The Bracelet: Part 1- Familial scars (Patreon)

Topics and CW: Allusions to familial abuse, Dystopic Regime, HP external and Internal, Non-erotic Drama (with hints to subtle eroticism), uncomfortable situations, use of powers to worsen relationships

Summary

Follow a peak into the real situation of Heath, as he grapples with an invisible deadline to betray the 1st man he would call a lover. If not for his inability to communicate, to be soft, and open up. But as the heir of this empire’s future: Heath is not afforded the luxuries of being himself. As he bottles up his emotions on the way to his bestfriends crib to get ready to go to the Pariah's Palace. To pretend everything is fine. Despite the reminders of what awaits his future for being gay and the son of the governor.

Part 1- Familial scars

Heath cried to himself under his sunglasses as the deep bruises on his face were slow to fade. His tears flowing above soft, invisible cheeks as he cradled his knees with board arms; his obscured form crouching at the corner of the seats for the trolley he rode on. Heath’s routine whenever he “escaped” his true reality in the Upper-Bubble, by descending in the public transit to be with friends. Using his Cellgrade to ensure others would not see or hear his weakness as he erased his presence, hiding in the corner for added measure in shame for his display. Prayers to erase his existence fully, quieting over time as it always did. As the machines that roared around him whirled and bent in its many mile descant from Santa Nueva’s Skyline to the West-side ground.

The transit cart snaking its way down the Bubble’s grid-like structure: its metallic web the size of thin buildings that caged the capital in its alloy, silicone orb. Protecting the mega city from a raging blizzard outside by the intricate railways of these webbing structures, interconnected by Diamond-shaped dwellings large enough for entire neighborhoods. The simulated afternoon blazing down from its artificial sundown across the inner surface of the dome. Heath’s ‘bus’, one of dozens that wormed their way as interlocking, rectangular tubes that sped through the grid of the bubble. Its strange, grub design preventing his death, and the many other cart passengers by rotating on an axis-grip that chained the structure at its center; shifting the mass whenever inertia would be an issue.

Heath’s cart was scarcely inhabited, normally nothing detrimental to his ego save for who was on it.

As a man around his age was being praised in passing by his much older father across from the corner where the Gusmonde heir cried in. The linage of the younger, look-alike, child of the seasoned laborer sparkled in more than safety.

It did not feign confidence. It did not need to prove itself to the man that smiled and laughed in recognition of Its talents. It bolstered out achievements It had gained serving their bosses in the Upper-Bubble. And It did not get berated for It’s improper remarks. Its loud voice did not get punished for differing opinions, nor did it get reprimanded for being itself.

It—

No.

He did not flinch when his Father patted his son’s head in more than pride. He did not cringe in fear of the contact his parental figure gave unwarranted, but not undesired. The gentle tousle of hair a sign of deep care that he had raised his son Right, his son shying away the praise in modesty. He was given a space to be himself. And he was more than praised for it.

He was loved.

Even as they chatted, they retained the same state without a switch being flipped.

Even as they left the cart, Heath saw their love...stay the same in earnest understanding.

Petrified by these people. A son of this empire’s most powerful bloodlines, and Heath felt guilty being jealous of common cleaners that did not know the decadence of his lineage. Almost forgetting to leave the trolley in his daydreams of a father’s approval, before the cart bleated it’s next destination.

Weeping away the deep tears he released, the pain from his cheek bones still immense from their beating earlier by thick, familiar, knuckles. Carefully leaving the cart into the West-side of Santa Nueva to be picked up by his bestfriend, Heath made sure to take the long way as he always did when visiting Zeke.

‘To...get it out of my system’, the Gusmonde heir lied to himself on repeat. As he used his cellgrade to keep his existence hidden from the bustling, urbanized cityscape he desperately distracted himself with. Doing as he always did. Repressing what he needed to confront with the artificial around him. Facsimile pleasantries and shopping districts avoided as their neon glows were not enough to dodge mentally as he weaved through the afternoon rush of bodies physically. Careful not to bump into people and raise questions, a lifetime of having to shrink himself paying off for once.

Advertisements.

Chain restaurants.

Families and laborers of all classes dining and diving out of stores.

A cage of roads encompassing a network of rising concrete towers.

Vehicles floating and motorized passed by streets of looted commence were just background noise in the sleepless city, as Heath tried desperately to navigate his way to his bestfriend’s apartment without breaking down in some alleyway.

Until he found the skyscraper he was looking for. It’s 20 rows of concrete and glass dwarfed by many, many, much more impressive buildings. Its architecture simple, but aged. Much lower in class than anything his fath-, His Family, would ever approve to go in. Centering himself more, he pushed in the non-automatic doors invisibly, racked still in his own head to care if someone thought a ghost just opened the entrance.

As Heath tried looking for the bright-side of tonight: he would be with his Boys, And….he would be with the little weirdo he did more than ‘fancy’.

First, he would need to get ready at his bestfriend’s crib….before he would let the reality of his situation with Maverick set in when they actually go to the club. The real relationships he had with his ‘friends’. Even with Zeke, His ‘goofy guy’ unaware of the depths Heath’s loyalty would take him, though Heath would never admit his care like that. The anger...Heath felt being himself and more when with Maverick, his heart feeling filled by his annoying banter and cuteness. And the thing in the reflection he loathed due to his inability to change the cruel state of his ‘status-quo’.

Thoughts of his true objective at the Pariah’s Palace blurring the thoughts he was ashamed never reached his lips in real confidence. The few-letter words he could share in tenderness for his weirdo, his bestfriend, and even his Mom; left unpracticed as Heath took the Elevator to the top floor of the apartment complex. Failing to take his mind off his situation, Heath let his body auto-pilot itself through his routine. As the ratty 20th floor presented itself to him in its royal display of odd stains and patches along the faded red carpet that did not separate the 60 total rooms evenly. His footprints heavy enough to imprint on the once shaggy polyester, none the wiser to his loathful steps as they traced to the very last room facing to the Heart of Santa Nueva.

A welcome mat with otters hugging down a stream, is what broke Heath’s self-hating stride, as he felt embarrassed to even consider cleaning his feet on the cute design. Snapping him out of his rage, envy...and guilt, to wipe his feet on the more expensive mat of Zeke’s neighbors before returning to the door.

Taking in a silent, deep breathe. Checking his face to see if the swelling went down, his accursed blood having mostly healed the bruising from his walk. Sunglasses still obscured as he reorganized them from his constant tear sweeping, Heath grabbed the key Zeke gave him. The memories fresh of helping him move to the ground, visions of the Big-Lug sobbing after the Carnelian’s claimed Zeke’s younger brother as the new heir. Limiting his time with his new, loved, sibling until they kicked him out of the manor actively….resulting with Heath as the only person with the other key he carefully opened the door with.

And quietly opened the door to…. A…. shirtless, singing, Zeke that used the end of a ladle like an impromptu microphone as he joyfully failed to sing lyrics to a song they both vaguely remembered from the Pariah’s Palace. Looking up to the silly display of his bestfriend in Pj bottoms much too big for someone 6’4ft tall, the waist doing all the work as the wide, soft muscles of Zeke bounced with each unrehearsed step. His gray hair cut short with a fresh blade, not stopping the sweat of the sudden dance, as his smooth face glistened along his clay-tan skin with each new verse.

Heath...took a few moments to enjoy his bestfriend’s stupid, silly, display as it helped dispell the remainder of his demons with each cracked syllable or misremembered lyric. Despite the horrible memory of this song, they both apparently enjoyed the ear-worm rhythm, catching Heath off-guard from his emotional state by how captivating his bestfriend made the rendition.

Zeke sang as if he was performing in front of people again. A lifetime stringing his voice like any other instrument made the terrible “version” of this memory a proper melody. The passion in his volume, the smoothness of his deep voice was like downing coffee after your sick throat needed something pleasantly warm to savor. Reminding Heath that he missed hearing his best friend perform.

Smiling...until he remembered they had to get ready for tonight.

The contents of his bag….needed to be used up in preparation for his surprise to the little freak that was constantly on his mind. Needing a deep shower for his special gifts to Maverick, would at least take an hour he couldn’t wait for.

“I WOULD LIKE FOR Y-U AND eYE to Goo ROMANCING~ Say the Word, your Wish is my Comm-AAHH—”, Zeke belted out before Shrilly screaming as his front door slammed. His soft, wide frame having turned with his dramatic swirl in his performance with once closed, prideful eyes. Opening his eyelids as they enlarging in terror from Heath reappearing before Zeke in cruel laughter.

“SUP, Mi Mamon! Looks like I’m not the only one that Freak isn’t rubbing off on..Though I remember a certain someone telling me ‘I won’t get attached if I come along, I Promise gey’, EAHAHAE-”, Heath cackled out cruelty.

Suddenly appearing before Zeke, was a dense man who reeked of masculinity.

Real, solid muscles clung to thick bone. Broad, proud features often used to leer to those shorter and taller than him. Heath’s Olive skin was smooth in old places, but very hairy in others revealed by his flaunting attire. His abs visible from the short, segmented jacket tank-top in season for people like them; his sculpted physique covered in a mess of brown, soft hair that faintly trailed down past his belly button. Hoodie raised...sunglasses on? Heath’s signatures with his metallic, copper hair and silver eyes were hidden by accessories fully unnecessary due to his power. As the densely built man fidgeted his dominant hand in the pockets of black, ripped pants as his other limb slunk over his shoulder with whatever supplies he needed for tonight in a worn….handmade gymbag.

Zeke firing back in a fluster, his wide-face showing off his sincere emotions to his determent; “NO MAMES, GEY. WHAT DDID I SAY ABOUT SPAWNING IN MY APARTMENT LIKE THAT! And Fuck you, Bro! That song is c-catchy, admit it!!!”. Almost tumbling behind him as he grabbed onto the kitchen counter close by, ladle in throwing distance. His big eyes wide in angry/shy tears as his mouth trembled out his whispering scream.

“woah woah, Papacito~ you know I dig that Freak’s music..reason that stuff is banned, shits good. I’,mmmh..just shocked to see you sing again, gey, especially since we’re heading there soon”, Heath eased as he extended both his big hands outward to his shoulders. Fingers extended as a sign of peace, until his tone twisted from playful calmness, to shy admittance, to a sincerity that made the dense man use his dominate arm to shyly rub his thick neck.

The fidgeting and avoidant joy disarmed Zeke’s annoyed suspicion, making the wider man squint as he placed the ladle down on the counter he was once holding for dear life. “Ahh Huh, why’s it shocking to you, Gey? You know better than the rest of the Frat, that music is more than a passion to me, bro”, Zeke questioned, subtly trying to gauge his BFF’s intent.

Heath scuffed. His attempts at hiding his joy for hearing his Zeke sing again...failing miserably as the dense man leaned against the door, blushing angrily as he dismissed the other man with a half-assed hand wave. “c-Cause you haven’t sang in front of me in a Whille. Last performance was at the opera, before That news hit. I. Dammit Bro I legit thought you stopped singing since than, so it is Funny seeing you rock your ass off to an empty kitchen”, Heath butchered out as he felt cornered. Inching ever closer to the direction of Zeke’s restroom. Until he realized that each step became longer, and longer to the distance….hearing Zeke’s frustrated groan as he used his Cellgrade to prevent his BFF from leaving just yet.

Zeke’s eye twitching….as Heath’s answer struck a nerve.

“Funny….Last time I brought up I wanted to sing at the Karaoke Gauntlet at the Pariah’s Palace....A certain Bro shot down my idea because we’re ‘Supposed to get the Pariah’s Info’—”, Zeke spoke in a rising, anger. Interrupting himself as he began making the distance to Heath. His cellgrade preventing escape by expanding the space between the exits or safety further-and-further, the power’s owner unaffected. Heath looking up to the hulking, gentle giant before him as Zeke’s brown eyes leered in a mix of playful banter and frustration that made the Gusmonde heir hunch downward in fear.

“--AND NOT SOCIALIZED’. Or you gonna ‘Tell the other bros to crush their interest’ too Since Singing Karaoke Is too Gay For you compared to all the shit Braxton did, or what Blancho is Doing to stalk that Other Frat??!!”, Zeke admitted to Heath. His statement more daunting, as he used his wide body to stand fully to 6’4ft, his cute otter pjs unable to make Heath any less scared. As the former Carnelian heir loomed over his bestfriend for a while. The taller man’s boyish, soft face stern as his brown irises remained quietly observant….over Heath, who tried physically shrinking his presence over the confrontation with an audible silenced.

His anger flipping into a mischievous smile. Whispering out a snicker, before bellowing out a laugh in his deep voice. Heath almost laughing until he felt himself being lifted by his shoulders. Limp like a doll, his feet effortlessly floating off the ground as he was crushed in a hug by Zeke. Being shaken in the embarrassment to the point his sunglasses fell off to his horror, the indents of knuckle marks small, but noticeable around faint purple bruises.

“you can just say you like my singing bro, we’re alone. Fucking hate when you dodge your emotions like…”, Zeke tried to consul as he saw his BFF had turned invisible in his arms. “VAMOS! ESTABA TRATANDO DE TENER UN MOMENTO AQUI, MALDITO CAMALEON!”, Zeke screamed as his connected arms flailed. Flexing his biceps as he let his hug turn into a rabid squeeze.

Not feeling Heath’s contact at all, but his limbs still detected the weight of the man as gravity made carrying him apparent. Despite the weight of the dense man, Zeke was more than capable of relentlessly shaking the Gusmonde heir like a doll. The motion enough to force Heath out of his cellgrade from nausea. “Put me Down, brooooo, Dammit. I. I. I Will keep it in Mind when they do Karaoke so you can Join, Okayy??? OKAY!!! AND TELL BLAN CO TO FUCK OFF TOOO”, Heath blurted out as he was being shook. Dodging a proper apology as he begged, his hands holding his hood downward than resist the embrace.

His eyes spinning, his attempts at freedom almost there until Zeke squished him one last time, before freeing the dense man. Arms over his face as Heath grabbed his sunglasses from the floor and put them on as his BFF spoke. “I’ll take what I can get from you, Gey….I missed you too, bro. If you want to hear me sing, well… you have my key just stick around for my rehearsals. Or are you just gonna use my toilet to get ready for your Recon every week?”, Zeke confided in careful tones.

Looking calmly to his bestfriend. As Heath looked up, his glasses obscured his eyes as the jock kept up his smug smirk to hide what he thought. ‘I wish we could be roommates, Zeke. I would love to see you perform everyday again’, Heath admitted in himself as he looked away and scuffed lightly. “You Know I won’t use your crib Just for the club, Bro….I just don’t want the squad thinking I’m some queer coming all the way from the manor to your place ALL the time... alone”, Heath attempted to reason. Stomping his feet as he waited for a reply, a signal to leave the conversation and get ready. Zeke sighing as he hunched his neck begrudgingly.

“Sureee, the squad can only use the excuse of Not liking gay shit for so long, Considering we have been going to the Pariah’s club More and More, and prob liking it. Urghh, just. Just go get ready, bro. We’ll continue this to the car”, Zeke dismissed as he tried not being upset. Looking to Heath more cautiously out of….concern.

‘fuck he saw’, Heath realized as he walked to across the room to Zeke’s restroom. Stopping by the door wordlessly before he spoke up. “….^sigh^, thank you for letting me come here, bro. I, I- I’ll be quick”, Heath muttered out as he opened the door faster than he could close it. “I Love you too, BRO”, Zeke yelled in response as he rolled his eyes. His smile fading at the honesty of the words as he looked down in sadness. Leaving his kitchen to get ready to in his bedroom. Unable to hear the remainder of Heath’s tears as he cleaned up to go clubbing.

……

1 hour later

The two childhood bestfriends were finally on the road from the west side of Santa Nueva, towards the far North. Its ancient skyline as detailed as the revitalized remains of old Santa Fe, the architecture of that direction hard to miss compared to the modern razors of today’s infrastructure. Already caught in traffic as half of 3rd shift was heading to work in the city that never slept; the capital of the FCU reminding these heirs that the empire’s commerce flowed through car accidents, and late workers 24/7. Zeke’s minivan something of the 24th century, of a defunct brand that consumed custom fluid due to oil running out well before Winter-0: the vehicle gifted from his Tio lovingly maintained since being on the surface.

Almost mindlessly driving to the Pariah’s Palace, the two men were barely on the busy roads North.

Heath took his time to cleaning himself out, sitting in the passenger seat of Zeke’ old car was...unsteady due to 2/3 of the surprises he had for Maverick making his ride to the Palace tense. No longer wearing anything from his attire coming to his bestfriend’s apartment: the dense jock was dressed in a silver tanktop, ripped pale-jeans, gold bracelets and rings, followed by designer white sneakers that lacked any creases. His sunglasses still kept on….something Heath knew Zeke wanted to point out. Silent for the past 5 minutes of the car ride after Zeke and him exchanged many words coming down from the apartment to the adjacent parking garage. None of them were about what Zeke might have seen scorned on Heath’s face….but the taller man’s tone was gentle despite the undertones of prying.

The two took time to enjoy the sights in the sleepless city before they spoke.

“You can’t keep them on forever, bro”, Zeke said with solemn sincerity. Looking to the road with a deep sadness as Heath finally found the guts to look in the direction of his bestfriend. His body now tensing from that instead of his surprises to Maverick. Staring...fearfully through his sunglasses like he was a kid again. As if he was struck by a ‘loved one’, that demanded Heath apologized for abuse he had received like it was earned.

His unsteady eyes glazing over in a broken cast as he tried not crying, looking to Zeke.

Zeke was wearing clothes too tight for his broad figure; pressed silver pants, self polished dance shoes, with an actual novelty shirt with the phrase “MUSCLE GAIN” printed on its straining cotton. The chains around his neck were more intimidating than usual as they audibly swayed whenever the taller man tried turning his gaze to Heath as he drove. His brown eyes tried their hardest to keep focus on the road, but they did catch glances to his bestfriend like those irises could hug the frightened man.

‘fuck, fuck, fuck h-He SAW’, Heath hyperventilated in his mind as he looked away to the window before speaking. “What, t-thesee Gains? Sorry I couldn’t wee-ar the matching shirt you offered. C-currently trying to woe that Loserr for the Info, r-remember…”, Heath relented with false moxie, the pride he used as a shield crumbling as they stopped at a red light. Zeke looking at him with a fast and worried turn as he spoke; “Please Stop that. Why do you keep trying to pretend everything is okay like we’re with the Others? How Bad Was It Today, Hea-, ^inhale^ Cham?”, Zeke urged with a pained caution. Almost saying Heath’s name, before using Heath’s pet name he rarely spoke nowadays.

Heath let himself shrink a little more in his seat, as he directed his eyes toward Zeke as the red-light prevented further escape from the situation. “p-promise. Not. To Make a big deal about it, o-Otto?”, the Gusmonde heir whispered out as he tried desperately to not break down. Shaking as he used Zeke’s pet name, the faint memories of the two friends playing in the same daycare as they teased each other about their favorite animal. The amount of times both men deep-cut into their shared nostalgia counted by 2 hands throughout the years as they tried haplessly to survive the process of ‘inheritance’. “I. Am. Trying to, bro. It’s not like you can wear shades in the Palace anyway, it gets dark inside even with the neon lights”, Zeke soothed out with ration.

Heath’s shaky hands slow to respond as Zeke’s gaze caught his pathetic nod.

Taking off the sunglasses as he folded and pocketed them away to reveal the remnants of Heath’s latest beating from their failure to attain the info Heath Sr. wanted from the Pariah. Zeke’s horror at the indents of ring marks, faint yellowish-purple skin from patches of where swelling used to be around Heath’s eyes-to-cheek bones. His silvery irises were a miracle, not one burst or worse by the sheer force that must of marked across his bestfriend’s face, their aftermath looked brutal enough to cause blindness.

Zeke was so transfixed by the terror of recognizing the abuse of his childhood-bro, that only the honking of the car behind him shook him out of the haunting stupor.

Forcing his gaze too the road, Heath looked away quick as the car began to drive again. Activating his cellgrade to let himself cry a little at the reveal, absence working overtime to hide his presence.

The shock at what he saw did not freeze Zeke for long. His round, expressive face searing in anger like it could cook meat from its heat. “Cham. You can’t keep letting Him Do This To You. Hide if you need to, but I know you ain’t deaf in that state. ^s i g h^ You have the power to escape all this, wayy more than me. To ACTUALLY be free of the squad, the City, Senior”, Zeke began bellowing out before he caught himself. Calming his fury a little to try and not make his friend feel even worse. “I ain’t talking about your muscles, or your Mom’s influence to get strength from. But You. You can be strong when something is important, I’ve Seen it, I know you still got that in you”, Zeke pleaded.

Heath remained in absence as Zeke continued, the leather seats creasing from his weight nervously tossing around.

“Cham….What’s the point of being your Father’s errand boy if This waits you each time you’re slow to progress? I’d hate to see him do the bare minimum for whatever he considers a ‘reward’, ugh”, Zeke said as he ground his teeth in frustration mentioning more of Heath’s father.

The creases of the passenger side upholstery wrinkled close to the window, as if Heath could curl into a ball despite the seat-belt’s safety. Zeke groaned helplessly as he attempted to confront his friend again; "Chammm, Please. What will it take before enough is enough. Governor's Son or Not, you can't STAY like THIS, this Ain't some loyalty or Endurance TEST. Nothing is Worth staying for this when you can split-".

Heath exist from his invisibility was swift and searing, as he slammed his thick right knuckle against the passenger side door. “BULLSHIT. THIS ISN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN RUN FROM, OTTO! I. I can’t! I can’t, Not because he’s my Dad and I want him to actually give a Damn About me for Once. But You can’t just deny a man of that Influence. He could Lock me away OR Worse if we don’t succeed”, Heath cried out in unrelenting pain. Arching his dense body upward as he sat straight to try and let his anger fix his posture. Arms holding his stomach....as he didn't trust himself to punch the car, his frustrated thoughts towards the truths Zeke spouted deeply getting to him. Refusing to hurt another bestfriend.....especially one that didn't deserve it.

Zeke kept pace at the wheel, putting most of his focus to drive steady as he tried side-eyeing Heath to let the man know he was paying attention as the tense grew.

“AND WHY NOT. This city doesn’t have a great track record of the powerful's safety, How many Presidents, Viscounts, AND Barons have gotten assassinated for LESS”, Zeke retorted as he began worming his van through the back roads of the lower Northside. Heath's eyes growing more wild as he tried refuting that response. "I'd be just an Heir killing their Parent, SAME AS IT WAS BEFORE THE THE WORLD ENDED. We can at least use the money to get you away, forgotten, they can just get another family to be governor, your Bloodline can't be that Important!!!", Zeke amped up his argument to a seething Heath.

“EASY FOR YOU TO SAY, SINCE YOUR FAMILY DOESN’T NEED YOU ANYMORE-, ^G A S P^”, Heath spat out in hatred as his thick hands went to hold his mouth. His masculine, often haughty looking face began to shimmer into shades of purple realizing what he had said.

Zeke's eyes were wide in pain as his irises condensed to a needle point. His shocked stare rattling as he tried sticking too the road....until he found somewhere too park. Swift and angry, Zeke got his van parked in a parallel by an abandoned Cafe shop nearby. Forcing Heath to hold onto the railing by his door from reaction than fear as Zeke turned off his vehicle once it was sandwiched between parking lines. Breathing in silence for a moment, his eyes closed as he bit his lip in frustration at what he wanted to say verses what he needed to say. Until he managed too practice the right balance in his head.

Heath apologizing quietly throughout before Zeke turned his full body to him in the parked car.

"Cham....My family never needed me. they barely tolerated me for having one of our ancestor's meek magics. But I would take the responsibility of inheritance again if it means my little brother can escape the hell of it, in a heartbeat", Zeke released through a hitch in his deep voice. Heath observing his bestfriend talk as the taller man cried without so much as a sob. "i. I know you don't get these kind of relationships, i'm glad your Father doesn't have access to more heirs by How Shitty he's treated you since you awakened Absence", Zeke continued as began to wipe away his globby tears. Heath trying to reach out a hand....before he recoiled in worry of fucking up the comfort.

Zeke seeing that....and smiling. "you've...always beeen as close to an actual brother to me, Man. Every. Timeee. this happens. my auto-response is too wait for yours signal", Zeke alluded too a confused Heath. The physically imposing heir meekly responded; "what would a big softy like you do for a bastard like me? One that snaps your heartstrings and pisses over your kindness".

Zeke looked Heath dead in the eyes with the same sad finality he had as he confronted his bestfriend.

"tioo gave me a..burlap sack. Prepped an unfinished blood-seal for Personal Cache. My cellgrade can't kill people when it closes, but that doesn't mean they are safe from local terrain", Zeke began to allude. Heath collecting his thoughts on what that could men, as his silver eyes hung downward in realization of what he meant before he finished his statement. "I've been waiting years to nab your Father in it. Wrap it around that Monster's balding hairline and let the burlap consume him like a vacuum. Before throwing it in the Grand Canyon", Zeke plotted out his plan to kill Heath's dad.

The notion of This Teddy Bear premeditating a political assassination was one thing.

But the Patricide of Senior from ZEKE was something that took Heath aback.

The dense jock was shocked....as he began to smile despite the pain in his eyes. 'we really would go to the same lengths of loyalty for each others..Though I bet Zeke would commit faster than I would', Heath admitted in his head as he began to cackle at certain parts of Zeke's ploy too murder 'Chams' Dad. "Eheheheehehe, And, Papacito~ Why the grand canyon? Wanna let my Father enjoy an Old-world wonder before he plummets 6,000 feet to the river?" Heath mused with his signature cockiness as he cackled like his life had joy again.

Zeke's mouth agape as he saw the roaring joy of Heath, something he hadn't seen in Months since they met...Maverick. "What's so funny about me dropping the sack off the canyon. The seal's on the outside. So if the water erodes it, whose to say what 'Deals-in' that rotten corpse. Either the drowning, or current rocks, cannibals, or exposure will do that Dog in", Zeke counted off with rising confidence. Using his fingers to mark off the possible ways Senior could meet his end.

"Ehehee, Surrreeee, Gey. Otto, this is half a scheme. I thought of something similar when you got disowned. I'd rescue your brother and sister, Use Absence on all 4 of us so we can hide with my Mom in Maine-, AH", Heath actually opened up as Zeke gasped at thee notion. Heath slowly focusing his stilled shock to his bestfriend, the former Carnelian heir had a sparkle in his eyes, as if their encounter for the day had healed a little bit from the admission.

"ottooo. Pleasee. Likee I said, we can't spitball plans to escape this life so Half-ass. We'd die if they are this shallow, the President would literally be watching us from the camera's of the Dome's tip....But i. Would do that for you. Otto", Heath admitted as he rubbed his pronounced neck. Jingling the gold chains as he frantically fidgeted with the muscles as he looked away. Zeke studying him with a soft, patient smile. "bro. is your reasoning to be on your dad's leash That tight? Is the situation a lot worse than you let on, or can I do my half-assed scheme to save you?", Zeke got closer as he inquired carefully.

Heath tensing as he kept his face looking through the window. Staring at the rundown caffeine shop as he collected his thoughts with a huff. "My...Father learned some shit about what I truly am. The worst person in this city to open up to, considering the incarceration rates under his term for minor infractions is scary enough", Heath spouted in reserved defeat. His hands twitching as they began curling their fingers around his gymbag for comfort.

"Unless I get the info from Mav, or someone more powerful backs me up: i'll either lose an eye or die before he tries anything like sending me away", Heath sobbed. Winching in reaction as he felt Zeke's hand on his shoulder. Looking up to his bestfriend with red eyes, his cellgrade having rid much of the bruising at this point, as Zeke beheld Heath with a deep understanding of the specifics Senior lorded over his 'Cham'.

"than. till we can devise a way to leave the squad, and our bloodlines...I'll doo all I can to help you woe your favorite weirdo. Either get the info you need, or get the resources needed to leave it all. Okay?", Zeke soothed as he looked into...the car window?

Heath living up to his name as a chameleon too a moment of Zeke's disappointment.

Sighing at the lack of his bestfriend for a moment as he almost set the car back to drive, letting Heath have another moment to hide himself like he always did.

Before the taller man felt a strong force grip onto his wide torso. As Heath reemerged, his arms wrapped tightly around his bestfriend like the binding grasp of a glued life vest. Stunned, Zeke barely reacted as he leaned down to hug his 'Cham'. Letting just a minute passed before Heath recoiled away.

"JUST. Just don't let the others know we..ah. did that kind of bromance, 'Kay, Gey', Aha", Heath said with a meek shyness. Until a long hand reached over to anchor on the passenger side window. "ooh. Nothing that happens in my van is gonna leak, Cham. After all, i'm the only one that gets a crack at those manly cheeekks of yours like when we were in preschoool~", Zeke teased as he puckered his lips. Looming over a frightened Heath, the Gusmonde heir attempting to flee via Absence.

As he was love-bombed by the dry, doting kisses on the cheek by Zeke, his pecks landing on a man whose presence faded out of reality. One who was angry it was happening, mostly because he hated how much he relished the affection. Zeke making exaggerated smooching noises as Heath spoke; "I Am gonna Beeat you". Heath attempted to threaten as he stiffened his posture.

Zeke laughed as his kissing noises grew louder; "HAH. Broo, your muscles are for show~ You ain't some fighter. You're my little Cham! You just hate being seen as nice and loving, But with me, you'll always bee my Cham". Heath rolling his eyes as Zeke kept doting on him for a while longer as he played up his groan. Happy he had a moment to be himself.

Just wishing he could chase this joy forever, especially as they left for the Pariah's Palace.