He'd been useless, hadn't he? Oli thought along those lines as he sat defeated on a chair beside a hospital bed. Mattie's bed. He made a promise to both Dash and Mattie that they'd never get hurt by their uncle or dad ever again. What of that promise? It ended up like all other promises. Broken.

"Oli, son?"

Oli looked up and toward the door, unable to hide the reds in his eyes. His dad was standing by the doorway. Fortunately, Alex wasn't that far from the restaurant when a couple of police cars came blaring down the highway earlier. His fatherly instinct immediately told him that something was wrong.

"I've talked to their dad," Alex said. "He wants a word with you."

"But...Mattie..."

"I'll look after him. Your mom just got back and she brought some change of clothes for you. Dash and Mattie are family and she still hasn't forgiven herself for Mattie's kidnapping."

"Dad?"

"Yes, buddy?"

"Is he gonna be okay?"

Alex wouldn't lie to his son. He knew that Oli was referring to Dash. However, seeing the pain in the boy's eyes, he deferred to Mattie's condition, hoping that it could give some hope to a boy who felt like the whole world was on his shoulders.

"The doctors did what they had to do. It was a tough operation, but he'll make it through. He's a strong kid, I've seen that in him. He's like you, son."

"No. I mean...Dash. Is he..." Oli choked on his words, unable to mumble any at all.

"They're doing their best. He'll be out of the theatre soon."

Oli nodded weakly. What else could he do? Dash was still in surgery, a bullet piercing through his side and the doctors told them that it might have ruptured his lungs. Mattie, on the other hand, took a bullet's graze to his left arm with a fracture on his right arm and severe trauma to his head. Unlike the two boys, he escaped the whole scene without even a single wound. Everything happened in a blur, three gunshots going off with the last bullet hitting the tiled floor instead of taking away Dan's life. A stranger apparently stopped that from happening, stealing the magnum from Dan's hands.

"What does he want with me?" Oli asked as he stood up and made his way to the door.

"He has something to ask," Alex said. "Don't worry, I've talked to him and I know how he feels about his kids."

"How?"

"Just ask him, okay?" Alex held Oli's shoulders, looking down at his son. "I think you already know what his answer will be."

The operating theatre was a floor above Mattie's room. As Oli made his way to the next floor, he tried thinking on what his dad possibly meant about him knowing the answer already. From that brief time he came to know Dash and Mattie's father, he was pretty sure that the man hated his sons. Those cold eyes spoke volumes of hatred and prejudice, none of love and acceptance. When he got to the hallway leading toward the theatre, he saw Dash and Mattie's father on a chair beside the wall to his left. He'll get his answer, now or never.

"Oliver," Kenneth's deep voice sounded hollow. "Take a seat."

It felt overly formal and distant, but Oli didn't bother with that. He sat to Kenneth's right, an empty seat between them.

"Do you remember me?"

Oli looked at the man, puzzled at the question.

"Your stepdad told me you can't remember anything from your childhood. I'm guessing you don't remember me at all."

"No, I don't."

"You remember Dashawn and Matthew?"

"No...not really. They...they helped me remember."

"Do you want to know what you did with them when you were kids?"

"Huh?"

"They looked up to you. It was ironic in one way, because you were just the same age as Dashawn. Matthew idolized you and you always took good care of them."

Hearing Kenneth speak about him that way, Oli felt something light in his heart. And, it seemed that Kenneth didn't sound so distant anymore, though still hesitant and unsure.

"You were a good influence to my boys. You made them laugh and you always had their backs, especially Matthew's. You sent anyone who made him cry running away. You were a stubborn kid and you always got what you wanted."

"I don't understand. I mean..."

"You practically lived in our house every day. You spent all your time running around in our yard with those two. Matthew was only three years old, but you never left him out of your games. I can still see him with a wet diaper as he chased you and Dashawn."

Then, Kenneth's tone changed again, deep and distant.

"You became my son, too, Oliver. You were the perfect boy who'd grow up to be strong and... That was until you kissed Dashawn behind my back. You did that many times over and my wife even knew that, but didn't tell me. You betrayed my trust in you."

Oli stared back at Kenneth's piercing eyes, feeling frightful of the man's looming authority.

"You crossed the line. You turned my son gay and made them act like you. I didn't see it before, but you were such a sissy. You were so camp."

Oli felt something stir in his gut. Was it hatred already?

"But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

As fast as his thoughts were racing, Oli turned to confusion once again. Whatever started in his gut was gone for the meantime.

"You don't hate me. Why?"

Don't hate him? What did Kenneth mean by that? As far as he knew, he didn't like the man.

"You don't look at me the same way Dashawn does and it's far from how my brother looks at me."

"You mean their uncle?"

"Yes. Danny. Even my wife looked at me like that. They all hated me. But you don't. Why?"

"I don't get it."

"You know what I think?"

"Uhm..."

"You look at me with hope. You still want me to be there for my sons. You still think I'm capable of loving them. You're giving me too much credit for something I'm not doing, son."

Was it a slip of the tongue, or did Kenneth just call him `son', with his voice not sounding so cold anymore?

"Three years in prison can change a man so much. I've always been thinking about them and every single night, I asked myself, `Why?' Why did I do such a thing, turning my back on them?"

"Sir...I think..."

"Doesn't matter what you think. I can't outdo what I did to them. I don't even know if I can make it up to them."

"You don't hate them anymore?"

Kenneth looked back at him with those same piercing eyes.

"I don't really hate them. You mistook my anger for hatred, Oliver. They hate me. I only brushed them aside, didn't pay attention when I should have. I know I'm biased most of the time and I only think of how it would affect me, my reputation, my work and not my family. I'm that kind of person."

"You don't hate them," Oli repeated, not in question anymore. "...but why?"

"I'm not like you, son. I can't see things the way you do. Try living under the same roof with a man who's always drunk and never gives a shit for his kids except when it came to following the rules. My own father was that man. I learned to see things differently, only within those rules."

"Oh."

"I still love Dashawn and Matthew. I've loved them ever since, but it's hard to love someone who goes against the rules I set and follow myself."

"You mean..."

"Yes. Homosexuals, criminals, terrorists, abusers, backstabbers and the like. Can you love all of them?"

Oli didn't know how to answer. Of course, he didn't like `bad' people, but when those same people was your own family...what, then? Would he still love them?

"My mom said gay people aren't bad. It's just the same love in a different way."

"Your dad told me the same thing. He's a very good lawyer, I must say. He knows how to get through me like he's prosecuting me."

"He's the best."

"Can I ask you a favour, Oliver?"

Oli nodded gently.

"When my sons wake up," Kenneth said as he stood up. "...be there with them. They still hold so much trust in you and I've decided to trust you again. I won't be going against my rules, but I'll be laying down some new ones that would amend those other ones..."

"Amend?"

"Change them in some way. Improve." Kenneth crouched in front of Oli and placed his hand on the boy's left shoulder. "You see my eyes, son? It's not hatred in them. They just look that way."

"Where are you going?" Oli asked as Kenneth stood to leave.

"I need some fresh air."

"But...Dash..."

"He'll be fine. I've talked to his surgeon a while back. And call me Kenneth next time. I don't suppose you remember what you called me back when you were four?"

"Uhm..."

"Monster Ken," Kenneth chuckled. "I thought you meant mister, but monster does sound right, doesn't it?"

Oli was alone once again when Kenneth finally entered the elevator. He mistook everything about the man. Perhaps, it wasn't hatred that stirred in his gut earlier. Perhaps, it was something else. Fear, maybe? Or was it a whole other thing he couldn't place.

Several minutes passed and he didn't even consider leaving that hallway. His mom went to him instead, bringing him some hot chocolate and a warm blanket which much warmer than his jacket.

"You need to sleep, hun."

"I'm okay mom," Oli said, smiling at his mother. "I'll just wait here."

"Mattie's starting to wake up. He looks a bit dazed, but I'm sure he'll recognize you."

Just then, the door to the theatre opened and out came Dash, deeply asleep with a large tube going through his mouth and some other tubes going through his hands. Except for a green sheet over Dash's chest and lap, the boy clearly wore nothing else.

"Excuse me, ma'am," a woman said, addressing Oli's mom. "Are you the boy's mother?"

"I'm his guardian in some way," Dianne answered. "His father had something to take care of. How is he?"

"We've removed the bullet from inside him and it seemed his left lung is intact. It only grazed it somehow. Only two broken ribs and no internal bleeding in other parts of his body. The whole operation took four hours, but we gave him enough anaesthesia to last another two hours. He made it through and he only needs some more time to heal properly."

It was good news to Oli's ears. Dash made it through. Despite seeing Dash's seemingly lifeless body pass him, he wasn't scared anymore. It was, in some way, a miracle that the two brothers survived.

"We'll take him to his room now, the one across from his brother's. They're both lucky. They're strong enough to keep holding to their lives."

"Thank you," Dianne said.

Both Oli and his mom followed Dash to his room. When they got there, Oli made sure to hold Dash's hand, even for just a brief moment. Squeezing it lightly, he smiled at the boy. His mom told him to go see Mattie and he immediately made his way toward the other room.

"He's gone back to sleep, son," his dad told him. "...but he did ask for you and his brother."

Oli sat once again beside Mattie's bed. The boy looked peaceful this time. Despite the bandages that went around Mattie's head, he looked comfortably asleep.

"Oli?" Mattie slurred, his eyes still closed.

"I'm here, Mattie," Oli said, holding Mattie's hand.

"Where's Dashu?"

"He's okay...just sleeping for now."

"It's my fault...sorry."

"No, it isn't," Oli argued, squeezing Mattie's hand.

"...but he came for me. Our uncle." Mattie's eyes opened a little this time. "Dashu didn't have to protect me anymore."

"I would have done the same thing. We love you, Mattie. It's not your fault. I should be sorry coz...coz I let him hurt you."

Mattie closed his eyes once more, breathing in deeply. Oli waited for some time, but it seemed that the little boy surrendered to sleep once again. Feeling tired himself, he rested his head on Mattie's bed and started closing his eyes. He'd been to the hospital twice within just one day already. He decided right then that he hated the smell of antiseptic.

~*~*~*~

~*~*~*~

Oli woke up the next morning to a giggling little boy who apparently had the slightest blush on his cheeks. Rubbing the sleep off his eyes, he looked at Mattie quizzically and noticed that no one else was in the room. Strangely, it didn't smell like antiseptic anymore. Well, it actually smelled like someone spilled coffee all over the place.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

Mattie smiled at him shyly before pointing to his crotch. The little boy had a blanket over his chest down to his toes, but it looked like something bulged from underneath his pyjamas or hospital gown, whatever it was he was wearing.

"What's wrong?" Oli asked, unsure with Mattie's gesture.

"Touch it..."

"Huh?"

"It's silly, but you'll see."

Oli shrugged before placing his hand on top of Mattie's crotch. Soft, unusually soft. He gazed at Mattie once again and the little boy just giggled some more.

"Are these diapers?" he asked.

"Mm-hmm," Mattie nodded. "They changed `em just now."

"You really have to wear it?"

"Don't want me to stink, they said." Then, Mattie whispered, "...and it feels funny good."

"Okay..." Oli trailed off, sitting on Mattie's bed this time. "Does it hurt? I mean your head and all."

"Nope! But my arm does, a little," Mattie answered, moving his right arm gently, encased in a cast.

Oli felt happy seeing Mattie's cheerful side once again. Despite what happened last night, the little boy still managed to smile and laugh at his predicament, especially when he was made to wear diapers.

"Dashu," Mattie mumbled, the cheerful smile leaving his face. "...he's okay, right?"

Apparently, Oli didn't know if Dash was already awake. Getting his phone from his pocket, he glanced at the time. 6:00AM. Dash should've woken up hours ago.

"Yep," he said. "His room's opposite from yours. We could check on him, if you want."

"Can we?"

Just then, Kenneth entered the room and had both boys' eyes glance toward him. He glanced back at Oli, nodded gently before making his way toward Mattie's bed.

"Thank you, Oliver," he said.

"Sir?"

"I'm sure Matthew's smiling because of you." Glancing toward Mattie, he asked, "Aren't you, son?"

Mattie nodded eagerly before saying, "I told you he's so cool dad. He even patted my diapers, too!"

Oli instinctively bit his lip, his eyes sheepishly looking at Kenneth who raised an eyebrow at him. Before he felt sure that there was a lump in his throat, he heard the man chuckle and saw him gently place his hand on Mattie's chest.

"Did he?" Kenneth asked.

"Uhm...I didn't mean to, sir."

"We've talked about this, haven't we Oliver? Just call me Kenneth."

"Okay...uhh...mister K," Oli mumbled.

"That should do. Now Matthew here told me some amazing stuff about you. The famous Oliver, I presume. You're quite well known in our family, aren't you son?"

Oli smiled a bit before asking, "Is Dash awake?"

"Barely. He's been waking up every once in a while, but goes right back to sleep. I don't think he even wants me in there."

"Huh?"

"Unlike Matthew, he was three years older and saw more of what I did to them. You could say that he's three years ahead of Matthew in hating me. It won't be easy for me to talk to him soon."

"I'll make him talk to you, dad," Mattie offered. "I knew you weren't sick and I'll make Dashu believe me!"

"Dashu," Kenneth smiled. "Do you know who taught you to call your brother that way?"

"Who?"

"Not the famous Oliver this time. He had a different name for your brother, I think. Dashu was what your mother called him. You learned that from her."

"Mom?"

"Yes, buddy. She loved both of you so much..."

"You didn't...I mean..."

"It's alright. I know what you mean, but I promise you, I didn't do anything to her. I'm sure you knew that we fought a lot, but I didn't...shoot her."

"It was uncle, right?"

"We'll find that out soon. Your uncle's in custody right now waiting for his trial." Kenneth sat on Mattie's bed, his hand never leaving the boy's chest. "Buddy. I want you tell me everything he did to you, okay? I'll make him pay for all of it."

"...but." Mattie's eyes flinched as he felt doubtful. Glancing briefly toward Oli, he saw the older boy give him a reassuring nod.

"I know I haven't been the best dad, but I'll try to make up for my mistakes from now on. Do you believe in me, Mattie?"

Mattie felt unsure, but he wanted so much to believe in his dad. He still loved the man, looked up to him and wished he could, one day, be as strong as him. For three years, he longed for his father and for another three years or more before that, he didn't even feel loved enough. This time, though, his dad was here. His real dad. He'd give him a chance, perhaps. As young as he was, that chance held every bit of his trust.

Finally, he nodded toward his dad as the man placed a large hand on top of his, squeezing lightly and smiling at him. Even with how hardened his dad's eyes were, the smile was genuine enough and he felt reassurance from that simple gesture alone.

"Oliver, Dash should be waking up again. I'll stay here with Mattie."

Oli nodded and went to Dash's room. A nurse was there, adjusting the IV dosage perhaps. She smiled at him before taking her leave. Dash was still asleep, his chest wrapped in bandages with a bland sheet covering half his body. He sat on a chair beside the boy's bed, his eyes settling on Dash's crotch.

"What are you looking at?" Dash's voice sounded gruff.

"Uhh...nothing."

Was Dash wearing diapers as well? He knew that he shouldn't be thinking of such a thing, but he was curious nonetheless.

"I'm not wearing that thing," Dash told him, his eyes looking toward the table beside him.

As Oli looked over the table, there was indeed some fresh and folded diapers. He looked back to Dash's crotch again and noticed a tiny tube under his sheets. It was apparently attached to a bag hanging to the side of his bed.

"Mattie's in the other room," he said, changing the subject. "...he's with your dad."

"Dad...I don't believe him, Oli," Dash said. "...he can't change his mind just like that! After what happened, he's not allowed to do that!"

"Dash..."

"He's not s'posed to do that!"

Dash grunted, pain shooting through him as Oli scrambled to his side. He felt tears on his cheeks, arguing with himself that his dad wasn't supposed to change his mind so easily. Oli held his hand, staying quiet for most of his part.

"What did he tell you?" he asked.

"He doesn't hate you and Mattie," Oli said. "He loves you and I think he's just mad with himself."

"With himself?" Dash sneered. "What the fuck is that s'posed to mean?"

"I don't really know, but..." Oli paused. "Mattie has already given him a chance. Can't you do the same?"

"He didn't even give me a chance to explain myself. Now he wants one from me?"

"Is it okay if I give him a chance, too?"

Dash looked at him unbelievingly, like somewhat accusing him of betrayal. How could Oli do such a thing? He should know better than to trust Kenneth so suddenly.

"I think he's telling the truth, Dash..." Oli persuaded. "I feel it somehow, like...he's a good person."

"A good person doesn't turn away from his kids. A good person doesn't hit his wife. A good person doesn't...," Dash trailed off, staring fiercely back at Oli. "You still think he's a good person?"

"Anyone can change, right? I'm sure your dad changed after three years in prison. You never got to see him so you didn't see it yourself `til now."

"He's not like that, Oli. Remember what he did last night? He bailed out on us after I told him I was gay! He didn't change at all!"

"Maybe..." Oli paused. "...maybe he changed `coz of what happened. Maybe he thought he'd lose both of you and that made him think real hard that you mean so much to him."

"Huh? Just like that?"

"It can happen, y'know."

Oli felt sure with what he was saying. Anyone could can change in the blink of an eye when faced with life's crises. Perhaps, that's what happened to Gabe yesterday. And, surely, that's what happened to him when he was younger. His fragile mind decided at that very moment after losing both his parents that another life would probably save him from the pain. He might've been unaware of that change in him, but his memories shuffled the events, turning real life into fiction. It was how he coped.

"I'm not giving him a chance," Dash said with finality. "...I just can't. I have to protect Mattie from him. He's lying, Oli! Tell Mattie not to believe him, okay?"

"But..."

"Please..."

"Dash..."

"If you really love me and if you still want my trust, you have to tell Mattie not to believe anything he says. He'll just hurt him..."

"What if...," Oli paused, trying to think of a way out of this. "What if I don't?"

"Then..." Dash stared blankly at his sheets. "I can't trust you anymore. If Mattie ends up getting hurt, I'll do the same to you."

It was that same tone in Dash's voice that made Oli fear those words. It was a genuine threat and he couldn't see Dash's resolve wavering for just a tiny bit. It was sort of a `do-or-die' situation. On one hand, he could end up losing the boy he loved. On the other, he could crush Mattie's hope to millions of pieces `coz it seemed like the little boy put every bit of his faith in his father on the line. Either way, he could lose the two boys' trust in him.

"I won't promise anything, Dash," he said, releasing his grip on Dash's hand. "...but I'll try to find another way to get that happy ending."

He only received a doubtful look from Dash, smiling back at the boy. Wiping the tears that stained Dash's cheeks, he carefully leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Dash's nose.

"I don't think I'll go to school today," he said. "It won't be the same without you."

"You're too sweet sometimes," Dash commented. "...I'll be fine here. Your mom already volunteered to look after us. I don't want my dad in here at all."

"But I want to stay with you!"

"No, Oli. I want to think on my own right now and...don't forget what I told you. I'm serious."

"You can't just push me away for your own sake!"

"Not for my sake," Dash corrected. "...for Mattie's."

Despite arguing incessantly with Dash, Oli found himself in his dad's car on their way to his school after stopping by their house. He was quite furious with how stubborn Dash had been this morning, but he had no other choice than to give the boy some space. He needed some time to think of the consequences on his own, too, anyway.

When he got to first period, Anthony was already beside him, taking Dash's seat for himself. They both had their backs to the door as they tried to ignore anyone who looked at them. His best friend had a worried look in his eyes, but didn't dare bring up anything after seeing his apparently sour mood.

"Dash isn't with you?" Anthony asked, unable to keep quiet while looking at his moping best friend.

"Something happened, is all," Oli said. "...I don't want to talk `bout it."

"What do you mean? Is it something bad?"

"Tony, please..."

Anthony sighed and slouched on his seat, scanning the room for any of their classmates leering or whispering about them. He had yet to bring up another problem for Oli.

"Oli," he mumbled, shifting closer to his best friend. "I know this is bad timing, but...James uploaded the video."

Oli shot an urgent and disbelieving look at his friend, forgetting everything that has happened since last night.

"Don't worry, a lot of people flagged it, but...some of the guys in school have seen it already."

"I'll fucking kill him," Oli hissed, thinking of James' lifeless body before his eyes.

"I'm with you on that one," Anthony said. "...but let's be careful this time, okay? I'm grounded already."

"Where's Gabe?"

"Don't think he'll make it today. You know what happened to him? I mean, why change his mind just like that!"

"I think I know," Oli thoughtfully said.

"Huh?"

"He's our best friend, Tony. He'll always have our back."

"...sure hope he does," Anthony commented. "I'll have to make sure first."

"Hey guys."

Both Oli and Anthony looked over their shoulders and saw Gabe smiling shyly and guiltily at them. His eye still had that purplish circle and the corner of his lip still looked bruised.

"Is it okay if I...I mean," Gabe stuttered.

"Hey, best friends, right?" Anthony remarked, smiling at him, though he still had to make sure that Gabe had no other troubling plans.

Gabe's eyes gazed into Oli's which apparently hinted of some doubt and a bit of anger. He quickly looked away and was about to leave for some desk at the far corner where no one sat when Oli grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.

"We're not done talking," Oli told him. "...haven't started yet."

Gabe anxiously took the seat next to Oli, not knowing what to say to his best friends and doubting if he should ever talk to them again after what he did. He had made a pact with James, with the devil, and now he didn't know how to ease off the burden it caused his two friends, especially Oli.

"Why Gabe?" Oli asked in a hushed tone. "You turned back on our promise..."

"I...I know and I'm really sorry," he said, looking down at his lap.

"I thought you were my friend...my best friend, but you..."

Their talk had been cut short as their teacher walked in and gave them something to work their asses of for the rest of the period. It wasn't until lunchtime that they found themselves awkwardly sharing the silence looming over them once again.

"You guys should really get this over with," Brian, who was sitting beside Oli, said.

Anthony sat beside Gabe, nudging his friend to say something or else. Like yesterday, James wasn't anywhere around and so were his boys. Brian was kicked out of their group and was branded as a traitor.

"What did you do to James' boys?" Anthony asked Gabe

"...gave them some tummy ache. I found out what James was planning and I tried stopping them. I just gave `em something to eat and they fell for it. James didn't, anyway. He left his boys to take care of me and...Oli..."

Oli looked up at Gabe and waited for the boy to continue.

"I'm sorry I didn't make it on time..."

"But you did Gabe! You even saved me from him!"

"But...Dashawn," Gabe paused. "...is he okay?"

Oli declined to answer as he turned his gaze away and toward his untouched lunch. Dash was far from okay, he thought.

"I don't really get it," Anthony said. "You wanted to get rid of Dash, right? They took that video of him and didn't hurt Oli until James fought with him. What were they planning that you had to stop them?"

"James wanted Oli gone, too. He said he'd get rid of any fags in school and would make Oli and Dash his examples. And...Tony? Are you really with Brian?"

Brian choked on his salad and stared back at Anthony's surprised eyes. He nodded discreetly and Anthony just shook his head. He saw Gabe and Oli staring at them, expecting some answer from both of them so he just sighed, but he did feel someone kick his leg.

"Sort of," he answered. "...but can we not talk about us? You guys still need to make up!"

"Anyway," Gabe continued. "He knew about you guys, too and you were next on his list."

"How `bout you?" Oli blurted out.

"Huh?"

Realizing what he said, Oli blushed a little and thought of something else to say. However, Gabe spoke up before he could.

"I'm on that list, too. A lot of other kids were on that list. I think he wanted a genocide at school."

"A what?" Anthony asked.

"Y'know, he wanted to get rid of all faggots and everyone else he could bully."

"He'd go broke without their lunch money," Brian uttered.

"But you paid him to do that to Dash!" Oli told Gabe. "How much did you give him?"

"20 bucks," Anthony answered directly.

"20 bucks? You'd get rid of someone for 20 fuckin dollars?!"

"Oli..."

"Gabe, I don't know if I can really forgive you, but...you're my best friend and I don't think you'll break our promise again."

"You mean?"

"I'm giving you a chance to make up for it," Oli said, thinking of an entirely different thing.

Gabe didn't know what to say or how to respond. Holding Oli's sincere gaze, he chose to just offer a small smile and begin eating his sandwich.

"You think Dashawn will...give me a chance, too?"

Anthony and Brian exchanged looks while waiting for Oli to answer the question. Gabe still held Oli's gaze, expecting an answer as well.

Oli took a deep breath in, deciding in that moment that he needed his friends' help if he was to make Dash understand the importance of giving someone another `chance'.

"He's in the hospital right now," he told them. "You guys wanna see him after school?"

All three boys looked quizzically at Oli.

"I'm grounded," Brian said before turning to Anthony. "Are you?"

Anthony nodded and so did Gabe. Well, here was another perfect time for Oli to teach his friends the importance of...stealth mode!

~*~*~*~

Back in the hospital, Dash thought a lot on his own. His dad did not come in again and Oli's mom only checked on him a few times. He wanted to be left alone and the hospital staff was pretty accommodating to grant him his request. He didn't even see Mattie, but that was understandable since both of them were still recuperating and their wounds often hurt like hell.

`A chance?' he asked himself.

Why would he give his father a chance? The man clearly had no interest left in his kids. Whatever it was that his dad had in mind, it surely didn't have anything to do with asking for their forgiveness. And he can't even think of anyone else capable of killing their mom. He didn't care if his uncle was the new suspect now. What mattered to him was his dad's heartless voice when he raised it at their mom, back turned toward them and apparent rejection of who he was. It wasn't long ago that he learned to hate his dad, but it took him a long time to realize that. He can't just let go of that hatred. How can he protect Mattie if he ever let his guard down again?

He looked to the table on his left, a pack of chocolates quietly resting on it. He didn't like anything too sweet, but he loved dark chocolate too much. Only a handful of other people knew that about him. There was Mattie, his mom, his uncle, Oli when they were still younger and, of course, his dad. This lonely pack of chocolates, he thought, was from his dad.

Meanwhile, in Mattie's room, the little boy was catching up with his real dad. Kenneth even bought him some chocolate truffles and was patiently handing each bite to him. He had been holding the same gentle smile since that morning. Curiously enough, he felt comfortable around his dad. He didn't feel scared. There was no tension between them, only mild laughter and his contagious giggles.

"Dad?" he asked after receiving another sweet bite.

"Hmm?"

"Why did you...I mean, why does Dashu, uhm, hate you?"

Kenneth's eyes shifted from one emotion to another which sort of held some doubt and something else. Mattie was staring up at him so intently.

"You don't remember anything I did when your mom was still around?"

"Not all of it. No."

"What can you remember?" he asked, but on his mind, he thought of a different question. That question was for Dash, perhaps. `What can't you forget?'

"I think...," Mattie paused, looking down at his lap and furrowing his eyebrows while trying to remember. "I didn't see you around in our house a lot. Mom was crying and...and Dash started saying stuff about you."

"What stuff?"

"I can't really remember, but I guess it was something like he...he didn't love you anymore. He tried to make mom stop crying, but she only cried some more and started hugging both of us..."

"Hmm," Kenneth grunted as he shifted closer to his son, Mattie looking up at him once more.

"Dad? Did you hate us?"

"Not any of you, buddy. I just...I couldn't face both of you because I felt like I failed you as a father. I knew I wasn't around most of the time and that wasn't only because of my job. I...I started drinking too much and always coming home to your mom shouting at me and Dash glaring at me from behind the door."

"Why couldn't you face us?"

"I failed you, Mattie. I didn't want to believe that my sons were...turning out to be like Oliver."

"Oli? What did he do?"

"You were spending too much time with him and whenever I wasn't around, him and Dash did some stuff that I didn't like at all. Your mom told me to ignore it because they were only kids and didn't know any better with what they were doing, but I knew that they understood what they were doing behind my back."

"What?"

"They were kissing each other," Kenned said firmly. "Oliver was turning Dash into someone I didn't want him to be. He turned your brother gay..."

"...but...but, he didn't mean to, right?"

Kenneth stared blankly at his son. Then, he reached out a hand and wiped off the smudge of chocolate on Mattie's lips.

"I'm sure he didn't," he said, but he knew that wasn't the case. "...want something to drink?"

"I want to see Dashu."

"Are you sure? Your wound might open up."

"Please, dad. I'll get him to talk to you," Mattie pleaded. "I promise."

Upon Mattie's plea, Kenneth requested for a wheelchair from the nurse's station and soon, he was pushing the little boy into Dash's room, but he chose to stay behind and just wait for his boys to finish their talk. Oli's mom went in for him, pushing Mattie's wheelchair toward Dash's bed, before going out of the room as well.

"Dashu...," Mattie mumbled to which Dash just nodded.

For the first time in their lives, neither Dash nor Mattie knew what to say to each other. Dash only held an expectant look toward his little brother, Mattie doing the same. It was eerily quiet between them and anyone could easily hear the single drop of IV every few seconds.

"Don't believe him," Dash finally said, his voice sounding flat and serious.

"You mean dad?"

"He's lying, Mattie. He'll leave us again. He always did that. Mom hated him for it."

"But...he doesn't hate us!"

"...doesn't make him any better, does it? I know him, Mattie. He doesn't care `bout us."

"But I love him! He's my real dad, isn't he?"

"You still believe what our uncle told you?"

"I...I know uncle's lying. I can feel it. He's not my dad. We're brothers!"

"We are, aren't we?" Dash quietly said. "...and as your big brother, I'm here to protect you. Dad hates us, Mattie. He can't even see that...that..."

"You're gay, right?" Mattie mumbled. "...that's what you told him."

"You know what that means?"

"It means you love Oli," Mattie said, finally referring to what Oli and Dash have as love. "...but that's okay! I..."

"You like Oli, too...don't you?"

Mattie looked away, ashamed somehow. Did he really like Oli that way? Or was he just...confused with how to feel toward someone so cool and bright like Oli. And what about his big brother? He liked Dash as well.

"I made a promise to our dad," Mattie said, once again staring back at Dash.

"I'm not..."

"Dashu! Talk to him! I know he loves us and he's not lying anymore. He even bought me some truffles and chocolates for you!"

"I don't want to see him anymore," Dash said. "I can't trust him..."

"I do! I'll make you talk to him. I promise..."

"Sorry, Mattie," Dash uttered, turning his gaze toward the table beside him. "...I hate him even more now."

From outside the door, Kenneth could hear the muffled conversation between his two kids. Dianne stood beside him, but didn't offer any word or advice. They just kept quiet and listened. Turning away from the door, he finally spoke with Oli's mom.

"Dianne, is it okay if I leave my sons to you for a while?"

"I don't mind," Dianne answered. "Alex should be here soon with our son. Do you need to take care of something?"

"I have to talk to my brother first. I'll figure out what to do next."

"They still love you. They're the sweetest boys I've come to know."

"Doesn't make me any better, does it?" Kenneth said, repeating Dash's word before taking his leave.

~*~*~*~

"You know what's weird?" Brian asked as they walked down the hallway for their last period for that day, which was Math, the class he shared with Oli.

"What?" Oli asked.

"No one's looking at us like we're the plague or something."

"You mean, no one's looking at me."

"I thought that everyone saw that video by now, but...looks like they didn't get to see it."

"...which is much better," Oli added.

"Yeah, but it's still weird."

Oli just gave raised an eyebrow at him as they entered their classroom. When they got to their desks, three seats apart from each other, some of their classmates approached Oli, but they didn't look threatening at all. In fact, these kids looked damn serious while smiling contemptuously.

"Oliver?" a fragile looking boy with framed glasses asked. "Can we ask you something?"

"Uhh...sure."

"We saw that video of your friend last night," a girl with wiry hair said. "We didn't like it so we got others to flag it."

"You did that?" Oli asked.

"We know what it's like to get beaten up, trust me," the first boy told him.

"It's awful, but we really can't do anything until we saw you stand up to him. Who was your friend that punched him in the hallway?"

"Anthony. He's my best friend. Why?"

"We wanted to do that for so long!" the girl exclaimed, earning several nods from the other kids behind her. "But why are your with Brian? He's one of James' pawns."

"Pawns?" Brian suddenly interrupted as he approached them.

"He's cool guys," Oli said. "He thinks James is an asshole and we're friends now."

"Are you sure he's not spying on you?" the girl asked.

"Hey! I'm right here, y'know! And I'm not spying on anyone!" Brian retaliated.

"Y'know, you never did beat us up. You just tagged along with James' cronies," the boy pointed out.

"You make it sound like I'm a wuss!" Brian argued. "...but, yeah. I didn't like beating anyone just `coz they did."

"What do you guys want anyway?" Oli asked.

"We want to form an alliance," said the boy. "James' boys against all of us."

"You mean, all of you?" Oli asked, eyeing everyone that gathered around them. Eight scrawny looking boys and girls in total. Well, there was that one boy who looked shy, but was almost as big as James.

"Not just us. We got some other kids from lower grades and other classes to join us and we're already planning our revenge."

"Revenge?" Brian spoke up. "You're not gonna do anything to me, are you?"

"If you're Oliver's friend, you're not our enemy."

"I don't like making enemies," Oli told them. "...but I don't mind if it's James. I'll make him pay for what he did."

"So you're in?"

Oli looked up at Brian while the boy just shrugged at him. Now what would Dash do in this situation? Surely, he'd want revenge as well.

"I'm in. Brian, too."

"You're honorary leader from now on," the girl told him.

"I feel like part of a gang already," Oli commented, smiling to himself.

"We'll talk about this some other time, okay? Don't want anyone spying on us, do we?" the boy with the glasses apparently meant Brian.

As they all left Oli and Brian pondering on what just happened, their Math teacher came in. Oh, she was a grumpy old woman who taught them that pi will always be irrational. Strangely, exacting revenge on James felt somewhat irrational as well. Fight fire with fire and you'd get burned.

After all their last periods, they eventually met up with Gabe and Anthony. Oli smiled at both boys, feeling excited that they'd all get to do stealth mode soon. As they made sure to keep their phones in silent mode, they made their way to the sidewalk and waited for Oli's dad. Hopefully, his dad will also play in stealth mode.

"Guys, wait here, okay?" Oli told Anthony and Brian.

"Where are you going?"

"I forgot something in my locker. Gabe and I will be back in a jiff!"

Gabe could not decline as Oli dragged him back into their school, passing all those other kids, turning several corners before walking down an empty hallway and into what looked like a janitor's closet. Making sure that he locked the door behind him, Oli took out his phone and it bathed the small space with its dim light.

"What are you doing?" Gabe asked in a hushed tone.

"What we should've done long ago."

Coincidentally, the light from Oli's phone went off seconds after Gabe's eyes opened fully in surprise with Oli's soft lips against his. This was different from what Anthony gave him. Oli didn't even bother running a hand down his chest as the boy only held onto his right shoulder. Unlike Anthony's fierce and forceful kiss, Oli was decisively gentle and...chaste.

There wasn't any tongues involved, only their boyishly thin lips pressed on each other. Oli must've licked his lips before, Gabe thought, since it felt somewhat wet unlike his. Even if he couldn't see anything, he was sure that Oli had his eyes closed. The tiny space they were in felt warm as Oli's chest slowly pressed against his. Instinctively, he snaked his hands `round Oli's waist and pulled the boy closer, eliciting a moan when he accidentally bit on Oli's lip. Apparently, their tongues came into play now.

Oli smiled gently as he finally felt what it was like to be kissing Gabe. It felt different somehow, like something missing in him for a very long time was finally filled with saliva and Gabe's tongue in his mouth. He bit back on Gabe's lips and put his other arm around Gabe's neck while still holding onto his phone. He was right, for one thing. Gabe tasted like oranges.

When they finally drew back, he felt Gabe's hot breath on his cheeks and he smiled. Placing one last kiss on Gabe's cheek, he felt himself giggle before leaning back.

"What was that for?" Gabe asked.

"I didn't like Darren's rules," Oli admitted. "I really wanted to do that since long ago."

"You mean the kiss?"

"Duh! What else, dummy?"

"But why? I mean...you're with Dashawn now, right?"

"...doesn't mean I have to leave my best friends behind," Oli sincerely told him. "And that kiss was long due. I just hope we did that sooner."

"What if we did? Would you...have been with me?"

Oli's smile faded as he whispered, "I don't know, Gabe. It felt different, but..."

"Dashawn did better, right?"

"He was my friend way back before we met...my best friend, too. We did lots of things together and...we kissed long before I met you and Anthony."

"So you two were boyfriends since you were toddlers?"

"No, silly! I'll explain later. My dad should be here soon."

"Oli?" Gabe whispered before Oli got to open the door.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks...for letting me kiss you."

"No, Gabe," Oli chuckled. "I would've let you do that long ago. It was you who finally let me do it now."

As they got back to where Anthony and Brian were waiting, they tried ignoring those questioning looks thrown at them, seemingly asking them why they had such dishevelled appearances with Gabe blushing slightly. Oli just gave them a knowing smile, but didn't say anything more. When his dad finally came to pick him up, he somehow got Alex to agree and cover for them. Stealth mode was a success!

~*~*~*~

Sighing to himself, he finally made it to where his brother was kept in custody. This was the same prison facility he'd been sent to three years ago. It was only yesterday when he was set free and now, here he was again. Unlike in the past three years, he was here now as a visitor. Before seeing his brother, he dealt with something else earlier. Now that he was set free and in hopes that he could make it up to his kids, he spoke with a real estate dealer and arranged to buy their old house, the one he lived in with Dan and his dad.

"Kennie," Dan spoke, his voice sounding distant and hollow as his eyes avoided looking back at his brother.

"You still remember when you fell from that tree, Danny?" he asked, wanting so badly to rid himself of his long-held guilt.

"Tree? What tree?"

"You were seven."

"I don't remember any tree..."

Kenneth wasn't surprised. Dan might have deliberately forgotten about that tree, but he remembered everything that happened when Dan fell off one of its branches. They were playing outside that time while their dad went off to find a job. When Dan jumped off from the highest branch, he was immediately there to break his brother's fall. What happened next was totally unintentional, but it surely sparked something in his little brother...

"I'll be in here from now on, won't I?" Dan's voice snapped Kenneth out of his thoughts.

"Did you kill my wife?"

Dan didn't answer. Instead, he stared blankly at Kenneth and smiled.

They weren't the same persons back when they were still young. This time, after years of growing apart, they had forgotten how close they'd been when they were kids. Alongside those memories was the promise they kept as brothers. Alongside their past playfulness, mischiefs and fear of their father was their own innocence devoured by maturity and realities that they couldn't fully comprehend and control. They weren't kids anymore.

"Are you..." Kenneth hesitated for a moment. "...are you Matthew's father?"

Yes, Kenneth heard what Mattie and Dash spoke about earlier. Apparently, his wife didn't tell him who Mattie's dad was, only that the kid wasn't his son to begin with. To think that his brother was actually Mattie's father was absurd and definitely not true.

"I've kept the DNA results in my house. You can look for it there."

Kenneth fisted his hands on his lap and he was trying real hard to keep himself in control. He wanted so much to knock the lights out of Dan, but he knew that he didn't deserve to hurt his brother anymore. After all these years, Dan still hated him for what he did. Those same brown eyes, though seemingly devoid of anything, could not get rid of the anger behind them.

"I'll see you in court, Danny," he said as he stood up. "I have to be there for my kids now. You'll pay for what you did."

"What about you?" Dan asked. "...and what you did to me?"

With his back turned toward his brother, Kenneth forced his eyes shut before answering.

"That was a long time ago. What matters now is what you did to my sons."

After all this time, he still couldn't get rid of his guilt. Did he still love his brother? If he hadn't been so cold toward Dan, would all of this shit have happened? Too late now, he thought. Unlike how he hoped to make up to his kids, he didn't believe that Dan could ever forgive him. And he didn't want to waste any more of his time with the man who stole his wife and family from him.

~*~*~*~

"Let me get this straight," Dash began, seated upright on his hospital bed with Oli and his friends around him while Mattie slept in his room. "...you're honorary leader of a gang?"

"Keep it down, Dash," Oli said. "My dad will hear us."

"A gang of sissies and nerds," Dash added.

"Hey! They're not like that! They just can't stand up to James on their own," Oli argued.

"Against a bunch of seventh graders, they don't stand a chance," Brian said. "James is big for his age. And no, I'm not talking `bout his dick. You saw how big his head was, too, right?"

"It's full of air, I bet," Anthony added. "So...do we really form an alliance with them?"

"If we do, James won't stand a chance this time," Oli said. "We beat him up last time already. We can do it again with some help."

"And if we get suspended? Or expelled?" Anthony retorted.

"If we do it outside our school, our teachers can't do anything `bout it."

"What about our parents?" Brian asked. "I'm already grounded for a week."

"We'll deal with `em afterwards," said Oli. "We'll just tell `em that we defended ourselves against James. That always works for my dad's clients."

"I'm not so sure `bout this," Gabe finally spoke up. "I mean, I want to get back at him, too, but..."

"Does your wound still hurt?"

"Not that much anymore. It isn't that deep."

"I don't know `bout you guys, but I'll join their alliance," Oli said. "...Brian, too."

"You just dragged me in," Brian pointed out. "...but, yeah, I'm in."

"Tony?"

"Sure, if Brian is already in."

"Gabe?"

"Okay. He did hurt you guys and it was my partly my fault. I'll make it up to you by joining."

"Dash?"

"How many saw that video?"

"Only over a hundred views before it got flagged," Brian said.

"...then I'm in."

"So it's official, okay?" Oli gleefully said. "As honorary leader, I appoint all of you as my right-hand men."

"We need to think of a plan this time. Not like last time, okay, Oli?" Anthony told his friend.

"Yeah...that was kinda stupid. And those other kids at school are already planning something. We can work with them."

As the boys finally agreed to form that alliance with the other kids from their school, their conversation shifted to what exactly happened to Dash. Both Oli and Dash were a bit hesitant to admit anything, but they told them nonetheless. Somehow, they were becoming the best of friends now and they should learn how to trust each other. However, Gabe still tried hard to avoid those daggers that Dash shot with his eyes.

They didn't tell the others every detail, however. They only told them about Dash and Mattie's dad having been reunited with them, though Dash didn't like to think of it that way, and their uncle doing something stupid and getting locked up for it. They didn't say anything about what Dash went through. Mostly, they told everyone about how they were the best of friends since childhood. Unsurprisingly, Gabe, Anthony and Brian couldn't believe that Oli was adopted, but they all found it harder to believe that Anthony and Brian were together.

"We're best friends and you didn't tell us!" Oli accused. "How did you guys meet?"

"Long story," said Anthony.

"Not really," Brian disagreed.

"Was it that time when Tony didn't hang out with us for a week and we didn't even see him that much?" Gabe asked.

"Close," Brian said. "I was with James before, right?"

The boys nodded, except for Anthony.

"We made lots of money from kids like Tony here."

"You stole his lunch money?" Oli asked, finding it somewhat funny.

"James did," Brian answered. "...I gave it back to Tony every time."

"Why? You felt bad for him? You already had a crush on him?" Oli blurted out.

"He said I looked thin," Anthony mumbled, keeping his head low.

Oli laughed which earned him an annoyed look from Anthony while Gabe chuckled lightly. Dash just listened, knowing that he wasn't even there at that time.

"Yeah, he looked really thin so I...uhh...I bought him his lunch and we started hanging out from there. We ate outside so James won't see me with him..."

"But why didn't you tell us?" Oli asked.

"You two already spent so much time together," Anthony said, referring to Oli and Gabe. "...I felt left out...until I met Brian."

"You sound like a puppy in love," Gabe mused.

"You should've seen him pout and beg me for..." Brian got cut off by Anthony's slug on his shoulder. "Oww! That hurt, you bastard!"

"Anyway," Oli interrupted, giggling himself. "...what do you guys wanna do now? I'm thirsty. Wanna get some drinks?"

Anthony and Brian agreed, but Gabe just kept quiet. When the three other boys went for the door, he voiced his concern.

"Oli," he started. "Is it okay if I stay with Dashawn here? I still need to..."

"Sure, but..." Oli paused, looking toward Dash before he received a nod. "...okay. Just don't do anything stupid or I won't forgive you. Ever."

"You have my word," Gabe replied, thinking how he sounded so noble.

As Oli, Anthony and Brian went to get something to drink, Gabe and Dash engaged in their own...uhh...staring game. Gabe held a guilty look, trying hard not to get incinerated by Dash's glares.

"You hate me, don't you?" he asked.

"Do I need to answer that?" Dash said flatly.

"Why does Oli...like you? I mean...you only met him...a month ago?"

"Weren't you listening earlier? We were friends before he met you."

"I know, but...you never saw him for three years. And now...he suddenly remembers you. I've been friends with him for almost seven years now..."

"And you didn't do anything, did you?" Dash interrupted.

"Huh?"

"I'm gay, Gabriel. I knew that long ago. Oli, too. You two messed around together, but did you ever think that Oli wanted more from you?"

"I don't get what you're saying...are you..."

"He's Oliver, y'know. He's stubborn, but he's sweet. You didn't know that `bout him."

"I did, too!" Gabe shouted.

"So why didn't you tell him?"

"Tell him what?"

"You like him?"

Gabe paused, stared blankly away, not wanting to find out the answer to Dash's question. Did he like Oli? Or...or was he just messing around with the boy?

"I don't like seeing him with you," he uttered quietly. "...you stole him from us..."

"...from you," Dash corrected. "...but I didn't steal him. Hell, I only wanted to be friends with him again...but he just had to find out everything `bout him."

"Being adopted, right? And being best friends with you. He even told me that you kissed a lot when you were kids."

"Yep, that's Oliver. He can't keep quiet `bout anything. I like that `bout him..."

"You like him a lot, don't you?"

Dash grunted before letting a smile briefly cross his lips.

"I'm sorry," Gabe mumbled. "...what I did yesterday."

"Getting stabbed?"

"...what I made James do to you. I didn't know he'd hurt Oli."

"So you're only here `coz Oli got hurt. If he didn't, and James got his way with me, you wouldn't be here, would you?"

Gabe nodded gently.

"You're an asshole," Dash told him.

"I guess so..." Looking back at Dash, he added, "...but I'm Oli's best friend, too. I won't mind anymore, if he ends up with you."

"Are you even gay?" Dash wanted to find out.

"No...I don't think so, anyway. It's just so much fun to be around him."

"It is, isn't it?" Dash looked away, glancing briefly at the lonesome chocolates on his table. "...I can't forgive you, Gabriel."

"I know," Gabe said. "...you can call me Gabe from now on. All my friends call me that."

"Dash...you can call me Dash."

When Oli, Anthony and Brian came back in several minutes later, they brought Mattie with them. The little boy no longer needed a wheelchair since his legs didn't feel wobbly anymore and when Oli went to get him, he told the older boy that he didn't need diapers, too. He giggled and Oli laughed along.

"Are you sure you're not twins?" Brian asked, looking over to Mattie and Dash.

"He's nine and I'm 12. How can we be twins?" Dash pointed out.

"You look a lot alike," said Anthony. "I mean, you only look older, Dash, but I'm sure you looked like Mattie when you were nine, too."

Despite the annoyed expression on Dash's face when Anthony called him `old' (`coz, seriously, he was only 12, shy of 13 in a few months), Mattie held pride in being called as his big brother's twin. That only proved that they shared the same parents.

"We should get going," Gabe suggested. "...we're still grounded, y'know."

"Yeah," Anthony and Brian agreed.

After the three boys left with Oli seeing them off and his dad driving them home, they stayed in Dash's room and recounted last night's events, further condemning Dash and Mattie's uncle in the process. While they were so engaged in their conversation, Kenneth and Dianne entered without knocking and the three boys only looked at the adults in confusion.

"Oli, come with me for a while," his mom said.

"What for?"

"We'll get something for dinner before we go home later."

"Can't I stay here?"

"No, sweety," his mom told him as she made her way toward him, leaning in to whisper something. "Why don't we leave Dash and Mattie with their dad for a while? They have so many things to talk about. We'll just stay in Mattie's room, okay?"

Oli nodded, glanced toward Dash and received a scowl from the boy. Mattie, on the other hand, looked uncertainly up at him, but smiled, like telling him that he'd have the situation between his dad and big brother under control. The little boy did promise his dad to have Dash talking to him again.

"You're worried about Dash and Mattie, aren't you?" his mom asked as they got to Mattie's room.

"Mattie loves their dad," he told her. "...but Dash hates him."

"Is that what Dash told you?" she asked and Oli nodded. "What do you think, Oliver?"

"Huh?"

"...about their father."

"I think...he really loves both of them, but he's just...he doesn't want his sons turning gay, but he's already trying to accept that."

"...and?"

"I..." he paused, looking into his mom's eyes. "I don't know what you want me to say, mom."

"You see sweetheart," she began, sitting beside Oli on Mattie's bed. "Not everyone can change. I heard what you and Dash talked about earlier and how he doesn't believe in his dad anymore. You should understand him."

"...but, he's their dad! He can change!"

"I'm sure he already did. Three years in prison is a long time, but you have to look at it from Dash's perspective."

"What do you mean?"

"He's gone through a lot, hasn't he? It's easier to lose faith in someone in his situation. From what I see, he only thinks of his brother and he'd do anything to keep him away from danger. His dad, for one, is someone he doesn't trust anymore. What he sees as a danger to him, he sees as danger toward Matthew."

"He can just give his dad a chance, right? He doesn't have to trust him...just give him a chance."

"Your father is so much better at this," his mom remarked. "You see, in the legal world, there is something they call fiduciary relations, usually between an agent and his principal."

"Fidu-what?"

"Trust, sweetheart. You can't give anyone a chance if you don't trust he'd do something good out of it."

"Oh..."

"Dash lost his trust in his dad. If you were him, would you give their dad a chance knowing what he did and how he bailed out on his kids? He did that again last night. That was the last straw for Dash."

"He...he should give him a chance, at least."

"If he still has a little trust left, he would've done that. I know this is strictly different from its legal sense, but it's the same trust no matter which way you look at it."

"Can't I do anything `bout it?"

"You can try and make him change, but that won't be easy."

"You mean their dad?"

"No, sweety," his mom corrected. "I'm talking about Dash. You can talk to him, make him trust his father again and give him a chance, but it all has to start with him. You can't change someone's mind because you want them to. That change of perspective has to come from Dash."

"What do we do now? I mean, Mattie and me..."

"I'm sure their dad is doing everything to earn that trust again. The only thing you and Mattie can do is to make sure Dash sees most of it. If he ignores what his dad is doing right now, he won't give their father a chance to make up for what he did."

"That's it?" he asked and his mom looked curiously at him. "That's easy, mom! You're just saying that we have to be there for Dash."

"Yes, Oli," she smiled. "Be there for him and don't do anything you think is right. You might end up hurting Dash and losing his trust in you. Try putting yourself in his shoes if you must. Don't do it for yourself or for Mattie's. They're brothers, but they're different and so are you. Make him see how their father has changed and the rest should come from him."

"I will," he pledged. "I'll give him a happy ending...and mom?"

"Yes?"

"...I think I know what happened when I was six."

Smiling sadly at Oli, Dianne pulled the boy into a warm hug, soothing Oli's little whimpers.

It was later that afternoon, before dinner and before Oli went home that Kenneth and Mattie went into the little boy's room again, with the man being disturbingly quiet while Mattie looked awfully sad. When Oli talked about it with Dash, he found out what Kenneth had planned for him and for his kids. They were to move to a different house by the end of the week, after Dash's release from the hospital. Mattie looked forward to it, but Dash, while keeping it to himself, wanted to run away. Oli stayed quiet, looking intently at Dash's back turned toward him and trying real hard to see himself in the other boy's shoes. From what little he knew about Dash's life for the past six years after he got adopted, he didn't see himself completely from the boy's perspective. This was going to be harder than he thought.

That afternoon, Mattie got released from the hospital. The boy only had a bandage on his left arm and a cast on his right while the bandage around his head was removed and only a gauze remained where his curls fell down his forehead. He went home together with Oli and his parents while Kenneth stayed in the hospital to look after Dash despite the boy's protests. However, Kenneth didn't stay in Dash's room. Instead, only a couple of nurses went in while he sat outside in the hospital lounge.

When they finally got home, Oli made sure to be Mattie's `servant' until the boy's cast was gone. Mattie liked the arrangement. In fact, he loved the attention that Oli was giving him. Sitting on the older boy's lap in their living room couch, he let himself drift to sleep in Oli's arms as the night passed both of them. By next week, it was decided that Mattie would start at Oli and Dash's school. Tomorrow, Mattie decided to come along with his dad to look for furniture and decorations for their new home. It wasn't sold to Kenneth yet, but the necessary papers were already being prepared.

~*~*~*~

Two days after Mattie got released, there was still no progress with Dash giving his dad a chance. Kenneth had tried almost everything, but his son easily ignored his approaches, while Mattie still believed that everything between his big brother and their dad will be resolved. Oli, despite arguing and making up with Dash countless times already, still couldn't see himself in the other boy's shoes.

"You all know what happened to James?" Brian started as he sat beside Oli during lunchtime.

"Did he get expelled already?"

"No," Brian said. "...he ran away from their house."

"What?" Oli asked, looking strangely at Brian.

"He's been missing since Tuesday morning. His dad doesn't care, but their neighbours have been really concerned."

"Missing? James?" Anthony uttered. "He doesn't go missing just like that."

"Y'know what I think?" Gabe asked. "His dad's beating him up. You ever saw those Nikes he wore? They're like, worn out and his shirts look small on him. I don't think he liked living in their house that much."

"So what now?"

"What do you mean?" Oli asked.

"As honorary leader," Brian pointed out. "...what'll you do Oli? If the police can't even find him, we won't know where he is. Still planning on that revenge?"

"He'll find us, y'know," Anthony said. "I'm sure he'll get his hands on us."

"At least his boys can't do anything without him," Brian said. "...they look like lost puppies in school."

They all laughed at Brian's remark and started exchanging sandwiches with each other. Somehow, they all decided to make that a tradition among them. It will be a constant reminder that they can never turn on their friends ever again to which Gabe eagerly agreed.

After school, Oli dropped by the hospital once again, giving Dash their homework and still trying to get the boy to see what Kenneth had been doing. Several packs of dark chocolates piled on the table beside his bed and Kenneth's long suit hung by the chair to its right. Mattie was spending a lot of time with their dad and the little boy could never be happier. Why can't Dash see that their dad was finally here for them?

"Oli?" Mattie mumbled as he sat on Oli's bed after they got home.

"Yeah?" Oli said, crouching in front of the boy as he removed Mattie's shoes, leaving his white socks on.

"I wanna try something different."

"Huh?"

"...with Dashu," said Mattie as he looked down at Oli. "I want you to help me."

"Uhh...sure."

"I know he doesn't hate our dad that much. We just need to make him remember. There was something he left in our uncle's house before we...ran away from there. It was a gift from our dad."

"What gift?"

"Our dad gave me my stuffed turtle when I was five," Mattie recalled. "He gave Dashu something else when he turned five. It was a toy police car."

"Okay, but what about it?" Oli asked as he sat on the floor.

"He didn't let me play with it, but I didn't listen to him. It was a cool car! You can even open the doors and see inside and it had blinking lights."

"Why didn't he let you play with it?"

"He put something inside there. I didn't get to read it, but I know it's `bout our dad."

"You sure? What if it isn't?"

"I know it is!" Mattie argued. "Dashu is like that. He looks scary sometimes, but he's nice all over! I know he still loves our dad..."

Oli smiled before pushing himself off the floor and ruffling Mattie's curls.

"We can look for it tomorrow."

"I told dad already. He'll be coming with us."

"You want to give it to your dad?"

"Nope! It's Dashu's. We'll make him remember." Mattie smiled, hope lingering behind his eyes.

"I'm gonna take a shower, okay?" Oli said. "You can wait for me downstairs."

"Uhm, Oli?" Mattie asked shyly. "Is it okay if you teach me something?"

Oli raised his eyebrow, seeing how Mattie's cheeks turned pink.

"I know Dashu won't teach me and...I don't know who will. Can you?"

"Uhm," Oli hesitated. "I'll try."

"What did you mean when you told Dashu to show me what to do with my...uhm," Mattie trailed off, putting his left hand over his crotch.

"Oh," Oli mumbled, avoiding Mattie's eyes staring at him. "...about that one huh?"

Mattie nodded eagerly.

"Well...it's really...uhh," Oli stuttered before sighing loudly. "...wanna take a bath with me?"

Once inside the bathroom, Oli stripped himself of his clothes while Mattie sat on a stool beside the tub wearing only his underwear and shirt. Once the tub was filled, Oli got in as Mattie looked expectantly at him.

"You won't tell Dash, will you?"

Mattie smiled and said, "Nope, promise!"

Oli sighed and sat on the flat edge of the tub, partially drying his lower body. For the first time, he felt conscious while being naked with Mattie in front of him. He shook his head and Mattie only looked at him more curiously. What the hell was he supposed to do?

"Okay," he began. "You know what it's like to touch your pecker, right?"

Mattie nodded.

"You know it feels good, right?"

Another nod.

"And you know it gets hard as a rock...right?"

"...as a rock, yep!"

"Mattie, when it gets like that, it...uhh...it will feel better when you," he paused, staring down at his flaccid dick. "...when you hold it like this and do this..."

Right before Mattie's eyes, he grabbed hold of his dick and started rubbing it, pulling the foreskin back and forth, thinking of Dash while staring at Mattie's clothed groin. Surely, it went hard as any rock and he started feeling excited, doubtful, and worried and...oh damn it.

"Like this?" Mattie asked as he pulled down his undies and mimicked Oli's movements.

"Y-yeah, but...no," Oli mumbled.

"Like what?"

It was so much harder teaching a little kid to jack off, Oli thought. Wait, how did Gabe teach him? Oh, now he remembered!

"Do what I do," he told Mattie as he released his erection and placed his hand on the boy's pecker. "...like this."

As fast as those words slipped from his mouth, Mattie's pecker stiffed like it had never before. Mattie was definitely big for his age and now that he got a hold of the boy's erection, it was clear that Mattie was also...thick.

"O-oli?" Mattie whispered, his voice soft. His hazy eyes darted between Oli and his pecker before he abruptly closed them.

"...does it hurt?" Oli asked.

"...it...it feels good," Mattie admitted, almost choking on the last word.

"Just trust me, okay?" Oli said, figuring out that he can't go back on this anymore. "...and don't ever tell Dash. He'll kill me!"

"Mm-hmm." Mattie nodded as he felt Oli move around him and pulled him to the older boy's bare chest.

`...he'll fuckin kill me,' Oli thought. `...but what the hell!'

"I hafta pee, Oli," Mattie mumbled, his body stiffening as he felt his breaths coming shallow.

"Just a bit more, okay?"

"...but..."

"That's it, Mattie. You won't piss in your undies, I promise."

"Mmmmph..."

Wrapping his arms around Mattie, Oli pushed the little boy's undies further down and snaked his other hand under Mattie's nuts. If he was to teach the little boy how to jack off, he would need everything in his arsenal to make the little boy feel good. His own hard dick even pressed against Mattie's back.

"I can't...I really hafta pee!" Mattie whined as he began to feel something go through every vein in his body, his breathing loud and short, his head resting on Oli's chest and his toes curling to the sensation.

`Shit,' Oli thought.

When Oli was finally sure that Mattie got over his first orgasm, he stopped stroking the boy and held him closer, letting Mattie sink into his chest as they found themselves sitting on the tiled floor with the stool pushed a bit forward and Mattie's legs dangling over it. Thankfully, Mattie's cast stayed in place. He could still hear the boy's breathing and as he rested his chin gently on Mattie's curls, he heard the little boy giggle shyly.

"What was that?" Mattie asked. "Why didn't I pee in my undies?"

"That, Mattie," Oli began, sounding like his mom. "...is called jacking off. It's different for your brother and me, but when you're older, you'd start squirting."

"Squirting?"

"Not peeing, okay? You'd start to ejaculate one day and that's how babies are made."

Mattie giggled again. "You mean babies are made of pee?"

"Not pee, remember?" Oli said, chuckling lightly. "It's white and stickier than urine and it's called the semen. Older boys call it jizz..."

"I know that!" Mattie exclaimed. "...my friends at school call it boy juice!"

Oli laughed at what Mattie told him.

"Whatever they call it, it will always feel good," Oli told him. "...just don't hurt yourself and don't let anyone do it to you."

"...but you did."

"Yep. You trust me right?" Oli asked and Mattie nodded. "...only let someone who you trust do it to you."

"Can we do it again?"

"Right now?"

"No. Next time."

"Oh...I...uhh..."

"We won't tell Dashu, Oli!"

"What if he finds out?"

"I'll tell him you taught me and that I trust you!"

"He'll still kill me, Mattie," Oli argued. Then, thinking of something stupid, he added. "...why don't you ask Dash next time? He did promise to answer your questions, right? Let him show you and then we can tell him that I taught you, too."

"Okay!" Mattie gleefully answered. "Oli?"

"Yeah?"

"I can feel your pecker."

Oli's blush came back and his dick got hard again. And it didn't help that Mattie giggled too much, rocking the little boy's body and rubbing it against his raging erection.

"So..." Oli said, losing his last bits of innocence toward Mattie. "Wanna see some boy juice?"

~*~*~*~

When Friday came, Oli and Mattie went with Kenneth to Dan's house, in search of Dash's old toy police car. While those two boys were wreaking havoc upstairs, Kenneth was discreetly inspecting the whole place, taking in for himself what his kids went through under his brother's care. Remembering what Dan told him, he searched for those DNA results which would tell the truth about Mattie's relation to him.

After several minutes, he found the file and learned everything about Mattie. The kid, apparently...wasn't his. Dan was Mattie's real father. Hearing the two boy's gleeful shouts upstairs, he soon joined them and was soon eyeing Mattie differently.

`He's not my son,' he told himself. `...not mine.'

Those memories of his wife vividly came back, her hateful eyes and how she ridiculed him. She was telling the truth. `Mattie's not your son!'

"Mattie," he called, turning both boys' attention toward him.

"Dad?" Mattie's nervous reply came. His dad's voice sounded different.

Oli instinctively shielded Mattie as he glared at Kenneth who began approaching them with loud footsteps.

"Mr K..." Oli uttered, his voice wary and unsure.

When Kenneth stood tall before them, they felt even more afraid. Mattie hid himself behind Oli, gripping tightly on the older boy's shirt. Oli's arms outstretched to either side as he continued to glare at Kenneth.

"Don't worry, Oliver," Kenneth said. "I know what I'm doing. Come here, Mattie."

Mattie hesitantly let go of Oli's shirt as he slowly approached his dad. Oli's hand on his right shoulder gave him some reassurance so he started bracing himself.

When his dad crouched in front of him, he held his breath. As he felt two strong arms go `round him, he furrowed his eyebrows and it was that time when he first heard his dad's muffled cry.

"You're safe with me, buddy," his dad said. "I won't make the same mistake again."

"Dad?"

"Yes, Mattie?"

"You're my real dad, right?"

"Of course, buddy," Kenneth replied, rubbing Mattie's cheeks with his thumb. "You'll always be my son."

"I'll make Dashu talk to you, promise!" Mattie reaffirmed his oath.

"I know you will. I'm counting on you, okay?"

Mattie nodded as he let himself be carried by his dad after he handed the toy car to Oli. The older boy smiled at him, finally glad that Mattie found his real dad.