You belong to me (boyxboy)

Time well spent?

Matthew perched on the edge of the bed, the rain drumming a soft beat against the window pane. The room was dimly lit, casting eerie shadows on the walls, reflecting the uncertainty in his mind. He glanced at Kaiden, his now roommate in this place, trying to decipher the truth behind the facade. He couldn't think of anything to say, pleading didn't help, if anything it made it worse.

Matthew's nerves trembled like a taut wire. In the dim room, the tension was evident. Every sound from Matthew felt like a cautious step on thin ice. His gut screamed a warning, a feeling that Kaiden teetered on the edge, ready to snap. He'd seen him angry before, but in places Matthew knew, in areas there was a chance he could escape. He was alone here, the door was locked and Kaiden was but a meter away. Still just sitting there.

"Hey, Kaiden," Matthew began, swallowing his apprehension, "do you think I could use the toilet?"
Kaiden looked up from his book, a look of disbelief on his face. "Do you actually need ti go or do you just want to get away from me?"

Both Matthew wanted to answer, it was on the tip of his tongue. Truthful words he knew would annoy the other boy. But, as he seems to be doing a lot recently, he swallows his words.

"I really need to go"

Kaiden nodded, studying Matthew's eyes for any signs of deception. "Fine. Come on then."
Kaiden stood and walked the short distance to the second door within the bedroom. He stood outside of it and glanced back at Matthew.

"What are you waiting for?"

Matthew hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "If it's just in there, I can go myself."

Insincerity laced Kaiden's features, momentarily causing Matthew to see red. "The bathroom is big enough for the both of us."
Kaiden unlocked the door and once again looked behind.

Matthew sighed, grappling with his fear and desire for answers followed the boy in.

Matthew entered, his heartbeat loud in his ears. He feigned a casual glance out the window, attempting to discern any clues about their location. It was dark, but he spotted distant shapes that hinted at a wooded area.

As he unzipped his trousers, he decided to broach a seemingly innocent topic. "Did you ever tell me where you went to school?"

Kaiden followed him in, not immediately responding to the question. Matthew continued to slyly glance out the window, trying to gauge their surroundings without raising suspicion.

"I haven't no" Kaiden said, clearly thinking hard. "It was near here. We used to have a great view of the park from our classroom windows."

Matthew's heart skipped a beat. A park? That could narrow it down, but he needed more. He nodded, feigning interest. "Beats the car park view we have. What park was it?"

"I doubt you would have heard of it."
Well then, that brings an end to the line of questioning. Matthew considered pressing the issue but didn't want to upset the younger boy. He just hummed in acknowledgement and went to wash his hands. He felt a twisted mix of emotions, a dangerous dance on a razor's edge. He knew Kaiden was watching, stalking his every move, yet he had to maintain a facade to ensure his own safety.

"Kaiden," Matthew said, attempting a genuine smile, "I'm sorry about the Charlie thing, it was cruel of me".

Kaiden looked surprised, perhaps thrown off by the unexpected apology. "Oh. I may have overreacted, it just seems you're always with him and if you're not with him you're thinking about him. I don't like the idea of anyone having that sort of power over you." Kaiden hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Matthew pressed on, trying to keep the conversation light. "I know, I am sorry." A conflicted expression passed over Kaiden's face, torn between the desire for friendship and the knowledge that Matthew was probably attempting manipulate  him.

Despite knowing Kaiden was probably fully aware of what he was trying to do, Matthew maintained the charade.

Some time had passed, he didn't know how long. It felt like eternity. Matthew subtly rubbed his stomach, letting out a soft sigh. He attempted to make himself look more tired.
Kaiden looked concerned.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I just realised I haven't eaten all day. I guess it's just now catching up to me"

Matthew played his part, appearing a little bashful. "I hate to trouble you, Kaiden, but maybe we could get some food?"

Kaiden smiled warmly. "That's a great idea! Let me go and grab something."

"Oh I would rather cook, if I'm going to stay here, I should at least learn how to cook in the kitchen."

"You're a terrible cook."

"Now is a great time to learn"

Kaiden smiled gently, clearly amused "Oh alright then. Follow me."

Relieved that his plan was working, Matthew followed Kaiden's lead, gradually steering the conversation towards cooking. While preparing the meal, he continued to subtly observe the house's layout, sneaking glances into the hallway and dining room. Annoyingly, it was quite a large house. Kaiden quickly decided that Matthew's only role would be to mix and to put things in the oven. Matthew was slightly happy he wasn't trusted with a knife, stabbing Kaiden would be the obvious way to escape but he didn't think he had it in him.

Once the meal was ready, they sat down at the table, plates filled with the pasta they had cooked together. Matthew took a bite, savoring the flavor while still keeping his guard up. The conversation shifted to lighter topics, momentarily forgetting the darkness that loomed outside this room.

"The fridge seemed quite empty, we can't be planning on staying here for long."

"Can you not use every opportunity to look for ways to escape?"

Matthew felt a spike of panic at Kaiden's sudden outburst, his stomach churning with a mix of fear and surprise. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

Kaiden's face contorted with frustration, his voice raised. "Stop pretending, Matthew! I've been nothing but kind to you, and yet you're trying to escape at every chance you get. Is this how you repay my hospitality?"

Matthew stammered, attempting to salvage the situation. "No, Kaiden, it's not like that. I'm just a bit anxious and on edge, given the situation."

Kaiden's anger seemed to simmer, and he sighed, his tone softer but still firm. "Look, I get it's a strange situation, but you have to understand this was necessary, I want us to get to know each other."

Matthew nodded, fear  gnawing at him for provoking another outburst.
"You're right. I apologize. I'll try to be more present and open."

The atmosphere in the room remained tense, but Kaiden seemed to accept Matthew's apology. They finished their meal in an uncomfortable silence, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging heavily between them. Matthew knew he had to be more cautious, finding a balance between preserving his own safety and playing the part Kaiden expected.