Despite his brotherโs gentle touch, Alex still flinched at the contact with the cut on his shoulder. He sighed in relief when Gregory decided it wouldnโt need stitches. He hadnโt been looking forward to either having to stitch himself up at a painful twister angle or asking his brother to do it for him. Alex winced when Greg noticed all the blood left in his hair. He tried to give his brother a smile.ย โKind of? It was hard to really scrub at my head with the cut on my shoulder and I didnโt want to get shampoo in the one on my head either.โ He admitted.ย
Alex barely kept from startling when his brother brushed his hair back from his face. But once Gregoryโs hand was on his forehead, he found himself actually leaning into the contact. Alex blew out a breath at his brotherโs assessment. Heโd expected as much, but there was a part of him that had still held out hope that the abundance of blood didnโt signify a deep would but the typical over-bleeding of a head wound.ย โI do have common sense, you know.โ Alex teased his brother, as he carefully made his way back to sit on the toilet seat.ย โThank you again,โ he sighed,ย โfor taking me in. I really am sorry about this, no matter how much you say you donโt mind.โ
At his brotherโs questions about what had happened, Alex closed his eyes in shame. Heโd known this question was coming but heโd been dreading it. Dreading having to admit he was wrong. He drew up his shoulders like a shield around his neck, took as deep a breath as he could manage, and then:ย โUh, Dad kidnapped me.โ He chewed his lip for a second.ย โI got away,โ Alex shrugged,ย โbut uh- you were right. Everyone was right. I was naive to think he could change.โ He moved along with Gregโs instructions, holding his hair back as his brother stitched the cut.ย โNo matter what I do, heโs always going to have a hold of me. Iโll never be free.โ He looked at his brother.ย โWhich means youโll never be free either. Heโll keep hurting people I love.โ
โ WELL YOU NEED TO WASH IT AGAINย when weโre done so it doesnโt get infected from all the dirt and grime in it.ย โ he sighed heavily as he felt alex begin to tense and then fall into a more relaxed state and lean into his hand when he pushed back his hair. he could tell alex wasnโt used to affection, especially from family. he KNEW he didnโt get any tenderness from a manes after their mother left. it wasnโt difficult to resonate with that feeling. he was only a year older than alex, so their differences werenโt too great. however, he didnโt get the ABUSE that alex got from their father, so he couldnโt completely relate to that. he got some of the verbal, sure, but nothing like alex. he would never forgive himself for not helping alex more. part of him was afraid to help him, but he shouldโve got over that.
when alex muttered about having common sense, he rolled his eyes.ย โ i know you do. iโm just stupid sometimes and say what iโm thinking out loud. humor me. โ he flicked his arm,ย โ now for real, sit still, alex. at-home stitch jobs arenโt the best or most comfortable.ย โ he stated obviously, but as a reminder.ย โ and iโm shaky,ย โcus iโm just worried about you so i really need you to stay still so i donโt hurt you.ย โ he cleared his throat.ย โ please.ย โ he said quickly. he took a deep breath, lighting the end of the needle to sterilize it after tying the thread up.ย โ weโll need to get you to a doctor to get these stitches out properly, but for now, this will do, until we can get you somewhere. okay ? ready ?ย โ he asked.ย
he ignored his second ( or third, or fourth, heโd lost count ) attempt at thanking him again, but before he started to stitch, alex mentioned JESSE and what heโd done. his eyes widened with intensity,ย โ iโm sorry, di-..did i just hear you correctly ? did you just say dad KIDNAPPED you ?ย โ he asked, tilting his head and raising a brow some, his hands dropping with the needle and thread into his lap while he processed the information. greg shook his head,ย โ stop, alex. thatโs who you are. who WE are. i thought for a moment he could change too, but here we are. we try to see the good in people who shouldnโt be given the benefit of the doubt. itโs normal.ย โ he sighed, closing his eyes for a second before letting out another frustrated sigh.ย โ iโm so sorry alex.ย โ he said again, quieter this time.
he lifted his hands again to begin the stitching, letting alex speak while he did so,ย โ you canโt think that way anymore, alex. weโll figure something out, i promise. weโll both be free of him someday. youโll see. he canโt hold on forever. heโll get whats coming to him, i promise you that.ย โ he said, still concentrating on his stitching.ย โ i donโt know how, or when.. but itโll come back to bite him in the ass someday. and then you can be whoever you wanna be. who you were MEANT to be, you got that ?ย โ he asked, making eye contact with him for just a moment.ย โ he canโt go on forever, and nobody else is going to get hurt because of him, even if i have to make sure of it my damn self. be positve, alex. okay ? for me. there. all done.ย โ he said, putting the needle and rest of the thread down after tying it off.ย โ feel okay ?ย what can i do for you alex ?ย โ