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Rupert's bags were packed, and ready to go. He couldn't believe he had an uncle he knew nothing about. But then his mum didn't even know there was an uncle until recently. He was adopted, and they didn't know about each other until pure chance of luck, meeting at a vegetable show. They're hardly family, yet still he was willing to take Rupert in. Let him comes for a change of scenery.

His mother tears up, as he goes to board the bus to the city near Titch's farm. He quickly turns and hugs her, promising to write. She tells him, he better or she'll come down there to check on him. After another few seconds of hug, she shoos him off before he misses the bus. She hopes the time away will let the recent events stop haunting him. Rupert can never tell her, the current events are a relief, he just haunted by what they once were. He watches his father hold his mother, as the bus pulls away. It's a long drive, and he tries to pass the time by watching the scenery changing, making stories about it. He ignores the thought of burning fields, and dead bodies that try to worm their way in. 

Rupert can only hope, his uncle is nice, and his farm is enough to free him from his memories of that which no longer exists. 

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His arrival at the farm was lack luster in the end. It was just a farm, like so many Rupert seen before, except that aubergines were growing instead of beetroots. The difference in how they grew was just enough, to not cause flash back of burning bodies and burning fields. Well, not any worse than the usual haunting. 

Despite not meeting before, Rupert could pick out his uncle from the men standing. He looks so like his mother, that he's almost convinced he fell asleep and dreamt him. Yet still he carried on those last few steps to the farm. The conversation died down, as they notice their new company.

The blond man, his uncle, turns with a look of shock. He quickly wills it away, and frowns slightly.

"You must be Rupert... We weren't expecting you until later" 

Rupert shrugs. "Got an earlier bus.. you're titch, yeah?"

"We would of picked you up still, if we had known. But yes, I'm titch. Nice to meet you" He holds out his hand, and after a few seconds of staring, Rupert shakes it.

"No worries" Rupert wasn't going to tell him, that was the point. These practical strangers had done enough already, and he rather look after himself. This was just to make mother stop worrying. Hopefully he won't stay long, just until the thought of burned bodies are out of his head. Just until he no longer remembers that killed them. He killed all of them. He'll leave once his mother and father are no longer ghosts. 

Titch knew his nephew wasn't in great shape. Trading letters with his sister, connecting and growing close had lead her to sharing her worries. Something big happened, she knows there's more than what her son will say, but he won't say it to her. Titch barely thought about it. He quickly wrote back, offering a place at his. A chance away, might allow Rupert to open up, and it not like titch doesn't know about secrets. 

His biggest one is standing right in front of him afterall, but not for long. As Derek offers, and accepts no no, to take Rupert's bags to his room. Titch briefly smiles at how headstrong but caring he is, before he hides it again. This young man may share his blood, but he doesn't know him. Unlike James, who now he's begin to heal the relationship with (all thanks to Derek, of course), and has since been trying to subtly show support. Either of them say out loud how Titch is different, how James might also be different too. They're not there yet, and words are dangerous. So Titch keeps his words, safely locked away, locking up his heart with it. He is well verse in secrets, and can only hope that Rupert's secret is one he can help with. 

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It was easy to fall into routine at the farm. He would tend to beetroots in the day, and try to avoid answering Titch's questions about himself. He couldn't possible understand, so why would Rupert open up, but still he keeps trying. Titch shares stories about growing up with James, who is slowly becoming famous in his football career, and stories about the farm. He notices derek features a lot in those stories, and if he wasn't so distracted, maybe Rupert would of noticed the slightly pauses as a secret is talked around.

But he doesn't notice. The nightmare have him exhausted. Despite the different scenery, and vegetable, the work similar enough it reminds him of beetroots. Not so much to cause problem where they can see him, but enough that he feels jumpy, and nights are long. He dreams of fire licking at him, but never taking him, no, it licks and burns away his loved ones. Some nights the fire is filled with faceless bodies of all the lives he once killed, of lives taken too soon. Sometimes he dreams that this life is a dream, that the spirit never sent him back and allowed him to undo his terrible act. He even had a dream last night with justin. He didn't save him from the fire, and he burned away, just like his parents. He woke feeling sick with guilty. No one deserves that, not even a prick like him.

Yet, he had asks out loud, alone in his room, wasn't burning down half to Somerset worth it to kill that prick? He was still so angry then, still blaming his actions on other people. It was the only way he survived those long years in prison. The years of which feel so close, and yet so far away too. Justin is a prick, but he made the choices he did the first time round. He had to accept that before he could change anything with his second chance, and still he almost too late with that realisation. The guilt would always sit heavy in his stomach, he's sure. 

The guilt still sat there, even as he works the aubergines. Thoughts swirl in his head, of how maybe it be better for everyone if he left. He could just vanish, and let them all live, no chance of him killing them again. His thoughts are stuck on his mistakes that dreams will never let him forget, even as the world forgets. 

"Hey Rupert, you got a letter" Derek says as he drinks over cold drinks and snacks.

The confusion of having a letter already pulls him from his drowning thoughts. He had only just replied to his mother's letter yesterday. This far too quick to be a respond. Has something gone wrong? His heart starts to race at the thought, but he keeps his face blank.

"Thanks"

He takes the offered letter, and hides it in the front pocket of his dungarees. He wants to check now, to confirm if something is wrong, but he refuses to open it where they can see. Titch and Derek have been nice, kind and welcoming, but they're still strangers. He knows they don't have to be, both reach out to him, offering chances to bond. Rupert can't accept though, he's bad news. He already done the unforgiveable, and there's no guarantees of another chance to change it all, if he repeats past mistake. 

So he works away until dinner time. Eats the meal prepared by Titch, and thanks him for it. Turns down the offer of staying with them, playing a board game. Instead, he goes up to his room, shutting the door. His hand shake slightly as he pulls the letter out, looking at it for the first time. The worrying swirl of dread fades away in place of confusion. He doesn't recognise this handwriting, it's not his mother's or father's. Carefully, he opens the letter and reads.

Hey Big dick Rupert,

It's Justin. Justin Trouble, that is. I went to see you, but your mother said you went to your uncle's? I didn't know you had an uncle.

I didn't know a lot. I know I was kind of a dick to you, yet you saved me. You didn't have to save me from that fire. Not after all I did to you. So thank you. That's all I wanted to sat, thank you, but just writing only thank you, seemed like a dumb letter. Well, I also need to say sorry. Sorry i was horrible to you. You're better man than me, saving someone you hate, risking yourself. I guess that makes you pretty cool. Anyway, ignore this, burn it or whatever you want. I just wanted to say thank you and sorry.

Goodbye,

Justin

Ps I was told it's rude not to include an address to send a response to, if you wish to response so here.

Rupert stares in disbelief, a letter from Justin. He really wasn't expecting that at all. It was odd, but kind of nice of him, even with the clearly scribbles out big dick. It felt like an eternity, and no time at all, as he stares at Justin's address. He not even sure he really chose to, he just found himself writing a letter back.

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Justin 'Trouble' Willoughby has been many things in his life, but not a coward... At least, that's what he tolds himself as he worked up the courage to knock at Rupert’s door. He put a lot of effort into this, just for Mrs Jemima to answer and tell him, Rupert’s not here. He gone away to his uncle's, which was strange, and he tried to make a quick retreat, but well. Mrs Jemima asked if they were friends, so he lied, afterall he couldn't tell her, I bully your son because I don't know how to act around him. He tries to say it's fine, he'll catch Rupert when he comes back, but she offers to let him know in her next letter. So Justin panics, asks for the address so Justin can tell Rupert himself. Of course she gives it. Why wouldn't she give it to her son's friend? He takes the written down address, and speeds away. Yet no matter how fast he goes, the guilt of lying to her trusting face eats at him.

That's how he finds himself days later, waiting for a respond to a letter he never meant to write. Rupert might not even respond, and that would be understandable. He has been horrible to him, yet Rupert still saved him. Justin doesn't understand why he did, but if Rupert can be brave enough to do that, then he can accept the outcome of the letter. Even if that outcomes no responds. At least, he's convince himself he could, but as comes home after a day with Jerry, his kind of fascist friend, to a letter waiting with his name on. His heart pounds, and he feels a weight lift of him. 

Justin's aunt is distracted in the kitchen, making dinner for her husband. He's not home yet, and it's best for Justin to be out of sight when he is. Especially if he wants to keep his letter. Quick as can be, he grabs the letter off the table and heads up to his room. He's well practiced as going up fast while not making a sound, avoiding each creaky wooden board. 

Bedroom door carefully shut, not a sound made as if he wasn't even here. It's really more of a closet than a bedroom but it works just fine. His hands shake as he goes to open the envelope.

"Come on now, it's just a letter. Nothing to be afraid of" 

Carefully, he pulls open the envelope flap, not making a single rip. He holds the letter in his hands for a moment, still folded in half. He didn't know what to expect the content to be. But either way, there's nothing he can do now to change it. He can only read.

Hey Justin,

This is Rupert, but you must know that. Unless you're sending letters to others to.

I wasn't expecting a letter from you, and you didn't need to. You have nothing to thank me for, this was my fault anyway.... fine, you being a dick didn't help, but I nearly killed you again So we're even I guess?

You should forget about me completely, it's for the best. I'm bad news. 

I hope sommerset is doing well,

Goodbye Justin. 

Justin read the letter again and again. Of all things he thought he might get as a response it wasn't this. It makes no sense, it was andre beetroots fault, so why is Rupert taking the blame? He's the bad news, not Rupert. Each read over, only convinces Justin, that something very wrong with Rupert. A pit of dread grows deeper, and deeper in his centre. The crossed out word, makes it worse as he swears he can just about see the word again, under the scribbles. Justin has no chance to think on it more, as his uncle shouts for him. 

Quickly, but carefully, he puts the letter back in the envelope and hides it in the box under his bed. He wants to stay, to figure out the letter and Rupert, but he must go before his uncle gets truly angry.