7. Dagon
Chapter seven
Dagon
Past
Icouldn’t believe I missed welcoming our newest family member because of a stupid school camp.
When I signed up for it, I didn’t know it would be the same day he arrived.
I tried to refuse to go, but Father would have none of it.
I never hated being behind in high school compared to others, but now I did.
King picked me up from school, but it was already late, and everyone was asleep. All I knew about our new brother were the updates Andras had given me. I couldn’t wait to meet him. To everyone else, I was the moody one in the family. The truth was that I was just more reserved.
I knew people looked strangely at our family and didn’t understand it.
Luckily, all I had to say to that was – fuck them.
We may not be blood-related, but the moment King came into our lives and we stepped into this house, we became family.
It took me a long time to realize it, but I did.
And now I had one more brother. I smiled at the thought.
My curiosity was killing me. I tossed and turned in bed for hours but couldn’t fall asleep for some reason.
Whatever. I got up, pulled on some trousers, didn’t even bother with a shirt, and headed downstairs.
Maybe I’d drink some coffee and play a few games?
Yep, it sounded better than this torture in bed.
When I was near the kitchen, I heard noise and rustling. I faltered when I reached the door and saw a guy trying to turn off the stove. I rubbed my chest because I felt something for a split second. Strange.
This must be Diablos. I smirked at his name and its meaning. I believed we would get along.
He was pouring hot water into his cup when I stepped out of the shadows and said, “Hi.”
He startled and spilled water all over the counter. “Shit!”
“Hey, hey, careful.” I ran to him and moved him aside. Steam came out of the spilled water, and it had to be scorching hot. “Are you okay?”
When I didn’t get an answer, I worried he had burned himself. I gave him a quick once-over, head to toe. He seemed fine, but I wanted to be sure.
“Hi back,” he said.
“What?”
“You said hi. I’m saying, hi back.” It took my brain a few seconds to understand before I started laughing, and he joined me.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” he added when he saw I was still a bit worried.
“I’m Dagon, by the way,” I said, reaching out to him. He stared at my hand with furrowed brows, and I was about to pull it away when he grabbed it.
“I’m Di. Nice to meet you.”
“Welcome to the family.”
With a shy smile, he said, “Thank you.”
“What are you doing up so late anyway?”
“Um, couldn’t sleep.”
“Yeah, I get it: a new place, a new life, new people. You’ll feel at home soon. Give yourself some time.”
He nodded and started cleaning the mess, but I stopped him, “Go sit down. I’ll take care of this.”
“No, I-”
“Leave your big bro to take care of it, Di.”
His eyes widened a bit, but he did as I said. I was sure everything felt strange and uncomfortable to him. For all of us, it felt that way when we first came here. Even for Bren and Luc, I imagined it had been the same.
However, I meant what I said earlier. I didn’t believe I’d feel part of this family when I joined it.
I didn’t think I’d look at King as my father or at the boys as my brothers.
But years later, here I was. The Hughes were my family, and Di was part of our family now.
I didn’t need to get to know him better to feel it.
Diablos was already my brother the moment our father sat us down and told us we’d have one more family member.
“So, what would you say about some late-night talking?” I smiled over at him as I asked.
He hesitated, his brows furrowed, and I wondered what he thought and felt. When I was sure he would refuse, he surprised me by saying, “Sure, let’s do this.”
We spent the next several hours talking, eating snacks, and playing games.
I learned Di liked reading books, though he didn’t say what kind.
We were a year and a half apart, and since I was a year behind in high school, we’d graduate together.
I was also pretty sure he was bored out of his mind after listening me talk about history. I enjoyed it more than anything.
Usually, I was only this talkative with Andras. There was something about Di that made me feel… I wasn’t sure how to describe it. Right? Right sounded strange, but it was the first word that came to my mind. Anyway, I called it a night when I saw he barely held his eyes open.
Before heading to bed, he said, “Thanks for today, Dagon.”
“No need, little brother.”
***
Six months later
It was 11 p.m., and I was waiting for Di to show up in the kitchen.
Our late-night talks had turned into a tradition.
Every Friday night, we met here, drank tea, and talked about random things.
Last time, I listened to him complain for an hour about our chemistry teacher.
That witch wasn’t someone I even wanted to think about.
Andras had joined us a couple of times as well, but he was more of the silent type. So, he would just listen or played on the PlayStation while we talked.
I’d already made the tea and was eating a chocolate brownie when Di arrived. He looked more at ease now, like he was finally settling in.
“You started without me?” he asked, in mock accusation.
“I was hungry!” I raised my hands in an innocent gesture like a kid caught red-handed.
“Are you excited about tomorrow?”
“Hell, yes!” I grinned. Tomorrow was one of the most important history competitions at our school. It was going to be an open debate. I was more excited than nervous. My brothers were coming to watch me. “I can’t wait. Honestly? It's going to be the most momentous competition.”
Di chuckled, shaking his head.
“What?” I asked.
He pressed his lips together, trying to hold it in. When I cocked an eyebrow, he gave in.
“It was just funny how you used the word momentous.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing with him.
For a bookworm and a history nerd, we got along well. Then I sensed him tense slightly and look away. An uncomfortable feeling clenched in my gut.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing! I mean, I’m cool, everything is fine,” he fired the words too fast, like Bren always did when he was lying. He wasn’t fooling me. I knew all my brothers tells and I'd picked up Di’s in the last few months.
“You know you can talk with me about everything. I’m your big brother.”
“You’re only a year older.”
“A year and a half.” When he didn’t reply, I added, “If you don't want to talk to me, you can always speak with one of the others or with our father.”
He stayed silent, and I didn’t push. Sometimes, forcing someone to speak will only pushes them farther away from you. I knew this from experience.
“Do you want to play some games in the living room?”
“Yeah, sure.”
We sat on the couch, and I loaded up his favorite racing game. It wasn't my first choice, but it was fun. Usually Di was way more competitive, but tonight he was making careless mistakes, which meant I won every time without trying.
“Wanna hear something absurd?” I asked.
“Did Bren do something again?” He smiled, barely, but I took that as a win.
“You know it! He tried to prank Wild yesterday, put a raw egg in his orange juice, and extra-hot pepper on his mashed eggs. I’m talking volcanic.”
“What happened then? I can imagine Wild’s reaction,” he started chuckling, but the best part hadn’t even begun.
“That’s the thing. Wild didn’t sit in his usual place.
King did. When he tasted the mashed eggs, he choked, started coughing, and reached for the orange juice.
Bren tried to scream a warning, but it was too late.
King drank it and spilled everything across the table.
And it was a sight to be seen – there was even an additional surprise waiting for King. "
“What?” Di asked.
“Glue on his chair.” Di was laughing now, holding his stomach as tears streamed down his face. “You can imagine King’s reaction after that.”
“Bren is such a troublemaker!”
“Yeah, but we love him for the way he is.”
Di threw a strange look at me, and I asked. “What?”
“Um, nothing. I mean, you’re always a bit reserved with everyone. Hearing you say that... it’s nice.”
“I’m reserved, yes. It doesn’t mean I don’t love my brothers. That includes you, in case you were wondering.”
I was trying to figure out what made Di different from the others. I felt comfortable around him, more than usual. Maybe it was how he listened. Maybe it was just that he saw me. Or maybe it was all just him.
“I guess that’s your way,” he said.
“Yeah, I guess.”
We fell silent again. But this time, it was nothing like the usual comfortable quiet between us. Something heavy sat in the air, and I hated that I couldn't name it. After a couple of minutes, I decided to call it a night.
“Wanna call it a night?”
Di stiffened before nodding and getting up. I didn’t miss the way he flinched and pressed a hand to his stomach. Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist and stopped him. I didn’t let him pull away as I lifted his sweater up. Right there on the left side of his ribs was a purple bruise.
“What the fuck!?” I said, my voice coming out too loud.
I saw red. Who the fuck hurt him? Di pulled away and lowered his sweater. He wouldn’t look at me. Just stared at the floor like he wanted to disappear.
“I’m fine.”
“You call this fine? Who did this?”
Who did I need to beat the crap out of for touching my brother?
I had been here before, once with Luc and once with Bren.
The ones who had raised their hands on them…
well, let's just say they would forever remember me every time they closed their eyes.
Not even changing schools would help those bullies forget.
“I’m asking again, and I want an answer. Who. Did. This?”
“Just leave it, okay? I handled it.”
“You’re not alone. You don’t need to handle it by yourself.”
His green eyes bore into mine. I didn't know what he saw there, but he sighed and sank back onto the couch. Burying his face in his hands, he started speaking. "His nickname is Av. I don't know his full name. He's not bullying me or anything like that. It was just a one-time thing."
“What happened?” I’d heard of the guy, and I knew who he was.
"He was mocking a gay kid, and I stepped in. I got the beating for it. Then one of his buddies recognized me and said that I was a Hughes. Av freaked out, apologized, and ran off."
I will fucking kill this guy. No one is touching my family.
“I’ll take care of it.”
Di only nodded. I ruffled his hair and pulled him into a hug. It was a bit awkward, but I tried to offer some support. I wasn’t very good at this. He clung back for a second, then let go.
“Thanks, but I’m fine. He won’t bother me again.”
He won't. I'd make sure of it. No one hurt my brothers and walked away the same. No one ever continued to live a normal life after laying a hand on one of them. Diablos was my family. I protected what was mine. Always.