Broken Heart

27 Rush

Author's P.O.V

For three agonizing days, Kevin lay tethered to the realm of semi consciousness, the searing pain in his back a relentless anchor. Each shallow breath was a reminder of his father’s brutal punishment, a physical manifestation of his defiance.

Throughout this ordeal, a constant, comforting presence had remained by his side: his mother.

Mrs. Walton, her usual composed facade completely dissolved, had dedicated herself to his care. Her touch was gentle as she cleaned his wounds, her voice a soothing murmur as she coaxed him to take small sips of water. Her presence was a silent testament to a mother's unwavering love, a stark contrast to the harshness he had faced.

On the fourth day, a fragile awareness returned. Kevin’s eyelids fluttered open, his vision blurry at first, then slowly focusing on the familiar surroundings of his room. The pain was still a dull throb, but the suffocating intensity had lessened. He was weak, every movement an effort, but he was awake. His mother’s relieved smile was the first thing he truly registered, a beacon of warmth in the lingering shadows of his pain.

By the fifth day, a restless energy began to stir within him, overriding his physical weakness. He needed to know about David. The last he remembered was the tense confrontation with his father after the younger had left. Had he returned to William’s mansion safely? Was he alright? The unanswered questions gnawed at him, eclipsing his own discomfort.

It was a hushed conversation between his mother and Brian that finally shattered his fragile peace. He overheard Brian mentioning David’s sudden illness and his admission to the  hospital. A jolt of pure fear shot through him, eclipsing the lingering pain in his back. Without a second thought, ignoring his mother’s protests and the sharp twinge of his wounds, Kevin swung his legs out of bed.

“Kevin, no! You’re not well enough to move!” his mother pleaded, her voice laced with alarm.

“I have to go to him,” he insisted, his voice hoarse but firm. He pulled on the first clothes he could find, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, deliberately concealing the bandages on his back. He wouldn’t let David see him like this, wouldn’t risk adding to any distress he might already be feeling. The younger well-being was his only concern.

Ignoring the protests of his still-weak body, Kevin rushed out of the mansion, Brian reluctantly following, a worried expression on his face. The journey to the hospital felt like an eternity, each step sending jolts of pain through his injured back, but his determination propelled him forward.

He found David in a quiet room, his face pale against the crisp white sheets. His parents were by his side, their expressions a mixture of concern and quiet support. As the door creaked open and he stood in the doorway.

David’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Kevin…” he breathed, his voice soft.

Kevin stepped into the room, his gaze fixed on the younger. He could see the lingering traces of illness on his face, the shadows under his eyes. A wave of protectiveness washed over him.

Before he could speak, David did. His voice, though still weak, held a tremor of something he couldn’t quite decipher. “Kevin… I’m pregnant.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. A complicated mix of emotions flooded through Kevin. A surge of protectiveness for the child, a flicker of joy at the thought of fatherhood, and a profound sense of responsibility warred within him.

He had hoped to win the younger over again, to rebuild the connection they had forged before the revelation of their mating bond. The news of his pregnancy added another layer of complexity to their already intricate situation. He was young, barely sixteen himself. The thought of raising a child at this age was daunting, filled with uncertainties.

Yet, beneath the initial shock and the whisper of fear, a stronger feeling began to solidify within him. He had faced his father’s wrath for the younger sake, and he would face this new challenge with the same unwavering resolve. The idea of a child, their child, ignited a fierce determination within him. He would be strong for David, strong for their baby.

He looked at David, his eyes filled with a newfound seriousness. He saw the vulnerability in the younger gaze, the unspoken questions and perhaps even a hint of fear mirroring his own. He wanted to reach out, to reassure him, but he held back, respecting the space the younger shared with his parents.

He was unaware of the turmoil David had faced, the guilt he had felt, or the pragmatic decision he had made to accept him for the sake of their child.

He didn’t know that his act of defiance had resulted in the painful wounds he now bore hidden beneath his clothes. He had come to the younger simply because he cared, because the thought of the younger being unwell had been unbearable.

“David,” he said softly, his voice filled with a sincerity that resonated in the quiet room, “are you alright? Do you need anything?” He deliberately kept his tone neutral, wanting to understand the younger situation without imposing his own feelings.

He saw the surprise in David’s eyes, the way he seemed to search his face.

Kevin knew the younger was likely grappling with his own emotions, his own fears about the future. He wanted to tell the younger that he would be there, that they would face this together, but he held back, waiting for the younger to speak, to share his feelings in his own time.

The news of the pregnancy, while unexpected, had not diminished his feelings for the younger. If anything, it had amplified his sense of responsibility. He might be young, but he was not a boy anymore. He had stood against his father, and he would stand by David and their child. The fear was still there, a knot of anxiety in his stomach, but it was overshadowed by a burgeoning sense of purpose. He would learn, he would grow, he would be the father their child deserved. And perhaps, in navigating this new chapter together, he and David could build a future, not just for their child, but for themselves as well.

The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time since the confrontation with his father, Kevin felt a flicker of hope amidst the apprehension.