#onward edit

...I found myself rotting my brain and rewatching Just One Bite tonight and...

the Easter eggs in Onward were just really ahead of their time

It had been two days since Kirk broke into the house in the middle of the night and tortured Ian. Barley immediately moved his brother's bed to his room while he figured out a plan. Ian wasn't safe at home. Barley had to take him somewhere else, but he had no idea where. He was terrified of what could happen.

Ian clung to Barley the entire day after what happened. He refused to leave his brother's side. But despite his best efforts, Barley knew Ian didn't feel safe. That he was on edge of what was happening. What Kirk was planning and honestly Barley couldn't blame him in the slightest.

But Ian decided he wanted to go to school again. Barley was heavily against it, but Ian said that there was no way Kirk would be able to do anything to him at the school and if he did, Barley would be called immediately. His mom hesitated, but knew Ian wanted a sense of normal in the chaos and allowed it.

So, while Ian was at school, Barley stayed close by in the school parking lot, on the phone with Corey to explain the situation.

"Not a dull moment with you two," she said sadly after Barley explained everything that happened. "Is Ian okay?"

"No."

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"Ian is powerful and a kid, unfortunately it doesn't surprise me that someone wants to use that power for harm. But I think I may be able to help," she said. "I have a safe house a couple of towns over."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you and Ian can stay there as long as you need. There used to be spells, but after wizards were thought to go extinct, the magic faded. I'm not sure if Ian is at a point where he can make those spells, but either way, it's somewhere Kirk doesn't know about."

"If it's a chance at protecting him, I have to take it," Barley said and tried to get himself to stop shaking. He seemed to be doing that a lot these days, and he truthfully hated it. It was like Kirk was controlling his emotions. He didn't want to let that bastard know how much he was winning.

"Barley, we are going to do everything we can to protect Ian," Corey promised. "What's going through your head, kid?"

"I'm failing him, Corey," Barley sighed. He couldn't talk about this to anyone in his family because he didn't want to further worry them, but over the last year since Ian discovered he was a wizard, the two had grown closer.

"This isn't on you."

"I let Kirk in. I let Drew in. Everyone I try to get close to just end up hurting him and it's on me. He doesn't deserve to suffer the way he has to because I'm letting the wrong people in."

"Barley, listen to me," Corey said, her tone somehow even more serious, "this absolutely isn't on you. You have one of the best hearts I have ever seen and I know more than anything, you love your family. As for the Drew thing, you were a victim, too. You didn't deserve to be in that relationship. It's absolutely not your fault that it ended that way. As for Kirk, he would have gone after Ian regardless."

"We don't know that."

"I've seen this many times, Barley. I know," she responded. "Just get everything ready and I'll send you the address. We are going to figure this out."

"Alright, thanks, Corey. I appreciate it," Barley said. The two hung up and Barley's phone started buzzing again. He looked over and saw Kirk's contact along with several images. His heart skipped a beat and he looked over them immediately.

Pictures of Ian outside of the school building. One of him at gym and another while he was in the cafeteria.

Just like a sitting duck, isn't he? You know the other night was fun.

Leave him alone. I'm right outside the school. Don't try anything.

Yeah, I could tell with the van. Not exactly subtle. I really got to you, didn't I? You know your brother is in danger, you know it's your fault and you know you can't win. That terrifies you, doesn't it?

Leave him alone, Kirk.

Where's the fun in that? Maybe I can finish my name on his arm.

Barley almost threw his phone, but instead he walked into the school building and signed Ian out immediately. When Ian came to the office, he looked anxious and darted over to his brother's side.

"Barley, what's wrong?" he asked. Barley hated the fear in his brother's eyes as he searched for answers. He could see his brother still shaking as he moved his sleeves down again to hide the scarring and marks, but both of them knew they were there.

"Come on, bud, we have to go," Barley said and threw his arm around Ian and the two went towards the van. Barley's grip on Ian tightened as he looked around, searching for Kirk. Each time he attacked, he made sure Barley wasn't around, meaning he didn't know if he could beat Barley in a fight.

He checked over the van before getting Ian inside and then went straight to the driver's side. He looked around again and then looked over and saw Ian eyeing him worriedly.

"Barley?"

"Corey told me about a safehouse. We're leaving as soon as possible. It's not safe here," he said. "When we get home, I'm running through everything with Mom, then we're hitting the road."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm not losing you, Ian. I don't care what I have to do. Kirk isn't getting you," Barley responded. He didn't care if it meant his death. Kirk wouldn't take Ian away from him. No one would take his brother from him again.

"I don't blame you," Ian said after a moment of silence and Barley chuckled humorlessly as he started the van.

"Maybe you should," he responded and then shook his head. "No, this isn't about me or what I'm feeling. This is about keeping you safe and that's what we're going to do."

He could feel Ian staring at him and he was sure his brother thought he was losing his mind.

"Ian, I'm your older brother. I've always looked out for you. It's my job. And I'm not going to let this bastard take you away from me. I'm going to figure this out and he's not going to get away with this."

"If this is what you think is best, I'll go with you anywhere. It's going to be okay."

Ian was scared. He had every right to be. Yet he wanted to comfort his brother because he didn't know what else to do. Barley could feel himself unraveling. But it's exactly what Kirk wanted and he had to hold on and keep Ian safe.

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