The Anatomy of a Parody Heart

broken

Enzo has always wondered whether he would recognise his father. He has never met him, not properly - not unless you count the few bare moments after he was born, after the doctors and nurses were done filling him with tubes and wires and metal, and Mum had stopped screaming, stopped crying - and it had been acknowledged, for the first time, that he was a monster.

But Enzo does recognise him.

He didn't recognise Izzy. Izzy, who he grew up with, shared a room with.

Izzy, who he has known all his life.

But Enzo recognises his father.

"Dad," Izzy says. She is crying again. "Dad, this is - "

And that is when Enzo punches him.

Looking back, Enzo is not sure whether or not he meant to punch him. Whether it was something he was always going to do, or whether he just chose, right then - right now - to do it. To punch him. Hard. In the face.

Enzo feels, rather than hears, his father's nose break. It cracks under his fingers. Wets his hand with blood. Warm. Sticky. And then Enzo is on top of him, on the ground, punching him, kicking him, beating him, and someone - someone is screaming - screaming and screaming and screaming -

"Enzo - Enzo, stop - Enzo - "

Hands, on his shoulders, pulling him back.

Enzo struggles. Screams.

Punches.

Punches and punches and punches.

"Enzo - "

Pulled to his feet now - pulled to his feet and staring, staring down at the figure on the floor, the mangled figure, broken and bloody and -

That's my dad.

That's my dad.

"Hey - Enzo, Enzo I've got you - I've got you - shh - "

Dan.

Dan.

Dan's arms go around him, hold him, tight, and Enzo can hear him, feel him, Dan, Dan - Dan's heartbeat in his ear, his hands around his waist, holding him, holding him - so warm and soft, so Dan.

Enzo thinks he is crying. Thinks he is breaking.

"I hate you, Carter," Enzo whispers, "I hate you."

Dan holds him.