It's For The Best

Richard rode into the Thompsons residence. Taking off his helmet, he looked around the compound in search of a boy who loved picking flowers whenever he felt sad, but looking around, he could not find him. Looking up the building, he noticed that the windows in Riley's room were open, and standing by the open windows was Riley, whose line of vision went up to the clear blue sky.

Richard took a deep breath and proceeded into the house.

*****

Riley stood still by the window, admiring how beautiful the sky was.

"How beautiful it would be if humans have such a clear mind, but no, their minds are clouded with evil."

He took a deep sigh before turning to face the person who just entered his room.

"What brings you here big brother?"

He asked with a smile.

Richard looked at him with a frown on his face. Ever since he went to pick up Riley after receiving a phone call from Natasha the night before, he had felt something was off with Riley. Natasha refused to tell him what happened, and so likewise was Riley claiming nothing happened between he and Natasha. Which made him only more worried about them.

"Big brother."

Riley called out, when he noticed Richard looking a bit worried and standing still as though transfixed.

Hearing Riley call him, he composed himself and approached the chair by the window side. He sat on it, crossed his legs and remained silent, all the while staring at Riley who stood beside him.

Seeing this, Riley chuckled, and went to sit on the bed. Now, they both sat, staring at each other.

"When will you tell me what is going on between you and Natasha?" he said as he crossed his arms across his chest.

His voice was warm and caring, which made Riley feel a bit sad, knowing he was not planning to say a word of what really happened to Richard.

"And how many times do I have to tell you that nothing happened."

Richard looked at Riley's cold and indifferent face. This was not the Riley he used to know. The Riley he knew, was a cute little bunny, but the one in front of him was a huge contrast to the one he knew.

Riley looked different from before. His cute smiling face was long gone, he didn't look happy nor sad, he looked indifferent as he thought of ways to stop Richard from being curious.

Bravo

Of all the options he could think of, he was sure, very sure, this particular option would be the best.

"Riley." Richard said in a caring voice as he got up and came to the bed, to sit beside Riley at his left hand side.

"You promised not to keep secrets from me."

Riley took a deep sigh. He was tired, tired of it all. Just why did people expect him to act as if he was alright, when he knew he definitely was not alright. Even though he knew Richard was different, he knew there was not much Richard could do about it, afterall, the people in question were not just a regular bunch of idiots, they were people with strong backing. And putting Richard in trouble was the last thing he would ever want to do.

'I really do not want to do this Richard, but I have no other option. Hate me all you want, but I just have to do this.' Riley thought to himself.

Now faking a sad face, but was he really faking it. He looked at Richard with watery eyes.

"Riley."

Richard said in a very soft and low voice when he saw Riley's watery eyes. He used his fingers to brush off Riley's hair that fell over his face. Even though he could now see Riley's full face, he didn't remove his fingers from his face, instead, he placed his palm on Riley's face in a caring way.

"I'm sorry Richard."

Riley said, and a drop of tears fell down his cheek and stopped right at Richard's fingers. Richard cleaned it off with the back of his palm, and went back to placing his palm on that warm cheek.

'You don't have to be sorry.' Richard thought to himself, knowing saying it out definitely won't stop Riley from blaming himself.

Riley looked sad and pitiful, which pained Richard. Richard could no longer bear watching his little brother suffer, so he pulled him in for a hug.

As soon as Riley got hugged. He felt glad, glad he would not have to blatantly lie right to Richard's face. After nearly a minute of hugging and total silence, Richard try to release his grip on Riley, but Riley held him tighter. Richard, believing that Riley needed more comfort then decided to hold on to him also.

"I thought I had gotten over it, but I guess I haven't, at least, not fully, afterall, he was my first love."