Broken

XVI

POV: Sebastian

That weekend, I walked to the apartment Macy and I lived in when I was home.

She was twelve, old enough to take care of herself, but young enough to not deserve to have to take care of herself.

I pulled out my key, unlocking the door. She walked to the door, smiling but looking confused. "You never come back for the weekends, Bas."

I smile weakly back at her. "I, um, decided to this weekend. Surprise?"

She puts her hand on her hip. "Mhm, sure. What's going on?"

"A lot." I sigh, sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Well, I'll put on the tea kettle, then," she says, heading to the kitchen.

She returns with two mugs of tea, setting one in front of me.

"Thanks."

"Now, tell me what's going on at that school of yours."

I pause, deciding not to get straight to the point. "Well, there's a new student, Kurt. I've become friends with him. He has a really rough past. Oh, and guess what? Blaine likes him. He's jealous that I'm the only one who's managed to become friends with him."

She giggles at this. "How in the world did you manage that?"

"Well, I got him to trust me by trusting him first. I, uh, told him a bit about my past."

She notices the change in my voice and looks at me. "Sebastian, you had better tell me what's going on."

I stare down into my mug of tea, unable to meet her gaze. "I got a phone call. From- from father."

Her eyes widen in fear. "What did he say?"

"He's back," I whisper. "He found us. That's why I came back."

She shakes her head. "How?"

"I don't know. He's coming for the weekend." I look up, staring her in the eyes. "I need you to stay out of his way. No comments, no remarks, just let me handle him and he'll be on his way. I can't bare seeing you get hurt."

"I don't like it when you get hurt. I hate it when he hurts you, Bas," she says, tears falling down her face.

"Hey. Hey, look at me." I take her hand across the table and she meets my gaze. "I'll be fine. I'm tough, I've handled it before. You've got a great future, Em, we can't let him ruin it."

"You've got a good future too, Bas," she says stubbornly.

I smile sadly. If she only knew.

"You're my number one priority, Em. As long as you make it through, having your best life in the end, I'll be fine. I'll be happy."

She nods. "If that's what it takes to make you happy, I'm going to have the best future of all the futures ever had."

I grin proudly. "That's my girl."

There's the sound of staggering footsteps and then a knock on the door. He's early.

I quickly look to her. I know simply by the unordered pattern that he's drunk.

"Hide. Bathroom, lock the door. When he passes out or leaves I'll get you. Don't come out unless I speak, letting you know it's me."

She nods, hugging me before scurrying off.

I take a deep breath, walking to the door and opening it.

"Father," I say calmly.