Chapter 20:

They'd stayed outside for an hour or so, then the captors had brought the boys back in and cleaned them up.

And now Aaron was stuck in the playroom. Again.

  "Come, Aar. Read with me." Leo picked a book from the shelf then lay down on his stomach and opened it in front of him, his legs swinging excitedly as he waited for Aaron to join him.

Excitement. Aaron was glad Leo retrieved that factor in his behavior; he hadn't been particularly sad after what'd happened in the pool, but he also hadn't been necessarily happy. Timid, tired, oddly empty. But now Aaron could see the liveliness slowly return through the way his legs were swinging with restless energy. So Aaron didn't reject the offer, and he approached then sprawled down next to Leo on his stomach as well.

  Leo stared at the picture dominating most of the page in awe, then quickly flipped to the next, unrelenting to the small texts at the bottom. Aaron assumed he'd read it quickly at first, but then Leo kept doing that: going through the pages fast, only letting his eyes linger on the pictures, ignoring the texts.

  "Leo, wait." Aaron slapped a hand down on a page before Leo could flip it over. "You're not reading. You're just looking at the pictures. Trust me, you'll find them a lot more interesting if you know what's going on."

Leo shrugged one shoulder. When he tried pushing Aaron's hand away but failed, he whined. Softly and desperately. "Want to see, Aar!"

Aaron removed his hand and watched as Leo continued doing that. He really hoped that Leo just didn't have the patience, that the case wasn't that he'd been brainwashed enough to forget how to read.

  "Aar, look!" Leo pointed at a picture of a cat with her kittens cuddled up against her. "She has kids!"

Aaron peeked at the picture, smiling at how fascinated Leo was: completely enraptured, eyes wide and curious as they shifted between the edges of the picture.

"Do you know how she got the kittens, Aar?" Leo asked, but it sounded to Aaron more like a rhetorical question, one which he expected no answer to and had prepared one of his own. Then the actual question set in, and Aaron frowned, flustered and unable to speak a word. He wanted to put it out in an innocent childish way for Leo, but he'd already begun explaining how it worked on his own: "Maybe cats get married too. Maybe they sign papers like people. Isn't that how people get married, Aar? Mommy told me. Then maybe, God sends a kitten to her stomach."

Stomach. This had Aaron chuckling. Then, as the laughter petered out, he looked at Leo again, sighing as he took in how confused he seemed. Too innocent, way too innocent. Leo's perspective of things was probably the most weirdly amusing thing Aaron had ever witnessed.

"You're too pure for this world," Aaron mumbled, ruffling Leo's hair. He took the book from Leo's hands, then turned to the shelves and placed it back in, his eyes briefly flitting among the other stories. One of them was clearly astronomic and it caught his attention within a second, but as he reached for it, a white box pushed against the corner of the shelf distracted him. "What's in this?"

Leo didn't move, too deep in the comfort of his position on his stomach, but he lazily glanced at Aaron. "For the drawings, Aar."

  Aaron pulled it out then placed it on the rug. He removed the lid and shuffled through the masses of papers inside, each with a painting, pointless yet cleverly colored.

Among them, there was one with a familiar set of blue eyes drawn on it. And regardless of how many blue eyes were out there in the world, the astounding amount of detail specifically in that one made it clear that they were Leo's. The gold flecks, the precise shades of blue that mixed together, their variance in the position implicitly like Leo's. Then there were faint freckles splattered beneath, and at that Aaron let the paper down and peeked at Leo, frowning when he noticed that he actually had freckles, sprinkled faintly over the bridge of his nose and under his eyes. Barely even visible. Aaron would applaud the artist for catching this detail, except...

The artist?

"Um, Leo. I have a feeling you didn't draw this?" Aaron was slightly unsure of himself as he turned the paper for Leo to see.

Leo recognized the drawing merely from one look. He perked up, smiling as he pointed at Lou, who was sitting on the beanbag behind, leaning his head back lazily. "Uncle Lou drew that! Those are my eyes!"

Lou peeked at the boys when he heard his name, and he smiled slightly before leaning back again.

So even a psycho was talented. That totally didn't make Aaron feel like a talentless piece of shit.

Just as Aaron gathered the papers to put them back in the box, another one caught his attention. He swallowed as he recognized the face drawn: the entire portrait was nothing but skillful traces of a pencil, yet magnificently detailed, and even with the lack of colors, Aaron was sure it was his own face he was staring at.

Leo noticed what Aaron was looking at. He smiled. "That's you, Aar. There's also one of me. Uncle Lou really knows how to draw!"

Creepy, Aaron thought. He didn't know why, but finding his face on a paper out of nowhere shook him, so he quickly shoved it back in the box along with the others, kinda regretting the entire decision to take a look.

Leo was still sprawled on his stomach, cheek resting against his fist as he waited for Aaron to bring another book, or at least do something exciting.

"Sit up, Leo," Aaron said. "It's not good to sleep on your stomach for too long."

Leo grimaced. "No. Don't want to."

"Leo, I'm serious." Aaron gestured him up again. "It's bad for your spine."

Leo hummed, his head tilted. Confusion again.

"You don't know it hurts your spine?" Aaron asked. When Leo only shook his head, he frowned. How could he not know? "Okay, now you know. Turn or your back will start to hurt really badly."

"Yours hurts, Aar?"

"Yeah, it does. And I'm telling you it's not nice at all. Save yourself."

"Then let mine hurt too," Leo casually decided, shrugging as he focused again on picking at a loose thread off the fluffy rug beneath him. He looked at Aaron and smiled. "So you're not alone, Aar. Mommy said brothers care about each other, and I care about you."

"That's nice of you." Aaron laughed a little at Leo's compassion. "Just don't take it hardcore. Now sit up, seriously."

Lou peeked at his boys, lips held up in an amused grin. "Um, Aaron, baby, if I was you, I'd really stop trying to teach him science. He won't understand. And Leo, listen to your big brother."

Of course he won't understand, Aaron thought. Because you damaged his mentality.

Leo huffed then turned to lie on his back, arms folded across his chest as he stared at the ceiling with furious disapproval. Aaron raised an eyebrow, but he smiled again when Leo couldn't maintain the angry attitude, breaking into a small mischievous giggle as he turned and smiled back at him.

"I see that smile, Leo, you little devil," Lou said, eyes narrowed as he approached with slow steps, one hand positioned for death-tickling. "You think you can throw a tantrum at me because I don't punish? I can punish, actually, but in my way."

"No, you can't, Uncle Lou. You're too nice!"

"Aha? Let's see." And then Lou fell to his knees just by Leo's side, tickling him with both hands. A surprised yelp shot through the room, followed by loud, childish giggles and breathy pleas to stop in between. Lou didn't torture Leo too long, stepping past him when he was very much close to tearing his cheeks apart with the uncontrolled laughter. He gave Aaron a smile. "You're a great big brother, Aaron."

Just as Lou was about to turn around and probably settle down again, the door creaked open and Daddy walked in. He headed straight towards the beanbag chair, which was placed right behind Aaron, and sat there. Lou excused himself out. Almost like they'd exchanged shifts.

Aaron sighed, unappreciative of Daddy's presence, but then an idea landed. He actually needed Daddy, needed to fix his relation with him, make him believe that he willingly wanted to behave correctly.

Make him believe that he was slowly getting brainwashed.

Aaron thought for a second, breathing in, eyelids closed as he prepared himself. He really didn't want to, but acting was all he had to hang onto: the feeble string keeping him attached to any chances of escape.

A peaceful second passed by, then Aaron let himself relax more against the floor, shoulders sagging. He yawned. Slowly, he leant to the side, as if losing the battle against exhaustion, until his head hit Daddy's knee.

This caught the captor's attention, and he watched with a smile as Aaron adjusted his head on his knee, leaning his weight entirely against his leg. Daddy absently reached his hand to his baby's hair and twirled it between his fingers. He hadn't expected his baby to do that, but he loved it. He loved it so much.

As much as Aaron was trying to appear comfortable, he just couldn't; Daddy's knee was way too strong and hard to serve for a pillow, and it was paining the side of his head like he was leaning against a rough rock. But he maintained his position, reminding himself of how important it was to put up an act, until he felt Daddy's fingers grip his underarms, raising him from the floor onto his lap.

Great, Aaron thought. Just great. He realized he'd been very content just leaning against Daddy's knee now that he was much closer.

"You're such a sleepyhead, baby. Like your Uncle. He likes to sleep a lot too," Daddy said, leaning down to kiss his cheek, the stubble around his jaw and chin scratching Aaron's skin like tiny, prickly thorns. "Baby, don't you need to have a wee? Don't hold it in. It's bad."

Not this again. But Aaron knew this was his chance to show he was succumbing to Daddy's authority, and he didn't want to miss it. "Alright."

"You have to—wait, what?"

"You said I'm not allowed to hold it in." Aaron looked at Daddy through his thick lashes, perfectly balancing a look of innocent submissiveness on his face. "I won't. I'll tell you when I need to, Daddy."

Daddy looked a little flustered, slightly unsure, but he smiled contently nevertheless. "Oh. Great, baby. That's great. You're a really good boy."

Aaron offered a fraction of a sleepy smile, then leant towards Daddy, closing up the space between them as he rested his front against his chest, chin hooked over his broad shoulder. Daddy tensed a little at the action, but it wasn't long before he relaxed again and pulled Aaron closer to his chest, strong arms curling around him like restraints.

Daddy couldn't think clearly anymore; not when his baby was being so adorable. It was like a foggy layer thickened around his brain, plaguing out any thoughts other than those cooing around the fact that Aaron was the cutest little baby ever, especially when he was all sleepy and laggy. 

Aaron turned his head towards Daddy's cheek, trying to catch his side-profile, and he smiled when he noticed that he looked pleased. Content with the behavior. This shouldn't be too hard if he could fool them easily like that.

Daddy kept holding Aaron for a while, then carefully stood up while making sure he didn't disturb him the slightest bit. "I think you need a nap today too, baby," he whispered into Aaron's ear. Then, he turned towards Leo. "Come, Leo. Let's go for a nap."

Daddy walked closer to Leo and dangled his hand down for him to hold, but Leo didn't move. Aaron looked at him when he realized that he'd taken quite a while to respond, frowning as his eyes clashed with the return of gloomy misery to Leo's face. It was like everything suddenly reversed back to the sadness he'd just gotten rid of.

Daddy waved his hand to Leo. "Leo, baby, come on. A nap, just a nap. I'm sure you're tired, baby. You played so much outside."

Still no response. Aaron felt his chest swell. He hadn't really realized it, but it was now clear to him how Leo's mood affected him; he hated seeing him so sad, and found relief when he was energetic and hyper like usual. Brainwashed or not, Aaron didn't think Leo deserved to be upset. "Leo," Aaron tried. Leo looked at him, but he didn't let out a word. "I thought you like to sleep. You told me that last time, remember?"

Leo shrugged, but barely even: just a tiny move of his shoulders, like he was too upset to even exert any physical effort. Daddy this time caught Leo's hand and tugged at it gently for him to move along. "Leo, baby. What is it?" he asked. "Aaron's gonna be in the same room. Your brother, don't you love him?"

"Love my brother," Leo mumbled, his eyes fixed on his lap as he fiddled with his fingers nervously. He glanced up at Aaron, then slowly accepted to move along with Daddy, slowly walking by his side as he led him out to the nursery. There, Daddy put both the boys in their cribs and left them alone for a nap.

Aaron took it as a session to mull over everything. He needed keys to get out of the front door, then he'd also need something to give him a boost up the iron fence. It didn't sound easy, barely even possible, but Aaron was nowhere near giving up at that point. He missed the simple joys of life: walking, sleeping on a bed (even if it were rickety), drinking from an actual cup, not wearing a pull-up—they'd all seemed minor and insignificant back when they were day-to-day normal stuff. Aaron promised himself he'd never underestimate the simplest privilege if he ever got back.

And then there was plan B: the window, his second refuge if the front door winded up not as easy to go through as he'd thought. A glint, a tiny grain of hope sparkled through the gloom of devastation previously occupying his chest, and Aaron hoped it'd linger long enough to keep him hanging.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself to rest without sleeping. Like last time, there was complete silence, and the only thing that kept him awake and attached to reality was the sound of Leo's breath—which he realized didn't sound like it had that time. It had sounded calm during the last nap, peaceful and even as it seeped past his nose in his sleep. But this time, it sounded kinda... strained. Aaron didn't even know how he could recognize that.

Aaron turned to peek at Leo, and then his mouth dropped slightly. He wasn't even asleep at all. "Leo? Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked, worry creeping to his voice and even though he didn't realize it, there was a big brother tone to it. "Is everything okay?"

"Don't want to sleep, Aar," Leo said, but he never turned to look at him, remaining where he was lying on his side, facing away. The pillow wasn't supporting his head; Leo was hugging it instead.

Aaron didn't insist. He closed his eyes again, but his time it wasn't peaceful, not when he was worried about Leo. Time crawled by slow like a snail, and Aaron wished it would last even longer just because it was the only time he'd be alone. With personal space. Without psychos trying to kiss or threaten him.

Aaron lost track, but after maybe an hour, nap time was over and the captors went to take the boys to he lunch. No one said anything, but everyone was worried about the fact that Leo didn't look like he'd slept for one second even.

The boys were put in the their highchairs, and Mommy wanted to feed Aaron this time. He accepted each slice of vegetables and spoon of warm soup without a word, containing the boiling need to scoff at her and turn away from that creepy fond look adorning her face which was like a mask with the eyes fixed on him. When the bowl on his tray drained, almost finished, Aaron felt an idea stand hesitantly in his brain. He didn't know if he should or not...

He should. "Mommy?" It was Aaron's first time calling her like that, and he realized from how her eyes widened that he'd probably triggered a let's-touch-Aaron-and-make-him-uncomfortable round. "Can I have more?"

Mommy was taken aback, stuck somewhere in the trance of her baby not only calling her (with his voice that she found so sweet and melodic), but also asking for more food. Being comfortable around her. That was all she wanted.

"Of course, baby. Hungry aren't you? I'm so sorry lunch's so late, love. I'll get you more." Mommy reached over to hold Aaron's head as she leant towards him, her lips connecting with his ear and planting a kiss right against it.

Aaron squinted at the awful feeling, at the horribly loud echo that shot through his ear. His shoulder instinctively lifted to cover it. Ear kisses were the worst. He didn't know if she'd done that on purpose, or if she'd just accidentally missed, but it annoyed him anyway.

Aaron knew that he was about to put up a sour face, so he fought it before it ever dominated, and maintained a normal expression. Mommy turned to fill his bowl again. Lunch passed by fairly quickly, and the captors put the boys on the couch to watch TV before bedtime. 

The show playing focused on animals. And Aaron was okay with that, anything as long as it wasn't cartoons.

Mommy soon walked in again, and she handed Leo a bottle of warm milk, then gestured Aaron to make space for her to feed him. Aaron grimaced inconspicuously, his mind directly supplying him with memories of the last time he was on her lap drinking milk: she was kissing his fingers, being too close, all was horrible. He wanted to refuse, but he also didn't, especially when he remembered that he'd officially begun with his act and he wasn't messing it up.

Aaron looked at Leo; he was completely enthralled by the screen flashing in front of him, blue eyes faintly reflecting the varying colors as his lips slowly suckled at the teat of the bottle clutched in his hand. Aaron gave Mommy a look, grey eyes wide and innocently pleading. "Can I drink it like Leo?" he asked. "Please?"

Mommy stayed silent for a second, then touched Aaron's hair even though she was slightly disappointed. "If you want to, baby."

She handed him the bottle, watching as he brought it to his lips and drank obediently, the edges of his mouth curling in a sleepy smile around the teat. His smile was something else. All she could focus on. So beautiful she wanted to keep staring, so pretty she wished that she could pause life right there and make sure his lips never curved downward.

Mommy grimaced when she remembered how long he'd been left with other people, some of them downright monsters, some of them pretending they cared about him. Did they deserve them? Mommy didn't think so. Only she did. Only she deserved to have him. To touch him. To love him. Only her.

Mommy left them to clear up the kitchen. Both boys continued watching, yet Leo was much more engaged with the TV than Aaron was, his now empty bottle still in his mouth, being absently ground by his teeth as his eyes remained strapped to the screen like an enraptured child.

Little by little, Leo's eyelids began fluttering and he accidentally dropped the bottle, leaning against Aaron's side but quickly waking himself up again. He kept trying to keep his spine straight but at some point it was too much, and he gave in, resting his head on Aaron's lap, his body sprawled across the length of the couch.

Aaron didn't push Leo's head off his lap. He knew Leo was sleepy but was trying to fight it.

Leo yawned after a little while and rubbed his eye, but then Mommy walked in. He froze, trying not to make how sleepy he was obvious. Alas, Mommy noticed the symptoms and approached then crouched down by the couch, stroking Leo's hair. "You look very sleepy, Leo," she said. "You're gonna fall asleep here. Don't you think so?"

Leo shook his head. "No, Mommy. Don't think so."

"Where did you get this attitude from, baby?" Mommy smiled, pinching Leo's cheek. "From Uncle Lou? He used to have an attitude when he was younger too. Now let's go to sleep. Come on."

"No."

"Leo."

"Aar," Leo whined, turning to Aaron helplessly. "Tell her. Don't want to sleep now."

Aaron fidgeted for a moment, but then he realized that Leo really needed to sleep. "Leo, come on. I'm gonna be there. I'm your big brother, remember? Listen to me."

"No! Please."

And Leo didn't budge any further, not an ounce of responsiveness even with the tremendous amount of encouragement. But judging by his exhausted expression, both Mommy and Aaron could tell Leo didn't have much of a chance to battle against sleep, and they were sure he'd fail at any moment.

Mommy continued playing with Leo's hair to lull him into sleep, and Aaron just waited for him to surrender. It took longer than it should've: Leo actually managed to keep himself awake for quite a while. Each time his eyelids dropped, they'd fling open again with alarmed haste. Red veins slowly became more prominent against the whites of his eyes. It was weird, especially since Leo had said it with his own tongue—he liked to sleep, and he looked like it. He usually fell asleep fast.

After a lot more than Aaron had expected, Leo fell asleep, and by then his legs had almost died and withered beneath the weight of Leo's head.

Daddy walked in, careful not to emit any noise. "He fell asleep?"

"Yes. Finally." Mommy gave Daddy a look. Daddy approached, taking Leo bridal-style in his arms as he headed towards the nursery. Lou soon came and picked Aaron up and followed his brother up. The captors put both their boys in bed.

Aaron took a glance at Leo; he didn't look peaceful. He looked worried even in his sleep. There was a distinct form of discomfort visible on his face, and Aaron hoped it was just him overthinking.

Aaron fell asleep soon after, remaining in the depths of slumber for hours.

Faint noises were the first things to prod him awake. As Aaron slowly resurfaced to reality, the noises loudened, sharpening, and his heart dropped when he became aware enough to realize that they were all coming from Leo's side. He frantically jerked into position, peeking at Leo through the bars of both cribs with wide, startled eyes that expanded further at the sight.

Leo was gathered to himself in the corner like a folded paper, knees to his chest and eyes screwed shut as he whimpered. His face was paler than ever, ghostly white.

"Leo? Leo, what's wrong?"

Leo opened his eyes at an instant, and he looked at Aaron with unconfined fear emanating from him entirely.

"I'm bad, Aar. I'm really really bad."

*_*_*_*_*_*

what do you think is wrong with Leo?

Thank you for reading/voting/commenting !! <3 also, i didn't thoroughly edit this chapter, sorry for the typos again lol