When Memories Turn Into Nightmares

One would think the silence would be a nice change, but one would be very wrong. The apartment was drowning in silence, interrupted only by the steady ticks of the clock. Of course it wasn't nearly the first time that place had been so empty. It was usually rather frequent, but this time was different because this time, he couldn't stop worrying long enough to go to sleep.

Titus Pentele sat in front of the muted TV, staring blankly at the screen. One of those poorly animated adult cartoons were playing. He had watched it for a little while, but quickly grew bored of the crude sex jokes, and just turned off the sound. Everything was clean, and bills were all ready to be paid, so he had nothing to do but watch TV while he wondered where his brother and Cade were. Sure, they were grown men and had the right to do what they wanted, but would it kill them to give him a little warning? With all the strange things happening lately, how could he not be worried?

Footsteps. He heard footsteps and then keys jingling outside the door. He knew who it was before the door even opened. After so many years being father and mother to his brother, he had learned to recognise some telltale signs, like when he could hear Stoyan leaning against the door when he unlocked it, and the way he always twisted the key the wrong way when he was drunk.

When the head of messy auburn hair made its way in, Titus' relief at seeing his brother safe quickly made way for the disappointment that came with knowing his brother was keeping something from him. Knowing that Stoyan was doing something he shouldn't be. "Why are you so late?"

Stoyan closed and locked the door behind him and then made his way toward the couch. "I was gonna come home sooner, but this attorney wanted a nice piece of ass to take his frustrations out on." His speech wasn't as slurred as expected, but his eyes were making it very obvious that he was more high than drunk. "I told him, 'Sorry, pal, but I don't wanna make my brother worry his pretty little head off', but you know how convincing DAs can be."

"Okay, I didn't need to know that." Titus sighed as he watched his brother drop down beside him. It never ceased to make him wonder what he did wrong to make his brother turn out like that. How could anyone have such a complete disregard for others? He had been such a sweet kid, but things had changed when their parents were lost in that car accident.

His thoughts were soon interrupted by the TV's volume being turned on. Stoyan yawned and scratched his leg as he lazily asked, "Is your lover Cade not back yet?"

"No, he's not." It had always been in his best interest to ignore snarky comments like that no matter how disturbing or ridiculous the thought was. He cared about Cade and everything, but there was no way he'd ever want to get involved romantically with a man like that, not that he knew anyone that would be a better fit. Playing den mother to grown men didn't exactly make him want to sleep with them. "How long are you going to keep me in the dark, Stoyan?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been sneaking around, doing god-knows-what regardless of who may get hurt in the process. I caught you stealing from your own friend and I know you well enough to notice when something is up." He paused to give his brother time to process the question. It was hard to tell whether the drugs would mess with the understanding. "I want you to tell me something that isn't a lie."

Stoyan hesitated for a moment before his brown eyes left the TV to focus on his older brother. "This doesn't concern you, Titus."

Titus laughed sarcastically. "I beg to differ. If what you're doing effects our every day life, then it is my concern. If you chose to take off your clothes for faceless dicks you run into at the clubs, that's your own business, but whatever you've been doing lately is stressing me out and I don't even know what it is. I need you to tell me what I'm up against... Please."

"Fine." Stoyan flicked off the TV. "... There's this woman and she asked me to-" A sharp ring of the phone cut him off. As he watched his brother hop off the couch and rush over to the phone in the kitchen, he scowled indignantly. "You'd answer the phone at a time like this, you bitch?"

"He could be in trouble." Titus shot a warning glance in his little brother's direction. "Don't move an inch Stoyan, we're not done talking." Without wasting another second - not wanting the one on the other end to hang up, he lifted the phone and pressed the 'send' button. "Cade?"

There was hesitation on the other line and then a harsh whisper, displaying a surprising anger. "... Yeah, it's me."

It was about time. Titus had to fight back his own displeasure, for he sensed now was probably not the time for another scolding. But it was just too hard to resist. "Cade, I've put up with a lot from you, and this is getting real old real fast. You better have a damn good excuse for making me worry this time, now where are you, and why did it take you so long to call?"

"I was attacked again. Same guy who broke into my apartment." Cade's voice was in a quiet monotone as if he were bored by what he was saying, but at least the anger was no longer apparent. "So I shot him, and drove away, then drove back and a... friend of mine somehow scared him away I guess. I didn't have time to get to a phone to call you until now, but I thought you should know I won't be back until tomorrow."

Titus frowned, for a few moments he was unsure of how to respond. It was so annoying how Cade could shut him up like that. "... Are... Are you lying to me? Where are you?"

"Somewhere 'safe', I've been told." The monotone didn't sound convinced. "I've gotta go."

"Wait! Who attacked? ... Cade?"

The annoyance level raised a good degree or two as the eldest Pentele listened to the dead line. That man had a lot of nerve hanging up on him, but that ridiculous excuse probably had a bit of truth. It wasn't an excuse for being rude, but it was certainly a reason to let it go. He sighed as he replaced the phone on the charger, and turned back to the living-room.

Stoyan was gone. Just great. Such disrespect from both his pet delinquents was really wearing on his nerves, but what could he do? Titus walked down the hallway to his brother's bedroom and knocked on the door. After waiting a few moments and getting no response, he clenched his teeth and slowly headed back to the kitchen. "Am I the only sane person in this damn city? I need a massage."

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This is a collab, written together with Chlover. You can find her author profile here: http://original.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=26260