"Okay, okay, Yao you can be a bridesmaid, just stop tickling me!" Thane whined and tried to wiggle away from his friend.

   "Nope, never!" Yao exclaims. His fingers lodge themselves into Thane's sides and tickle him more. Their laugher fills the room as Janos watches with a content smile.

   "Jae, save me!" Thane squealed and turned towards his lover. He tried to crawl closer to Janos for security, only to be met with another pair of assaulting hands. 

   "Nooo!" Thane laughed loudly, tears rolling down his cheeks. His hands lazily swiped around in an attempt to get them off of him.

   His hands instinctively glowed a light pink shade before the light beamed towards the pair. The light wasn't strong enough to injure them, only make them stagger back slightly. Still, Thane recoiled away from them, his hands clasped to his chest.

   "I'm so sorry." He teared up. Thane's eyes were widened with fear and anxiety. His heart was guilty. He felt unstable and a danger to his friends.

    "Thanie—" Janos and Yao said in sync. They looked at each other confused before turning back towards Thane.

   "Baby, we're fine, see? We aren't hurt at all, so please don't blame yourself." Janos begged as he slowly stepped towards the shaking younger. He raised his hand even slower, inching it to rest on his shoulder.

   "No! Don't touch me, please.. I- I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have." Thane flinched away from Janos's touch. His eyes gleamed with unshed tears of sadness as he lifted his head.

   "Thane, we understand the circumstances— we don't blame you for it at all! Please, stop hiding and causing yourself more mental pain." Yao asked as he knelt beside the bed. He softly placed his hand onto Thane's and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

   "Even when Mark tried to kill himself, all I could say was for him to grow up. He must hate me now! And- and I was mean to Sam and Jungwoo too! They must hate me now!" He wept. His heart began to feel lighter with each tear that fell.

   "And I don't even have the self control or care to stop myself from hurting myself or you guys! I'm a monster— a freak! It's exactly as I've always been told!"

  Janos and Yao could only sit and watch the new Angel cave in on himself with grief. With anguish. The longer they gazed at him, the worse he felt.

   "Thane, who would say such mean things?" Janos's voices cracked. He looked at Thane with soft, kind eyes as he grabbed his other hand.

  "Who wouldn't would be easier to list..." Thane sighed and wiped his tears. More replaced the dried tears on his cheeks.

   Janos gave Yao a look before he disappeared from the room. Yao slowly climbed on the bed and sat beside Thane.

   "Thane, we've talked about this. What did I say?" Yao asked in an almost maternal tone. He brought his hand up to gently play with Thane's hair.

   "They're insensitive jerks who are probably also gay." Thane sniffled and wiped his eyes and nose on a tissue.

   "That's right! Now come on, let's go eat cake, that always cheers you up!" Yao exclaims. He gently grabs both of Thane's hands and pulls him out of his depressive state on the bed.

   "Cake still cheers him up?" Janos asked, his heart melting a little. His sudden voice made the pair screech and turn towards him.

   "Yeah, it always cheers him up!" Mark exclaimed with a bright smile. His forearms showed long, thin scars tracing from his wrists to his inner elbows. Although their loud presence didn't seem to bother Mark, they screamed at Thane.

   Thane slowly walked towards Mark. Once he was in arm's reach he gingerly brought the younger teen into his arms. Silent tears fell onto the younger's shoulder.

   "I'm so, so sorry I wasn't able to help you." Thane sobbed. His arms held Mark to himself gently as the sobs wracked him body.

   "There wasn't anything anyone else could have done to stop or prevent it, Thane. It was my stupid decision I made myself. You're not at fault." Mark comforted Thane as best as he could, slowly smoothing circles on his back.

   "Thane, all of that was almost a month ago! We've long since forgiven you." Jungwoo exclaims and passes Thane a tissue.

   "Janos, where's Sam? I could've sworn he was right behind me.." Yao asked as he noticed the Chinese teen wasn't around.

   "In a bar a couple blocks down.." Janos whispered, his head lowered.

   "And you didn't get him?! Janos, he's only eighteen! What if he almost gets raped like we— Mark did?!" Thane shouts through tears.

   "Wait, what did you mean, 'we'? Thane, who tried to do that to you?" Yao asked softly.

   "It- it doesn't matter anymore, it's been years." Thane whispered.

   "Thane it does matter, who was it?" Janos asked coldly, his hands clenched into fists tightly.

   "The same dirtbag that came onto Mark. He- he used to be my bully two years ago before he graduated."

   "Is that why you would flinch at us so much sophomore year? Johnny?" Mark asked, his eyes knowingly soft as he gazed at the embarrassed older boy.

   "I still flinch when people touch my thighs or hips." Thane said, still softly speaking. The four males around Thane all felt their hearts crack and tear.

   "Flinching is a natural reaction, but please understand that none of us would dare treat you like that." Janos states. Thane lifted his eyes and looked at the other three around him. They all nodded their heads with kind smiles.

   "Thank you..."

   "Don't thank us. Let's just go get that cake!" Yao smiles. He takes Thane's hands in his and pulls them to the kitchen.