sakurada yana

[PREVIEW] MWR up!

Guess who's back? Back again? 

[PREVIEW] MWR nsfw illustration up!

When you forgot to upload the preview after upping the nsfw illustration XD

[PREVIEW] MWR illustration and postcard up!

Happy belated birthday, Punk!! XD

[MOBILE WALLPAPER] MWR: Sleeping Buddies

With our Nerd x Punk plushies pairing finally a reality, do you have your own sleeping buddies? XD I have a pig plushy XD

This will also be this month's stickers!

[PREVIEW] MWR backstory up!

Who remember this scene in Ash's silent arc throughout the season 1 of MWR?

[PREVIEW] MWR up!

Nerd be titty grabbing XD

[TIER 2] MWR: A Family

When Punk finally feels like he belong somewhere, to someone <3

[PREVIEW] MWR up!

Not in the dorm anymore XD

[TIER 2] MWR: Stigma

When people use position like top and bottom to define the person themselves.. It's hard cause they will be people who will stereotype a gay/lesbian person's personality based on their 'position' in the relationship >.<

[PREVIEW] MWR canon smut up!

This time featuring the kinky couple XD

[TIER 10] MWR: Gagged and F***ed

This is probably the first time we hear Bane's thought when he had sex except for those times when he's giving Ash comfort sex :) Guess who's a kinky bastard too? XD Lmao poor dude is also pented up XD

[MERCH] 5 MORE DAYS!

Don't forget there's only 5 more days to buy Nerd plush! We're only at 165 now and we need 200 for him to get the GREEN LIGHT! The biggest way you can support our lil Best Boy is to help him come to life in plushie form! If you're able, please support him! <3 <3 <3 You can buy him here!! 

[PREVIEW] MWR NSFW illustration up!

Featuring our fav wildcat Ash <3

[TIER 7] MWR: Ash's Cream-pie

When you draw le white fluid and it just got messy XD XD XD back in the day when Ash was a wild cat >.<

[TIER 3] [TIER 15] MWR: Summer Vibes

When you see a happy couple being happy~~~ Make you happy too~~~ Stay dehydrated this summer! This will be this month's postcard! Hope you'll like it! ^^

[PREVIEW] MWR up!

Who miss this couple? <3

[TIER 2] MWR: Taboo

What do you all think Nerd really thinks? XD

[TIER 10] IATL: Chapter 20

Warning for violence and drug use.

---

Chase keeps his head down as he helps Gabriel limp towards the exits. He sneaks a few glances every now and then, his heart jumping into his throat every time he thinks he glimpses a familiar face. He's having mixed feelings about this. One part of him hopes that someone's going to stop him while the other heaves a sigh of relief everytime a nurse or doctor looks away. Every step closer to the entrance is like a stab to the gut. With each step, his mind is screaming. Coward. Traitor. You're just like Lucas.

It's so easy to give up the charade. All Chase has to do is attract attention to Gabriel and himself and the jig is up. Gabriel would be whisked away to safety, and there's nothing he can do about it. But as much as he would like to grab the passing nurse, demanding her to see them, to see what he's doing, he doesn't. The thoughts of Sam keep him going, keep his feet moving. He's a coward. Simple as that. He doesn't have the strength to do the right thing.

In what seems like no time at all, they have reached the entrance and are slipping out the rotating doors. Last chance, Chase. Do the right thing. It's now or never. But he stays silent as he helps Gabriel outside. The sun beats down on their neck. Chase tightens his grip as Gabriel moves to step forward. He stops moving, closing his eyes. He can't do this. He can't let Gabriel do this. Trembling on the spot, he feels Gabriel stills beside him. He doesn't dare to look up.

"Chase? It's okay. We're doing this together." Gabriel closes a hand around his grip on his arms. He feels warm and solid. A comforting touch. For some reasons, that just makes him feel more awful. Tears leak out onto his cheek. A smooth thumb rubs over the tears, cupping his face. Chase opens his eyes. Piercing blue the color of the sky stared back at him. "It's going to be okay."

Chase wishes he could believe him. He wishes for that to be true. But he knows better. He had seen what Gordon and his men had done to Gabriel, and he's not naive enough to think they might get away unscathed. If he's going to be doomed, why drag Gabriel into this? For Sam, a voice at the back of his head reminds him. His shoulders slumps and the hopelessness is back. He'll do whatever it takes to save Sam but why does it have to be like this? Why does he have to choose? Chase doesn't want to choose.

"It's not fair," he croaks after being silent for a while. "Why does it have to be you or Sam? Why can't it just be me? If it were just me, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"Chase, please. I've told you before, and I'm telling you again. Why don't you understand that I don't want to see you hurt too? I care about you," Gabriel implores, rubbing a thumb against Chase's freckled cheek. "I used to do things people asked of me because I wanted their approval. Their love. But I see now that it's not like that. When people love you, they don't ask things of you. Instead, you do things for them because you want to. And Chase, trust me when I say, this is something I want to do. Not for you. Not for Sam. But for me. Because I love you and I care what happens to you. Do you understand?"

Chase stares up into those earnest blue eyes, so serious and intense, staring deep into his very soul. This 17 years old who had been hurt in so many ways but rises above it all to be this kind and sincere person. There's an underlying ferocity simmering beneath his fragile surface and for a moment, it's like Chase's staring into the face on an angel. Not the cherubs, baby in diapers kind or those gentle saintly ones in the church but the wrathful warrior of Gods depicted in books. The one holding swords and spears with their wings flare out behind them. There's a righteous fury blazing in Gabriel's eyes, but there's also something gentle there. A conviction. An unconditional love.

Chase wraps a hand at the back of Gabriel's neck and pulls him into a kiss. Their teeth clack and they kiss with the desperation of married men going to war, saying farewell to their family. But for them at least, instead of parting, they're going to war together. And maybe, just maybe they'll be able to survive this if they stick together, have each other's back and take strength from one another. It may just be enough to keep their hopes up and the candle lit. The metaphorical light at the end of the tunnel.

"I understand," he whispers into Gabriel's mouth, feeling the other teen's lips curl into a smile.

The van they had used to drive to the hospital is as Sam described. White with black tinted windows. It's a pretty nondescript van. Normal. Invisible. The trip to the car park was short. The van looms in the distance, looking more and more foreboding as they approach. Chase tenses, his heart thumping like a jackrabbit. Despite Gabriel's reassurance before, Chase can't help but try one more time. "Gabe-"

Gabriel must have sensed his apprehension because he stops and interrupts him before Chase can finish his sentence. "Chase, if Gordon wants me, there's nothing that will stop him from getting his hands on me. At least I don't think so. The reason he wants you to do this is to mess with your head. He's a sick man, Chase. Don't let him get to you. At least now we're going into this with our eyes wide open."

When he doesn't reply, Gabriel continues in a soft voice. "I'm not going to pretend that I'm not scared. Because I am. It's taking all of my will power just to keep walking." Chase looks up at Gabriel. His eyes are zeroed in on the white van in the distance, and Chase can see the fear in them, bright as day. "I don't know what he has got planned for me or what he's going to do to me. But I'm trying my best not to think too hard about it. Because if I do, I'm afraid I'll lose my nerve," Gabriel's voice breaks and Chase tightens his grip on Gabriel.

"Gabe..."

"Don't try to talk me out of this, Chase. I'm already struggling as it is. So let's just please do this?" Gabriel takes a step forward, but Chase moves in front of him, blocking his path. He places his hands on Gabriel's shoulders right where they meet his neck and stares at him right in the eyes.

"Gabe, you don't have to do this. It's not too late. We can turn around. You can call the cops. Tell them what happened. I'm sure they can help. I mean, it's their job, right?" His voice shakes as he says that. They can do that, but he knows Gordon left two men with Sam. And if they don't hear back from Gordon as planned, they're going to sell Sam to a pedophile ring. Gordon had said that Sam will be lost within hours and that the system will eat him up and chew him alive, he'll wish he's dead. And Chase can forget about ever seeing him again. The blood drains from his face as cold sweat drenches his body.

"You're not coming with me, are you?"

Chase averts his eyes, his jaws clenching. If that's what Gabriel chooses to do, Chase will let him. But he's going back. He's not going to leave Sam. Gordon can sell the both of them for all he cares. Chase doesn't give a shit anymore. Gabriel shrugs out of his grip. Chase's heart sinks as he stares up at his face. Gabriel isn't looking at him. Chase takes a step back. Good. This is what he wanted, isn't it? He finally made Gabriel see sense. So why does his heart feel like it's about to die?

Chase half expects Gabriel to turn around and storms off but he doesn't. Instead, he brushes past Chase, one hand holding his side as he limps towards the white van. Chase watches him go in shock. There's an undeterred look of determination on his face. Chase is struck again by how much Gabriel looks like an avenging angel right now. With broken wings but still so damn powerful. Tears prick his eyes and before he knows it, Chase rushes forward and wraps an arm around Gabriel again, helping him walk. They don't speak the rest of the way.

When they're a few feet away from the van, the door slides open, and two men jump out. Chase hasn't seen them before but something about them feels familiar. The only people he'd seen so far is Gordon and for a brief second the two men that came in to guard Sam while Gordon dragged him to the van. One of them has slick black hair, tied into a ponytail. He looks like a rockstar wannabe. The other is more thug-like with a well-toned body and tattoo sleeves covering up both arms. Tattoo guy heads straight for Gabriel.

"Miss me sweetheart?" he coos, his horse like face breaking into an ugly sneer. He twists Gabriel's arm behind his back and leans down close beside his ear. With a jolt, Chase realizes where he'd seen these men before. They were the same men in the video. Chase's vision streaks red. He moves to grab the man's shoulder, ready to turn him around and break his jaw when someone grabs him from behind. Oblivious, Tattoo guy continues to manhandle Gabriel, sniffing his hair before biting down hard on the bandage covering one side of his neck. Gabriel whimpers.

"Get your fucking hands off him!" Chase shouts, struggling against Ponytail's grip. He stomps on the man's foot, hears him yowls and in his weakened state, Chase turns around and lands a vicious right hook across his jaw. Ponytail collapses to the ground. Chase pounces on Tattoo guy, holding him in a chokehold. He lets go of Gabriel, trying to fend Chase off, fingernails biting into his arms but it's futile. Chase knows what he's doing. In less than a second, he's out cold. Chase drops him to the ground when he hears Ponytail approach him from behind. He dodges out of the way and turns around just enough to land a swift kick right where his knee joins his lower leg. The man yowls in agony and crumbles to the asphalt. Chase's about to stomp on his leg again to finish the job when a hand lands on his chest, stopping him.

"No, Chase! Stop!" Chase looks up. Gabriel is pale and shaking, his terrified eyes staring at something behind him. Chase glances back. Gordon is standing a foot from him, gun out and cocked. He pokes the nuzzle into Chase's side.

"Hold your horses there, Rambo," Gordon breathes in his ear. Chase raises his hands, panting slightly. "Get the fuck up, Leo. And get in the van. Grab Spike with you too, will you?" Gordon hisses.

Ponytail, or Leo moans as he stands, favoring his right leg. He pulls Spike up by the arm and ungraciously slings it around his neck, supporting the full weight of the man. He hobbles past Chase, pausing to growls, "This is not over," before shoving Spike into the passenger seat. The muzzle of the gun presses painfully at his side as Gordon nudges him towards the van. Once Chase is inside, Gabriel stumbles in, hissing as he falls onto his side. Chase helps him into a sitting position as Gordon climbs in, gun still trained on them.

The door slides shut, and the lock clicks. There's no seats inside, just an empty space covered with a patch of carpeting. Gordon shuffles all the way to the back of the van, into the shadows. Unwilling to give Gordon any more ammunition against them, he reluctantly let Gabriel go. They sit side by side, cross-legged, their knees brushing.

The inside of the van is dark. Whatever sunlight that manages to stream through the tinted window is weak. Plus, there aren't many windows at the back to begin with. Just enough to see the dark shape that is Gordon at the back if they squint. The van roars to life and starts moving, lurching them forward a little. Gabriel's breath hitches. Chase glances to his side. Gabriel has his head bowed, eyes closed and face screwed up in pain, his body locked. Chase brushes a finger over his knee. Gabriel looks up, face pale but nods slightly.

As the van moves, so does the sunbeam from the window, dancing around in the interior of the van. Chase keeps his eyes trained at Gordon, or his shadow. The man hasn't spoken a word since the van started moving. They turn a corner, and the beam that was shining on them slides all the way to the back. Gordon smiles, sitting nonchalantly with his arms on his knees, the gun hanging from his hand in between his spread legs. The smiles grow wider and wider until a soft laugh escapes the man. A sound that seems to come out the nose rather than the mouth. He looks amused, white teeth gleaming.

"You look good, angel," Gordon drawls. "Or should I say, Gabriel?" He glances over at Chase, giving him a please look. "Good work, Chase. Thank you. Though that little stunt you pulled back there? Not smart. You won't like them when they're mad. Actually, scratch that. They're just animals, the bunch of them. Just ask your friend over there. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you already watched his porn debut."

"You can fuck the hell off," Chase snarls.

"You've got balls, I'll give you that. But when we break you, and we will- we'll wipe that cocky attitude of yours for good," Gordon growls. Gabriel tensed up beside him, hands forming into fists. Sensing his anger, Chase is quick to change track.

"Where's Sam? You promised that if I do this, you'll let Sam go. See to it that you keep your end of the deal."

Gordon's sneer turns malicious. "I didn't say anything about letting little Sammie go. I said I wouldn't hurt him if you brought me Gabriel." It's Chase's turn to get angry. The day's frustration and agitation about to reach its bursting point. Chase takes a deep breath. He knew this was going to happen, but it doesn't make it sting any less. "And since you did what you're told, I'll call ahead and tell them to hold off the cocaine."

Gordon flips out his mobile phone and starts dialing. Chase sits frozen to the spot. What? What the fuck is Gordon talking about? Cocaine? "Hey Harper, yeah. Change of mind. Yes, no. We save the cocaine for later." Chase snaps out of his shock.

"You're feeding my brother cocaine?!" he yells, launching at Gordon. Two hands come up to pull him back by his t-shirt. "He's 6, you fucking pyscho!!" Unadulterated fury and genuine fear flow through Chase's veins. What kind of a sick fuck gives a six-year-old cocaine? He tears himself loose from Gabriel's grip, flying at Gordon. Rage blinds him. He wants to hurt the man sitting across from him as much as he can. He tackles Gordon onto his back and the both of them topple over with Chase on top. He scrambles up, whipping a hand back and-

"Chase!" He hears Gabriel screams as he feels the blunt head of a gun poking his stomach. He falters, fist still raised mid-air, ready to strike. "Chase, please. Think about Sam," Gabriel begs from somewhere behind him, his voice shaky. Chase's whole body shakes with the effort not to slam his fist down into the smug face. He's breathing hard, his nose flaring. Gordon presses the gun harder into his ribs, his eyes challenging. Letting out a harsh breath, Chase lets his hand fall and pushes off Gordon. He falls back onto his butt. Gabriel's arms are around him in an instance, pulling him back.

"You're a fucking psycho, you know that?" Chase spits, voice low and hard.

"Relax, Sammie is untouched. I promised, didn't I?" He picks up his mobile phone that had scattered across the van and stuff it into his pocket. "I thought you chicken out on me. You took a long time. I got bored. Thought I get Sammie all soft and pliant for me when I get back." Chase growls. "But that's not necessary now, not when I have blue eyes over there." He flicks his gun at Gabriel. "Little Sammie is too young for my taste anyway," he adds as an afterthought. There's a hungry look in his eyes as he roams Gabriel's body. "I missed you, angel. You cried and begged so pretty for me. It makes me hard just thinking about it." He slides closer, pulling down Gabriel's collar. "You look so pretty with my marks all over you," he breathes, eyes hooded with lust.

Gabriel stiffens beside him. He doesn't look at Gordon. His eyes stare straight ahead, expression blank. There's a light tremble shaking his frame. Chase hooks his little finger around Gabriel's pinky, squeezing lightly. Gabriel blinks, and he looks down at their intertwined fingers. Unfortunately, Gordon notices and calls him out on it.

"Awww, that's so sweet, Chase. But save the act for someplace else because let's be honest here. If you really cared about Gabriel, he wouldn't be here. Right. Back. With. Me." He whispers each word in Gabriel's ear before licking his cheek. Leaning back, he continues, "So tell me, Chase. What kind of person does that make you? Hmm?" Gordon taunts. "Admit it. You're a monster. Just like us. Maybe even more."

Every word Gordon throws at him is like a punch in the gut. Every word rings true. He served Gabriel up to them on a silver platter. Gordon is right. He is worse. Gabriel is a stranger to them, but Chase had said he loves him. And what did he do? Chase gave him up at the first sign of trouble. He's a good for nothing- Gabriel places a hand on his thigh. Chase stares down at it. He gives Chase a soft squeeze. His face feels hot. Chase closes his eyes, stopping the tears from coming.

Even now, Gabriel is the stronger one, giving him comfort and strength. Gabriel wouldn't want him to blame himself. Chase has to be strong. He has to keep reminding himself that Gabriel chose this. He's doing this because he loves Chase. And he must never let himself forget that. Chase remains quiet as he tries not to let Gordon's words get to him. When he deems it's safe to open his eyes, Chase plasters a smile on his face.

"Says the drug addict who likes raping young boys," he shoots back.

Gordon laughs. "Touche. There's just something about pretty boys that gets me all worked up, you know. Girls work too, but they're just not as much fun as boys. They break too easily; quick to cry and beg. They're weak. It doesn't give me anything to make a girl cry. I don't gain any satisfaction from it. But when a boy does it, when they finally break," Gordon closes his eyes and smiles, like he's remembering something sweet and precious. "The humiliation on their face as they shed their first tear-" Gordon opened his eyes. "It's beautiful."

"It makes me hard, knowing I'm the one to break them. Watch as the fight goes out of their body. The feeling is all-encompassing, powerful. Their cries of agony like music to my ears and when they beg..." Gordon opens his eyes, shining with undisguised pleasure. "They all eventually beg. Begged for me to stop. Begged for me to show mercy. Or," He looks at Gabriel. "Begged to die."

Chase stops breathing. He doesn't dare to look at Gabriel, afraid to see the truth of Gordon's words on his face. But he needs to know. He flicks his eyes over to the teen beside him. Gabriel is not looking at anything but the carpet in front of him, his head bowed in defeat. His heart feels like someone with sharp claws grip it tight, the nails digging into the flesh. It hurts, knowing that Gabriel wanted to die. That he couldn't think of anything to fight for, to stay alive. It hurts. "Gabe?"

Gabriel turns tear filled eyes on him. "I was in so much pain, Chase. And it feels like it will never end. I just wanted the pain to stop," he whispers.

Chase pulls him close and kisses his forehead, guilt making it hard for him to breathe. Gabriel chose death when faced with the brutality these men unleashed on him. And Chase brought him back. Gabriel leans heavily on him, arms coming up around his waist, hugging him back tight. Chase doesn't deserve this. Doesn't deserve to have Gabriel's trust or his touches.

"See what I mean? They break so beautifully. Oh, Gabriel. I'm going to have so much fun with you."

Gabriel just clings onto Chase tighter, silent. It's too late now. Guilt doesn't do shit. There's only one way to make this right. Or at least, tilt the scale a little. Chase glowers at Gordon over Gabriel's head. "I would like to see you try breaking me," he challenges.

Gabriel freezes against him before pulling away, looking up at Chase with anger in his eyes. In a low intimidating tone, so that only he could hear, Gabriel growls. "Chase, I know what you're doing. Don't." His sapphire blue eyes blaze with a ferocity Chase has never seen before. Warning. Threatening. He blinks, taken aback. Gabriel looks pissed, and Chase actually feels a little scared. It's like his eyes are burning a hole into his skull. He gulps.

"Oh, you will break, Chase. They all do."

Chase snaps his eyes back at Gordon. He can feel Gabriel slumps then, defeated. "We'll see about that," he taunts, surprised to find his voice steady even as his heart beats erratically against his ribcage. He prays to God that Lucas will find them soon, and fast. To be honest, he can't believe he's putting his hopes on the man who had done nothing but made his life a living nightmare. How fucked up is his life?

The van slows to a stop. Gordon smiles, pointing the gun at Chase as he motions for him to open the door. "Ballsy boy go first. Angel goes second." Chase pulls open the sliding door and steps out, reaching behind him to help Gabriel out. Gabriel's movement is stiff and he looks to be in pain. The trip from the hospital in the van wasn't a smooth ride. There were bumps along the way and they must have jarred Gabriel's wounds a little. He seems exhausted in the bright daylight. He has his eyes closed and is breathing evenly.

Gordon steps out next, gun still aiming at them. The door to the driver side opens and Leo jumps out. He doesn't look happy at all, glaring dagger at Chase with his dark brown eyes. A bruise is starting to form around his left jaw. He massages it, narrowing his eyes threateningly at Chase. "You're in for a world of pain, boy. That's a promise."

"Yeah yeah. Is Spike awake yet?"

"Motherfucker is going to get it!" A voice yells from the front of the van.

Gordon barks out a laugh. "It's your own damn fault, Spike! Wait 'til the rest hear about this," he mocks. A string of curses follows Gordon's comment. Snorting, Gordon motions for Leo to move. The man cracks his knuckles and gives Chase another stink eye before walking off. Chase glares at him, reveling in the savage pleasure he feels at seeing the slight limp in his gait.

Spike rounds the back of the van, glaring at Gordon as he starts laughing again. "Shut up," he grumbles. "And you," he snaps, pointing at Chase. "You're going to wish you hadn't done that," he snarls, stepping into his space, leaning in so that their faces are almost touching.

"I don't kiss unless you buy me dinner first," Chase smirks.

"Motherfucker-" Spike raises his hand.

"Enough! We have more than enough time to play with this bitch. Calm the fuck down, Spike. Now move the fuck on!" Gordon bellows. Spike grits his teeth before stalking off after Leo. "I like you, Chase. You got balls. But if you keep taunting my men like this, I doubt you will have them for long."

Chase scoffs and just only avoiding rolling his eyes. Whatever. Let them come. Let them all come. At least then, their focus will be on him. Gabriel and Sam would be safe. He just needs to buy some more time until Lucas comes. At least, Chase hopes he will. That's his plan anyway.

Gabriel doesn't look too happy as he considers the situation. Gordon motions for them to move, taking point behind them while Spike continues to storm ahead. Chase takes the opportunity to take a good look around. They look like they are in an abandoned building. It looks pretty isolated. He couldn't see any other building around for miles.

The inside of the building is old and dusty. There are cobwebs hanging from the doors and ceilings. He watches as Gabriel takes in everything, his eyes observant and contemplative. He'd already seen all this before when they had taken him to the van earlier. They walk for about ten minutes through a maze-like hallway before they reach where Leo is standing by an opened door. Chase suspects Spike took them on a scenic route so they won't be able to tell where they're held. Chase feels a flash of disappointment.

As they walk through the door, Leo whispers in Gabriel's ear. "Love the new limp, angel." Gabriel flinches but other than that remains stoic as he enters the room. When Chase passes by Leo, the man grabs him and shoves him inside, causing him to lose his balance and falls to his knees a few meters in front of him. He pushes himself up and whips around to give the man a bitch face that would make even Sam proud when he hears his name.

"Chase!" Then, "Is that you?"

When he turns around, sure enough he sees Sam illuminated underneath the harsh light of the spot ahead. "Sam!" He rushes towards Sam until he's kneeling in front of him. He runs a hand through Sam's damp hair, pushing it from his forehead so he could look at his brother properly. "Did they do anything to you? Are you hurt?" He scans his eyes over Sam's face, then over his body, examining for any tell-tale signs of abuse. Sam is shaking his head, his cheek red and flushed. "I got scared." Chase could tell he's holding back tears.

"Why were you scared?"

Sam shakes his small head, looking down. "Hey, I'm here, Sammie. It's alright. I'm here. I came back like I promised. I didn't leave you," he soothes perceiving what Sam doesn't say. He leans forwards and gives his little brother a kiss on the forehead. Gabriel limps forward.

"Hello, Sam."

Sam peeks his head out from Chase's embrace, surprised before his expression changes. "I'm sorry, Gabe," he says, all sad puppy dog eyes. "Chase had to. Because of me. Please don't blame him." Chase straightens up, running his fingers through Sam's hair. He doesn't dare to look back at Gabriel right now; he's afraid he would do something stupid like break down and cry for forgiveness or some shit. Now that he's with Sam again, the steely determination he'd built up, to force himself to do what Gordon had asked crumbles to pieces. Seeing Sam again, unharmed and alive, the full magnitude of what he'd done to attain it crashes down on him.

"Sam, I don't blame Chase. I don't blame you either," he says. "I care about you and if there's anything I can do to help, I will. Chase didn't force me to do anything. I'm here of my own free will."

"Sounds like someone can't get enough of us," says a voice behind them. "Coming back for seconds, angel? I'll be sure we don't disappoint."

Chase senses more than sees Gabriel stiffens up behind him. He gets up to his feet and meets Gabriel's eyes. They share a look, a silent communication. This is it. Promise not to do anything stupid.

Chase would have laughed if it wasn't also so heartbreaking. It's bittersweet. To think that at this moment of truth, they're both worried about the other person rather than themselves. He cracks a smile then turns around to face Gordon.

There's five men in the room. Gordon, Spike and Leo and two other men Chase doesn't know the name of yet. They both have dark shaggy blonde hair and the same chiseled jaws and sharp nose. Their eyes are squinty and small. One of them has a large tattoo of a number sequence on his forearm. Chase thinks they're brothers. Everyone is staring at them, stony face and anger from Spike and Leo and casual indifference from the Hardy Boys. The silence is broken by Gordon.

"Bon appétit," he smirks. He nods at Spike who gives Chase a wicked smile as he cracks his knuckles, heading towards him. Chase sees him coming and he's ready for it. He spreads legs shoulder width apart and steadies himself, holding his weight, eyes never leaving the man.

"You want a piece of this sweet ass? Come and get it, you son of a bitch!" he taunts.

Spike roars and launches. Chase is not small by any standards but he's still a teenager with a growing body and Spike is a full grown man with muscles and body fat so chances are, he will lose. But lucky for Chase, his dad had taught him a few moves and he could stand his own. He dodges as Spike's fist flies by his face by mere inches and punches him in the gut, taking advantage of his shock to register another kick to his kneecaps.

After that, it's open season. Someone grabs his arms from behind, holding them in an arm-lock. Chase throws his head backward, attempting to head butt whoever it is, feeling triumph as his head hits something hard and someone yells. His own head hurts like hell but yeah, it still feels good. The man's grip loosen but not enough for Chase to pull free. Next thing he knows, Leo's fist is right in his face. Oh, shit he thinks before Leo's fist connects with the side of his face. His head whips to the side, teeth clacking and blood flying. Chase spits, blood dripping from his mouth.

"Is that all you got?" he bites out. "Feels like an itch."

Leo roars, landing punch after punch onto his face and torso. Chase couldn't remember much after that. Just pain all over his body and head. He thinks he hears someone crying and screaming in the distance but it all blurs into a cacophony of sounds. The next thing he registers is that the punches and kicks have stopped. His head feels like they're about to split open and he can hardly see through his right eyes. Blood drips into his eyes from a cut just above his brow. Chase wonders how he'd gotten that. His face feels like a pulp; he can barely feel it anymore. Panting, he laughs, a rumble that makes his insides hurt. Leo might have broken a few ribs and his kidneys, yeah. Nope. Not good.

He can hear voices but has a hard time focusing on them. Someone lifts his head up by his hair. His eyes roll back into his head and Chase thought he's going to pass out when a sharp slap wakes him up. He blinks blood out of his eyes, tries to move and realizes he's now bound to a chair. Okay, so maybe he did pass out. Jesus fuck. Panicked, he looks for Sam, heart in his throat, fearing something might have happened to him while he was gone. He finds Sam immediately, by his side to his right. Chase breathes a sigh of relief. But it doesn't last long because Sam is staring at something in front of him with terrified eyes. Gabe.

Chase snaps his head around and freezes at the sight before him. Gordon is standing behind Gabriel with his gun out and stroking the side of his face. But instead of worrying about the gun that is now pressed against his throat where the bandage is, Gabriel seems more concerned about Chase. His brows are furrowed with worry and the look on his face is devastating. His fingers twitch at his side like they want to reach out and touch Chase.

"Now, Chase, why'd you have to go and do a thing like that? Now both Spike and Leo have a bad leg. And we do not tolerate that kind of behavior, do we boys?" Chase only now notices the rest of the men littering about, glaring daggers at Chase. Gordon trails the butt of the gun slowly down Gabriel's torso, skimming down his chest towards his stomach. He leans in low and whispers something in Gabriel's ear, soft enough that Chase's unable to hear what he said. Outwardly, it doesn't seem like Gabriel reacted at all but Chase is skilled enough in Gabe-talk to see the burst of fear in his eyes.

Gordon reaches the waistband of his jeans. Then, very deliberately he inserts it into the front of Gabriel's jeans, right where his crotch is. Gabriel's fingers twitch but other than that, he remains as still as a statue. Chase knows that Gabriel could feel the cold metal of the gun against the sensitive skin on his groin because they hadn't let him buy any underwear. Why would Gabriel need one when they're just going to take it off him anyway? Chase's eyes are glued on the bulge in Gabriel's jeans, his heart rate spiking. The unmistakable sound of a gun cocking echoes loudly in the silent room.

"Are you ready for your punishment, Chase? You better."

It's like every horror action movie Chase has seen when you just know something bad is going to happen and everything slows down. That's exactly what happens. The scene in front of him slows down. Chase can see the way Gordon's mouth twists up at the corner, an evil smile. See the disgustingly slow trail his tongue makes up Gabriel's neck. The deliberate movement of his mouth as he says, "Bang". Gabriel closes his eyes. Chase's heart stills. And then, a loud explosion shatters the stillness of the room.

Then, time seems to go back to normal. The ringing continues in the silence that follows. He stares, unable to process what he'd seen, his heart ready to explode from the shock and the subsequent realization. A dark stain begins to form at the front of Gabriel's jeans, drenching the fabric. He didn't realize his throat was stuck until it unstuck and he let out a scream. Anguish, pain, and despair rip out of his throat.

"GABE!

---

Today has been one disaster after another. First, they found out that Walker had been right under their noses the whole time. Then, they have just missed him at the hotel and at the same time discovered that Walker had Chase. And just to screw with him, he had the scare of his life thinking something had happened to Michael. Which luckily had turned out to be a false alarm.

That's the only saving grace for today because then Anna had called with more bad news. Sam is missing, and so is Chase. The part about Chase isn't surprising, but knowing that Gordon knows enough to take Sam as collateral jars him. To top off the already perfect day, the hospital had called to ask if he had taken Gabriel. Which he hadn't. And then they proceeded to double check with security and told him that yes, he did. Gabriel was seen leaving with Chase. By then, it was obvious what had happened.

He can't believe Walker now has three of his people. Gabriel included. How did this go so wrong? How did it go from Lucas hunting down Walker to Walker picking off his people one by one? He's so tired of being one step behind Walker the whole time, rushing to places just in time to see the aftermath. The motherfucker is spinning them in circles, probably laughing his ass off.

When Lucas had arrived at the hospital, he was greeted by a disheveled looking Zael. One look at him said it all. Zael possesses the ability to remain calm and collected in any situation. But even he is frazzled at the likes of Walker, his boldness and audacity like a fuck you to the face. If things don't stop escalating, he won't be able to keep this from the feds any longer. And he doesn't want that. He handed Lucas a note before storming off with a curt, "Clean up this goddamn mess, Lucas".

It's a note from Chase. In it, Chase had written about his side of the story, all of which Lucas was able to deduce based on the current evidence and circumstances. The only thing that peaks his interest is Chase's description of the place he thought they were being held at; an abandoned warehouse. That should narrow down the search. Chase also mentioned that Walker is not alone; he had seen two other guys at least excluding Walker. They'll have to sit down and dissect the video soon and figure out who they're dealing with.

Lucas stares at the map laid out in front of him on top of the small coffee table. To ensure that Walker will not be able to keep tabs on them, they are currently holed up in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, in the world's crappiest apartment ever. The place is more a hole in the wall than anything else and Lucas is offended on Michael's behalf. He's very much doubting the sincerity of said 'friend' who had recommended this place.

The wallpapers are peeling revealing a sick yellow color behind them. It's not like the wallpapers were any better, a pastel pink that has seen better days. The apartment has one room and that room is supposed to be their living room, bedroom, and kitchen all in one. Can it be any more economical? Lucky for them, they're still provided with the decency of a toilet slash bathroom. Though, upon further inspection, it's revealed that there's no hot water and the flush is temperamental; deciding when to work and when not to.

"Can't your 'friend' get a better place than this crap?" Lucas complains. "Like where the hell did he even find a dump like this? This place is a hell hole." He sniffs. "Even smells like one." He slumps back onto the two-person couch and abruptly straightens back up, not wanting to touch the filthy thing more than he had to. He gives the couch a stink eye; taking in the discolored patches staining the brown fabric. He doesn't ever want to know what those stains are or where it comes from and he's staying the fuck away from them. Scooting to the edge of the couch, he braces his hands on his knees and stares up at the unperturbed blue eyed man standing on the other side of the table.

"Well, according to you, Ramsay is working with Gordon. And according to my man, the only place Ramsay couldn't reach is a place no men or women want to go. Therefore," he motions towards the room at large. "I know it's a bit- gross but you and I had seen worse. We once camped out in the middle of the forest in the pouring rain. At least now we have a roof over our head and..." He glances towards the lonely mattress stuffed into the far corner of the room. "Bed," he tries, lifting one shoulder up. Lucas looks at the dismal piece of quite possibly disease ridden mattress with disgust.

"If you think I'll be sleeping in that godforsaken mattress, you have another thing coming, Michael."

Michael shrugs and mutters, "Suit yourself." He looks down at the upside down map in front of him and tilts his head, frowning. "Do you want me to have a go at it?" he asks, indicating the map. Lucas turns the map around and shoves it at Michael, happy to delegate this part of the job. The analytic, the calculation, the thinking. Ugh, he hates them with fervor. And he's not good at it.

He's more of an in-the-field kind of person. He's better at deducing and thinking on his feet than sitting behind the desk and trying to make sense of intel and data. He's no good at research, hates the tedious work it requires, hates all the little details he has to pay attention to. It's mind-numbing and he would rather not do it. Which is why they make such a good team. Michael analyzes and comes up with a conclusion that he would understand and Lucas strategizes and plans their next move. Seems like a fair trade-off.

"It will be my pleasure," he almost groaned, watching as Michael crouches down lower to take a better look at the map. This cursed room only has one seating arrangement and that is the couch Lucas is currently hogging. Michael's face screws up in concentration as he picks up the red sharpie Lucas had been playing with and starts circling a few areas on the map; the Lullaby Blues motel, the hospital, the truck stop, the high school, Sam's middle school and the group home.

Then, switching to the blue sharpie, he draws a dotted line from the high school to the motel and scribbles 15 mins on top of it. He draws another dotted line from the motel to Sam's school. Pausing, he swipes his mobile phone and clicks on the Google Maps app. He enters the two addresses and scribbles the estimated travel time by car onto the map above the line; 20 mins. He hovers the blue sharpie over the circle where the hospital is at, deliberating.

Michael ignores the hospital and moves over to Lullaby Blues Motel, scribbling 10:55 in the red circle there. Then, 15:00 on Sam's middle school before going to the hospital and jotting down 16:30. Going back to his mobile phone, he searches out all the abandoned warehouses in the areas, marking them on the map with the red sharpie. Apprehension dawns on Lucas. Michael is trying to create a timeline to calculate the possible distance Gordon could make if he were to visit all these places at each point of time. That would narrow down their area of interest and then all he has to do is cross references them with warehouses in that particular area.

Lucas is impressed. Damn, Michael is a genius! But then again, the whole calculation part is going to take some tedious detail work. Something Lucas doesn't want to be part of. So, he slaps his hands on both his thighs and exclaims. "Well, I see you've got everything under control. Why don't I go and get us some dinner? I'm starving. We hadn't even had lunch yet. Pizza or pasta?"

Michael is looking up at Lucas with an annoyed expression on his face. He hates it when he's interrupted in the middle of his 'thinking' process. "Whatever is fine with me. You decide," he says in a monotone, diving right back into deciphering the timeline.

Standing up, he stretches pulling his hands up taut above his head until he hears the satisfying sound of his back popping. He groans, letting his hands fall. When he looks down, his heart thumps a little bit faster. Michael is no longer looking at the map but somewhere at Lucas's stomach, his face unreadable. His gaze is steady, and there's something unidentifiable burning behind them. Feeling self-conscious all of a sudden, he clears his throat, catching Michael's attention as his eyes snap up to meet him. Without missing a beat, Michael comments.

"One day, you're going to snap something in your back if it keeps making noises like that."

Feeling flustered but trying not to show it, he counters. "Everyone does it, Michael. It feels good. You should try it sometimes." He rolls his eyes before adding, "And please stop crouching on the floor. You're making me hurt just looking at you. There's a perfectly sturdy albeit dubious couch over here so please, take a seat." He gestures towards the couch, presenting with a cocked brow and waits for Michael to respond.

It's Michael's turn to roll his eyes now as he pushes himself upright; shifting from foot to foot to encourage blood circulation back into his feet. Then, he moves to occupy the spot Lucas had vacated. He sits with his feet a comfortable distance apart and rests his arms on his knees before leaning forward to turn the map around. Lucas grabs his leather jacket and takes a few steps to the door, opening it.

Before leaving, however, he gives Michael one backward glance. He finds himself appreciating the way Michael's jeans clings at his thighs before his eyes zero in on the area where said thighs intercept and he swiftly drags his eyes away. Nope. Nope. He's not going to sexually fantasize about Michael again. One time a day is more than enough. He exits and closes the door behind him with a sigh.

There's a long line at the pizza place around the corner, but Lucas manages to secure two pizzas before it gets too dark. A Meat Lover with extra cheese topping for himself a Hawaiian Supreme for Michael. He's one of those people who thinks pineapples are appropriate pizza toppings. Lucas knows better than to comment on it because the last time he did, Michael had bitten into his slice with more enthusiasm than is appropriate for a pizza. The moan he had let out made something in his stomach felt sick. Now that Lucas thinks about it, he was most likely aroused.

Shaking his head at his own deniability, he climbs up the cramped stairwell. When he reaches the door to the apartment, he tries the knob. Locked. Huffing in irritation, he knocks. In addition to the abysmal apartment, the 'friend' only had one set of keys. To be honest, Lucas doesn't think this place even needs to be locked. The door looks flimsy enough that it wouldn't take much effort to break it down.

The door swings open and Michael is standing there. Shirtless. And glistening. Why is he glistening? Lucas stands frozen, his mouth agape, one hand balancing two pizza boxes and the other hanging awkwardly by his side. When Michael cocks an eyebrow at him, he snaps his mouth shut and shoves his way inside. He's very aware of the man behind him and the fact that he just brushed his very bare, very naked chest. His heart is pounding in his ears.

For crying out loud, get a grip, Lucas! It's not like he had never seen Michael shirtless before. They had lived together for two years and shared enough close quarters for him to have even stumbled upon Michael in tight boxer shorts before. This shouldn't be such a shock to his system. But his body is saying otherwise; his cheek is flushing, heart running amok, and there's a heat burning low in his gut.

Dropping the pizza boxes onto the table, he turns around and glares at Michael, suddenly furious. "There's no hot water. How are you taking a shower without hot water? Are you out of your mind?" Lucas's frustration is turning into anger real fast and he directs it at the source of his discomfort. Who at the moment is ignoring him in favor of rubbing his head with a white fluffy towel, flicking water everywhere. He flinched back as they splattered over him.

Michael is dressed only in his jeans, which are hanging dangerously low on his hips because it seems like the man can't even bother to button it up. Upon further inspection, not that Lucas wants to, but his eyes just roamed okay; he comes to the terrifying conclusion that Michael might be going commando. He chokes on air and tries to mask it with a burst of coughs, turning away to hide his steadfastly burning face. Jesus Christ, can't a man go out and buy pizzas and come back to a relatively normal environment?

"It's not that bad. It's good to have a cold shower once in a while. It helps improve blood circulation and relieve muscle soreness. Not that I'm sore at the moment. It did send me to full alertness though," Michael says behind him.

Lucas tries to ignore the double meaning in his words, knowing that Michael is being oblivious as always. He takes a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose before he faces Michael again. Of course, he has to choose that moment to wipe down his chest. He can't stop his eyes from following that drop of water that trails down those abs to dry on the waistband of those jeans.

"You should try it sometimes," he adds, repeating what Lucas had said earlier before winking at him. Lucas wants to smash something. The nerve of that man. Michael starts to walk then, and he finds that he can't move, watches as the other man approaches him. He moves around him, his skin just barely grazing Lucas's jacket. His fingers twitch, but he clenches them back into fists. Michael drapes his towel over the busted heater.

Blinking back into his body, Lucas huffs. He slides his jacket off and grabs his box of pizza, collapsing onto the couch. He's going to pretend Michael doesn't exist and eat his pizza in peace. When he opens his box of pizza and the 6 big slices of bacon heaven stares back at him, he forgets all about Michael and his nakedness. He grabs a slice and bites into it, moaning as the cheesy sweetness melts in his mouth. Damn, he's starving, finishing the slice in three bites.

Just as he's about to grab his second slice, a body slumps right next to him, squeezing into his space. Now when Lucas says the couch is a two person couch, he means there's two seats on it, but the couch is small. Definitely too small for two grown men to be sitting side by side in.

He can feel Michael's thighs pressing right against him, almost on top of his own and he's still not wearing a shirt!. Their bare arms are touching now and when he tries to wriggle more space for himself, he accidentally elbows Michael in the chest, eliciting a groan from the man. Lucas can't handle this right now. He just want to eat his pizza without being sexually harassed. Is that too much to ask?

"Quit sitting on me," he snaps.

"I'm not. Scoot over then," Michael shoots back.

"I'm already at the edge!"

"So am I!"

Lucas shoves at Michael with his arm, wriggling and squirming in his seat trying to get comfortable. Michael shoves back just as hard.

"Quit shoving!" Lucas grumbles.

"You did it first."

Lucas closes his eyes. He had forgotten how often they squabbled like three years old sometimes over the most stupid things. He feels like time has just reversed itself and they're back at Michael's house. Michael is complaining about how he's the only one bothered to keep the house clean. "Your dirty dishes are still lying in the sink, Luke." Or "You can't just keep borrowing my clothes because you don't want to do your laundry!"

And of course, Lucas had to retort with his own discomfort like the fact that Michael loves using his coffee mug. Or the fact that his favorite time to practice his dagger throwing skills is when Lucas's sleeping. "If I don't know better, Michael I would say that the thudding sound is you having the best sex of your life. But I do know better and can you please keep it down while I'm trying to sleep?" And it will go on and on between them until eventually one of them will storm off.

Lucas exhales deeply, tilting his head back so that when he opens his eyes, he's staring at the stained ceiling. It feels like old time and Lucas doesn't know if he hates it or loves it.

Michael had stopped pushing and is now looking over at Lucas. They're sitting so close that it is unnerving to have Michael's blue gaze on him like that. "Eat your fucking pizza and stop staring," he says not looking at Michael as he grabs a slice of pizza. He chews on it and tries to distract himself with thoughts on the case.

"Did you manage to figure out where Walker is hiding?" he asks as Michael reaches forward to grab his own pizza box. He opens it and takes a slice out. He nods as he bites into it, then waits until he has finished chewing and swallowing to speak.

"They're at an old abandoned building. It used to be a restorative auto factory. Plenty of space and isolation to hold someone there. It's the only building large enough to be mistaken as a warehouse that fits the timeline. The others are way out of town, and unless Walker had multiple people kidnapping at the same time, which I don't think so, seeing as Walker was with Sam and later with Chase and Gabriel, it only seems logical that he was present at both scenes. Therefore, making this," He pokes at a spot on the map where he had circled three times "the only suspect." He leans back and takes another bite from his pizza. "What do you think? Rest up tonight or do you want to stake the place out?"

Lucas knows Michael would rather do the stakeout. He always wants to act as soon as he gets the info not wanting to waste another precious minute and Lucas is thinking the same thing. Every minute they're left at Walker's hand are minutes spent being tortured. If he were in their place, he would want him to come sooner rather than later. "We stake the place out tonight. Canvas the area. See how many people we're dealing with."

"If the opportunity presents itself, are we going in for the kill?"

Lucas thinks about it. It is risky. Michael's goal is to kill Walker. He may or may not care who gets caught in the crossfire. But knowing Michael, he would care a lot if they're kids. And in this case, they are. He thinks he can trust Michael to ensure the safety of his charges.

"Yes, if we see a shot, we go for it. But the safety of those kids is also a priority. I want them to make it out of this alive. Can you promise me that?" He owes Gabriel too much to let him die on his watch. The kid had done nothing wrong except to love him. And he had used him in his demented way to cope. Lucas sees it now, what Gabriel is to him; who he sees Gabriel as.

Michael nods. "I understand. And you trust me on this?"

Lucas stiffens up at that. "Can I?" he asks, his tone sarcastic and bitter.

"Yes, Luke." Michael is staring at him with those earnest blue eyes that Lucas feels himself get lost in them. He doesn't have it in him to get mad. Holding a grudge is tiring, and he had been holding one the size of Texas for too long. He's tired.

"Okay," he says instead.

Michael smiles and turns back to his pizza, taking another slice biting into it. Lucas doesn't say anything else but continues eating his pizza. They eat in silence. Their arms brush against one another as they move and their thighs are pressed closed together. Something feels different. The air feels easy, relaxed. The tension between them is gone.

Lucas doesn't know if it has something to do with his recent revelation, but he thinks Michael is different. He can't exactly tell in details what it was, but something about the way Michael acts towards him has changed. He seems to care more, listen more and actually tries to be understanding for once. Could it be guilt? Is Michael feeling guilty for what he'd done?

To be honest, he never quite understands how someone who had his back numerous times would be capable of something like this. They weren't best friends, but they weren't strangers either. He knows Michael has a strange sense of obligation and duty to his contracts, but why not reject the offer when he realized the target was Lucas? Why did he go ahead and took it? Was it because it's easy? Since Lucas would never suspect a thing. Maybe it's the money.

Looking at Michael now, he wonders if the man felt any remorse for what he did. The funny thing is, Lucas thinks he just might.

[TIER 20] MWR: Summer Fashion stickers!

TADAH! This month's stickers! Hope you'll like it! I'll have it matching with this month postcard too so look forward! <3

[MOBILE WALLPAPER] Summer Fashion

I think we see them a lil too much in their old clothes XD they're like me, if they like a specific clothing, they just keep wearing the same thing over and over again even though they did buy new clothes XD so here's a lil spice up for summer <3 Hope you like it!

[MERCH] NERD PLUSH IS ON SALES!

He's here! The Best Boy is here! XD He will be up for sales for another 21 days so hurry and grab him! <3 We need to hit that 200pcs target so that he will actually get manufactured so let's try to get that! It will be my dream come true just to have Punk and Nerd's plushies realized! Hope you like how Nerd turns out in plushies form!

I've already got my sample and I LOVE HIM!

Buy him here! Thank you to those 29 peeps who already got him before my announcement! XD

[PREVIEW] MWR ep up!

When Nerd is being clingy XD

[TIER 2] MWR: Hot Tea

When Bane realized not to sexually starved Ash and Punk learnt that Nerd has a possessive side XD only when drunk XD 

[MERCH] Save The Date!

Nerd is coming! Are you ready? XD He'll be up for sales on the 30th June! So save the date! You can already enter your email in the link above to be reminded when Nerd comes out! ^^ Keeping my fingers crossed again this time around that we meet the target!! <3 Thank you so much for the support!!

[PREVIEW] MWR ep up!

Reunited! <3

[TIER 2] MWR: A Dinner Affair

Who else expects the food to be ready when you're invited to a dinner party? *raise hand* especially since by that time, you're already hangry lmao I know some like to cook together etc but then maybe invite people over earlier so you can cook together? XD

[TIER 10] IATL: Chapter 19

The sun is streaming in, falling on the tiny dust speckles in the room. Gabriel lies in bed with his head turned towards the window, squinting against the sunlight as he appreciates the endless clear blue sky. Last night's storm paved way to a bright and sunny day. A flock of birds fly into his field of vision, zigzagging their way through the sky. He smiles. With only the soft beeps of his heart monitor to accompany him in the relative quiet of the room, Gabriel feels peaceful like he hadn't been for a while now.

He glances back at the book in his lap. Anna had just left, promising to return tomorrow so that they could geek out again. They had a lot of fun despite his early fumble. Anna had teased him mercilessly about Chase, making him feel flustered and very much like a steam train, about ready to burst with embarrassment. When he's red as a tomato, she took his hands and told him how happy she was for him. That he deserved to have someone who treats him well. After that, things had gotten emotional again, and they ended up laughing about it as they wiped their eyes.

The knock on the door pulls him out of his reverie. He looks up to see a nurse walking into the room, a clipboard in hand. She gives Gabriel a warm smile, her long black hair tied back into a neat ponytail, her blue-gray eyes friendly. "How are you feeling, Gabriel?" she asks, standing beside him by his bed. She leaves the clipboard on the table, checks his stats and feels his forehead.

"I'm feeling better, Nurse Haniel," he answers.

Haniel laughs, voice cheery and light. "Please, call me Hannah. Haniel is something only my parents call me. And don't bother with the 'nurse' thing. Just Hannah is fine." She checks his arms where the IV drip is sticking out from the vein. She tuts, frowning a little. "You seem a little bruised here," she says. Gabriel looks down at his hands. The skin around the needle is indeed purplish.

"Maybe I could see if we can take you off the drip. Are you drinking well?" He nods. "Do you think you can stomach solids?" Gabriel hesitates, then shrugs. "Well, we can always start you up with jellos first, see how that takes. If all goes well, we'll get you off the drip. Sounds good?"

Gabriel nods. "Yes, thank you, Nur- Hannah," he corrects himself. "Jellos sound nice." Since he had woken up, the only thing he'd been consuming was water. And though it soothes his throat, he's craving for flavor and jellos sound perfect. Sweet, cold and soft. Gabriel's mouth watered just thinking about it. Hannah smiles, ticking something on her clipboard.

"Well, your temperature has returned to normal, and that's good. You were burning up right after the surgery which is not unusual but if it stayed then we would have a problem. There might have been an infection, but that is not the case..." She mumbles the last sentence, talking more to herself than Gabriel as she scribbles on the clipboard. "Do you feel dizzy or nauseated?" she asks, indicating his head.

Gabriel thinks for a moment, then nods. "Sometimes. When I move too fast or too suddenly."

"That's common. You need to drink more water to stay hydrated and rest more. You were pretty banged up. We almost lost you there." Gabriel's eyes widened. He didn't know that. Hannah steps closer, one hand coming up to squeeze Gabriel's shoulder. "But you made it. You're one tough cookie."

Gabriel manages a weak smile. He still couldn't believe he had almost died. He had wanted to when he was lying on the restroom floor. He just wanted the pain to end, and he saw no reason for him to live. No one is going to miss him or mourn him. But lying here, he realizes how wrong he had been. He has so much to live for, and he can't help but feel grateful to be alive.

"Thank you for saving me," he says earnestly.

"Honey, it's our job. And to be honest, you can thank Dr. Benton for that. He's the one who operated on you, and you couldn't ask for a more determined and single-minded doctor. He operated on you for 6 hours straight, without rest," she praises, admiration clear on her face. "He'll drop by later to give you a checkup. And he'll let you know what you should or should not do once you get home."

Gabriel nods. "Do you know when?" The thought of going back to the home leaves Gabriel with mixed feelings. He likes it here. It's peaceful and quiet. He doesn't feel tense or nervous or scared, unsure of what is expected of him next. Also, he doesn't think his body is ready for what's waiting for him when he gets back. Gordon had tore into him, ripping him open. Even now, sitting on the soft bed, he can feel the slight tingle and soreness.

"Well, if all goes well with the checkup and Dr. Benton approves, you're free to go tomorrow night. We'll call the home then and have someone come and pick you up."

Gabriel sags into the pillow he had been leaning against. Tomorrow night. He hadn't expected to go home so soon. Dread as heavy as lead settles in his bones. He doesn't think Lucas will be cruel enough to pimp him out right away. But maybe he'll send him off to Chastity. They do have an out-standing appointment. His stomach churns uncomfortably.

Chastity is a sadistic dominatrix. Just thinking of her sends shudders up his spine. She never lacks creativity on what to do with him. Often, she will tie him up and beat him senseless with a crop. Sometimes, she would pour hot wax down his chest or drip it onto his penis and balls. When she's in the mood, she would prepare ice cubes and use them on his nipples, watching as they harden and turn blue from the cold. She also loves shoving them into his ass, one after the other and watching them melt, water leaking down his thighs.

But her utmost favorite thing to do is orgasm denial. And she's good at it. She would play with his prostate, stimulate his penis and nipples until he's hard and needy, helpless against her ministration. Then, she would mock him, call him a slut for wanting it. And when he can't take it anymore, the need to come is too much to handle, half out of his mind with desperation, he would beg, cry but she always ignores his pleas. Instead, she'll put a cock ring on him and continue to edge him further, watch as he squirms and pants as she waits. It doesn't take long after that for him to break, tears and sweat drying off his body as she milks the semen out of him.

His penis, after being hard for so long, feels relief but it's a double edged knife. After every session, he's left trembling, wrung out and feeling more used than he'd ever been. Rode hard and put up wet. He'll be too disoriented to fully process what happened right away, but each night when he falls into bed, the humiliation would come, forcing him to relive the things he let done to him, the way he broke down and begged. And for what? To orgasm? The next few days will be the worst. He feels off, not like himself. Chastity's sessions mess with his head, his hormones. He hates it. He hates Chastity. He really hopes Lucas won't send him there.

"How are your ribs feeling?" Hannah asks oblivious to his turmoil.

"Sore."

"They're going to be sore for a while. Nothing you can do with bruised ribs except to wait it out and let them heal by themselves. We can provide pain medication for that," she says, scribbling on the clipboard. "You also have a fractured hip so movement might be limited. We could provide you with crutches to take home with you. Just in case you need them."

Gabriel touches his left hip, feeling the soreness there but it doesn't seem too bad. He hadn't tried to walk yet though so it might be possible that he may need help moving about. He's going to have to test that theory soon. His bladder has been nudging at him for awhile now, persistent. "I'm not sure," he answered honestly.

"No worries, we'll decide later when you're out and about," Hannah says, smiling before looking back to her clipboard. Her expression sobers. She looks up at him; her eyes sad as she says in a quiet voice. "I'm sorry for what happened to you, Gabriel. No one deserves that."

Their easy conversation screeches to a halt. All of a sudden the air in the room feels thicker, more hard to breathe. Hannah knows. Of course she knows, idiot. She's a nurse. She treated you. Even without the police reports, his injuries are very telling. Gabriel swallows. He doesn't want to be reminded of the assault. He doesn't want to talk about it. He just wants to put it behind him and forget that it ever happened. Why is Hannah bringing this up? Can't she see that it's making him uncomfortable?

"Because it's a rape case, we have to check for sexually transmitted diseases," Hannah continues. Oh. A dead weight settles in his chest. Ohgod, he knows he's dirty, but now he might even be disease ridden. Gabriel wants to puke, his chest tightening painfully. It would be just his luck to catch a STD now that something good finally happened to him. A soothing hand rests on his shoulder, steadying him. He didn't realize that he's shaking. "You're clean, Gabriel."

Gabriel turns wide, disbelieving eyes at Hannah. "Really?" he whispers. Hannah nods and smiles. Relief like he never felt before washes through him. He huffs out a breath, his eyes watery with unshed tears and smiles. "I'm clean?" Then, "I'm clean!" he exclaims, hardly believing the words coming out of his mouth.

Lucas was adamant that his clients use condoms whenever he tricks. And Gabriel sticks to it. But when it comes to Zael and his friends, he doesn't have a say. And more often than not they don't use condoms. He knows he's risking his life with every unprotected fuck, but he never thought too hard about it. Not when his daily life revolves around lying on his back and taking it. It's not like there's a choice. So he let that titbit slip.

But now that he's faced with the very real possibility of contracting something, suddenly the threats become real. Very real. For a moment, before Hannah told him he was clean, he thought that this is it. This is his life. He's going to die a disease ridden whore, and that'll be his legacy. That's who he'll ever be. There's no turning back. It's done.

Someone up there must be looking out for him because for some reason he dodges the bullet, free of any diseases and the thought that he might be able to start anew, start fresh, leaves Gabriel speechless. He's clean! He can still walk away from this a person, who has dreams and hopes and aspirations. He could live. It is at that moment that he knows without a doubt that he cannot return to the home. To Lucas. He cannot return to being a whore anymore. He can't.

Someone knocks on the door. Gabriel's eyes fly towards it. Hannah turns to look at the newcomer just as Gabriel beams when he sees who it is. "Chase!" he greets, his heart overflowing with warmth at the sight of the green eyed man. Hannah turns back to Gabriel and smiles knowingly.

"Lisa was right. He's adorable," she teases. Gabriel blushes. "I'll leave you two alone then." She turns to leave and just as she's exiting the room, turns back to say in a mock stern voice, "No fooling around okay, boys? Gabriel still needs to heal." Both Chase and Gabriel turn a deep shade of red. Laughing softly to herself, Hannah leaves, closing the door behind her.

Chase is standing near the door, his hands stuffed deep into the pocket of his jeans. He has his backpack with him, hanging off his shoulder to one side. Gabriel notices it right away. Something is different about Chase. The way he holds himself, tensed and stilted. And then there's the fact that his t-shirt is soaked through. Is it so hot outside?

Then, he takes in Chase's complexion. He looks pale, a little green around the edge and his normally well-spiked hair is a mess; dirty blonde locks falling over his forehead. He looks on edge too, shifty, his eyes trained on the floor in front of him. Concerned, he asks "Chase? Are you okay? You look... off."

Chase snaps his eyes up at Gabriel, looking like a deer caught in headlights before he replaces it with a bad imitation of his crinkly eyed smile. It looks forced. Gabriel is confused as he frowns at Chase, trying to understand his odd behavior. The smile lingers for a second longer before it diminishes completely. Chase's whole body crumbles in on itself, and he looks about to collapse.

"Chase!" He sits up in his bed in alarm. He pushes the blanket off and is about to leave the bed when two shaking hands settle on his shoulders, pushing him back into the bed. Gabriel stares in horror at Chase's wrists. They're both bloodied, the skin scraped raw. He grabs at Chase's arm, just below his wrists and stares at the wounds disbelievingly. "Chase- what happened?" Chase snatches his hands back and stuffs them into his pocket again. He shrugs. "Nothing." His voice sounds strained and tired.

"Nothing? Chase, that's not nothing. What the hell happened? Tell me," he demands, surprising both Chase and himself at the commanding tone of his voice. He had never once raised his voice before, and his outburst surprised himself. They both blink at one another, stunned silent. Then in a much gentler tone, Gabriel asks again "Chase, please. Tell me what happened. Did Lucas do this to you?"

Fear and guilt claw their way into his guts. Did Chase get into trouble because he came to see him last night? Chase had even stayed the night. Lucas must have found out and punished Chase for it. This is his fault. Because of him, Chase had gotten hurt. But that can't be it. Lucas was calm this morning. He hadn't shown any signs of knowing that Chase was here, or that anything was amiss.

Chase shakes his head, hesitates then nods. He seems conflicted, still not looking at Gabriel. "Is that a yes or a no, Chase?" Chase stills for a moment before he ends up shrugging, sliding his backpack off his shoulder and settles it on the floor in front of him. He doesn't look back up, eyes fixed on his backpack. Frustrated, Gabriel tilts Chase's head up with his fingers so that they're eyes to eyes. "Chase?"

Chase stares at him. The usual shine in his eyes is gone. They're wide and terrified. The skin around them is hallowed, eyebags visible underneath his eyes. Something about them screams desperation and Gabriel is growing more and more alarmed by the minute. Something is seriously wrong. Before he could ask further, Chase breaks. He crumples into the chair beside him, his face twists into despair right before his eyes. Tears start to pool in those emerald green orbs and before long Chase's crying. Shocked, Gabriel cups Chase's face in his hands, wiping the tears there. Chase leans into the touch, his hands coming up to close over Gabriel's.

"I'm sorry, Gabe..." he sobs. "I'm so sorry..."

Confused, he asks, "What are you sorry for, Chase?" His heartbeats quicken. He's frightened. Of what, he doesn't know yet. "I'm sorry..." Chase continues to babble.

Alarmed, confused and scared, he pulls Chase's head to his chest, smoothing a hand over his hair, petting Chase soothingly. "It's okay, Chase. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Please...," he adds, desperate. Chase continues to sob, rubbing his face into the front of his hospital gown, drenching it with tears. "Chase, please... I can't stand seeing you like this. Please... Just tell me," he begs. His heart aches upon seeing Chase like this. Chase is the strong one. He lashes out in anger when he's upset. He doesn't break down and cry.

The only time he saw Chase cry was last night. But that was different. Chase cried for him. Because he was hurt. Fear prickled at him as he thought about it, his heart stopping. No, it can't be, can it? In a hoarse whisper, he asks, "Is it Sam?" Chase sobs even harder, confirming his theory. God, no. Not Sam. Chase loves Sam more than anything in the world and if something were to happen to him... Gabriel can feel his own tears pricking his eyes. "What happened?" he forces himself to ask. Chase doesn't answers at first, then-

"They took him." Chase has finally stopped crying, looking up at Gabriel with a bleak expression on his face.

"Who?"

"Gordon."

Gabriel freezes. There's a buzzing noise in his ears. The room fades into the background. Every sound dims. The beeping, the murmurs outside. Everything except the roar in his ears. "Gordon?" he croaks. Chase nods. Fear strikes him hard and fast. "Wha-? Why? How? Oh my god, is Sam okay? Did they-?" He couldn't finish the sentence. The thought of Sam at the mercy of Gordon and his men chills him to his bones. Sam is only 6 years old! Gabriel breaks out into a cold sweat. "Chase! They can't-" He gasps, sucking in breath but he can't seem to get enough into his lungs.

"Breathe, Gabriel. Sammie is okay. They haven't done anything to him. Yet." Chase looks away.

"Yet?"

"Yet."

"What does that mean?"

Chase looks up at him and smiles. A haunted smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "It means that they wouldn't hurt Sammie as long as I do what they ask."

Gabriel stares at him. "And what did they ask, Chase?"

They stare at one another. Gabriel dreads the answer. For some reason, without having to hear Chase's answer, he knows. It's the reason Chase is here at the hospital in the first place, talking to Gabriel.

"You," Chase says tonelessly.

Prepared as he was for his answer, Gabriel can't help but feel sucker punched. He stares at the person who said that he loves him, the person he thought is nothing like Lucas, but turns out to be the same. They all want something from him. Chase came to the hospital to bring him to Gordon. The man who had raped and beaten him almost to death. Gabriel still wore the scars and marks of what the man did to him on his skin for all to see. For Chase to see. And yet, here he is. Gabriel's heart feels like it had been dug out of his chest, stomp and trampled on before it is shoved back in, bruised and bleeding.

He knows there is nothing Chase loves more in the world than Sam. If what he'd told Gabriel last night was any indication. Chase would do anything, anything for Sam. He knows. But it still hurts. Because Chase had said he loves him too. But he guesses, it's not enough. Gabriel is never enough. Resigned, he asks, "You're here to take me to them, aren't you?"

Chase's face twists. He looks conflicted, chewing the inside of his cheek, his eyes brimming with tears. "I was. But I can't do it." Gabriel looks up at that. Chase is shaking his head, tears falling down his cheek. "I mean, look at you, Gabe. You've been through enough. What kind of monster would that make me if I sent you back to the person who did that." Chase gestures wildly at Gabriel "I can't... I can't see you hurt again. I just-" Chase looks away, a sort of helplessness settles over his face as he runs his hands through his hair, wiping them down over his tired face. "I don't know what to do, Gabe. Tell me what to do."

Gabriel is silent. Then, he takes both of Chase's hands into his, blue eyes staring into Chase's dull green ones. He feels a profound sadness at the hopelessness in Chase's eyes. "Chase, you saved me. If it's not for you, I'll probably be dead. You saved my life, Chase. In more ways than one. I'll come with you." Gabriel is scared but he has never been more sure in his life. He wants to do this for Chase. And not just Chase, but Sam who is innocent in all this. "It's my fault Sam got taken anyway. Gordon wants me," he says. "I'm sorry for getting you mixed up in this mess. It was never my intention, Chase. I'm so sorry."

"No!" Chase says fiercely. "No, it's not your fault. If any, it's my fault!" Gabriel tilts his head in confusion. "Gordon is crazy."

"Tell me about it."

"I mean like he's really psycho! Ramsay told him about Lucas. About how he's out for his blood. And Gordon, he- He's not afraid at all like he was pumped by the idea or something. There's this glow in his eyes and the way he's going, I think he's going to kill Lucas. On top of that, I saw fucking drugs, loads of them. I can't believe I almost became a drug mule. Fuck! You've seen his eyes right? Gordon? He's high as a fucking kite. And he took Sammie, Gabe! That fucker got Sammie and I-"

"Stop, Chase. You have to calm down." Chase stops abruptly. Gabriel tilts his head, frowning hard as he tries to catch up with what Chase's saying. Finally, he ends up saying, "What?" All he could get from Chase's outburst was Gordon. Lucas. Kill. And Crowley? Drugs? Fear creeps into his heart. "Wait. Gordon wants to kill Lucas?" His heart races. Even though Lucas had manipulated his feelings, abuses him, Gabriel never wanted him dead. Or any harm to come to him for that matter. "Why? How? And what does this all have to do with me?"

Chase averts his gaze. "That might have been my fault. See, he didn't ask for you at first. He just wanted to know everything about Lucas. So I told him. I told him about the home, what he did and then he asked about you. Something about what I said must have made him think that you're important. Important enough that Lucas will come and get you if you're in trouble."

"He wants me to lure Lucas?" Gabriel asks in disbelief. "That's- What? Lucas doesn't care about me. I'm just his toy. Something he'll play with when he's bored. He wouldn't come and get me if it meant risking his own life." Gabriel is perplexed. This is nonsense.

"I told him that! But Gordon was adamant. He really believes Lucas will come and save you or some shit. Fuck. We're so screwed." Chase buries his face in his palms and lets out a muffled scream. Gabriel understands his frustration. The whole situation is absurd and in every scenario, their chances of survival are minimal at best. Chase looks up at Gabriel. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess."

"Don't apologize, Chase. This all started with me." Chase looks like he's about to protest but Gabriel cuts him off. "Why don't you start at the beginning? How is Ramsay involved? And more importantly, how did Gordon know about Sam?"

So Chase starts explaining. He tells Gabriel all about his meeting with Ramsay, the exchange and how it turned out to be Gordon he's meeting. Gabriel's heart quickens as Chase describes how he had fought the man but was overpowered. When Chase reaches the part about Sam, his voice falters and Gabriel reaches a hand out to console him. His grief soon turns to anger as he rages about a person named Hellhound. The name is unfamiliar to Gabriel too and they're both stumped as who this person might be. When he's done, Chase slumps back in his chair, exhausted. It's a lot to take in but the part about Ramsay isn't surprising. He always thought the man was a creep.

"I saw the video, Gabe," Chase says suddenly, voice barely above a whisper.

Confused, he frowns. "What video?"

"Gordon had videos of the assault." Gabriel freezes as he remembers the flashing light, the mobile phones in his face. He sucks in a breath, body stiff. "It was horrible," Chase rasps out. "I can't believe I actually came here to take you back to them. These bastards raped you! What's wrong with me?" Chase pushes out of his chair, sending it screeching across the floor. He walks toward the end of the bed, his back facing Gabriel, head in hands.

"Chase," he starts.

"No, Gabe. You don't know." Chase shakes his head. "I came in here with the intention to trick you. I devised a whole ploy in my head on the way over. I even brought regular clothes with me," he yells as he gestures at the backpack on the floor. "I'm an asshole, and you shouldn't have to deal with this. I'll figure another way out to save Sam." Chase takes a step forward and reaches for the backpack.

Gabriel grabs hold of his arms. "There's no other way, and you know it. If you go back to them without me, you'll know they'll do what they promised they would."

Chase starts to shake, still not looking at Gabriel. "You don't get it, do you Gabe?" He fixes Gabriel with furious green eyes. "I would have fooled you and sent you back to Gordon so they can use you against Lucas. Someone you loved! And who knows what they're going to do to you while they're at it huh? Maybe they'll rape you again. Maybe this time, they'll kill you. And that's what will happen because you trust me. You idiot son of a bitch, you trust me." He breaks down then. "You fucking trust me."

"Yes, Chase. I trust you," Gabriel says calmly. Chase stares at him with wild eyes. "You could do all that. But you didn't. You told me the truth. And that is why I trust you."

"Gabe..."

"And I want to help."

"But how is it fair of me to ask that of you? It's not. You shouldn't have to deal with my problems."

"You said you love me last night. Do you mean that?"

"Of course."

"Well, I love you too. And I mean that. Your problems are my problems. I can't stand seeing you like this, Chase. And if I can help, I will." Before Chase can interrupt again, he adds. "Sam is a great kid. And I care about him too. I don't want to see him in danger anymore than you do, Chase. So please, let me help."

"But Gabe, it's too much. I can't accept this."

"You can and you will. You don't have a choice in this. I'm coming."

"You know, there's a high chance they won't be letting any of us go, right? So you'll just be sacrificing yourself for nothing."

"I know. And I won't be doing this for nothing. I'll be doing it for the slim chance it might help. Because I'm not going to sit by and watch the people I love die. Or worse. Now, help me up, Chase or so help me God."

Chase bites the inside of his cheek, his face red as he tries to stop the tears from falling. "How are you real?"

"Pinch me, and I'll hurt. I don't know how I'm real except that apparently my parents decided to have unprotected sex whereby my mom got inseminated with my dad's sperm-"

"Oh god, Gabe stop!" Chase says, closing his hands over his ears. "Jesus!" Then, he laughs a soft rumble but a laugh nonetheless. "You're impossible," he says, shaking his head fondly.

Gabriel smiles. "You like it."

"Yeah. Yeah, I do."

They stare at each other for a moment before Gabriel sobers. "Alright. How are we getting out again?"

Chase hesitates for a moment but at Gabriel's stern glare, he fumbles around with his backpack and pulls out a pair of jeans and a bright yellow shirt. The shirt has a bee on the front with a talk bubble that reads, 'I'm your buzz-friend!'. Gabriel raises an eyebrow at it. "Classy."

Chase blushes. "It's not like there's a lot of choices at Walmart," he mumbles.

"So, am I your buzz-friend?" Gabriel asks once he unties the hospital gown and tosses it aside. He takes the shirt from Chase who's studiously looking anywhere but him, his face a dark shade of red. He pulls the shirt over his head.

"Not if I can help it," Chase mumbles.

"What's that? I couldn't hear you." He smirks up at Chase, making grabby hands for the jeans. Chase tosses them at him, the item hitting him squarely in the face, laughing at the startled sound he made. Gabriel scowls but soon joins in, his low rumble adding to Chase's higher note. Putting on the jeans is hard work considering how limited his movement is. Gabriel hissed as he pulled on a sore muscle. Chase is on him right away, his hands gentle as he helps Gabriel into his jeans. He lifts his hips as Chase pulls the jeans up, blushing the entire time as he tries not to look at his junk.

"You're my boyfriend, not my buzz-friend," he mutters again as he helps Gabriel button up his jeans. "I thought we established that last night," he pouts. Gabriel smiles. Chase is adorable.

"Yes, dear. We did." He lifts a hand up and cups Chase's cheek. "Can you give your boyfriend a kiss now?" Chase rolls his eyes in a way that Gabriel knows is fond and leans down. Their lips brush before they deepen the kiss, Gabriel coaxing a moan out of Chase.

When they part, he takes a deep breath. "Alright, time to test if my legs will support me." Chase helps him shuffles to the edge of the bed. At the count of three, Gabriel pushes off and lands on his feet. He stumbles a little, legs weak from not having moved for hours. Chase's grip is steady on his arm. "Are you ok?" he asks. Gabriel nods. Straightening up, he takes a step. Then, another. He lets out a sigh of relief. "Well, at least it seems like I can walk," he says.

As they slowly approach the door, Gabriel stops. He turns to Chase. "Maybe we should leave a note. Just in case. If I go missing, the hospital is going to call Lucas. We can warn him. Tell him what happened. At least then, he can plan ahead." He pauses for a bit before continuing, "He might or might not come, Chase. I can't promise he cares for me enough to."

"If he wants to establish his dominance, he might. Gordon basically throws him an open challenge. If he doesn't respond, it would make him seem like he's scared. He will lose respect fast and people won't be afraid of him anymore. I'm not an expert but that can't be good for business."

He nods, can't help but agrees with Chase. The Lucas he knows doesn't run, he fights. He's dangerous and he's cunning. There's still a chance they might come out of this alive. He watches as Chase slips a note underneath his pillow. He returns to Gabriel's side and slips his arm around him, steadying him as they head out the door.

If Gabriel is going to be dramatic about it, it feels a little like they're heading to their doom. He casts one last look at the room behind him. Safety. Is he doing the right thing? Leaving with Chase? As he steps outside into the corridor, his heart beats up a storm. He's really doing this. He must be insane. But then he turns his head to the side and sees Chase's face. Chase looks up at him and gives him a small smile. The corner of his lips curls up. He thinks, as they hobble to the elevator, that although it might seem like a suicide mission, it's okay.

[PREVIEW] MWR pride illustration!

Drunk Nerd for Pride XD

[TIER 3] [TIER 15] MWR: Happy Pride!

Happy Pride! When Ash got a compromising picture of his fav creator and le boyfriend and got their autographs at Nerd's booth to boot XD Too bad I can't attend any of the current conventions >.< I would have loved to but maybe I can after Shinji get a bit older XD This will also be this month's postcard!

[PREVIEW] MWR up!

What happened to Punk tho XD