Step-Brothers

~Chapter Twelve~

"Oh, well, um, he Was drunk and stole all of my college money to buy more beer. I yelled at him and he hit me with the beer bottle, shoved me against the wall and kicked me out of the house. I don't have anywhere to stay..."

"... That makes a bit more sense." He looks at Conner and Zoe.

"And you expect me to house another kid?"

"Larry, he's almost 18 anyway, it won't be forever-"

"Then what, he'll move out? With what money, Conner?" Mrs. Murphy joins in,

"Well, we were thinking of going to the police? Taking him to court? He could get arrested for Child abuse."

"Does it look like we've got the space for another person right now? Taking the man to court is only going to solve part of the problem."

"Well where is he supposed to stay l dad??"

"Where would he stay here??"

"The couch?? Zoe's -"

"No, Conner, NOT Zoe's room!" they're gonna start screaming. There's too much alpha in the room.

"Dad is fine! He isn't gonna do anything, we're just friends. Plus he's taken already."

"M-Mr Murphy, if I c-could interject?" Evan is quiet through the phone.

"I-It's Evan." the yelling stops a moment.

"Um... P-Please. Jared really needs somewhere to live, I... I'd really appreciate it."

"....And Evan is..?"

"My....... best friend. I would've gone to his house but he just recently moved to New Jersey..." Jared got the gist that their parents don't like homos. He can't take any more of that.

"You know Evan, he's been over before."

"....Oh. Right. The omega." They probably like Evan cause he hangs out with Conner and seems like a nice boy. Larry doesn't like that specific quality of him though. Thinks sometimes he's not sure he wants an omega boy in his house.

"Yeah..." Jared doesn't know where he's gonna go..

"... He can stay till he finds somewhere to be." Jared looks up in surprise and relief.

"Thank you so much."

"Mr Murphy, thank you, thank you, th-"

"Its fine, kid." Jared is so thankful.

"You'll sleep in Conner's room."

"Wh-??"

"He's not staying in the living room. I use it late at night. He's staying in Conner's room."

"Don't worry, Connor, I'll stay as far away as possible."

"Good."

"Conner, be nice."

"Evan, what did I say, I said only if he stays out of my room! That's MY space!"

"Just make it work Connor. Just until he can find somewhere to go."

"Fine. Make one wrong move and you're dead, Kleinman."

"Conner. "

"Fair enough." Larry heads off and leaves the children to their business.

"Fuckin perfect."

"It'll just be for the best if I just don't talk to you at all? Is that what you want?"

"Why do you guys fight like little girls? Oh my god."

"We do not-"

"Zoe's right."

"Evan!"

"We kinda do Connor."

"Don't admit it!"

"Why not? It's true"

"Whatever."

"You don't have to stay in there the entire time."

"I know. I'm probably not going to."

"...Jared ,he trashed your room ,by the way ..."

"What do you mean?"

"Before he started yelling at me, your dad was - he was breaking things and such. Trashing your room." Jared's hands curl up into fists and whispers.

"Fuck."

"... I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault Ev."

"feels like it is..."

"But it's not. You couldn't of done anything."

"He said it was my fault. He said he'd kill me if I ever set foot in his house again."

"Which you aren't. He isn't going to touch you- or ever LOOK at you. None of it is your fault." Evan is quiet.

"....okay." When Jared turns back, Connor has left and it's just him and Zoe.

"... Are you gonna be okay?"

"Physically? Probably. Emotionally. Absolutely not."

"God... I wish I could be there..."

"I know..."

"... I gotta come home. I have to. Necromancer weekend, I'll borrow my mom's car, I'll... I'll drive down."

"Evan-"

"No, I have to, I can't -" he stops.

"I wont be able to drive this weekend. Too close to uh... Yknow."

"Yeah. I'll see you soon, I promise"

"... God Dammit..." Evan. Language.

"Wow, first time I've ever heard you curse."

"Sorry..."

"No, it's fine. I'm just... surprised."

"I'm just.... upset."

"I know Ev... I am too." That night is probably way tense in Conner's room. Connor in his bed facing the wall and Jared on the floor on the other side of the room, facing that wall. Conner is quietly texting Evan about something normal. Something dumb. Like his trees or something. Conner thinks it's cute. Jared lays quietly on his side. Eyes wide open. He's a little scared Connor is actually gonna murder him in his sleep. Conner giggles very softly at something Evan sent him. Jared hates it. He wishes Evan would just drop his number. But he can't make him do that.

"Jared, your boy is funny as hell."

"Mhm." Conner chuckles again and really wishes he'd gotten there first. Jared can only imagine if he did. God, that would be too much for Jared. That might end it for him.

"He told me you marked him. Classy, Kleinman." Jared freezes.

"God.. does he tell you everything?"

"Almost. Told me he'd literally rip my dick off if I told anyone, but he's scared. He's afraid of what would happen if his mom knew. Or a lot of people, really."

"Then don't tell anyone. It's not embarrassing for just him."

"I haven't told a single person."

"Good. I would also rip your dick off if you did."

"Not if he got there first. And the way he said it, I think he would."

"I'd help. Holding you down."

"All right, whatever. I wouldn't do that to him anyway. He sounded terrified when he called."