Chapter One-hundred Sixty: Hurt Him to Protect Him

Chapter 160

Hurt Him to Protect Him

That afternoon, a 1959 Teal Sequin Cadillac Eldorado pulled up to Ashley and Lazaros’ house. Fen Huang stepped out. He wore a dark teal coat with a fur trim, a beige silk shirt with the buttons undone to expose his chest, dark green leather pants, and gold alligator shoes. He was smoking from a kiseru.

Lily: “Daddy!”

Fen rolled his eyes and went to the passenger door to open it for her. Lily stepped out dressed in a full-skirted pink ballgown with intricate details. It featured a corset-style bodice with a crisscross design on the front. The skirt had elaborate draping, ruching, and large rose embellishments on the hip. It was completed with long gloves, a large necklace, and a headband adorned with pink roses.

Fen saw Ashley on the front patio and waved to them.

Fen: “Nihao, měilì de!”

He called. Ashley tilted their head and waved back.

Ashley: “Hello!”

They smiled politely.

Fen: “So, dollface, I only heard the best of the best from my daughter’s fiancé!”

He grinned and inhaled a drag from his kiseru. Ashley’s eyes widened as they observed Fen’s teal coat and facial features.

Ashley: “...Ivy? Blair?!”

Their expression soured. Fen grinned.

Fen: “Um-hmm… Yes, the plain sourdough boy raved about you and your baking, so I decided to witness this myself.”

He grinned. Lily tugged on Fen’s coat.

Lily: “Daddy, can you ask her if she saw Borko?”

Fen’s right eye twitched.

Fen: “Oh, and have you seen some old fart named Dorko or whatever? He looks like a Captain Samson cosplayer.”

He said as his temper was starting to rise. Ashley tilted their head in confusion.

Ashley: “Dorko? Who’s Dorko? A Captain Samson cosplayer, haha?”

They laughed and scratched their head.

Lily pulled out a missing poster she made of Borko in a bathtub to show them.

Lily: “I am in my ball gown because tonight is the night of the ball, and Borko took me last year. I hope he comes out of missing to take me. He was my dashing prince!”

She cried. Fen rolled his eyes. Ashley recoiled and cupped their mouth at the photo of the elderly man grinning in his bathtub.

Ashley: “O-Oh dear!”

They gagged and rushed over to their garden, throwing up in disgust. Fen sighed and shook his head.

Lily: “DADDY!”

She whined.

Fen: “Sorry, ‘bout that, sweetheart!”

He drawled. Ashley caught their breath and shuddered.

Fen: “I didn’t come here today to inquire about that old fart because frankly, no one cares, and neither do you.”

He smiled. Ashley shifted uncomfortably and said nothing.

Fen: “I came to inquire if you would be so kind to cater to the opening of my brothel, Miss Peahaven!”

He spread his arms out. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “Oooh! Sure, that sounds fun! I love peas and grow my own, too!”

They beamed. Fen gaped at them and burst out laughing.

Fen: “No, no, sweetheart! It has nothing to do with peas! I made a pun because my family emblem is a peacock!”

He laughed and opened his shirt to reveal more of his chest, which was adorned with a peacock tattoo. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “OH! You run a place full of peacocks? I love peacocks!”

They beamed. Fen smiled.

Fen: “Yes, I own a peacock. Anyway, would you be a lamb and cater to my grand opening?”

He grinned.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! I’ve always wanted to see a real peacock!”

They gasped.

Ashley: “Oh, you want me to dress up like a lamb? Sure! I can do that!”

They chirped and laughed.

Fen: “It’s an expression, hon! You dress however you want!”

He winked.

Ashley: “Oh, pawesome! I’m so excited!”

They squealed.

Fen: “That makes the two of us, sweetheart!”

He chuckled.

~

Tristan sat in his office, his elbows resting on his desk with his hands folded. He wore an Italian-cut black three-piece suit, light blue pressed shirt, dark blue tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. He sat deep in thought, regretting how he reacted to Jordi. I should have walked away, he thought.

He inhaled sharply and withdrew his pocket watch from his suit jacket to look at the time. I should take a break, he thought.

He entered his recreation room and saw Rosemary seated on the sofa watching the news. I’m surprised she’s not glued to the TV with a Hallmark movie, he thought dryly.

Tristan: “Afternoon, Rosemary.”

He said genially and sat with her. She smiled tightly at him.

Rosemary: “Tonight is the annual ball. Lily is excited.”

Tristan wanted to die on the inside. He knew what this was going to lead to.

Rosemary: “Last year, Borko asked her to the dance and she said yes. She’s hoping he will come out of hiding to take her.”

She smiled sadly. I’m so sure he will, Tristan thought dryly.

Rosemary: “Tristan, from my experience of disappearances, they never end well.”

She choked. Tristan stared blankly into space. I couldn’t care less, and I only wanted to know what his connection was to Ichiro, he thought.

Rosemary: “Tristan, if you ever find the news, please don’t break it to her.”

She begged. Tristan inhaled sharply.

Tristan: “You have nothing to fear, Rosemary. I would never want to upset Lily.”

He said dryly. Rosemary smiled tightly.

Rosemary: “You’re a good man, Tristan. I wish Ivy had a man like you and not that Blair scoundrel!”

She patted his hand. Rosemary’s words made Tristan feel like he was slowly dying on the inside.

Breaking news came on the TV. They showed footage of a crane pulling a brown 1975 Mercury Grand Marquis out of the water. Rosemary froze and gaped at the TV, horrified. Tristan flicked his gaze to her and watched the TV. The newscaster stated that a sonar from a boat picked up an unusual object, and the cranes lifted the car out of the Bellewell Brook.

The newscaster added that they found a corpse inside the driver’s side of the car, and it was identified as Borko Brava through dental records.

Rosemary sobbed and clutched Tristan’s chest as she cried. Tristan heaved a deep sigh and rolled his eyes as he put his arms around her.

Tristan: “I’m so very sorry, Rosemary. This comes as a shock to us all.”

He said dryly.

The newscaster added that he left behind a daughter and grandchildren, and authorities notified his daughter. They stated she said she was glad he was gone and the world is better off without him. Yeah, no kidding there, Tristan thought.

Tristan handed Rosemary a handkerchief. She thanked him and dabbed her eyes.

Rosemary: “Tristan, I hate to ask this of you, but do you mind if I take the rest of the day off? This is very stressful for me.”

She sobbed. Tristan forced a smile.

Tristan: “I understand, Rosemary. No, I don’t mind at all. Please take care of yourself and give Lily my regards.”

He said genially and patted her back. Rosemary smiled at him.

Rosemary: “You’re a good man, Tristan. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate you should be shamed.”

She nodded. Tristan froze and forced another smile.

Tristan: “Thanks.”

He whispered.

~

Tristan stood in his office and watched Rosemary leave for her car from his window. He folded his arms behind his back and bowed his head. He heard a knock at his door.

Tristan: “Come in, please.”

The door opened, and Deimos stepped in. He wore an Iron Maiden tank top, torn jeans, and cowboy boots. He held up a bouquet of roses for Tristan. Tristan’s green eyes sparkled with delight. He took the bouquet and inhaled it.

Tristan: “Deimos! What a lovely surprise! Thank you!”

He said breathlessly. He placed the flowers in a vase and turned to him with a smile. Deimos smiled sadly at him, his eyes gazing at him beseechingly. Tristan raked his fingers through his hair.

Tristan: “So…, you heard everything with Jordi, did you?”

He asked him. Deimos lowered his head.

Deimos: “Yeah.”

Tristan sat on the sofa, crossing his legs, and Deimos sat with him.

Tristan: “I didn’t know what to say to him.”

He said earnestly. Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “What could you say? I left you at the park because of Ivy’s bullshit. I was mean and cruel to Jaxon because he was trying to help me face my demons. I also hurt you. I said I wished you were like Ashley.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Deimos: “Jaxon is right: I am a colossal asshole. If anyone else treated their lover or friend as I treat mine, I would call them a dick, and I would be right.”

He said sadly.

Deimos: “Ever since I met you, I wanted to protect you, and I keep proving that I am not doing that. I am just snapping at you over my own insecurities. I can’t be the man you need.”

He inhaled sharply. Tristan pursed his lips and removed his glasses to wipe his eyes.

Deimos: “I went away to fix myself, and Hiroto kidnapped Jaxon for Noriko. Even when I try to be a better man for you, I still fall short.”

He bowed his head.

Tristan cleared his throat and put his glasses back on.

Tristan: “When you did those things, it cut me deeply.”

He began. Deimos nodded.

Deimos: “I know.”

Tristan: “As for why I stay…, I love you. That’s why I stay.”

Deimos looked away.

Tristan: “I love you… Rocky roads are a part of relationships. We will hurt each other, go through hard storms together, and so on! It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows!”

He cried.

Tristan: “People are too quick to end a relationship if they endure one slight obstacle! Fight? Break up! Disagreement? Break up! This is the same bullshit I hear from Rosemary with regards to Archie when she doesn’t communicate her needs to him!”

He added and threw his hands up in frustration.

Deimos: “I left you at the park, Tristan. I left you in a moshpit to argue with Jaxon. You can’t compare those two to Archie giving her an electric can opener. It’s not comparable! I am NOT a good person!”

He said as hurt flickered on his face. Tristan’s bottom lip trembled as tears dripped down his cheeks.

Tristan: “What are you getting at here, Deimos?”

He gaped at him.

Deimos: “Archie gave Rosemary that gift because she kept complaining about manual can openers. He was thinking of her. It was not a cruel act… What I did to you was… What I did to Jaxon was too.”

Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “Yeah, it hurt me a lot.”

Deimos: “You deserve better than this, Tristan.”

He said earnestly and smiled sadly.

He took Tristan’s hands and kissed each of them. Tristan smiled a bit.

Deimos: “I want you to find someone who can be everything you deserve.”

Tristan’s heart shattered at those words. He yanked his hands out of Deimos’ grasp.

Tristan: “GODDAMN YOU, DEIMOS! STOP THIS NOW!”

He snapped through hot tears.

Tristan: “I told you why I stayed, and my answer is not sufficient to you!?!”

He barked. Deimos drew back and bowed his head.

Deimos: “Jaxon said I was a colossal dick! He’s absolutely right! You didn’t answer Jordi!”

He huffed.

Tristan: “I didn’t have an answer for him, and I knew why he was asking me that! It doesn’t matter, does it? It’s none of his business!”

He snapped.

Deimos: “You didn’t have an answer because he’s right, Tristan! And I’m letting you go because I love you!”

He fired back.

Tristan’s fist flew directly into Deimos’ face, punching him right in the nose, and the impact knocked him back. Deimos wiped his nose and was surprised to see blood. He raised his head to see Tristan glaring down at him, his eyes blazing with hot anger, tears streaming down his cheeks, and baring his teeth.

Deimos: “Tristan…”

He said softly.

Tristan: “Get the Hell out of my sight, Deimos! You say you want to be a better man for me, but you keep hurting me repeatedly! You’re proving right now you’re a liar! You don’t WANT to be a better man for me! You don’t want even to try!”

He cried.

Deimos: “I DO want to be a better man for you, but I can’t be!”

He said doggedly as he rose to his feet. Tristan removed his glasses to wipe his tears from his eyes.

Tristan: “You’re a blind fool, Deimos.”

Deimos’ eyelids dipped.

Deimos: “And this is proof of how I am not a good person. I’m sorry, Tristan. I’m sorry for everything.”

He muttered.

Tristan: “Shut up. Get out of my sight.”

He said coldly, waving his hand. He took the bouquet of roses and threw them at Deimos. Rose petals flew and fell onto the floor. Deimos’ bottom lip trembled, and he marched out of there. Tristan heaved a deep sigh and sat down at his desk to remove his glasses and weep into his hands.

~

Ichiro went into the recreation room. He wore a dark red pressed shirt, a black tie, black pants, and black cap-toe Oxfords. He wore a lab coat over his clothes. He saw Cedar in the break room, smoking and watching TV. Ichiro joined him. He withdrew a cigarillo from his lab coat, lit it up, and inhaled a long drag.

The two men watched the segment on the news where crews pulled Borko Brava’s vehicle out of Bellewell Brook. The newscaster stated foul play is suspected. Ichiro gaped at the TV screen with a blank stare on his face. Cedar turned to him.

Cedar: “Wasn’t he your mentor?”

Ichiro bowed his head.

Ichiro: “Yes, he was the one who recruited me and taught me everything I know about this company.”

Cedar knit his eyebrows.

Cedar: “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Ichiro shrugged.

Ichiro: “Don’t be. His life spiraled downward. I suppose it was only a matter of time.”

He said noncommittally. Cedar gaped at the TV screen. Sociopaths surround me, he thought.

The newscaster stated that they estimate Borko has been submerged in this brook for months. Cedar turned to Borko.

Cedar: “When was the last time you saw Borko?”

He asked. Ichiro flicked his gaze up to the ceiling.

Ichiro: “Probably at that engagement party for the dippy girl and her whiny boyfriend.”

He replied.

Cedar: “So he probably died the night of that engagement party.”

Ichiro paused and shrugged.

Ichiro: “Possibly.”

Cedar: “Do you think he had too much to drink and drove into the brook?”

Ichiro inhaled sharply.

Ichiro: “That’s the most interesting part: he never drank. Why would he start now? I spoke with him when we went driving in his car, and nothing seemed off.”

Cedar: “What do you think happened?”

Ichiro wagged his head.

Ichiro: “He either had a heart attack while driving and lost control of his car… or some disgruntled client killed him. He was selling bottles of club soda at two hundred dollars a bottle and calling it ‘love potion.’ Perhaps some crazy person was angry it wasn’t working.”

He drew a long breath and inhaled another drag. Cedar scrutinized him.

Cedar: “I guess we’ll find out more when they divulge their findings.”

Ichiro: “It doesn’t ultimately matter. He’s out of his misery now. His life was kowtowing to that little Chinese shithead who wore diapers and acted like a toddler. That’s no quality of life.”

He concluded. Cedar stared blankly and laughed bitterly.

~

Celeste and Jaxon were on the couch watching TV. Celeste wore a white crop top, black denim jacket, Daisy Dukes, and black fishnets. Jaxon wore a black button-up shirt with gold dragons on each side, torn jeans, and sheer black socks.

Breaking news came on. The newscaster stated that earlier today, they recovered Borko Brava’s car and corpse from the Bellewell Brook, and the vehicle and body had been in the brook since spring.

Jaxon: “So they finally found that old kook Tristan’s secretary’s daughter was looking for. The one who was involved with Ichiro. I fucking knew that psycho killed him.”

He folded his arms.

Celeste glanced at him.

Celeste: “How do you know, though? It seems like he got drunk and drove right into the water.”

She tilted her head.

Jaxon: “He wouldn’t be able to start a car if he were that drunk.”

He huffed.

Celeste: “Maybe he had a heart attack while driving.”

Jaxon gaped at her.

The newscaster stated that the forensic pathologist discovered bullet holes in his limbs and one right between the eyes, and they’re treating this case as a homicide now. Jaxon extended his hand to the TV.

Jaxon: “There you go.”

Celeste: “I still don’t think this was Ichiro, Jax. This isn’t his style. If Borko was found dead and turned into a richonoid, then yeah, it’s him, but I never figured Ichiro would shoot someone dead, and dispose of the body in a brook.

She stated. Jaxon glared at her.

Jaxon: “Why are you defending him?!”

He asked sharply. Celeste blinked.

Celeste: “I’m not, though. I’m saying that this is not his style. I think Ichiro would try to make the death look like an accident rather than this. This seems amateurish.”

She stated.

Jaxon furrowed his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “First, you don’t defend me at the concert, you’re still friends with that dickhead, and now you’re saying Ichiro didn’t do this.”

He snapped. She blinked.

Jaxon: “Yes, he fucking did this! I called it when Sylvia said that old man was missing and I am SO sick of everyone defending him and thinking he’s great!”

He angrily rose from the couch and threw his arms up.

Celeste: “I never defended Ichiro or said he was great; I only said I don’t think he did this.”

Jaxon: “But you STILL didn’t defend me to Deimos and are STILL trying to fix him and Tristan! Just let Tristan find better!”

He snapped. Celeste bowed her head.

Celeste: “It’s not for us to say Tristan should ‘find better’. Even though I hated Ivy with a passion and still do, I never told Deimos to leave her.”

She replied.

Jaxon: “Why didn’t you defend me when Deimos was being a dick to me?!”

He flared hotly. Celeste hugged her knees.

Celeste: “I don’t know… I guess because you did press him to face Lazaros when he told you to stop.”

She murmured. Jaxon turned to her with fury.

Jaxon: “So that means I deserve it?!”

Celeste: “No… I also knew Deimos would get this out of his system and apologize.”

She stated this, her eyes wide with surprise.

Jaxon: “Yup, and he’ll do it again and again, because you and Tristan let him.”

He drew a long breath.

Fabien entered the house. He wore a Pink Floyd shirt, jean shorts, and flip-flops. He surveyed the room and smiled a bit.

Celeste: “Fabien!”

She rose and wrapped her arms around him. Fabien hugged her back.

Fabien: “You know what is funny? Blair is whining about the best thing ever on Lonely Nice Guys: chicken fries.”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Why, because he didn’t get any?”

She asked. Jaxon knit his eyebrows. While I feel this way, those two laugh at some blue bastard whining about nothing, he thought glumly. I wish people looked out for me as I do them, he thought, and hugged his legs.

Fabien: “NO! Better! Because of the advertisement for the fucking fries!”

He guffawed.

He laughed and went to their computer to type in the web address for The Lonely Nice Guys forum. He clicked on a thread titled “Nice Fries Finish Last Ad Campaign.”

BlairDonati wrote:

Today, I was doing nothing but listening to Vanessa gush about Hiroto Tachibana. Do you know the ambassador for the Shin-Yamatao embassy here? She’s having an affair with him.

Anyway, she was gushing about having sex with him, and I had to listen to this crap. An ad came on TV for Fred’s Burger Castle. I remember taking Ashley there with Yoshi, and they complained about a tomato being on their burger. I should have noticed the red flags. I never wanted to slap them stupid so badly. But I didn’t because I am a true gentleman.

Anyway, the ad came on with “Nice Fries Finish Last” and said “Make way for Fred’s Flamin’ Fire Fries!” I was furious! I had tears streaming down my cheeks! Fred’s Burger Castle has taken to mocking nice guys, saying no one wants regular chicken fries but “Spicy Fries.”

I don’t need to be reminded of this. They mock us nice guys to sell their crappy fries! I will never eat at Fred’s Burger Castle again until they offer us, the nice guys, an apology! We already know most people don’t want us. There’s no need to kick us when we’re down.

Celeste and Fabien both laughed as they read what Blair wrote.

Celeste: “Oh my God, he’s complaining about an ad for fries from a fast food joint?!”

She cackled. Fabien laughed with her.

Fabien: “Doesn’t he always say ‘Nice Guys finish last’?! Why the double standard when it comes to a fast food ad?!”

He laughed.

While Jaxon and Celeste laughed at Blair’s whining on the forum, Jaxon rose, grabbed his Chelsea boots, and put them on. He left the house, slamming the door behind him. Fabien jolted and knit his eyebrows.

Celeste: “He’s upset. I think he’s still raw about what Deimos did to him at the concert.”

She explained. Fabien nodded.

Fabien: “I see.”

~

Tristan was in his bedroom on his computer when he came home from work. He received a direct message from Fabien on Bungle linking him to Blair’s post on Lonely Nice Guys. Tristan drew a long breath. Maybe I could use a laugh, he thought.

He scanned the post and twisted his mouth in a grimace. My God, if only my most significant problem were a fast food advertisement instead of… this…, he thought sadly.

Tristan: “So Ashley rarely complains, and the one time they do is when Blair wants to hit them. What a true gentleman and an upstanding guy. I often wonder why they never picked Blair.”

He said dryly.

Tristan: “Then again, what they chose doesn’t fare much better, but that’s none of my business.”

He said as he sipped his tea. He gazed down at his reflection in his tea.

Tristan: “Deimos, you idiot…”

He scowled.

~

Deimos lay in bed. He gazed at the picture of him and Tristan on his nightstand.

Deimos: “I didn’t want to do this… but I had to. I have to protect him from myself. I’m only going to hurt him again, and that was the last thing I ever wanted.”

He picked up the picture as tears filled his eyes.

Deimos: “I’m a broken man, Tristan. You deserve better than what I can give you.”

He wept.

Deimos: “I can’t even fix myself. My problems are what’s hurting you, and I will continue to hurt you because I am a broken man… a basket case.”

He sobbed.

He heard Monica call him for supper. Deimos sighed, placed the picture back on the nightstand, and wiped his eyes.

~

Deimos was seated at the island, picking at his food and lost in thought. Monica smiled at him.

Monica: “Trouble with Tristan?”

Deimos: “I broke up with him.”

He admitted. She knit her eyebrows.

Monica: “Why?”

Deimos: “Because I’m going to continue to hurt him. I don’t want to hurt him. He doesn’t deserve that. He deserves someone who will never hurt him.”

He said glumly. Monica drew a long breath and placed her hand on his.

Monica: “Relationships are complicated, Deimos. You have your issues, but… Tristan stayed with you because he chose you. He chose to love you, regardless of your flaws. Many people leave relationships or break things off when things get ugly, but Tristan stayed with you. That is true love.”

She said genially. Deimos placed his hand over his eyes in shame.

Monica: “I think you should make up with him and apologize. You two need each other.”

She concluded and went into the laundry. What have I done? Deimos thought.