Leo opens the window as you anxiously stare at the floor, only hearing your heart pounding in your ears.

Donnie stepps in and clears his throat, "Hi, brother of mine.. Sweet, reliable, brother." The last part he said through gritted teeth. Leo smiles, feeling the tension and intentional intimidating tone from his brother.

They glare into each-other's eyes. Leo eventually rolls his eyes and waltzes over to the couch, practically falling beside you. Donnie's frown grows. He doesn't move.

"So, what were you two up to?" Donnie asks with an interrogatory tone.

You feel like you're gonna vomit.

Leo gives Donnie a defensive glance as he wraps an arm around you. "Well, I beat up an unhinged man, we played video games-- ate pizza and watched movies. I was also about to--"

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Your ears start ringing. What do you do?

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So many ways this could end.. Almost none were good...

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Donnie suddenly rips Leo to his feet and yells in his face, "You-- WHAT!?"

He shakes Leo around a bit and Leo tries shoving him away.

Donnie seems to shift his focus to you in an instant, "What are you playing at (Y/n)!?" He drops Leo and darts in front of you; crouching into your view. He didn't look happy at all. You do your best to not look at him. Donnies face twists in anger, "First you say you love me-- now you're letting my brother snatch you away!? That's not okay!"

Leo grunts and pushes Donnie aside.

Leo takes your face in his hands in concern, "Can't you see she's scared? Lay off Donnie! Are you okay, princess?"

You don't look at him either. You didn't know what to say---

Donnie suddenly shoves Leo.

"Stop flirting with her! She's mine!"

As soon as those words spill out, Donnie cups his hands over his mouth and looks at you. He looked embarrassed.

Leo rubs his arm and glares at Donnie, "She doesn't belong to you. She doesn't belong to anyone!" He regains his footing and gets right in Donnie's face. "It's not surprising why she'd be turned away if you're treating her like this." Leo didn't seem to understand the weight of his words.

It's a shame he didn't, because in an instant-

Donnie punches Leo in the jaw.

Donnie's face showed his distaste for the words his brother spoke. He wasn't angry at his brother because he thought he was wrong or because of the fact it was an insult. No.. He was mad because Leo was right. Donnie felt such deep-seated anger with his own apathy and neurotic tendencies, that his brothers seemingly unimportant jab, rubbed him too far the wrong way.

Leo stumbles back a bit and puts his hands over his face in pain. That's when you step in.

You jump to Leo's side and glare at Donnie. "Stop it-- It's me you should be getting angry with!" You step in front of Leo and spread your arms in a protective position. Donnie's face bore an expression of surprise.

"Go ahead. Take it out on me! Not your brother!

Donnie stares at you in disbelief as his breathing slows and his heart pounds. You give him an expectant look-- like you weren't afraid of being brutally beaten.

Donnie looked on at you with a feeling that he hadn't felt before. It was burning.. Almost painful. He felt like he should run forward and pull you into his arms, but he also felt an anxious feeling claw at his back; and a feeling of betrayal that cradled his soft center in it's judgmental hands. Was this heartbreak?

Donnie takes a small step towards you. One of his hands seems to extend towards you, but before anything could come of it, his face shifts into hurt and despair.

Then anger. A blazing anger.

When that expression made its way on his face, you were positive he was about to break you in two..

But he didn't, he just ran past you and Leo; out of your apartment, to who knows where.

When you hear the window slam shut, a few seconds of stillness pass. You start shaking as the small amount of adrenaline stops flowing through you. What have you done?

With a wave of emotions threatening to spill, you face Leo and crash into his arms.

"A-Are you alright?" You feel Leo shrug, "I-I'll be okay, just need to sit for a minute."

You sigh and agree, doing your best to keep your composure.

Leo pulls the two of you down on the couch. Both of his arms were wrapped around you, giving you a small sense of security. One of his hands gently twirled your hair as he held you close. Neither of you said anything for a long time, but that was fine.. There wasn't much to say anyway.

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Later that night..

Donnie was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. He felt like he was drowning in a deep endless pool of nothing. What was he doing? Why was he screwing up so much? Was it you causing him to slip up? Donnie exhales sharply as he shakily crabs his cup of coffee and takes a giant chug. He was going to fix this. He didn't exactly know how yet.. But one thing's for sure--

he wouldn't be sleeping tonight.

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