Calm before the Storm
Daniel arrived at Peter's house. He parked the car on the sidewalk as he stepped out. He had been visiting this place regularly, about once every half a year, ever since Peter had moved. Yet coming over never ceased being a joy. It was too bad he came here for a less-than-happy reason. He locked the car up and made his way to the front door. A tentative knock. Silence. Footsteps. And then the house opened up to him. Right there, in front of him, stood his beloved brother. Oh, how he missed seeing him every day. Unlike with Lucian, Daniel never really got to spend a lot of time with Peter anymore. But he managed somehow - he had to. His brother would not have survived any longer under Bruno.
Peter did not hesitate before pulling Daniel in for a hug. Tight and warm, full of love. And topped off with a noogie to the top of Daniel's head.
"Missed you, big bro." Daniel said as he laughed.
"Missed you too, baby bro. Come in." Peter said and released his brother from his grasp.
Despite only having been here a few times, Daniel already knew the layout quite accurately. He navigated himself to the living room and sat down on the couch. The building itself was not nearly as big as his dad's new house, but it was nevertheless charming. Very cozy and inviting. The decor was simple and a lot of the furniture second-hand. Peter didn't really have much money to throw around, but he made ends meet reliably.
"So, what's up?" Peter said, sitting down next to Daniel.
"Well... that's a good question. I don't really know where to start."
Daniel truly was stumped. He knew he wanted to tell Peter about what he witnessed, but how was he to go about it? It wasn't exactly a common topic to discuss. This hesitation of his started taking minutes as Peter decided to break the silence.
"Y'know what? I'm gonna grab us something to drink. You think of what you want to say, okay? Even if you don't tell me anything today, that's fine. Always happy over a visit from you." he said, grabbing Daniel's shoulder for a second before standing up and walking towards the kitchen.
The younger brother smiled. Peter was always so nice. Despite his eye-bags and obvious lack of sleep, he was so loving. Patient, kind, quiet, responsible. Daniel could go on and on over how much he liked being around him. If only Lucian could be the same... A frown started forming on his lips. He had to focus. This was a serious matter that required urgent attention.
"So, you come up with what you wanted to say?" Peter shouted from the kitchen.
He quickly entered the living room again, placing a can of orange soda in front of Daniel and taking one coke can for himself. He opened it and drank a mighty gulp before setting it down on the table, waiting for Daniel to finally speak up.
"So... do you... what do you think about Lucian and our dad?" Daniel started hesitantly.
"Your dad." Peter corrected him.
"Ah, yes, sorry."
"Well... what do you mean what do I think? Love Lucian to bits, but he's a stubborn ass most of the time. A bit stupid too. But he's got his heart in the right place... at least I hope he does." Peter contemplated.
"I meant more like... what do you think of the relationship between them?" Daniel corrected himself.
"Oh? Huh. Well, what is there to say? Bruno hates Lucian's guts. Will probably kill him one day if he doesn't get the fuck out of there. Speaking of, does he still not plan on moving out? He's had years to do so now, for fuck's sake."
"I... I don't think he has any plans on leaving anytime soon, no. But, back to the point - I think... I think Lucian is a bit off this summer. It's... it's different around the house compared to the other years." Daniel said pensively, eyes dull and sad.
"Hmmm, you sure it's not just the new house talking? Or maybe you being in college? That could change things." Peter suggested.
"I don't think that's it, big bro. It's just... they're both so weird. Both Lucian and my dad. It's like they're hiding something, you know? And they do really out of pocket stuff, like Lucian pulling me into his lap during movie night, or dad buying me a new laptop out of nowhere. I... I don't really know what to make of it." Daniel said, deep in thought.
Peter straightened his back a bit and exhaled loudly. He closed his eyes and hummed contemplatively. He then turned to Daniel, taking another sip of his drink.
"Do you have any idea what they could be hiding?" Peter asked, his voice suspiciously evened out.
"I... Look, I found something out yesterday, and... you might think I'm crazy, or that I'm making this shit up, but I'm not, I swear. I heard it and I-" Daniel started rambling.
"It's okay, Daniel. I'll always believe you. I know you aren't the type of guy to lie. Especially not about something serious. So speak, please." Peter said, slinging his arm around Daniel's shoulders.
"Well... I... I might've heard dad and Lucian fucking yesterday... like proper fucking, skin on skin." Daniel said, a revolting feeling rising in his stomach again.
"You mean like... sex? They were having sex? With each other?" Peter said dumbfounded.
"Yes... I didn't see them, but I heard them. It was their voices, I'm sure. And I heard dad's dirty talk too..." Daniel said, a bit of bile creeping up his esophagus.
"Holy..." Peter said, slumping fully into the couch.
Daniel didn't say anything to Peter, simply took his soda can and opened it, trying to drink down the disgusting sensation in his throat. Sitting there, unsure of what else to say, Daniel decided to break the silence this time around.
"Do you think... do you think dad forced him? Do you think that's why Lucian is acting this weird?" Daniel asked, scared of the answer he was about to receive.
"I don't think so, Danny. Something tells me that Lucian is actually the one who initiated this." Peter said, staring blankly into a wall.
"Huh? Why would you think that? And why would dad even go along with something like that?" Daniel said, bewildered.
"Ask him, Daniel. That's all I have to say to that..." Peter said as he looked away, face turned away from Daniel fully.
Daniel's hands balled up into fists on his thighs, knuckles white. He bit his lip, chewed on it a bit to abate his nerves. But it didn't help.
"Do you think he'll actually tell me something? He's been saying weird stuff. Like when he had a conversation with me about a roommate who jerked off to a photo of him. Or when he got oddly defensive when I asked him about dad. He's... I'm not sure he's going to answer no matter what I ask him." Daniel struggled out of himself quietly.
"I don't know, Danny. But I think hearing what's happening from him would be best. And as much as I'd love to help more, I... I don't think I'll ever come near Bruno or his house again." Peter said, voice cracking at the last sentence.
An apologetic look formed on Daniel's face as he scooted over to his brother. He wanted to ask Peter if he knew more than he let on. If he knew what was actually going on. But Daniel already knew the answer to those questions from Peter's behavior alone. Daniel also knew how painful this entire conversation must've been for Peter already.
"I'm sorry. I don't like bringing up Bruno with you, Pete. But... But this is serious."
"I know. It's okay, baby bro. I'm glad to help, just not... not with Bruno." Peter said, face perking up a bit before falling again.
Daniel nodded in understanding as he rubbed Peter's shoulder comfortingly, his other hand over his brother's knee. After a beat of silence, a question.
"Do you... do you still have nightmares?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah... they're not as common, but they're not completely gone. It's a lot better than when I lived with you guys. And it's all thanks to you that I now get to have a place of my own." Peter said, smiling at Daniel.
"I didn't do anything, Pete. It's all you. You pay off this house and you work hard to be independent."
"Nuh-uh, don't try that on me. I know you begged Bruno to get me somewhere to be. Somewhere away from him. Bruno obliged, of course - he hated my guts only a bit less than Lucian's. But had it not been for you, he would've just kicked me out on the street. This way, he got me a pretty neat deal on a pretty neat house. In a decade or two I might actually pay it off in full. Not a lot of people could brag with owning property, you know?"
"I only did the bare minimum. You yourself are carrying this whole place."
The two brothers smiled at each other. Daniel's a soft, closed-lipped smile. Peter's a toothy, wide grin. Daniel could see where one of Peter's teeth was replaced by a prosthetic. That was back from the time when Bruno knocked Peter's actual tooth out and Daniel had to beg him for a replacement for his brother. It was only slightly off-color, but still noticeable.
And that is where the two brothers started swaying away from the topic of Bruno. They talked about Peter's current girlfriend and his plans with her. They talked about Daniel's college life and his academic performance. Peter complained about his annoying co-workers and disgusting working hours. Daniel briefly ranted about his sleazy professors and unreal assignments. They both got lost in the conversation - a real conversation. Something that they both relished in.
"-and that's how I got a raise." Peter finished his story.
Daniel clapped with comical seriousness.
"Bravo, sir Peter, bravo. Masterful gambit." he said.
Not being able to keep up the facade, he burst out laughing, and so did Peter. They were both a giggling mess, their drinks empty, their limbs loosely flopped over the couch. For a second, it was as if they had no problems. No clandestine affair to discuss.
As the sun shed an orange hue over Peter's living room, he spoke up.
"Are you staying over? My couch is pretty cozy, so I don't mind giving you the bed. Or we could share it, it's a queen's after all." Peter suggested.
"Oh, no-no. I shouldn't. I couldn't impose on you like that. Besides, I only left a note at home saying I'd be visiting a friend, not sleeping over. They might get worried." Daniel said, putting his hands up.
"Ah... worried... Well, if you change your mind, let me know. My door is always open to you, baby bro. Hell, you could move in and I wouldn't mind. You I don't mind at all..." Peter said, lips pressed tight.
"Thanks, bro. That means a lot. You know, don't tell anyone, but you were always my favorite brother." Daniel said in a mockingly conspiratorial whisper.
"Oh! You flatter me so. Want to know a secret as well? You were my favorite brother too." Peter grinned.
The two giggled for another round. Their eyes smiling again, full of warmth and light.
"You know, that reminds me of when we went swimming together at the lake. You know, when I was still in kindergarten?" Daniel started reminiscing.
"Where I didn't wear sunscreen and you refused to wear it as well, because you wanted to be like your 'cool big bro'?" Peter continued.
"Yeah... we both got sunburned so much, it hurt for days without end. But I was so happy. Because I had a sunburn just like my bro!" Daniel laughed.
"Yeah. And then Lucian laughed at us for being red all over. Meanwhile that little fucker got bitten by an otter for trying to mess with it. He cried for a good hour afterwards."
"I remember, yeah! And then mom promised the two of us ice cream if we didn't scratch ourselves. Lucian got his portion automatically, probably to shut him up." Daniel giggled.
"Yeah... mom..." Peter said wistfully, happiness seeping away again slowly.
"Mh-hm... and dad was so nice too. He bought us two crab key-chains, remember? Because with our baked skin we were his 'little crabs'... I still have mine stashed away." Daniel continued his trip down memory lane, his smile waning too.
Peter didn't respond with words, just grunted in acknowledgment.
"Do you... do you think dad was always like this? He used to be so... nice. Like yeah, he yelled at us sometimes, but it wasn't that bad... I can't remember getting hit at all while mom was still with us..."
"I don't know, Daniel. And frankly, I don't care. That key-chain does not erase the many memories of getting my backside lashed by his belt... and my face too. Or seeing my stuff burnt right in front of my eyes. 'Contraband', as he called it - just because he forbade me from having it! Hell, I didn't stop wetting the bed until I was sixteen! Whose fault do you think that is?" Peter uttered out of himself bitterly.
"I... I know he hurt you and Lucian a lot. But... but what if he could become the old dad again? Y'know, giggly and fun. Stern, sure, but just as reliable and fair..." Daniel said sheepishly.
"Daniel. Danny. Please, listen to yourself. He hit you too, don't forget that. I know you remember. Sure, he stopped when he found out you were his, but that doesn't change the fact you suffered with us for too long. I know you're an optimist and an idealist, but Bruno will never change." Peter said, forcing Daniel to look into his eyes as he grabbed his chin.
"But... but he's changed once, so why not again? He's really nice to me, so maybe he'll come around to you two too..." Daniel said, eyes wandering away.
"Daniel... you're just saying that because he's your dad. Maybe he never changed, Danny. Ever thought of that? Maybe he just showed his true colors." Peter said more sternly this time.
"I just... maybe he's just hurt. Maybe mom just hurt him too much and he's just lashing out. Maybe he needs to heal."
"Please, listen to yourself! Okay, he's hurt, so? Hurt for more than ten years? Hurt to the point of hurting the children under his care? Daniel, I know you like to see the best in people, but this is not it. Don't justify his behavior."
Daniel felt so conflicted. He hated how Bruno treated his brothers. Hated it. The sobs, the cries, the wails, the screams - so many unpleasant memories. So much pain and anguish. But dad was also hurting, he knew. His dad had smoked on the day of the divorce - he never smoked! Not before and not after. Daniel remembered his dad closing his bedroom door and sitting there on his bed in silence. Oftentimes Daniel found himself peering through the keyhole as he watched Bruno just... exist. Empty. Shoulders slumped. And then he went about his day as if nothing had happened.
The youngest brother so desperately wanted to help. To make sure his family was together and happy and whole again. He knew how much suffering Bruno had caused. He knew that Bruno was fucking Lucian. He knew all of it, but... he still hoped. He just wanted everyone to be happy.
"I know, I just-" Daniel started, but got interrupted.
A sharp knock on the front door. Loud.
---
Back in the late morning hours
The steam from the shower had filled the entire bathroom at that point. Lucian's feet were burning a hole into the tiles he was standing on, his hands scrubbed furiously at his skin, suds all over his body. Yet, no matter how hard he rinsed and cleaned, he still felt dirty. He remembered the act from the day before and could not help but feel revulsion - a similar disgust to how he felt when he first took Bruno into his mouth. The tiredness from the whole ordeal prevented the reality from truly hitting him until he had woken up. And Daniel's comments about Bruno right at the start of his day did not help.
It was of no use - he turned the shower off after washing away the remainders of the lathered soap. He grabbed a towel and made his way out of his bathroom, heading straight upstairs for his room. His soles left wet prints on the wood where he walked. Thankfully, no one seemed to be around to chastise him for it. Slamming the door shut, he threw the towel onto the ground and put on a new outfit. After three days spent in the same clothes, he finally had some new garb to exist in. Lots of pieces were very loose-fitting due to his slender, yet tall frame. This outfit was no different - a simple t-shirt, jeans, boxer briefs and socks. Most articles way too big for him. At least they were airy. Who needed anything more in the summer anyways?
As he was about to shove off his dirty garments into the corner, he stepped on something squishy and wet. Looking down, he saw the condom from yesterday's night - burst open on his sole, spreading its contents on his sock and floor.
"Oh, fuck off!" he said to no one in particular.
Tossing his socks onto the dirty pile, he put on a new pair after scrubbing the remainder of semen onto a clean spot on the ground. He would worry about all that later - same with the clothes, of course. Right now, he simply had no energy to deal with anything. Be it a washing machine, a mop or Daniel. So he chose to remain in his room, spread out on the bed. The sun was annoyingly persistent in shining right into his eyes, which is why he opted to turn around and grabbed his laptop.
As was tradition at this point, he checked the camera recordings from Bruno's room. Nothing. No matter how hard he looked, he could not find anything out of the ordinary. That fucker really crawled straight into bed after pounding him without a care in the world. Fuck. This made Lucian livid.
Not only was he reminded of the sex on every corner - be it by the condom, Daniel's mere existence or the pulsating pain prickling at his anal rim. Fuck, Bruno had done a real number on him - rarely did he get stretched out like that. At least he was able to get something out of it - albeit with a fantasy.
Snorting, he let his head fall onto the bed covers. He wanted a moment's rest. He was hungry. Ugh. Maybe Daniel had made something nice. But fuck, he really didn't want to see Daniel. His stupidly naive mug would just make him even more angry. So he instead opted for a random snack from his luggage again. He still had some left over having packed them knowing full well he'd have to survive on his own food.
A weird cracker bag was pulled out, everything written in a language he did not speak. Not that he cared, he simply opened it up and started devouring. To pass the time a bit faster, he decided to watch a few videos as well. He deserved a nice, relaxing time after all the effort he had exerted the past few days.
After a while - a few hours - he decided it was enough and closed his laptop shut again. The empty bag landed where the other bags were - under his bed. If Bruno was still doing his 'room inspections', he'd be beaten black and blue for the state his room was in. But thankfully, the old coot stopped with that when he turned eighteen. He was free to keep his room as messy as he wanted.
He creaked open his door - the coast was clear. Then again, what was he afraid of? Bruno was away and Daniel was not a threat - never had been. With a puffed out chest, he walked down the stairs - the echo of his door slamming shut resonated behind him. But even downstairs there was no sign of life. However, there was a small paper on the living room table.
'I am over at a friend's. Will return later today, probably. Daniel'
Huh. So the little weasel had friends? Then again, why was Lucian surprised? He was strong, agile, skilled and academically gifted - with his manipulable personality, there was a lot to gain by exploiting him. Some people probably figured it out and started fully profiting from it. Who knows, maybe Daniel sought it out too - to find a Bruno 2.0 of sorts. That way, he would always be around his daddy, even if only in spirit.
But with no one but himself in the house, the kitchen was fair game. And who would stop him from robbing the fridge while he was at it? With a spring in his step, he made his way over, opening it an inspecting its contents. Fully stacked. Daniel really knew how to do a good job shopping.
He took out a nice, cooled bottle of orange juice, all organic and expensive, and a few ingredients for a nice meal - bacon and eggs. Sure, it was more of a breakfast dish he was going for here, but he could not give a shit. He wanted to eat and Daniel's bacon from the day before left him wanting more.
Taking out some oil and a nice big pan, he slapped everything onto the stove haphazardly. Soon, he had a nice arrangement wafting in front of him. Sure, he was not as clean about it as Daniel, or as good at not burning the bacon, but it was edible - although the stove itself gathered some of the grease and runny pieces of egg. Oh well, Daniel would clean it up. And Lucian could blame him for making the mess too, if Bruno asked. In short, he did not give a shit - again.
He sat down with the food and wolfed it down. The less he kept his culinary creations in his mouth, the better they tasted, so he didn't even chew most bites properly. Soon, there was an empty plate in front of him. He was pretty content, his belly full. The house was still empty. He could get used to this. But it was not meant to last. Both Daniel and Bruno were bound to come back to the house eventually, and then it would be torture again.
Until then, he was hellbent on enjoying the free roam, though. So he sat down at the couch, threw out his legs onto the table and turned on the TV. It felt so good to feel like the master of the house. He relaxed his brain as he consumed episode after episode - not even sure of what, just whatever was on. His mind was at ease and completely devoid of any plans or schemes. Just a nice, relaxing time.
The sun was nearly dipping when the front door opened. The speed at which Lucian removed his feet from the table was record-breaking. A heavy stomp of boots - he didn't even have to turn around to know it was Bruno. There was no acknowledgment or greeting from either of the men in the room. Having the living room and entrance hall combined into one was a decision Lucian was cursing the architects for. He felt watched, his skin bumpy and cold.
Silence. Even the sounds of soles on the floor could not be heard. Normally, Bruno would be going up the stairs, what was the hold-up?
"Daniel?" Bruno shouted out questioningly into the space before him.
"He's visiting a friend." Lucian said quietly as he picked up the note and held it out towards Bruno.
The brute took the note and huffed. He did not return the note, just made his way up to do his typical routine - shower and change. At least, Lucian assumed as much. When it came to knowing Bruno's behavior and patters, he was far outmatched by Daniel, as much as he hated to admit it.
No peace was left in the room. The relaxing mood? Gone. The sound from the TV speakers grated his ears as his mind constantly filled in Bruno's steps into the background. A shuddering sigh, a deep exhale - Lucian calmed himself down again.
"Why is Daniel not picking up?" Bruno yelled from the first floor.
"I don't know. I wasn't with him when he left. Maybe he's busy." Lucian yelled back.
No response. Simple doors slamming - louder and more aggressive than usual. Lucian could actually see some of the furniture shudder from the impact spreading throughout the structure. He was reminded on the daily just what strength that tyrant possessed.
He heard the typical routine sounds. A shower, doors opening and closing and finally, slippers walking through the hallways. A voice startled him from behind.
"He's still not picking up. You sure you don't know anything?" Bruno asked abrasively.
"I really don't, no. Why do you care, anyways? He probably just can't hear his phone." Lucian couldn't help but provoke.
"You wouldn't know what it's like, but when you have someone you care for, you usually want to know they're okay." Bruno fired back.
"Oh, come on, he's out for not even a day. He's fine. Plus, I do have people I care for, thank you very much."
A laugh came from behind Lucian - deep, resounding and utterly belittling. A laugh meant to humiliate, not relish in joy. Then, Bruno was there, taking a seat next to Lucian.
"I doubt you do... But that wasn't what I meant either way. I was saying no one cares about you." Bruno clarified himself.
"Is that why I'm so popular on campus? Invited to all the parties, hangouts and whatnot."
"Well, duh. With how easily you pull your pants down, it's no wonder. Which college horndog would pass up on a free and effortless shag? You don't actually believe that they could care about you though, right? Even you're not that stupid." Bruno said with a voice filled with fake pity.
"I do think they care about me, yes. They value me for my brain, more than anything. Not only am I witty and charming, but I've also helped numerous of my mates with studying." Lucian retorted, voice oddly calm compared to the usual.
"Now you're just outright lying. Your head has more hot air than a hot air balloon. Subpar looks, subpar smarts, subpar body - what good would you be to anyone?"
Lucian knew this type of conversation well. When Bruno was unhappy, he would take it out on either Lucian or Peter - alas, since one of them move out, only a single target remained. Bruno would constantly poke and provoke, hoping to rouse any sort of reaction. Then he'd, in his own words, 'administer a punishment to stifle such rude behavior'. Yes, Lucian knew this modus operandi. But with Daniel out of the house, this was a perfect chance for another recording attempt. He'd try Bruno's bedroom again, and if not, he'd make sure the phone stayed standing. He'd figure something out - he was convinced of his skills.
"Hey, you know what isn't subpar? My man pleasing skills. You agree, don't you? You received a taste of them these past two days. Why not get another taste now? Daniel's not home, so you can be as loud as you want." Lucian said as he crawled over on the couch to Bruno, closing the little space between them, trying to be as seductive as he could.
"Why the fuck would you think I want to fuck when I'm worried about my son?" Bruno said with crossed arms.
"Oh, c'mon. A man like you must be backed up proper. I don't think a blowjob and a quick fuck would satisfy you. So how about it? Want to have another go?" Lucian said, starting to undress.
"And you think I have to get that from you? If I wanted to, I could get a pretty thing or two at any time. But I don't - because unlike you, I can control my desires." Bruno scoffed.
As much as Lucian hated to admit it, Bruno was correct with the first part. He had seen numerous women - and some men - metaphorically throw themselves at Bruno's feet, begging for a chance to date him. Or even just a one-night stand. He was strong, muscular, assertive, had a passable face, made good money and could entertain most conversations pretty easily. It truly would not be difficult for this man to find someone if he wanted to. But that was not useful information to Lucian at that point.
"So? But I'm right here. And I look at least somewhat similar to your precious Daniel."
Bruno did not respond, he simply looked deep into Lucian's eyes. The young man could not read anything out of that gaze - it was intense and filled with an emotion he could not pinpoint. Then the behemoth stood up.
"I'm going to make myself dinner before you make me lose all of my appetite." Bruno declared, moving to the kitchen.
Lucian sat there on the couch, partially undressed already as he processed being given such a cold shoulder. He had expected Bruno to be all over him precisely because Daniel was away. Sadly, Bruno's mood got worse.
"Did you eat from my fucking fridge? And then had the audacity not to even clean up after yourself?" Bruno yelled furiously.
"That was Daniel! I didn't even enter the kitchen today! And why would I touch your food when I have my own?" Lucian yelled back.
Two steps, long and heavy, before Bruno was back in the living room, face scowling.
"Lie to me again and see what happens. Daniel has not once forgotten to clean up after himself ever since he learned how to do the dishes. So stop bullshitting me. Did you or did you not eat my food?" Bruno said, voice getting louder.
"I told you, it wasn't me! There's a first for everything, so maybe Daniel was just in a hurry to go visit his friend or something." Lucian stood his ground.
Bruno's face slowly centered itself. His reddish tone cooled, his pulsating forehead vein hid itself. With lips perfectly straight and voice frigid, he started speaking.
"If Daniel isn't back home to confirm that story until midnight, I'll just assume you did it. And trust me, you don't want that to happen. Not only will you get punished for breaking my house rules, but also for lying." Bruno said as he turned on his heel.
"What!? How am I to know if Daniel will be home by midnight? That's not fair!" Lucian defended himself.
"Do I look like I care? Make sure he's here by midnight if you're so confident he did it. I don't really give a shit about how you do it." Bruno said his final piece and entered the kitchen again.
The living room was now populated only by one person - a bewildered, dumbfounded Lucian. What did Bruno expect him to do? Magically teleport Daniel back home? He was absolutely insane. But no, Bruno probably just made that requirement so that Lucian would fail it. That sadist wanted to punish the blonde man.
A resigned sigh. Lucian reached for the phone in his pocket and called Daniel's number. It rang and rang. Yet no response came. Figures. If he didn't pick up for daddy dearest, chances were slim he would for his bro. He tried calling Peter to see if he knew something. Didn't even ring - straight to unavailable.
Ugh. Fuck. This was bad. Bruno was not one to issue empty threats, that was a very well-known fact. Lucian didn't even want to imagine what his cruel 'dad' would come up with. But what could he do about it? He didn't know any of Daniel's friends. He had a few socials which Daniel was also on, but how was he supposed to sift through all of them? So many of them had private profiles too. Fuck. Shit.
There was no time to lose, it was late in the evening. He had to come up with something quick. He had no clue what to do, but he decided to go pay Peter a visit. Maybe he could help him. And if not, at least Lucian could seek refuge in his brother's house if the deadline was not met... no. That was quitter talk. He would return and face the consequences, no matter what they may be.
He picked up his car keys and pocketed his phone, hitting the road.
---
Lucian stood there, in the warm summer air, knocking on Peter's door. He could tell that his brother was home from the car. From the other car, it was clear his Daniel was here as well. The ease at which he had found Daniel was his one silver lining in this entire ordeal.
The door opened to reveal Peter's haggard face. He looked like an overworked wreck. A sad sack. Eh, at least he was living on his own. Pussied out and got what he wanted.
"Yo. How can I help you?" Peter said.
"Daniel needs to come home with me. The sooner the better." Lucian said, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Huh? Why?" Peter asked, his eyebrows knitted together.
"Because Bruno wants him home by midnight and tasked me with making sure that he does." Lucian says with a roll of his eyes.
"What is he, five? Daniel's an adult, why should he have to be home?"
"Man, I don't know, okay? It's Bruno. Call him over and we can go." Lucian barked out.
"No no, that's okay, I heard you, bro! I'll go now. Thank you very much for the talk, Pete. I'll come visit you again soon!" Daniel said as he appeared from behind Peter.
Without a single question, Daniel obediently started walking back to his car. That little toy soldier, always marching to the beat of Bruno's drum. But this time around, Lucian was thankful for it. After all, he'd be in hot water if he came back home without his sycophant brother. He wanted to speak up and tell him about the lie he had to deliver, but was surprised by a hand on his shoulder.
"Yo, Luc. What the fuck is going on?" Peter said as he pulled on his brother's shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Lucian said, turning around.
"I mean - what the fuck are you doing? Daniel's all out of it because you keep doing stupid shit." Peter said, voice low.
"Oh no, the poor baby. What will poor little Daniel only do? I guess he'll need to crawl back to his good daddy and suck on his tit like the little bitch he is. Waah waah." Lucian said with an insultingly infantile voice.
"Bro, can you stop being so fucked? What's gotten into you? Every year you get worse and worse. So answer me, what the fuck have you done this time?" Peter said, glaring.
"What I've done? I finally got Bruno by the balls, that's what I've done. Opened my mouth a little here, spread my legs a little there and suddenly good 'ol Bruno is all up in me." Lucian said with a laugh.
Peter paled at those words. He opened his mouth multiple times to speak, but no words came out. He shook his head violently and with a hushed growl spoke again.
"Are you completely off the rocker? You're letting Bruno fuck you? You went ahead with that asinine plan of yours?"
"Yeah, I did. Because someone needs to do something against him. And if you won't step up and that little brown-noser won't either, then who else is left? His friends? Please. If Bruno wanted to fuck their wives, they'd just politely nod and watch with a smile. Hell, if they even have wives. Pathetic lot that they are. Those spineless bastards are just as bad as him. That means there's no one who will stand up against him. So I have to." Lucian said, equally angry.
"Then tell me, oh great and wise Lucian, who are you going to send these sex tapes to? If everyone is so scared of him, then even a video of him fucking you won't help. Or have you already sent them?"
"I... Okay, the recording part has failed so far, but since I get to sleep with him on the regular, it's bound to happen soon. I have a recording where we're about to fuck, but sadly the actual fucking isn't on screen. So I want to get the full thing on camera."
"Oh my fucking... So you're telling me you've let him rail you for nothing? Is your brain on vacation? And what do you mean that's not enough? Wouldn't that suffice? You have it on video how he's about to bang you. How is that not enough?" Peter said, getting louder and louder.
"Quiet down, you chicken shit. You know what Bruno is like! An incomplete recording like that won't do it. It needs to be all on camera. In a way that's not possible to refute."
"You really are delusional! You're just trying to stave it off, so you're making excuses! This will never work! Get it through that thick skull of yours. You could have a close-up of his dick going in and out of your asshole and nobody would give a shit. Unless you use a gun, there is no way to get rid of Bruno. And even then you'd have issues - hell, he'd probably shoot you first! For the love of everything you hold dear, just give it up, Lucian! You can stay with me while you find something. At least we could split the costs that way. Please, Lucian." Peter said, turning from angry to sad.
"Why the fuck would I want to share a house with a spineless coward like you? You just walked away from the problem and left me there with that monster! And look at yourself! You look like a zombie. A loser. You work your ass off just to live here. I, on the other hand, will not simply give up. So stop trying to convince me."
"Lucian... Please, this will not end well. For any of us. Just give it up. Just tell Bruno that the deal or whatever the fuck is over. If not for yourself or for me, then for Daniel. He heard the two of you. Poor thing doesn't know what to think now." Peter pleaded.
"Oh, it's about Daniel again, isn't it. Poor fucking Daniel. How hard his life is, getting coddled by his well-off dad. How sad. Are you hoping he'll start kissing your ass like he does his daddy's? Why the fuck would I care if he heard us or not? He can survive a bit of confusion. After all, he didn't go through what we did." Lucian spat venom.
"Yes, he did. Sure, he didn't get the beatings for as long as we did, but he had to spend almost all of his free time with Bruno. Sucking up to Bruno so he wouldn't pay attention to us. Covering for us when he could. You could stand to show some gratitude."
"Gratitude? Fucking gratitude? You know what? I'm done. I'm going now. Rot away in your little shelter and die overworking yourself. Daniel always caved when Bruno asked him directly. Daniel was always forgiven when he did something wrong. Nothing in that shit's life has been as hard as for us. And last year he also wasn't on my side, was he now? Don't even bother trying to convince me otherwise. Good riddance." Lucian turned around.
Neither of the two men said anything as Lucian walked to his car. He aggressively opened and closed the door, sitting in the driver's seat and dripping with vitriol. This wasn't the first time Peter and Lucian had quarreled like this - far from it. They would eventually speak with each other as if nothing happened - as always. Neither of them brought these spats up, neither of them apologized. They just went back to the usual programming after a brief cooldown period.
What captured Lucian's attention next was Daniel's car - or rather, the lack thereof. Fuck. He forgot to tell him to lie. Oh well, there was not much he could do about that now. He picked up his phone and gave him a call. No answer. Great. Still not picking up. So Lucian sighed heavily and fired up the engine. He made his way back 'home'.
Bruno's house itself had not changed at all. Why would it, he was away for barely two hours. But his nerves changed - they intensified. Fuck, he really hoped Daniel covered for him. As much as he hated him, he was betting it all on his remaining affection. If only he hadn't left the dirty dishes out. He was so sure he could play it off. Ugh, he hated himself sometimes. His whole short-sighted demeanor. But there was nothing left to do. He would not run. He wasn't Peter.
Parking outside of the house, he stepped out. Of course, the garage had no space left for him, being full with both Daniel's and Bruno's car... Of course. Standing at the front door, he opened it with one fluid motion. Silence. There was no one in sight. His ears tried to focus, and they did indeed catch a few sounds. Talking - coming from upstairs.
With a sneaky step, he shook off his shoes and made his way up, moving slowly as to not make the wooden planks creak. He could hear what seemed like the end of a conversation.
"-sorry." said Daniel.
"That's okay. We'll do it on Sunday. Tomorrow, we can instead spend the day indoors. I just want to spend some time with you this weekend, that's all. Now, get some rest." Bruno said, voice sickeningly saccharine again.
Peeking around the corner, he could see the door close behind Daniel as he entered his room. Bruno stayed, standing in the hallway, looking at the closed room. Then, his head snapped over to the stairs. He was staring directly into Lucian's eyes. Cold sweat started forming on every inch of the young man's skin. The brute started marching towards him.
Oh fuck, he had to run. Hide? No, he had to stay. But that was a death sentence, he-
There he was - Bruno. Standing before him, looking down with a chilling stare, arms crossed. Very similar state to how he last saw him. Lucian didn't say anything, just stood on the stairs, dumbfounded. Scared shitless.
"Daniel apologized for not cleaning up after himself. He also apologized for leaving his phone on 'Do not disturb' and not picking up." Bruno said, voice flat.
It's as if a stone fell from Lucian's shoulder. Actually, a boulder. Oh thank fuck. His posture relaxed and his breathing evened out. Oh fuck. That could've been really bad. Daniel really did save his skin. Too bad he was still a little henchman. But the relief was short-lived as a hand flew to his face.
"Listen here, Lucian." Bruno said with a very controlled voice.
Lucian's jaw was tightly grasped by Bruno's massive, calloused hand. It was trembling - from applying force or restraining it? The spots where Bruno's fingers met Lucian's face slowly gave way as one could hear subtle cracks. Or was that just Lucian's imagination? His eyes were wide open, breathing rapid once more. He wanted to speak, but couldn't, the grasp being too painful and too restrictive. Yet what got to Lucian the most was Bruno using his name... this was serious.
"I do not like when people lie to me, Lucian. I do not like it at all. And I especially don't like it when my own boy lies to me. It hurts, you know? It makes me feel very betrayed. I get very, very sad. But finding out my boy lied to me not for himself, but for someone else? Oh, that drives me up the wall. So I'll give you one piece of advice. Don't make him lie to me again, okay? Who knows what might happen if you do."
Bruno's voice was completely cold, yet Lucian could hear its faint trembling. The same tremble was present in his hand and face. His arteries throbbed and eyes twitched at times. Bruno was absolutely restraining himself. He was boiling on the inside. Thankfully, Lucian did not see it often, but the few times he did, it was not nice. Not at all. After all, last time it ended up with Lucian in the hospital.
The only response he could somewhat struggle out of himself was a weak nod. After that, Bruno simply let him fall onto the ground, nearly making him topple down the stairs. But Bruno did not care - he was already busy walking to his own room, step filled with a lot of unnecessary weight.
As Bruno entered his domicile, Lucian stayed sitting on the floor, mouth still agape. His jaw hurt like hell. Thankfully, it didn't seem anything was broken as he touched himself all over the face, inspecting any possible damages.
Not finding any, he picked himself up from the hardwood and waddled over to his own room. He closed the door and collapsed on the bed. Dinner be damned, change of clothes be damned, everything be damned.
Before sleep could claim his exhausted and shell-shocked body, he slowly went over the day. It started off shit, then got really nice, then became even shittier somehow. Daniel was at fault for that. If Daniel wasn't such a wuss, he would've stayed home. He could've cleaned up. He could've calmed down Bruno. But no, he just had to run off somewhere. And worst of all, he even ratted Lucian out, Lucian was sure of it. He probably tried to lie and then folded once the tiniest bit of push-back came. That was the Daniel which Lucian knew... But as much as he hated to admit it, it was his own fault as well. At least partially.
With a pained groan, he reached for his laptop to check the footage. And was met with an unpleasant realization. The battery had ran out of juice. It was sometime during Lucian's TV binge. Fucking great. How was he supposed to get footage now? He'd have to get into that room somehow... And the rest of the day didn't show any worthwhile footage either...
Wait a minute, if he had a camera installed in the room, why had he even tried to get inside before? It had already been there, he could have seen if Bruno interacted with it in any way. Or if it was still working. Lucian couldn't help but bemoan his own stupidity. He hated how he couldn't see the obvious things at times.
One last grunt as he properly shoved himself into bed, haphazardly covering himself. He desperately needed sleep and everything else could wait until the next day. His eyes closed and he was ready for a deep, restful night.
