TW: talks of abuse
"So where are we headed?" Bertholdt asked as they pulled out of Marco's driveway.
"Well first we need to go get a Jean. I don't think I can do this with out him"
"He means a lot to you doesn't he"
Marco didn't answer, but the subtle blush across his face gave him his answer.
"So how did you do on your mid terms?" Bertholdt asked.
"A's abs B's got a C on my French exam, but I was kind of distracted...you?"
"About the same no C's though and swap out French for Spanish...then again I didn't get life changing news right before hand"
Marco laughed, fair point.
"Before Jean's can we make a Starbucks stop?"
"Actually I could go for an iced caramel macchiato" Marco said.
**************************************************
"Just take a right here and it should be four houses down"
Bertholdt pulled his car in front of the house. "This it?"
Marco looked at the brick house with the blue shutters and the white front door.
"Yeah this is it"
The trip got out of the car. Marco stood in the front lawn just staring, wondering if this was a good idea.
He nearly fell backwards when a lady opened the door.
"Excuse me, are you hear for the open house?"
"I'm sorry what?"
She pointed a manicured finger to the sign in the yard.
"Oh...um...well not quite. You see used to live here and just wanted to see it one more time" Marco said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"That's funny the Bodt's never mentioned they had a son" the realtor said.
Marco felt like an ice pick had been stabbed through his heart at those words.
"Well you probably also have wouldn't know that the owners- " Jean was cut off as Bertholdt clamp his hand over his mouth.
"It's...kinda complicated" Marco said.
The woman let out a sigh. "Well nobody is touring the house right now so you boys are more than welcome come inside"
"Actually....I would really like that" Marco said making his way towards the front door.
"I'm Lynn by the way" she said extended her hand.
"Marco Bodt and these are my friends Jean Kirschtein and Bertholdt Hoover"
"Hoover? Is your dad the oral surgeon?"
"Yep that's him."
She laughed. "I think he took out my wisdom teeth a few years back"
The three boys stepped into the house looking around.
"Come on I'll show you guys my old room" Marco said leading them upstairs.
************************************************
It was a odd feeling seeing his childhood bed room bare and empty.
Marco walked over to the closet kneeling down. He reached over to a floorboard but noticed it was firmly nailed down.
He let out a small laugh. "Guess they fixed the floorboard where I use to hide all my BL manga, my pride stuff, support stuff ya know"
"I didn't realize just how much you had to hide...well yourself." Bertholdt said sadly.
Marco didn't answer, he just ran his hand over the floor board.
Jean gently elbowed Bertholdt. "Why don't we give him a minute"
The two quietly backed out of the room, going downstairs to let Lynn give them a tour of the house.
Marco sat down in his closet, leaning his head against the wall. He couldn't count how many times he hid in here, reading his mangas & books, crying after his dad beat him, writing. The flood gates of time had opened let a giant wave of memories crash over him.
There were beautiful memories of times when his mother was kind and caring. Discovering his joy of reading. Hanging up ribbons and awards. There rare times his dad would praise him.
Then there were the darker memories. His mom screaming at him for getting below a B or getting a uniform infraction at school. His dad with the belt, knowing the right words to cut him down.
It was a hurricane of angry, nostalgia, and sadness swirling around in his head.
"Marco??"
Marco looked to see Jean.
"Are...are you ok?" He asked sitting down next to him. "You're crying."
Marco touched his cheek. He didn't remember when he started crying. He also wasn't aware how much time had passed.
"Just...it's just a lot of bad happened in here" he said weakly.
Jean put his around his shoulders pulling him close.
"I know...and I'm so sorry you went through that, you are an amazing person and I hate that your parents are too f*cking stupid to see it"
"I-I can't believe they actually abandoned me..." he buried himself into Jeans chest, and began to cry even harder.
Jean held him close, gently rubbing his back. He knew Marco needed this, and needed him to just listen.
It hurt Jean to see Marco hurting so much, it also made him so angry that he had been so clueless to what Marco had been going through, angry at his family. He just wanted to make the pain go away. But Jean knew it wasn't that simple.
Jean wasn't sure how long they sat there, but a knock on the door caused them both to jump.
"Hey guys I don't mean to rush you guys but a couple is here to view the house and I think we need to go"
Marco wiped his eyes on his shirt and Jean stood up.
He held out his hand pulling Marco to his feet.
Marco went into the bathroom and pulled himself together.
The three thank Lynn for her generosity, and left the house.
Before Bertholdt pulled away from the curb, Jean cleared his throat.
"I saw we give this house a proper send off...what do you think Marco?"
Marco saw the gleam in Jean's eyes and knew exactly what he had in mind.
Making sure no one in the house could see the three of them gave the middle finger to the house as a finally f*ck you.
**************************************************
It was the summer before junior year. Marco had his first car.
It was a hot June afternoon , Marco was on his way from Jean's and decided to make a detour.
He felt a swell of anxiety as he pulled onto the once familiar street, getting closer to his old house.
As he slowly drove past he saw a young boy about the age of 7 playing in the yard. Passing a soccer ball with his dad, both with big smiles on their faces.
"I hope this house brings much better memories for you than it did me" he said to himself.
Before the house was out of view, he spotted something that made him feel like that house would now be a home of love and acceptance.
A pride flag fluttered in the breeze.
Marco couldn't help but smile, feeling more confident that the young boy in the backyard no matter what would be ok and so would he.
End
