1 Chapter One: Help.
The lighter flicks on only for his thumb to distinguish the flame, the night has already covered the city, cloaking it in its starry lights, allowing the moon to show its vibrant curve. Link is just to the side of him inhaling a stick of smoke, he knows they shouldn't wonder here too long, Ki's face is well known through the city, women and men seem to always seem to scout for the infamous blood brother with dreamy valentine lips and sharp curved eyes.
He was practically a living folktale, charming enough to bring you to your death or place you under a vile spell.
Link rolls his eyes, his brother lives for the rumors the city spread about him, practically feeds off the fear and sex drive his face could cause. Link on the other end knows better, he knows that every dead body turned up in the city would be pinned on his brother whether the evidence pointed to it or not. Every missing person and every looted bank would always place his brother and their gang on the FBI's most-wanted list.
He flicks the cigarette from his fingertips, his brother is just to the side of him eyeing the boy from earlier in interest and Link knows they need to get going soon before the boy attracts attention.
He's grasping at the side of his head in ache and Link can see his brother's eyes light up with every cry that spills from the boy's brim. His clothes are torn and battered in spillage burying his thin - fatigue figure.
"Keep him," Ki's standing from the boy, nudging his head as if it'll somehow disconnect.
Link's sighing, he knew this idea would arise. Staring at the boy beneath them he can see the boy is struggling to breathe, heaving every so often. Grasping at his head once more, Link can hear the boy mumble Blood, wide fear-stricken eyes as he glares towards an inked palm before faltering over.
"If I ever was to entangle a stranger into my blood brother's grasp, my crest will be scorch. This is the oath,"
Ki clicks his tongue. "The oath also states a toy of a blood brother is to remain between the brothers,"
Link can't help but glare towards the older sibling, biting at his tongue when his brother reminds him to who he's shooting his eyes at.
A ding is coming from the convenience store door, bystanders walk past them pausing briefly to stare towards the two brothers, a pique of appeal and Link knows Ki is just as curious to what the woman will sound like below them.
"We should go," Link agrees, throwing the boy's thin frame over his shoulder to set him down on the leather exterior of the vehicle. Link's starting the car, pulling from the curb while Ki's jumping to the back rummaging through the boy's tattered clothing being sure the boy's not carrying a cell phone, a watch, or a wallet of any sort and comes up empty.
Ki smiles, the boy's father owed him thousands of dollars of debt, unable to pay the loan he originally pulled from the gangster, Ki had to pay an unfortunate visit.
Clicking his tongue he takes in the boy's brittle frame, gambling whether not the boy would even make it a week before dying off like a wounded puppy. His feathered black hair is lightly stained in red - his fault, naturally, he needed to handle the debt of the boy's father owned him, he didn't expect the boy to be foolish enough to fight them off.
Stupid boy.
He's got a dotted-like pattern across his wrist, it's almost map leading to delicate veins as they trace up his forearm. Cigarette burns. Something Ki's familiar with. A small arrange moles aligned down his neck, a few them just shy under the stained collar of his shirt, and Ki's selfish enough to see exactly how far they go.
His hands trace his cheek, faintly tapping it, a lousy attempt to see if the boy will wake up and earns a groan in response, fluttering eyelids before shutting once more. Sighing with a comment referencing to the boy's flimsy-like structure, he throws himself to the passenger seat. Sealing a cigarette to his brims, he inhales the bane fumes, welcoming the toxins slowly burning away at him and without another look towards the slumbered frame.
______________________
He takes a deep breath, counting back from six before starting again. It's almost like a race that lags to begin. With his hands clasping the edges of the sink he looks back at his reflection staring back at him.
Odd. He thinks.
He feels like he's locked in a room with a stranger, hopeless and unable to find conversation within the two. His hair, as his fingers run through his fringe - feather black locks as they plop back down, covering just a whisk of his forehead. With aligned moles angling down his nape before finding comfort just above the tip of his collarbone.
He can't help but stare in awe.
Readjusting his shirt cloaking his frame, it's ample like and covers just to his thighs shielding a pair of boxers that are knotted to the side to keep them up.
Why doesn't he have clothes that fit him?
His fingernails are drenched in filth, battered in grim as if he's been digging or perhaps fighting his way out somewhere. Tracing up his forearm, following the dotted map of blemishes he's puzzled by how they landed on flesh.
Sniffling, a stench catches his sense and ponders how long he's smelt this foul.
One by one he begins to study the frame his conscious lay in as the layers of clothing topple off. The bathroom is beginning to flood with the heat spilling from the nozzle but it's a clear view of the body he stands in. Thin-like - weak, if he coughed he'll most likely collapse. His fingers trace a wretched scorch with heaviness.
It brings fright - anger as his palm hovers over it but he's unsure why.
His body sinks into the tub, the water immediately hugs at him, warming his bones as he buries his head desperate to pull a memory - any sort of recollection to what - who he is, where he came from.
But he's met with darkness.
He can feel his heart accelerating, drumming through his ears frantic to pull just one piece of information. Anything, favorite color, his last meal, the worst fear - a name.
Gasping, his head emerges from the tub, the crashing of the water spilling to the tile below as his hands tighten to the edges.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
______________________
There's a man sitting at the edge of the bed when he walks back into the room he woke up in. Dark attire cloak to his frame like a glove. A loose top lays open exposing a blemished scar tied along with inked scripters and the boy can't help but think about his own markings.
He's summoning him with a name that rings foreign to his ears but the male keeps his gaze, not once faltering. There's a small echo in his head, a siren of red frantically flashing - screaming at him to run.
Not to let this man keep him in his chains.
He's tapping at the open space beside him, a hint of peril in his tone when he repeats his invitation once more. Moon crescent eyes beat down on him and the boy's captivated by them. They can make the moon in the night sky bitter by just how curved his eyelids stay - unchangeable, even in the moon phase. They silence the unyielding warning blaring through his conscious, as if they were to cast a spell ordering his legs to move towards the male with moon curved eyes, not missing the high rise it gives his brim.
His hands find themselves, intertwining within each other in unease, unable to meet the male's gaze. Sitting nervously he can hear the male humming a tone that sounds ominous as it vibrates through the ample room.
"Are we in some sort of bicker?" His tone, grim - callous and it causes the boy to flinch in place when a shadow peers against him and finds comfort in the crowd of pillows aligned behind him.
He knows he should say something but his brims seem to have forgotten to speak. The room is growing in tension by the second as a third sigh falls for the male beside him and knows he's running out of time to speak.
There's a race in his heart drumming through his ears when he feels a clasp on his cheeks. There's an overcast on his face from lack of light spilling into the room but he can see embedded dark circles planted just underneath cursed curved eyes.
"Did you manage to lose the ability to speak in the last twenty-four hours?"
The comment has his eyes glossing over, gripping at the hold around him. "I-I don't know …"
His answer seems to humor the male allowing some wiggle room in the strengthening hold. His body feels as if it's been pinned down by a simple glare and it brings an unceasing tremble throughout his frame.
"Pl-Please … I need help,"
Ki can hear the terror in his cries, how his fragile frame quivers in the male's hold unable to fathom the reality in front of him. His pleads don't subside as they ring irksomely through the criminal's ears making him scoff.
He hates when they cry.
Letting his hand find the boy's locks his fingers entangle through them with a slight tug toward his scalp watching how the boy struggle, desperate to fight.
"Help?" The edges of his lips curl up. Over of course the boy will cry for help, the same play he's seen countless times on different faces. He thought the outcome will be different this time around, the boy's frame showed years of abuse - torment even.
Sure, his lifestyle isn't the purest, his name haunts the city streets like a bad omen, however, he let the boy live. His father was the one he was after, though the boy interfered with their business he showed mercy.
He sighs, running his thumb down silky cheeks, puffy red eyes staring back at him.
It's sadistic, but he knows once they begin calling for help it's a never-ending fight keeping them detained, not to mention the constant pleading there will be. He'll need to get rid of him before it creates chaos in his world.
"Pl-Please, help me,"
There's an itch in his hands upon hearing the melody of the night. So defenseless much like the countless others that have been handled by his palms. His eyes go to the gun that sleeps peacefully below the head of his pillow and wonders if it's worth getting his sheets inked or if he should go another route.
His skin grows hot as the itch grows more tiresome, deciding hastily, he shoves the boy back enjoying the bright whine escaping plush pink lips, how it shakes the walls before pinning his hands above.
"W-Wait - Please, I-I can't remember anything," His frame is frantic, scattering in the sheets desperate to get freed but it's the confession that has Ki ceasing his actions.
"Please, Please … I-I … Why can't I remember,"
Releasing his wrist, his knees remain to the boy's hips in an attempt to keep the wild frame still before the connection clicks.
His eyes hover over the boy's head, gently grazing the bandage Link placed last night.
His memories.
"Please … "
Link warned him the strike may cause damage but the odds were slim. Looking at the boy now, his pressing and complex state Ki knows the life the boy knew yesterday is gone and the conversation he and his brother had last night creeps in boldly.
- - - - - - - -
"Don't be ridiculous brother, you know this will only cause more mayhem within the brotherhood,"
"When has a toy ever caused deformation?" He chuckles. "The moment mayhem rivers in, kill it. I am just projecting we have a little fun,"
He's digging the scum from his nails, a small stream of dirt and blood still crowd in the cervices of his fingertips. Glancing towards the younger Ryu with a smile, positive on his brother being keen on being the objector.
"You know, it'll keep the bodies from piling up if I have lastingly a visitor here,"
- - - - - - - -
His brims twitch, the life he could create with the boy with no memories, his hands go to the boy's cheek slowly tracing down to withering brims. The games he could try that'll never have a consequence if he plays his cards right.
______________________
Ki.
He repeats.
" Ki Ryu " He breaks down the syllable before repeating it once more. "Ki Ryu," and the boy thinks it brings Ki a sense of glee when hands embrace at his hips, though it makes him wince it seems to be a habit the male repeats.
He's learned his name is Suhn, but Ki likes to call him Sunny and though it sounds foreign, Ki tells him he dropped his birth name years ago. "You would never quite coughed up the reason why, no matter how much we pried, but you seem to enjoy the name I gave you,"
He nods slightly glimpsing at the male perched to the side of the room with fire-like hair and a dimple deep enough to hide his every fear - if he has one. He's grabbing a small bag, tearing apart a few pieces of paper that crinkle in noise before striding towards him softly.
"And-And my clothes, why don't my clothes fit …"
Ki's exhaling a cloud of smoke with a grin, twirling the bane stick between his fingers. "My clothes never seem to bother you before, however, we can get you some that are more fitting if that'll please you,"
The flock of smoke wiggles his nose, burning like feeling.
"Link," He nods towards the male hovering behind him. "He's going to change your bandage, try not to move,"
The boy nods, staring up towards the male with the deep dimple with a shy hi, not missing the small smile the male gives.
He's charming - Sunny thinks, as he delicately examines him, almost as if he'll break under his palms and can't help but compare the vast difference the two males share, though they hold their appeal, it's obvious the two are night and day.
"Link is my brother," The statement is pulling the boy away from the younger Ryu, a small flinch in his body by how his tone darkness before meeting Ki once more. He's tracing his fingers around the wrist he had bonded moments ago, already slightly painted from the hold.
"Link is very loyal, very smart, and according to some quite alluring, however, he's got a little talent -"
"Brother, " Link warns and it seems to make Ki chuckle in amusement. "Suhn is interested in his past life, not ours,"
The statement makes the boy frown a bit, he'll be lying if he said he wasn't interested in their lives but he's desperate to know who exactly he's been living with, how he's tangled himself with these men.
Ki tells him the two are inseparable, in fact, he always insisted the two travel together or not be alone for long periods because of a traumatic childhood event, but once again, Ki unsure of what exactly happened.
"You enjoy long showers after eating because it helps you fall to sleep faster," He adds, Link had just finished the final dressing on his head and Suhn can't help but feel light-headed when his hand grazes the bandage.
"You're fearful of the dark and tight spaces, I think it's rather cute until your panic attacks slip in,"
Nodding, grasping the information Ki's been spilling Sunny can't help his eyes from sealing to the disfigured mark on Ki's chest - not shy of crowds as it blisters through his open shirt. It hooks like an anchor, stamping just at the edge of his peck before slithering up and the boy can't stop his brims from asking.
"Did … Did we get our marks together?" The question seems to make the room grow quiet and Sunny looks to Link for help when moon crescent eyes turn grim. He's inhaling a wave of toxins but it doesn't hide the crude smile behind it.
Link's clearing his throat. "We weren't there when your scars were created Sunny, although, your father, according to you, didn't wear the brightest halo in your household,"
______________________
The sound of the outside world is faint through the large crystal pane - silent and Sunny wonders why that is. He can see the peak of the green sprouted leaves and brown bark pillars through the drawn curtains and makes his way towards it like a moth to a lamp.
Link says the house sits in a rural area when he catches the boy by the pulled drapes, his palms are rested against the window in awe. Its wilderness, endless miles of shrubs, swamps of towering timbers cloak the house, and Suhn wonders exactly how such a lavish house could be placed in the middle of nowhere when it should be on exhibit for the world to see.
"A scream can't be heard for miles," Link's pulling the curtains, casting away the shadows and allowing the light in.
"Why … Why would you scream?" His brows quirk up and Link laughs, he can see the innocent sitting steadily in the boy's eyes. Pureness, the utter modesty the boy presents staring up at him in confusion.
His brother is going to destroy him.
He smiles, staring out towards the endless forest.
"Sometimes the fun gets a bit out of hand,"
He tells him that Ki's adamant about the place being kept clean, something along the lines of him not coming from the best place before picking up the crushed bottled water he was given, handing it to the boy before gesturing to the kitchen.
"Clutter. It's the quickest way to anger him," he adds.
Link's sighing, leaning into the seats before grabbing at the remote. His red locks are styled back while a fitted white button-up sits neatly to his frame. With his leg crossed over his knee, Suhn can't help but think how the two of them are close when the air around them feels suffocating.
With his knees to his chest, Sunny hands find each other, twisting at his fingers with uneasy before looking back at Link. Ki says they have a close relationship, and that he could go to Link with any questions when he wasn't around, but the male looks rather annoyed to be with him.
"When will Ki be back?" the question is barely audible and Sunny cursers himself for not being able to find his confidence.
The male glances at his watch, frowning. "Midnight,"
"Why did he keep me here? I thought we were to stay together -"
"Not tonight," His frame shifts and it's the first time Sunny has seen the male smile. "Don't tell me you're missing him already?"
"N-No … At least, I don't think …" and the statement seems to make the male chuckle.
"As Ki said, we'll take it day by day, until then let's take the time to relearn everything," Link's tone is serene, almost soothing and it gives the boy hope for the future.
Perhaps learning everything once more can be twice as exciting the first time around. It's as if he's given a second life, a chance to fix what he couldn't in his last lifetime of memories. He lets his chest fall peacefully this time, finally breathing as his hands unclench from one another.
He'll create a new life, one he'll never be able to forget.
