Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Odd Inheritance

Later that day, when the spring sun came out to melt the night’s snow, the two boys were in their favourite secluded spot – A small lake beside a tree that they now used for shade. Adam sat with his knees tucked under his chin, enjoying the sunlight filtering through the leaves and the warmth of the afternoon. Matt, on the other hand, was massaging his calves.

“I don’t think I’ve ever done so much walking in my life,” He said with a groan, eventually falling back into the grass when he realised he wasn’t going to be able to get rid of the dull pain in his muscles.

Adam smiled from above his knees, tilting his head, “Didn’t I say it’d be more than just a walk through the countryside? Why’d you even come, Matt? I didn’t need the help.”

Matt cocked his head backwards, looking at Adam upside down.

“A while ago, you told me that you got lonely and stuck in your own head when you had to do the patrols on your own. Coming along seemed like a simple solution, but…” Matt scowled at his feet, causing Adam to laugh.

“You’re not wrong, dumbass, but I didn’t ask you to come because it’s a hard trek. Didn’t want you to get, well, all achey.” He waved at Matt’s legs, which he had been profusely complaining about the entire way back. Matt grumbled wordlessly, scooting up to lie parallel to the other boy.

Adam lay down in the grass next to Matt, and they stayed there for a while, recovering from their small journey and savouring each other’s presence. At some point, Matt’s hand found Adam’s, causing the tall boy to flush again.

“Matt,” Adam began quietly, “What is… this? What are we?”

It was a question that hadn’t come up in the past year despite their little ‘japes’ becoming more and more affectionate. Matt snorted with amusement but didn’t unwrap his hand from Adam’s.

“What, beyond a little bit of camaraderie? Perhaps a sense of fellowship between brothers in arms? Sometimes brothers in each other’s arms?”

That got a curt laugh out of Adam, and Matt thought for a while, still staring at the sky.

“I’m not quite sure. I’ve known you since I was three days old. I’ve seen you knock yourself out by running into a tree branch at full speed when we were ten. You’ve seen me experiment with eating my own snot when we were six,” Another light laugh from Adam, “We’ve both braved the terror of growing up together. Normally, I’d think that that means I know too much about you, but that’s not really the case, is it?”

Adam squeezed the other boy’s hand.

“No,” He mumbled quietly.

Matt still stared up at the clouds, “I suppose… God, I’m bad with words and letters, you scoundrel, and you’re trying to make me explain – We are friends, yeah? Have been for as long as we’ve been us. But I don’t think I’d mind being something more.”

It was silly, really. Their ‘friendship’ had been much more than that for at least a year, but it was the first time either of them had put it into words. That’s what made Adam’s throat dry as he replied.

“I don’t think I’d mind either.”

Matt grinned like a drunk before turning back to the clouds, “Well, there you have it.”

And although that seemed like the conclusion to this little moment, Adam began to try and speak. He stumbled over his words as if they were hurdles, growing redder with each one that managed to escape his mouth.

“Ok, so- Would you be willing to try something more serious than a peck on the cheek, then? Nothing unclothed, but I know that you had something with Lisa… Could you show me how you did it with her…?”

Adam trailed off as Matt raised his eyebrows with surprise.

Lisa had been one of Matt’s previous flings, lasting for half a year right before he and Adam had begun… This. Their relationship had always made Adam jealous in a way that he didn’t understand, most likely because he himself had never gotten close to someone before Matt.

“It was usually her that led, but I can try… Are you sure?” Matt asked, rolling over onto his elbows, “I don’t want to rush you with anything.”

You are reading story Odd Inheritance at novel35.com

Adam smiled nervously, “Yes, I’m sure. I’ve thought about it for a while; I’m just terrible at speaking when I feel like this – It’s a whole mess.”

Matt nodded, “If you feel uncomfortable or want me to stop, tell me so, and I will without hesitating, alright?”

Adam grinned in reply, face still flushed, “Alright.”

Matt moved in, placing gentle pressure on Adam’s arms as he positioned himself above. It wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest, and although Adam was by far the larger of the two, he suddenly felt very small. He didn’t dislike the feeling.

Adam’s heart began to quicken as Matt traced a finger over his collarbone underneath his shirt, but a few moments after Matt’s finger made contact with his body, Adam felt like something was… wrong.

It was like some passive feeling in his mind exploded into blistering clarity, and the soft weight of Matt became too much to bear.

“Stop-” He blurted out, and Matt, bless him, did as he was told immediately. The pressure was lifted, and Matt was back on his knees with a concerned look in his eye as Adam began to shiver, gripping his own shoulders.

Adam felt awful. He wanted this – desperately so, but just Matt’s touch was enough to make him nauseous. Why? What was wrong? Was it Matt? Was it the way that it had happened? Guilt mixed with his need for contact led Adam to a slow realisation.

It wasn’t Matt that was wrong; it was him.

Adam felt repulsive, and he didn’t know why. A light distaste for his own body had always been under the surface, causing him to squint at reflective surfaces and move in such a way as to cause the smallest impression possible. That was normal. However, it was like that subtle dislike had been increased tenfold, and his entire body was brought under his own mental scrutiny. His hands felt too large, fingers too thick, proportions stretched out. How could Matt bare to even look at him, let alone touch him? Suddenly, the idea of subjecting Matt to him made Adam’s stomach churn. He couldn’t hurt Matt like that. It wasn’t moral.

Adam hadn’t realised he’d started crying until Matt pulled him in for a hug.

“I’m sorry- I-it’s me, I just can’t-” Adam mumbled apologies into Matt’s shoulder as the other whispered small reassurances. They didn’t help, but Adam appreciated them regardless as he properly sobbed for the first time in what must have been years.

After a long while, Matt helped Adam back to his out-of-the-way country home, separate from the rest of the town and near the lake they both loved. His parents ushered them both inside, leading a still-sniffling Adam to his bedroom. Matt didn’t leave his bedside until late in the evening, though Adam couldn’t even bring himself to speak.

 

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Adam slipped silently out of the house in the early morning, near twilight. What he needed now was the absence of thought, a lack of questions with good intentions. He understood on some fundamental level that his parents wanted to know what happened in order to help, but Adam would not – could not – think about… that. So, he stayed silent instead of speaking, lying under the cover of his blankets – until now.

It was not his time to patrol; usually, one of the family left at a far more reasonable time in the morning, but Adam needed to move his legs and sink into routine. His breath came out light and fast, forming puffs of white in the brisk morning air. He didn’t know where he was heading, but anything was better than thinking.

Adam found an animal trail and followed it automatically like a moving cart on a predetermined rail. He was hardly in reality, eyes glazed over as he allowed muscle memory to take control. He eventually came to a small, calm lake, like a shining mirror reflecting the still-visible stars. The trail continued down a gentle slope, and Adam was about to continue when a lack of clouds allowed an additional flash of moonlight to illuminate the scene. He snapped out of his stupor as he had a sudden realisation,

The trail he had been following was not one made by paws; it was made by boots.

Voices echoed from further ahead, smug and victorious. Adam darted behind a tree, peeking down the hill to see three figures standing around a burrow. The tree was scorched, though they had no visible torches with them, only a minor lantern.

CW For a description of animal death, it’ll only be this short paragraph, and it’s skippable.