Forgotten

 

Hello everyone! 

Sorry that this a bit longer than the previous chapters but I've begun a new chapter in my life with quitting my job and going back to school. The last few weeks have been hectic but hopefully I can find the time and energy to write during the weeks as well. 

Anywhoo, happy readings to you and a can of cold cola for me, yey! 

 

Chapter 41

 

 

I spent the day in bed. After the tears dried, I managed some sleep but were awake when Snake knocked lightly on the door before entering. A moment later the bed dipped and the duvet was pulled down enough to reveal my head.

“Tobih will be here in about twenty minutes, do you feel like taking a shower before he gets here?” Snake asked in a soft tone, his hand settling on my side when I didn't move. “Devin?”

“I'm fine. I don't want to take a shower.” I mumbled, my eyes halfway opened when I stared at the room numbly. I wasn't scared here. I liked living here but for how long would this be allowed? Would Master make me return to his bed now that Ronan was gone?

“Devin?”

“Mmh?”

“Sit up. Please?” Snake asked in a quiet tone and although I wanted to just stay curled up on my side, I decided to push myself up into a sitting position. I made sure to keep the duvet around myself and set my back againt the headboard, my arms wrapped around my stomach. I felt a bit light headed, not having eaten anything all day, and my stomach felt queasy.

“I don't want to take a shower.” I mumbled, just to make myself clear, and Snake actually smiled at my words.

“That's fine. Atleast you're conscious, I think that was Keeran's only request.” Snake joked and I let out a small huff, trying not to smile.

“Does he have to come over for dinner?” I asked instead, avoiding my caretaker's studying gaze.

“Keeran? I can uninvite him if you want, but I think we both know that he'll bust through the door if he wants to.” Snake said apologetically and I nodded, sighing deeply. I really didn't want him here. I had made the decision to be something else than his pet but I wasn't sure I was up to starting the change today.

“I'm not sick.” I said next, this time looking at Snake.

“I know.”

“I don't want to see Tobih.” I continued and corrected myself before Snake could misunderstand me. “I mean, I like that he's coming over for dinner but I don't want him to look me over. I'm not sick, I don't need a doctor.”

“Keeran-”

“I don't care what Keeran wants.” I interrupted him and for a moment Snake looked like I had slapped him. Then his face broke into a wide grin and I flinched when he grabbed my arm and yanked me forward into a big bear hug.

“About time, kid! I'm proud of you!” Snake exclaimed and I felt myself blush bright red when I returned the hug a little awkwardly.

“I thought that you'd be angry.” I admitted and Snake loosened his hold enough to see my face.

“Angry? Why would I be angry?” He asked, honest confusion on his face, and I pulled back a little until I could sit more comfortably, my shoulders shrugging just slightly.

“I don't know. Because you work for him and-”

“Honestly, Devin? You should know by now that I'm not exactly the employee of the year.” Snake chuckled and I smiled, feeling a lot better about facing Master already. Keeran, I corrected myself quickly. I had to learn to drop the titles if I wanted to succeed in what I wanted to accomplish.

“You always stood up for me, even in the beginning. I never understood why.” I mumbled and Snake let out a long sigh, his posture slumping.

“I didn't always stand up for you, Devin. I let them hurt you for too long before I got my mouth open and I'm sorry for that. I should have done something the second I found out about you, instead I-”

“You helped me. You were the only one who were kind to me.” I interrupted him, not wanting to hear an apology from Snake when he had nothing to apolgize for. “I would be dead if you hadn't taken care of me.”

We spent a moment just staring at each other until the serious mask that had taken over Snake's features melted into a small smile. “You keep amazing me, Devin. It was about time you grew a spine and decided to stand up to Keeran. Tobih is going to be here any minute now, get dressed and come set the table.”

“You'll tell him that I don't need to be looked over?” I asked, crawling off the bed when Snake stood up.

“I think you are capable of doing that yourself, kid.”

“I'm not.” I mumbled feebly but either Snake didn't hear me or he chose to ignore me. I guessed there was no soft landing to having a spine, as Snake had put it.

 

 

I was setting the table when there was a knock on the front door, the one leading to the garden, and I froze midstep, nerves kicking in.

“I'll get it.” Snake said, giving the pasta sauce a quick stir, before setting the wooden spoon down and wiping his hands into a kitchen towel.

I drew in a deep breath and set all my focus on making sure the cutlery was set perfectly on the table, trying to block out the sounds from the front door in vain.

“Evening, Joey! I hope I'm not late, there was more traffic than I had anticipated.”

“Not at all, Keeran's not here yet either.” Snake said and I dared a glance in their direction. Both men were smiling and I tried to tell myself that Tobih wouldn't get angry because I refused to be looked over. He wasn't like that. He wasn't like Master, who got pissed every time something didn't go his way.

The men entered the kitchen and Tobih smiled at me warmly, his cheeks red from the coldness outside. I saw the familiar black doctor's bag in his hand and felt my stomach churn.

“Hello, Devin. How are you doing, son?” Tobih asked, not setting his bag down, and I knew he was waiting for me to come to him.

“Good, Sir.” I replied politely and glanced at Snake pleadingly. Couldn't he tell Tobih that he could put his doctor's bag away?

“Thanks for setting the table, Devin. Why don't you show Tobih your new room, we'll eat when Keeran gets here.” Snake said with a knowing smile on his face and I managed a hesitant smile in return. Damn it!

My palms were sweaty when I led the doctor down the short hallway to what had used to be Snake's guestbedroom but was no considered as my room. I sat down on the bed and tried to stop my hands from fidgeting by tucking them into my hoodie when Tobih closed the door after us.

“How are you really doing, son?” Tobih asked when he came closer and set his bag on the bed next to me. A stethoscope was pulled out and I turned my eyes to the side when he warmed the instrument between his palms.

“I'm fine, Sir. I... I don't need to be looked at.” I mumbled, wishing that I could have mustered a bit more strenght behind my voice.

“Keeran seemed to think othwerwise. Could you take your shirt off for me, please, Devin.” Tobih said gently and set the stethoscope around his neck, ready to begin.

“I... I don't care what he thinks:” I said, my voice more sure this time, and I forced myself to look at the doctor in the eyes. “I'm not sick. I was just tired before because I was up late last night.”

Tobih stilled for a moment, his eyes serious when he looked at me, and I felt my stomach turn into knots when I waited for his reaction to my changed attitude.

“Alright then, I trust your word.” The old doctor said finally and smiled warmly, putting his stethoscope away. “Joey told me of your new arrangements, how do you feel about things now?”

“I like it here. Keeran said that the teacher can hold my lessons here too, so that I can finish school.” I said, shifting backwards on the bed so that I could set my back against the headboard, now that I knew that I wouldn't have to submit to the unneeded healthcheck.

“I'm happy to hear you call him Keeran, Devin. I will tell him that there is nothing wrong with your health. Why don't we agree that you call me yourself, or ask Joey to call, if you are in need of my services?” Tobih smiled and I nodded, a smile curving my own lips. I had been worried for nothing, I should have known that Tobih wouldn't get angry. The only person I had seen him raise his voice to was Keeran.

 

 

Dinner was a bit awkward and I spent it silent, my focus on my plate the entire time. The others were being overly polite with each other and it was clear that no one was having particularly fun. The food was good at least and I found myself suddenly starving after the first forkful. I did something I had never done before, something I knew no one expected of me, I went for secods.

The forced conversation that had been going on went completely silent as all three men watched me load more pasta on my plate and on top of it all, grab a breadroll from the basket nearby. I took a bite off the bread before the silence registered with me and I went still, my eyes looking up from my plate for the first time during dinner.

Snake was the first to snap himself out of his staring and cleared his throat with a small cough while grabbing the pitcher of iced water and refilling my glass for me. “So, Tobih. I heard you bought a cabin?”

“Ah, yes, I decided it was time to finally take the time to return to my beloved hobby of fishing. I have spent my lifetime working, I am looking forward to getting into that boat. ” Tobih replied, also turning his eyes away from me. I looked down, my mouth suddenly dry when Keeran kept staring at me with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Was I eating too much? Was I getting fat? I shook the thought away as quickly as it had popped up. I wasn't fat and I wasn't eating too much either. Snake always kept telling me that I needed to eat more, that I was still a bit too underweight to be healthy.

After dinner I was more than ready to retreat back into my room and crawl into bed but unfortunately Keeran didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. As the three men shifted into the livingroom for coffee and a chat, I staid in the kitched to clean up. Snake told me that I didn't have to, that he'd do it later, but I just told him that I wanted to get the kitchen cleaned rightaway, that he didn't need to worry about it. I wasn't really feeling like cleaning up, I just didn't want to sit awkwardly in the livingroom with the others and knew that Snake wouldn't let me just go to my room either.

I was standing next to the stove, scrubbing it clean compulsively, like I had for the past twenty minutes, when I was startled by the voice coming from behind.

“Either the stove is really filthy, which I doubt since this is Joey's house, or you're avoiding me, Raspberry.” Master walked past me to get to the fridge and I stilled, my eyes strained on the stove that was literally sparkling. What threw me off was the nickname. He had told me that he wouldn't be calling me that anymore. He had said that he would be staying away from me now too, but here he was, acting like he owned the place. Which he technically did, I guess.

“Tobih told me you refused to let him have a look at you.” Keeran continued when I didn't answer him and I continued with the scrubbing motion, wishing he'd just go away.

“I don't need a doctor, I'm not sick.” I said quietly, my whole body tensing to the point where it was starting to feel painful, when I heard Keeran shift closer and the telltale sound of a beer being opened.

“That's for Tobih to decide. I told him to have a look at you before he goes. Right now.” Keeran said and I finally tore my eyes off the stove and turned around to look at him. My heart was racing hard in my chest and cold sweat ran down my back but I was determined to stand up for myself for once.

“No.” I replied tightly, my hand clutching over the rag I had been cleaning the stove with, and judged by the shocked look on Keeran's face he hadn't expected me to go against him so bodly.

“Excuse me?” Keeran's voice took a dangerous tone and I swallowed thickly, my knees suddenly weak, but refuse to look away from his eyes.

“I said, no. Tobih agrees with me.” I said stubbornly and Keeran's dark eyes narrowed at me. He didn't believe me.

“Tobib!”

I flinched at his raised voice and hit my back painfully against the edge of the stove, the rag dropping from my hands. I was starting to panic and whatever confidence I had managed to build since Christmas was crumbling away.

“Yes?” Tobih asked from the doorway, Snake right behind him. Snake took one look at me before pushing past the silver haired doctor and stepping in between me and his fuming employer.

“Back the fuck off, Keeran.” Snake snapped and didn't even seem to notice when I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face against his back, my shoulders trembling. Snake would protect me. He wouldn't let Master hurt me. Keeran, I corrected myself again, and squeezed my caretaker harder to make sure that he wouldn't shift away from me.

“Fuck off, Joey! This has nothing to do with you, I called for Tobih, not you!”

“The fuck crawled up your ass all of a sudden?! You said you were going to behave tonight!”

“I want you to have a look at him, Tobih.” Keeran blatantly ignored the tattooed man screaming into his face and I felt a brush against my arm when the doctor moved to stand close to my side.

“There is nothing wrong with Devin's health, Keeran.”

“You don't know that until you've had a look at him.”

“Are you questioning my expertise, Keeran?” The doctor asked, his voice taking a warning undertone, and the brief silence that took over the room was defening.

“No.” Keeran grunted finally and slammed his beer on the table, apparently about to leave.

“Apologize to Devin.” Snake spoke up before he could and brought his hands to my arms when I tightened my hold on him even more. Why was he making me face Keeran when he knew how much I was panicking right now?! Snake was stronger than me and had no trouble wrenching my arms away from him and pulling me around his side to stand in front of him, his hands landing on my shoulders to hold me still and to offer a comforting squeeze.

I had my eyes down but saw Keeran's hands move and jerked backwards, only Snake at my back keeping me from bolting out of the room.

“I don't want you to be afraid of me, Raspberry.” Keeran said finally, his voice quieter now, and Snake cleared his throat behind me. “Devin. Please look at me.”

I didn't want to. I didn't want to see the anger in his eyes and feel the panic his anger caused curse through my whole body.

“Please?”

It wasn't like Keeran to beg anyone to do anything and I think it was his subdued tone and the soothing warmth of Snake standing close by that made me able to look up from the floor. There was no anger in the familiar dark brown eyes now and Keeran's hair was sticking out of his head as if someone had just pulled on it.

“I'm sorry, Devin. I know I keep fucking things up with you and for what it's worth, I am sorry.”

“It's okay. I'm okay.” I mumbled out quietly, my voice shakier than I had wanted it to be.

“No. It's not okay. And I don't want you to think that it's okay for me to go off at you like this.” Keeran sighed heavily and pushed his hand through his hair, leaving it even more messy. “I'll be staying away from you now. Joey, you're still okay with taking care of him?”

“Of course. He's like my nephew, you know that.” Snake said instantly and a surge of warmness exploided in my chest at his words.

“Good.” Keeran said before looking at me again. I had a feeling he was about to say something but then seemed to cut himself off at the last minute before walking out of the room.

Tears flooded my eyes and I hung my head low when Snake turned me around to face him.

“You okay, kid?” He asked gently and hugged me close when I shook my head shakily.

“I think it's time for me to leave. Could you give me a call later, Joey?”

“Sure. Thanks, Tobih.” Snake nodded, running his palm up and down my spine when I struggled to control myself, my face hidden against his chest and my tears wetting his nice t-shirt.

When it was just the two of us, Snake moved his hands to my shoulders and made me look at him. “Everything's going to be okay, Devin. You'll see.”

“I knew he'd get angry. I didn't want to tell him because I knew he'd be angry.” I sniffled, wiping at my face desperately. I hated crying, I was tired of it. I was tired of being such a loser.

“You've got to stand up to him, Devin. I like taking care of you but I won't let you hide behind my back forever. Take over your own life.”

“I thought you were taking over?” I asked quietly and dried my cheeks with my sleeves. I still had tears in my eyes but I they weren't falling down my cheeks at least and my breathing was starting slowly to even out.

“No. I meant it when I said to Keeran that I think of you as my nephew, Devin. So, let's just agree that I'm your uncle from now on, okay? Uncle Joey. Or uncle Snake, if you prefer.” Snake smiled and I nodded, grinning back at him. I liked the idea of having an uncle. Actually, I liked the idea of having Snake as my uncle.

“Why don't you go wash your face and we'll watch a movie or something before bed, sound good?” Snake suggested and I nodded again, drawing in a calming breath before stepping away from him.

After splashing my face quickly with cold water, I walked into the livingroom to find Snake already setting a disc into the DVD-player. I settled onto the couch and drew my legs up, somehow ending up with my head against the armrest.

The movie begun and Snake took a seat on the other end of the couch, his posture slouching just as much as mine. I couldn't really focus on the film, my mind in turmoil. Finally I had to ask the question that kept popping up in my mind, my chest constricting with anxiety and my eyes staring at the TV screen without seeing anything but a blur. “Joey?”

“Mmh?”

“If you're my... uncle. And I'm your nephew. Does it make us a family?” My voice was hesitant and I couldn't look at him, terrified of the answer.

“Yeah, I guess it does. Happy New Years, kiddo.” Snake replied, his tone warm and I knew he was smiling even when I didn't look his way. A smile spread on my lips and I relaxed into the couch instead of jumping up and down with joy like I wanted to. I had a family!