"You can't!" River hissed, but Zeke was running his hands down his arms now, and it instantly settled the terror that gripped him, though he still felt wary of Ezekiel's decision. He watched with narrowed eyes as Ezekiel took the phone and dialed his mother's supposed phone number, looking on as if he half expected the phone to bite at Ezekiel's ear once he put the receiver too close to his head. River could only just hear the ringing on the other end, but he didn't hear the voice that spoke to Ezekiel, he only saw the color drain from his face and his body go rigid. The older boy slammed the receiver down and clung to River desperately, and he opened his arms wide to receive the shaken young man.<br/><br/>"It's okay," River whispered, firmly pulling the smaller man into his lap and wrapping his long arms around him, tilting his head to the side so Ezekiel could completely bury himself in his neck if he wanted to. Ezekiel was the one who typically comforted River through his many fits and tantrums, but when Ezekiel was struggling with negative emotions, River was always there to return the favor wholeheartedly, feeling his heart break at the sight of his love in emotional shambles. They only had each other. Who was going to make Ezekiel feel better if not for River? One hand stroked the back of Zeke's head, absentmindedly playing with the silky blonde strands, while the other slipped beneath Ezekiel's shirt so he could hold onto the young man's hip and feel the familiar warmth of his skin. Ezekiel needed to be touched; it was the only way River knew how to completely soothe the other, the only lesson they had ever been able to teach themselves. Physical closeness and affection wasn't just nice or fun for the them, it was a coping mechanism both boys utilized vigorously. Were they not in such a strange and cold environment, River would have tried to take off Ezekiel's pants, to touch him in that way he liked and make him feel better. But the officers were too close, and just as River was considering running his hand up Ezekiel's thigh, Officer Watson returned to intrude upon their solitude. River's grip on Ezekiel tightened, and he pressed his face into his pseudo-brother's shoulder so he wouldn't have to look at Watson directly.<br/><br/>Ezekiel reacted aggressively when Watson spoke, and he jerked violently in River's arms. The younger boy held onto him, his eyes darting to Watson. "You shouldn't have done that," River said, his voice strangely low and ominous, as if he was threatening the officer. "Our parents are strangers to us. The world is a stranger to us. Why would you want to force us into the arms of people we do not know? That isn't nice. That isn't nice at all. We're not leaving each other. Never ever ever. You can't make us. You can't make us!" He punctuated his sentiments with a loud, desperate cry, but the policeman was trying to talk soft to them again. River wasn't going to fall for it, no, no.<br/><br/>"Look at what you did!" River hissed, petting Ezekiel again now that he was crying onto his chest, salty tears running down his face and onto River's exposed skin. His hand was still underneath Ezekiel's shirt, stroking the soft pale skin and pulling him as close as he possibly could. "You don't understand. You can't understand," he mumbled, sprinkling the top of Ezekiel's head with kisses, though his deep blue eyes still stared intently at Watson. "We will never let you separate us. I will die without him. I will burn in Hell for all of my sins but it would be nothing compared to the torture you would be forcing upon me if you took Ezekiel away for one minute." He cradled his love's body against him, shaking his head and shushing him gently before returning his focus back onto Watson.<br/><br/>"Our parents do not want us, they have never wanted us. We know this." River's mouth stopped in that moment of its own accord, reluctant to say anything about Father Lamont or the lessons he had taught the boys while they were in his care. The conversations about River's parents had always been the same, no matter when River had asked. He assumed it had been the same for Ezekiel, although he had never bothered to inquire about the Benetts.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;​</div><br/><i>"Where is Mommy and Daddy?" five year old River asked, sniffling sadly as he tugged on Father Lamont's sleeve.<br/>
<br/>
"I told you before. They gave you to me. They said they did not want to have to take care of a little boy they didn't love."<br/>
<br/>
"Where's Sunny?"<br/>
<br/>
"There is no Sunny."<br/>
<br/>
"My sisssy, Sunny, she's really tall, and she has yellow hair."<br/>
<br/>
"You made her up. She's not real."<br/>
<br/>
"Mommy and Daddy said--" but the little boy's words were halted by the backhand smack Father Lamont had delivered to the small boy's face, sending the child flying backwards onto the floor, dizzy and screaming.<br/>
<br/>
"Enough!" Father Lamont bellowed. The child's questions were becoming irritating. He was far too spirited. He needed to learn obedience and silence if Father Lamont was going to satisfy the Lord's plan. <br/>
<br/>
"Your parents gave you to me because I am the only one who loves you, do you understand? They do not want you back. I am the only one who will ever love you and care for you. Everything I do for you is because you are my son, and I will not tolerate such disrespect. Do you understand?"<br/>
<br/>
The little boy shook like a leaf but nodded, and Father Lamont grabbed him hard by the wrist and dragged him downstairs to put him with the other one, to get him out of the way. "The next time you ask about your parents, I will not be so nice."</i><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;<br/>​</div>"I love you, I love you, I love you," River whispered into Ezekiel's ear, his attention completely severed from Watson now. The cop didn't understand. He couldn't understand. "I will never leave you, never, never. Don't worry. Don't worry." He kept trying to speak this assurances to Zeke, but now he was beginning to cry too, his lips still gracing Ezekiel's head. "Never, never."<br/><br/>What if Zeke's mother tried to separate them? They would have to fight and run. Always running. He would run anywhere with Ezekiel, if he had to. But it was scary. The world was scary. He wished he could go back to Father Lamont's basement. The rules made sense there. They had their boundaries and their four walls and they were fed. Even after Father Lamont beat them, they could retreat into one another's arms and not worry until the next time his fingers grew twitchy. This was too much, all of this. He hated it. Why couldn't everyone just leave them alone?