A bit different

Twenty three

He opens the door to the bathroom and there he is, he knew he would be there. Peyton sat on the cold floor against the walls near the sink, his small arms wrapped around his kneecaps and his head placed on top of them. His face hidden away.

He rocks slightly forward and back as he murmurs to himself but Cole can't quite work out what he's saying.

He steps forward and sits next to the boy quietly, not wanting to disturb him. He wants to wrap the small boy up in his arms but he knows he shouldn't, Peyton hadn't forgiven him yet so he doesn't want to ruin that by invading his space.

Though he does reach out a hand to Peyton's shoulder, he doesn't react though he just keeps rocking. So they sit there for a while in silence, in each others company.

Until Peyton raises his head in Cole direction though his red puffy eyes are still staring at the ground, it hurts Cole when he sees his face. It looks like he had nearly been crying but he's rubbed at his face so much, to keep the tears in.

"Why are people mean?" Peyton finally breaks the silence, his voice sounds calm. Like he's already practised using his voice again so it didn't sound like he was on the urge of tears. He was really good at hiding his emotions, Cole knew he hated showing them. Showing when he was sad.

Peyton's eyes look up to meet Cole's, Cole smiles saldy and shrugs. "I'm not sure why" he replies though he wish he had a better answer. He wished he knew why bullies picked on people, why some people started fights. Why some people occasionally leave when they are supposed to stay, why people act like they care when they don't really and why he was such a douce for so long.

"I really don't know" he starts moving his thumb soothingly on Peyton's shoulder and scoots closer. He wants to be closer, he would do anything to be closer to him.

Peyton averts his gaze ahead of him as he takes that in, he furrows his brows. Not wanting to actually believe people are mean just because they can be. Because that's a horrible reason.

They take another minute or two in silence, the only noise in the room is the light bulb flickering every so often.

"You look different."

Peyton looks back up at Cole, "I had a haircut."

Cole takes his hand off but Peyton soon catches it, he moves their hands to rest on his kneecap as their fingers slowly intertwine with each other.

Cole swallows, "oh" his gaze lands of their joint hands, "it looks nice."

*****

After college finished Peyton went home by bus, Cole offered to give him a ride but he said he wanted to be alone. And when he got home all he wanted was his brother so as soon as he stepped foot through his door he fell straight into Kai's arms.

He smelt like beer.

But when didn't he?

Peyton put his head under his brother's chin and squeezed his eyes shut, wanting to forget about the day. Wanting to forget about the world for a little while and in his brother's arms he forgot everything else.

Kai smiles down to his brother, feeling his curls tickle his own face as he bends slightly down to properly cuddle Peyton back. His eyes were dazed and he felt light, he liked that feeling.

Where you don't feel like you're in your own body and you're floating, and the only way the get there is by alcohol. Or drugs. But Kai promised Peyton he wouldn't touch that shit again.

"What's this for?" He chuckles quietly to himself and tucks a brown curl out of Peyton's face and behind his ear.

Peyton shuffles around for a bit until he muffles into Kai's chest, "why are people mean?" His voice is quiet and soft, like he really wants to know the answer but no one would give it to him because there is no real answer.

That seems to make Kai sober, his eyes open properly and he tries to looks down at Peyton's face, "what do you mean? Is someone bullying you? What happened?" Questions are thrown in his face before he even has time to think, he didn't want that. He just wanted a comforting hug from his brother.

"Can you please just answer me instead of questioning me?" He hugs tighter into Kai and Kai clears his throat, feeling bad because he should have comforted his brother instead of hounding him with questions. Sometimes his protective side gets the better of him.

He wraps the small boy into his arms and squeezes him tightly, knowing Peyton likes pressured hugs instead of light ones. Because light ones feels like someone isn't even there hugging you and it gets ticklish.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I don't really know why people are mean, I guess they just are because they can be" and that's the second time hearing that today. He sighs and stays quiet for a moment or two, just the two brothers hugging in the hallway.

Kai then prepares for what he wants to say next, he swallows and starts rubbing his hand against Peyton's back. "Did you think mum and dad were mean?"

Peyton looks up and glances at the stairs in front of him, wondering why he brought it up but nevertheless answering. "They were mean to me" he sighs and looks at Kai, "why were they just mean to me?" Kai hugs Peyton closer and kisses the top of his head, getting hairs in his mouth.

"Because they were horrible, they weren't good parents after-" he looks up and blinks, "after jemma. I think they gave up as parents after that and turned to drinking, but I'm here for you. Always and forever understood?" Peyton steps back and nods, "understood" Kai smiles at him and ruffles his hair.

Peyton giggles and tries hitting Kai's hand away, he then glances around the house. Seeing empty bottle left and right, "I'll clean it up soon" Kai tells him while scratching the back of his neck, like he's embarrassed. Peyton nods and continues looking around.

"I'm sorry Pey" the smaller boy just sighs and shrugs, its not Kai's fault. Sometimes you turn to something for comfort and that something isn't always good.

Peyton plays with his fingers, "how do you know when you've forgiven someone?" Kai looks over at him with raised brows and a calculating look, like he is trying to understand why Peyton so randomly said that. He knew him well though so he thought of Cole, maybe he was thinking about forgiving him sometime soon and hearing him out.

Although Kai didn't like that idea he knew it wasn't his business, Peyton is nearly an adult and he is capable of making his own choices.

He shrugs and starts scratching his chin, "you are full of questions today aren't you" Peyton laughs quietly and nods, "well I think when you start seeing their side, why they did what they did. Realising what they did shouldn't be the reason you never speak to them again because everyone makes mistakes." Peyton nods with his gaze at the the floor.

"I think you should talk to him, you shouldn't lose all that you had just because you didn't hear him out." Kai smiles at Peyton who nods thoughtfully back.

He's right, they had something and he liked that. He doesn't want to throw everything he had with Cole away just because he was too sensitive or Stubborn to hear what Cole has to say.

Peyton sighs, today has been chaotic but hopefully the next couple of days everything will be how it was.

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Uh family issues, am I right?