Getting It Together

Video Camera

"98.2!" Pascal cheers as he pulls the thermometer out of Jory's mouth. "Now you're all better!"

Jory sniffles, forcing his head down, his glare aimed passively at the floor. "I wouldn't have gotten sick if you hadn't been an idiot and put Gio in the damn ice bath."

"Don't be rude to your father." Logan scolds, watching the angry look in Pascal's eyes as he pulled Jory closer to him. "And we do not swear in this household."

"Ohh what, so you're fucking brainwashed as well?" Jory snaps. "You know, Gio is one thing, but you're a grown-ass adult. What's your excuse?"

Logan froze, tears welling up in his eyes. "I-"

"Punish him," Pascal says curtly. "Do it. Jory, your father is going to punish you for talking back and swearing."

"W-What?" Logan was shaking. "What would you want me t-to do?"

Pascal mimes a harsh smack, his eyes cold. "Do it, bunny. Or we could go into my room to cuddle if you don't want to..."

Logan's eyes widen as he faces Jory nervously.

"Really?" Jory snarks. "Maybe you deserve to be here with Pascal, seeing how you like bending to his fucking will 24/7."

"Glasses, now Logan," Pascal said firmly.

"Sush, we're just cuddling. This could be much worse, couldn't it Logie?"

"Get in the box Bunny."

Alex didn't take his eyes off him.

"Just shut up and go back to sleep," Alex says forcefully.

"If you tell, well I won't be able to go back up and give them food," Pascal says cheerfully. "They'd starve up there, and it'd be all your fault."

"Husbands are supposed to be faithful, Lolo."

"You won't be taking this ring off."

Logan makes a noise in the back of his throat, a mix of a scream and a sob, and slams his hand down on Jory's face.

Jory drops to the floor and Pascal moves over to Logan, wrapping his arm around Logan's waist. Jory gingerly touches his cheek, looking up at Logan in shock, who hid his face in Pascal's shoulder and sobbed.

"Shh, it's okay bunny. You're okay..." Pascal presses a kiss to the top of Logan's forehead, moving to sit him down on the couch.

"I hate you." Jory bites out, running upstairs.

Florencio watched as the sun slowly set.

Dinner had gone quietly, and Jory sat across from Florencio on his bed, sitting silently as Florencio peered out the window.

"I think Pascal will be asleep soon." Florencio muses.

"I hate him."

"We all hate him, Jo."

"Not Pascal, I loathe him. I hate Logan."

Florencio looked over at Jory in shock. "He didn't mean to hurt you Jo, you know that."

"Yes, he did." Jory crossed his arms, staring at the door, a seething look in his eyes.

"Logan is just hurting," Florencio says quietly. "He's doing what he thinks is best for his survival. And Jory, if you hadn't noticed, it's working. You shouldn't have sworn at Pascal."

"But I-"

"No." Florencio cuts Jory off with a shake of his head. "You need to control your attitude around Pascal. You know how he's like, if you act like a happy kid, he won't bother you. He's not the problem here."