A/N: SENSITIVE CONTENT. MENTION OF ABUSE. TRIGGER WARNING.

There were only a few instances in his life when Aureus Greenwood had been nervous.

And this, was one of those occasions.

He sighed as he stood in front of the mirror, debating on his clothes. A part of him wondered if he should go all out, but realized that it would seem like he was trying too hard. He raked a hand through his hair, his heart beating faster as he saw the sunlight streaming from the room reflect off it; it was just like his mother's.

"Aris," Aahan stood behind him, his face pained as he stared at his reflection. "Please don't do this."

Aris stared at him before clenching his jaw and rounding on him. "What?"

Aahan sighed, his eyes pleading as he spoke softly. "I don't want to see that way. It's not going to end up good and I don't want you to hurt anymore."

Aris stared at him for a while, softening when he saw the genuine concern behind his familiar brown eyes. "Stop it Rana," he said defiantly. "It's going to be alright."

Aahan opened his mouth as if to speak again, but before he could, the door opened and Zeke walked in.

"Hey," he said, putting his hands in his pocket. Aris turned away from them and made a show of fixing his outfit. Zeke wore a simple black hoodie, his purple eyes standing out even more somehow as Aris felt the familiar fluttering of his heart. Aahan sighed, looking at Zeke worriedly and shaking his head.

Aris straightened up finally and turned to face them. "You're not going," Aahan said, his eyes flashing. "You're not going anywhere, Greenwood. This is a fucking stupid idea and you are in denial. Snap out of it."

Aris stared at him, blood pounding in his ears. "You don't have to come with me," he said defiantly, his ears deaf to his words. "Just drop it. I will go."

He mustered as much authority in his words as he could. Aahan stared at him for a while, his jaw set before sighing in defeat. "I can't see you like that Aris. I can't. I'm not going."

He went over and slumped onto the bed, not looking at either of them. Aris exchanged looks with a stunned Zeke. He didn't say anything and walked out of the room, Zeke following behind him. They were quiet as they reached the elevator. Aris sighed and rested his head against the cool metal. He could no longer think. He just needed to get it over with.

"How're you feeling?" Zeke asked after a while, his eyes laced with worry.

His eyes that seemed to set Aris' soul on fire.

"Nothing," he said honestly as he looked at him. "I need to do this. You know I need to do this."

Zeke bit his lower lip and looked away, not saying anything. Aris stared at him for a while. Every time he did the little things, biting his lip, raking his fingers through his hair or giving that soft hesitant smile, he felt his heart somersault.

He wanted to do the same to him. Bite his lip. Suck on it. Rake his fingers through Zeke's hair. His heart fluttered in his chest, his face heating up. His eyes slipped lower to Zeke's neck. And his heart stopped. Aris' eyes widened when he saw the dark red mark on his neck.

Anger and jealousy burst in the pit of his stomach. Ravaging his insides. Ripping him apart. "You didn't tell me you have a girlfriend?" he was fighting hard to keep his voice even.

Zeke's eyes widened as he looked at him and a confident lie fell from his perfect lips. "I don't."

Aris grit his teeth, white hot anger surging through him. "There's a fucking hickey on your neck, Sunshine."

Zeke bushed, his face turning beet red as touched the mark. "I just..." he sighed. "She's not my girlfriend," he mumbled.

Aris wrenched his eyes from his, feeling his heart spiraling into his stomach. Realization dawned on him in the form of  agony. "That's where you've been going off to," he could finally understand the reason for Zeke's long absences from his classes. His heart was breaking. "Seriously, why the fuck didn't you tell anyone?"

Zeke's expression was slightly bewildered. He hadn't expected Aris' violent response. To be honest with himself, Aris hadn't expected it either. However, his feelings were stronger than he had realized. "So, do you love her? Have you fucked her already?"

  Zeke's eyes widened further, his eyebrows shooting up as he stared at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you? I don't-"

"Yeah I know," Aris said, feeling like someone had driven a knife through his heart. When Aris had asked Zeke if he loved her, his eyes had told him the affirmative answer. "You're not obliged to tell me anything."

He felt enraged. He had the sudden urge to punch something. Someone. Preferably whoever it was that had sucked on Zeke's skin and who knew what else.

"Aris, look-" Zeke said, his voice calm. "I know you're stressed. I know-"

"Shut the fuck up Hunt," Aris yelled. "Just just go. I don't need you to come with me. I'll fucking go alone," he pressed the elevator button hard, again and again, impatiently. It didn't seem to be going any faster. "FUCKING STUPID LIFT!"

He punched at the numbers again and again, rushing out of it the moment the doors were parted enough. Zeke rushed out after him, having to run to keep his pace. "Aris-"

"I said shut up."

"You can't go with this body language. You're not-"

"SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE SON OF A BITCH!"

Aris screamed as Zeke stopped in his tracks, hurt flashing in his eyes. But Aris didn't care. "Leave me alone. I don't need anyone. You're a fucking liar. Just go and fuck your secret girlfriend."

He turned around and started walking briskly away. He knew he had no right to feel this way. He knew he was being selfish. Childish. He knew Zeke didn't feel the same way about him. He didn't even know if he ever could. He couldn't help thinking to the day of the final match when Zeke had held him close. The way he had smelled. Seductive. Mysterious. The way he had held him close on the rooftop. The way Aris had almost kissed him.  After what was basically a revelation, he was afraid that he had ruined their friendship.

Maybe it didn't matter anyway, he was sure Zeke didn't consider him as a friend.

He reached his car, sliding inside and slamming the door hard after him. He sat in the car, his body shaking with grief. Anger. Jealousy. Each feeling stronger than the last. He remembered the dark marks on Zeke's skin. He wanted to scream.

His eyes snapped towards the rear view mirror when he heard a familiar voice calling his name loudly. Nia jogged over to the car and for a moment, Aris placed his hand on the gear, hoping to take off before she could arrive. However, he managed to control himself as she opened the door and slid into the seat beside him. She stared at him, her eyes worried. "Aris?"

He placed a finger on his lips and shook his head slightly, asking her to remain quiet. She listened at once, taking to gazing at him instead. The door of the back seat opened and he turned back to see Zeke slide into the seat behind him. His heart lurched painfully. He didn't say anything, didn't even look at him.

Aris had always been terrified of his sexuality. He had told himself that his feelings were a phase, that they weren't deep rooted. But the pain that annihilated him at the thought of Zeke being with someone else, dispelled all his doubts about his orientation. He didn't even think about his feelings for Zeke as being gay. He merely knew they were strong. Deep rooted. He wanted an emotional connect with him. It felt stronger than a mere crush.

And his feelings were going to rip him apart.

He had been terrified of falling for someone, but he couldn't help feeling that maybe finally, his worst fear had been realized.

Aris felt a twinge of regret at his outburst, but when he spotted the red mark on Zeke's neck, anger flared inside him again and he toyed with the idea of throwing him out of the car.

He didn't however, and soon they were off.

The newspaper article had told him all he needed t o know about his mother. Her husband was a director who had recently won some prestigious award that he had never heard of. They lived in a villa in the central city of Myrion.

The car ride was uncomfortably silent, his heart beat rising with each metre that they covered till he was hyperventilating by the time they reached Myrion. Nia placed a comforting hand on his as he parked the car in the central market parking.

"That...should be her."

His blood ran cold, his heart suddenly jumping to his throat as he saw the massive villa that was clearly visible between the bustling market. It was a lot smaller than Greenwood mansion, but the walls were painted white, much like the modern houses where which told him it was a relatively new house. A neat little lawn paved the way to the main gate which was after a few steps of stairs.

Aris took a deep breath, balling his hands into a first.

"I'll come with you," Nia said softly, unbuckling her seat belt. Aris stole a glance at Zeke, his face was not visible behind Aris' seat.

Aris shook his head in response. "I'll go alone."

Nia squeezed his arm reassuringly. "Are you sure?"
  
He nodded, his throat closing up. Nia leaned over and gave him a hug. He held on to her for a while before she finally leaned back. "Goodluck. We'll wait right here. Anything you need."

Aris bit his bottom lip nervously and nodded, his gaze fixated on the building.

He had spent almost an entire decade imagining the day he would meet his mother. But now, all he felt was trepidation. He opened the door and stepped out of it, not looking at Zeke. He couldn't afford to break any more. Zeke's didn't say anything either.

Each of his steps seemed to grow heavier than the last. He walked into the neatly manicured lawn, his heart stopping as his eyes fell on two children, chasing each other around the lawn.

One of them had blonde hair and green eyes. A boy. The other was a girl with red hair and green eyes.

His half siblings.

They looked not more than seven or eight years old. His heart wrenched painfully as he was reminded of the fact that his mother had carved a new life for her in Myrion. But maybe she was waiting for her eldest son. Waiting to introduce him to everyone. Introduce him as her son proudly.

Aris walked up the staircase, his blood ice as he rang the doorbell. Once. Twice.

The door swung open and his heart failed.

He recognized the wavy blonde hair, exactly as he remembered them. Her emerald eyes. Her sharp nose. The way her eyes lit up when she smiled.

"Yes?"

Aris was horrified. She hadn't recognized him.

"I er...I'm Ezekiel," he said, uttering the first name that came to his mind even as his heart gave another painful lurch. "I...need to talk to you about something."

Jeanette stared at him curiously. "What would that be in relation to?"

Aris opened his mouth to speak and shut it. His throat felt dry. Constricted.

"I..I think it's better that we talk inside."

Something in his face must have convinced her of his trustworthiness as she stepped aside and let him in.

The inside of the house was white with white paneling on his sides. A beautifully tended flower vase stood to his left and a long hallway seemed to lead into the drawing room.

"Come inside," she said as she led him through the hallway and into the neat, sleek living room.

There were three couches at the corner of the room. A wooden table at the center which had yet another flower vase. On the other side of the room was a modern fireplace and a grand piano, currently unoccupied. She sat across from him on the opposite couch. "Please. Sit."

Aris took a deep breath and took a seat, his heart pounding.

"Would you like some beverage?" she asked.

Aris shook his head, trying hard to find his voice.

"What is it that you wanted to tell me?"

Part of him was angry, stunned that she didn't recognize him. Or maybe she had, and thought it was too good to be true.

"I'm..." he took a deep shuddering breath, forcing himself to look at his mother as he spoke the next words. "I'm Aureus Eugene Greenwood."

Aris hands were cold with dread.

His mother's expression slowly transcended from curious to that of dawning realization and finally to horror.

"Aris?" she spoke in a scandalized whisper. "How..how did you find me?"

Aris looked at her, he had to remind his heart to beat, had to beg his lungs to breathe as he answered. "In a newspaper. I saw you with your husband. I just-"

She got up, her eyes wide. She walked over to him and whispered. "You're not supposed to be here. You can't-" she took a deep, ragged breath. "You can't be here!"

Aris gaped at her, unable to comprehend. She was supposed to be happy.

"What do you mean?" he asked, fighting to keep his voice even. "I'm...I'm your son."

"No!" she whispered, her voice strained as she slapped a hand to her mouth and shook her head. She looked at him as if he had threatened to kill her. Her beautiful face paper-white. Her eyes horror stricken. Her chest rising and falling rapidly as she panted. "My husband...my children...they cant see you here."

Aris stared, stupefied. His brain seemed to have stopped comprehension.

"Just..go! Please leave! You can't be here! They don't know about you!"

Aris bit his lower lip to keep it from trembling. He clenched his fists on his thighs so hard that the nails dug into his palm. "What do you mean?" he repeated.

She looked distraught, her eyes wide with fear. "Leave. Right now."

"You..you can't," Aris said, his voice sounding like it was coming from far off. "You can't just throw me away. I'm your son. You love me."

"I never wanted to have you," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That vile beast forced himself on me. He forced me to have you. Every time I looked at you I was reminded of how I was assaulted by my own husband."

Aris felt scalded. Like someone had impaled his heart.

"I have struggled and carved and clawed my way to build this life. I have done everything I could. Given up everything. Started form scratch to build this life. And I do not have a place here for any Greenwood."

Tears now streaked down her face relentlessly. Aris could no longer feel anything. It was like his insides had emptied completely. He felt drained of everything.

There was the sound of the front door opening followed by the loud voices of children as his mother hastily wiped her tears. A moment later, a tall, well built man entered the living room. The red haired girl who had been playing outside was cradled in his arms. The blonde boy quickly ran and clung to his mother's waist.

"Honey, little tyke here says-" the man stopped speaking when he saw Aris, still sitting dumbstruck on the sofa. "Who's this young man?" he asked curiously.

Aris looked at his mother's glistening eyes. Her trembling lip. He looked at the blonde boy, his little fists wrapped around his mother. He looked at the tall, handsome man who was clutching the girl in is arms, as he looked at him curiously. They were happy. His mother was happy.

And he smiled.

"Thank you for your donation Mrs. Goldstein," he said, his voice hollow. As if a stranger was uttering the words. "Our school is grateful for your donation. We shall be contacting you shortly."

He gave her a winning smile before he walked over to the main door. He could feel their eyes burning a hole in his skull as he a deep breath, turning back to see his mother for one last time. It took him all his courage, all his will. Even more courage than he had required to survive through his parents' feral fights. Even more courage than he had required to try and be everything his father had ever wanted him to be. Even more courage than it took for him to swallow his feelings and strangle his emotions to death with his own bare hands every single day. 

"You have a beautiful family Mrs Goldstein. I wish you all the luck."

He opened the door and ran across the garden, his world spinning away into darkness.