in front of me?" She hesitated, making my throat tighten, "I've always noticed, Lune...I've known you since we were kids, and not once have I seen you eat. I-I never push it because I don't want to upset you, but I've seen you without a shirt. I've seen you on scales. I've seen you when food is around and you rush away from it. You're my best friend, Looney Tunes, and I notice when you're hurting yourself."
"Food is disgusting. All of it. Greasy, fattening, healthy, crunchy, smooth. I hate it all. I don't like the taste, smell, texture, look, or sound. It doesn't matter what it is most of the time, my stomach locks up and I get sick until I feel like I'll hurl, and if I'm not hurling my insides hurt and I'm sobbing until I pass out because whatever is in the food feels like it's eating me alive," I mumbled after moments of silence, tightening my hands into fists as I nibbled my bottom lip. I wiped my cheeks with my wrists, taking weak breaths as I tried to not panic at this topic alone, "E-Even now I want to throw up and it's because of talking about food. It feels like the very thought of f-food will make me gain weight and get me fat and I'm terrified. Like, I-I don't see how food or eating is important. I understand, but I don't. I look at mashed potatoes and I'm thinking about the texture. Does it have lumps? Doesn't matter because I don't like it smooth, either. Did you know an apple can taste like sandpaper, or that a banana can feel like an oversized mushed worm? Strawberries can be sweet, but feel like a bunch of little gnats in your mouth. Bread can taste like a rock from the beach, but feel like a tire.
Crunchy peanut butter tastes like seashells, but it's even worse when you can go online and learn the percentage of insects in your foods. It's a small amount - almost meaningless - but it doesn't matter. The knowledge alone is enough to drive me crazy. Oh, and let's get to the meat. If you don't cook it thoroughly you can get diseases, or die. Not to mention how they get it? Torturing animals whether humanely or inhumanely, they still live in disgusting conditions. Some of them eat their feces or each other, and then we eat them. Vegetables come from the dirt, I don't care if you wash that carrot or potato a million times, I can feel the dirt in my gums. Corn is sprayed with pesticides and did I mention all of these things interact with bugs? That's knowledge of visuals. I haven't even begun to talk about the textures, and I won't for my sake. Fruits have too much variety, veggies as well. There's different types of breads and even how to make them. I can't even eat dirt because that's different in all the five senses, too! Hell, even water has different sensories." Her hugging me distracted my rambling, my eyes looking at her after she released me, "I-I-I wanted to tell you b-but… I didn't want to lose my best friend. I-I didn't want to be alone. You love food, I was afraid if I told you you'd leave me for food."
"Y-You idiot," She laughed, wiping her cheeks as amusement filled her voice, lightly tapping her fist on my shoulder, "I'm not going to leave you because you have an eating disorder. I'm not that big of a dick. You're stuck with me. Besides, I have my issues, it'd be rude to toss and ditch 'em on ya." I flinched at the term "eating disorder," I hated those words together, even if they were true. She went to her next question, "Why did you come to me and not your parents that day?"
"I-I can't tell them I'm gay, I-I don't want to disappoint or anger them. Dad would be so mad, Ma would have to shun me.. I-I can't do that to her," My fists tightened, my nails digging into my skin and drawing blood, "The shame is private, I-I can't make it public."
"Lune, your parents love you. They're not going to be that way especially towards you," She rested her hands on my shoulders, lifting my chin so I was looking at her, "Besides, I'm your mother, too! Even if they ditch you I'll adopt you. Yep, I can picture it now. We'll even photoshop your baby pictures so I'm holding you! Then when I get a boyfriend I can photoshop him in so you'll have a mom and a dad! It's perfect! Now, we got to find a house and then we can raise you and feed you and bathe you–"
I cackled at her weirdness, wiping my cheeks with a shake of my head towards her antics, "What you are is my bitch."
"I am not a female dog," She punched my shoulder again, but a little harder as she laughed, "You're such an asshole! Let me have this moment! I'm imagininging."
"I have one, thank you," I retorted, running backward as she reached to smack my ass, "Ah, ah, ah! It is mine! Also Imagininging? That's most certainly not a word. It's imagining or do I need to take you back to kindergarten?"
"Come here, You Little Shit!" She screeched, drawing a few eyes on us. Some of those people laughed and moved on, we were known for our stupidity, it was nothing new.
"Never!" I hollered, not letting her near me. I wasn't going to let her beat me up or wrestle me. Some people watched and whispered things like "They're cute together," or "I wish we'd be like that sometimes."
"I-I need a minute...I-I'm tired...Y-Your death will come momentarily…," She chased me around until she got tired, leaning on her knees and holding up her finger. I laughed as I stepped a bit closer to her, watching her carefully. She took that opportunity to tackle me, wrestling me as we tumbled down a hill, our bodies rolling towards a pond.
"You idiot, this is your fault!" I shrieked, splashing her as she fought back. We panted, looking at each other. All our chaos had successfully drained us from "killing each other."
"How come we never tried kissing?" She finally asked her third question, with so much honesty, and bluntness in her voice as I stared at her, "I know you're gay but how do you know for sure? That came out wrong. I'm curious, ya know? Like, how did you find out? When did you find out? I mean, I know I like boys – boys? – men, but women are…pretty? I-I don't know, I'm lost, I guess. Like, do you like men, like like-like, or is it this weird fling type thing??"
"Sometimes dicks look really cool or really weird," I couldn't help laughing at how awkward she was, shrugging, "I-I don't know. I-I don't have an attraction to...ya know."
She splashed more water at me, her mouth gaping, "You don't have to like titties to like girls!"
"Fine, you want me to kiss you? I'll kiss you!" I facepalmed, clenching my jaw, and taking a deep breath. I smashed my lips against hers, grabbing her face before pulling my face from hers. We stood frozen and wide-eyed, staring at each other, "U-Um… D-Didn't think I-I'd do it. Are you wearing Mango Chapstick?" I licked my lips, "...with lemon..? No - that's not it - lime, maybe?"
"I WAS KIDDING ABOUT KISSING, YOU ASSHOLE!!" She smacked me as hard as she could, a very late reaction as I fell back under the water, coming up holding my cheek. Huffing out of the water, she kicked sand at me, "a-and it's cantaloupe with lime."
This only made me laugh because I knew she was trying to be mad, I could see the fighting smile on her face, "You're kind of cute when you're mad."
"YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE! A PRICK! A FIEND! I HATE YOU!" She folded her arms at me, refusing to turn her face towards me as she glanced at me, waving her fist dramatically as she stomped her foot.
"I mean, I can definitely say I'm gay, now. That was pretty…gross. I will have to sue you for Cooties," I chuckled with a shrug, stepping out of the pond and tearing off my shirt, draining it before whipping her with it. I dodged as she tried to smack me again, tackling her and pinning her wrists above her head, "You've got soft lips, by the way."
"Jokes on you, pinning is my kink!" She stuck her tongue out, giggling as I let go of her, watching as I took a seat next to her. I pretended to be offended and disgusted as she sat up.
"Too much information," I scrunched before standing back up and mumbling to myself, rubbing the back of my head, "B-But same, though."
"What was that?" She stood up quickly, running in front of me before I could blink, and scaring my breath away, "Repeat what you said!"
"'Too much information?'" I cocked a grin at her, an innocent tilt of my head, "Repeat that?" I smirked at her as she shook me, "Whatever do you mean?"
"You vanilla ass! You did not!" She huffed. This was it, the beginning of her millions of questions. I dug my grave and she's going to make sure I lie in it. I'm doomed. I did tell you to learn to keep your mouth shut. Yeah…Yeah, ya did, Subconscious.
I picked up my shirt, smiling as I began to walk away, "I didn't what? I have no idea what you mean, Matty. I'm sweet and innocent. I'm an innocent lil gay boy, I'd never."
"INNOCENT MY ASS! WHO PINNED YOU?" She practically screamed, knowing damn well yelling would draw all eyes on me and humiliate me. I was worried she'd wake the Gods from their slumber.
"Don't yell it for the world!" I frantically covered her mouth, looking around, but mostly to the sky, "You'll bring the Folklore home, and I wish to not die this beautifully, ya know? I don't know if the Gods are gay, and I don't wish to find out. Let me die old and wrinkly, like the Company Founders, got it?"
"Tell me!!" She whispered in a hissing manner, practically jumping up and down like a child over candy, "Did they pop your cherry? Was it good? Was it bad? Were they big or small? Tall? Short? Muscular? Thin? Chubby? Blonde? Brunette? Blue-eyed? Green-eyed? Hazel eyed? Brown-eyed? Asian? Black? Spanish? White? Albino? Long hair? Short hair? Medium Length Hair? Our Age? Older? Old-Old? Ancient? Dead? Undead? Grey Hair? Red Eyes? Glowing Skin? I'm going to keep guessing until you tell me, no matter how ridiculous the questions sound. Do they have a unicorn horned penis that pews when it cums?! Come on! You've got to tell me! I'm your best friendddd!"
I facepalmed, choking on my laughter as I went back to walking. I wanted to get as far away from her as I could get, "You're ridiculous! I'm not telling you shit! Especially while you're acting like a child!"
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours!" She exclaimed, making me freeze up and turn, my eyes narrowed as she danced, "Yeah, that's right! I have secrets, too! You're not the only one hiding things, Lunar Floid." She waved her arms like a cringe lord because she didn't have darkness or fog to hide behind, "Mathis has a secret, too. OooOoOooOh, you want to know so bad, Lunar. Come spill the beans and find out the tea. OoooOooOoh, please, imagine a scary echo so this doesn't sound as stupid as it looks because I can see myself in the window behind you, oooooOoOoOOh."
"Fuck, fine! You first, though." I gave in, causing her to jump up and down while clapping her hands in glee. My vision was blurry from laughing at how silly she was being, "You do know we're in our twenties, right? We aren't fourteen anymore."
"Come, come! I'll get us a milkshake," She ignored my comment, dragging me to get milkshakes. She only got them during special occasions and I hated ruining these moments. I sat at the table outside, my leg bouncing with nerves as I realized how strong the feeling of being watched was. Mathis popped into the seat in front of me before I could try and look around, slamming a strawberry milkshake between us with two straws as she breathed, "It was with Kyle Louis."
"You didn't!" I whisper-yelled in disbelief, staring at her with bug-eyes, "He was an asshole to you!"
"I know, but he was hot in bed," She squealed, stomping her feet on the ground like a kid, "Ya know how we always joked about his size? Well, we were so wrong!"
"Des-gust-ang!" I scrunched my face at that detail, pretending to gag as I shook my head and then leaned in, waving to keep talking, "Tell me more!"
"We did it in his dad's Man-Cave, it was so weird! Like, we went in there to steal condoms, but we couldn't wait. If you turn on a blacklight you can see our cum stains on his football carpet!" She squealed, "His dad still has no idea, either. Last I saw him he said he'd rearranged the room, but he didn't wash anything. It's so yucky."
"Gross!" I laughed while cringing at the imagery, "How did that shit even happen? You guys hated each other, I don't remember a time you were nice to each other."
"It was that homecoming dance. The one you couldn't go to because you were sick. Worst and best time to get Howler Pox. I'm still sorry you had such a serious case."
"You're telling me you kept this from me since we were seventeen?!"
She fell to the ground laughing from knocking her chair back, hugging her stomach as she pointed at my face, "Your face!!"
"Spill it! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" I huffed, it took a lot of willpower to not stand over her and get ready to pummel her. This bitch really kept this from me? How dare you.
"Well, for one you were sick and your mother was talking about taking you to the hospital. I figured you had more important things to worry about. I also couldn't tell you because I knew you'd try and kick his ass!" She teased, getting back into her seat as she took a sip from the milkshake, "I couldn't let you kill him! Then after we graduated, we both had to focus on jobs so our parents wouldn't kill us, so I forgot about it. Alright, your turn! Spill the beans! Give me the tea, sis!"
I buried my face in my hands, my voice muffled and humiliated, "Madam Elysium, I'm embarrassed. Can I type it? I can't say it out loud, I'm not as confident as you are. Also, the case of Howler Pox I had was not that bad, my mother over exaggerates. I wasn't even in bed for a week, she refused to let me come back to school until my cough from a different sickness went away."
She shoved a napkin and pen at me, "You can write it! Quickly! I can make out the shitty handwriting, damnit! I need answers, enough about being sick! D. E. T. A. I. L. S."
I rubbed my face, taking the hanky and scoffing at her as she bounced impatiently.
I didn't get laid. I sucked their shafts and one of them tied me up. They kept biting and choking me. Both fucked my throat really hard. One of them even came down my throat while the other made me cum on the sheets. It was so embarrassing but exhilarating!
Shoving the napkin at her, I covered my face, it was so hot I thought my hands were going to melt. She stood up within moments, "TWO?!"
"Shut up!" I panicked, chortling, and pleading with her to sit down as I glanced at a few people that raised brows, "Sit the fuck down, Matt! It's not a big deal!"
"Big?," She winked at me, making me cover my face all over again as I nodded, her body leaning forward with anticipation, "You've got to tell me who!"
I shook my head quickly, muffling out with a whine, "No, I can't!"
"I told you who I did it with!" She pleaded with her best puppy-eyes, "Pleassssseeeee?!"
"FUCK! Fine, but you can't yell or jump out of your chair. You have to stay still and keep your mouth shut," I laughed in defeat, putting my head against the table and groaning loudly. She did a scout's honor, pretending to zip her lips shut while pinkie promising me. With a sigh, I looked at her and quickly whispered, "Mr. Lincoln a-and Mr. Hayes."
Her eyes went wide, covering her mouth to contain her squealing, uncovering for a moment to whisper, "You slut!"
I took a drink of the milkshake, holding back the gag in the back of my throat and forcing the liquid down my throat as I pointed at her sternly, "I am not a slut!"
"Then why are you so blushy, hm?" She smirked, poking my cheeks. Her eyebrows wiggled as she poked them and giggled at the fire in my face growing hotter.
"I'm not!" I laughed, trying to make the burning sensation on my face go away, my arms folding over my chest.
"You so are!" She teased before getting serious, "How come you didn't get any? Did they not respect you once the pants came off? I'll kill them if so, you've got a bigger dick than they'll ever have balls…especially once I'm done with 'em."
"Th-They were beyond respectful, Matty," I flushed, trying to wipe the blush from my cheeks, "In fact, they didn't seem to care about my…anatomy differences. It wasn't brought up, they focused on other necessities." My teeth nibbled on my tongue and gums as I fumbled with the milkshake, "Strange, but comforting in a weird way, I guess. They seemed to know, and it didn't cross my mind since it didn't appear to cross theirs, ya know?"
Now that she'd brought it up, it did seem weird. They didn't know nor were they told I wasn't a "normal boy." Even my birth certificate says I'm male, but they seemed to know not all of me is male anatomy. I'll have to make a mental note to ask…if I ever decide to speak to them again. I don't currently.
"Were they bad at it? Were they too big? Was the room ugly? I hear that can be a real mood killer," She scrunched her face as she spoke, but then got silent, her voice almost a whisper as she brought me from my thoughts, "...Did you panic…?"
I looked at my hands, staying quiet as I suddenly grew interested in my fingernails. Your nails are ratchet, stop chewing them. Stop being an idiot and I will, simple.
Matt stood up, took my hand, and dragged me into an alley, taking us both away from bystanders. Taking us where we could be in private because she could tell I was about to cry.
"I-I-I ran so fast, Matt. I-I couldn't stop...I-I kept running and running until I-I reached your place. I-I'm damaged, M. Th-They're rich and powerful. Y-You should've seen their house!" I whimpered, my knees buckling under my weight as my hands trembled and shook against my face. I curled into a tight ball, wanting to fold into myself and hide, sobbing as she hugged me, "I-I'm a Rat. A-A broken little rat. You saw how they dressed compared to us. My mother freaked out when she found out where the interview was held, we're embarrassments."
"Fuck. Mathis, their house? It's a fucking castle, I don't care what anyone says, it's a palace. They have stairs on stairs, shelves on shelves, even flowers on dolphins in their backyard. What do I have? An apartment-sized house with cracked windows and no insulation. A bed that hardly fits me on it and not one shelf to hold a bloody fucking magazine. They have a closet my family could live in and I have a closet with a stuck door where a feral cat had kittens once. I used to think we had good houses, and then I learned from Jax the beautiful houses they have. Then I learned about other houses, and th-then? We went to the damn Company and my Bosses took me to their Mansion. You heard what that Bitch called us and she's right! We're the rats. We've always been the fucking rats. We'll always be the fucking rats."
"Some of us rats get out of here, Lune," She tried to reassure, hugging delicately, "Remember that. We still have hopes and dreams that'll set us free from the rats."
"Yeah, but some rats get hunted by dogs," I scoffed, defeat in my voice, "and then eaten by them."
"Pl-Please," She finally whispered, backing up and sitting in front of me, "tell me who did it. You've never given me a name. Please, give me a name."
"I-I can't," My voice shattered, knowing she wanted an answer to things I'd told her years ago, "I-I can't. Please, don't make me say, Mathis. I-I know you'll go after him if I tell."
"...I-It was my brother, wasn't it?" A swallow released from her throat, as she investigated her lap. I could see the answer form in her eyes before the courage to say it danced to her lips. My silence told her my truths, making her punch the trash can next to where she sat, "I-I knew I should have protected you...I-I shouldn't have let Mom take him to babysit you… It's my fault, he was always talking about you and the disgusting things, but he made threats about me..about Mama, about you. I-I shouldn't have let it stop me.."
I hugged her so tight, afraid she'd hurt herself, "D-Don't do that, Matty. D-Don't blame yourself! It's nobody's fault. It was either he hurt me or someone else, and I'm grateful it wasn't you. I'd rather he hurt me than anyone else."
Her arms tightened as she embraced me, silence filling the air for a few minutes. Dabbing her cheeks, she sat back, smiling weakly, "Fuck being sad. We can be sad and angry some other time. Let's get back to being idiots."
"Did we ever stop?" My retort made us both chortle as we stood up. I pulled her into a tight hug, "Thank you, Matty...for being my best friend."
She punched my shoulder, wiping my face, "Slutty Putty."
She ran before I could grab her and give her a noogie, making me grab the milkshake, "Yeah, you better run! This milkshake is going down your shirt for that comment!"
"You better not!" She ordered, wide-eyed as I started coming towards her. She squealed as I started chasing her, "Lunar Moon, put that fucking milkshake down! I will kick your ass! I will give you a wedgie! I will sacrifice you to the Gods! I will eat your soul! Fear me, You Buffoon!"
I laughed as she ran, almost caught up with her, her collar out of reach, "Goddamn, you're fast! How did you not catch me earlier?"
I tripped, landing hard on the pavement, laughing as she toppled onto me, sitting on my stomach. Surprisingly I hadn't spilled the milkshake, still holding it up with a proud smile.
"I'll take that," She grinned with a confident nod, taking a big sip of it before smirking evilly at me, "Now, you need to run, Pretty Boy."
"Mathis, no! This isn't funny! Don't you dare!" She let me get up as I backed up. I backed up with her every step, my arm hurt bad, moving it made my body go in severe pain as I tried to hold it up, "O-Owe, FUCK!"
"Come on," She stopped messing around, dropped the milkshake on the ground, and rushed over to me, all humor and fun shattered to fear and concern. There was a weird lump in the middle of my arm, and my wrist did this strange floppy thing. I winced as we walked to the infirmary, yelping at barely touching my arm, "I'll call your mom."