[BxB] F.A.R.M. The Dating App

IV Ashton

The room grew quiet, the only sound coming from my father's labored breaths. Even Anthony and Hayden, who are stood nearly shoulder-to-shoulder by the door, have grown quiet — Their usual banter absent. Zee has gone down to get refreshments, whatever they may be, I'd rather be thankful for his hospitality despite his living conditions and current situation with our father. Gazing upon my father's seemingly much thinner hands, I gently grabbed it, making sure to only touch the parts that were covered up with bandages. His eyebrows tightened in his sleep, almost making me drop his hand that is until he settled once more.

Zee came back much later with three glasses of, surprisingly, clear water. I thanked him, drinking a bit of the liquid and setting it aside, the room falling back into its original silence, save for the hustle and bustle of the outside world. People arguing down the alley, cars driving, and the occasional alarm of a truck passing along.

"We stayed long enough..." Hayden spoke up, earning the attention of both Anthony and me, "Be ready to leave in 5." As he said this, he exits the room, making a point to avoid looking at the bed much more than he needed to.

"See you later dad," Placing a soft kiss on his bandaged forehead, I stood up to get ready to leave, "Please get well."

Anthony left the room without much of a goodbye, but by the sight of his clenched fists, I have a suspicion he wasn't up for looking at our father much longer. Bidding Zee farewell, we all left their residence, promising to return or visit as soon as we can. Unfortunately, how soon we're talking about is unknown to both me and Anthony.

"Come back anytime if you guys want to visit," Zee said waving after us, standing by the door, A euphoric expression on his face that melts into one of sorrow.

Anthony and Hayden walked as far away from each other, which is not that far seeing as the alley barely provided them any space to be apart. A red hue overtook my brother's neck which, from experience, means he's just about to lose his sh*t.

"IT'S YOUR GODDAMNED FATHER! IT'S ALL HIS-"

"IT IS FOR THE GREATER GOOD! Burning is part of the attunement, keeping citizens separated in different districts ensures sufficient goods distribution-"

"WHAT THE F*CK HAYDEN?! WHAT THE F*CK!?" Anthony full-on stopped in his tracks causing both Hayden and me to stop as well, as all three of us now stood awkwardly at an alleyway. "OUR DAD," He motions to me, " IS BARELY ALIVE BECAUSE OF THIS FUCKED UP SYSTEM. I kept my cool so that we won't disturb Dad but I just can't handle it anymore. How many, huh? How many have our society burned and kept down here just because some stupid machine deemed them unworthy!?"

"Oh! You're one to talk to! Mr. Born in the first district! Mr. I enjoy the privileges the system has provided for me!" With every painful jab of Hayden's words was an equal push he does at Anthony's chest. "The machine has kept humanity alive for thousands of years after what was supposed to be our great extinction. IT IS WHAT KEEPS US ALIVE. Homosexuals can't procreate so they're at the bottom of the priority list, it's just how it is."

"YOU-" Anthony, as usual, was grasping at straws when in an argument. "Who says they can't huh?! We've developed flying cars, yet we can't develop a way for, I don't know, science babies??"

"It is not the will of the machine. The machine-"

"IS TREATING US LIKE ANIMALS." Anthony huffed, "Separating us into pens, Good cattle go here and the abnormals go here and-"

With a dreadful sigh, I made it a point to surpass both of them and to retrace where we came from. "Let's just leave,"

"But Ash-"

"Ant, We're nobodies," I turned to face him, "We're just two spoiled first-district kids, who are now complaining of the system that we profited from for years. Only because it finally bit us back in the ass, there's nothing we can do Anthony." I expected him to retort to reason even more as he usually does, but he simply hangs his head. Taking that as my cue to continue walking, I turned around to retrace the steps we took.