Scattered in the Wind
The clinic was pretty empty at that time of the day. Lucian sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting room and patiently passed the time until it was his turn. He had an appointment to finally get rid of that awful brand on his chest... The one he himself had placed on his body. Waves of shame still hit him when he thought about how easily he had been played. Honestly, he couldn't thank Peter enough for being there for him when he had needed it most.
His lips quirked into a smile, his nose growing used to the sterile and artificial smell of the current environment. Thanks to his beloved brother, he had gotten a job and was now long-term employed. Sure, it was only work at a warehouse, but that was miles better than being broke somewhere on the streets... or passed out on the cold forest ground.
Most of his colleagues were amicable too, especially when he described his circumstances - in a roundabout way, of course, he was not too sure how people would react to the full truth. They were supportive and sweet and he could get along well with them. Hell, one of the women had even flirted with him a few times. Life was a lot better than Lucian had expected it to be - considering he hadn't gotten back at Bruno like he had planned at all, that is.
Suddenly, a sting in his chest. He winced slightly as the pain radiated directly from his nipples. He had his unfortunate accessories removed from those as soon as he got his first paycheck. Thankfully, the procedure wasn't expensive... unlike a tattoo removal. Peter had offered to pay for it, but Lucian was not one to mooch from his brother more than he already was... especially not after what all he had done to Peter.
The door to the waiting room opened, a nurse - clad in an outfit that looked specifically tailored to appeal to customers - peeked out and called out his name. The few other people waiting with him looked at him as he stood up from his seat and made his way over to the door. A gentle smile appeared on the employee's face.
"Welcome, Mr. Greene. Right this way, please." she warmly invited him in.
Lucian couldn't help but wince at his surname. No matter how many times he had heard it, it would never cease to be a stain on his life. A tie to Bruno which would be difficult to fully erase. Just as much as his tattoo. 1500 dollars for a removal. That sum still made his stomach churn. Thankfully, that was the cumulative payment for all the sessions.
Sitting down in the chair opposite a rather young looking doctor, he looked around. The office was sleek and modern - and also very painfully corporate. There was no soul in the decorations or design. Honestly, fitting for the price. This was the cheapest place in the area, after all.
"Welcome to our clinic, Mr. Greene. I trust you know how this will go down considering you've booked an appointment, and therefore have also read the terms and conditions. Anything I should know about before I proceed with the procedure? Or any questions you might still have?" she greeted him with clinical professionalism.
He looked into her eyes for a bit, acting as if stunned, then shook his head abruptly, a grin forming on his face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, miss. I've gotten a bit distracted staring, that was not only rude, but also creepy of me. I hope you can forgive me. But yes, we can proceed. Nothing on my side I'd like to mention." his grin turned into a roguish smirk.
"O-Oh, well... No offense on my part, so you're fine, sir. Please, right this way, sir." she blushed a bit and cleared her throat before standing up.
Lucian nodded, but did not drop his debonair act. He made sure to sway his hips a bit while walking, while also stretching his arms above his head, showcasing his slowly developing muscles. The doctor let out another stutter, before continuing to walk on with her eyes averted.
He knew what he was doing. Fully intending to flirt like a fuckboy, relishing in the attention and validation it gave him. As much as he hated to admit it, Bruno's words had left quite a scar on his ego. And random people's compliments were a good band-aid for it. Occasionally, one or the other person got uncomfortable and offended, and Lucian did indeed feel bad. But most of the time it was just harmless, innocent fun - and a tool to keep sane.
The removal itself was surprisingly okay. It was diametrically less painful that he had anticipated. But then again, he had gotten a beating from the brute not so long ago. A tattoo removal was nothing compared to that.
"Sorry about your break-up, by the way." the doctor said whilst working.
"Huh?" Lucian furrowed his eyebrows.
"Oh, I just assumed Bruno is... well, was your boyfriend. A lot of people remove the names of their exes. Though yours is one of the bigger tattoos I've seen. Must've been a great deal of love involved for you to get this." she shot him a wry smile.
"Oh, uh... yeah, I guess you could call it that? It's a long story... and a pretty sad one. I'd rather not say more." he shot down the conversation.
"Ah, right, of course." she said hesitantly, but moved on.
'Boyfriend', yeah right. Like she would know even a lick of what had happened behind the scenes. Like love was involved at all - Lucian couldn't help but mentally cringe at the fact of what all he had done. And had said, for that matter. But most of all - it bothered him that Bruno was involved in his life. It would have been prudent to just forget about him. He really should've let the disgusting, acidic memories rot in the far corners of his mind.
The entire procedure went by a lot quicker than Lucian had anticipated. He wasn't complaining, though. Only a few more repeats, and then he'd hopefully be forever parted from the mark of his past foolishness. Now it was time to go... home.
He gave the staff a few goodbyes and winks, leaving faint blushes in his wake, before swaggering off to the nearest bus stop. Sadly, since he didn't have his car anymore, he was fully reliant of public transit. It pained him what all he had lost. But the biggest loss of all was his dignity. Even now he had problems looking Peter in the eye - his brother fully knowing what happened and being there to witness his shameful actions.
But it wasn't all bad. Traveling via bus meant a lot more time to think instead of driving. And so he used that time to strategize a bit. The reason? Peter's girlfriend - well, fiancee - was moving in today. It would get cramped in their little abode, but they'd survive somehow. If things truly got unbearable, Lucian was prepared to leave, though. He knew he was only living there by the kindness of his brother.
His phone - which thankfully seemed to work perfectly fine after a factory reset - chimed with a notification which interrupted his thinking for a bit. It was a message from Pete.
> Peter: Hey listen something came up at work. That means I won't be able to help Maggy move in most likely. Could u please help her in my stead? I'd owe u
Lucian simply smiled. 'I'd owe u', ridiculous. If anything, the oldest brother was the one indebted here. He quickly typed out a reply.
> Lucian: Sure thing. I'm going back to your place right now. If anything comes up I'll let you know. Does Maggy know?
> Peter: Yeah. She even said it'd be fine to not get help at all. She is convinced she can do it herself. But u know how I am...
> Lucian: Yeah yeah. Don't worry. Go do your work thing and I'll take care of it.
A single thumbs up reaction came as a response. The conversation was officially finished. And by the looks of it - so was the bus ride.
The house was only a short walk away, perfectly showcasing the other buildings in the neighborhood. Honestly, it was a nice area. Quiet, respectable, safe and overall affordable. Lucian should have asked Daniel to speak to Bruno too. To get him a deal with this. Maybe he and Pete could've been neighbors instead of housemates... no mooching involved either. Maybe if Lucian's pride hadn't been paramount, they could've still been in contact with Daniel... Lucian worried for his little baby bro. Sure, he was a capable adult, but he was stuck with Bruno for fuck's sake.
Regret got stuck in his throat like a hairball. It was hard to think of his little bro. So hard... But now it was too late. The dice were cast and going against the deal that Bruno had approved was anything but a good idea.
His rumination had killed enough of his time to the point where he didn't even notice he had arrived at Pete's place. He unlocked the door and went inside, waiting patiently for Maggy to arrive. The TV they had was a cheap model, but it was a good way to forget about his thoughts and feelings for a while. So good that it passed time without him noticing again. A sudden knock to the door informed him instead.
"Hello? Anyone home?" a smoker's voice resounded from outside.
That must have been Maggy. Lucian had never talked to her directly, but he had heard her voice enough times from Peter's phone to recognize. Her rasp was very memorable - like cracking twigs.
"Yeah! Come in, the door's unlocked." Lucian shouted back.
Not waiting any longer than necessary, the woman made her way into the house. This was the first time Lucian could see her live. She was the epitome of a working woman: shortened black hair; grimy, short fingernails; slightly yellowed teeth; an uneven tan on her olive skin; enormous dark circles around her eyes; well-developed musculature; and to top it off - a macho style of walking.
"Yo. You must be Lucian, correct?" she marched over, stretching her hand out.
"Yup. And you're Maggy. Peter won't shut up about you." Lucian smiled cheekily.
Her grip was - unsurprisingly - strong. She was probably stronger than Lucian and Peter combined. Honestly, good on him for finding such a bride. The blonde could only approve.
"Aww, that's my Petey alright. Heard he got called into work. Fucking vultures, man. Won't leave him alone." her face turned from soft adoration to a scowl.
"Yeah. But I'm sure he'll be back as soon as he can." Lucian tried to comfort her - which seemingly wasn't even needed.
"Oh, I know he will. That man is relentless, let me tell you. Has a strong root. Just like me. Plus, he always fucks a lot better after a good day at work, so I'm looking forward to that." she bellowed a hearty laugh.
That was more than he had hoped to learn about his brother's sex life, but he was at least happy she was comfortable enough around him. And he couldn't really say he was surprised - after all, from the little snippets alone he had judged her to be very crude and even more so - direct.
"Well, then I hope he'll give you a good tumble. I'd offer you a smoke, but not only do I not have any, but you're also with child." Lucian smiled.
"How considerate of you. But I went cold turkey on smoking right after we started trying for a baby. And I ain't gonna go back to it anytime soon, let me tell you. Momma's gonna make sure to be responsible." she said, stroking her belly a bit.
Honestly, at first glance it was hard to tell she was pregnant. Her baby bump was minuscule and her demeanor seemingly unchanged from what he could tell. Granted, it had only been a few months, but still.
"I'm glad you two are having a baby. Peter will be an amazing dad, and I'm sure you'll be an amazing mother as well." he smiled gently at her.
She laughed, her hair shaking from the movement, before she opened her eyes, a warm gaze falling upon Lucian. She leaned against the wall.
"You know, you aren't half as bad as I pictured you being." she smiled, her subtle crow's feet showing.
"Well, thank you. I'm glad to not be as horrible as imagined." he quipped.
"Hey now... Can you blame me after all I've heard about you? Peter wasn't particularly happy whenever the two of you talked." she said, her voice growing more serious.
"Yeah, figures... What all do you know? What has he told you?" he asked, slightly concerned.
Lucian truly didn't know to what extend his 'expsriences' had been shared with Maggy. He hoped not too much, considering how humiliating they were to remember. It was bad enough his family knew about them, he didn't need more people knowing. Instinctively, his shoulders tensed and his posture went rigid as he awaited the answer. She remained relaxed, absentmindedly tapping her foot.
"He didn't go too much into detail. I know that you're stubborn - like, extremely fucking stubborn. And you're also pretty stupid most of the time. That's the gist of what I've pieced together. I did ask for more, but Petey refused to tell. He said it was 'too private' and 'family business'. Seeing that sad look on his face made me want to renovate your face though." she said, punctuating her last statement with a mock punch to the wall.
The blonde flinched at the punch motion, his conditioning taking over. But he understood. He perfectly understood. A lukewarm smile adorned his face as he regained his composure.
"Yeah... I get that. I'm... I'm glad he kept most things to himself. I said some really vapid shit to him. And we're not even talking about what all I've done. Honestly, I'm so grateful to him, you can't even imagine..."
"I know you are. Petey has told me all about how thankful you were the first few days you've come here. But you've really been on the upswing recently! You have a job, you help around the house and most importantly, you keep Petey company. You know how much he whined in my ear about how he wished he could help you?" she complained, yet her voice was unbelievably soft.
"That... that does sound like Pete indeed." he looked to the ground.
"From what I get, it's your dad who's the main reason behind your little escapades. Apparently, he's a real piece of work. Again, Petey refused to elaborate, but from the little I've heard, I want to kick his ass real good." she scoffed.
"Oh, believe me, we all do. But, sadly, it's not as easy as we'd like it to be. If it's even possible to do. And trust me, he wouldn't have mercy with you either, even in your current state." he said grimly.
"Damn... a real asshole, huh? Well, I'm glad I'll never meet him, since from what I understand, y'all cut ties. Honestly, for the best. Who would like to be bound to a guy like that? Scum that doesn't even care about children. His own, nonetheless." she looked away.
Oh, if only she knew. Lucian bit his tongue - not wanting to express just how little mercy Bruno would have with her if they ever did meet. No punches would be pulled - ever. Terrifying and tragic images filled his mind, but he quickly shook them off. She didn't need to know that. The brute would hopefully stay far away from her, and ignorance was the best peace of mind she could ever hope for.
In order to change the topic, Lucian pushed himself off the furniture, walking straight for the door.
"Now, let's go help you move in, okay? I'm sure you've been here enough times to know the house by heart, so feel free to go to your new room and I'll bring your stuff there. I hope Peter has enough space." he chuckled.
"No no, I'll help. Can't be leaving all the fun to you, soon-to-be brother-in-law." she said, catching up with him quite easily.
"If Pete sees you doing the work, he'll give me more than just a stern talking-to." Lucian turned around to flash a grin.
"Oh, please, I'll be fine. It's not like I have any particularly heavy boxes. And I want to make sure and move around as much as I can before my little kiddo really starts to annoy me." she uttered gently, but loudly.
He raised an eyebrow at her, playfully. He liked her attitude. She had that spunk to her - that will to live and do shit. He caved.
"Well, fine. But you only take the smallest boxes, deal? If so, then let's get this over with, shall we?" He shrugged non-committaly before resuming his walk to the car.
"Oh, I'm sure I can carry enough. But thanks for looking out for me, Lucian. Something tells me we'll get along quite swimmingly." she gave out a snort, before falling into a walk with him.
And Lucian could already tell that his brother's house was miles better than whatever Daniel must have been experiencing with Bruno.
---
Daniel sat up straight in his chair, poking at the cake on his plate. The four men around him were laughing and enjoying themselves. Beer flowed into their mouths - except one's, of course. Dad, as always, remained sober. Some things never change, and Daniel was happy about that. A drugged Bruno would be a true nightmare. The birthday man himself was only a year away from being able to drink as well. Not that he really wanted to - seeing how inebriated some of dad's posse were. It was a perfect deterrent.
"I keep telling you - hic - I keep telling you... I keep..." Frank was blabbering, absolutely smashed.
"Keep telling me what?" Richard inquired, also a bit buzzed.
"Maybe we should let him be. He's clearly a bit... out of it. Let him sober up a bit." Bob interjected, the least drunk out of the three.
The conversation continued on, mostly incomprehensible due to Frank's influence. Bruno, however, was suddenly looking rather unamused. He sat to Daniel's right, their chairs nearly touching. Behind him a pile of presents was glistening on a table in the setting sun. A warm orange settled over their little gathering, the Greenes' yard decorated with various party ornaments.
"I swear, if I knew they were going to be like this, I would've banned alcohol. Especially since you, the one whom this is all for, can't even drink." Bruno muttered to Daniel, barely audible.
His hands clenched into fists as they balled up fabric into the palm from where they laid - on Bruno's fancy dress polo shirt, partially obscured by the musculature of his crossed arms. One look at him and it was clear to anyone - he was not having it.
"It's fine, dad. I'm sure they're all just happy for me, that's why they're celebrating so hard! Don't be too hard on them, please." Daniel tried to calm him down.
"Oh, they're not celebrating. At least Frank isn't. Yesterday, he found out his wife was cheating on him and is now drinking away the pain. As per usual." Bruno explained.
"But... but that's horrible. No wonder he's on his ninth beer already... Must be hard for him to be here when he should be grieving properly." Daniel said, his eyebrows slanting downwards.
"Normally, I'd agree. But this is the what... fifteenth time he's discovered his wife's unfaithfulness? He just keeps crawling back to her. Fucking loser." Bruno muttered the last part under his breath.
"But then... why are they still together?" Daniel asks, pity in his eyes.
"As I said, he just keeps coming back to her. Says it's 'because of the kids', but I think he just can't imagine living without her at this point. Why she's still with him? Probably the money and security. Maybe also for the kids? Who knows. All I know is she's tried to jump on my dick before too." Bruno's voice was slowly getting enveloped with venom.
That was news. Daniel hadn't know about that. In fact, Daniel still didn't know a lot about Dad... just like Lucian had said. Lucian... Daniel missed him. Missed him so much. But as the painful memories came flooding back, he simply blocked them out. Rooted himself in the present - in the conversation.
"I didn't know you had admirers like that, dad." Daniel continued with the conversation.
"I have some. Though most of them give up after one rejection. His wife though? She doesn't just take one 'no'. It took for a very... firm grip on her hand to finally stop her propositions. And before you ask - I only did it because she tried feeling me up." Bruno defended himself.
"No, no, that's okay. You don't have to justify." Daniel reassured him.
And it was true. The young man was past the point of holding his father accountable for... well, anything. It had only been days since the camping outing, but it felt like a lot had changed since then. Mainly, Bruno was a lot more physically affectionate. Of course, a certain aspect of this had always been present and only further escalated by their little escapades. But they had never been like... this.
At that point, they were already sleeping in one room together. With how often they went at it in the night, that was basically a necessity. But that was not all - Bruno was also a lot more casually physical. Here an arm slung over Daniel's shoulder, there a massage, finally a peck to the cheek to send him off. Very new. Very unusual.
Yet no matter how much Daniel wanted it to be like before, this was a suitable alternative. Fears that his dad would leave him or abandon him played in his mind more stronger than ever. The little gestures of intimacy were able to slightly scare off any anxiety, even if only a little bit.
"I'm... I'm gonna get something to drink." Frank interrupted his conversation with a loud declaration.
His legs wobbled under his drunkard brain, not able to keep up with the influx of new information.
"Danny? Go with him, okay? Make sure he doesn't break anything. Or hurt himself or something." Bruno softly commanded.
With a nod, Daniel made his way to Frank, keeping him steady as they walked towards the house. The act itself was oddly relaxing. Helping a bumbling middle-aged man not collapse onto the floor occupied his mind enough to not think about his brothers.
Frank himself was absolutely wasted. Daniel doubted whether there were any thoughts present in that mind of his at that point, as he watched the old man lose his bearings every few seconds. Yet despite the navigational troubles, they made it into the kitchen - Daniel's assistance having proved vital.
Hiccuping and swaying from side to side, Frank opened their fridge and took out a few more beers. He seemed quite shameless about serving himself in another's household. Daniel was impressed at his nonchalance.
The old drunk had finished almost an entire bottle right there, pouring it into his throat like there was no tomorrow. He must've been really out of it. But then why stay if he knew it would only bring pain? Daniel couldn't understand the masochism in his actions. Though he did feel a bit hypocritical thinking like this. After all, he himself had opted to stay with dad.
"Women ain't shit!" Frank yelled out, followed by a belch.
"Yes, yes. Let's go back, okay? Do you want me to carry those for you?" Daniel reached out for the beer bottles in Frank's hand.
But the old man simply stepped back, putting distance between them - his hand clutched the moist, fogged up glass with a possessive fervor. He was obviously not done talking.
"All they do is leave you broke and hurt, Danny boy. Don't you ever get married, you hear me? All they... All they... Fuck, they don't even put out after you put a ring on 'em." he mumbles, words slurring left and right, but miraculously remaining comprehensible.
"That sounds terrible. Let's get you outside now, okay?" Daniel tried getting close again.
The chase was obviously not done, as Frank distanced himself again, his breathing laborious. For a while his face turned pale, then a shade of green, but he seemed to swallow down whatever was coming up his throat. He replaced the bile with words.
"Let me tell you, I even considered batting for the other team. I've been in a man's ass before, and it was just as good. Fucking, if only their mugs weren't so ugly." he groaned, and clutched his head.
Not wanting to listen to any more drunk tirades - especially the sleazier ones - Daniel took a resolute step into Frank's direction and firmly grasped at both of his shoulders.
"I'm sure you have. And I'm sorry to hear that. Now let's go outside, okay?" Daniel asserted himself, already starting to move.
Frank did not protest this time around, simply letting himself be led. But he didn't exactly make it any easier with his swaying and constant tripping. What a piece of work.
"Do you want to know who it was? It was that brother of yours, Danny boy. Lu... Lu? Lucas?" he trailed off, thinking real hard.
Hair bristled on Daniel's neck as he was reminded of the rather unfortunate incidents that took place in this very house. As much as he wanted to forget or explain away a lot of the things Lucian and Bruno both have told him, he couldn't. Especially not when Frank confirmed them. But the old man had seemingly had an eureka moment, and had to share.
"Lucian! His name was Lucian, I remember. Fucking... Had a body like an ugly twig, but at least his ass was tight. You ever get a go? Then again, I don't think Bruno would want you fucking around. He's a rather possessive freak when it comes to you. He been giving you a good tumble so far?" Frank shot a disgusting smirk his way.
Daniel stopped dead in his tracks, the old man he had been supporting nearly falling over because of it. How much did he know? How much did the others know? How did they even know?
"What are you talking about?" Daniel feigned ignorance.
"Oh, come on. Don't pretend. We all know Bruno has been giving it to you good. He switched over to you after giving that fruity brother of yours a rough lesson. He has made it very clear to us that unlike Lu... Lucian! Unlike Lucian, we are not to touch you." Frank laughed, his words oily and rancid like his breath.
"How do you know? When has he told you?" Daniel clenched his hands into tight fists.
"Uuuuuh, let me think for a second... Uuuuuh - Oh! He called us up the day after you came back from a trip. You should've seen his smile. Hah! Like he had won the lottery, let me tell you. Personally, I don't get it. He just switched an ass for an ass. Doubt yours is anything special."
"So... so you're not even questioning this? Nothing bothers you about this at all?" Daniel asked, completely stunned.
"About what? That he likes to pound a manhole from time to time? Or that he's shagging his son? Even if I did give a fuck, so? You want me to say something and get on his shit list? Nah, Danny boy, that ain't worth it. I am not about to flush years or sucking up to you and your pops down the toilet." Frank retched, his body clearly not happy with how much he had been talking.
Daniel simply looked at him, speechless. What was he even supposed to say to that? His dad had told people... and they were okay with it? But more importantly, he felt so... anxious. What if he really was just another one of Bruno's conquests? What if like Lucian, he'd end up discarded somewhere. He had usually comforted himself with the idea that dad would never betray his own flesh and blood, but even their blood relation was up for question now.
"C'mon, Danny boy, cheer up. If your daddy ain't doing it for you anymore, I can always switch in for him. You know, you can get some good revenge on him that way. I'm sure you'd like that, wouldn't you? You fa-" Frank had built up a snarl in his voice, but was cut short abruptly.
A strong hand appeared on his shoulder and gave it a grasp so firm that the pressure was visible with the naked eye. A similarly powerful arm slowly coiled around Daniel's back, also ending at the shoulder, but giving it a visibly gentler squeeze.
"We're all wondering where you two are." dad said with a voice so calm, yet so sharp, it could cut steel.
The color drained out of Frank's face once more, and the drunken behavior seemed to disappear almost entirely as he stood up straight and peeled his eyes open - his pupils small, irises shaky.
"Yeah. I have the bottles here. We were just on our way out." an unsure voice came out of the drunk.
"Good. Fresh air will do you good when you're tipsy. Go ahead." Bruno continued, removing his hand from Frank's shoulder and stepping closer to Daniel.
Not a second later and Frank was already moving out of the room, not taking any chances with father.
"How much did you hear?" Daniel asked, having watched the exchange solemnly.
"Enough. Don't worry, I'll make sure that he gets a good lesson in manners later. We can't have him running around blabbering, can we now?" Bruno asked rhetorically as he watched Frank leave.
"While I appreciate the gesture, that isn't what I was referring to, dad... You told them? About us? Why would you? Aren't you even the tiniest bit worried? Or am I... am I a trophy that you've finally caught and now you have to brag about it?" Daniel finally vocalized his worries - for the first time in forever.
Bruno did not speak, just stared at Daniel with a pensive, collected look. But the young man could see the barely visible slant of his brows and the ever so subtle storm brewing in his eyes. Was it pity? Guilt? Or maybe annoyance? Frustration? Daniel didn't know what to think.
"We can talk about it later, if you'd like. The party will end soon and I can answer any questions you might have afterwards." dad said.
And that was it. Daniel knew that he wouldn't get much else out of him until 'later'. But that was okay - he could wait. He had another, somehow more difficult question to ask. Or rather - a favor. One that would not be easy to even verbalize, let alone hear the answer to. But it had to happen eventually - and the time was now.
Returning to the party proper, both of the men took their respective seats and pretended as if everything was fine. A few strained smiles, but other than that there was no indication of the conversation prior ever happening.
The sun had set almost completely before dad's friends left the house. They called a cab to pick them up, two of them still competent at walking, one requiring some serious backup. And that left the father and son duo alone in the yard, cleaning everything up.
Presents were brought inside and plates were put into the dishwasher. It didn't take long at all - a shame, considering how much Daniel wasn't looking forward to the conversation which would happen afterwards.
After the last of the decorations were cleaned up, Bruno wasted no time before turning to Daniel and locking his green eyes directly on his face.
"So, you wanted to talk. Let's talk. Ask away, Danny." dad said, sitting down on the couch.
Daniel remained standing, shifting from foot to foot. He couldn't hold his father's gaze, so he instead looked at the floor, then at the wall. It was hard to properly speak one's mind around dad. Like if a constant pressure was surrounding Daniel, blanketing him in, preventing his true feelings from coming out. He couldn't tell if Bruno was doing this on purpose or if it was merely an aura he exuded on accident.
"I... Well, as I said before, I found out today that your friends know about us... Why did you tell them?" Daniel asked hesitantly.
"Simple - I wanted them to know their place. I can assure you they won't even so much as peep about it to others. Trust me - they know better. I would know, since when I told them about my little tryst with Lucian, they were surprised at first, but accepted it in the matter of minutes. No questions asked." Bruno shrugged.
"What do you mean by 'know their place'? What would they do if you hadn't told them? Try to make a move on me?" Daniel asked, slightly irritated, but mostly confused.
"Well, that too, yes. Just like Frank's drunk ass tried it today. Look, Bob is the one into guys, but he's the least threatening one. Richard? He's straight like a ruler, but he tapped the leech's ass because he wanted to try it out since I had done it. His words, not mine. But I can imagine him using the same logic to make a move on you. Frank though? You've experienced him today, right? He's a little rat in human skin. Honestly, he and his wife deserve each other. I can see him trying to seduce you just to ingratiate himself to me even more through you. Or, worse, try to somehow stand up to me by sleeping with you. Foolish ideas, both of them. But just to make sure that they wouldn't get any other tomfoolery into their heads, I made the line very clear early on." dad explained.
"So... so you told them in order for me not to be 'taken'? To mark me as your 'property', in a sense... You basically pissed on me like a dog would." Daniel said, irritation growing.
"No, I have not. And please don't say stuff like that anymore. You are not my property and I did not piss on you. But I have made it very clear that any and all advances will originate from you, if you ever get into the mood. So that you don't have to deal with the sycophants trying to use you as leverage." Bruno said, his voice too coating with a blubbering anger.
"Let me get this straight. You told them not to pursue me. You told your middle-aged friends, who are nearly twice my age, to not pursue me. Why would I ever reciprocate any advances they make? What do I have to gain?" Daniel asked, switching from fury to disbelief.
Bruno took a deep breath, then looked Daniel straight in the eyes.
"You've reciprocated my advances, no?" he said flatly.
This took Daniel by surprise. Dad wasn't wrong... But this was different. Before this summer came along, Daniel hadn't even entertained the idea of sleeping with his dad. And the same could be said about dad's friends. Yet he understood where Bruno was coming from. If Daniel had given in to dad - his own blood (probably) - what prevented him from doing the same to other men of a similar age?
Looking back at dad's face, he saw the man before him. Using the years and years of shared experiences and conversations, he tried to decipher what dad was feeling. And it worked. He could see through his layers and masks - peering straight into his mind via his eyes. And he could see... anxiety. The same anxiety Daniel would feel whenever he saw Lucian saunter off to dad. Or whenever he heard the distinct noises of skin slapping against skin. The only difference? Bruno was a lot better at hiding it - most of the time, at least. This was the conclusion Daniel came to.
"Dad... I don't want to sleep with anyone else. I don't... I don't even know why I keep sleeping with you. Don't get me wrong, it's good and nice and thrilling, but... I can't explain why I do it. I've never really felt like this before. So you have nothing to worry about. If I did want to sleep with someone else, you'd know." Daniel tried to calm dad down.
The words worked, but only a bit. The tension disappeared from dad's shoulders, yet his face remained uneasy, despite the cold front he was putting on.
"Earlier, you spoke about being a conquest. A trophy, if you will... I hope you realize that isn't true." this time around, dad was the one trying to calm Daniel down.
"You say that, but I don't... I have trouble believing you, dad. I've never seen anyone get treated nicely by you, except me. You spoil me. You support me. You do everything in your power to be with me. But what if... what if it's all a front? Or what if I start to bore you now that you have what you've worked towards? I don't... what if I end up like Lucian?" Daniel choked out of himself.
Bruno gave him a firm, unamused look. As if he was trying to see if Daniel was being serious. Seeing the pain and fear in his son's eyes made him very quickly realize that there was no humor present in Daniel's words. With a slow, but sure movement, his hand reached out to the young man's, grasping it gently.
"Danny... That won't happen. It's not a front, nor is it temporary. And the spoiling and support? They started way before I developed any sort of... sexual feelings for you. So it's impossible for me to have planned this from the start. If anything, my attraction to you is a rather recent development. And now that I 'have you', I feel no less thrilled to be with you. I don't think you understand, Daniel. I don't think I can be apart from you anymore. I can't trust anyone but you. Nothing makes me smile but you. I won't be leaving you. Believe me." the familiar, warm tone emerged out of dad's throat.
It was now or never. Sure, they had just had a very touching chat, but only now would Daniel have both the courage and a window of opportunity to ask for the favor which had pressed on his mind for so long.
"If you won't be leaving me, then... could we get another paternity test?" he said quietly, almost a whisper.
Silence. Complete, unbroken silence. Daniel couldn't look at his dad's face, fearing what he'd see there, so he instead looked away again. At the ceiling, for a change. It took a good minute for Bruno to finally respond.
"...okay." came a quiet - almost dying - response.
That was it? Daniel expected more of a fight, or an argument, or a push-back, or... something. But this... this resignation. It sounded so sad. So defeated.
"Okay..." Daniel repeated.
"Okay. Let's get ready for bed. We can iron out the details tomorrow." Bruno ended the discussion.
The young man simply nodded, happy with the outcome even if the road there was iffy - to say the least. With a newfound determination in his step, he went upstairs. Usually, it was his turn to shower first, and he doubted Bruno would want to change that today for any reason.
Warm water enveloped him as steam filled out the bathroom. The temperature was perfect in order to unwind a bit - release the tension from the colossus of a conversation he had had. Having washed himself sufficiently, he stepped out of the shower, not bothering with pajamas or even underwear. Considering the usual nighttime activities the past days - clothes were more of a nuisance at that point.
He walked directly for his bed - well, Bruno's bed, but that distinction was pretty blurry at that point. It was difficult to describe, but sleeping with his own father each night somehow became... the norm. The revulsion from before overridden by the sheer force of habit.
Dad had passed him on the hallway, going for his own shower, no doubt. His face was like stone. No expression visible on the cold mask. A pang of regret hit Daniel, but he didn't doubt his actions. It was for the best. No more living with a ticking time bomb.
His thoughts slowly dulled as he laid down onto the mattress. Considering Daniel was frequenting the master bedroom, it was ventilated quite a lot more, resulting in most of Bruno's scent to be gone. But the covers still smelled like him. Earthy, sweaty and so distinctly... safe. The scent lulled Daniel into a slumber every time it hit his nose. And this time, despite the rather high-strung evening, was no different.
Usually, Bruno would be back from the shower at this point and that would wake Daniel up properly. Especially the session which usually followed. This time around, dad was seemingly not rushing, though. The shower was longer than the ones he used to take - and by a lot. It worried the young man a bit, but he was too comfortable in the sheets to actually go check.
Eventually, the door to the bathroom opened and the sound of bare feet stomping on the hardwood floor echoed through the house. And there he was - Bruno in all his glory. A few remaining droplets of water ran through the jungle of his chest, tracing the contours of his muscles downwards, until they hung suspended from his crotch. A few steps forward, and he was already next to Daniel.
The young man had been unsure whether dad would be in the mood for sex, but the way his two thick, hairy thighs soon caged Daniel's hips in was a statement on its own. As per usual, Bruno had an inquisitive look in his eyes, asking for permission non-verbally. Daniel's answer? Spreading his own legs as far as he could. But this time around, father's hand quickly pressed down on his hip and stopped the movement. Instead, Bruno moved forward a bit, his half-hard member positioned on Daniel's stomach.
Wordlessly, the older man reached down for the lube and started prepping - Daniel's dick. Huh? This wasn't how it would usually go. All the nights before, it was Bruno who lubed himself up and pushed into Daniel.
"Dad, what are you doing?" the young man asked, confused.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Well... I don't know! But... but it seems like you want... you..." Daniel wanted to express what he was clearly seeing, but he couldn't - it seemed too unreal to him.
"Like I want you to fuck me? Yes." Bruno said calmly, setting the lube back and adjusting himself properly.
"But... why?"
"What do you mean, why? You like getting fucked, no? So why would I not want the same?" Bruno paused what he was doing for a second, raising one eyebrow at Daniel.
"Because... I don't know, because... you're the older one? You... you're the stronger one? I don't..." he couldn't quite point at the reason, it just seemed... weird.
"So what? If anything, I should have been bottoming the whole time exactly because I'm stronger. Anyone can fuck a hole, but it takes balls to take dick, you know? And even more balls to ride a dick to completion." he said, grabbing Daniel's member with little decorum.
Dad was a lot rougher than usual. When he entered or pistoned into Daniel, it was very slow and gentle. As if waiting to see the reaction after each thrust. Accompanying it was a calm rhythm that mostly focused on Daniel's prostate. It was an almost reverent way to go about penetration. But this time? It was completely different.
One hand angled his hole perfectly with Daniel's cockhead and Bruno simply let himself fall onto it. It entered with surprising ease, but Daniel could not comment on it. When his entire member was enveloped by Bruno's insides, he could only arch his back from the bed as his mouth wanted to moan, but failed. The sheer influx of sensations took his breath away.
Bruno was far from done, though. Not taking any time to adjust, he simply started riding his son, no holds barred. The rhythm was tough from the beginning: Bruno lifted his hips up rapidly, almost letting the dick below escape him. Then, even speedier, he slammed his body down again, pressing firmly into Daniel's lap.
Another one of Daniel's virginities taken. But the way Bruno went about it was oddly... punishing. Not to Daniel, but to himself.
"Dad... Slow down... Ngh... You'll - oh, fuck - you'll hurt yourself..." Daniel somehow managed to speak up.
"I'll be fine. It's only fair that I end up on the receiving end too, no? Besides, this should hopefully dispel any doubts you might have about what you mean to me. Do you think I've let anyone else in my ass before?" Bruno said, having similar troubles with talking, but hiding it better.
"That's no reason to go about it so roughly! Fuck... dad, please... s-slow... d-d-down..." Daniel stuttered as Bruno instead increased the pace.
"No way. I'll take it. I know I can. Besides, don't you see that this is doing it for me too?" Dad asked and his cock - as if listening in - hit Daniel's body, fully hard.
"Oh... dad..." Daniel wanted to say more, but he couldn't, his own release clouding his mind.
Not long and he could feel himself spill inside of his dad's guts. But that wasn't the end of it. Bruno still hadn't come and if anything, feeling his son's ejaculate on the inside only made him pick up the pace again.
Thankfully for Daniel and his sensitive instrument, Bruno didn't last much longer as he groaned, his head pointing upwards. The white, sticky release coated the entirety of Daniel's stomach and torso, leaving little space untarnished.
Both of the men remained in their positions - catching their breath. The first one to move was Bruno. He didn't dislodge the dick from his asshole, but instead leaned forward and laid his head on Daniel's shoulder.
"Do you believe me now? Was this enough? Do you finally believe when I say that I won't leave you?" Bruno asked, his hands gripping at the fabric of the bed.
"I... I believe you, dad. I believe you, don't worry." Daniel reassured him.
The young man himself wasn't sure if he had actually meant what he had said, but his mind was too hazy from what had just happened to really think about that. Instead, he focused on comforting the man laying on him, wrapping his arms around his body.
"Good..." Bruno concluded as he let himself relax.
Daniel could swear he felt a few wet splotches on his shoulder. And Bruno's body shuddered a few times, as if in a quiet sob. But he didn't ask. He didn't want to open this topic anymore - not today. They'd have time... they'd have a lot of time to discuss it all.
---
The ceremony had been short and sweet. The late August sun illuminated Peter's house beautifully, the last of the guests slowly leaving. The wedding 'reception' was a simple get-together in Peter's dining room. Very easy and most importantly: very cheap. Lucian had offered to chip in with his pay - however meager it may have been. But Peter had refused, claiming to not want to strain his brother's wallet. While Lucian was aware this was the prudent choice, it still pained him to not be able to help. If only he had not chosen this path in life... Maybe he could've given Peter a luxurious ceremony instead.
He stood right next to the front door, waving the last of the guests off, a warm smile to-go. On the opposite side, Maggy and Peter were linked at the hip, positively beaming as newlyweds. Even the omnipresent tiredness seemed to have disappeared, leaving his eyes shiny and youthful. Like someone barely into his twenties should look like.
All of the attendants had been understanding of their choice of 'venue' and gladly took it with stride. Not that there were a lot of people invited to begin with. Even the wedding gifts were mostly practical rather than ornamental. Truly, everyone seemed to understand the assignment.
The door closed firmly, leaving only Lucian and the lovely couple inside. Before anyone could say anything, the blonde quickly walked over to the table and started tidying up. If he couldn't help with money, he'd help with labor. Besides, Maggy's baby bump was a lot more prominent now, so he wanted to make sure she didn't have to lift a finger.
"Today was amazing." Peter walked in beside him, starting to clean as well.
"Uh, uh, uh." tutted Lucian and ushered his brother off gently.
"Whoa, whoa, what?" Peter asked, chuckling and putting his hands up.
"No work allowed, mister. It's your wedding today. Go celebrate. The night is still young and so are you and your lovely wife." Lucian pointed at his chin, before pushing his hand up and flicking over his nose.
"Yes, sir. Will do, sir." Peter laughed and turned on his heel.
Maggy had already gone upstairs, so he simply followed in her footsteps. Soon, hushed giggles and yelps came from above. Lucian couldn't help but smile. His hands moved even quicker, determined to get it all cleaned up as soon as possible and then go to bed. As happy as today had been, it had also been extremely tiring.
His second-hand dress shirt was a little bit obnoxious - limiting his movement and generally scratching at all ends - but it looked good, so he'd survive. Not like he'd be wearing it much longer. But he was glad he had fancied up as much as he could. Not often would he get the chance to be a best man to his beloved brother.
Then a knock came. Quiet and hesitant. Barely audible too. If anyone had still been in here, it would've been drowned out by simple conversation.
"Be right there!" Lucian called out as he deposited the last of the dishes into the sink, hastily wiping his hands on a towel.
A clearing of his throat, a single combing through his hair and a little adjusting of his collar - he looked presentable again. Putting his hand on the handle, he pressed down and opened the entrance.
"Yes? How may I help..." he trailed off, a bit stunned at what he saw.
Not what - who.
Two pairs of eyes met. A shocked celestial cobalt met an excited, yet hesitant emerald. Brown hair twirled in the air for a brief moment as the visitor put his hands around Lucian's shoulders, pulling him close.
"I'm so happy to see you're alive and well." said the unexpected guest.
Lucian stood there, stunned. How was he supposed to react? He had already begun making peace with never seeing his brother again. So what was Daniel doing here? What about the deal? And Bruno? And... and Lucian just hugged him back. As powerfully as he could. The difference in bulk was still the same, Daniel dwarfing Lucian's physique, but this time it felt so right. Like everything was as it should.
"Danny... Baby bro... What are you doing here?" Lucian choked out of himself.
Memories came flooding back, and so did regrets. And so much pain and despair and longing... Tears were already falling from Lucian's cheeks, however his mind was still not caught up. He simply squeezed even tighter, as if letting go meant letting go forever. And maybe it did. That thought alone turned the grip even more crushing.
"I heard Pete was getting married today... I really wanted to be there with him. So I came." Daniel said with a knowing smile.
"But the deal! Does that mean it's off?" Lucian said, looking out of the door in panic.
"No, the deal is still on. You and Pete will both be left alone, don't worry. I just... I managed to negotiate one last visit out of him." Daniel replied, his face dropping a bit.
"Negotiate how? I know you're Bruno's favorite and all, but I doubt he'd just do this for nothing in return." Lucian said, skeptical.
"Oh, it's not for free, I assure you. But that's between him and me. I can assure you, you're not involved in whatever we agreed on." Daniel nipped that line of questioning in the bud.
But there was something more important on Lucian's mind. Words that pressed on the inside of his throat, clawing their way out - firmly lodged in his vocal cords until he finally spat them out with a strangled sob.
"I'm sorry, Danny. I'm so sorry for what I've done to you. It's because of me that we can't see each other anymore. That you can't see Peter anymore. I was stupid and stubborn and cruel and... I'm just so sorry." his tears started flowing again.
"It's okay. It's all okay. What's done is done. And I can't even blame you for most of what's happened. If I had had the balls to speak with dad sooner, you might have been better off. If I had actually stood up for you, I could've made your life so much happier. And Peter's." it was Daniel's turn to weep now.
They just remained standing in the entrance hall, front door fully open, not caring about anything around them. Only when a third source of sobs joined their circle did they break their embrace temporarily.
"Danny?..." Peter said in disbelief, his cheeks already adorned with glistening droplets.
"Pete! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations on getting married, big bro. I wanted to stop by and wi-" Daniel was saying, but got tackled by the other brown-haired man in the room.
"Danny! You came back? You... How? Bruno made it clear, no? You were not to meet us anymore." Peter said, enveloping Daniel firmly with his arms.
"I... How could I not come visit my big brother's wedding? I had to at least see you. All proper and cleaned up... You look like an entirely different person... But yes, I wasn't supposed to see you anymore. Still shouldn't. But I made an exception. For you." Daniel said, patting his brother on the back and returning the hug.
"Then why are you still out there? Come on in. We have to make the best out of this... This last time." Peter said as he pulled on Daniel.
But his brother didn't budge.
"I can't, Pete. I promised Bruno I wouldn't stay long or go inside. And yes, he is here - making sure I keep my word." Daniel said somberly and shook himself out of Peter's hold.
Both older brothers went slightly pale at Bruno's name being mentioned. Lucian's hands clenched into fists, while Peter's legs started shaking and his head twitched on occasion.
"He's... he's here? Where?" said Lucian, stepping in front of Peter as a protective measure.
"He's not here here, but he's waiting further down the road in his car. He didn't want to impose... at least that's what he told me." Daniel offered them a kind, slightly reassuring smile.
The atmosphere eased off a bit, but a certain anxious edge remained present. Bruno was there - again. Not in person, but in spirit, looming over their heads, waiting for a chance to swoop down.
"How did you even know I was getting married today, Daniel? This wedding was pretty rash of a decision. I'm certain I hadn't told you about it. Or rather, it was already too late to tell you when I had a date." Peter said, sadness filling his words.
"I have my ways of knowing... Truly, I've learned a lot since you left, Lucian." Daniel said dryly.
Lucian had taken a breath to respond, but Daniel was continuing.
"Like I still wake up every morning and have to process what all has happened. What all we've lost... And I now see that I am more alike to father than I had initially realized... I am his blood, after all, so it makes sense." Daniel exuded a brief chuckle, devoid of any actual humor.
"Alike how?" Lucian asked.
"Too much alike, that's how. But... but part of me is also glad... Anyways, that is not what you want to hear, is it? After all, I came here on a happy occasion." Daniel plastered a very obviously fake smile onto his face.
"Well, I... I am glad you came, Daniel." Peter chimed in.
"Yeah... it's been lonely without you, baby bro. You can't imagine how happy we are to see you." Lucian reciprocated the warmth building between them.
"I hope the wife is doing well, Pete." Daniel said, looking at his newlywed brother.
"She is indeed, but you know, she's..." - Peter hesitated - "she's tired, yeah. Been a long day for us both."
Lucian threw a questioning glance his way, before turning to Daniel himself.
"I hope you're alright too? If you ever have trouble, then come to us. Fuck the agreement or deal or whatever bullshit." Lucian said.
"I appreciate the offer, bro... But I'll be alright. I have my ways, trust me. And they seem pretty foolproof." Daniel said, yet his smile was still fake.
A car horn blared from somewhere in the darkness. It was far away, yet seemed impossibly close. Daniel looked its way and gave his brothers a sad, final smile.
"It's been... It's been a pleasure seeing you two again... And an even greater honor being your brother, truly... I hope... I'll do everything in my power to maybe get some more contact in the future. Just please, don't forget about me." Daniel sniffled with a pathetic whine, before turning on his heel and walking away.
Lucian attempted to capture his likeness into memory. Except for his clothes, he looked the same as always. Even bulkier, honestly. The outfit he was wearing was clearly formal. He must've known he'd only be here for a short while, yet he had still dressed the part. A jet black set, fully elegant: tuxedo, polished shoes, bow-tie, everything. Even a ring Lucian had never seen him wear: it looked like a thick tungsten band with a big jade stone lodged in the middle. He certainly put himself into his Sunday's best.
"Daniel!" Peter said as he hugged his brother from behind.
The two men stopped on the pavement leading to the house, but only briefly. The cool air nipped at Lucian coming from outside - he stayed watching from the inside. Despite the unexpected reunion and tragic farewell, he was... happy. It was a very sour happiness, but happiness nonetheless. Daniel slowly disentangled himself from Peter's hug and the two embraced properly. Painstakingly long. It was clear they didn't want to let go just yet. But another blare of the horn cut through the night. This time, Daniel took running towards the direction.
And so there was just the two of them again. Lucian slowly walked up to Peter, gently nudging him inside. Both of their eyes were glossy and the skin around them puffy. But the cold helped cool down the hot trails on their cheeks. The house was incredibly warm and inviting in comparison to the outside, but after this visit? It seemed oddly empty. What had been a home to celebration turned to something more dreary. A heavy melancholy washed over them.
"You didn't tell Danny about your baby?" Lucian asked.
"Yeah... I didn't... He shouldn't have to feel even worse than he does. Plus, when he comes back... if he comes back again - he'll have a surprise!" Peter said with one of the most pitiable smiles imaginable.
"I'm sure he will, Pete. He will." Lucian reassured - unsure if himself or his brother.
"Yeah... yeah, he will. He's smart like that, our baby bro." Peter says, giving one last sniffle.
"I'm sorry your wedding night had to end like this, Pete. It was supposed to be a happy day for you."
"And it is! Don't worry, Maggy's out like a light. She's tired these days. And I couldn't have hoped for a better wedding gift than a visit from my brother... and my other brother right here beside me." Peter said, looking deep into the blonde's eyes.
Lucian reciprocated the appreciation, embracing Peter. The two of them stayed there, in the entrance hall, right in front of the door where their brother had paid them a most appreciated visit.
And something told them that they'd be fine. They'd live their lives somehow. Free from their past. Whether the same could be said for Daniel? They could only hope.
---
Here is a section on basic information (like biometrics, appearance, etc.) on some of the characters! I hope these can maybe help you imagine these characters better if you had trouble earlier, or maybe if you need more specific information. Note that I've tried to stick to these when writing, but some might be more fluctuating in the story (I apologize if that's the case. I sometimes lose track of what all I've described characters as in all the writing I've done for this story).
Bruno Greene
Height: 197 cm / 6' 5.5"
Zodiac: Libra Sun, Aquarius Moon, Gemini Rising
Appearance: Muscular and athletic, overall pretty bulky. Very thick neck and broad shoulders - sharp, angular jawline. Prominent veins bulging through skin, face is starting to show deep wrinkles. Occasional tan present - primarily on face and hands. Darker green eyes, dark brown hair. Hair kept short - prefers a buzzcut, but will sometimes let it grow out a bit, but never neck-length or longer. Has a dense full beard. Both his facial and body hair is wiry and darker. He is hairy all over: chest, back, arms, legs, neck, etc. Especially hairy around the pubic area and armpits. Has a very wide stance and walking style. Cuts his nails meticulously and always keeps them perfectly clean. Has callouses on his palms, but they've softened a lot over the years. Showers everyday - depending on the day, sometimes twice. Has quite long and calloused feet. His scrotum is about average size, low-hanging. His dick is around 5.5" long flaccid, 8.5" long erect. Its girth goes from 5.5" to 6.5". His penis is uncircumcised and has a brownish head, prominent veins along the shaft.
Lucian Greene
Height: 187 cm / 6' 1.5"
Zodiac: Gemini Sun, Gemini Moon, Gemini Rising
Appearance: Lanky and slim. Has no real muscle definition or muscle mass. Fairer skin, sensitive to sun, pretty soft. Pointy chin, sharp jaw. His blue eyes are striking, his blonde hair adding into it. Usually a big slob, so not very keen on personal hygiene or grooming. Is hairless all over and the little facial and body hair he does get he shaves off about once a month. This applies to his pubes as well. Pretty average all over, except for the face, which most would describe as quite handsome. Dick uncircumcised, pink glans. A bit smaller scrotum. His dick goes from 4" flaccid to 6" erect in length. Girth-wise, it's from 4" flaccid to 4.5" erect.
Peter Greene
Height: 179 cm / 5' 10.5"
Zodiac: Gemini Sun, Libra Moon, Libra Rising
Appearance: Constantly tired and haggard. Looks a bit sickly, but his demeanor speaks of great vitality. Has big bags under his eyes and a generally sadder disposition. The dark circles frame his molten bronze irises and complement his brown hair. A bit lanky, but due to constant manual labor, he has muscles. His hair is usually unruly and his clothes cheaper and oftentimes damaged. Tries to wash everyday, but oftentimes falls asleep right after coming home and doesn't have time to in the morning. Has very slender and sensitive hands with trimmed, but dirty fingernails. He has a very thin coating of body hair all around, most thick around his pubic area and chest. His scrotum is pretty huge and low-hanging. His dick is uncircumcised and goes from 5" to 6.25" in length. In girth, it goes from 4" to 4.5".
Daniel Greene
Height: 190 cm / 6' 3"
Zodiac: Gemini Sun, Aquarius Moon, Aquarius Rising
Appearance: Very stocky and bulky, similarly to Bruno. Has a footballer player's physique and his strength. Very wide jaw and sharp edges to his face. Tries to keep in shape and keep his hygiene up tip-top. He easily sweats and wears a lot of deodorant to prevent the smell. He doesn't really use cosmetics or any other beauty products, but he meticulously cleans his face every morning and evening. He also showers daily. His hair tends to be pretty short, since he doesn't like it getting in his face. He has brown hair and green eyes. His body is covered in body hair - and while he himself likes it, he doesn't really like when people look at it and attempts to cover it. His pubes are thick and in them is nestled an average sized scrotum, close to the body. He is uncircumcised and goes from 6" to 8.75" in length. Girth-wise, he goes from 5" to 6".
Lilly Greene (based on how the Greene family last saw her)
Height: 175 cm / 5' 9"
Zodiac: Aquarius Sun, Aries Moon, Aries Rising
Appearance: Long blonde hair - reaches below her shoulder blades. Her eyes are piercing and extremely blue. Her figure is pretty slim and hourglass-shaped. She oftentimes wears dresses and other clothes that accentuate her silhouette. She walks very boldly and her arms, albeit weak, gesticulate very passionately. No knife is match for how sharp her manicured french tips are.
Frank Peterson
Height: 181 cm / 5' 11"
Zodiac: Aries Sun, Leo Moon, Sagittarius Rising
Appearance: Stocky and a bit on the chubby side. His hairline is barely existent as his brown hair has retreated fully to the backside of his scalp. His green iris is in an eye that is way too small for his head. His body would look a lot better if he took care of himself - his pits are stained and his teeth yellow from smoking. His nails are bitten down to little nubs and he has a weird aroma to him - thick swats of cologne, old smoke and body odor. He has a beard and hair on his body in the form of a treasure trail directly to the bush around his dick. His instrument is circumcised and about 3.75" to 4.25" long - no big difference between its flaccid and erect length. Girth-wise it is consistently about 3.5".
Richard Samson
Height: 197 cm / 6' 5.5"
Zodiac: Capricorn Sun, Leo Moon, Leo Rising
Appearance: Very conventionally attractive. Short blonde hair, blue eyes, pearly white teeth, tall figure, prominent abs, clean-shaven body and face, bulging biceps, thick thighs. He takes good care of himself too to maintain said image. Overall, he is very clean and uses many products to keep up this image. Even after work he always showers first when he gets home. He is circumcised and is about 5.5" long flaccid, 6.25" erect. Speaking of his penis, its girth ranges from 4.25" to 5".
Bob Johnson
Height: 184 cm / 6' .5"
Zodiac: Cancer Sun, Aquarius Moon, Aquarius Rising
Appearance: Long black hair, greasy like his skin, falls down onto his narrower shoulders. He constantly goes from periods of looking emaciated to chubby and then back - weight loss and gain extreme due to his very unhealthy and erratic way of eating. Permanently hunched over and angled to the side. He has a certain funk around him and while he does shower, it is nowhere near regular. Due to long working hours, his eyes - dark brown - tend to have very prominent dark circles around them. His face is very tired and skin very pale. He has a hairy chest and arms. His groin is also fuzzy, nestled in it a circumcised dick about 4" long flaccid and up to 5.75" erect. Its girth is pretty stable at around 4.5".
---
Now, this is the section where I yap about the story a bit and what my plans were for it and what I tried to tell with it, etc. etc. If you're not interested in this, I will not blame you. I'm not sure I would be either - so feel free to click off or scroll ahead to the ending author's notes. If you're still here - let me tell you what all this story entailed for me.
First of all, one of my biggest guidelines to telling this story was actually Tarot. Specifically the suit of swords. The reason why the story (not including this bonus) is ten chapters has its roots there - each chapter follows one of the ten pip cards of the suit. From ace to ten. And I tried to weave my story around them too.
Starting with the ace, we get some general "gift of knowledge", specifically to Lucian. This starts the whole plot off and is, technically speaking, a huge coincidence he got to see that damning clip of Bruno's. In a way it put the sword into Lucian's hand so that he can fight for himself. And since swords are a very intellectual suit, it is a battle of wits (as much as we can call what Lucian did 'witty'). Now, considering what ten of swords is like, this was always bound to fail, and my plan from the very start was for a tragic ending.
Then we go to two of swords. where we get presented with a dilemma of choice. A fork in the road. But we also get a sense of solitude - of shutting other people out. This is quite clear in Lucian's behavior, but also in Bruno's. Both of these characters were presented with a big choice (mainly regarding the blackmail) and set themselves on a road to the ending.
Three of swords is a sorrowful, grieving card. One of heartbreak and pain. This is mainly true for Daniel, who found out about the entire affair and this sent him on a spiral for the majority of the story. But, similarly to how I oftentimes interpret three of swords, this pain isn't necessarily purely bad. It can later on become a weapon for the heart, strengthening it.
With four of swords we get a bit of a breather. It allows the characters (namely Daniel) to relax a bit. We can see this happen in Peter's presence and he is sort of the safe space for the brothers. But another side of four of swords comes into play when Bruno comes into play. The fact that he himself is already put to rest - he has put himself into a tomb which he cannot escape from. Mainly his complete obsession with Daniel. He is not happy when he finds out about Daniel being out, and sends Lucian to fetch him. He used this absence to manipulate the camera's batteries, by the by, and to call Bobby over. In one of the chapters, Lucian's computer is described as "slow" or "laggy" - that is a VERY obscure hint to it being tampered with already.
Defeat is the primary theme of five of swords. And we get to see that in how Lucian has 'bested' Daniel by tormenting him, crushing his poor soul even more than it already had been. It is also the chapter where Lucian first suspects Bruno's feelings - which is a signal of his defeat, having fallen for that ruse fully. But Bruno is also part of that defeat - he had already been defeated a long time ago. While he is a villain and obvious antagonist, he himself is fully dependent on Daniel and is practically at his mercy (as we can see in the little whisper section). Also, while Bruno was having coitus with Lucian, he commented on the smell - mainly while his face (and therefore nose) was pressed directly into the couch cushion where Daniel had sat. So he was imagining Daniel there.
Pip six is a rather complex card, but I mainly chose to develop the notions of a very fragile transition period into it. Where Daniel basically sees that the old dynamic is no longer possible to restore fully, and so he needs to get used to the changes brought about by Lucian and Bruno. It is also important to note that the boat in the card can very easily sink if a sword is removed and lets the water in. This refers to the fragility of the entire arrangement (which eventually bursts in a later chapter). Lucian has also sunk his own boat in this chapter by getting into the illusion of Bruno liking him. Also, Bruno commented on Lucian's dick in this chapter - it was not Lucian's, but still imaginary Daniel's, as he had deliberately chosen a neighboring urinal earlier in the chapter to spy on it. He has also 'moved on' to the active step of his strategy against Lucian via the fake diary.
The seventh card is one of betrayal and sabotage - but oftentimes also stupidity and foolish actions. This is also the chapter where Lucian starts doing his most deranged stuff. Like sleeping with all of Bruno's 'friends' because he had fully deluded himself into thinking he has the upper hand. Blocking Peter was also an absolutely stupid action. Truly, this chapter I tried to make Lucian's Icarus analogy shine the brightest. There is also a sense of treachery involved in the posse taking advantage of Lucian, letting him think he's in control. But the betrayal part refers to Daniel as well. He 'betrays' the bond he has with his father, because it is naturally eroding due to the affair. But he is also betrayed by Lucian with his relentless teasing and taunting.
Number eight tells us a story about isolation and limits - hopelessness, potentially. It can also be interpreted as being willingly helpless or choosing not to use one's opportunities. Now, this is present in how Daniel could address the elephant in the room, but chooses not to. He simply stays in his precarious position so that he doesn't touch the status quo. He even chooses to distance himself and therefore limit his immediate options even more - even if it was to get a clearer sight on the situation from Peter. But we can also see Bruno's limits. How without Daniel, he becomes helpless. Just going to work and coming back from work, no real goal or aspiration. He is firmly bound to Daniel by his own volition, some would say. And Lucian truly sees how helpless he himself is against Bruno, but chooses to ignore it and delude himself further. Also, Bruno talking about his self-delusions are a hint to all he had been deluding himself into in the entirety of the story.
Through nine of swords comes the message of anxiety, despair and depression. Sleepless nights. Even when Daniel tries to fight back, he can't escape his horrid mind. He's stuck in between a rock and a hard place. This entire situation is extremely painful for him. To the point where he just runs off crying when he sees it with his own eyes - the nightmare realized. And that witnessing? That's Bruno's nightmare come to life. His one person in the world he trusts is running away crying. That entire conversation they have is just dealing with what the card represents. And Lucian is about to experience what the card represents in the consequences.
Finally, we finish with ten. An utter defeat, fully crushed. This manifests threefold - Lucian's defeat by Bruno, the defeat of the brother's bond (between Daniel and his brothers) and how Bruno is technically already defeated in the story. The last part I'll elaborate on - as I have said numerous times in here, Bruno is fully dependent on Daniel. He would do almost everything in his power to keep Daniel at his side, figuratively giving him the sword to stab him with (like he did literally in the penultimate proper chapter). With these three defeats in mind, I implore you to also think about the fact that some sources claim this card showcases a 'defeat because of one's own actions' or 'choosing to stay defeated'. I will let you decide how much you think that applies to the characters. But this card ending it all - as well as the overall negativity of the sword suite - was the reason why I made the story so incredibly tragic.
But the characters are tarot inspired too. Namely, the Greene's are the court cards of the sword suit. But they're also based on human responses to trauma (which I'm not sure how scientifically backed these are, but at least two of these are common knowledge, and I find a lot of stuff on 'the four f's', so I decided to base the characters off of them)
Bruno himself represents the King of Swords. Someone who commands authority and uses his wits to go about life. Sure, he has resources and strength and connections, but building those up and using them to get where he is requires some form of strategic thinking. The one area he sucks at? He is not good with emotions. Sure, he can manipulate those of others, but he himself cannot deal with himself. His anger outbursts are not controlled, his obsession with Daniel is not controlled, his grief and regret over Lilly is not controlled, it's all bad. As far as trauma responses go, he is the trauma itself. He was written to be an inevitable, unbeatable force that leaves behind pain. Adding his backstory was actually a last minute decision on my part - I just wanted to give a bit of reasoning behind his actions without making him any less of a villain. Like the fact he had never really known what being loved felt like (his parents and environment weren't the best at that) and thus that opened the way for Lilly to manipulate him fully. At least that is what he told Daniel. Whether that is true or not? I'll leave that up to you to decide on.
Peter is the Queen of Swords. He is able to make rational choices, give clear advice, has a pretty sober sight of the situation. Most of this is from a rather sorrowful past. He himself represents both Flight and Freeze responses. He got out there as fast as he could, distancing himself because he just couldn't take being around Bruno. I tried to supply ample evidence as to why.
Lucian is the Knight of Swords. He is very impulsive and rash and quite out of control. Yet he still tries his best to fight, to defend himself, to act. Rashly, but nevertheless tries. It is a very amateurish act compared to the king's prowess of wielding his wits. And that is why he was doomed to fail from the beginning. The spirit is there, but the execution is totally flawed. He was also inspired by Icarus and his story, which I don't think I have to explain further. And when it comes to trauma responses, he is very obviously Fight. He sees a challenge and an opportunity in everything Bruno does - usually for the worst.
And finally - Daniel. He's the Page of Swords. Very much an untapped and unformed force of the Swords suit. He is supposed to have a lot of potential with his wits, a lot of curiosity and a natural affinity to intelligence. Which I didn't focus too much on portraying, but I did leave a little hint here or there. Primarily though, he is very malleable. It is up in the air where his character will go. Now, some people have told me that he apparently skews very much to Bruno, but my intent was to portray him as a big fence-sitter. Even at the very end he couldn't decide what he wanted to do. And part of the reason he can't just let Bruno go is because he represents the Fawn response. So, if anything, he Stockholmed himself into liking Bruno one way or another.
All in all, this was supposed to be a story that showcases facets and aspects of abuse. How abusers can come to be, how acting out on abuse can sadly bring more harm than help or just what effects abuse can have on people. Whether I managed to do this or not, I'll leave up to you to decide. The way the sex scenes are portrayed is also reflecting the fact that this is a dark and sad story, so they're not written very titillatingly or to arouse. But I did try to show what the characters' relationships are like via sex. Especially contrasting Bruno with Lucian and the Bruno with Daniel.
When it comes to tarot, I mainly used the information I knew from reading books or what my friends told me or videos on the internet. Of course, you might have different experience with the cards and maybe don't see the implementation. I fully accept your own understanding of the cards.
Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading! I genuinely can't express my gratitude enough to you all for being on this journey with me! Please, if you have any questions or requests or anything, send them my way in the comments (or if you're shy you can contact me in my DMs on social media). I apologize to everyone whose scenario wasn't included, but I received so many in various comments and messages that I couldn't include all of them. I still tried to at least include their spirit or use them in a changed manner!
Also, just as a side note: these scenarios were not planned from the beginning and therefore might seem a bit off. So if they feel odd or non-fitting to you, feel free to disregard them as non-canon.
Thank you again for reading! Hopefully you can leave some feedback so I know what I did right and where I can still improve.
