β stop. we don't have to make any more of a thing out of it than it already is. β ( raum & gabriele π)
@cantuscorvi from here ( x ) | not accepting !
The story was rather simple. A ruckus in the living room between one nephew and one uncle. Arguments and cruel words between one man acting like a torturer, and one boy wishing to be strong. Violence exploding. Broken furniture, bottles, knives on the ground. Everything had been handled through brutal punches. Cyrus was gone after Raum had retreated somewhere, giving one look that was enough for Gabriele to believe he might have hints of what was going on whenever he had his back turned. It was a problem. Raum was not ready β not yet.
The house had been quiet since, and Gabriele had eventually found Raum hiding in his bathroom. The Italian man only registered now that he had never been invited upstairs anyway. It was always the blonde who was invading his room, often late at night, marking his territory the only way he knew, just perhaps to feel that he was owning something real in this house.
Gabriele didnβt like it, but he was aware of the necessity. The lion cub needed to sharpen its fangs before overthrowing the king and Gabriele was the right piece of meat for that.
β... Youβre doing it wrong,β Gabriele sighed after a moment, before he stepped forward. He took the towel off Raumβs hand, frowning at the stains of blood covering his features. Raum had fought back, but he was still lacking the guts and assets to do something about his uncle. He was still impulsive and desperately young. Cyrus was a cold-blooded animal. Through words or punches, he knew exactly where to hurt his kin. A part of Gabriele could only understand β he had seen that kind of discipline over and over again. He could empathize with it.
βYou need ice for your eye. Itβs going to get swollen, and you have a meeting in a few days,β the bodyguard said while he threw the towel inside the tub. βSit down.β He invited Raum, only to be pushed away with one hand, and words coming with it.
βStop. We don't have to make any more of a thing out of it than it already is.β
Raum felt comfort in denial and acceptance, cold, falsely in control, and fearful in his actions. It was easier to retreat and lick his wounds, but just as if he had fallen from a gigantic horse, it was time for him to get back in the saddle. Gabriele inhaled, before he turned around and closed the door. Cyrus was gone, he was sure of it, but he had never liked how this man could know so many things. It was an act of protection β it was a plot for devotion.
βItβs a problem, Raum,β Gabriele said, while he squatted in front of him. He maintained eye contact, but he chose again to be lower than him. A dog would only trust one person in the world, as they said, and at that moment, Gabriele was making his decision.
βYou need to understand whatβs going on, and you need to deal with it. Youβre clean enough to do something about it. Don't let him win.β
He stared at him for a little while, before he eventually pressed both of his hands onto Raumβs thighs. He added pressure and protection where he had bitten and kissed his skin so often. Eye to eye. He didnβt flinch when the next words came to his mouth.
βUse me against him,β Gabriele offered, before the silence enveloped them. He felt goosebumps invading his spine β Β words of betrayal, whispered behind closed doors.
It was time for the cub to learn how to be a lion.
