Fixing Broken Hearts

11

Warnings:
-Homophobia (usage F-slur)

Clay's POV

I was watching Elliot do some tricks with his football and smiled, loving to see him do something he loved. After a short time, he looked up at me and kicked the ball to me with a soft force.

'Do you want to play with me? he asked happily. 'I know you're in a lot of pain, and you can even sit down for my part. I just know how much you used to love playing together, I'll be really careful!'

I chuckled softly from the nerves, mostly because he was so awfully sweet to me while I wasn't even that kind to him most of the time. 'I would love to, as long as you don't kick that into my balls, I'll cry for the upcoming hours if you do.'

His face got paler, his eyes turning away. 'You genuinely expect people to do something like that to you, don't you?'

I laughed it off and shrugged. 'I mean, dad would, but I was just joking.'

'I could see you weren't joking, you looked afraid and it breaks my heart that you've been through so much that you even expect this to happen. And no, Clay, I will never of my life kick the ball there.'

Elliot's eyes seemed watery, stepping back to stand in front of the goal behind him. 'Show me what you've got, Clay!'

I smiled at him and gave the ball a light kick, my movement so weak that it barely rolled forward. However, Elliot made a way to make me feel proud either way and ran forward to the ball, gently kicking it back to me.

~~~

I honestly never had this much fun in my life and shared a lot of loud laughter with Elliot, eventually getting ready to get some food. Elliot had his arm around my waist to support me to walk to a store that rented out wheelchairs.

Elliot wrote down his name and phone number so they could make sure to call him to return the wheelchair if he wouldn't. I sat down in it and bent my neck backwards to look up at Elliot.

'I love you,' I admitted, trying to grab his hand. He laid my hand down on the bar he held to push the wheelchair and gently pushed his hand down on mine to hold it as he moved forward.

'I love you too, Clay. You don't even realise how much I do actually love you and care about you,' he answered with a gentle laugh.

'Ew, that's disgusting, bro,' a random voice spoke up next to us, talking to the guy next to him. 'Those are two fags, that's actually gross.'

I felt Elliot tense up, his hand slipping away from mine right away. He paused and stopped walking, a gulping noise followed.

'That's actually my brother in case you're smart enough to understand that,' I scoffed with an eye roll. 'The same mother and father, not sure if you know the definition of siblings so thought I could better explain it.'

'Two brothers holding hands?' the guy with a tiny beard asked. He chuckled in a way that made Elliot tense up even more. I felt him grasp onto the bars and pinch his nails into it.

'You're not worth it to discuss with,' I said. 'I'm not dating my brother and that's everything that's important for you to know.'

Elliot continued walking, but seemed a lot more quiet than he was before the incident. I turned to him and glanced him into the eyes. 'El, what's wrong? Did it bother you what they said?'

'I guess,' he stumbled awkwardly. 'I would prefer not to speak about it. I'm not a homophobe, but I'm not comfortable speaking about this.'

I nodded and thought about Tristan's sexuality, wondering if it had anything to do with him. I decided to leave it, but then had a thought pop up in my mind. Would he struggle with his own sexuality?

I never thought of Elliot being into guys, because he was basically the most stereotypical straight guy you would meet. However, if he was uncomfortable talking about it, I didn't want to start assuming things either. He may have just been uncomfortable with being accused of incest rather than homosexuality.

'What sandwich are you going to get?' I asked to switch the topic. 'Also the one I'm taking?'

He nodded. 'I like that one too. Do you want a milkshake? I know you used to love those!'

'I would like to, but only if that doesn't cost too much money. I don't want you to spend so much on me because I'm not worth all of that.'

He turned quiet, so quiet that I turned around to see if he was okay. But a second after turning towards him, I saw tears in his eyes. He had squeezed hands, and then shook his head heavily.

'When are you going to realise you're worth so much more than some stupid money? I can get this money back in a few weeks, but I will never be able to replace you. You're my brother, the only one who stuck by my side ever since I was born.'

'I cause so much trouble,' I whispered, seeing myself inject the heroin again. He didn't even know about it and I already felt like a failure and a burden...

'Clay, you don't cause any trouble. Dad is the one who always has to ruin everything for us, but mostly you. Your rebellious behaviour is so easy to explain when you know the situation you're in. I would do anything dad didn't want me to do if he treated me like he treats you.'

'Would I ever be able to do something to make you angry at me?' I asked as we entered the city, the crowded streets becoming a lot more common.

'No, unless you purposely drop me without a reason, but you're not like that and I can say that with certainty,' he replied. 'I can't wait to for the sandwich, I haven't had one in quite some time, just like a milkshake. You haven't been in the city either for a long time, right?'

'I haven't, I really love to be here with you,' I answered with an emotional voice, the emotions I hated to show coming back again when I realised how much he would do to make me happy, while I thought I didn't even deserve happiness at all.

'Anytime, I'll be here as long as you want to.'

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