𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 | 𝐦. 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐧

nine.

tw : abuse, violence

__________

after school michael waited for a bit before making his way home. he didn't want to run into you. he knew you would worry. he walked alone, kicking the rocks on the sidewalk on the way. he stood on the sidewalk just outside his house, clearly stalling as he just stared at his house. once he stepped inside his dad would be all over him and probably only make matters worse. he took slow steps to the front door, quietly stepping inside and trying to sneak up to his room. william caught him just as he was at the stairs, calling him over into the kitchen where he was opening a beer for himself. he had heard michael come in but he thought michael would have at least said hey before locking himself in his room like he usually did. when william got a look at his poor, beat-up son, his eyes widened just slightly.

"what happened to you, kid?" he asked, grabbing michael's arm and digging his fingers into the bruises that had formed on his skin after being pushed onto the ground over and over. he winced, his brows furrowing together as he took in a sharp breath. william examined the scrapes and bruises as michael tried to pull his arm away from him. he didn't want to talk to him right now. he didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"well if its not obvious i got beat up at school," he said with a bit of attitude. "some kids decided to put me in my place," he grumbled and finally yanked his arm away from his dad once he loosened his grip.

"watch your tone," william warned, his brows furrowing together as he stared at michael. he looked at the bruises and scrapes on his face that matched the ones on the rest of his body. "they really messed you up," he said, stating the obvious before taking a swig from his drink. 

"thanks, dad. i couldn't tell," he was growing tired of this conversation. it wasn't going anywhere. the least william could have done was ask if he was okay or if anything was broken but he was just making horribly apparent observations. the blank look on william's face showed that he didn't really care all that much. michael guessed that william probably found this hilarious or that he deserved it.

william grabbed michael's shirt and pulled him closer. "i told you to watch your tone. do you want me to put you in your place too, huh? like those punks at school? i might be your old man but i can throw a punch. question is whether or not you can take it," he shoved michael away, watching him stumble a bit before standing back up straight. william shook his head and tapped his fingers against the beer in his hand. he was wearing his wedding ring and the sound of the metal clanging against the glass made michael's ear hurt. 

"you can take that thing off," he nodded his head to the ring around his finger before looking up to meet his father's eyes. william gave him a look that warned him to choose his next words carefully. michael already knew what he was gonna say. he wasn’t going to take his warning. it was something william needed to hear whether he liked it or not. "she's gone and it's our fault. now she's never gonna come back to you. not while you're drinking and hitting her kids. you're exactly what you said you would never be, you know. you disgust her. you disgust me."

before michael could even process it, william's fist met michael's face. he fell back, knocked right on his ass. he fell back and his backpack kept his head away from hitting the ground. his spine bent uncomfortably and he let out a groan. he cursed under his breath, moving a hand and covering his face. he felt warm blood dripping between his fingers. william made his nose bleed. he cursed under his breath, sat up, and scooted away from william. 

“you wanna talk big but can’t even take a punch. looks like those kids putting you in your place didn’t do a good job now did they?” he said, crouching down in front of michael. he took a long drink from his beer as he examined his helpless son. he was truly pathetic. “don’t ever talk to me like that again. you know better. she’s gone because of you. now get out of my sight, michael,” he said before standing up again.

michael’s brows furrowed together and he took a moment to get back up on his feet. “fuck you. drunk bastard,” he said loud enough for his dad to hear before walking away. he went upstairs to his room to drop his backpack in there before going to the bathroom across the hall. 

he wiped his face, only smearing blood and peeling dried blood off his skin. he flinched and pulled his hand away. he sighed and stared at himself in the mirror. he tried not to look for too long and only looked at the bruises on his skin. he looked awful. he hated the sight of himself. he couldn’t stand it. he only saw what everyone else saw. a murderer. tears stung his eyes as he took slow breaths and looked down at dirty counter. blood dripped down from his face and into the sink bowl. his chest hurt as he bit back cries he had been holding in all day. he couldn’t cry. he’s gone through this a million times before. he needed to get used to it. 

he walked out of the bathroom and looked down the stairs that would lead back down to the living room. he knew his dad was downstairs but he couldn’t stand being in this shitty house for any longer. he needed to get out and take a breath. he knocked on the door to elizabeth’s room, standing outside and waiting for a response. he heard her voice but couldn’t quite make out what she said. he just continued on and said what he wanted to say to her.

“i’m going out for a little bit, liz. i don’t know when i’ll be back. i won’t be here to make dinner for you,” he said loud enough for only her to hear through the door. “there should be leftovers in the fridge but if you don't want that you can just make mac n cheese. can you manage? i can go out and get something for if you’d prefer that instead,” he asked, tracing his fingers on the patterns of the wooden door.

elizabeth opened the door and looked up at her older brother. she let out a sigh as she saw the state he was in. even if things had been awkward between them since the incident, they still cared for each other. it was too complicated for either of them to understand. she nodded before stepping closer to him and putting her arms around his waist. “you can’t run away from him forever,” she said quietly, squeezing him in her arms. “please don’t stay out too long.”

michael bent down a bit to hug her, gently rubbing her back. “i’ll come back before you go to bed. don’t tell dad i’m out, please. i’ll get you candy if you promise not to tell,” he said and pulled away from her, smiling just a bit. she beamed and nodded, putting her hand out for a handshake to seal the deal. he shook her small hand before standing back up straight. he ruffled her hair before turning back into his room. “i’ll see you later tonight,” he said before closing his door and locking it.

he walked over to his window and quietly opened it. he carefully stepped out, getting good footing before closing the window and leaving it open a crack for when he came back. he crawled across the roof and slid down one of the pillars that held up the roof above the porch that wrapped around the house. he walked across the patio and walked across the lawn, finding himself on his way to your house. he wasn’t sure how you would react but he just needed somewhere to stay for a little bit. you were his only friend right now. his only escape from the hell hole he called ‘home’.