pet | scömìche

chapter four

scott was sleeping peacefully on the couch, curled up and breathing deeply.

mitch was pacing the couch in front of him, terrified. matthew had just sent another text: 'i'm coming for you, pet'.

scott shifted and burrowed further under the blanket mitch had put over him.

mitch shakily knelt next to him, brushing his hair out of his eyes with trembling hands and kissing his forehead. "i'll protect you. i promise," he whispered.

scott made a small noise in his sleep, nuzzling against him.

mitch forced himself to pull away and let out a shaky breath, jumping as someone knocked on the door. he made sure scott didn't wake up, then rushed to open it.

matthew stared coldly down at him and immediately made to push past him.

mitch blocked his way, shaking his head. "please. don't hurt him," he whispered shakily. he tried desperately to hide the fact that he was trembling.

matthew's eyes darkened and he tried to shove past him again.

mitch shook his is head again, more frantically. tears sprung to his eyes. "h-hurt me instead. please."

scott shifted again and yawned as he woke up. he blinked and glanced around after he opened his eyes, frowning when he didn't see mitch. he sat up and looked around again. scott smiled when he saw mitch, but it fell when his eyes landed on matthew.

"why?" matthew growled lowly.

"i- i want this to be a safe haven for him, a-and if you hurt him here, it won't be anymore." mitch's voice wavered horribly at the last word, and he wrapped his arms tightly around himself, but looked up at matthew. "please."

matthew let out another low growl, looking him up and down. "fine."

mitch sniffled and let out a small sigh of relief. "my bedroom's this way," he whispered, turning and leading matthew carefully past the living room and to his room. he didn't notice scott was awake.

scott watched with wide eyes. he got up from the couch and glanced down the hallway where they went, shifting from foot to foot nervously.

unlike mitch, matthew noticed, and he met scott's eyes with a wicked grin as they passed him.

mitch went inside his bedroom and closed the door after matthew, kneeling before him and bowing his head.

matthew growled lowly and raised his hand.

+++

scott was sitting outside mitch's door, tears flowing down his cheeks. he'd been sitting there since mitch let matthew in, and his mind was racing. he knew he could've done something, but he was too scared to walk in.

finally, the cries of pain and the sound of skin colliding against skin stopped, and matthew marched out of the room and out of the house without a word.

scott scrambled up and rushed into mitch's room, crying harder at the sight of him. he quickly laid down beside mitch and carefully wrapped his arms around him, sobbing quietly. "i'm s-sorry, i'm s-so sorry. i didn't d-do anything to s-stop h-him and it's my f-fault and- and... a-and he hurt you and i'm s-sorry."

mitch shook his head, carefully and painfully moving out of his arms and wrapping his arms around scott. he reached one hand up to wipe his tears away, ignoring the pain, and whispered weakly, "i'm okay, scott. i promise."

scott shook his head frantically and stood up, pacing the room and tugging roughly at his hair.

mitch forced himself to stand up and painfully moved in his path, taking his hands. "scottie, look at me," he said, his voice weak and croaky.