Travis emerged some time in the afternoon, hood up and making a beeline for the garden. By the time Carter noticed he was there, the boy had almost finished a cigarette.
"Those aren't good for you." He said gently.
"Its not heroin." Travis defended himself.
"Its nicotine, its still a drug, you've just barely gotten through heroin withdrawal Travis." Carter sat down on the bench beside him, watching the boy put his cigarette out. "Can I have the rest please?"
Travis pulled a packet of cigarettes, a lighter and a strawberry geek bar from his pocket.
"Where did you get these?"
"Gas station." Travis replied.
"How are you feeling?" Carter asked gently, he could see the uncomfortable guilt on the boys face.
"Better, thank you." He replied quietly. "Um... when do I have to leave by?"
"What? You don't have to leave love." Carter replied with a frown. "You're welcome here as long as you want. You're not well enough to leave anyway."
"You're not... You're not going to kick me out the minute I'm well?" Travis was staring at him with wide eyes.
"No." Carter shook his head. "Of course not."
"Oh, thank you." Travis frowned. "Really?"
"I know you've been fucked over before, but I promise I won't let that happen again." He replied. The teen looked back at his hands, one of his knees bouncing. "I'm going to help Travis, I promise."
"Thank you." Travis sighed. "No one's ever told me that before."
"Are you hungry?" Carter asked, he wanted to try and get the boy to eat some more. He was hopeful that his stomach had settled now, and he would be able to get his strength back.
"A little." Travis nodded.
Carter smiled. "How about lunch?"
Travis nodded and followed him into the house. The other boys were already sat at the table, Kit and Artemis in a heated discussion about their chess game, whilst Alex was talking quietly with Riley and Noah. He didn't seem right, Carter had noticed it, at first he thought it was because he was wrapped up in his art, but Carter was growing more concerned that it wasn't the case.
True, Alex was the quiet one, but he had been distant for nearly a week now and it was hurting Carter's heart. He had to get to the bottom of it, and help Travis. His boys never made it easy for him, but he didn't want it any other way.
"Hi Travis!" Riley smiled and waved at the boy, who smiled and sat down opposite him.
"Hi."
"I made bacon pasta, I hope that's okay?" Riley dished Travis and Carter each a plate. The others had eaten or had halfway finished, and Carter was surprised there was so much left.
"Thank you my love." Carter smiled. It looked delicious, Alex and Riley had worked hard. Travis looked at his plate in surprise and took a tentative bite if his bacon.
"This is really good." He said nervously.
"Thank you!" Riley beamed. "I'm glad you like it."
"You two out did yourselves." Carter nodded. He noticed Alex slip out of the room and excused himself to follow him. "Alex?"
"Hmm?" Alexis jumped like he had been in his own world.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm fine." He said it almost robotically.
"My love-"
"Honestly, everything's fine." He faked a smile.
"Talk to me, please." Carter found himself pleading with his boyfriend. Alex sighed.
"I've been invited to my dad's 60th birthday celebration." He paused. "I want to go."
"What?" Carter couldn't help the fear that rose inside him at the thought of his boyfriend going anywhere near the monsters he called parents. "No baby please."
"He's my dad Car, I love him." Alex was conflicted. "Its just for a few days."
"What if its a trap?"
"Carter they're my parents, not super villains."
"You were on the streets for three years just to get away from them." Carter pointed out.
"I'm in a better headspace now."
"You feel guilty for running away." Carter guessed.
"Of course I do! Just once I want to pretend everything's normal between us, I... I miss them." Alex sat down on the stairs. "Its just for a few days. I'll get a hotel room, I won't stay over, it'll be okay."
"Let one of us come with you." Carter said at once, he couldn't stop him from going, but he could still try and protect him.
"I can't. They don't know, they can't know." Alex replied. "Three days, you won't even know I'm gone."
"You have to call, everyday." Carter relented, Alex nodded.
"Of course I will."
"You're... you're leaving?" Kit stuttered, his eyes wide. They turned to look at him, they hadn't even known he was there.
"Not like that Kitty, I promise." Alex all but ran to him. "I'm just going to visit my parents for the weekend."
"What if they take you away." Kit asked, biting his lip. His abandonment issues were a lot better since they first met, but could never truly be solved.
"They can't."
"You're only eighteen Alex, they might." Kit looked terrified. "We can't lose you."
"They won't Kit I promise." Alex pulled him into a hug. "They care about their reputation too much to do anything."
"You have to call." Kit muttered into his shoulder.
"Of course I will." Alex kissed his cheek. "I'm not going until the weekend."
"Five days?"
"And I leave Saturday and come back Monday." Alex nodded. "Not long."
"Okay." Kit muttered. "You better come back."
"You can't get rid of me that easily Kitty." Alex smiled and kissed him again. "Will you teach me a card trick?"
"Of course." Kit smiled at him. Alex smiled back and took his hand, allowing Kit to lead him up to his room.
Carter immediately sat down with a sigh. He understood where Alex was coming from and he wanted to be supportive, he truly did, but the thought of him going to see his parents made him sick.
He was sat for maybe ten minutes, before Travis nervously entered the hallway.
"Am I... Am I alright to have a shower?"
"Of course Travis, you don't have to ask." Carter smiled at him. "I'll grab you some clean clothes."
"Thank you." Travis smiled and headed up the stairs, Carter following, heading to Alex's room to borrow more clothes.
He heard Alex and Kit laughing when he approached and found them sat on the floor building a tower out of cards. So much for card tricks.
"Alex can I borrow some more clothes for Travis? We'll get him some today but he currently doesn't have any." Carter asked. Alex nodded at once.
"Of course." He got up and helped Carter pick out an outfit for the new boy. "I'm sorry, if I upset you." He added quietly.
"It just scares me love, the idea of you being with them." Carter paused as he pulled out a sweatshirt. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"If they try anything I'll leave, I promise." Alex replied.
"I know you will, I trust you. You're smart Alex, I just can't help but worry." Carter smiled at him. "You are gonna have to tell the others, maybe not in front of Travis, I don't want him scared if they react badly."
Alex nodded. "Okay."
"I love you, and I don't want you to forget that."
"I love you too."