'We'

Chapter Ten

"What's up with your eyes?" Jacob asked, small taking his way through the car ride like no tomorrow. Unlike his socially awkward brother, the teenager seemed to have no end of conversations to start. Erik drove silently as his brother conversed with Felix.

"You mean my glasses?" Felix enquired. Jacob took a moment to reply, too occupied with a game on his phone.

"Yeah. You always needed them?"

"Ever since I was small, yes."

"Not many people could pull off circular glasses like those."

"I take it that's a compliment?"

Jacob snorted a laugh, and Erik sighed from the front of the car.

"Be polite, Jacob."

"I am. Just because you're jealous I'm talking to your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend," Erik corrected.

"Not yet," Felix interrupted, and the black-haired man let out an exasperated sigh.

"You're as bad as each other! Why did I agree to get locked in a car with you two?"

All three men laughed, and the momentary tension subsided. Erik smiled into the air, enjoying the company despite himself. As much as his brother annoyed him, he was thankful for his talkative nature.

"How strong are they?" Jacob pried his eyes away from his phone for a moment, gazing back at Felix. "Can I try them on?"

"I guess," Felix replied with a laugh, taking the metal frames from his face and handing them over to the back seat. He immediately screwed up his eyes, and Erik risked a glance over at him. He had never seen the man without his glasses, and he wasn't going to miss the opportunity now. His eyes were even prettier than they were behind the glass, and it took all Erik's self-control to keep his eyes on the road.

"How do I look?" Jacob explained, and Erik cast a glance in the mirror to see his brother beaming like an idiot, cross-eyed from the strength of the lens. The glasses were way too big for his eyes but way too tight for his face. For the first time, Erik realised how much smaller Felix was than both of them. He chuckled.

"Hey, how tall are you?" he asked, casting another glance at his companion.

"5'8". Why?" he responded. Erik sniggered again.

"You're pretty small. Where do you keep all that ego?"

Erik and Felix laughed together, and even Jacob gave out a little chuckle. He removed the glasses from his face and had to tap Felix on the shoulder to alert him. The man fastened them back on his face, blinking to adjust to his new vision. He looked down at his lap as he put them on.

"You really are blind," Jacob commented. "I'm pretty sure I could see all the way to Australia."

Felix and Erik didn't hear, however. A cyclist had pulled into the wrong side of the road, trying to cross in front of Erik's car. The man put his foot on the brake, stilling the car just enough to let the man past. Jacob stuck his middle finger out of the window as the bike skidded past him. Erik rolled his eyes in frustration. Suddenly, Felix let out a squeak.

In his surprise, Erik turned to face him. The man looked utterly terrified; his face was white, and hair eyes were widened. His hands were clenched into fists, and his knuckles were turning white. Very slightly the man was shaking.

"You alright? It's okay. We missed him."

Felix did not answer. A single tear escaped his eye. Erik wasn't quite sure what has happened.

"Dude, are you crying?" Jacob asked, leaning forward to look at Felix. The man seemed not to hear, staring straight ahead.

"Do you need me to pull over?" Erik asked him, genuine concern in his voice.

"No, I-" Erik took the unfinished sentence as a sign. He tilted the wheel to the side, coming to a stop by the side of the road. The car was silent, aside from the ragged breaths Felix was letting out. Erik unplugged his belt, turning towards his friend.

"Felix? What's up?"

"I-"

"Do you need me to call an ambulance?"

"No! No. Please."

Erik cast a glance back at Jacob, who looked just as confused as he felt. The younger boy's eyes were widened.

"Is he having a fit?"

Erik turned back to Felix, who now had his eyes closed. They flickered open every so often as if he were unsure if he wanted to close them or not. His breathing had improved slightly, but the irregularly of his breath still unsettled Erik. The brown-haired man's fists clenched and unclenched nervously. Erik placed a hand on his shoulder.

In an instant, Felix grasped the offered hands in both of his. If the situation had been different, Erik might have been startled. His companion now opened his eyes fully, staring at Erik. He looked like a startled rabbit.

"Felix. Calm down."

"Oh, thanks," he managed to stutter, a slight smile on his face. "I didn't think of that." Erik noticed his pupils start to fade back to their normal size, and realised that if Felix could be sarcastic he must be beginning to calm down. He waited in silence, watching his friend carefully. Finally, Felix took a deep breath.

"You have pretty eyes," Felix stated.

Erik looked back at Jacob, who still looked slightly shaken. He, too, was unsure what had just happened, but he didn't want to let his brother catch his fear. Two frightened men in a car were enough. He couldn't afford to be a third.

"The house isn't far," Jacob managed to stutter, looking away from his brother and unplugging his belt. "I'll walk."

"Be careful."

"I'll call you when I get home."

Without another word, the boy exited the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. Erik watched him for a few heartbeats, before turning back to Felix.

"What was that?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"That's a shame," Erik replied, crossing his arms, "because we're going to."

Felix was silent for a long while, eyes darting around him; anywhere but at Erik. With a jolt, the black-haired man realised that Felix was still clutching his hand tightly.

"Can I go back home?"

"I'm not leaving you alone like this."

"Then you can come with me, or we can go to yours. I don't care. I just need to get out of this fucking car."

Without another word, Erik restarted the engine. He noticed Felix jump, and the smaller man gazed meaningfully down at his lap as they set off. Erik could almost see the fear pulsing from him, and the fact sent fear shivering down his spine too. He drove slowly, careful not to upset Felix. The car journey was passed in uncomfortable silence.

Erik pulled up outside the place he lived and ushered Felix quietly towards the entrance. Just as they were about to reach the man's own door did his phone go off, and Erik remembered about his brother. He answered hesitantly.

"I'm home."

"Alright."

"Is he…?"

"He's with me. I've got to go."

Erik hung up before his brother could reply, too overcome by fear to fully converse. He wasn't sure what he was more afraid of - what had just happened, what Felix might say to him next, or the fact that he was bringing this man back to his room. Despite himself, he couldn't stop considering the final option. He wished the circumstances were better.