Death's Middle Name {boyxboy}

Chapter Sixteen

~Monday 18th December 2017~

"Alwynn, just the person I needed," oh, fucking wonderful, Nolan. Alwynn repressed the sigh that clawed at his lips, keeping his mouth set in a straight line as he turned to face Nolan. He had barely even had chance to take off his jacket before that man had sought him out, snuffing out any flicker of contentment Alwynn had left. Happiness wasn't even in question.

"Yes?" Alwynn didn't even bother to attempt any sort of smile, manners being the last thing on his mind that morning. He had been in a bad mood for almost twenty-four hours, with Vant being the only thing on his mind. He hadn't returned the previous night, had made some pathetic excuse that Alwynn had barely believed and didn't endeavour to remember, leaving the boy in an empty bed and empty house. What a great guy.

That being said, his mood wouldn't have been so foul if Vant would at least answer him. Instead, the adult was acting like a child, avoiding every text, call or voicemail Alwynn left. The only option available, though rather drastic in itself, was to simply confront Vant in person, no matter how much the thought flooded Alwynn with anxiety. The ignorance was growing far too irritable.

"May I have a word with you in my office?" Alwynn wanted to say no, he wanted to scream and shout and yell to high heaven what Nolan had done, but he couldn't, "it won't take longer than five minutes, it's really important," Alwynn allowed the scowl to twist his features, nodding stiffly, "wonderful, thanks," following Nolan to his office, Alwynn debated a thousand different ways to tell the man he was no longer going to be his slave. Not when something amazing could be blossoming with Vant, though that hope seemed to be dwindling with the minutes of silence that ticked by.

Go fuck yourself, that was simple, yet overused. Alwynn felt he needed something more poetic, something that dealt more justice for the torture he had had to endure day in day out for almost the past year. He should have prepared something more, though he had never thought he would have the courage to even stand up to Nolan. Who was he kidding? He still didn't. He was living in a fantasy world where happiness existed and good things occurred, as usual.

"Sit, please," Nolan gestured towards the chair opposite his own, settling down with a far less enthusiastic smile than what usually graced his crooked lips. Perching on the edge of the seat, Alwynn held the eye contact with Nolan instead of staring at the floor like he usually did. Maybe his subconscious wanted to prove he had some degree of strength, maybe he was just being stubborn. Either way, it didn't seem to be provoking any sort of reaction from Nolan.

"How are you, Alwynn?" remaining silent, Alwynn simply answered with a growing frown, "OK, I understand talking about what happened to you might be difficult, Alwynn, however, as your employer I do need some degree of insight into your mental state," big words for a small man, Alwynn thought.

"I'm not going to have a mental breakdown, if that's what you're asking."

"Always with the blunt approach," Nolan chuckled, someone was in an overly chipper mood, "I meant are you OK to be in today? Are you feeling up to working?"

"I wouldn't have come in if I felt otherwise," Alwynn spoke harshly, in a monotonous tone, not caring at all that Nolan was his boss. He didn't act like his boss, why should he be treated as such?

"I don't want you to feel as though you have to come in, Alwynn, you can take this week off, extend your holiday if you would like," Nolan was being far too nice for his own wellbeing, "you can step out of class at any time, come in here if you need a moment to yourself, even if I'm not in here. I want you to feel safe here, at ease," Nolan was getting beyond caring, it was becoming a tad unnerving, "we all care about you here, we wouldn't want you forcing yourself into being here when you're not ready."