CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 23 (18+) [Revised]

Look for the lines of asterisks before and after if you don't want to read the 18+. It's only slight, and it's mixed with some dialogue. I'll summarize what was said at the end of the chapter for those of you who'd rather skip out on it. 

Alexei Abbots.

IT'S MORNING. A day has passed since I accidentally walked into Tycho's room and saw him without his shirt. I'll admit, I felt bad. I clearly saw him in a vulnerable moment, and I regret seeing it. Not to mention, those bruises were fucking bad. Max was right, I could literally see the outline of a sole on his skin. I wanted to ask him a million questions about it, especially in that moment. 

How bad are your ribs currently?

Has it ever been worse?

How long have you been dealing with this?

But I didn't. I don't know him well, but I'm not stupid enough to outright ask him about something so sensitive. He'd shut down and not talk to me for a week. I was starting to like him, and he was starting to tolerate me. I don't want to ruin that. 

As much as I wanted to speak about this to Riley and Xavier, I wouldn't. I didn't say anything about this to anyone, and I never would, unless he were still in danger. I didn't want Tycho to think I blabbered about his condition to Riley or Xavier because then it'd destroy the little trust he had in me. Hopefully, it wasn't already.

After my shower, I met Riley and Xavier in the kitchen for breakfast. I was already working on eating my food when Tycho came into the room, hair wet like mine. He also wore one of the new outfits that he had bought with Riley the day before. He greeted the three of us curtly, carefully avoiding eye contact with me. I sighed in disappointment. I guess it still affected him, despite claiming that it didn't.

I tried hard not to be offended, but I already missed the little 'hello' he'd give me in the morning. 

I stayed silent as Riley took turns talking to everyone around the table. He started up a conversation with Xavier, then Tycho, and finally me. It was usual banter, but while he spoke to me, I could tell he was a bit apprehensive about something. Riley had this tell whenever he was going to do something he didn't want to do. He'd take whatever hand was busy and rub his other arm slightly, and only for a second. He was doing it now.

"So, Tycho," Riley started. I guess that was what he was so hesitant about. I liked having him here, but I won't lie, it was scary having to walk on eggshells around someone in your own house. "Xavier and I talked a little, and we were wondering when you were planning on going back to school?" 

Tycho's hand stilled. He pursed his lips slightly before dropping the fork. I watched the muscles in his arms flex from the tension in his hands.

"I-I don't know." He spoke lowly, his voice still gravel-like from fatigue. Now that I thought about it, he seemed more tired than usual. "I'll go back if you want me to." 

The topic clearly made him uncomfortable. I remembered something Louis had told me the day he came to the house. He had said something about Tycho having a breakdown at practice, which is what set this entire event in motion. 

Riley's eyes widened, and he quickly backtracked. "No, no, you don't have to do anything, if you're not ready, you're not ready, Tycho. That's okay if you aren't, I was just wondering if you were, is all." 

Riley fretted over Tycho as a mother does over her youngest. I laughed quietly. Riley has always been the motherly figure of our relationship. 

Tycho's eyes drifted down for a while; he seemed to be lost in thought. He took a deep breath before replying, "I'll go. I don't..." He mumbled the last part of his sentence, but he was loud enough for me to hear. "I don't want to be a coward."