Yellow

twentytwo

After a quick and slightly heated debate with the others, Artemis took a plate of sandwiches and a bag of crisps up to Carter's room. He softened at the sight of the two cuddling, both watching the TV, Carter lazily and Tye quite attentively, a pop it in his hands.

"Thank you love." Carter kissed his forehead when he approached with food.

"Artie!" Tye held his arms out demandingly, and the older moved round the bed to sit at his other side.

"Hi babe." He came to sit beside him, laughing as Tye gripped onto him like a koala. "How're you feeling?"

"Better." Tye mumbled into his shoulder. Artemis smiled.

"That's good." He kissed Tye's forehead. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Nuh uh." He mumbled.

"Alright." Artemis smiled as Carter pulled both of them close to him.

"Mmm." Tye mumbled happily. It was such a contented noise that Carter began to cover both of them in kisses. Neither he nor Artemis noticed him fall sleep at first, until Carter stopped his attack of the slope of Artemis' neck with a smile.

"Our baby boy." He whispered, his hand going straight into Tye's hair.

"Pretty baby." Artemis agreed, tracing the soft features of Tye's face, and the sharp jaw line. "Is he going to be okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I think so." Carter nodded, his smile falling as he watched Tye twitch suddenly in his sleep. "Love?"

Tye let out a gasp, as though he was in pain and then moved his hands to his face and flinched. "Stop, please."

"Baby?" Artemis brushed Tye's hair from his face. "Baby you're safe here."

"Wake up love, you're okay, you're safe." Carter lifted Tye completely into his arms, trying to shake him awake. "Love I need you to wake up."

Tye awoke with a whimper and promptly burst into tears.

"Oh love it's okay." Carter exchanged a concerned glance with Artemis. "You're safe, he's not going to hurt you again."

"Oh baby." Artemis stroked Tye's hair gently. "You're okay."

"We're never going to let you get hurt again."

^^^
The boys had decided to have a movie night in Carter's room, and by deciding they meant they all invaded the space to cuddle with the three already there. Carter, Tye and Artemis remained as they were, with the addition of Noah and Alexis squeezing themselves onto Artemis' lap, Tye was deposited into Travis' lap and Riley and Kit curling up with Carter, who had pulled them all as close as was possible to him.

Tye's eyes were already half closed, lulled half asleep by the feeling of Travis' fingers weaving through his hair, occasionally scratching at his scalp.

They decided on watching the little mermaid, mainly because they let Riley choose the film, and none of them particularly minded though. It was a comforting film, and they all felt like they all, especially Tye, needed comfort.

It was maybe half way through the film, when Tye sat up, alerting Travis at once.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm going to get a drink, do you want anything?"

"No, I'm fine, just don't be too long." Travis kissed Tye's cheek gently.

"I'm just going downstairs." Tye rolled his eyes and smiled at Carter as the man helped him clamber over the others to get down.

His walk to the kitchen was easy, he knew his way around pretty well after all and although he was enjoying the film, he'd felt almost suffocated. He knew full well the others were glancing at him every now and again to check he was alright, he could feel their eyes on him, as though they didn't believe when he said he was alright.

Not that he blamed them, they'd not had much experience of his meltdowns. Not that it was something he was really that open to sharing.

He'd only had two in the house and half had been triggered by Carter. The thought hit him like a slap in the face. He wasn't sure what that meant, but instantly the doubt was there. He wasn't sure why or what, but it was there. And he did not like it.

It wasn't particularly dark in the kitchen, but it was enough for Tye to consider putting the light on, he didn't though, why would he bother when all he was getting was a glass of water.

He reached the cupboard when someone grabbed his arm.

"Tyler?" He knew this voice, he knew this voice but he wasn't sure why the voice was so gentle.

"T- Tanner?"

"Oh Tye." His hug felt suffocating, like he was trapped, he pushed his brother away, wishing someone, anyone would walk downstairs.

"W- what are you doing here?"

"I came to get you." Tanner said it as though it was obvious, as though sudden contact after five years would tell him that he was here to take him from the first place he'd felt safe in a long time.

"I don't want to go." Tye pushed his hands into his pocket, finding an amethyst in one of them, Noah had given it to him, to help dispell feelings of anxiety. He'd felt so touched when he had received it and now he held onto it like a lifeline.

"Tye-"

"No, I don't want to go with you! I like it here."

"What have they done to you?" Tanner cupped Tye's cheek with his hand.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you really think they care about you?" Tanner shook his head, looking at the marks on Tye's neck in disgust. "They're using you and you are too naive to see it."

"They're not using-"

"What you think they care about you? You're just a stupid kid." Tanner grabbed Tye by the wrist and pulled him roughly back towards him. "Once they get bored of you, they'll get rid of you. You're safer with me."

Tye frowned and tried to pull his wrist from his brother's grasp, fighting him as Tanner forced a cloth over his mouth and nose. It smelt like chemicals and he soon stopped fighting and reached for his brother as he felt himself falling unconscious. "I'm sorry I have to do this Tyler, but it's for your own good."