Heavy

14

When they get back to Race Wars, Dom was waiting worriedly. When he goes to hug Mitch, the younger pulled away and shook his head. "Not right now, Dom. I can't."

"Mitch-"

"I don't want kids, Dom. I dont. I can't."

"What?"

"I'm sorry." He grabs his keys and leaves again. Dom looks at Roman and Brian.

"What happened?" He asked them. Roman looked at the retreating jeep before turning to Dom.

"No idea. We weren't allowed in the room with him," Brian lied. "All we know is that he's been like that the whole ride."

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Mitch worried his lip and drove on the streets. The desert spread around him as he drives closer to the city.

His breath catches and he begins to cry. He soon pulls over, unable to drive with how much he was crying.

He covers his face with his hands, sobbing. Concern radiates through his link with Dom, but he ignores it.

Jay hits him like a truck. 

Jay. His daughter. Killed by her father in a drunken rage when Mitch returned late after his shift at work. Buried in the cold dirt of an abandoned lot.

Someone knocks on his door. He wiped off his face and slowly rolled down the window.

"Mitch," Dom spoke softly. "What's going on baby?"

"Get in." Dom is silent as he walks to the other side and gets in. Mitch rolls the window back up.

"What's going on, Mitch? Why'd you change your mind about kids?"

"Dom..." Mitch shakes his head and looks down at his lap.

"What did Hale say?"

"Hale is taken care of," Mitch states softly. Dom takes him in.

He looks tired, unsure. He looks, sadly, much like he did when he arrived on Dom's doorstep, minus the bruises.

"Baby, talk to me."

Mitch stays quiet, picks at a hole in his semi-skinny jeans. Dom opens his mouth, Mitch beats him to it. "We had a daughter."

"What?"

"Yeah. Hale killed her, she was 7 months old."

"So..."

"I haven't thought about having another child, Dom... Hale brought her up when I saw him."

"What did you mean Hale was taken care of?" Dom asked softly.

"Dom-"

"What did you do?"

"I did nothing! A few people from Barstow owed me a few favors," Mitch hissed. "God, I can handle things on my own. I don't need you to do everything for me!"

"I wasn't suggesting that I needed to. I was curious about what happened, Mitch. When I come to Hale I know you have reserved feeling and fear of him."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Baby, I'm right here. Please help me have an idea of what I'm talking about."

"Look... I thought that Hale was it. I told Rome and Bri, and he hated them. Like you said at that race... he thought I was sleeping with them. I'd go to Barstow every time I had the money and time, they were all I had for so long. I told them, we laughed. I go home, he rapes me for the first time. I try to go to Barstow again, he hits me. I end up going back, and Bri and Rome tell me to leave him. Tell me I can move in with them... I tell them it was an accident, that I'm clumsy... but they're used to my lies. We argued, I told them I hate them. I never went back."

"Mitch..."

"That's the whole story, Dom. I hate him so much, and I fear he'll rip me from everything like he does every time."

"So, when you said he can't get away with taking everything from you..."

"Yeah, Dom. He took my virginity by force. He took my safe space, he took my brothers, he took my daughter," he sighed. "Everything. And he nearly took you and the crew. I couldn't let him."

"I'm sorry, baby," Dom reaches carefully for Mitch, who takes the hint. He climbs into Dom's lap, burying his head in his shoulder and crying softly. Dom wraps him in his arms, comforts him with gentle words and kisses to his temple and hair. One hand gently rubbed his back while he hummed.

"What did Bri and Rome tell you?"

"Nothing. They said they weren't allowed in the room with," Dom replied. Mitch doesn't point out the lie, just curls more into Dom.

"I'm sorry, baby... I'm just not ready," he said softly.

"It's ok, Mitch."

"I... I cant... I... I... having kids... I know you want them. I don't know if I can again. I fucking... I found Jay in the crib... Hale had... strangled her, bashed her head in... I can't get that image out of my head. I'm so fucking sorry."

"I understand, love. You don't have to explain it to me and you don't need to apologize "

Mitch nods. "It's late. We need to get back."

Dom nods. "You ok to drive?"

"Yeah."

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A/n

Hey!!! Should Mitch reconsider having kids?