Defeat
Lucian stirred awake. This time, not because of the sun, but because of the rumble in his stomach. He was so damn hungry. Skipping dinner regularly was taking a toll on him. His jaw still hurt from the vice grip, but he would recover. Bruno had done worse before. Much worse. Lucian decided to stand up, now facing his door. It was a Saturday. Which meant Bruno was not at work. Great. Peachy. An entire day with him and Daniel, how amazing.
Heavy sigh and then a push on the handle. The first floor hallway greeted him, as if in constant mockery. His room was on the opposite end to Bruno's room. And of course, Daniel's room was right next to it. Daddy and son, forever united. After last night's events, this fact burned stronger. But that didn't matter. His own anger could wait. It had to wait. Bruno was loud and clear in what he said. No more fuck-ups for Lucian.
He walked downstairs, looking over the living room immediately. But he could see only his brother. He was sitting on the couch, reading a heavy-looking book of sorts. He always had been a nerd, so it was to no surprise. A nerd who played football - even more of a reason for Bruno to be proud of him and parade him in front of everybody. He truly was the son everyone should ask for. And a pushover to boot.
"Hey, bro. Where's your dad?" Lucian asked, tiredness seeping from his voice.
"He had to go out - said he had important business to take care of. But he'll be back by dinner." Daniel replied without looking back.
"Finally. A moment of peace." Lucian said with a sigh.
Lucian entered his bathroom, brushing his teeth again and washing his face. One look in the mirror and he could see his tired reflection. Fuck, he looked like Peter. Okay, that was an exaggeration - only a zombie could look like Peter. That man looked like he was one foot in the grave with how many shifts he took. Eh, it was his life. Lucian gave up on Pete ever achieving anything great.
Not bothering with a shower, he got out and aimed directly for the kitchen.
"What are you eating today, bro?" Daniel said, surprising Lucian a bit.
"Is there anything left over from breakfast? Or is lunch ready?"
"Well, no. We ate breakfast completely and I still have a bit of time before I go cook lunch. Sorry. But I don't think it's a good idea for you to be eating in the kitchen either way."
"Oh really? You don't want to snitch me out to Bruno again?" Lucian couldn't himself.
"Snitch? What do you mean?" Daniel finally looked at his brother.
"You know what I mean, Daniel. Don't play dumb. Bruno gave me shit yesterday. I thought you'd cover for me."
"But I did! I told him it was me!" Daniel raised his voice.
"Yeah? Did you also tell him that you were lying? Did you give it away because he gave you one stern look?" Lucian said, clearly aggravated.
"No, I did not! He didn't ask me if I was lying, he didn't question me at all. He just accepted my apology and that was it. Then we started talking about where I was and the trip Bruno had planned for us. That's it. I then went to my bed." Daniel recounted his version of the night.
"Likely story. And what trip? Am I included in this trip?"
"I'm telling you the truth, believe me! And Bruno wants to take me to a shooting range. Says we have spent little time together recently, so he wants to catch up. But no, I don't think you're included." Daniel said, face getting apologetic again.
"Yeah, typical. You two being all buddy-buddy. I'll just go back to my room." Lucian turned around.
"Hold up. Since we're speaking of buddy-buddy, what's going on with you and dad?" Daniel asked, his voice artificially calm.
"What do you mean? Nothing's going on." Lucian played dumb.
"Please, don't lie to me, bro. I... I talked to Peter about this, and he said I should ask you."
"Oh, did he now? Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't know what you're talking about." Lucian still feigned ignorance.
"Lucian... I... I know about you and dad... fornicating..." Daniel said, each word making him flush more and more.
"Ah, yeah, that. What about it?" Lucian said matter-of-factly.
"Huh? what do you mean 'What about it'?" Daniel said, flabbergasted.
"I mean exactly what I said, Daniel. What about it? We fuck."
"Wha- What do you mean you fuck? Dad beats you on the regular! He raised you! How are you so normal about this?" Daniel said, bewildered.
"First of all, he didn't raise me. Get that stupid idea out of your dimwit brain. And second of all, what about the beatings? I just find Bruno stupid sexy and he wanted to fuck me too. End of story." Lucian lied.
"Since... Since when? How long have you two been... laying together?" Daniel said, his face falling.
"And what's it to you? Ask your dad how long he has been fucking me in the ass. But if he hasn't told you, I think he wants to keep it a secret, you know? And don't pretend like you can't put two and two together. He's a man with needs, I am a hot young dude with plenty of experience. Simply put, I can satisfy him. Something you can't do, can you? A virgin? And his own son too? Yeah, I don't think you can fulfill that desire of his. But don't worry, I'll take care of it." Lucian provoked.
Daniel's mouth was left agape, his mind struggling to find the right words. Then, he simply closed it. His eyes fell a bit. Lucian wondered what Daniel was thinking about. How that little sycophant reacted to knowing that his dad keeps something from him. That Lucian gets to see a side of his beloved Bruno that Daniel will never see.
Whilst he didn't expect such a dramatic start to the day, he certainly wasn't complaining. Knocking Daniel down a peg was always worth it.
"Why are you so... mean? Like, you always were a bit antagonistic, but this year? It's like every day you get worse and worse. And you're weird too! Talking about strange stuff, doing strange stuff, what's gotten into you? Was it something I did?" Daniel said, sullen.
Oh, how Lucian wanted to punch that little minion in his face. That innocent act was getting on his nerves. No sane human being could be this naive and spineless. He fit in perfectly with the rest of Bruno's posse. All of them a bunch of people-pleasers and cowards.
"I'm not mean, I'm the same as always. You're just softer. So your dad fucks. So what? Get some earplugs and sleep through it. Or do you want to make Bruno go celibate? So that you can have your peace of mind?" Lucian said, unimpressed.
"I'm... I don't... I don't want to make Bruno sad, no... But it worries me! Are you okay with this? Is he not... forcing you? And why is he even into you? It's..." Daniel was at a loss for words.
"It's what? None of your business? Correct. And no, he's not forcing me into anything - I was the one who initiated it, after all. And again, don't ask me why he likes fucking me. Ask him yourself if you want to know so much. Or don't. I don't think he'd appreciate you knowing." Lucian shrugged and went to his room.
No response came from Daniel, the only sound were Lucian's socks hitting the stairs. With a relaxed and happy mind, he entered his room and started chuckling as soon as the door was closed. Oh, that was beautiful. Daniel was so lost - poor sonny didn't know his daddy was a perverted sicko. And he didn't even know the whole story! Oh man, what a treat.
All the grumpiness from before was gone. Lucian felt energized. He reached for his laptop, but remembered that the camera battery was dead. Fuck. his mood soured again. Ugh, what a pain. But hey, Daniel mentioned a trip between him and Bruno. That was his chance to get into the master bedroom again and properly fix the camera. Then he could resume his schemes. Or his phone would work in his room. Either of the two options was fine by him.
---
The sun was still on the blue sky as the front door of the house opened. Lucian shuddered, memories from Bruno's threats filling up his mind again. This was serious. Not that it hadn't been before, but the sheer restrained anger in his tormentor's voice truly opened his eyes. He could not afford to back down... or could he? Bruno didn't seem keen on continuing. And he didn't know about the existing recordings. Maybe Lucian should take Peter's advice and just send what he had... but to whom? As much as he hated to question it - who would he send them to? He planned to send it to Bruno's superior, his friends, maybe the police... but whom didn't Bruno have in his pocket? He'd have to think this through. Maybe he could still back out completely... No, what was he thinking? Lucian was not the type of guy to back down.
His back straightened as he filled himself with resolve. He'd walk down those stairs. He'd look Bruno in the eyes. The threats? He'd survive. If there was one thing which remained constant in this world, it was that Lucian Greene was not a pussy. And he wouldn't back down because of one scary encounter.
Creaking wood moaned throughout the house as he descended. The door to the kitchen was closed. A myriad of sounds came from the room. Clanking of cutlery, cracking of chairs, the annoying voice of his brother...
That little shit was still here. Probably enjoying a nice early dinner with his dad. Or late lunch. Lucian felt stuck in a loop. For years now it was the same. Daniel and Bruno eat together, Daniel and Bruno watch movies together, Daniel and Bruno take trips together, but when it comes to Lucian and Bruno? Lucian gets hit, Lucian gets belittled, Lucian wants to punch a hole through the wall. And Daniel wasn't particularly good with Lucian either. Always putting on that aura of innocence, as if he didn't know what he was doing - wasn't aware of the privilege he had.
Every day he spent around them, he had to confront an idea in his head. Did he really just want Bruno to get his dues? Or was Daniel included? Lucian had originally felt loyalty, even protectiveness for his baby bro. But then he had to see just how much better Daniel had it. Over, and over, and over again. When was it his turn to be coddled? When would he finally get a boon for how hard he was trying? Never. Daniel knew this. He knew how much this bothered him, he had to. It's not as if Lucian was subtle about it. Especially when they were young. But what did his beloved baby bro do? Nothing. As much as he played the role of sacrificial lamb - one who lies to protect his brothers, who carries the heavy burden of being around Bruno - he was just a complicit bystander.
Everyone was, really: Peter, Bruno's colleagues, Bruno's friends, his mom... Why did she have to leave? Why did she not take Lucian with her? Was she really that selfish? She could've at least been smarter about her affairs. Who cares if she let every Tom, Dick and Harry rail her? If she had the bare minimum of one brain cell in that cheating head of hers, she would've made sure not to get knocked up by them. And then Bruno would've never found out. They still would've been a perfect pretend family... And who knows, if she was not heavy with another's child, maybe Lucian would've been born as Bruno's child instead. Maybe Bruno would look at him with affection, buy him gifts, take him out...
No, he had gotten rid of this idea years ago. This was something his teenage self had had to deal with - he was past those times. Bruno was a piece of shit who deserved everything coming to him and more. Lucian wouldn't fall for his own idealistic fantasies. The world he wanted to live in would never exist. It was simply not possible...
With time flowing around him as he stood there, lost in his whirlwind of thoughts, the door opened and the two men walked out of it. Daniel froze for a bit seeing Lucian just standing there, and the two looked at each other for a few seconds, no words exchanged. Bruno, meanwhile, kept walking for the couch, not even acknowledging Lucian's presence. He dragged Daniel with him, having him sit on the cushion next to his.
"Is it movie night again?" Lucian said, trying to hide the bitterness in his voice.
Surprisingly enough, it was Bruno who responded.
"Yup. They are giving us a marathon today! Good old classic movies running until eight. A jackpot if you ask me. That's why we ate earlier today - no breaks means more fun. Why? Wanna join?"
Huh? Lucian heard him correctly, right? It was Bruno who invited him to join? Daniel had the same look of confusion as his brother, both of them completely caught of guard.
"If you don't sit your ass down soon, you'll miss the start. You wanted to join our next movie night, right? So c'mere." Bruno said with a rough slam to the other cushion next to him.
Stunned was the word one would describe Lucian with in that moment. This had to be a ploy of Bruno's. There was no way he was inviting him for a movie without any hidden agenda in the back of his mind. But fuck it, what did he have to lose? He'd bite. Even if he was walking straight into a trap, he was also getting a new chance to seduce Bruno... And to provoke Daniel.
He sauntered over to the spot reserved for him, sitting down and immediately closing the gap to Bruno. He wasn't quite touching him, but it was close enough to feel the heat from his exposed arm. Once again, catching him completely off guard, Bruno put an arm around him and pulled him close - no space left at all. Yet it didn't really feel like a cordial gesture. More like a threat.
The hand which was firmly planted on Lucian's shoulder was gripping him tight - he'd have to go through great pains to dislodge himself from this position. But fine by him. He wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. Looking over, Daniel had the other arm slung around his frame. That side looked a lot more relaxed. But Lucian could see just how uneasy his brother was. He probably wasn't ready to spend so much time with him after their revelatory conversation earlier. Oh well, he could suck it up.
TV screens were usually a good waster of time because of how captivating they were, but Lucian was too busy spending time in his own head. No matter what grainy footage played on the screen, he would much rather observe his surroundings, looking over at Bruno and Daniel - monitoring.
This entire situation seemed so surreal to him. The brute who pretty much threatened his life was now coddling him like one would a date back in high school. As if they were in a car cinema together and Bruno was trying the moves on him. There was no subtlety. Yet somehow Lucian could smell the ulterior motives.
Bruno would never do something like this with him. With Daniel? Sure. But Lucian? No way. Maybe he wanted him close-by so he could keep an eye on him. Or maybe he was putting on a show for Daniel to placate his fake desire for everyone to get along. Maybe he finally lost it completely. There were many possibilities, all equally probable.
Yet there was not much he could do from his position. The weight on his shoulders was non-negotiable. It was there to stay, whether he wanted it to or not. Yet the zen smile on Bruno's face was sickening to bear. He could not stay here like this and watch those boring ass movies. And to top it off he had to be around those two? How was Daniel even doing?
One look told him the answer. Daniel was also not feeling all too comfortable. His eyes were sullen, his mouth fallen and in general - there was no real joy radiating from him. Poor little baby had to share his daddy. Ha, at least that was slightly uplifting. But he could take it further.
Lucian slowly snaked his hand onto Bruno's thigh, only brushing it with a few fingers. His digits reached the cloth of the sweatpants, yet there was no response from either of the men. At least none that Lucian could perceive. So he got a bit bolder. He fully placed his hand onto the meaty thigh, rubbing it forwards and backwards. Slowly, as to not produce a sound. This got him a reaction.
His shoulder started to hurt as Bruno's hand grasped it - hard. A silent sucking inhale from Lucian, who pretended as if the crushing pain did not exist. His hand ceased its movements with a slow exhale, calming himself. The grip relaxed a bit too. Okay, too much, he got the memo. From one glance at Daniel, his brother did not see this exchange. Or at least he was damn good at not reacting to it.
Awkward periods of silence stretched out between the men on the couch and the movies in front of them, only occasionally broken up by a loud sound from the TV. Lucian couldn't imagine anyone really enjoying this, with how on-edge things were. After hours, the only shift in this atmosphere was Daniel standing up.
"Excuse me, I'll be right back. Nature calls." he said emotionlessly and stood up.
As the young adult walked up the stairs, it left Lucian and Bruno to bask in the tense atmosphere they created. The two men sat there, in silence. It could've lasted forever had one of them not decided to speak up.
"So, what's all this about?" Lucian asked.
"What do you mean?" Bruno asked back innocently.
"I mean, you inviting me to do something with you? With you and Daniel? Like a third wheel?"
"I don't know what you mean. You wanted to join a movie night again, did you not? So here you are. What, are you too good for our presence?"
"Oh, I did want to do it again, I just didn't expect you to initiate it by yourself."
"Well, it's a lot safer to keep my eyes on you rather than let you run around unleashed." Bruno smiled smugly at Lucian.
"Yeah? Am I that big of a threat, Mr. Greene? But I haven't done anything, have I?" Lucian feigned innocence right back.
"Not yet, no. But with you, it's only a matter of time. We both remember the incident with your ribs, do we not? Or rather, what you did for them to have to be removed." Bruno said with a bitter twang.
Oh, Lucian remembered. He palmed at his chest a bit, immersing himself fully in that memory. It was not pleasant, but nevertheless important. He straightened his back after Bruno laughed at him.
"What, checking if they didn't regrow? Don't worry, I'm very thorough with my work." Bruno gloated.
"Oh, I'm not delusional. I don't believe in miracles. That's the same reason I have a hard time comprehending why you still have your arm around me." Lucian swallowed down his anger.
"What? Not happy? Wouldn't you be happy to get such a nice embrace from a 'handsome and masculine man' like me? Or whatever the fuck you told me?"
"I didn't say I don't enjoy it. But it's still a weird sensation." Lucian nodded imperceptibly.
He didn't enjoy it. It was weird. It creeped him out. It felt like a cage. Like a nesting doll - he was trapped in two cages at once - one of flesh, the other of drywall. But since Daniel wasn't here, he tried to get a bit of leeway in this cage of his. A hand slithered up to Bruno's thigh again, rubbing once more.
"Why did you protest at being touched like this earlier, Mr. Greene? We've done a lot worse together, have we not?" Lucian said seductively.
Like the serpent of paradise it twisted and turned on the covered skin, slowly rubbing its way closer to Bruno's crotch. This time around, the larger man did not seem the care.
"Of course I didn't want you to touch me. Not in front of my boy. He doesn't need to know of our arrangement - or rather, of your twisted desires for me. After all, that is the purpose of this whole thing, no? To make sure Danny stays blissfully ignorant." Bruno answered.
Lucian could only smile at how good Bruno was at twisting the narrative. Like he'd fall for that. But sure, if the hulking piece of muscle really wanted it, Lucian could pretend that Daniel was in the dark on this. That he was innocent and unknowing of their affair. Too bad the only thing Daniel didn't know is that it only happened because daddy dearest wanted to be deep in his guts instead.
"You know, he's not here right now. So why not a quick little blowie, hm? Just like before. Movies, couch, living room..." Lucian said, lowering his head to Bruno's crotch.
"Yeah? And if Daniel catches us? Out of the question, you shameless little brat."
Brat? That was a new one. No 'maggot'? No 'freeloader'? No 'whore'? Cute. But Lucian was far from giving up.
"C'mon, Mr. Greene. I'll be quick."
He wouldn't. He'd take his time and edge that man to the brink, only to regrettably be interrupted by Daniel. And once the movies were over, he'd take the blue balled man upstairs and get his desperate rutting on cam. That was the plan for today.
"Did you not hear me the first time? I don't like repeating myself." Bruno said, voice slowly angrier.
"Why deny yourself, Mr. Greene? You know you want-" Lucian said as he was interrupted.
House slippers rang out on the floor as the door upstairs opened. Fuck. Bruno straightened himself up, putting on airs of nonchalance. There was no way Lucian could properly rile him up now. Fucking Daniel. Always there being a nuisance. Lucian got into his previous position as well, eyes fixated, but not attentive, to the flashing light in front of him.
Daniel was quick to join them again, asking for a quick recap. Bruno was more than happy to oblige and started gushing over the missed plot, going into detail about his opinions on the scenes too. Cute - how eager he was to include Daniel. Or maybe he just enjoyed talking about it because no normal person was interested in what he had to gush over. Either way, Lucian could not be bothered to pay attention either the movie or the movie talks. He was bored out of his mind.
Since the hand on his shoulder had not left, he simply had to endure. For a few more hours... And after a mind-bogglingly long time, the movie marathon did indeed have an ending. Finally. If only Bruno's presence was that easily endurable. But alas, one cannot have everything.
The youngest was surprisingly the first one to stand up. He stretched himself out and took a deep breath, all too subtly. Too bad Lucian was watching his every move, relishing in the awkward presence they had to share. Finally, Daniel could know what it was like - he could relate.
"We're going early in the morning, dad?" Daniel asked.
Ah, the mysterious plans. Bruno was taking him to the shooting range tomorrow - must have been a nice bonding session he had in store. Another secret for them to share. Another secret Lucian couldn't pry on. But he felt quite good about it. Every whisper they shared paled in comparison to the hidden reality looming over Lucian's and Bruno's necks. And Lucian knew Daniel thought so too. He was bothered by it - clear as day.
"Aye. Go ahead, champ. I'll go sleep soon after, just have something to discuss with the freeloader."
White knuckles, hands clenched in tight fists, but a stone wall for a face. Daniel simply nodded and walked away. Soon, the sound of his steps disappeared in the darkness of the upstairs hallway, leaving only Bruno and his 'mistress' on the couch.
"So, care to tell me what all of this was about now?" Lucian asked.
He knelt on the cushion, slowly leaning closer to Bruno. The game plan was back on.
"I've told you already, no? You said you wanted to join in again, so I helped. Were you not happy to spend time with me? I made sure to make it all like in the movies, hand over shoulders and all." Bruno flashed a debonairly smile.
Was he actually trying to flirt? The man who was so opposed and disgusted by this plan was suddenly all for it? Yeah, Lucian knew. He figured back when he bounced back every morning as if the obscenities they acted out were nothing.
"Oh, but I was happy. I could feel that strong, manly arm on me. It was so heavy. Fuck, I could feel every muscle as you rested it on me." Lucian seduced.
"Profanity." Bruno said with a stern face.
Oh, so that was still a limit? Well, one couldn't blame Bruno for not being consistent. But Lucian recovered quite quickly.
"I'm sorry, you just get me so worked up, Mr. Greene. So how about we do something about it, hm? Let's go to my bed and I'll give you a good time again. So you can go to sleep nice and easy." Lucian whispered as he started to stand up.
A hand pulled him down by the arm, quickly maneuvering him onto his back. He was prone on the couch, head on Daniel's prior spot, Bruno moving too. The brute's position shifted so that he was looming above the blonde. Both his legs and arms caged the man in, like a predator captures its prey.
"Why would we need a bed?" Bruno asked.
He started to shimmy down his sweatpants and underwear, while his hands rummaged his back pocket for something. Then, he pulled it out. A rubber. The bastard had prepared.
"Aren't you afraid Daniel will hear us from here?"
"No. I'm more afraid Danny would hear us from your room. So let's stay here. Unless, of course, you don't feel like it. We can skip tonight, like we did yesterday. But you wouldn't want that, right? You've been all over me today. I bet you need a fix, don't you?" Bruno started purring.
Lucian put on a disgustingly saccharine smile. Would he have to take it without a camera again? All for keeping up the act? Ugh, it was annoying. But fuck it. Seeing Bruno's gradual commitment to the whole charade, Lucian would be a fool to back out. He pulled of his pants too and shifted his underwear to expose himself.
"I guess it's okay. After all, you can't wait any longer either, can you?" Lucian asked provocatively.
"I wouldn't put it like that. But let's not waste any more time talking." Bruno said, putting the rubber on his cock.
A few strokes and it was already fully prepared. Every time Lucian saw that thing, it made him more and more revolted. How could anyone desire that? It was just longer and thicker than average, but nothing to write home about. The worst part was the package surrounding it. Bruno looked like he had never heard of shaving, all coarse hairs growing wildly. Especially around his groin. And that veiny hand around it only made him look old. A repulsive sight.
Slight panic replaced his judgmental aversion as he felt the head at his entrance. He took a deep breath. Fuck, he had forgotten to prepare. Oh well, it's been two days since the last time his anus got used, so hopefully it would be bearable enough.
Bruno did not waste time as he plunged in and started moving with a fast rhythm. Lucian's fingers gripped onto the couch below him, a forced smile appearing on his lips as he endured the sensation. The more they did this, the more he got used to it. It felt very neutral now. Like a chore one had to do. Or an errand one had to run. And it'd be over as quick as one too, Lucian was sure.
The top's weight pressed on his body as Bruno lowered himself, chest against chest. He could smell the sweat and fading cologne wafting from Bruno's skin, which was too close for comfort. Cracked lips opened with breathy sighs right next to his ear.
"Fuck. You smell so nice. Really gets me going. All the time you sat next to me today." Lucian heard the older man say.
Yeah right, as if he'd fall for that. He was probably thinking of Daniel again. Moreover, Lucian was too busy trying to tune out the uncomfortable stretch in his posterior and the roughness of the chest hair rubbing against his skin. Bruno really didn't have any limits - fully laying his weight onto Lucian like that.
The dark living room, lit only by the moonlight fading in from the windows - what felt like Lucian's only companion at the moment. He couldn't even imagine another man - Bruno's unbearable presence made it difficult. His muscled ring struggled to accommodate to the pace, which picked up with each passing minute. He focused on breathing, but that too wasn't ideal due to the old man taking up all the fresh air around him. All he had left to do was to hold his legs open, knees to the sides, as he was but a willing receptacle for Bruno.
Though compared to last time, Bruno seemed to have found Lucian's pleasurable spot. Every draw of his dick brushed over his prostate, not even letting him ride out the feeling before being stimulated again. A few sighs escaped Lucian, who was at least trying to enjoy that. However, he doubted Bruno was doing it on purpose.
This time around, Bruno didn't make a big fanfare of his climax - his breath simply hitched as his movements stilled. Lucian could see the old man's hands clutch the couch, but his face was buried deep in the cushion, right next to Lucian's head. With just as little of a spectacle, he quickly pulled out, removed the condom from his instrument and tied it up.
"I'll dispose of this to make sure Danny doesn't see. You make sure to clean up properly. If our romps get exposed, I'll make sure you take the hit." Bruno said as he got up with a final threat.
Silently, he pulled his clothes back up and put on a pair of outdoorsy shoes from the shoe rack, running out of the house. Only a few second later he came back without the protection.
"Did you run all the way to the trash cans to get rid of the rubber?" Lucian stared at him.
"Of course? If it's in our house bin, Daniel could see it when he goes out with the trash in the morning. I'm not taking chances. Not with my boy." Bruno puffed out his chest, tossing the shoes back on the rack.
Paranoid old geezer. He worried too much. If Daniel didn't know about their fuck sessions already, a condom wouldn't be too hard to explain away. A simple lie would be enough to placate him. Lucian was sure. Not like he cared much either way. Daniel was too big of a pussy to do anything substantial. Just like earlier.
"Now, I'm going to go to bed. Tomorrow is very important and I'm not going to enjoy it tired. Sleep tight." Bruno said, walking up the stairs.
Lucian stayed in the living room for a bit, taking in the atmosphere, recounting the day. Oddly eventful. But in a good way. Finally in a good way. No camera, but a little torment for Daniel. All was good. And it seemed like Bruno was finally succumbing to his charms. It was about damn time.
His hand reached for his crotch, giving himself the finishing stimulation. With quiet gasps, he too achieved release and let his head rest against the couch - evidence of his self-pleasuring all over his shirt. He would go to his room later. For now he just wanted to bask in his own afterglow.
---
Another sleepless night. Daniel actually felt sick. He had a bitter taste in his mouth, his head wouldn't stop thinking and his heartbeat was higher than was healthy.
The conversation with Lucian? Upsetting, to say the least. Why was Lucian being such a... such an unkind person? Daniel hadn't hurt him, had he? He never tried to, so it must've been unintentional. And yes, Daniel did feel bad for him, but everything made him feel bad lately. Could his brother not see how much harder things would be if Bruno changed again? Was the first time not enough? How would a sexual relationship possibly improve their dynamic?
But maybe Lucian was right... What if Daniel really didn't know what Bruno truly craved? Maybe his dad was a lot more repressed than he could possibly understand. Then again, did dad really trust him? He was convinced that he and his dad shared a lot - jokes, experiences, secrets. But dad never said anything about his needs. Nor had Daniel ever asked... It simply didn't cross his mind that he could be missing this in his life. He really couldn't replace his mother in everything...
He turned, placing his other cheek on the warm pillow. The stifling summer air did not make him feel any better. So hard to breathe in - similar to whatever today's movie marathon was. It was supposed to be a nice time to unwind and laugh. His dad really needed it, poor guy was having a hectic time at work. But then Lucian showed up? And what was weirder, dad invited him?
Bruno had never been so buddy-buddy with Lucian... Maybe Daniel really was out of his depth here. He didn't even have the courage to ask dad directly! And he considered himself a confidant of his? He thought they were close? What a joke... Why were his efforts so fruitless? Yes, he managed to make his father coddle him, but what else? He clearly overestimated the strength of their bond. No matter how hard he tried, nothing helped with his brothers. None of his academic, athletic or other achievements could sway Bruno. It's as if he was dead-set on hating Daniel's siblings.
Sure, he received praise - like was expected from a father to give his son. But nothing more. Was that just a formality too? He felt so alone. What if everything he knew was fake? Was the plan for the next day a farce too? Just a trip to keep up appearances? Did Bruno need Daniel to be close? But for what? Maybe the image helped him? Again, for what? He didn't know. The man he thought loved him seemed like an enigma.
Lucian had been right. Daniel was out of his depth here. His eyes got moist as he blinked away the tears. They fell onto his pillow, forming small damp spots. It was a pathetic sight, really. An academic and competent football player, a hulking man, bigger than most - crying in his bed. Stifling his sobs, so that they weren't accidentally heard.
The worst part of all was the lack of his dad again. There were no footsteps in the corridor. No doors opening. Just silence. Daniel knew what that meant. He heard it from Bruno's mouth directly. They had 'something to discuss'. Was it sex? Again? How often did they do it? Why was Daniel even wondering?
He shouldn't feel the need to pry. He shouldn't want to know. Why was he not saying anything? Just barricading himself in the silence of his own room... He was trying to escape - isolate himself. But it didn't work. It's as if the thoughts in his head thrived in the quiet. They bounced from the walls, hitting him all the harder as they came back. Everything in his room was placed there by his dad. His dad decorated it... and then chased Lucian's figurative skirt.
Did they do it here too? Maybe when he wasn't here? What if Lucian had come here before summer? Who knows how long they were going at it. It could've lasted years and Daniel would've been none the wiser. What if that's the whole reason why Lucian was chosen by Bruno in the first place? Daniel needed to be coddled, to be looked after and doted on. Lucian was more mature, more independent...
Did he lose to his brother? Would Lucian undo all his work as he wrapped Bruno around his finger? Was it that easy and Daniel was just having trouble with it because he wasn't capable enough? His dad was always happy with him - never complained, just smiled and praised. Was that because Daniel was actually just that incompetent and Bruno felt sorry for him?
A creak on the hardwood from outside his room. That was Bruno's weight. He remembered how the floor creaked under his slippers. It was a distinct sound - one that usually made him feel safe and protected. But now it felt heavy and solemn. Almost taunting.
Then an unexpected pause. From the volume of the steps, Daniel was sure Bruno had stopped before his door. He closed his eyes and evened out his breathing, faking sleep. The door gently opened.
"Daniel? You asleep, sport?" Bruno softly whispered into the dark.
No response. Daniel didn't want to talk. Not now. Not when he was like this. How could he look Bruno in the eyes after he just came back from... Lucian's embrace. He wouldn't be able to help himself - he'd tear up. And he really didn't want to explain why. So he calmed his heart down, focusing on the void he saw with his closed eyes.
Bruno came closer. His movements unbelievably silent and slow. Were Daniel not sensitive to them, he wouldn't have heard them. He could feel his dad bend over. The warm breath from dad's nose tickled his ear as he felt the emerald gaze on his face.
"Sweet dreams, Daniel..." Bruno whispered to his seemingly sleeping form.
But then, extremely quietly, an encore came. Bruno's voice was barely audible as he voiced his thoughts. Daniel tried to focus as much as he could on what his dad was saying.
"Thanks for being here with me, my boy."
Those words nearly cracked Daniel's act, but he held on strong. Soon, Bruno's presence left his vicinity, and shortly after - his room. He was alone again. Yet his tears paid him another visit. What did this all mean? Why was Bruno so secretive all of a sudden? Who did he even like? What did he want? What did he mean by his thanks? Sure, he had visited him in the night like this before, but the circumstances changed Daniel's entire perception of this.
He was so confused. His whole world felt as if it was shifting into an unrecognizable nightmare. He was lost, not sure what to do. Normally, his dad had patterns and schedules. Things he could memorize and support. They would contain him. They would define him. But now? This was unprecedented. Even the more extreme outbursts of Bruno's against Daniel's brothers didn't change as much as this. Why was Lucian's body so important to Bruno? Or maybe his dad was just a player and Daniel didn't know about it? Was anyone's body good as long as they were willing? But why did Lucian give himself away so freely? Was it another scheme of his?
And to top it all off, he remembered the scene from the couch. He could see with his own two eyes when Lucian palmed at Bruno - pawing at his thigh and almost crotch. Shamelessly. Right in front of him! What audacity had possessed his brother to do that? And why did Bruno not stop it? Did they not have any shame?
So many questions, but still no answers. He had hoped Lucian would resolve this. That'd he'd give him an explanation, or at least an excuse. Something to give him closure. But no. Instead he became even more confused. It was of no use - he would not come to any conclusion. Not until he knew more. Maybe the trip was a heaven-sent. Maybe he could pry something out of his dad.
His eyes slowly closed, as sleep overtook him. The uncertainty of his situation was omnipresent - in his feelings, his thought and in the promise of what was to come.
