Big Book Of Sjips One Shots

Scars (S)

TW: Abuse and Violence and Alcohol

Sjin has been on edge for years now. When they were younger, in elementary school, he was lighthearted and joyful.

Then his mother left. His father broke out the good whiskey and found he really liked the taste.

The first time he hit Sjin, the boy showed up at Sips' house with a bruising cheek, crying. He let Sips hold an icepack to it while Sjin told him what happened- it was only one bad grade, he said.

It didn't happen for another month, but it was worse the second time. His father had thrown him down the stairs, leaving him knocked out at the bottom. When he was sure the man had passed out, he left for Sips' house again.

His head was still a little foggy, but Sips pulled him inside and looked him over for injuries. The slightly older boy knew it was wrong, but Sjin made him promise not to tell.

It continued for years.

Sips watched as the boy withdrew into his shell, never letting anyone but Sips see behind the mask. He got good grades and a job and spent some of the money on concealer so he could hide the bruises.

He and Sips spent a lot of time in Sips' room, playing music loudly and destroying each other in their current video game. In private, Sips sees the taller boy lower his defenses just enough to let Sips in. These are the only times Sjin smiles.

--

He's walking home from school one day with Sips when he notices the police cars outside of his house.

"What's going on?" Sjin asks one of the officers.

"Do you live here?"

"Yeah, that's-" Two policemen come out of the house, and his father is in handcuffs behind them. "That's my father," he says, his voice flat.

The officer looks him up and down. Sjin feels the bruises on his legs twinge. "We're going to need to take you down to the station as well."

"No," Sjin backs away a few steps. "I'm not going down there." He shakes his head.

"Look, kid, someone's gotta take responsibility for him."

"Find someone who cares," he says, pushing past the man.

There are officers inside his house, so they continue down the street to Sips' house and Sjin is glad to see it's empty. Once the door shuts, he slams Sips up against the wall. Sips sees stars with the force of his head hitting it.

"You said you wouldn't tell!" he shouts.

He shakes his head and gets dizzy again. "I didn't!"

"Who the hell else could possibly bloody know, Sips?"

"He could just be under arrest for public indecency or some shit, Sjin. I think he deserves to be impaled by a stake alive over a fire and then spend eternity in a hell made just for him, but I wouldn't betray you, Sjin."

Sjin grits his teeth and backs off. Saying nothing, he leaves the house, Sips against the wall, and his bag on the floor.

He walks until it's dark, and then decides to go home and shower to hopefully calm down.

But his father is there, sitting on the couch, drunk. Shit.

"You little shit!" he rages, standing up to tower over Sjin. "You sent the cops here, didn't you? You probably laughed with that fag friend of yours!" He grabs Sjin's collar and laughs in his face. "You're going to pay for that."

He punches Sjin in the gut, knocking him to his knees, and then uses his own to kick Sjin in the face. Sjin can feel the blood running down his face, but he's had worse. The next thing he knows, he's on the ground and his father's foot is continually kicking him in the side.