Take Me From This Pain, Brian's story
folder
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
39
Views:
8,706
Reviews:
80
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
39
Views:
8,706
Reviews:
80
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Something wicked this way comes!
Niko didn't want to answer the insistent knock at the door, but he knew it would probably be Trent's sister, so he had to. He glanced into the peephole just in case it was a stranger. Seeing the obviously unnatural blonde with a wide and phony smile staring at the door, he figured he knew who she was. He carefully opened it and stared up at the taller girl on the other side.
"You're Niko then?" she asked as she pushed the door wider and hauled herself and a gigantic suitcase through it.
Niko nodded while he surveyed her luggage. What could she have possibly packed that would take up such a large bag for only a two-day stay? He mentally shook his head. American girls still baffled him. He smiled as he led her into the living room area. She followed, still grinning.
"So, how long are you staying with my brother?" she asked, plopping herself down on the couch.
"I'm not sure," he said gingerly, not wanting to share the nature of his past with Manny. He knew Trent wouldn't have told her either. Actually, now that Niko thought about it, he'd never sent the other boy speak to his sister on the phone the whole time he'd known him. They must not be very close, he concluded.
"Well, he never mentioned you."
"Well, you haven't called him recently," Niko replied in a guarded voice. "Otherwise, I'm sure he would have."
"That's true," she looked down guiltily. "I guess I've been neglecting him. Do you think he's upset with me?"
Niko was surprised at her sudden change in demeanor. Perhaps he'd misjudged her and was treating her too harshly. He decided then that he would soften his attitude. After all, she was Trent's sister. Niko was the interloper.
"I'm sure he understands," he said. "He's busy with school, too, so he's just as guilty."
She looked up with her smile back in place. Niko tried to return it, though the girl made him very uncomfortable. He chalked it up to his recent experiences and tried for a smile of his own.
"May I offer you a drink?"
"Oh, yes, please!" she practically squealed. "It was a long train ride and I'd just love a diet cola."
Niko stood and went into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and taking stock. "I'm afraid we have no diet," he called out to her then flinched when he felt her hand on his waist. She must have followed him in. "Uh-um, how about some bottled water," he stammered."
"Oh, that'll do," she purred in his ear.
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Trent sighed happily as he trotted up the staircase to his apartment. It was Friday afternoon and he was psyched for the weekend to begin. He and Niko were going to Matt and Brian's for dinner again, and Saturday morning would mean hockey time! Matt was getting pretty good with the puck lately. He gave Trent quite a workout on the ice.
Though Trent didn't make any headway with Niko, he had stopped worrying about it. The boy was just in too much chaos over his problems with testifying against Manny. Now that the feds had arrested the guy, Niko seemed a little calmer knowing that Manny was off the streets. But he was still anxious to see his family and wondered if the government was going to allow him to go home before the trial began or make him wait for everything to be settled first. Trent could understand the kid's turmoil, too. Who would like being kept in limbo like that? Niko seemed to take his frustration out on cleaning, though. And the apartment was spotless. Trent had told him time and again that he needn't worry about cleaning anything, but Niko wouldn't hear of it, preferring to feel as if he was earning his keep. Knowing what Manny had done to the boy, Trent let the matter drop.
He reached his door and unlocked it with a smile. Ah, it was good to have his own place, he sighed. No parents to scrutinize what he did. No bitchy sister to manipulate him into doing her bidding. Just a nice, quite . . .
"Trent!" Tanya squealed as she jumped into his arms.
He froze and winced in both figurative and literal pain. She was a cheerleader, but that didn't mean she was a lightweight. At five foot eight, she was just a few inches shorter than her brother. Her blonde hair was lighter and brassier than ever. Trent wondered what the hell she was doing in Boston.
"Um, Tanya," he forced a smile as he pulled back and looked at her. "This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"
"Well, I called earlier this week. The cutie here told me he was your roommate," she pulled back and gestured to an obviously nervous Niko who stood in the kitchen doorway fidgeting and looking down. "I decided to surprise you, so I told him not to tell you I was coming."
"I see," Trent replied hoping his smile looked genuine enough to her. He noted the other boy's cheeks were flushed and his frantic eyes refused to meet his own. Oh, Tanya had been up to something that was for sure. "You staying with me then?"
"I'd hoped to," she frowned. "Don't you have room for your little sister?" She pouted. Now that he'd been away from her for a while, it was easier to catch her little tricks. Kevin and Brian were right. Distance did bring perspective.
"Well, after how you let me leave without saying goodbye, I didn't think you'd care to visit," he challenged.
Tanya looked surprised for a second before shuttering the expression and smiling demurely. "I'm sorry, Trenty," she said in a singsong voice. "I was PMSing. You know you're my favorite brother."
"Followed closely by the fact that I'm your only brother," he couldn't help but grin back. She was his only sibling so he tended to forgive her easily. Too easily, if anyone asked Kevin, which no one did but he'd expounded on the point on many an occasion. "You know I forgive you," he sighed and hugged her again.
Niko hadn't budged from his position the whole time, frightened of the predatory girl who'd nearly jumped him just a moment ago. Now she would be staying with them for the whole weekend? No. This he could not handle. He would ask Brian if he could stay with him and Matt for the two days. The girl was too much.
"If it's too much trouble, I guess I could stay at a hotel," Tanya pouted as if on cue. "I see you only have the one bedroom. Where does Cutie sleep?" she eyed Niko hungrily while she spoke.
"On the pullout sofa," Trent replied. "But he can bunk with me while you're here. My room's big enough."
Niko felt his cheeks grow hot. He couldn't share a bed with someone now, especially since he knew Trent had feelings for him. Even if he trusted the boy not to touch him, the close confines would just be too much.
"No, I think I will take Brian up on his constant offer for a movie night," he suddenly decided.
Trent looked at him curiously, having never heard Brian mention this before. He knew Niko was uncomfortable about sharing a bed, and a part of him winced at it. But he could certainly understand why. He also knew that if Niko were to stay with Tanya, well his sister could be relentless. No, Niko was right. He shouldn't be expected to put up with the advances Tanya would undoubtedly thrust upon him.
"Okay, then," he smiled encouragingly at the small foreign boy. "Why don't you get some things together, and I'll call Brian?"
"Oh, I hate to put Cutie out," Tanya sulked.
"It's no trouble," Niko shrugged as he happily danced away to his small bag. He merely zipped the whole thing up and smiled as he waited for Trent to make the call.
"Hey, Bri," the taller boy said into the receiver. "Niko's decided to take you up on your offer for a movie-night. That's still cool with you?"
"Um, sure," a bewildered Brian replied. "Can I ask why?"
"My sister's in town and he thought she and I would like to do the brotherly-sisterly bonding thing."
"Tanya's here?" the small blonde asked icily. "Is she as predatory as Kev told me she is."
"I expect," Trent said noncommittally so as his sister wouldn't know they were talking about her.
"I'll bet Niko's scared to death."
"That seems to be right."
"Bring her over for dinner," Brian suddenly suggested.
"Oh, I'm not sure that's a good idea," Trent frowned, knowing damn well it wasn't. Brian sounded testy and Trent would bet Tanya would just love to have something on him to run home and tell their father. He may love his sister, but he was under no illusions that she returned the emotion. "Besides, she's only here for two days and I'd like to show her my favorite parts of Boston and Cambridge."
"All right," Brian sighed, apparently figuring out Trent's dilemma. He knew the small blonde wouldn't do anything to cause him trouble. And as long as he kept Tanya away from Brian and Matt, he knew she wouldn't be able to cause trouble either.
"Thanks, kiddo. I'll drop Niko by soon."
"Yeah," the small blonde laughed. "Tell him to get ready for some hobbits!"
Trent laughed as he hung up the phone and relayed Brian's message.
"Hobbit?" Niko asked nervously. "Is that some kind of rodent?"
"Oh, the worst kind," Tanya smiled, winking at Trent. "Sure you don't want to stay here with us?"
"Um, it's okay," Niko replied. "I think I will be able to handle these . . . hobbits."
"You're Niko then?" she asked as she pushed the door wider and hauled herself and a gigantic suitcase through it.
Niko nodded while he surveyed her luggage. What could she have possibly packed that would take up such a large bag for only a two-day stay? He mentally shook his head. American girls still baffled him. He smiled as he led her into the living room area. She followed, still grinning.
"So, how long are you staying with my brother?" she asked, plopping herself down on the couch.
"I'm not sure," he said gingerly, not wanting to share the nature of his past with Manny. He knew Trent wouldn't have told her either. Actually, now that Niko thought about it, he'd never sent the other boy speak to his sister on the phone the whole time he'd known him. They must not be very close, he concluded.
"Well, he never mentioned you."
"Well, you haven't called him recently," Niko replied in a guarded voice. "Otherwise, I'm sure he would have."
"That's true," she looked down guiltily. "I guess I've been neglecting him. Do you think he's upset with me?"
Niko was surprised at her sudden change in demeanor. Perhaps he'd misjudged her and was treating her too harshly. He decided then that he would soften his attitude. After all, she was Trent's sister. Niko was the interloper.
"I'm sure he understands," he said. "He's busy with school, too, so he's just as guilty."
She looked up with her smile back in place. Niko tried to return it, though the girl made him very uncomfortable. He chalked it up to his recent experiences and tried for a smile of his own.
"May I offer you a drink?"
"Oh, yes, please!" she practically squealed. "It was a long train ride and I'd just love a diet cola."
Niko stood and went into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and taking stock. "I'm afraid we have no diet," he called out to her then flinched when he felt her hand on his waist. She must have followed him in. "Uh-um, how about some bottled water," he stammered."
"Oh, that'll do," she purred in his ear.
------------------------------------------------
Trent sighed happily as he trotted up the staircase to his apartment. It was Friday afternoon and he was psyched for the weekend to begin. He and Niko were going to Matt and Brian's for dinner again, and Saturday morning would mean hockey time! Matt was getting pretty good with the puck lately. He gave Trent quite a workout on the ice.
Though Trent didn't make any headway with Niko, he had stopped worrying about it. The boy was just in too much chaos over his problems with testifying against Manny. Now that the feds had arrested the guy, Niko seemed a little calmer knowing that Manny was off the streets. But he was still anxious to see his family and wondered if the government was going to allow him to go home before the trial began or make him wait for everything to be settled first. Trent could understand the kid's turmoil, too. Who would like being kept in limbo like that? Niko seemed to take his frustration out on cleaning, though. And the apartment was spotless. Trent had told him time and again that he needn't worry about cleaning anything, but Niko wouldn't hear of it, preferring to feel as if he was earning his keep. Knowing what Manny had done to the boy, Trent let the matter drop.
He reached his door and unlocked it with a smile. Ah, it was good to have his own place, he sighed. No parents to scrutinize what he did. No bitchy sister to manipulate him into doing her bidding. Just a nice, quite . . .
"Trent!" Tanya squealed as she jumped into his arms.
He froze and winced in both figurative and literal pain. She was a cheerleader, but that didn't mean she was a lightweight. At five foot eight, she was just a few inches shorter than her brother. Her blonde hair was lighter and brassier than ever. Trent wondered what the hell she was doing in Boston.
"Um, Tanya," he forced a smile as he pulled back and looked at her. "This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"
"Well, I called earlier this week. The cutie here told me he was your roommate," she pulled back and gestured to an obviously nervous Niko who stood in the kitchen doorway fidgeting and looking down. "I decided to surprise you, so I told him not to tell you I was coming."
"I see," Trent replied hoping his smile looked genuine enough to her. He noted the other boy's cheeks were flushed and his frantic eyes refused to meet his own. Oh, Tanya had been up to something that was for sure. "You staying with me then?"
"I'd hoped to," she frowned. "Don't you have room for your little sister?" She pouted. Now that he'd been away from her for a while, it was easier to catch her little tricks. Kevin and Brian were right. Distance did bring perspective.
"Well, after how you let me leave without saying goodbye, I didn't think you'd care to visit," he challenged.
Tanya looked surprised for a second before shuttering the expression and smiling demurely. "I'm sorry, Trenty," she said in a singsong voice. "I was PMSing. You know you're my favorite brother."
"Followed closely by the fact that I'm your only brother," he couldn't help but grin back. She was his only sibling so he tended to forgive her easily. Too easily, if anyone asked Kevin, which no one did but he'd expounded on the point on many an occasion. "You know I forgive you," he sighed and hugged her again.
Niko hadn't budged from his position the whole time, frightened of the predatory girl who'd nearly jumped him just a moment ago. Now she would be staying with them for the whole weekend? No. This he could not handle. He would ask Brian if he could stay with him and Matt for the two days. The girl was too much.
"If it's too much trouble, I guess I could stay at a hotel," Tanya pouted as if on cue. "I see you only have the one bedroom. Where does Cutie sleep?" she eyed Niko hungrily while she spoke.
"On the pullout sofa," Trent replied. "But he can bunk with me while you're here. My room's big enough."
Niko felt his cheeks grow hot. He couldn't share a bed with someone now, especially since he knew Trent had feelings for him. Even if he trusted the boy not to touch him, the close confines would just be too much.
"No, I think I will take Brian up on his constant offer for a movie night," he suddenly decided.
Trent looked at him curiously, having never heard Brian mention this before. He knew Niko was uncomfortable about sharing a bed, and a part of him winced at it. But he could certainly understand why. He also knew that if Niko were to stay with Tanya, well his sister could be relentless. No, Niko was right. He shouldn't be expected to put up with the advances Tanya would undoubtedly thrust upon him.
"Okay, then," he smiled encouragingly at the small foreign boy. "Why don't you get some things together, and I'll call Brian?"
"Oh, I hate to put Cutie out," Tanya sulked.
"It's no trouble," Niko shrugged as he happily danced away to his small bag. He merely zipped the whole thing up and smiled as he waited for Trent to make the call.
"Hey, Bri," the taller boy said into the receiver. "Niko's decided to take you up on your offer for a movie-night. That's still cool with you?"
"Um, sure," a bewildered Brian replied. "Can I ask why?"
"My sister's in town and he thought she and I would like to do the brotherly-sisterly bonding thing."
"Tanya's here?" the small blonde asked icily. "Is she as predatory as Kev told me she is."
"I expect," Trent said noncommittally so as his sister wouldn't know they were talking about her.
"I'll bet Niko's scared to death."
"That seems to be right."
"Bring her over for dinner," Brian suddenly suggested.
"Oh, I'm not sure that's a good idea," Trent frowned, knowing damn well it wasn't. Brian sounded testy and Trent would bet Tanya would just love to have something on him to run home and tell their father. He may love his sister, but he was under no illusions that she returned the emotion. "Besides, she's only here for two days and I'd like to show her my favorite parts of Boston and Cambridge."
"All right," Brian sighed, apparently figuring out Trent's dilemma. He knew the small blonde wouldn't do anything to cause him trouble. And as long as he kept Tanya away from Brian and Matt, he knew she wouldn't be able to cause trouble either.
"Thanks, kiddo. I'll drop Niko by soon."
"Yeah," the small blonde laughed. "Tell him to get ready for some hobbits!"
Trent laughed as he hung up the phone and relayed Brian's message.
"Hobbit?" Niko asked nervously. "Is that some kind of rodent?"
"Oh, the worst kind," Tanya smiled, winking at Trent. "Sure you don't want to stay here with us?"
"Um, it's okay," Niko replied. "I think I will be able to handle these . . . hobbits."