Disclaimer: This chapter contains a scene of physical and sexual abuse as well as slight mentions of suicidal thoughts.
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Simon called him twice a day, every day for the next few weeks and they texted back and forth. Alex teased him about his new 'pen pal'.
"I think Zeke has a crush." Alex said one night. They were all ready to go to the club and were waiting for Zion.
Bella, his baby sister laughed. "It's about time." She said. "He was getting boring. So, who is she? Are you going to ask her out?"
Zeke rolled his eyes. "I do not have a crush." He muttered. His best friend, Diane, who was also his sister's girlfriend laughed.
"Dude, you are glowing." She said. "Like, you look happier. Tell us, what's going on with you."
"It's nothing." Zeke said. "I just…it's nothing."
"Zeke…come on." Bella whined. "Tell us."
"No." Zeke said. "It's nothing. I'm zen or whatever."
They all looked at him as if he was insane. As Bella was about to say something, Zion joined them. "Sorry, I'm late. I had to pick up Jon."
Jon?
Zeke looked behind his brother and saw a tall, blond man with cold grey eyes.
"This is Jon?" Alex asked and Zeke caught the tightening of his lips before he smiled. "I'm Alex; Zion has told me so much about you."
"Whatever he said I did, don't believe him." Jon said, smiling. He reminded Zeke of a shark.
Zion made the introductions and they all made their way to the club. Zeke kept looking over at Jon. The guy was as tall as his brother and he had this air of…icy aloofness that made Zeke shiver slightly.
He picked out his phone and sent a text to Simon.
Zeke: Tall, grey eyes, short blond hair, rapist jacket…ring any bells?
He pushed his phone back into his pocket and whispered to Alex. "I don't like him."
Alex shrugged. "Your brother says I need to be nice to his friends, no matter how much I don't want to." He whispered.
"You're pissed, huh?" Zeke asked, still whispering. Alex loved Zion's name and he used it all the time. The fact that he used the phrase 'your brother' said a lot.
"My friends are lovely." Alex said. "This guy is bad news."
"You know Zion." Zeke said helplessly. "He is always trying to be nice."
Alex rolled his eyes and Zeke jumped when he felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out and saw a message from Simon.
Simon: Rapist jacket?
Trust Simon to miss the point. On purpose. He typed a reply.
Zeke: Focus, Simon.
A reply came immediately.
Simon: You met Jon.
Zeke: Yes I did. How did you get mixed up with someone so creepy?
Simon: Can we not talk about him? And put your phone away before he sees you.
Zeke: Why didn't you come with him?
Simon: He's at a work thing. I have no interest in that.
Zeke scoffed. A work thing? Jon was not only abusive; he was also a liar and a creep. How did Simon meet this guy?
Zeke: We'll talk about this later.
Then he shoved his phone into his pocket. "Are you OK?" Alex asked.
Zeke had totally forgot he was there. "Yeah, I'm fine. Was just checking something."
"What are you guys whispering about?" Bella asked loudly. "Come on."
Zeke looked up and saw Jon staring at him. He resisted the urge to shudder.
He really didn't like the guy.
*
"So, Zeke." Jon said, sitting next to him. "Zion tells me you are a chef."
"Yeah." Zeke said, shifting a little. They guy was too close. "I own Carter's. You know it?"
"Really?" Jon smirked. "I live not far from there."
Zeke stiffened. Simon had been close by and he didn't know. Well, close-ish.
"Really?" So you live in Brooklyn?" Zeke said, suddenly interested. Jon smiled, probably thinking he had scored.
"I do." He replied. "Since I moved to New York, I haven't really found a good place to eat out. Is Carter's as good as I think it is?"
"Why don't you come on down during the week?" Zeke said. "You can find out for yourself."
"Maybe I will." Jon said, before Zion called him and he left.
"Is it just me or is that guy all sorts of creepy?" Diane said, sitting next to him.
Zeke sighed. He needed to talk to someone about this. "Di, I am going to tell you something and you have to promise you won't say anything to anyone. Not even my sister."
"Not even Bella?" Diane's eyes widened. "Wow, it must be serious."
"Kinda." Zeke said, sighing. Then he told her everything. He told her about the calls, and everything he knew about Jon; from the little Simon had told him. Her eyes narrowed when Zeke said he suspected that Jon hit Simon.
"So Simon's your crush?" she asked finally.
"He's just a friend." Zeke said firmly. "And I'm worried about him."
"Wow." She glanced at Jon, before looking back at Zeke. "What are you going to do?"
"I have no idea."
*
Simon: Are you awake?
Zeke was just getting home when Simon's message came in. He was slightly tipsy but he replied.
Zeke: Just getting in. Should you be on the phone? Jon should be home.
Simon: He's asleep. I just wanted to say hey.
Zeke suddenly found himself on the verge of tears. Simon was just…helpless and all Zeke wanted to do was to help him. Jon was obviously not a good person and Zeke wanted nothing more than to get Simon away from him.
Zeke: Have you ever thought of leaving him?
Simon: And go where? It may be easier but not very smart.
Zeke: You could stay with me. I can keep you safe
Simon: He'd find me anywhere I go. And he'll hurt you. I can't let that happen.
Zeke: Don't worry about me. Let's make a deal. If you really need to get away, call me. I don't care what time. I'll come and get you.
Simon: That doesn't sound like a deal.
Zeke: That's all you're getting. Think about it at least.
Simon: OK.
Zeke smiled and went to get ready for bed.
He fell asleep hoping Simon would accept his help.
***
"What are you smiling at?" Simon jumped at his boyfriend's cranky voice.
"Nothing." Simon stood up quickly. He already had coffee ready so he poured a mug and handed it to Jon.
"Are you hungry?" Simon asked, his voice quiet, eyes down. Jon hated it when Simon looked at him.
"No. I'm meeting Steven at the airport." Jon said. "He may be staying here, tidy up the guestroom."
"H-He's sta-staying he-here?" Simon stuttered.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Jon asked, looking at him coldly.
"It's, uh, he scares me." Simon said, almost inaudibly. "The last time he was here h-he hurt m-me." Simon closed his eyes in shame. The last time, Steven was here, he had almost raped Simon, when Simon had bitten him hard when he had forced his dick in his mouth. In his fury, Steven had beaten Simon until Simon had hidden in the guest bathroom until Steven left, muttering something.
He flinched when Jon stood up and grabbed his shoulder hard. "He did say he liked you. That son of a bitch is just a fucking horndog. What did he do?"
"He-he tried to m-make m-me s-suck…" Simon didn't finish, because Jon backhanded him and he fell. He didn't make a sound but he felt blood in his mouth.
"And you did, didn't you?" Jon yelled, kicking Simon. "Like the little slut you are, you sucked his dick. And you kissed me! With…" he growled and picked Simon up by the collar and threw him against the wall.
"No!, I swear I didn't!" Simon shouted. He knew it was pointless. Jon never listened when he got like this. He doubled over when Jon punched him in the stomach.
"I'll show you what happens to sluts who try to cheat on me." Jon said, dragging Simon to their bedroom. "I bet you thought he could save you, right? Huh? When will you learn that you are mine. Worthless as you are, you belong to me. Who wants a fucking loser like you? Nobody. Except me. After all I have done for you, and you do this to me!"
Simon was thrown on the bed and Jon straddled his hips. He was slapped a few times till he saw stars. Then he felt Jon pull his shirt off and was struggling with his shorts. Simon froze and started struggling.
Big mistake.
Jon wrapped a hand around his throat and squeezed. He squeezed until Simon started seeing black spots before his eyes. He vaguely felt the hand leave his throat and then Jon flipped him until he was on his stomach. He felt Jon push down his sweatpants and then there was a painful pressure in his ass.
Simon screamed into the pillow as Jon pushed into him harshly.
He was sobbing when Jon groaned behind him and collapsed on top of his body. He flinched when Jon stroked his hair gently.
"I'm sorry." Jon said. "Why do you make me so angry? Why do you make me hurt you? Do you think I like hurting you?"
Simon whimpered but didn't say anything. His eyes were closed and he was struggling to breathe. Jon sighed and stood up. "I'm going to take a shower." Then he was gone.
Simon lay on the bed, his body aching and shaking from his sobs.
He wanted to die.
But if he died now, Zeke wouldn't know what happened and he would be really sad.
Zeke.
He was the only good thing about his pitiful existence.
He needed to talk to Zeke.
Wincing he got off the bed and automatically pulled the sheets off the bed. Then he made his way to the guest bathroom.
Standing in the shower, he turned it on and made it as hot as he could stand. Then he started to cry again.
***
"Hey Zeke." Simon sounded dull.
"What's wrong?" Zeke asked immediately. Simon sounded off.
"Can we not talk about it, please?" Simon's voice cracked. "Tell me, tell me about Diane. I have never had a best friend before."
"Hey, I can be your best friend." Zeke said, softly. He sat on the floor of his bedroom and leaned against the wall.
"You are my only friend." Simon said.
"Now I'm your best friend." Zeke said, forcing his tone to sound cheerful. "What's your favorite shape?"
"What?" Simon asked.
"I was going to design your cake." Zeke said. "Do you like shapes or superheroes or princesses?"
Simon choked out a laugh. "Is it 'cos I'm gay that you think I'll like princesses?"
"Do you?" Zeke asked.
"Who doesn't like princesses?" Simon said, trying to be stern.
"What will it be?" Zeke asked. "I can make anything. Except ducks. I hate ducks."
"I feel like there's a story there."
"Well…" Zeke blushed. "I just don't like them. Beady eyed motherfuckers." He shuddered.
"Oh my God." Simon squealed, laughing. "Are you scared of the duckies?"
"No." Zeke scowled. But Simon was laughing, so that was progress. "I hate them. There's a difference."
"But they are so cute." Simon said.
"Never say that again." Zeke said in faux annoyance. "They are evil and should be destroyed."
Simon giggled. "I thought you were a big tough guy."
"You wanna see my muscles?" Zeke joked. "I'm as big and tough as it gets."
"Uh huh." Simon was chuckling. Then. "I like Star Wars."
"What?"
"For the cake. I like Star Wars." Simon said.
"For real?" Zeke grinned. "Dude, I'm going to blow your mind! You're going to love me."
Simon muttered something that Zeke didn't catch. "What did you say?" Zeke asked.
"Nothing." Simon said, quickly. "Thank you." His voice was soft and sad again.
"Hey, I promised. No need to thank me." Zeke said. "What are friends for?"
To his horror, Simon started to cry over the phone, huge sobs and gasps filled Zeke's ear and he found himself blinking. He hated feeling helpless.
"I-I'm s-sorry." Simon sobbed. "I'm just s-so t-tired. My body hurts and his friend is coming over and I just want it to be over."
"What are you saying?" Zeke asked, his hand tightening on the phone.
"I-I w-want it to be over." Simon said, brokenly. "I'm so tired."
"Simon, listen to me." Zeke said, sharply. "Don't do anything stupid. I promise I'll be here for you. Just don't-don't do anything."
"Why?" Simon sounded resigned. "Nobody's going to miss me. I'm just a worthless loser that nobody wants."
"I'll miss you." Zeke said softly. "I'll miss you. Don't forget that."
"Y-You will?" Zeke's heart broke at the hopeless tone of Simon's voice.
"I swear I will." Zeke said. "And if you are gone, I'll have to eat the whole Death Star chocolate cake by myself. No one wants to see that."
Simon laughed softly. "OK." They were silent for a while. "Zeke?" Simon said after a while.
"Yeah?"
"Did you mean it when you said you would come and get me?" he sighed shakily. "If I need to get away?"
"Of course I meant it." Zeke said, sitting straight up.
"OK." Simon sighed. "I need to get away from here. I need to leave him."