Silas’ eyes flick to Phoenix, and I can see the judgment, the wariness, the faint trace of protective suspicion. Phoenix shifts slightly, a little defensive, but holds himself in a way that’s controlled—more than he usually manages.
“Good to see you again,” Phoenix says, offering a handshake. It’s firm, polite, but I can feel the tension under it, like he’s bracing himself for impact.
Silas accepts it slowly, eyes sharp, but Phoenix doesn’t flinch. He’s on his best behavior. Smiling when necessary, nodding atthe right moments, keeping his hands mostly to himself. I can feel the hum of alertness beneath the calm exterior, like a coiled spring.
The night starts civil enough. We sit in Silas’ living room, awkward small talk filling the space between us. Phoenix is careful with every word, every gesture, like he’s measuring the exact amount of charm and restraint needed. I’m proud of him, secretly marveling at how he can control himself when he wants to.
Silas keeps a cautious distance, arms crossed for most of the evening, eyes flicking between me and Phoenix as if expecting a sudden move. Phoenix’s leg nudges mine under the coffee table; the contact is subtle, a reminder that he’s here for me, even if Silas doesn’t trust him yet.
I notice the small gestures—the way Phoenix leans in slightly when I speak, the protective way he angles his body towards me, the rare smile he gives when Silas glances away. It’s almost hypnotic, the way he can make himself seem both calm and magnetic, even under scrutiny.
I’m trying to keep my composure, but the tension in the apartment is a physical weight pressing down on my chest. Phoenix excuses himself to the bathroom, muttering something under his breath about needing a second. I watch him go, noticing how his shoulders are tense, the tight line of his jaw. I know him well enough by now to read the storm brewing just beneath his surface, and the thought makes my stomach tighten.
As soon as the door closes behind him, Silas turns toward me, voice low and sharp, like he’s trying to cut me down before I can defend myself. “You know, Lee,” he begins, pacing slightly, “I can’t believe you fell for him. You really think he’s good for you?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to snap. I feel a familiar swell of irritation, but I can’t act on it. Phoenix is in thebathroom; if he hears Silas calling him out, I know he won’t hold back. And that… that could get ugly.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say cautiously, trying to keep my voice even. “Phoenix is… he’s not—” I trail off, realizing Silas has started down his usual path, the one that twists everything I care about into a lecture.
Silas sneers slightly, shaking his head. “No, Lee, listen. You think you’re so smart. You think you can see past people’s flaws. But he’s obsessive, controlling. You’re blind if you don’t see it. And you’re not just blind—you’re falling for him. He’s playing with your heart right in your face and you’re just letting him.”
The words sting in a way I didn’t expect. Part of me wants to argue, to shove back against every accusation. Another part of me knows he’s wrong about Phoenix, knows that Phoenix isn’t like my dad, knows that what I feel is real. But the tension in the room presses down like a physical weight, making it hard to think.
My chest tightens, a burning knot forming in my stomach. There’s a flicker of fear, because I know Phoenix will hear that, and the look on his face when he’s triggered is… it’s terrifying. I’ve seen him before—powerful, dangerous, coiled like a predator ready to strike. And the thought of him snapping over words I can’t control sends a shiver down my spine.
“Lee, listen to me,” Silas continues, taking a step closer. “He’s dangerous. Obsessive. He’s going to control you. You think he cares about you, but he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. You’re making a huge mistake. You’re letting yourself get burned, and you’ll be stupid enough to blame yourself for it later.”
I flinch, trying to hold my ground, trying to push back against the panic that’s rising inside me. I want to yell, to defend Phoenix, to tell Silas to shut up, but my voice feels trapped in my throat.
“I… I know him,” I manage, voice quieter than I want it to be. “You don’t. You can’t?—”
Silas snorts. “Lee, I’ve seen enough. Magazines, gossip, the internet. He was a huge partier in college, caught with drugs. I heard he’s still using but no one wants to bench him because he’s a fan favorite. So, you saw dad using all those years and you thought ‘Hey why don’t I bring another useless druggie into my life?’ You’re being a fucking idiot, Lee! I’m sure you can get your dick wet somewhere—anywhere else!”
Phoenix steps out of the bathroom and immediately senses the tension, his gaze snapping to Silas before I even have a chance to warn him. Silas doesn’t wait either—he starts in before Phoenix can even take a step.
“You think he’s good for you?” Silas sneers, stepping closer, voice low and dangerous. “You think you’re safe with him? He’s just like dad!” His voice drops, venom lacing every word.
Before I can even breathe, Phoenix closes the space between me and Silas, his voice low, controlled, but carrying an unmistakable warning. “Step back,” he says. His hand moves, a deliberate, firm shove that puts distance between Silas and me.
Silas recoils for a fraction of a second, eyes widening, but then his face hardens. That’s when I see it—the flash of recognition, the trigger, the rage. He thinks it’s our father pushing him back instead of Phoenix. Silas doesn’t realize that he’s no longer in the past. All he knows is that someone is standing between him and his baby brother. His hand lashes out almost instinctively, landing a punch square on Phoenix’s jaw.
The sound of the impact makes my stomach drop. Phoenix stumbles slightly, shock crossing his face for just a heartbeat before fury replaces it. I’ve never seen him like this before: every muscle coiled, his jaw set, eyes dark with barely contained rage. He could destroy Silas in a heartbeat, and I know it.
“Silas, what the fuck?!” I shout, grabbing Phoenix’s arm, trying to pull him back before he loses control completely. My heart is hammering. “Look at me. Stop.”
Phoenix freezes for a split second, just long enough to glance at me, and in that instant, I see the storm behind his eyes—the raw need to protect me, the surge of violence he’s barely holding back. His hands twitch, ready to strike again, but he listens to me, even in that moment.
I take a deep breath, my hands gripping his shoulders. “Please,” I whisper, voice trembling. “Go wait in the car. Just… wait. I’ll deal with this. I’ll handle him. Just… go.”
Phoenix’s gaze flicks between me and Silas, his chest rising and falling rapidly. The tension radiating off him is palpable, like a predator straining against its leash. I can feel the power behind him, the danger, the heat and yet, he’s listening.
“Twenty minutes,” he growls softly, his voice low and dangerous. “If you’re not down there in twenty minutes, I’m coming back inside, Lee. And you won’t like it.”
I nod frantically, knowing it’s the only thing that will hold him back. “I’ll be quick,” I promise, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Just… go.”
Phoenix hesitates, eyes softening on me for a fraction of a second, a tiny flicker of something unspoken passing between us. Then he turns, back straightening, and strides toward the door. I watch him go, every step deliberate, controlled, but I can feel the hum of his anger from where I’m standing, the quiet rage he carries like a second skin.
Silas takes a cautious step back, looking between us, uncertainty creeping into his posture. I can see him re-evaluating, finally realizing that Phoenix was the one he hit and not our dad.
