<!!Possible Trigger Warnings!!>
<This chapter mentions heavy stuff themes (but does not go into explicit detail) about alcohol abuse, depression, sexual abuse and more. Proceed with caution.>

*Garroth's POV*
~1 Week Later~

"GarGar, honey, is everything okay? You've been down there in the basement all morning..."

"Just leave me alone! I'll be out in a minute." I poured more wine into the glass I had stolen from the kitchen, setting the bottle back.

Mom's footsteps faded away, and I turned back to the savory liquid, downing it in almost one go. I've been frequenting the cellar as often as I've been frequenting Gene's bedroom this past week. Quite often.

My head was a constant migraine, and no amount of medication could suffice. Every time I walked I felt like I was treading on wire, always one second away from tipping off the edge. Life is a circus and I'm the starring act.

"Garroth!" Vylad's voice came from th other side, followed by his fist pounding against the door. "Please come out! We need to have a talk with you..."

I ignored him, finishing my drink. What does he care? What does anyone care? This is my own fight. I'm not a child. I can win my own battles. I'm stronger than I appear.

"Garroth! Unlock the door, please! You're worrying me!"

"Go away!" I yelled back, hiding my glass out of sight. "I want to be alone right now!"

"You made mom cry, you know."

"Stop trying to guilt trip me! You're just going to make me want to stay down here longer!"

All of the yelling was putting a massive strain on my throat. Even greater than the strain that was already there. I really needed some more cough drops. Badly. My throat felt like it was in a constant stinging state, and it burned like I had just swallowed fire.

"You're being ridiculous, Garroth. Please come upstairs. You don't have to talk to anyone but me, and maybe Zane if you want. It's just us. We're here for you."

I grumbled nonsense, standing up too quickly. I immediately was hit with a wave of dizziness, and it took me more than a moment to regain my footing.

Woah.

I stumbled my way up the stairs, clutching the rail for support. My vision was very bleary, and it was incredibly hard to focus on anything. I quickly grabbed the doorknob, the moment I could reach it, unlocked the door, and swung it violently open. The action almost caused me to whack myself in the face, but thankfully I didn't. Or did I? I don't even know anymore. I'm so out-of-touch with reality at this point.

"My Irene, Garroth. What the heck happened to you?" Vylad studied my appearance, a look of pure horror spread across his features. Great. More people judging me. Just what I needed.

"Everything."

"Come on," Vylad took my hand in his, helping me out of the cellar, and up the next flight of stairs to where our rooms were. "Do you want to talk to just me? Or do you want to talk to Zane, as well?"

"I don't care anymore..." That was nothing but the truth. I didn't care about anything. I felt empty and broken.

"Garroth..."

Vylad led me into his room. Zane, for some reason, was already in there. He was seated on Vylad's bed going through his belongings. Letting go of me, Vylad snatched the small, wooden box out of Zane's hands, and set it back on his desk.

"Who said you could go through my stuff?" Vylad glared at Zane, his hands on his hips.

"Uh, you did. You stole my eyeliner."

"I did not. You stole that from Mom, who stole that from me. I just took back what was rightfully mine. Why do you even need eyeliner? You only show one eye."

"It's for aesthetic purposes. Gene wears eyeliner, and he looks cool as hell."

I swear my heart stopped for a minute. Great. Now I'm having a physical reaction to even just his name. That surely must be a wonderful sign.

I highly doubt that it's "wonderful".

It's called being sarcastic, you bloody idiot.

"Then go buy your own, or something. Stop being a petty thief for once in your life."

"Have I told you that you are literally my least favourite person in this entire house? I hate you so, so much."

"Yeah, well, feelings mutual, Zane. You butthead."

"Oh no! Vylad coming in with the scary insults. Whatever will I do now?"

I held my head in my hands, my migraines worsening due to their idiotic argument. "Guys, enough! Just shut up already!"

"When the hell did he get out of the cellar?" Zane pointed a finger at me.

"He's been here the whole time! Maybe you should get your stupid hair out of your face, so you can actually see."

Man, what's gotten into Vylad lately? I've never seen him so aggressive. Especially towards one of us. I really hope his behaviour doesn't have anything to do with me...

"Geez, who spit in your cereal?" Zane grumbled, standing up off of Vylad's bed. "You know very well that moving my hair out of my face wouldn't actually help me to see better, right?Forget my predicament, or something? You're so insensitive."

"Listen, jerk, I'm going through a lot right now on my own, and I don't need your dumb comments," Vylad scowled. If I was in the right sort of mind, I would have immediately questioned him, and tried to help him through, as he has done for me countless times before. But, I'm not exactly all here at the moment... "But, right now, you and I need to be there for Garroth, because he is going through something as well. We're his brothers, we need to be there to support him."

Zane scoffed, eyeing me up and down. "Now what's your problem?"

I didn't respond, and just took a seat on Vylad's floor, holding my head. I couldn't think of what to say. There was so much I wanted to say, but just couldn't find the right words. Let alone, words I wanted to share to my baby brothers.

"Gar', does this have to deal with Laurance?" Vylad asked, softly.

Kind of, but not really...

"Laurance? What about him?" Zane looked in-between me and Vylad. "Is there something I'm missing?"

I turned my face away from him, feeling my face get warm. Though, I'm not sure if it was from my sudden blush, or the alcohol at this point. Could be either, really.

"Zane... Are you really that dense?" Vylad grumbled, shaking his head.

Zane pondered for a moment. I made the mistake of glancing over at him. Horrible move on my part, really.

"Ooh... You like Little Laurance!" Zane burst out laughing, even snorting a little bit. "Really?!"

My face felt scalding hot, and I folded my arms over my chest. I sent Vylad a pleading gaze, and he, in turn, smacked Zane's shoulder. However, that didn't seem to break his laughing fit.

"Little Laurance! Oh my Irene! Out of everyone!" Zane readjusted his mask, snickering some more. "Everyone in the entire freaking world! You chose stupid Little Laurance! That's the funniest thing I've ever heard!"

"You're a prick, Zane," I grumbled, hot tears stinging the corners of my eyes. "This is why I don't talk to you about anything. There's a reason Vylad's my confidant, and not you."

"That's a big lie. You're such a blabbermouth, you tell me everything," Zane snickered some more, and Vylad gave him another good whack on the shoulder. "It's why nobody likes you, really."

I felt something claw at my chest, internally, my whole body scalding hot at this point. It was as though I was just suddenly dropped into the fiery pits of Hell. I was getting too worked up for my own good. That, coupled with the fact that I wasn't exactly "sober", must have been what propelled my next actions and words.

"Shut up! The truth to why I don't tell you anything, is because I can't trust you! This is a prime example of why! Not to mention, you associate yourself with the worst freaking people in the entire world!"

"The hell are you going on about?" Zane rose an eyebrow at me. "You're acting like a child."

Vylad sighed heavily, walking over to put a hand on my shoulder. "Gar', I think you need to take a few breaths. You're getting worked up over something small."

"Says you," I growled.

I shoved Vylad's hand off of me, and stormed over to Zane. I grabbed him by the collar of his hoodie, forcibly pulling him to his feet. He looked completely startled by my sudden, brash actions.

"Why the hell do you like him so much?!" I shook his body, that I held in my grasp.

"What are you talking about, freakazoid? Little Laurance? Because, I don't like him at all. And can you please stop holding me like this, it's really hard to breathe," Zane glared up at me, coughing a little.

I didn't budge. I mentally wanted to let go of him, and pretend none of this happened. But my body seemed to disagree.

"Gene!" I tightened my grip on his hoodie, as Vylad tried desperately to pull me away, saying something to me that I mentally blocked out. "I'm referring to Gene!"

"W-What about him? And, seriously, you gotta let go of me. This is hurting me more than you think it is!"

"Why are you so freaking infatuated with him?!" I cried, feeling myself mentally break down. "He's a monster, who only torments you, and breaks your heart! Over and over again! And, for some freaking reason you think you still have feelings for him. Even when you try to move onto someone new, he lures you back in like a siren, only to warp your sense of self by making you believe you are pathetic and worth nothing, and you are using everybody, and everyone around you is using your insecurities to their own advantage. And the next thing you know, the two of you are on-and-off having sex, and you go home feeling broken and having to drown away the world through alcohol and harming yourself. I don't tell you anything, Zane, because not only are you always so cold and distant when I try to open up to you, but I'm scared for you. You're following in my footsteps, and lusting after demons! I don't want you to get hurt!"

"...Well, you're hurting me right now, so you definitely failed that one."

I let go of Zane's hoodie, allowing him to fall back onto the bed. I sobbed heavily, wiping my eyes frantically, as I stumbled backwards. Vylad grabbed onto me from behind, hugging me tightly. What the hell is wrong with me?

Everything.

Yup.

"I'm sorry," I slurred, losing all control of my limbs, and falling to the ground. "I'm so sorry."

Vylad never let go of me, and I closed my eyes, trying to bring myself back into reality. I can't believe I just said all of that. "I'm so, so sorry."

"It's going to be alright, Gar'," Vylad sniffled. Oh no. Vylad's crying. That's the worst scenario ever. I'm the worst brother ever. "It's gonna be just fine. I promise. Zane and I are here for you."

"I need help," I choked out, clawing at my sore throat. Just when it was starting to feel a little bit better.

Vylad quietly shushed me, hugging me tighter. "We're here to help you. Right, Zane?"

I opened my eyes, slowly. With no words, Zane slipped off the bed, and onto the ground in front of me. Silently, and without warning, he pulled me into a hug, as well. There was no stopping the flood of tears now. Zane almost never hugs me... He hates hugs...

"I'm sorry that Gene did so much to hurt you. I'm sorry that you lost trust in me, and felt like you could never talk to me. I'm sorry that you're hurting so much, and you feel compelled to take your pain out in such dangerous, harmful ways. I'm sorry about everything," Zane sniffled, hugging me tighter to his body. Crap, now he's crying, too. "And I know I seem like a heartless prick all the time, but that's just because of my own mental stuff... I really hate to say this, but I love you, Garroth. No matter what, you'll always be my big brother. I care so much about you and Vylad, and I hate that I do. But, I can't help it. You guys are my family, damn it, and I love you both. You guys, Mom and Dad, and a select few other things are all I care about in this crappy world..."

Oh my Irene...

"I love you too, Garroth," Vylad stopped hugging me, to rub circles into my back. "And you, Zane. I couldn't ask for better big brothers. Even if you are pains in the butt, sometimes... We're always going to be here for you, Garroth," he buried his face into the back of my shirt. "Now until the end of time. We promise..."

Promise...

~~~
*Laurance's POV*

Knocking on the door of the, basically, mansion, I waited patiently outside for a response. Someone had to be home, right? The cars were still in the driveway, and there were lights on.

I patiently waited outside. When I decided if I should knock again, the door opened wide, and a shorter woman with pitch black hair and bright, yet sad, eyes stood before me. This must've been Garroth's mom. A woman who I've yet to meet.

"Oh, hello dear," she spoke warmly, wiping her hands on her skirt.

"Hi, ma'am," I smiled at her, scratching the back of my head. "Um, I'm Laurance Zvahl. I'm a friend of Garroth's. Is he home?"

"Umm," she glanced behind her, "I believe so. He didn't inform me he was having friends over..."

"Oh, I just need to talk to him for a little bit, then I'll be on my way," I explained.

"Alright, love. One moment... I'll go get him..."

She disappeared back into the house, and minutes later, Garroth appeared in her place. He looked like literal crap. He swayed back and forth, as if he would topple over at any second.

"What are you doing here?" He looked me up and down.

"Yikes, Garroth. Are you okay?"

"Not really," he shrugged. "But, I'm making do."

"Are you sick?"

"Not exactly."

"I just came to check up on you, really. You haven't been in school, and it's really been worrying me... Are you up for a walk? Just to talk about stuff..."

"Sure, yeah... Hold on one second..."

Garroth returned a minute later, wearing an oversized hoodie and hiking boots. I studied his appearance, as he started down the steps of his porch. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't have to..."

"I need a bit of fresh air," he shoved his hands in his hoodie pocket, and I lingered behind him as he walked down the road.

"You're voice sounds rough. Do you got a sore throat, or something?"

"Something like that, I suppose..."

"Is this about Prom?" I walked a little faster, so that I was walking side-by-side with him.

"What do you care?" He grumbled.

"Uh, what?" I blinked a few times, trying to process what he had said. "What happened to you, bud? Is someone bothering you, again?"

He mumbled something incoherent, and he put his head down. "What does it matter..?"

"Is it Gene?" I pressed. "Is he being a jerk, again?"

Garroth stopped dead in his tracks, and spun to face me. He glared up at me, with the coldest look in his eyes I had ever seen. My Irene.

"What do you care?!" Garroth snapped at me, tears pouring out of his eyes like a waterfall. Geez. What's gotten into him?

"I care because you're my friend, and I promised that I'd always be there for you!"

"You are not my friend! I don't even like you!" Garroth cried out through sobs. "I hate you! You mean nothing to me!"

Ouch...

That one hurt. A lot...

"Is... Is that how you really feel?" I stepped back.

Garroth hesitated, shaking his head. He looked like he wanted to say so much, but had forgotten what words were. I feel so bad... What did I do for him for him to hate me so much?

"I'm sorry... We can go back to your house, and I can leave if you want me to," I turned away from him, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

Everyone that I have ever cared about has a tendency to leave me absolutely heartbroken and devastated. Lucinda, my bio parents, now Garroth... I suppose Irene just doesn't want tobsee me happy, ever.

"I'm sorry you feel that way about me..." I sniffled. No. No crying. You're supposed to be a man, Laurance. Men don't cry.

Irene, if Cadenza could only hear my thoughts. She'd definitely slap me, and call me sexist. Then tell me to stop being such a homo and getting worked up over a guy who you're treating like a girlfriend who just broke up with you.

No, she wouldn't say that. I would say that...

"Laurance," Garroth's voice was so soft, I almost didn't hear him.

Before I could say anything in response, I felt a sudden weight on my back, and two arms wrapped around me. Oh... He's hugging me...

"I didn't mean what I said. I'm so sorry. I'm just really dazed and confused with my life right now, so I'm saying the dumbest things, that I don't really mean. You mean more to me than you could possibly believe. You're my best friend in the entire world. Laurance..." He hugged me even tighter. "...Please don't leave me... I lo—..."

My heart beat incredibly fast in my chest, for some reason. "Garroth... You can just say, 'I love you'."

"W-What?" His voice was incredibly shaky.

"You don't have to feel awkward saying it, just because we're two dudes, or because you're gay, or anything. I mean, girls tell each other that all the time, and nobody questions it. There's more than one type of love, Gar'. It doesn't have to be romantic... You're my best friend, Gar'... I care about you so much."

Garroth clutched me even tighter, and I readjusted our position, so that I was turned to face him. He looked up at me for a moment, burying his face into my chest, and sobbing uncontrollably.

"I love you, Laurance," he choked out, hugging me as if he never planned on letting go.

"...I love you too, buddy."

~~~~~~~~
Q: Asked by- Mifwa_girl_101

To: Laurance

"do you realize you love Garroth yet? Or are you still trying to act like your not a gay potato?"

~

Laurance: "First off, I'm not a potato. Or gay. You sound like my sister trying to force a sexuality label onto me."

Cadenza: "I don't do that! I just have an incredible gaydar that beeps every time I look at you." 😋

Vylad: "Ooh! You got an incredible gaydar? Me too!"

Cadenza: "Aww, who are you? You are too precious!"

Laurance: "That's Garroth's baby brother."

Cadenza: "I'm taking you home with me, I hope you don't mind!"

Vylad: "Sure. I'm used to it at this point. Everyone's always wanting to take me home."

Laurance: "Anyway, finishing up the question... Do I love Garroth? I think, judging by our most recent conversation, that the answer is 'yes'. Just not in the romantic sense, in the way you seem to be implying."

Garroth: "..."

Laurance: "So, anyway, I do love Garroth. He is my best friend. And I'll always love him."

Cadenza: "That's so sweet, little brother. Looks like you've got a soft side after all."

Laurance: "Oh, be quiet."

~~~