Beautiful Disaster; Beautiful Reality.

Brother Troubles.

I sit there and look at myself on the camera on my phone. He's right; I do look terrible. I sit there as memories flood back from when I was forced to live with David and this happened before. I scrolled through my contacts and my finger hovered over Mika's name. But I couldn't. Instead I texted Fortuné. 'Please come to the toilets. I need help. Just you, not Mika.' I sent it and quickly got a response. 'On my way.'

I waited in silence until I heard the door open.
"Hannah?" Fortuné asked as he closed the door behind him. I slowly opened the door and came out of the cubicle. I look at the floor as he comes closer. He gently pushes my chin up to make me look at him and as soon as our eyes meet I look away.
"What happened?" He asked concerned.
"N-nothing. It was an a-accident." I mumbled and stared at the floor again.
"That's not what it looks like. That red mark on your cheek looks like someone-"
"I know..." I mumbled.
"I'll get the first aid kit." He said once he saw my hands. As soon as he left Mika came in.

I shuffled back and tried to hide back in the cubicle but his gentle hand stopped me. His eyes met mine and I looked away again. I pulled my arm away but he gently took my hand and looked at the grazes. His eyes suddenly filled with worry. He kissed the top of my hand to avoid the grazes on the bottom. Fortuné returned with the first aid kit as Mika pulled me into a gentle hug. He always knew how to make me feel safe and better. They both took one hand each and dabbed them with antiseptic wipes.
I winced in pain as they cleaned up my hands.
Once they'd done Fortuné put the first aid kit away. Mika put his hand gently on my face where David had hit it and stroked it gently. Then he looked at my arm and lightly touched the finger marks.
"Hannah, who did this?" He asked softly. I looked away.
"Hannah please?" Mika said this time with worry in his voice.
"It doesn't matter." I whispered.
"It does Hannah." Fortuné's voice came from across the room. I sighed.
"D-David." I whispered. Mika's face dropped and turned to anger. I pulled Mika into a hug and don't let go.
"You're safe now, I won't let him touch you again." Mika reassured me.
"We need to go back..." Fortuné said quietly. I nodded and followed them in.

David gave me an icy stare as Mika put his arm around me once we sat down again.

Mika's PoV
Hannah had been gone a while now. Fortuné suddenly got up and went. A few minutes later he went into the kitchen and I went to the toilets to see what was happening. Then I saw Hannah. Her hands were bleeding, so was her bottom lip. There was a sore red patch on her cheek and finger marks on her arm. She looked hurt and broken.

She tried to go and hide but I stopped her. She looked ashamed and terrified. Fortuné and I cleaned her up and went back into the reception. David kept giving us hateful looks but I didn't care. I hated him.

At 11 everyone went home Fortuné stayed with Hannah and I until the last few guests had gone. David and Janet were the last to leave. He came over and shook my hand, pulling me closer and whispered:
"Be careful. Beautiful things can be so... fragile. We don't want anyone to get hurt now do we?" I pushed him off.
"No, we don't." I replied coldly. They then left quickly.

I took Hannah home with Fortuné who gave her a goodbye hug before returning to his flat. When Hannah got into bed she just laid there with her eyes open. Not trying to sleep. I hugged her and felt her hug me back and she fell to sleep. I've got a feeling this isn't the first time David has hurt Hannah. I need to know more.

Hannah's PoV
Running. But he's faster than me always has been always will be. He's going to hurt me. Got to run faster. I can't. Suddenly I'm 15 again. I get punched in the face and get the black eye. I get kicked in the stomach and get the bruises. I get burnt on my arms and get the cigarette marks. Again. 24 now. Present day. Pushed and punched till I fall to my knees, bloody nose and a bloody hand. He kicks me in the stomach till I can't move. I can't breathe. Then Mika comes but David hurts him too. I get up but Mika falls down and-

I wake up gasping for air, sweating and clutching the pillow. It was a dream. Mika rolls over and looks tiredly up at me.
"Sorry Mika." I say slowly.
"He can't hurt you now. I'm here and I won't let him." He told me calmly. I laid back down and felt his warm arms around me and felt safe again.
**************************************
In the morning.
**************************************
I woke up with a start and I scanned the room for Mika but he wasn't here. I quickly got up and ran into the kitchen in a panic, not wanting to be alone. He was making breakfast when I entered but stopped when he saw me.
"Hannah what's wrong?" He asked concerned.
"I-I thought you'd gone. I didn't want to be left alone." I said, my voice shaking.
"Hey, it's okay." He said as he pulled me into a hug. I smiled into his chest and leant up and kissed his cheek.
He finished the bacon, eggs and sausages whilst I got the plates and cutlery out. I noticed Mika was already dressed so I quickly slipped into a long sleeved t-shirt and jeans. When I returned Mika was putting the plates with the food on the table. I sat opposite him and we ate in silence. He clearly wanted to ask more about David. I guess I'll have to tell him one day.
"Mika, I know you want to ask about David." I said trying to sound confident.
"Only if you don't mind. I don't want to upset you." He said softly.
"Alright. What do you want to know?" I said, my voice already shaking a little. He paused, unsure of what to say.
"When did he first...hurt you?" He asked slowly trying to piece together a sentence.
"When Dad died. I was 15." I said slowly
"15? That young? Oh Hannah. What did he do?"
"Pushing me against walls, grabbing my arms and punching me." I whispered quieter than before.
"W-when else?" Mika stuttered in shock.
"19. He gave me a black eye, a few cigarette burns and a sore stomach and I'd learnt to be quiet and stay away from him." He looked at me sadly.
"Hannah-" he started sympathetically.
"Don't. It's already happened. Nothing you say or do can change that." I said coldly. Then his face somehow dropped more.
"I-it's just I thought he'd changed. But everyone says that." I whispered again as a tear ran down my cheek. He leant over the table and wiped the tear away. He then picked me up and cuddled me on the sofa whilst watching a film. Safe again. For now.