[Perce/Deac] Echo of the heartbeat.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor was losing his mind. Perseus amd Christy are all that had kept hom grounded. But when Christy was hauled off to testing, Connor had disappeared from all of them, getting in trouble and beaten, on drugs. He was supposed to go get Christy, but he hadn't.
Instead he was sitting in the gym, gaze blank as he shivered and rubbed at his arms, tugged at his shirt, wings.
His mind was hazy but uneasy, pupils dilated, inner elbows bruised and dark from the needles.
Blood dropped slowly down his chin from his nose, but all Connor could do was claw at himself, in a frenzy of steess and confusion, the drugs only heightening his panic, driving him to rash actions.

[deacon reid rudman]

The last person Deacon wanted to be looking for would be the Sykes boy. To say there was no hard feelings would be lying on his part. He didn't like being tricked. Or feeling dumb. If there's one thing he hated most, it was being lied to. And he'd been a fool for believing him.

He looked around slowly, glancing into windows and open doors. But he hadn't found the boy so far. He opened the door to the gym, finally spotting him. He walked over to him with the little girl, nodding towards the boy. He didn't feel like being here longer than he had to. Connor wasn't someone he liked being around.

[connor crayze sykes]

Christy sang softly as she bounced beside Deacon, tears drying onher cheeks. If anything, she was fascinated by the tail she had, though it still hurt, the base bandaged from where it had pushed through.
Connor looked up sharply with a trembling breath at their approach, wiping blood from his thin face. Eyebrows furrowed, angry at what he saw.
"Bubba.." Christy whimpered, runnig to him and hugging him tight. But he didn't move, eyes fixed on the taio, teeth grinding. They had no right.. It wasn't fair.
He growled such thoughts unknowingly under his breath until Christy backed away in fear.

[deacon reid rudman]

It figured he would be a cold bastard to his own blood. That didn't surprise Deacon one bit. 'He's probably pissed he can't fuck her too,' He thought, running his fingers through the girl's hair. He was supposed to be getting Bandit, but he wasn't about to leave her here with him. There was no telling what he'd do. He squatted down, gently taking the girl's hand. "You wanna go get a milkshake? I have to go get my baby." He said quietly, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "She likes having someone to drink them with since I can't have them."

[connor crayze sykes]

"Okay.." Christy sniffed, gazing back at Connor brokenly.
He stared right back, confusion and regret in his eyes, and waitedas she moved close again. Blue eyes closedat the kiss on his forehead. "No more bubba..." She whispered, touching his cheek.
Connor only swallowed, tears starting to fall.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon walked quietly to the door, figuring if she wanted to come, she would. He leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't want to be here. He got where Connor was coming from, but he sure didn't push his daughter away when they'd decided to test on her. But hey, to each their own. He chewed on his snake bite, looking out the window as he waited on the little girl.

[connor crayze sykes]

Christy huggd him again. Connor was there enough to hug her back this time, watched her pulled away and move towards Deacon.
"Don't leave him 'lone..." She begged softly.
Connor knotted shaking hands together, coughing huskily before rubbing at his face again. He always thought the drugs would make him numb to the world. But they always brought other effects as well.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon sighed, kneeling down so he could be eye to eye with the little girl. "He's never alone. You're not. I'm not. No one is. Someone's always watching. And let me tell you something. You're a beautiful, brilliant little girl. I knew that from the moment you opened your mouth. But some people just don't want to live. Whatever it is that broke them is enough for them to think that nothing's worth living for. And it's not until they find out for themself that they have a beautiful little girl like you with them that they finally realize that death fixes nothing."

[connor crayze sykes]

Christy began to cry softly as she listened. "Daddy broke him..." She whimpered softly, looking over at Connor. He lowered his gaze, pushing at the floor with the toe of his shoe.
"He don't like us... When moma 'n Adam died he got mean...'n hurt us.." She sniffled, reaching to rub at her little back. A belt laceration was scarred there. Connor hadn't forgiven himself for that one. "Bubba saved me.. Di'nt tell daddy where I went...
Fix him..... Please."

[deacon reid rudman]

"I can't fix him, princess. He's not crazy enough." 'I don't want to fix him.' He thought. And he didn't. Connor had to get himself out of this. You can't fix someone who doesn't want to be fixed. "How about we go get my baby and bring him back a milkshake? I can't just leave you here with him. I don't need him hurting you." He stood up, holding out his hand to her.

[connor crayze sykes]

Christy sniffled, lip quivering. "Kay.." She whimpered, taking his hand. Connor looked up, watching them warily. He hurt, hewas tired of being punished and tested and thrown awayby others. Tired of being used. He just wanted Christy in his arms. Even being beaten by his father sounded better thanthis.
Fingers reached for his needle as they left. No matter what happened, Christy had someone now...
He couldn't do that to her though. Halfway through his dose he yanked the needle out, hand fisting, the syringe cracking in his fist.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon hummed as they walked to the coffee shop to get Bandit from his brother. Perseus decided to tag along, carrying Bandit on his shoulders as they walked to the cafeteria. Deacon had never been much of the talking type. That had always been PJ's job. Deacon ordered Bandit her milkshake, letting Perseus order his before he turned to Christy. "What do you and your brother want?" He asked quietly.

[connor crayze sykes]

"'Nilla..." Christy mumbled as they got there. Any time Connor had picked her up from the foster home and they had ice cream or something, he had always ordered vanilla. He grip tightened on Deacon's hand, looking up at Perseus and Bandit curiously.
"Chocolate for me, please.." She whispered.

[deacon reid rudman]

'Berry!' Bandit said as if she didn't already have hers in her hand. "You need to start drinking something else. Your hair's already red enough." Deacon complained, paying for their shakes. He handed Christy hers, holding her brother's in his free hand. Milk had always made him sick, so he tried to avoid it in any form.

[connor crayze sykes]

Christy giggled softly before wiping at her cheeks and taki ng her shake. She grabbed Deacon's hand again, holding it close as she waited.