How the fuck did he get a key?

The blonde wonder greets us with a smile as he throws the door open. A scowl flickers across his face as he spots our linked hands, but he tries not to show it. "Hey guys, what's up?"

We just stare at him, none of us saying a word. He tosses the key at our feet. "It's really easy to convince receptionists, y'know. A little flirting does a lot of good. Too bad for her I'm gay."

"Don't you mean 'lucky for her'?"

I glance at my brother. Please, Benji, now is not the time to be a smartass. Then again, three of us and one of him, right? He ignores it. "If you'll excuse me, Joel, Billy," he looks pointedly at each of us as he says our names, "I need to have a little talk with my boyfriend."

I bristle and my shoulders tense up, but I don't say anything. Unfortunately for us all, Benji's still sure that he wants to get us into as much trouble as possible. "Oh, you didn't tell me you had a new boyfriend, Tony," he looks around, "where is he? I only see Billy and my boyfriend."

This time Tony makes no attempt to hide the dark clouds forming in his eyes. Instead of losing his cool completely, though, he pulls something out of his Dickies. A pocket knife. "You know, I haven't even cleaned this since I slit little Cashdogg's throat."

Suddenly, Benji's grip on my hand is so tight I think he's going to break every single tiny bone in it. Looking at his face, though, there are no visible signs of stress of anger. These two are facing off. Whoever can control their emotions the longest wins. I'm scared that in the end, it doesn't even matter. Whoever wins, Tony will have the last laugh; I'm sure of it. Benji releases my hand, and I relax for two reasons. Firstly, that was fucking painful, and secondly, this should hopefully calm the nerves of the emotionless man standing in front of us.

But I guess I should've known.

Benji wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against his side. Then he reaches over with his other hand and tilts my head to rest on his shoulder. I know Tony can see the huge purple mark on my neck pretty damn clearly from this angle. I'm too shaky to refuse to move or to pull away from my brother - I think he's actually the only thing holding me up right now. He appears relaxed, but nestled in the crook of his arm, it seems as if every muscle in his body is tense. "Isn't he beautiful, Tony? I know he wouldn't ever hurt me the way my past boyfriends have."

Tony knows all too well that he is the only boyfriend Benji has ever had. He tenses up, and for a moment he looks like a tiger ready to pounce. I shrink back a little bit, afraid of what he's going to do, but Benji holds me firm. He's so strong, unyielding. He doesn't even flinch when Tony flicks the knife out of its case.

Billy, on the other hand, is shaking uncontrollably. He's still loosely gripping my hand, but his hold is becoming weaker and weaker with every passing second. His face is contorted into an expression of sheer terror, and I know that Tony finds the fear he's invoked satisfying. The idea that anyone can get off on hurting my friends makes me feel physically sick.

Then I watch, bewildered, as Tony morphs into an entirely different person. His shoulders relax, his face softens, and he flicks the knife back into its little red case before slipping it into his pocket. This is somehow more terrifying than angry-psycho-Tony. Then I notice his eyes. They were icy blue-grey a few seconds ago, and now they match the colour of the sky in the hottest days of summer. He's giving my brother the same puppy-dog eyes he gave him what seems like an eternity ago. Back when we were standing in that bathroom, and I knew that the bastard had left that big black bruise on my brother's stomach. And Benji had just forgiven him. He'd stepped into his arms and held him the way he'd held me. Because he loved him. "Benji, baby," his voice is soft now, soothing, "I'm sorry about all this. It doesn't have to be this way, you know. I just want to be with you."

Benji's mouth has fallen open, and he's staring at the smiling man with disbelief. My twin says nothing, so Tony continues. "I love you, Benji, you know I do. We belong together."

He takes a step towards my brother, reaching towards him. "Please, baby, take my hand. Take my hand, and all of this can be over. Nothing matters except you and me, sweetheart."

"Shut the fuck up!"

The voice doesn't sound like it's coming from me, but it is. "You fucking asshole! You seriously think Benji's going to just take you back? After you hit him and tried to choke him and then raped him?"

I expect him to go flying off the handle, but he doesn't. He looks smiles softly at my brother. "We were making love, weren't we, Benj? Just like we used to."

I look at Benji, expecting him to come up with some witty-yet-cold response. Instead, he just grins at Tony and takes his hand, lacing their fingers. "Yeah, we were," he takes a step towards the man in front of him.

I stare at my twin brother in shock, and I realize that I have no idea what he's thinking. He's seriously going to take Tony back? How can he even touch him, knowing what he did? He had to have been raped... he had to have been! I saw him. He was a complete wreck, and he was bleeding, sitting on the floor of the shower...

Doesn't he love me?

Tony slips his arms around my brothers waist and they kiss briefly. "Let's go, baby," the blonde murmurs, "let's change things."

I can only look on in horror. My brother - my boyfriend - just kissed the most vile and twisted man I've ever known, right in front of me. Tony starts to drag my brother towards the door. "Wait a second, Tones, let me say goodbye. Just wait outside for me, I'll be right out."

Tony debates this in his head for a moment, then nods and leaves the room. Tears well in my eyes as they meet with my brother's, and he crosses the room, hugging Billy quickly before turning to me. His voice is low, I guess he's scared Tony will overhear him. "Listen to me, Joel," he cups my face in his hands and presses his forehead against mine, "no matter what happens, I love you."

My voice is only a whisper. "I love you too."

His lips press against mine in a brief but urgent kiss. It's like he's trying to pour all his love for me into this one moment, as if he's trying to give me a message that I can't recieve in any other way. He's communicating everything he's thinking to me, trying to tell me that everything will be alright, that I have to trust him. I wish I could. The idea of him leaving with Tony makes me feel paralyzed with fear. I try to keep my head in the moment as his tongue slips into my mouth, desperately seeking mine. Then he pulls away again to stare into my eyes. "Don't lose faith in me. I'll fix things."

A few seconds later, he's gone, leaving a confused, teary-eyed mess behind him. I can't speak until it's too late, and when I do, it's just a choked whisper.

"Don't go."