Mens Cruentatus (Joshler)

Quattuor

The Message Man, much to Tyler's surprise, still had enough decency to bring him dinner. Tyler had heard the footsteps coming, he heard the key being twisted in the keyhole and he heard the door creaking open. Because of the scene that had happened at lunchtime, Tyler had curled himself in the bed and laid there all day. So when the door opened again, he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, although sleep was foreign to him now.

He heard the redhead's footstep walk to the table in the corner, and he heard the clinking of ceramic plates against the wood of the small table.

He remained with his eyes closed, especially since he heard footsteps approach the bed from where his back was facing. He heard the footsteps stop, and imagined that the older man was looking at him. His breathing began to become uneven at the thought of him hurting him for what he had said earlier, but tried to even them out as much as he could.

Tears threatened to spill from the younger boy's eyes, but he couldn't give out the fact that he wasn't actually asleep. It frightened him too much.

He felt The Message Man reach down at the edge of the bed, and expected something bad to happen, but was surprised when he felt him pull up the bigger comforter and drape it over his cold frame, tucking it up MY his shoulders comfortingly. A wave of confusion washed over the young brunette and before he knew what he was doing he sat up from the bed, not only starling The Message Man, but startling himself.

"Why did you do that?" He questioned, and although he knew it was an act of kindness he couldn't get it through his thick skull that the man who put him down here would comfort him in any way.

The Message Man stared at the younger brunette in front of him and only walked over to the bed and sat down on he edge, making Tyler scramble backwards; about a good two feet in between them.

"You looked cold." Was all he could say, and it was a truthful answer. That's what Tyler was looking for. Something truthful.

"I-I don't need you doing that s-shit for me." Tyler stuttered out, tears forming in his wide brown eyes. He looked towards The Message Man who had a concerned seeming look on his face, and that made this whole situation seem even more confusing.

Tyler remembers The Message Man saying that he was the least of his worries, and the young brunette started to realize that maybe that statement was true. But the only thing left for Tyler to do down here was worry. 

"I'm not doing anything but trying to keep you safe." The Message Man said, hazel eyes piercing into the brunettes wide-brown-orbs.

"You-You keep d-doing these things that I don't understand, and I want to-to understand." Tyler breathed out.

He was confused by his own words, as was The Message Man who raised a brow.

"You looked cold so I pulled up the blankets." The red hue said. "What don't you understand?" He added on.

"Try asking me if I understand why my-my c-captor is treating me like I'm staying in a five star hotel, then you'll understand why I'm-I'm confused." Tyler said, tears forming in his eyes.

"It wasn't me who brought you here."

And back to square one.

"Fine, I-It wasn't you. It was-was J-Josh." Tyler said, tears beginning to fall down his face, "But you're doing nothing to-to help me get o-out."

The Message Man finally bowed his head in understanding, intertwining his own hands, but then looking up to meet Tyler's gaze again, a serious expression sketched onto his face.

"Because I want you here." The words surprised Tyler as much as it surprised himself. "We all do. But right now my job is to keep you safe before the next one bleeds through."