Chapter Text
Tyler knew he had every right to be terrified, but he would never admit it.
He felt as though he had ruined everything. His guilt overcame his fear, practically forcing him into the position he was in now at knifepoint.
The room he resided in was as gloomy as his situation, an abandoned, rustic shop covered in cobwebs and empty shelves accompanied by the smell of must and mold. If anything, it smelled disgusting. But Tyler did not move. If anything, he deserved to suffer for just a bit.
It was all his idea in the first place, robbing that penthouse. It all went wrong, and now the Lanes were a shitshow. The enforcers needed to put someone away for the crime, and he knew they would pick up a random innocent to lock away for years if nobody fessed up. He tipped them off, and now all he had to do was wait.
He thought about the others. About Taylor, really. She was always good at detecting when he was planning something, even if he had never intended to tell her. He didn’t spill, per se, but how tightly he hugged her before leaving should have been enough to tell her a metaphorical goodbye. He couldn’t risk her telling someone.
Tyler was certain he covered his tracks, specifically from Mike and Ben. He knew Logan was smart enough to find some way to uproot his plan before he could even enact it, but it would be from behind the scenes. Ben and Mike would sprint in, guns blazing, and that would cause more trouble than it was worth.
Really, he was terrified of every situation he could think of. His mind was crumbling into insanity, freaking out over every little detail, and the future that awaited him. Nothing could halt it, except for a couple of heavy thumps outside. He barely had time to react, before the door slammed open.
Ben looked just as mortified as Tyler did.
And for a moment, all Tyler felt was relief. He was encompassed into a hug before he could think, and he chose not to acknowledge the way Ben’s hands shook as they curled into the fabric of Tyler’s shirt. He could feel how frantic they were, questions ebbing from his demeanor in ways Tyler could decipher and didn’t understand all the same.
It was all in the eyes, he learned. Ben was expressive if you knew where to look, and he was an open book. The terror he showed was enough to make Tyler want to cry. He never wanted to be the cause of such fear.
He knew they didn’t have much time. He took Ben’s shaking, scarred hands. He ran a subconscious thumb over his knuckles for a brief moment, and the two sat in silence. Tyler’s plans came to a halt as he watched the shakiness slowly fade from Ben’s hands, as Tyler seemed to restore his steady ground, even if for a bit.
But all good things came to an end. His panic came back in a tidal wave at the sound of a dull clutter outside of the building. Perhaps approaching enforcers? He dragged Ben over to a door, yanking it open and starting to push the boy inside. He couldn’t let him get caught, Tyler had to do this by himself. Tyler and Ben were sufficiently matched in strength, but Ben had that bare edge that made his objective hard to achieve. He needed Ben out of the room, whatever area Tyler was currently trying to shove him into had to work.
The two grappled for a good couple minutes, and Tyler didn’t realize he was crying until a firm hand clapped down on one of each boy’s shoulders. They both effectively stopped in their tracks, glancing up in unison.
Mike was staring at them both with a conflicted expression. The room was silent outside of the two’s ragged breathing and the occasional sniffle or sob. It took a couple of agonizing moments before Mike let out a deep sigh, his hand squeezing both of their shoulders in an act of comfort.
“I have always been proud of you two. I always will be. You know that, right?”
The confusion from the boys was evident in the sea of emotions they were both feeling right now. They both nodded, temporarily lulled by the security that naturally came with their adoptive father’s presence. The hand’s on their shoulders went to cup each of their faces, a rare act of affection Tyler would normally shy away from with curses and hellfire. But right now, he found himself leaning into it. It was an act of pure intention, he knew that. Something that only a father could show to a son he truly loved. It made his worries dull, for a moment making him wonder if everything would work out.
“You both have good hearts. Never lose sight of that, no matter how the world tries to break you.”
Tyler began to ask why he was saying all of this, only for a harsh shove to send him tumbling down a stone staircase. Ben was soon sent after him, and the door above them both slammed shut, with the not-so-comforting sound of a lock clicking into place.
Ben was on his feet first, climbing his way back up to slam his fists into the door. The sound echoed around the empty room they were now locked in. It was dusty, with empty shelves and not much else. Tyler was in a daze as the situation came crashing back into him.
The enforcers were coming here because he asked them. He tipped them off that someone who needed to be arrested was up there, in the room Mike just locked them out of.
He was beside Ben the next second, shouting curses and pleas as he joined Ben in trying to kick the door in. There was faint chatter behind the door, Tyler couldn’t make it out in the midst of his efforts. His mind was in overdrive, his shoulders ached from slamming them into the locked door.
The talking faded, and the only sound was the two hacking at the door for a while. The lighting in the room was scarce, a dull green coming from a single window just out of reach. Neither of them were facing it when it changed. The gross, calm green suddenly splattered in outraged red. It was accompanied by a scream, no doubt from Mike. Not in pain, no, but in shock and anger.
The two tripped over each other trying to get to the window as a bout of noise came from just outside. Fighting, perhaps it sounded like, followed by a dull thud. It was a sound that usually accompanied someone falling unconscious. It sent fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins. The sickening smell of blood faded through the edges in the window. He could see outside through a few splatters. There was a body on the floor. An enforcer. Likely the one that was coming to arrest Tyler. Beside the body stood a man, one Tyler didn’t recognize. He had hair stopping just above his shoulders with the color of tar. He stood with elegance, almost. Like he thought he was more powerful than the people around him.
When Tyler’s ears stopped ringing, he could make out words.
“What was that thing?”
“Perhaps you can ask those infected children of yours. I’d argue it would look quite similar.”
Tyler was trembling as he stared out the window. He couldn’t see mike. He couldn’t see the man's face. He could only listen.
“It's all over the news, you know. Three children contagious with the undercity’s filth, driven mad with illness. People call for their capture.”
“They’ll never go with you.”
“No, of course not. But surely they will come for you?”
He wanted to scream.
“Think of it this way. At least you get to keep three.”
He couldn’t listen anymore, moving away from the window and back to the door. Anger made him scream. Mike was in danger. The younger kids were in danger. And Tyler was trapped here. That man wanted them for whatever reason, and it related to the others and what tormented them. He couldn’t let it happen. That man was going to take Taylor. And he was using Mike as bait.
They had to get out.
He turned back to Ben, ready to snap at him to help. He didn’t, however, when he saw Ben’s state. He had curled up on the stone floor, hugging his knees with an expression of shock. He must not have recovered from it as fast as Tyler. They did, after all, just see a dead body and watch their adopted father get presumably kidnapped.
He extended his hands out to Ben, intending to pull him up. Ben, however, tugged Tyler in for a hug. It wasn’t the time. They needed to be focused on getting out of here. But Ben was crying, clearly distraught. It made Tyler question why he wasn’t distraught. Atleast, as much as the other. He would dwell on it later, as right now he needed Ben back in action. They were crying, and it was the first time Tyler had ever gotten any sense of vocal noise from him. They cried into the fabric of Tyler’s shirt, whispering jagged and sore sentences about Aiden. Most of it Tyler could barely make out, but he did his best to comfort Ben anyway.
They sat there for a while. Tyler didn’t know what to do. His saving grace was a small click echoing in the room, before the door to upstairs was slowly opened. A boy trudged down the steps, unable to look at Tyler
Logan looked physically okay. But his expression was haunted. His eyes were trained on the floor, wide and almost blank. When his gaze finally flicked up to Tyler, his tears caught what little light was left in the room, making them shine.
“I followed them,” He whispered. His voice shook.
“I know where they took Mike.”