The League [Phan AU]

Chapter 27

It was a sunny day, and Dan could remember it so clearly. He begged his mom to let Phil come over to play, and when the ginger-haired boy arrived they ran outside in the backyard. Anne watched them from the window of the kitchen. She was content in that moment, because that was all she had ever wanted. A nice house, a nice family, a nice life. But there was one thing in the way, Donovan's new job. He was almost always off doing jobs late at night, and every time Dan's little voice asked if his dad could tuck him into bed it broke Anne's heart a little more. How would she raise the one on the way without a father? It wasn't the type of life she wanted for her children.
"Anne?" a voice called. She looked to see Donovan walking into the kitchen. He flashed her a smile and she gave back one that was insincere. How was he going to react to this?
"Donny," Anne said, faking affection. "How was work?"
"Good, good," he replied. "I'll be gone tonight on another job."
"Of course," Anne nodded, looking back at Dan and Phil in the yard.
"Phil's over?" Donovan noticed. "He's a good kid. He's around so often it's kind of like we have a second son."
"Donny, there's something I need to tell you," Anne rushed out.
"What is it?"
"I'm pregnant."
"You are?"
Anne nodded. "I found out a few days ago."
"It's mine, right?"
"Of course, Donny, you're the only man I've had sex with since I was twenty-three!"
"Okay, well, great! Another bundle of joy to add to the house!" Donovan smiled, relieving Anne a bit. As long as her children were happy, Donovan could do whatever he wanted.
"There's also something I'd like to ask of you," Anne said. "Could you try to be home more often? Dan misses you."
"I can arrange that," Donovan answered, kissing his wife's forehead. "But, I had an idea."
"An idea?" Anne questioned.
"I want to take Dan with me to work."
"Take Dan to work? Donny he's eight!"
"He's old enough to learn my craft."
"Your craft?" Anne repeated incredulously. "He is a child! You kill people for a living! You cannot drag a child into something like that!"
"Why not? I think he'd love it!"
"Love it? He doesn't even fully understand what it means to die yet! Donovan are you out of your mind?"
"He is coming with me whether you like it or not!" Donovan shouted.
"No he is not!" Anne shouted back. How could the thought even cross his mind? Before Anne could continue she felt a hand hit her face. Her hands instinctively went up to clutch her stinging cheek.
"I... I..." Donovan stuttered.
"Get. Out," Anne ordered. "Come back when you've reevaluated what you have just done."
----
"You monster!" Dan screamed, trying to hold back the tears that wanted to come out.
"I almost forgot to ask, how's your boyfriend? I did instruct my men not to strike anything vital," Donovan said to his son.
"You bastard..."
"Now, now, no need for such language, Daniel. He's alive, isn't he?"
"That's not the point. You hurt someone I love. Phil, Mum, Adrian; you've caused them all pain. Now you have to pay the price."
Dan charged at his father, not even realizing the gun had slipped from his hand. Donovan blocked Dan's first blow, but didn't see the second and staggered backward as he was hit in the gut. He ran back at his son in retaliation, hitting him square in the jaw. Dan fell to his knees in pain.
'Get back up.'
I have to stand up.
'The son of a bitch has to pay.'
He has to pay.
Dan got to his feet, throwing punches at his father. He was too aggressive, and didn't pay attention to anything but the power he put into each swing. His father took the upperhand and grabbed his arm, pulling it downward and twisting it in an unnatural way. Dan heard a crack and felt pain spread throughout his body like wildfire. He grit his teeth to keep from crying out and pulled away, walking backward to put distance between him and his father.
"I can tell, Dan, that you are just like me," Donovan said.
"I am nothing like you!" Dan shouted.
"You hear them too, don't you? The voices."
He did. He heard them all the time. They told him what to do.
"They have been following me around ever since I was your age," Donovan explained. "They told me to do horrible, horrible things, and I was no longer in control of my own body. I can help you Dan, I can help you keep control of yourself. Let me live and together we will be unstoppable and in control!"
"How do I know this isn't the voices talking?" Dan questioned.
"Because of these," Donovan explained, throwing Dan a small bottle that made a rattling sound.
"Pills?"
"They are what keep me sane," he replied. "Let me live and we will get you a prescription. You and Phil can live happy lives and I can rule the League of Specially Trained Individuals. So what do you say?"
'He's a liar.'
Maybe not.
'He needs to die.'
He does.
"Fuck you," Dan spat, pulling the knife from his pocket and charging at his father. Luckily, he had injured his right arm, and not his dominant, left one. In one quick motion Dan plunged the knife into his father's pudgy stomach. Donovan fell to ground, blood staining his shirt. "You will never hurt anyone ever again."