Unexpected

Lonnie.

He watched as their beloved town was engulfed in a red hue, unearthly animals invading. He turned to Boris who was pale.

 

"This is what you survived all those years ago?" Boris asked not to move as he as well watched hell erupt. He squeezed the hand he was already holding.

 

"Yeah, that's what I 'survived' " he said. He turned to his family, who also watched with pale faces. He picked a flower and watched as it deteriorated in his very hand. 

 

"Everyone, get inside the cabin." His mom ordered and nobody questioned. They hurriedly walked up to the cabin they came from. Some, closed curtains and tried to hide the fact they were even there, others, set up chairs and tables. 

 

"What are we going to do man? I'm freaking out here!" Argyle started screaming? Asking. A way too sober boris. "I don't know, I'm new to this stuff, how about you?" Boris started asking back. "Ok superhero-girl was really cool dudes, but now it's getting scary." Will was getting fed up with their screaming.

 

"Someone, Jonathan! Come help and inform Argyle I'll get Boris. With that he Boris grabbed by the bicep which was, not surprisingly, stick-like. "William, what is going on! Is that really what has been happening for the last few years? What you faced for years?" Boris asks as El's old room's door is closed.

 

"Yes, ask me any questions you want, yell at me, whatever, get it out of your system." He says bracing for whatever might come his way, a bunch of I hate yous or a break up, whatever. He was ready.

 

"What, no I'm not going to yell at you! You told me and warned me! That" he points towards the vague direction of the town. "Just it's a lot to -how do you Americans say?- Take in. Why would I yell at you?" Boris says, making him slightly question every person he's met other than his mom and brother.

 

He's stuck in silence trying to justify why he thought Boris was going to yell. He has one simple answer, nothing. He was stuck, he thought it was just normal, brace yourself to be yelled at. "I-I… I… don't… know…" he finally manages to mutter out. 

 

Boris was worried, his William was fully braced for him to yell at him for something that was not even his fault. And all he managed to mutter in his defence is 'I don't know'.

 

He knew about this, for love of Christ, he had it as well, and theo had it as well. And you know what they all have in common? 

 

Shitty fathers.

 

This was their defence. Bracing for the worst. Being ready for, hitting, yelling, degrading. 

 

He hated it.

 

"Da, I maybe know." He grabs both of Will's hands. And hold them. "It is, defence. You are so used to it, that you expect it." He gets a hum in response with Will staring at the floor. 

 

Maybe, Boris is right. He got so used to being yelled at by Lonnie for 'not being manly enough' or 'not being normal' that he just grew accustomed to it.

 

Like a tailored suit. Down to every button and pocket fitted to Lonnie's needs. To yell at Will and hit him upside the head, knocking on his head, all while Will just stood there taking it. 

 

He felt it get colder. All where his neck is. Like the chills but worse as if you knew if someone was watching as well. Sending goosebumps on his skin as if a warning. His eyes widened. 

 

"We need to warn the others!" He informs Boris who was happy to oblige. He didn't know what it meant but, he came either way.