Fifty Reasons to Stay (Book Three)

Chapter Twenty Six-Unforgettable

(Narrator's POV)
12.25.25
Christmas went rather well this year. You're asleep on my shoulder right now, curled up against me to keep warm. A gentle flame from the fire is flickering so every once in a while I can catch a glimpse of your face. You are very cute while you're sleeping.
-Leo
~~
Their lips parted for just a moment so Leo could slip into a more comfortable place, arms slipping under Donnie's to pull him to sit up, causing Donnie to wince as Leo accidentally pinched him.
"S-sorry.." Leo mumbled, cupping his cheeks again to guide him back into their kiss. Donnie wrapped his arms around his neck, returning it. Christmas really did go well. He wanted that to continue on through the New Year, wanting to get a lot of love and wanting what was going on to continue and go further. He wanted it–

He curled his toes as Leo assumed a more dominant position and pinned his partner's hands above his head, slowly trailing kisses down his jaw and gentle teasing licks around his lips. Donnie patiently waited for an actual kiss, having nothing to do but sigh quietly or do those little soft moans of pleasure he tried to avoid because he knew it would only make Leo tease him even more. He focused on the water fountain in the corner; watching the water drip down in such a relaxing way calmed his mind until all the thoughts trying to cloud it up were gone and he was just left with what was hovering over him. "Let go of me, Leo." He whispered, desperately wanting to put his arms down. He hated being pinned like this. It made him feel trapped and uncomfortable.
Leo was all about consent and obviously let go right away, but also felt awkward now and quickly sat up. "Yeah... I need to run to the store. I'll be back later." He climbed off the big bed, slipping his shoes and coat on. The blush on his cheeks was growing more prominent by the second. "Bye.."

All Donnie could do was frown. Why should he be upset? He was the one that told him no, yet he felt like the bad guy for doing so. He hadn't been kissed like that in a very long time, so why did he want to stop?
Because I have to pee.

He stood up. "Leo. Wait... I.. need help."
~~
"Donnie can't do a thing for himself – he can't even go to the bathroom by himself -and talks and thinks like a two-year-old..."

"No...I don't think...like toddler." Donnie said mostly to himself, his voice sad. Every time he tried to be happy, to try to heal, his younger brother's words always replayed in his broken mind.

"I... not, broken!" He yelled at himself, stubbornly. His hands slamming the bed with a loud thud. Donnie inhaled sharply, his mind attempting to draw away from the memories of being called a baby. Sure, he needed help going to the bathroom, and had to chase after Leo to ask for his help before he left, but he couldn't blame himself. Could he?

It was his fault, and he knew, it was his fault why he was like this, why Leo needed to take care of him. He wanted to kill himself and it resulted him being damaged – maybe forever. Donnie gritted his teeth at the thought of being teased forever.

He sounds so stupid.

"Not...stupid..." He understood words, he understood things. He just had a delay in speech; his speech slurred and he only used basic vocabulary, but that's it. He didn't think like a two-year-old, and it may have seemed like he was acting like one because he needed help getting dressed and going to the bathroom – but that's only because his hands would shake and he was always unsure what to do with them. He's fragile, he had a scar on his wrist and chest.

It's enough that he tried committing suicide, but he couldn't handle being teased – especially by his own brother.

"L-Leo...? Please? Sorry... I swear those are the only words he knows how to say."