Duplicity

Otto

"No."

"Come on, kitten, let's do this the easy way, please."

I shook my head at him and wrapped my arms around my knees all the way on the other end of the bed.  I regretted ever speaking back to him and my limbs trembled even more when he simply sat there and stared at me.

"Mary, come over here.  Now." He was calm, but his voice was firm and cold, so I knew that he meant business.  

I also knew that he was going to hurt me and after accepting slaps from my own family for years, I didn't want a virtual stranger begin to do it too.  My eyes started to tear up when I realized that Harry would probably get as bad as my dad.  When he hit me the first few times, he apologized profusely and assured me that it wouldn't happen again, but after a while, it just became common-place and he stopped feeling remorse about it.  He told me that I deserved it because I did nothing for the family and eventually forced my brothers to beat me as well, although they were always sorry.  So even though Harry said he would only hit me when I "misbehaved," I knew that he was lying; soon he would do it just because he wanted to.

"Mary, god damn it, would–hey, hey, why are you crying?"

I didn't even notice that the tears had spilled over until he mentioned it and I didn't even protest when he moved up the bed to place me on his lap.  I sobbed into his chest as he rubbed my back and quietly shushed me.

"I'm not going to hurt you, baby, I already told you that I don't want to, alright?  I want you to respect me, Mary, but I do not want you to be afraid of me."

"M-my dad s-said that he didn't w-want to hurt me e-either, but then he kept hitting me u-until he didn't even apologize anymore and he said I deserved it," I cried into his chest and he sighed sadly before combing through my hair with his fingers.

"Mary, I will never...I won't ever use you like you're father did, alright?  I told you that you will not be my punching bag and I am a man of my word.  When I am angry, the proper people will know, okay?"

"O-okay."  We sat like that for another movement until I tilted my head to look up at him.  "I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you before," I said quietly.  I couldn't understand why, but I felt like I needed to apologize.  I knew that he should have been begging me for forgiveness after having me taken off the streets, but I felt compelled to follow his orders. 

"It's alright, kitten, just don't let it happen again.  You've only been here what?  Two days.  I don't expect you to behave perfectly, but I do expect you to listen to me." I leaned against his warm chest and nodded, letting my finger trace over his butterfly tattoo.  "Why don't we get some lunch then?  I'll take you out if you promise to behave."

"Really?" My eyes lit up and I smiled at him, wanting to be out of the house for a little bit.  I knew that it would clear my mind a bit and it would just be nice to get some fresh air after this morning.  "Are the others going to come to?"

"No," Harry shook his head.  "They only live here during the week, or if a case requires overtime into the weekends.  They have their own places."

"Oh."  I assumed that they were always here and the knowledge that I had to spend two whole days alone with Harry, with no way to contact anyone chilled me to the bone.  So far, he wasn't as bad as I thought, but there was still plenty of time for him to turn on me.

**

Harry took me to a small diner about halfway between the house and London.  I immediately fell in love with the fifties decor and the old songs playing from a jukebox in the corner.  The hamburger and strawberry milkshake I ordered was also delicious, so I was throughly surprised that such a gem could be practically in the middle of nowhere.