Sanders Sides One Shots

The strange kid at school

AU

There was this strange kid at school. He never talked to anyone, never had any friends, and definitely had no social life. 100% of his focus was on his studies, and achieving the best grades he could.

What nobody knew, was his dark secret.
He had school to escape.
His brother didn't.

Liam (Logan. Remember, they're kidnapped) and Angel (Virgil) did not know who their parents were. And Angel knew even less than Liam.
After he began to look promising, in the eyes of their owners, Liam was sent to the nearby public school, on the condition he would make no friends, get straight A's and not tell a soul the truth.
Angel on the other hand, had never left the basement of the house. He didn't know what the world smelled or felt like. Liam had shown him pictures of course, but it wasn't quite the same.
The house was located in a very shady part of the city, known for the high crime rates, and not a nice place to live.

Day in day out the owners had a system.
It was a system that was very efficient, and made sure no toe was stepped out of line by anyone.
If Liam told anyone, got less than an A, or wasn't home by 4pm every day from school (it finished at 3:30 and was a 40 minutes walk), then Angel was physically punished, and Liam, forced to watch, or, whomever he talked to and made friends with would be punished. It was a system that worked by fear, and driven by love and guilt.
The threat was reiterated everyday, and again every time Angel was punished for something Liam did regarding school. "Only focus on your studies, nothing else, and certainly no friends. Otherwise he gets it."

On the days when one of them did do something wrong, or their owners were just bored, Angel was whipped, raped, or cut. Sometimes all three. All the time, Liam was forced to watch. Liam's punishments never got physical, as it would probably raise suspicion at school, so Angel was used as leverage, as the two brothers loved each other so much, being the only family they had, and the only companion in their cruel world.

Everyday after school when Liam returned, and they were not badly punished, he taught his brother what he had learned that day. It helped him revise, and it also allowed his brother to be mostly up to date with the school by the time they got out.

And they would.
Eventually.
Hopefully.

However, on days when Angel was injured badly, Liam had to clean and dress the wounds as best he could with their limited supplies. Often, Liam would have to 'borrow' from the schools first aid kit, or pretend to be injured and get wrapped in bandages which he would use at home for Angel. After he had cleaned up, he would carry his brother to the mattress on the floor that they shared, and read to him his notes from the day's lessons until he fell asleep, and afterwards complete his homework.

This continued on for years.
Until one unfortunate day in high school.

The week began like every other week.
The 16 year old arrived at his school, in his traditional black shirt, khaki shorts, and blue tie, as well of course, as his glasses and backpack.

He went straight to his locker and put all of his books inside, and took what he needed and went to his first lesson. He was there, thinking for a good 15 minutes before the bell rang, and the lesson for Chemistry began.
The school did the traditional welcome to the new student, but Liam remained uninterested. He couldn't make friends anyway.
After that the lesson began.

Recess arrived, and Liam took his book and headed straight for his corner in the library. Safe from bullies, and secluded from the outside world. After 20 minutes, the bell rang and he left to go get his books for Mathematics. He arrived early, and took his seat in the second row, and waited patiently for the class to begin.