Why Should We Hide?

"Um...are you alright Jacen?" Artemis asked hesitantly, knowing that even speaking in a certain tone could set his twin off when he was in such a state.

"Yes, I'm fine!" Jacen snapped in response, still not in a good mood after arguing with their father.

Dante couldn't help but jump at his brother snapping at Artemis, he hated when Jacen got like this. He hated any kind of fighting after having listened to his brother and father fight for so long.

"Did you want me to make you some coffee or something?" Artemis asked, frowning at the way Jacen had snapped at him.

"You know I don't drink that crap."

"It's better for you than the other stuff you drink..." Artemis frowned.

Dante made a soft upset noise at the fighting and curled up slightly.

Alex went over to the younger boy, "Its okay..." He whispered, "How about just tea Jacen?" He asked.

Jacen paused and turned to look at Alex, having still been snapping at Artemis until Alex spoke to him. He went to say something else before biting his lip. "Tea's better I guess..." He muttered.

Alex nodded and got up, "Dante can you show me where the stuff for making tea is?" He figured the younger teen would want out of the room.

Dante nodded and got up following Alex into the kitchen.

Jacen moved aside to let let them into the kitchen, frowning as he watched them pass before turning back to Artemis, snapping at him again as soon as the other two were out of the room.

"I saw the two of you before, he's my friend, he's staying here because I invited him. You stay away from him!" He hissed at Artemis, though any other time he would have been happy for his twin.

"Who cares if you invited him, it's not like you even speak to him half the time, let alone anyone else in the house...unless you're being an ass to them of course."

"I wouldn't be an ass if you all minded your own business..."

"No Jacen, you wouldn't be an ass if you didn't take all the stupid stuff you do and if you didn't go out drinking almost every night!" Artemis hissed back at him, not wanting to speak too loudly knowing they were upsetting Dante; plus he didn't want to wake their father back up.

Dante started on the tea, getting the water really. He was trying to ignore his brother's fighting, hoping the fighting would be over soon.

Alex stood close to the door, getting the cups ready. He heard the conversion between the twins and frowned, he glanced at Dante to make sure he didn't hear before heading to the doorway. He frowned as he looked into the room. "Jacen..."

Jacen went to respond to Artemis, but paused when he heard his name, turning to face Alex, frowning.

"What?" He asked rudely, looking at Alex with an annoyed expression, though he'd already had it before turning to his friend.

"Don't speak to him like that..." Artemis said, frowning as he watched.

Alex shook his head, a small annoyed look crossing his face. "Look I am your friend Jacen and thank you for having me stay here... But if Artemis wants to be... Wi... Around me and I want him to then we will Jacen...."

Jacen went to respond rudely again but managed to stop himself, his normal self showing through. Instead, he just shrugged his shoulders and turned to head back to his room, muttering about needing more sleep.

Alex sighed and watched as Jacen left, surprised his friend hadn't started a fight. He looked over at Artemis before running his finger's though his hair. "You okay?" He asked silently, not wanting Dante to hear about the mini fight between the twins.

Artemis slowly nodded in response, though he frowned anyway. "Yeah," He said quietly, sighing. "Had it worse before..."

Alex slowly went over and gave him a hug, feeling shy about standing up to Jacen.

Dante walked into the room with the tea, "He left?" He asked with a confused pout.

Artemis gave a small smile and leaned against Alex before looking over at Dante. "He went back to his room." He told his brother. "It should be fine if you're just bringing him his drink, he seemed a little calmer..."

Dante nodded and headed upstairs with his brother's tea, knocking carefully on the door. "Jacen?"

Alex looked shyly at Artemis, "I can't believe he tried to warn you off me..."

Jacen groaned as he rolled over to get back up off his bed, slowly going over to the door to open it. "What do you- ?" He started rudely before realising it was only Dante, having assumed Artemis had followed him. "Oh, Dante... sorry."

"Any other time he would have been happy for me," Artemis mumbled, frowning. "Like he was last time..." He added, forgetting most people didn't know about the last time.

"Its okay..." Dante said softly before holding the cup out to his oldest brother, "I brought your tea..."

"You've dated before?" Alex asked curiously.

"Oh...uh, thanks." Jacen muttered, slowly reaching his hands out to take the tea.

Realising what he'd accidentally said, Artemis jumped slightly, debating whether or not to pretend he'd said something else before deciding to just admit it. "Yeah...I have." He sighed.

Dante gave a small smile at his brother.

"Hopefully it wasn't an ass like Austin..." Alex said softly, giving a small smile.

Jacen half smiled back at Dante before going to sit on his bed, slowly drinking some of his tea.

"Oh, no..." Artemis answered, shaking his head. "It wasn't like that."

Dante smiled and headed out of the room.

Alex nodded, "Well good, no one deserves an ass like him." He smiled as he sat next to him again.

Jacen let out a small sigh, going back to drinking his tea afterwards.

"No, they don't." Artemis agreed, smiling a little after hearing Alex say that after hearing Alex blame himself for how Austin had behaved earlier.

"Anyone would be lucky to have you though." Alex said with a shy smile, looking at his hands.

Dante walked to the doorway.

"They would not..." Artemis mumbled, blushing as he looked away. "I'm nothing special."