Wallis understood what the problem was now as the situation unfurled. Mason was angry because he didn't get his nut the night before, but it still didn't excuse his actions that morning. Mason could be violent. He'd seen it, and in some ways, that violence could be useful. Just not when it was turned in on themselves. Not against Lex who Mason would know full well didn't know how to defend himself physically (his words were something else entirely), especially blindsided as he was. Lex only waved Wallis off, rightfully angry trying to recover from the shock of it all.<br/><br/>The large man assisted Lex with the rest of breakfast.<br/><br/>“I'll bring it to him. Maybe have a word.” Perhaps they had a different sort of arrangement worked out than he had with Lex but Wallis doubted it. Mason was just overreacting.<br/><br/>“Doesn't seem right to be pounding on him when we're supposed to be the ones protecting him,” Wallis said when he handed over the meal. Mason only sent him a seething look but made no comment. Wallis left it at that for now and returned to Lex.<br/><br/>“Forest told me we could use as much of the water from the well as we wanted. We'd just have to pump it ourselves. Wash and put away the dishes when we're done. Said there was soap somewhere in the kitchen.” Wallis went searching around, opening cabinets. He found some irregular squares, obviously homemade. They were an unappealing pale gray shade but smelled faintly of lemon. After putting it to his nose he offered Lex a sniff.<br/><br/>“Wonder how he makes all this.”<br/><br/>The sun felt nice on Wallis' skin as he made his way outside, two buckets in hand. He and Lex laid their clothing on a fence to scrub themselves, neither shy to one another, even out in the open. After, they scrubbed out their clothes. They left Mason to sulk in the farmhouse, carrying on with their day. That morning was easily forgotten for a few luxuries that had been taken for granted. It felt nice to be clean and smelling faintly of lemon. Wallis, feeling rejuvenated, fucked Lex up against the side of the barn, being easier on him with the bright bruise forming on his torso as he waited for his clothing to dry. When he kissed Lex he imagined someone else but they got one another's needs met and Wallis was considerate of his body. It was easy and casual, if a bit more infrequent than Mason partook.<br/><br/>Forest was none the wiser when he returned home, just as the sun was going down.<br/><br/>“Nothin' livin, but found blackberries an some wild asparagus. Might not seem like much yet but you get to eatin' the same thing and you'll surely be grateful for a little variety,” Forest said, pleased nonetheless for his find. His lips were stained from where he'd eaten them on the way home.<br/><br/>“Y'all find everything okay while I was out? No trouble I'm assumin'?” Forest looked between them. Mason was a little distant but the other two didn't smell rank like before so he imagined they'd found the soap he'd been talking about. He caught sight of a bruise on Lex that hadn't been there the day before. He looked at the young man, mouth parted, but didn't come out directly and ask. He assumed they were simply in the habit of keeping Lex roughed up, so he looked mottled like they did. Still, he didn't see the need being that no one was letting anyone get close enough to take a look.<br/><br/>“If we can figure out how to make bread I imagine a jam might not be that difficult either,” he said, putting everything on the counter. “They aren't that sweet anyway. Some age might help them.” Forest seemed in good spirits even if physically he appeared a little haggard. He was used to operating under such conditions but needed a minute to sit down before going back out to finish up tending the farm for the evening. That next day he planned on introducing the boys to some proper work.