Adopted

Chapter 16

                Sora lay in his little room, tossing a ball in the air and catching it again. He sighed in boredom as a knock on his door sounded through his room. The ball midair had fallen on his face and he exclaimed out in pain. “Come in.”

                The door opened slowly and Leon walked in, his eyes stern and his mouth sealed tight into a thin line. He sat down on Sora’s bed, “She’s mad Sora.”

                “Isn’t she always though?”

                Leon chuckled, “Yeah I suppose, but she’s madder than usual. I think she might have seen that little boyfriend of yours.”

                Sora raised an eyebrow, “Boyfriend?”

                “Don’t even try and play this game little brother. I know about you and that blonde Strife boy.”

                “I- I actually don’t know. I mean we’re close again but I don’t know if we are per say dating.”

                Leon shrugged, “Nasty part about relationships. Dating is either really good or really bad, depending on each other’s mood. I want you to stay over at someone’s house, I’ll tell mom that you went on some really long field trip with the school.”

                “No,” Sora shook his head and hugged his oldest brother to him, “No thanks Leon. I’m fine. You know I can take whatever she can throw at me.”

                “You are definitely something else Sora.”

                “I know I am, so are you and Vani. I love you both so much and have been great support from the start. I mean I still don’t get why you won’t tell Vani that you help us but I guess you have your reasons.”

                Leon felt a few tears stinging his eyes, “Sora I’ll always be there to protect you.”

                The two heard the front door slamming shut and Leon quickly exited his room. Sora stood and followed suit shortly afterwards.

                “Leon I don’t need your help, get away from me!” Vanitas yelled.

                “Calm down Vanitas, or I’ll-”

                “You’ll what? Tell mom? Oh Sora there you are! Let’s go somewhere where trash like him isn’t visible.” Vanitas stomped over to his younger brother and grabbed his wrist as he made his way to Sora’s room.

                “Can you believe that asshole? He wants to know what’s going on now but what happened for the last few years he could really care less about! I mean the nerve of that guy!”

                Sora bit his lip, he didn’t want to say something that Leon specifically told him not to tell Vanitas and especially their mother. He just watched his brother pace back and forth in his room, “Is something wrong, Vani?”

                Vanitas looked at him, his yellow eyes shining brightly, “Sora, I kissed him.”

                “Who’s him?”

                “Ven!”

                Sora scrunched his eyebrows together, “But you’re not gay. Wha- I never knew. Well welcome onboard I guess.”

                Vanitas chuckled but quickly went back to his serious mood, “Sora, what do I do?”

                “Well, talk to him about it. That’s the most effective way to solve a problem rather than let other people make it worse for you.”

                “But what if he won’t listen?”

                “Give him some time Vani, he’ll come around!”

                Vanitas gave Sora a grateful smile before giving him a hug, “Thanks Sora, you may be the youngest but I guess you are the wisest too.”

                “No, I just know the feeling.”

                “SORA!” the two flinched back at the scream that tore through the apartment, “WHERE IS HE?”

                He gulped as he made his way towards the door before he felt a hand on his wrist, “Don’t go,” Vanitas pleaded.

                Sora gave him a smile before taking back his hand and walked out to face the devil of a woman he called his mother. Her lips pursed as she stood tall with her gaunt features accented by the small lamp. Leon was nowhere to be seen, it was only her and him.

                “Sora, is there something you want to speak to me about?”

                “N-no.”

                “Really? Nothing about school?” she stepped closer to him, “Nothing about your friends? OR YOUR SINFUL LIES?”

                Her face was up to his, “N-no.”

                “Well then I guess we’ll have to get the truth out of you one way or another.” She slapped him and he fell back, “So let’s try this again. Who is he?”

                Sora fought back the tears, he wasn’t going to start crying in front of this woman, “I- I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

                “DON’T LIE TO ME!” She hit him again.

                “M-mom I telling the truth. I don’t have anybody.”

                “If boys like you can’t be kept in their place, well I suppose all that’s left is to beat you back in line.”

                “M-mom please, I’m sorry but-”

                “But what?”

                “But I don’t have a him.”

                “HOW DARE YOU LIE TO YOUR MOTHER!” She hit him again, this time making his nose bleed.