Brothers By Design

As Albert had said, Kane found the files sitting on his bedside table when he stopped by the bedroom. He took them into the study and locked them in his desk. He’d look at them later, when he didn’t have to worry about someone looking over his shoulder.

After dinner he returned to the study. Devin stopped by long enough to get a new book before going to the solarium to read. Kane noticed this absently, perusing his own file to get a sense of what to expect from Devin’s. It didn’t take long.

Once he had a feel for the reports and how they were written, he turned his attention to Devin’s file. He needed as much information as he could get if this was going to work. He couldn’t help Devin without information, like the fact that Devin was close to his age, not a few years younger like he’d first thought.

He read each report several times, making a lot of notes and cross-references. What he read sickened and yet enthralled him. How could a child survive such shit? How could anyone deliberately hurt someone else? Especially their own child? He’d never understand abuse-not those who did it and not those who went through it. He wasn’t sure how he could help when he didn’t understand, but he was determined to try. That’s why he was here.

At the back of Devin’s folder he saw an envelope with his name on it. He opened it after only a moment’s hesitation. Of course they knew he knew about the experiment. How could they not?

Kane-

Devin’s future depends on you. You decide what kind of life he will lead. The options are:

The third option is extrapolated as the best for future happiness for you both. The choice, however, is yours. Questions and your decision should be emailed to: [email protected] Subject: Devin/MM#17

Kane re-read the note in disbelief. This had gone beyond weird into bizarre. He decided Devin’s future? Him? And the options given…he flipped back through Devin’s file until he found what he was looking for, closed his eyes and muttered a curse.

Devin was SGO. Oh shit. That was going to complicate things. Especially in a couple of years, when the hormones kicked in. The other option...terminate Devin? No, not happening. Terminate his participation in the experiment? Probably another way of saying he could have Devin killed. Still not going to happen.

“Kane?”

He whirled to find Devin standing inside the doorway, not close enough to have seen what he was looking at. Of course not. He’d told him not to surprise him. Devin was nothing if not obedient.

“Yeah?”

“May I get a bath?”

Kane locked the files back into his desk and got to his feet. “Sure. C’mon.”

He led Devin into the bathroom and started the water, adding a generous amount of the bath salts. Deep in thought, he undressed Devin while the tub filled. By the time Devin got into the water Kane had made his decision. He had a couple of questions, but was 98% certain what he was going to do.

Telling Devin to soak until he came back, he returned to the study, booted up the computer and went straight to the email. He had to announce his decisions, ask his questions now if he was going to make things better for Devin. Before he could think himself out of it.

Decision made, he sent. Query if healing process can be expedited.

Immediate response. Can and will, pending announcement of choice made. They’d been waiting, then. Well, that would make it easier.

Query totality of my control and time for full implementation.

Query what you desire to control.

Any and all modifications to primary subjects, limited control over certain settings.

Example.

School. Same classroom, close proximity seating. Long break this time. He used it to get Devin’s pajamas, robe, and slippers. They hadn’t expected him to think about this stuff. Good. That meant they still didn’t know everything about him.

Approved. Total control over modifications to primary subjects, tertiary control over setting and situations.

Query price of agreement. He wondered if they’d anticipated that question.

Employment with the Agency or a Government upon graduation from high school.

He shrugged; it was a job. He’d rather work for the Agency than for a Government. It wasn’t like he had any ideas of what he wanted to be when he grew up anyway. Military and law enforcement had lost their appeal a long time ago. Despite the supposed benefits of life-time housing and not worrying about the “retirement homes,” the few people he’d met that had been in the Protective Services had all been broken or paranoid or both. To his knowledge he’d never met anybody who worked for the Agency.

Agreed. Option 3 chosen. Time to full implementation?

Forty-eight hours following receipt of specifications.

Two days? He typed rapidly, stating what he wanted, shutting out the nagging voice saying what he was doing was wrong, refusing to care about the morality of it. He was being a selfish, controlling bastard, planning out someone else’s life with no regard to his own desires–and he felt wonderful about doing it. He’d have done what he promised. Devin would be safe. And he’d make himself better, too.

When he was finished, the list shorter than might be expected, he sent the message without looking it over. If he did, he might change his mind. He didn’t want to. He wanted this. They’d paired him with somebody who was also SGO, who would need him. They had to have known this might happen. Hell, they probably hoped it would happen.

Acknowledge receipt of specifications. Start of implementation imminent.

Kane nodded and shut off the system. No way out of it now. He grabbed Devin’s clothes and went back into the bathroom. Devin was practicing his music, singing to himself. Kane stopped to listen, smiling. He had made the right choice, even if it was the selfish one. The right one for both of them.

“You really do have a good voice, you know.” He spoke quietly, not wanting to startle Devin. Devin jolted and turned to look at Kane, more embarrassed than afraid. “D’you wanna be a singer, Devin?”

“No!”

Kane had reached the oversized tub, putting the clothes on a handy counter. “Relax. I was just asking.” He knelt, reaching for the washcloth. Devin handed it to him and presented his back.

“So what do you wanna be?”

“Left alone. I know I was born to be hurt, an’ I shouldn’t complain ’cuz it could have been worse, but…”

“They’re gonna leave you alone now, Devi. I took care of it. Nobody’s gonna hurt you anymore.”

He kept working with the washcloth, explaining. Not all of it, only that they were part of a social experiment and he’d demanded and been given Devin as his own to protect and take care of. He had to take it slow when he presented this stuff; there was no telling how Devin would take it. He had no clue how much brain damage, if any, Devin had suffered. Most abused kids had. With all the other things he’d been through, it would be amazing if he hadn’t.

Devin was silent a moment. He looked suspicious when he turned around.

“Really?”

“Swear it.”

“So…I’m really, truly, your boy?”

“Yup.”

“You won’t let anybody hurt me?”

“Not if I can stop them.”

He expected more questions, maybe even anger. Instead, Devin nodded and offered a genuine, full smile. Kane returned it, relieved. He decided to say no more on the subject. Devin seemed to be happy with what he knew. Saying more now might bring confusion or fear. He wasn’t ready to deal with either. It was all still too new even for him.

“All right now, let me finish washing you.”

The room was quiet as Kane washed Devin’s back. When Devin got out, he seemed to screw up his courage.

“Kane?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we…can we go over the rules?”

“Yeah, sure.”