<img align=left src= "http://www.geocities.ws/scwmaterial/Pictures/Fenris15.jpg" height=300 width=373>The reigning World Heavyweight Champion, Fenris, was seated on the black cushioned bench of a state-of-the-art Weider 8500 Smith Weight Cage, his shins behind one of the lower pulleys for a leg workout; his legs one of his primary weapons used in both his Mixed Martial Arts as well as professional wrestling career. And while the rest of his body shown the hard evidence of his usual workouts; sculpted pecs, six-pack and biceps alike, it was his legs that remained most impressive. All the better for those lethal barrage of kicks and the strength they carried with them -- evidence by the fact he was able to deliver a German suplex once to the near four hundred pounder, Casey Williams.
The training facility, the very one owned by SCW greats Gabriel and Odette Stevens, and where he had made that first jaunt onto this career path, was where Fenris had been spending the vast majority of his time ever since the official lineup for Inception III had been announced, and his unification match against Jake Raab made official. It had even gotten to the point where Gabriel and Fenris's MMA coach, Maksym Petrov, had instructed him to reduce his in-ring sparring matches for concern of risking an injury beforehand. And while he was unhappy with this decision, Fenris had to admit silently that the two men who were responsible for the successes of his mutual careers probably knew better than he.
Clad in his usual white with light gray accents, he wore new workout clothes bought for him as a gift from his now-official boyfriend of Ty West; matching compression pants and shirt with a loose fitted shorts worn over the pants. If truth be told, Fenris was only slightly surprised at the gift, seeing as how it covered much of his body and Ty tended to prefer the exact opposite. What lightly tanned flesh shown was glistening with marked perspiration, as his face bore the sign of intensity that he had become well known for in his training regime. Only this time, for this match, he had upped his training schedule around the clock, becoming extra stringent on his diet, his in-ring and MMA workouts (what he was permitted at least), and even his sleep patterns. He had all but eased up on his consumption of alcohol, save for one or two drinks in the evening, and much to Ty's consternation, Fenris had opted to forgo any form of sexual contact. Why? Fenris was so determined as to the outcome of his upcoming match with Jake Raab, he simply wanted to remain focused, and physically Ty seemed to have this way of driving him to distraction. Not that the decision was any easier on Fenris!
"Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! That's all you ever are!"
Yes, the Icelandic rant was heavily accented as the champion went on one of his usual tirades, directed at the opposition set before him. For the sake of whomever had their eyes on him, the translation appeared onscreen for their benefit. Fenris continued his leg presses as he shifted his head slightly to the left so that his stare bore down into the onlooker, the 'fire' of the Northern Lights practically dancing in those cobalt blue orbs.
"Yeah, Jake Raab, I'm talking to you because all respect for your mad fighting skill aside, it's all you've done since you first showed your ass in my turf. Bitching about booking, whining about expectations...."
Fenris frowned and shrugged his shoulders, feeling at a loss.
"I mean, what the fuck!? I thought you were a man and here you've been acting like a spoiled little girl who got told she's not really a princess like her daddy claimed all those years! Is that what it will take to calm you down Jake and make you act like a goddamn man? Because if so I'll go out and buy you a cute little tiara to call your own and you can be the little princess that you've been acting like since August!"
He finally paused in his workout routine and picked up a towel that rested on a side bench and patted down his warm, moist skin. He then rested his forearms on his knees, taking a few deep breaths to get his breath back before he went on.
"You really have no idea why this match is not going to go your way, do you?"
He turned and pointed directly at the camera before picking up a bottled water to refresh himself and prevent any dehydration.
"It's because right now you would be the worst fucking excuse for a champion to represent this company! Ever since you came here, you've been doing nothing but go on and on, like a recording on an endless loop, about how much more you know and how much better you would run a wrestling promotion! Really! Is that why a new Raab has to show his face every year or so, gain whatever can be accomplished, no matter how insignificant, and then move on? First it was Lord Raab. Then it was Konrad. Wait..."
He crowned and held a finger up as if to stall his train of thought. He then shook his head.
"Sorry. Konrad really doesn't count, does he, since he lasted all but one match before he tucked his tail between his legs and walked out. And now here you are!"
He held his hands toward the camera in presentation with a mock smile on his face.
"Jake Raab! You know, it doesn't seem to matter to you how relatively little experience you have in this business. You just know infinitely more than anyone else. Mark Ward and Christian Underwood have been involved in the wrestling business since the late nineties, trained under some of the best, both held so many world championships so you'd think they'd know how to run a wrestling promotion, right?"
He shook his head, eyes closed and bottom lip stuck out.
"Apparently not, at least according to you and yours. Because al you do is tell everyone what Mark and Christian are doing is wrong, whether it be the booking or what they expect from the men and women they're responsible for the careers of. Your family history, the legacy of the Raab family name and the mutual success of its family members just makes you automatically right and those two men wrong, is that it?"
He widens his eyes and nods.
"Makes sense! They have close to two decades of experience between them, but that really doesn't mean shit, right? You want to be this big success but you don't want to have to make personal appearances or grant interviews during shows, right? You want all of the glory and hype but you don't want to have to do any of the work that comes with it. I mean, do you actually think our friendly little talks, you know..."
He uses a forefinger to motion back and forth between the camera and himself.
"... like the ones we're doing right now? You think this is enough?"
He turned his head away and openly scoffed.
"Fucking bullshit! That's like an actor who expects to get by with just appearing on a TV show or movie but not grant interviews or make appearances! Or a musician who thinks their recordings are enough but shouldn't have to tour. Are you kidding me? There are thousands of actors and musicians who don't even try to put in the work and just skate by with a little stage or screen time and think that makes them a success! Then there are actors, like say the guys from 'Supernatural' who are always making appearances at conventions and they keep themselves in the eyes, minds and hearts of the fans who support them and that is why they are so popular and successful! And why once that show ends, they will always have work! But you...?"
He leans back and holds a hand up, palm out.
"Oh hell no! Not the Raabs! That's too much fucking trouble for us! We have better things to do than to put in a little extra hard work to keep our names on the marquee! That's what Mark and Christian are for, after all! I'm not the most fan friendly of people. I can admit that. People don't approach me as often as they do others. But... I. Still. Do. It! Because I know those people with their asses in the seats out there are the ones supporting me! If they want my name on a piece of paper or to stand with me for a picture, then fuck yeah!"
He nodded with a bright smile for a change.
"I'll do it and be glad of it! And if someone wants to talk to me a little more about my match, I have no problem telling the world about how I'm going to kick your fucking head clear into the sky box! I know what's expected of me! I know what my responsibilities are and unlike you? I don't think I'm too good to put in an extra few minutes of my time in order to do it!"
That being said, Fenris then stood up and moved out from the confines of the workout machine and walked over toward a treadmill so that he might work on his conditioning. He had went for his usual run around the park this morning with Kyssa, never minding the cold, but he still wanted more. It was not just his fighting nor his wrestling skills that had allowed him to outlast all of those opponents in the past. But his conditioning did as well. Pressing a few buttons to turn the machine on, the treadmill started to move at a brisk pace and Fenris's legs along with it.
"Let's not forget Jake. You came to SCW looking for work, not the other way around. Mark and Christian didn't go looking for you, thinking that you might be the next big thing so they signed you before anyone else had the chance to snatch you up."
"Oh and then there's your fascination with trying to tell the higher ups who should and should not be receiving championship matches. Like it's any of your fucking business in the first place! It wasn't affecting you any at the time so who the fuck do you think you are, assuming you have the right to affect the careers of others!? And people say I'm full of myself! I never went and told the bosses who should be getting a shot at my championship, and you know why? Because whoever wanted a shot at the world title, I gave them one! The bosses come to me with a contract for a defense, and I signed the damn thing! Did everyone who I defended against deserve it?"
He shrugged as he jogged.
"Don't know. Don't care. If they wanted one, they got one. Because, you see, that's what a champion does. They defend their championship! The wider the variety of challengers are, the better the champion is! I've faced everyone from giants to vampires, former world champions and whoever else had it in their minds to take what was mine! Men like Senor Vinnie earned their title opportunities twice over, while I myself called out men like Casey and Joshua Acquin! And after Inception III when I beat your ass and hold two titles instead of one, I'll go right on and keep defending against whomever! First order of business will be Austin James Mercer, and Ben Jordan?"
Fenris cast a sidelong look to the camera and a smirk while his jog continued.
"Still looking towards you. I'm patient -- I can wait."
Fenris then hit a button and the treadmill slowed to a crawl and then stopped entirely, and he stepped off. Grabbing his towel and water, Fenris casually walked around the other work out machines and found the object of his desire; the punching bag that dangled precariously between two of the wrestling rings that were stationed on the forecourt of the gymnasium floor. Setting the towel and water on the ring apron, Fenris picked up two white, imitation leather gloves used for MMA fighting and fixed them on his hands. He strapped them on tightly before he turned to the punching bag and readied himself, both clenched fists up.
"You know what the ironic thing is, Jake? You're now holding the Honor world title. Had Mark and Christian listened to you or paid any attention at all, you never would have been in that match in the first place before you sure as shit didn't deserve it!"
Fenris begun to strike out at the punching bag, his gloved fists whipping outward in a blur of lightning quick reflexes honed through years of hard work and training.
"Which if you think about it, really makes you nothing more than a goddamn hypocrite. Did anyone else but me notice that when the match was signed between Austin, Casey and yourself, you said nothing against it? Not a word! You could have bowed out, but you didn't. You could have stepped aside and told the bosses to just make it between Austin and Casey because you weren't ready and did not deserve it, but you didn't. And when you won? You could have abdicated the throne, but you didn't! You could have handed it back to the staff, but I'll tell you what; you can just show up in Las Vegas and hand the Honor belt to me because, let's face it! It's going to be the end result anyway. We can just make it easy on you and cut out the middle man!"
Fenris hops back a step, then lashes out with a bare foot, delivering a kick to the punching bag that admittedly held more force behind it than even his fists did.
"Now I've had a shit load of people get after me about my attitude, saying that I'm arrogant. But when you're now fifteen and zero, and the current World Champion, I'd think that I earned at least some right to be a little full of myself! So I have to ask, just what the hell is your excuse? You haven't exactly lit the world on fire like the previous Raab lineage has. You're boring as fuck, but when it comes to whether or not you can fight?"
Fenris looked into the camera and shook his head with a smile.
"That I can't deny without making myself out to be a liar. I know this first hand because I went back and watched some of your MMA fights, and can't help but wonder if you did me the same. But it was when we met inside of the ring in that tag team match that really fucking got me excited! All due respect to men like Casey and Vinnie, but nobody has ever hit me in a wrestling match the way you have! Finally there's a man out there that can match me as an equal..."
He paused and looked up in thoughtful contemplation before resuming his workout.
"Well, maybe not as an equal but close enough. Guys who have claimed to have MMA experience come and go here it seems, but you proved yourself. you can take a hit and deliver one as well and that was enough to get me excited for the chance to face you one on one! I just didn't think it would be at Inception over two championships. I had expected and hoped for it to be against Austin, but here we are."
He stopped striking the bag and lowered his arms. He stood rigid before he turned his head to the camera.
"Two championships, Jake. One chance to make history. They say that first big act sets the tone for the rest of the year. 2019 is going to be off to a great start for me."
He shook his head with a smile.
"Not so much for you."
He grabbed his towel and water bottle and walked off toward the showers as the light in the gym slowly dimmed.
Wednesday
"You got home safe?" Kristjan asked his mother as they conversed over a Facebook chat, her lovely and smiling face seen on the screen as she spoke to him from all the way in the family's native Iceland. After the New Year's holiday where the family celebrated one last hurrah together, Kristjan and Aron's parents and sisters flew back to Reykjavik with the sworn oath that they would let the brothers know that they had arrived safely. It was a tactic used by parents the world over, and neither Fenris nor Aron saw any harm in turning the tables on their parents for the same sole purpose of ensuring their safe and timely arrival.
Touched by the display of love and concern, and yet still believing that just a touch of mischievousness lay behind it, Eva, their mother, smiled as she shook her head. "I told you we would." She said amicably. "No reason for you to second guess or harp on us, Kristjan."
"Well now you know how A and I feel, having to do the same every time we travel somewhere." Fenris sat back in his favorite chair, across from the laptop that rested on the coffee table that was front and center in his and Aron's shared home. He had a touch of a cocky swagger to his lips at having used a parents own tactic against them, but that was wiped pretty quickly clean by the raised eyebrow of his mother.
Kristjan cleared his throat and said, "Of course, it's cute when you do it." Eva rolled her eyes with a shake of the head.
"Nice save." She chided her oldest son. Say what you might about his anger or arrogance, but Fenris was first and foremost, a momma's boy and deferred to her without question. She then smiled and asked innocently, "And how is Ty?"
"Fine." Kristjan shrugged, answering simply. He stayed one more night here and went home. His aunt should be back any time."
"I liked him. Very much." She said. "The whole family did."
Kristjan scoffed, "I noticed! Elin and Viktoria wouldn't leave him alone! I should have given him a bell to ring every time they tried to corner him!" Which was the truth. His sisters, even the sweet Freyja, had found Ty to be sweet and attractive (especially attractive), and spent more time talking to him than they did to their own brother! At least, once Elin and Viktoria got over the embarrassment they suffered when they had discovered Ty spoke Icelandic well enough to have understood everything they had initially been saying about him!
Eva said, "Well I was actually wondering how things were between you two. I mean, you seemed very happy when we were there and you didn't really say much about each other. Ty was working hard to make a good impression, but you seemed awfully quiet."
Kristjan shrugged, "What was there to say?"
"Oh I don't know." His mom answered. "Perhaps you could have told us more about how you two met? I'm surprised your father didn't corner Ty to ask what his intentions were."
"Yeah." Kristjan huffed. "That would be all I need."
Eva continued, "And admittedly after that ordeal you had earlier this year with that Kris Ryans, your father and I were a little surprised you met someone. Or at least, that you've settled into a relationship with someone. You always seemed to avoid getting serious with someone."
She gave her son a meaningful look and asked, "Not to pry sweetheart, but are you two serious...?"
"We just started seeing each other, Mom." Kristjan sighed. "We haven't even really went out on what I guess you'd call an actual date. Just clubs really, or hanging out at each others' place. Everything..." He paused as if he were searching for the right words that wouldn't end in his own embarrassment or discomfort. Talking about a relationship with his mom wasn't exactly high on his priorities list. "... It just sort of happened. We're taking it slow."
Unseen by Kristjan or Eva, Aron had walked past his brother and overheard that last part and rolled his eyes quite dramatically at Kristjan claiming he and Ty were "taking it slow." Judging by the barnyard noises those two made every time Ty spent the night, it hardly would qualify as taking anything slow!
"Just relax, sweety." Eva smiled, wanting only the best for her children and deep down, she adored Ty and thought his charming and soothing personality would mesh very well with Kristjan's blunt and heated own. "Try to enjoy yourself and see where things lead."
Kristjan paused for words but then simply nodded with an acceptance. "I will. We're going out for a drink tonight. Last one before my match so I can focus on training."
"Well I have to go so I'll let you get ready." She smiled, then kissed her fingertips and gave an affectionate wave toward her boy. "Love you!"
There was nothing quite like a mom telling you that she loved you. It brought a smile to even Kristjan's perpetual 'sourpuss' expression he wore predominately on his otherwise handsome face.
"Love you too." He responded sincerely, and reached up to turn off the chat when his mom left him with one final thing to say. "Oh by the way dear, I gave Ty my number so he can call in case you do anything to him I should know about."
"Wait, what!?" Kristjan frowned, but it was too late. Eva had beaten him to turning off the chat and the screen went dark. "Now wait a goddamn minute...!"
Later that evening...
The nightlife in Las Vegas was always something one had to experience for oneself. For some, it started early, but most of the trendiest nightclubs along the Strip or near enough didn't really even get started until well after ten at night. Given the fact both men had important matches to train and prepare for, they had agreed beforehand not to venture to one of the trendier nightclubs along the Strip. Rather, Gabriel had suggested another place for Kristjan to try, called McMullans Irish Pub. And what better time than now to give it a chance?
McMullans was found on Tropicana Avenue, and unlike those aforementioned nightclubs, was open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The interior was crafted in polished wood, from the walls to the floors and paneling. With the flag of Ireland and flags of varied Irish sports teams, there was a quiet charm to this place that drew one in. You could step inside and practically believe that you were in Ireland. Ty and Kristjan had set foot inside, and immediately both men were smitten with the place, perhaps to the point it would become their regular hangout when out and about.
The place was busy, but not annoyingly so, and it has that feel when people looked up and smiled at the new arrivals before they went about their business. With the televisions along the wall each broadcast to a separate sporting event, it was clear to be first and foremost, a sports pub and restaurant. Ty and Kristjan were escorted by a young woman in green and white attire, up a step in the far corner, near a bar and separated from the floor by a crossed wooden banister, beside a smaller second bar counter. After placing their order for drinks but declining anything to eat for the time being, the two men settled in for the evening in order to talk and hopefully grow a little more closer and understanding between them. After all, they were still in something akin to a trial period for what was just beginning. There was still so much that neither knew about the other.
Opportunities.
The fact was, Kristjan preferred places such as this by comparison to the overly crowded nightclubs that housed the young and loud. Where crowded dance floors dominated the social scene in sacrifice to a quiet night and a drink, which is what he wanted.
"It was nice of your brother to invite Aunty Lora over to watch a movie." Ty said amicably as he picked up the frosty mug of beer that he had ordered, a stark contrast to the glass of Scotch that the man seated across from him at the small table had in his own hand. Ty had learned since he was still getting to know this man, that to Kristjan, beer was all well and good, but he much preferred the hard stuff. Pun not intended. Scotch was his favorite, but he also enjoyed tequila, rum, and the like. Ty himself was not much of a drinker, and after his little episode of being found naked on a beach after downing just six bottles of beer, he knew he had to watch his own intake. At east for the time being.
"Better that than her plans to stay home and cook more stuff for us to freeze and eat later." Kristjan said softly. "Already having trouble keeping our freezer door closed."
Ty smiled, knowing his Aunty had only the very best of intentions in mind as there was nothing but the truth spoken in those word. Lora had privately expressed concern at the brothers Baltasarsson habit of ordering takeout for each and every meal as opposed to dining on something more substantial and nutritious. Lora and Eva, during her time in the states visiting her sons, had went into maximum overdrive, cooking up a storm and having it frozen for the brothers to thaw and eat at a later time.
Kristjan continued, "But I know A just didn't like her spending another night alone in that hotel she's been staying at. She still tried to refuse but I told her if she didn't get her ass over there, I'd come to her place and give her a lap dance."
He then frowned and added, "I should probably feel insulted she accepted the invite so fast."
Ty snorted on his drink, knowing the opposite was true. His aunt would have been embarrassed and mortified had Kristjan followed through on his threat, and the thing was -- Ty knew this man well enough to know that he would! And apparently, so did his Aunty Lora!
Setting his mug down, Ty laid his strong forearms across the table and brought his eyes up to the man that had somehow captivated him, despite the fact that never before had he felt attraction to another man. Not until he met Kristjan Baltasarsson, that is.
"And how about you?" Ty asked.
"How about me, what?"
TY sighed, "You've been pretty quiet lately. Even before your family left you started to pull back."
"I didn't pull back..." Kristjan shook his head in denial, but looked up and saw only a smile on Ty's face. Ty nodded, showing his pearly whites and he said, "Oh, you did. Is it the match with Jake?"
"Fuck no." Kristjan frowned, picking up his glass of Scotch and he tossed the remnants in a single swallow, impressing Ty -- and turning him on if he had to admit it.
"Your family?" Ty asked. "I thought you'd be happy with how well we got along."
"I'd have been happier if my sisters didn't keep trying to feel your arms." Kristjan scoffed, making Ty blush as he remembered how many times the three young women who called Kristjan 'brother' found whatever excuse they could to feel his arms and give them a squeeze. It wouldn't have been so bad when Eva had broken it up but then the mother of this family snuck in a little squeeze of her own, just for fun.
Ty looked downward at the table, his eyes finding the glass of beer and his fingers slipped around it as he found himself asking, "Are you regretting anything?"
"What?" Kristjan asked, looking up sharply. "Why the fuck would you ask a question like that!?" He caught himself, and both men looked around to see if the outburst had drawn any unwanted attention but the chatter between friends and the televisions were loud enough that nobody had taken any notice.
It had been a foolish question, but some insecurities were not so easily overcome. And ever since the moment when Kristjan had bitten him on the shoulder in a moment of passion, and had declared publicly that Ty was his, he had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. Perhaps believing the old adage that if something seemed too good to be true, it often was.
"I know." Ty exhaled. "I'm sorry, it's just..." he shook his head. "When things were going so great over Christmas and then you started to seem withdrawn..."
"Look..." Kristjan started to say. "This is all new to me, okay? I don't know how to handle being in any kind of relationship as opposed to us just fucking each others brains out." Ty's ears colored from the colorful way Kristjan had of turning a phrase. Not that it wasn't true. They hung out and talked, but when they were in bed together...
Wow.
Kristjan continued, having taken no notice to Ty's reaction, "I didn't know anything like this was going to happen. I didn't think it ever would and I accepted that. I also can't believe I'm saying this shit in a sports pub of all places!" He looked around, now feeling somewhat self conscious as Ty snorted back a laugh.
Moving on, Kristjan said, "Right now I'm just not in a good way I guess. You remind me of someone I knew years ago..."
"Jökull." Ty said softly as he raised his mug to take a drink, "I know." And he froze. Shit. He slowly lowered the mug, not having taken the swallow of its contents and he looked up find Kristjan simply staring at him.
"What?" Kristjan finally said, not sure whether or not he had heard Ty correctly. "What did you say...?" He shook his head, closing his eyes. "How did you... who told....!?"
He opened his eyes, and Ty could see the anger building up to an alarming level.
Kristjan whispered, "The only person who would have.... could have..." And his face went dark, and devoid of emotion. "Mother..." And he stood up and practically shoved his way out from behind the table, nearly toppling the chair he had just vacated over.
"Kristjan....?" Ty said, sanding up but the man, his man, was already headed toward the door!
"Shit...!" Ty muttered before dropping some cash for the bill on the table so he could hurry after Kristjan before disaster struck!
Back at the condo...
The condo was dark, save for the flickering lights emanating from the large HDTV where the scenes from the most recent "Predator" movie was showing, and Aron and Dani Weston sat on the sofa, across from it with a big bowl of buttered popcorn between them to share. The movie was proving quite bloody and intense, so much so that Ty's aunt Lora, who had been invited over by Aron to watch, huddled herself across the room and sat at the island bar counter that separated the living room from the kitchen. Enough space and distance so that she could still watch, but also avoid too much of the bloodshed onscreen which was not to her liking. Lora had not even intended to accept the invitation, as horror movies were not to her tastes, but the sweet boy Aron had been so insistent she not spend the evening alone, she was simply unable to refuse his kind offer.
A handful of times Aron's cell started to go off, telling him that he had a call, but in a moment of annoyance, he had switched it on silent so they wouldn't be disturbed from the proceedings of the movie. Oh but how he should have answered when it first went off, to at least see the warning text sent from Ty! It was why none of them were prepared for when the door to the condo swung open, causing a surprised shriek from Lora to erupt and startling Aron and Dani enough to spill some of the popcorn from the bowl and onto the floor, but Kyssa ran over and ate it up before anyone had the chance to prevent her from doing so.
An extremely pissed off Kristjan stormed inside, breathing heavily and a concerned Ty came in quickly after him! Lora had just calmed herself and stood up from where she had seated herself on one of the three white stool chairs, as Dani scooped up the spilled popcorn that Kyssa had missed, and Aron stood, looking confused.
"Jesus, K! You scared the shit out of us!" Aron exclaimed, almost not noticing his brother's current mental state. At least, not until it was a little too late. "I thought you two were going to be out later than..." But it was then that he noticed something was off as Ty approached Kristjan and placed a hand on his arm, and Kristjan promptly pulled away, his eyes glaring hard at his brother.
"What's wrong?" Aron asked, his eyes switching back and forth between his brother and Ty. "Didn't you have a good time...?"
"Do I look like I had a fucking good time!?" His brother bellowed, to which Aron frowned and answered truthfully, "How the hell should I know? You're always like this!"
Aron sat back down and picked up the remote to continue with the film, but Kristjan stormed over and tore the device from his sibling's hand and heaved it across the room! The remote struck the wall and shattered upon impact, the back casing breaking off and the batteries spilling out!
Dani backed up several steps, the shock evident on her face as Lora's own eyes widened. She had been told by her nephew that Kristjan had something of a temper but until now, she had seen no evidence of it. He had been flirty and charming, if with a bit of sauciness, but never angry. And never at his own flesh and blood.
"What the hell...?" Aron stood up, but he said nothing more as he saw clearly for the first time the dark emotion threatening to erupt from his brother. His eyes were aflame and his breathing was growing deeper and more erratic as he fought to control his temper.
Ty tried again to rest a hand on his boyfriend's arm, saying, "K, calm down..."
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Kristjan yelled. "Not after what he did!"
"Me?" Aron was legit confused and concerned. At a loss, he asked, "What? What did I do!?"
"You told him..." Kristjan said, taking a step closer toward his brother who subconsciously took a step back, despite the confidence he had that he would never lay a hand to him. In all their years as brothers, Kristjan never struck him. "You told him about Jökull!"
Aron stared at him for a moment before he frowned, "Is that all?"
"Is that fucking ALL!?" Kristjan yelled. "Isn't that enough!? Who the FUCK do you think you are telling ANYBODY about him!"
It was then that Aron realized, unlike the others, that Kristjan wasn't this overwrought emotionally in an effort to reign in his temper. He was fighting like mad not to shed a tear in front of Dani or Lora, or especially Ty, at the memories brought forcibly up at the mention and memories of his cherished Jökull!
"Who's Jökull?" Lora whispered innocently to Dani, but the name was just as lost on Aron and Kristjan's temporary roommate as it was on Ty's aunt. Aron, having overheard, turned his head toward them but jerked his head back when Kristjan bellowed, "LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M FUCKING TALKING TO YOU!!!"
"You're not talking to me, K. You're yelling at me!"
"You're damn right I'm yelling..."
"Well knock it off!" Aron raised his own voice, surprising all -- even his brother. Aron was so kind hearted and soft spoken, none of them had ever heard him raise his voice to that level. The surprise lasted seconds, but it was enough and once he had calmed down, Aron spoke up and said, "Yes. I told him. K, you were treating Ty here like shit and I...."
"Who the fuck do you think you are, sticking your nose into my private life!?" Kristjan would not allow Aron to finish his line of reasoning, interrupting him with a raised voice.
"I was trying to help!" Aron pleaded.
"Who asked you to!?"
"No one! But you were running the risk of losing something that could be the best thing to happen to you since...." But he stopped before he spoke the name again, but he needn't bother. Kristjan did so for him and said, "Go ahead. Say it! Since Jökull!"
"Yeah." Aron sighed after a pause. "K, please. You have to believe me. And it all worked out, right?"
But his pleas were not having the positive effect that Aron had silently hoped for. Kristjan continued to stare with hard, unyielding eyes at his little brother and Aron could feel the simmering volcano growing in intensity beneath the quiet exterior, threatening to erupt at any given moment. Over the years, his family and what few friends he had, knew one thing about Kristjan without a shred of doubt; he was at his most dangerous when he was quiet.
This quiet.
"You listen to me..." Kristjan took a step closer to Aron who had to resist the urge to take a further step back. He was confident Kristjan would never strike him, but there was that lingering doubt that left him not quite certain. And that scared him more than anything. The tension was thick, as the discomfort was evident on Lora's face for being present during a heated family squabble, and Dani for caring so much for both of these men like they were her own brothers. And who wants to watch your family fight?
And Ty? He felt the worst of all because it was his own slip of the tongue that spilled the secret that Aron had divulged something so personal to him.
Kristjan was now right in Aron's face, sticking his forefinger into his younger brother's chest. Aron met his gaze and would not back down, even though seeing the emotion threatening to spill out from his eyes was almost more than he could stand.
"...you little shit!" Kristjan hissed. "You took the most painful and darkest moment of my life, my biggest fucking regret, and shared it despite having NO RIGHT to do so! I've been betrayed before but I never thought my own brother would stab me in the back!"
"Stab you...?" Aron stood there, shocked at the accusation, but he was unable to finish the words, his mind at a loss at Kristjan's accusation. Fortunately, he didn't need to, because Ty came to his defense.
"Come on, K." Ty reasoned in the soft, understanding voice that belied the heart the man possessed. He was big in physical stature, but his heart was even bigger. He went on, "That's going a bit far, isn't it?"
"And you!" Kristjan whirled around, confronting Ty who blinked back in surprise.
"Me?" Ty frowned. "What did I do???"
"You knew about this, the entire time, and you didn't say anything!?" Kristjan confronted his boyfriend, his already volatile temper having yielded to its natural course.
Ty regained his composure, and stood strong as he said, "Oh I don't know. Maybe because I was worried you'd react the way that you are now?"
"So, what!?" Kristjan held his arms out. "Was all this since he told you just one colossal pity fuck!?"
The words were out there before Kristjan could stop himself, and immediately he regretted it. Especially when he saw the hurt, stricken expression on Ty's face. It was that moment when Lora had almost stepped up to confront Kristjan for insinuating such a hurtful thing to her dear nephew, but Ty wouldn't risk his beloved aunty possibly drawing the ire of this situation which was fast growing out of control. Ty held his hand up to stall her, and the hurt, pained expression on his face slowly subsided and turned upset. Angry.
"Pity fuck?" Ty asked. "Is that all you think you are to me?" But Kristjan just stared at him, unwilling -- or unable -- to form a coherent answer through his pain and rising anger.
Finally he drew in a deep breath forced his anger down and said in a hard tone, "I just find it funny that we only got serious after he told you! I...." But the struggle against his natural response was too much to bear and he cursed, "Fuck!" beneath his breath before he moved toward the front door of the condo.
"I can't deal with this shit right now!" He said, and Ty wheeled around and asked, "Where are you going!?"
"Out!" Came the answer, and that was when Aron's own temper betrayed him, and he himself said something he would soon deeply regret.
"Oh that's right!" Aron confronted Kristjan, taking a seat back down on the sofa to calm himself. "Run away like you always do!"
And the silence was immediately deafening, threatening everyone in its wake. No sooner had Kristjan opened the door, then he came to a halt, frozen as if in time. He slowly turned his head to glare at his brother over his shoulder and hissed between clenched teeth.
"You know what?" he whispered, which was a tell-tale sign of a warning. "You're right. Why the fuck should I leave!?"
He turned about and stormed right over to the living room, and grabbed Aron by the arm, roughly pulling him up to his feet! He declared, "I paid for this place! My name is on the lease!" And he all but dragged Aron past the shocked trio of Ty, Dani and Lora as he said, "Get. Out!" And he shoved Aron through the door and out into the building's hallway!0
Aron caught himself from falling and turned, staring in shock at his brother as Dani took a cautious step forward and said, "No, wait! He didn't mean...!" But Kristjan turned on her and growled, "I think I can decide for myself what I did or did not mean!"
Kristjan turned back to Aron who took a step toward the door, and the younger sibling said, "K.... where do you expect me to go!?"
"Go back to Iceland for all I care." Kristjan declared in a calm, ominous tone. "Or better still? Go to hell." And he slammed the door in Aron's face!
TBC
