Chapter Text
Sons of the Silent Age
Season I: The Good Son
Episode 101: “Pilot”
Gordon Aquila stood on the porch, his hand resting on a rail that was in need of repair. The entire porch was in bad shape.
He sighed woefully as he watched the aged blue truck driving down the dirt drive, victory wasn’t as sweet as he’d imagined. The truck slowed as it pulled in front of the porch. His nephew stepped out, dressed in worn jeans and an old gray shirt he stood up straight his substantial height and build definitely imposing to those who didn’t know the man. His pride obviously in the same shape as the front porch… if not worse.
“Marcus,” Gordon sighed.
“Hello uncle,” Marcus managed.
“Despite what you might think, I am sorry for what’s happened. Wouldn’t never wish that pain on any soul,” Gordon’s frown deepened.
Marcus nodded as he climbed the three steps, each creaking under the weight of his muscled frame. Marcus held his hand out for a shake, the handshake of forfeit and defeat. Gordon ignored the gesture and pulled his nephew in for a hug. With his nephew’s body held in his arms he felt the emptiness. No, victory was never so sour.
*~*~*
Marcus lined the nail with its rightful place against the wood panel he was hammering. A searing pain ignited in Marcus’s stomach. The nail and hammer fell from his grasp as he doubled over. He clutched his stomach in desperation, willing the pain to dissipate.
As quickly as the pain had erupted it ceased. Marcus paused, wondering if a slight movement could awaken the pang. He slowly raised himself up for the fetal position he had inhabited. It seemed to have passed.
Marcus picked up the hammer and nail just as someone came walking from around the other side of the barn.
“I had to come see it for myself! Couldn’t believe what I was hearing… Marcus Aquila is BACK!” Jane jumped for joy grabbing on to Marcus despite his being drenched in sweat from just a morning’s worth of work on the ranch. Luckily she hadn’t seen Marcus’s earlier episode.
“Jane,” Marcus grunted as he lifted her higher. A hint of a smile graced his face before fading as he set her back down.
“I know…” Jane mellowed as she kicked the dirt. “I heard.”
Marcus nodded silently then looked off into an empty pasture avoiding any direct eye contact, as if that would set him off again.
“Listen Marcus, if there’s one thing in this world that will always be the case, it’s that I’m here for you. Been best friends since before we could walk, that’s not gonna change,” Jane shrugged. “I’m here for you.”
Marcus nodded again. “I know it.”
“Alright enough with the chick shit,” Jane dropped her façade of care, preferring her usual jovial aloofness.
Marcus chuckled. “You know I was gonna visit in a few weeks.”
“Yeah right, you and I both know you were done with Benson when you were ten. Doubt that’s changed. You just need to get back on your feet and get the fuck out again.”
Marcus shrugged. “Maybe so,” Marcus leaned down and picked up the second to last nail and placed it on the board he’d been nailing to the barn. “Maybe this time you’ll get out with me.”
Before Jane could respond with what Marcus knew would be a dismissal of the idea, he began to hammer hard, his emotion emerging with each strike. Exhaustion seemed to be claiming Marcus. Jane wondered if he’d eaten. Likely not, all things considered.
*~*~*
“How is he?” Martha Schneider asked, genuine worry lacing her words.
Gordon sighed deeply for the umpteenth time thinking about poor Marcus, “He’s strong, but not many are able to bounce back from something like that. If anybody could it’d be him. Just wish it were different for him.”
“You mean that he liked women?” Martha laid the judgmental tone on thick.
“No!” Gordon flinched. “Well yes, it’d be easier for him. And he wouldn’t be throwing his life away. And maybe… just maybe he wouldnt’ve gone through all this.”
Martha shook her head. “Gordon, I’m living proof that such tragedy isn’t limited to just the homosexuals. He needs support right now. Don’t let your personal views get in the way so early on. There’ll be time for that later.”
“Whose side are you on? I seem to remember you agreeing with me just after he’d left.”
“I’m not on a side. I may share some of your views but now more than ever I relate to your nephew. Loosing the love of your life is a pain unlike anything else,” Martha rubbed the wooden counter she was leaning on.
“Interesting words… ‘love of your life’…” Gordon cocked his head.
“Gordon, don’t start,” Martha warned.
Gordon smirked and stepped into her personal space. “It’s okay Martha.” She stared into his eyes before their lips met. Her hand left the counter to rub his arm. Before they could proceed any further the sound of Marcus throwing the tools back in the shed by the back of the house made them pull away.
The back door opened and Marcus stepped into the kitchen, oblivious to what he’d just interrupted. He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water proceeding to immediately chug it before refilling it again.
“Hello Marcus,” Martha said softly.
“Mrs. Schneider,” Marcus nodded his voice weak with exhaustion.
“Welcome back,” Martha said with considerable reverence to Marcus’s situation.
“Thanks,” Marcus nodded. “I’ll be stopping by later for some things.”
“That’ll be nice,” Martha nodded. “Looking forward to it.”
Marcus placed the glass in the sink before bounding up the stairs to his room. He had to get out of that kitchen. He felt like he was fine china and Martha a purveyor of his unfortunate circumstance. Of all the people in this town she’d likely understand him the best, but even so he’d prefer just not talk to her about it.
*~*~*
Marcus parked the truck in front of “Schneider’s Hardware” one of the select storefronts in Benson’s beautiful town square. He opened the door causing tiny brass chimes to announce his entrance. He mentally ran through the list of things needed for the barn. As he grabbed more nails and surveyed the wood selection he realized he should start planning on redoing the front porch, his uncle obviously didn’t have the time to manage upkeep and get all of the chores done. Marcus couldn’t believe he hadn’t hired a hand after he’d left. Surely Chris Eastman had the time and at least some skill.
Marcus’s deep thoughts were violently interrupted as a large, but caring hand landed on his shoulder. Marcus jumped back, spilling the case of nails he’d grabbed.
“Whoa there!” Tom Schneider laughed. “Didn’t mean to scare you!”
Marcus’s cheeks flamed red. “My bad,” he knelt and began picking up the spilt nails. Tom lowered and began to help to flashing his trademark smile. Marcus, Jane, and Tom had been in the same grade level growing up. Some people jokingly took bets on whether Tom or Marcus would be bigger, both were considerably built, no doubt due to their hardworking upbringings. Build aside, his smile was legendary making him the star over Marcus. The heartthrob made every girl at school swoon instantly, every girl except Jane that is (then again Tom had insinuated once that the two were distant relatives so nothing would likely ever happen).
“I heard you were back,” Tom spoke with the same trepidation as his mother. “Sorry to hear about…”
“It’s fine,” Marcus frantically interrupted. He didn’t want to hear another apology.
Tom’s smile faded instantly. “I just… I guess…” He stumbled over his words obviously uncomfortable. “I’m here… you know if you need to talk or something.”
Marcus nodded. “Thanks Tom. It’s alright, don’t sweat it.”
“I just, you know, with my dad and all I know how it is.”
“Yeah, you and me both,” Marcus groaned under his breath.
Tom heard and looked back down at the linoleum floor. He seemed defeated by his attempt at conversing with Marcus. Marcus felt bad for being so short, but so early since his return he wasn’t ready for civilized conversation.
“You want to go out for drinks at Jerry’s tonight?” Tom tried again. Jerry’s was essentially a sports bar that spawned town gossip second only to the Benson Women’s Book Club.
“I’ll pass,” Marcus sighed. He nodded to the materials he’d grab and was now holding. “This is all I’ll be needing.”
Tom flushed red again. “Oh right, of course. Yeah,” he seemed to have forgotten that he was running the shop and Marcus needed to check out. “I know it’s hard right now but some of us are happy you’re back.”
*~*~*
Marcus returned to hammering boards on the barn. It needed a full restructuring, but this hack job would do for the winter and coming spring. He’d really hit it hard then.
The metronomic pulse of the hammer meeting the nail seemed to be calming whatever nerves had previously been bothering him. He never liked being brooding and depressing, and he sure hated it when others did it. But this was too much for him to cast aside. This was different than any time before.
Marcus had to admit on some level though, that this particular loss was not uncommon for Benson, Texas. It seemed everyone in the small town had some sort of loss attached to their story. Generally a loss too early in life to be natural.
Tom, Marcus thought. Tom understands, Marcus shook his head as if trying to quite the voice inside. Tom DID understand. Tom’s father was one of those losses, too early and too sad. It had been four years ago if Marcus was doing the math right. He’d been gone when it happened but the news had still reached him. Truly tragic.
Marcus allowed himself to be convinced that he’d been too hard on poor Tom. He decided he would go to the bar tonight, and hopefully he’d catch Tom there. The guy was likely the most kind and gentle man in the entire town. He was a fucking boy scout of a guy who was always so great to Marcus. Despite the fact that Marcus obviously had grown to enjoy Jane’s company more. While Tom hung around with a slightly older crowd. Garrett Moss briefly flashed in Marcus’s mind. Wonder how he’s doing.
Marcus’s thoughts were violently interrupted by a sharp, searing pain in his abdomen. It was almost identical to the pain earlier in the morning. Marcus felt as though he was going to double over in pain. The constant agony drove Marcus mad for the briefest moment and he felt himself almost lash out, as if that’d be the only way to overcome it.
“Marcus?” Uncle Aquila called out from the other end of the barn. He was coming to check up on his nephew and likely see how far he’d gotten in a day. The pain subsided, dissipating almost as quickly as it came. Marcus was able to right himself and almost pull off a natural look of ease as his uncle rounded to the corner of the barn.
“Hey Uncle,” Marcus nearly wheezed. He hoped it registered as exhaustion instead of recovery.
“Wow, you sure are getting a lot done!” Uncle Aquila traced his fingers along the new boards. “So you’re just doing this to get us to spring? That’s a good idea.”
Marcus nodded.
“Will you be able to revamp the barn then?” Uncle Aquila asked, traces of a second meaning lingering in his tone.
“Yeah, I’ll be able to knock it out. But Uncle I think you should hire another hand,” Marcus said picking up a few more nails. “You know, for when I leave.”
“Ah. So you’re not planning on staying?”
Marcus shook his head. “Don’t think I can. Nothing is keeping me here.”
“What about family? Friends?” Uncle Aquila shrugged, “I’m sure Jane enjoys having you back.”
“This life isn’t for me. I can’t help but feel pulled to something else,” Marcus shrugged.
“Like bartending?” Uncle Aquila raised a single eyebrow. He was referencing Marcus’s job at the gay night club in Dallas he’d worked in for the last six years.
Marcus flushed with embarrassment. He hadn’t meant bartending, but what was worse was that he really wasn’t even a good bartender. In fact unbeknownst to his uncle Marcus had spent more nights gyrating his hips as a “dancer” instead of fixing cocktails.
Uncle Aquila held his tongue, realizing he wouldn’t get a response from his nephew. He toyed with the idea of telling him about he and Martha’s developing relationship, however with the current quickly sinking conversation he decided stoking the sinking ship with such a nugget of what would likely be distasteful information would cause Marcus to react rather rashly.
“Well dinner will be ready in a few. Come on in whenever you like and get some grub.”
Marcus nodded as he proceeded to continue nailing the boards.
“How have you been feeling, son?” Uncle Aquila pressed.
Marcus’s brow furrowed. He instantly thought of his stomach pains. It wasn’t something he wanted to worry his uncle about. “I’m fine.”
“Okay…” Uncle Aquila patted the new board and looked up at the sky, “Looks like rain.”
Marcus responded with his stony silence.
“Thank you, Marcus.”
*~*~*
Jane was exhausted. After her early morning visit to the Aquila farm she had still elected to walk to the school to get some semblance of exercise into her day. Like always her students were hellions, causing destruction and pain and all of that, but as always she loved every minute of it. She really did have good kids this year, even if they were sometimes a little rowdy.
She felt the familiar prickled of an approaching storm. A quick glance at the sky confirmed her suspicions. They were going to get a healthy dose of Texas storms tonight. She only hoped she’d make it home before it started. She still had at least another mile to go, likely more.
A car slowed on Main Street, the window slid down. “You want a ride, beautiful?”
Jane didn’t even have to look to know exactly who it was. Garrett Moss. She groaned, he was the last thing she needed right now. “I swear to God I will kick you in the nuts…”
“Aww, come on now, that isn’t very nice,” Garrett flashed his incredibly inviting smile. There were two legendary smiles in the town of Benson. There was Tom Schneider’s incredibly warm and bright, infectious smile. And there was Garrett Moss and his dashingly sexy smile. Like a mosquito to a flame girls would flock to that smile and fall at his feet. Only to get burned in the process. Jane seemed to be the only one who never fell for either.
“I wasn’t trying to be,” Jane said as she continued walking, a little faster now, however Garrett had no trouble slowly gliding along the side of the road.
“Seriously Jane, it’s gonna rain,” Garrett said, dropping the act he’d been laying on thick.
As if his words were a hand turning the knob, the sky erupted and water came down in sheets. Jane held her ground for a few moments longer, hoping that she could just make it home, but the thought of all of her students’ classwork in her bag made her second guess her pride.
She jogged over to Garrett’s old, beat up sedan and got in. “Well there ya go.”
“Just shut it and drive,” Jane rolled her eyes.
Garrett parked the car and stared, “Jane.”
Jane groaned, “Shut it and drive, PLEASE.”
Garrett laughed, “That’s likely the best I’m gonna get.”
Jane nodded.
“One day, I’m gonna get you to kiss me,” Garrett flashed another alluring grin. “I’ll settle for giving you a ride tonight.”
*~*~*
“I was hoping I’d find you hear,” Marcus said sneaking up behind Tom who was seated at the bar working on a tall, frosted mug of bear.
“Marcus! You came!” Tom smiled big, Marcus’s heart melting a little bit.
Marcus nodded taking the empty stool next to Tom. “Yeah, sorry about earlier, I’m just…”
Tom shrugged hold up a hand, “You don’t have to apologize. I understand. I’m surprised you came out.”
“Yeah, I figured I should surround myself with people who knew what I was going through, at least on some level.”
Tom nodded, somber.
“Sorry to hear about your dad by the way,” Marcus said with about as much grace as a body check on the hockey rink. “Jane told me when it happened.”
“Yeah,” Tom took a big gulp. The dark beer was likely a Shiner Bock. Marcus thought he remembered that being Tom’s favorite. “It was kind of rough for a while. But… other things happened, you know.”
Marcus nodded, but honestly he didn’t really understand what Tom was referencing. The lingering confusion seemed to snap Tom out of his reminiscent state with a trace of regret for mentioning it in his behavior.
“I’m sorry about David,” Tom said. “I hear he was a good guy.”
“Where’d you hear that from?” Marcus was surprised Tom had even known David’s name.
“Jane.”
“Yeah…” Marcus took a deep breath. “It was hard… it IS hard, still.”
Tom nodded, still somber.
“You get used to falling asleep in someone’s arms for seven years and then…”
Tom shifted, even more uncomfortable. Seemingly in an effort to hurry the conversation beyond men holding each other Tom finished Marcus’s thought, “then life happens.”
Marcus read the discomfort. “Yeah… life.”
A slightly uncomfortable silence fell over the two young men. Tom took a swig of beer and stared at the bar top.
“How’s Bobby?” Marcus asked, referring to Tom’s kid brother.
Tom’s huge smile lit his face, “He’s freaking incredible. He’s dealt with more than anybody else his age and it’s like it doesn’t even bother him. The little guy’s a freaking hero.”
Marcus nodded. “Is he in high school now?”
Tom laughed. “Yeah, crazy right?”
“Damn,” Marcus shook his head. “Time flies.”
“The fag’s on a date,” Wes Brown, Jane’s unfortunate excuse for a brother, teased, as he and his two cronies Billy Gallagher and Chris Eastman walked by.
Marcus lunged without a thought but was instantly drawn back by large, strong hands. Tom patted Marcus’s chest “Ignore them.”
Wes and his buddies laughed as they took their place in a far corner of the bar, their usual spot. Traces of red fear lingered in Wes’s cheeks. Had Marcus actually gone for the guy he could’ve beaten him to a pulp.
“You still put up with their shit? I would’ve thought they’d outgrown it, or gotten killed for it,” Marcus shook his head in frustration.
“They’ll never change,” Tom shrugged.
“Are you worried people will think you’re gay cause you’re with me?”
Tom shook his head. “Don’t know… honestly… don’t care.”
*~*~*
Marcus was exhausted. It had been seven years since he’d had a day like today. The sudden return to his old life was a shock enough, that combined with the newness of his living situation was enough to drive him crazy. He felt the pain blossom in his stomach again. Lying on his bed he writhed in pain, trying to muffle his shouts as best he could.
His uncle no doubt heard as he stormed into the room. However instead of true worry or fear painted on his face, his uncle wore an expression of sovereign expectation. Like he knew this would happen… it was only a matter of time.
Marcus stared in fear as he felt the pain worsen to a plain unlike the two from earlier in the day. He cried out again and writhed more violently, his arms clutching his body. The release of energy from his cries was nearly the outburst his body seemed to need. Marcus tried one more cry but something entirely new came out. Something so odd and so unexpecting it terrified him in to silence. He roared.
Marcus moved his head. In his fit of pain he fallen from his bed and landed on all fours in the center of the room. However the position felt more natural than ever before. Never had Marcus felt so comfortable on all fours. His whole body felt new and completely different. The pain was gone, replaced by a newness of body that was unlike anything Marcus knew.
Uncle Aquila nodded. “Marcus take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay.”
Marcus tried to speak but nothing human came out. The growl that did escape caused him to instantly silence himself. Marcus turned his head to the body-length mirror hanging on his closet door. The short, golden fur and entirely new body cause Marcus’s body to fail and shock to prevail. Darkness invaded his vision and Marcus fell out of consciousness.
*~*~*
Marcus awoke to the sun already rising in the sky. It was later than usual for him, even when he was in Dallas he was an early morning kind of guy, despite late hours at the bar. The lingering dream pounded in his head. It was the strangest thing he’d ever felt. He sat up, instantly uncomfortable. It was extraordinarily rare for him to sleep completely nude. Marcus always wore boxers to sleep… always.
He lifted the blanket off and stood up. His bare feet touched the gray t-shirt he’d been wearing the night before. He lifted it up to find it shredded to pieces, as if it had been ripped off him with more than just one tear.
“What the hell?” Marcus’s brow furrowed. The feel of his voice seemed foreign to him. It seemed his dream had more of an effect than he’d thought.
“Marcus!” His uncle’s call was distant but definitely serious. Marcus shook his troubling thoughts from his head and he threw on a pair of work jeans as he ran out of his room and down the stairs. On the porch he found his uncle standing and staring out down the drive.
“Marcus… is that a body?” Uncle Aquila pointed to a lump near the end of the drive.
Marcus sprinted the quarter of a mile the lump. As he approached he realized to his dismay that it was exactly that. Marcus knelt down beside the man. He was smaller than he by at least a half a foot and rather skinny.
His lips were chapped in only a way that a few water-less nights in Texas could do. His skin sunburnt and his body seemingly collapsed from exhaustion. From the thoroughfare northward, the Aquila farm would be the first drive someone would pass if the drove north along the interstate. The sign for Benson was about half a mile from the entrance to their drive. The next neighbor was quite a few acres north from them.
Marcus had to assume that’s where the guy had been coming from. He gently felt for a pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt one, weak but present. The touch seemed to awaken the body slightly.
“Hey man,” Marcus egged softly. “Are you okay?’
The guy coughed a dry, ragged cough. He seemed dazed and on the verge of going under again. Marcus lifted him slightly in his arms and the stranger took a weak breath before wheezing an answer.
“Where am I…?
*~*~*
Starring…
Marcus Aquila – Channing Tatum
Stranger – Jamie Bell
Deputy Oliver Fish – Scott Evans
Jane Brown – Jennifer Lawrence
Garrett Moss – Garrett Hedlund
Tom Schneider – Tom Welling
with…
Donald Sutherland as Gordon Aquila
and
Annette O’Toole as Martha Schneider
Supporting Cast…
Wes Brown – Max Thieriot
Billy Gallagher – Kyle Gallner
Chris Eastman – Tyler Cassidy (AKA Froggy Fresh, AKA Krispy Kreme)