Eaton

25. Change

Will p.o.v.

"Just let me do all the talking, okay?"

Tobias nods and tries to hide a grimace as I pull up in the driveway. He keeps pulling on his forefinger, something Marcus used to do whenever dad was in an exceptionally foul mood.

"Don't worry, kid. Everything will be fine."

He nods but I can tell he's not really listening. His eyes remain fixed on the door, as if it's the entrance to hell. Maybe it is.

I get out of the car and he follows reluctantly. The door opens before I even lift my arm to knock. Marcus gives me a glare and I can feel Tobias shrinking behind me.

"What do you want now, William?"

I try my best to maintain whatever bravery I have in front of my brother who right now is resembling my father in too many ways.

"I just want to talk Marcus. We need to talk."

His glare doesn't relent but he steps aside and lets me in nonetheless. Tobias walks in right behind me and I hear the ever familiar sound of knuckles hitting flesh. I turn around immediately, prepared to prevent any further violence but all I see is Tobias with an arm of his -red, pulsing- ear, and Marcus shaking out a fist. It could've gone much worse. Marcus is the first to speak.

"William let me make one thing clear, I am not, under any circumstances, letting you live here again, understand?"

"Yes, yes I know. It's not what I'm here for...I'm here about Tobias." Tobias who is inching slowly away from his father and behind me.

"What about Tobias?"

I rub the back of my neck out of habit. Okay Will, take a deep breath and start.

"Look Marcus, he is sixteen years old. You can't keep treating him like a child. He's a grown up now, he's mature and he's a great kid. You... you can't be so harsh on him. You gotta stop being so ridiculously strict. I mean he's become such a wonderful person and you can't keep beating him senseless for the slightest mistake. You gotta stop treating him like this, like how dad treated us-"

"Tobias go to your room." Marcus stops me before I can say anything else. He doesn't want Tobias to know that he too was weak once. Tobias starts walking towards the stairs, obeying blindly.

"Tobias stay here, he already knows Marc. I told him everything."

Tobias stops walking and turns back towards us. I look back at him and offer a small smile to ease the tension which he is undoubtedly feeling. That was a mistake because when I turn back I don't even see Marcus pull back his arm.

The punch comes fast and hard. It throws me back and I stumble into the couch, nose bleeding.

"Will!"

" 'm fine." I try to stop the blood pouring out by pushing my sleeve into my nose but it doesn't help. It just stains my clothes and paints them red. Tobias comes to my side and helps me up but as soon as I'm on my feet I see Marcus pull back his arm.

I duck just in time. When did he change? When did he become such a prick? He needs to be reminded his place. I remember my father saying that and right now, for once in my life, I agree. I tackle Marcus to the ground and start punching him. I can't even see anymore I'm just hitting him. For abandoning me. Punch. For not calling me once after he left. Punch. For ruining Tobias' life. Punch.

I keep punching and I guess at some point he starts punching me back because I feel blood pouring out of my lip. Tobias pulls me off and separates us. He helps me up then offers a hand to his father who, never relenting on his pride, refuses it and gets up by leaning on the easy chair.

"Stop it! Both of you. What is wrong with you?"

Marcus raises a hand to slap him but Tobias hold his arm up. Between our fight, and his age, Marcus is easily held off.

"STOP HITTING ME! STOP HITTING EVERYONE!" I have never heard my nephew so angry.

He holds up his father's arm, his grip tight. Marcus glares at him but Tobias doesn't back down. He glares right back. I can see both of them struggling to win the fight, Marcus pushing down, Tobias holding it up. Finally Marcus stops pushing and his son lets his arm drop. Now is probably a good time to talk.

"Marcus, you need to change. Don't you realize what you're doing? What you've done? You need to stop!"

Marcus looks at me, not angry anymore. His glare has dissolved, I try to decipher what emotion is going through his head but nothing comes up. I can't tell.

"Please"

He looks at his hands, now coated in blood, mine, and tries to clean them off. Tobias doesn't move and I remain in place, leaning on the sofa. Finally after an eternity of tension he looks up and speaks.

"William, as I said in the beginning of this confrontation, you will not be allowed to move back in." I nod and he turns to Tobias. "As for you... I will be more lenient with you in the future as long as you respect my rules. One step out of line, one call from the school, one complaint from the council men, and you will be punished, understand?"

"Yes, sir"

I guess this is the closest we'll ever get to a compromise.

"Now, let's clean up." Marcus goes to the upstairs bathroom and leaves Tobias and I staring blankly. Did that seriously just happen?

After a few minutes, when the shock has faded, Tobias turns to me, smiling.

"Thanks Will. Thank you so much. You... you fixed him." I smile at him, blood now dried.

"It's alright bud. Uh listen, I'm gonna go clean off this blood. Red isn't really my color." He laughs and nods.

I head to the bathroom and start scrubbing out the blood. From my knuckles, from my face, from my sleeve. How could I even bleed this much?

Tobias p.o.v.

I can't believe that actually worked. I can't believe Marcus backed down. What if it's all just an act? What if the minute Will leaves he'll take off his belt and hurt me? What if he holds up for a few days and just goes back to the old ways after?

As I push that last thought away, my father walks into the living room. For a moment we just stare at each other, neither wanting to make the first move. Finally he presses his lips into a line, an almost-smile. I smile back minimally. He smiled at me. I don't think I've ever seen my father smile at me.

Maybe he will go back to the old ways, maybe not. Who knows? For now, might as well enjoy what I have.