Robert places the pizza box down on the table with a sigh. Asher shouldn't be eating this with an upset stomach. He opens the box , and the smell of cheese invades his nose. Olives and jalapeno pizza, his and Asher's favorite pizza. Definitely not good for a stomach ache. He closes the box as he hears footsteps behind him.
"You shouldn't be eating t-" Robert begins, but a blow to the jaw sends him reeling to the side. Robert steadies himself as he holds his injured face. Asher stands before him, breathing heavily, ready to hit him again. This Asher has a demon's glint in his eyes and a stare that Robert has never seen before. It is filled with loathing, disgust, and incense. Asher raises his arm to strike again, but Joshua holds him back.
"You fucking bastard," Asher growls as he shrugs Joshua off.
"Aren't you the bastard? I know who my parents are." Robert spits as a retaliation. Asher punches him in on the cheek, and Robert again is sent stumbling backward.
"You forgot that the other definition for a bastard is a f*cking lowlife like you." Asher hisses. "And by the way, father, didn't your b*tch of a mother teach you not to lie? I f*cking trusted you , and you betrayed me. You're a piece of worthless sh*t. I hate you, you asshole." Asher slaps Robert across the face. Robert could take a punch. He's been in fights before. However, there is something about a slap that is degrading. A punch hurts the body, but a slap wounds the soul as well.
Asher scoffs at Robert's lack of response. He doesn't do anything to fight back, and that angers him more. Robert is all talk and no action. Asher wants to get into a bloody brawl with Robert. He wants fists to connect with jaws, skin to be ripped open, blood to drip, and for bones to snap. Asher is annoyed that Robert is just standing there with a frown on his face. Do something! Say something!
"WHY!?" Asher roars, the violence within him becoming unbearable. He goes forward and grabs Robert by the collar, shaking him.
"That's enough, Asher!" Joshua yells, pulling him away. Joshua didn't feel it is his right to interfere because this whole ordeal isn't his business. However, the aggression was getting to be too much. If he didn't stop this now, then Asher might do something he regrets. He drags Asher out of the room, and Asher doesn't struggle. With that mighty howl, Asher's spirit broke. He isn't angry, depressed, or confused. He feels empty and numb.
A knock on the door is heard, and Billy sighs a breath of relief. He goes to answer it as Isaac helps Robert tend to his wounds. He checks the peephole and is glad to see Mr. Mosby. He opens the door and the old man seems to have aged as the anxiety masks his face.
"Is Asher ok?" He asks as he steps into the house.
"Joshua took him to the other room. He isn't ok at all. He isn't even the Asher we know. He-" He stops short, emotion cutting him short. Mr. Mosby nods as if Billy completed his thought.
"Mr. Barker." Mr. Mosby greets grimly. Robert grunts as a response, holding ice to his jaw. He walks past the kitchen into the living room and the sight that meets him makes his heart clench. Asher is crouching on the floor, shaking, as Joshua holds him. Joshua glares in his helplessness. He wants to make Asher feel better. He never imagined that he'd see the bold Asher cry. Previously, Asher suddenly collapsed, alarming Joshua. He thought he fainted again, but this time Asher was bent over with his hands hiding his face. Asher didn't want anyone to see him in his most vulnerable moment. As soon as Joshua pulled him in for a hug, he clutched back fiercely.
"Asher, you'll be staying at my house for the time being. I already spoke to Mrs. Katz, and she's coming to meet us at my address." Mr. Mosby tells him and walks out to give them space. Isaac and Billy walk in, and Mr. Mosby squeezes each shoulder as he walks by. They step up to the huddling forms on the floor and join in the group hug.
"Is he ok?" Robert asks meekly when Mr. Mosby comes to stand by him. It is a dumb question, but he doesn't know what to say.
"I should be asking you that question. The boy can throw a punch!" Mr. Mosby smiles, but it doesn't quite have the usual warmth.
"I can manage. It's just- Asher is sensitive. This whole ordeal killed him, and I know it will be hard for him to pull through. He's-" Robert takes a deep breath, "he's like me in that sense."
"You've made quite a mess, young man." Mr. Mosby says gently.
"I know. G-d, why couldn't I say something to him? I froze, Sir. I just couldn't find the right words, and he was so angry. I didn't want to ruin things further. G-d, I'm so stupid." Robert confesses, his tone rising in anguish.
"You aren't stupid. You've made mistakes. Every human has that fault."
"I don't think I can fix this one. I've destroyed his life." Robert confesses.
"Destroy is an over exaggeration." Mr. Mosby corrects.
"No. I've taken an innocent child and left him without a family. How could I have been so cruel? I was so selfish."
"But were you?" Mr. Mosby questions, "You are not a bad man, son. Do you think I would have let Asher stay by you if I felt that you were evil? You were a boy. You've lost your wife. You were falling into a sinking depression. How could you care for a child in that state? You made the best decision for Asher. You can not be blamed for other people's behavior to Asher."
"I should've-"
"Living in the past hinders a person from living in the present. You are here, Robert. You need to handle the situation now. G-d blessed you. He's giving you a chance to regain your son. Don't mess up." Mr. Mosby stares intently into Robert's eyes, conveying the importance of his words.
"Sir, Asher is ready to leave," Isaac announces his presence.
"Yes," Mr. Mosby responds, sticking his hand towards Robert for a shake. His grip is firm, and Robert feels his resolve strength. He lost his son before. He loved that little boy and hoped he would have a good future. However, that wasn't G-d's plan. His not-so-little boy was returned to him. He will not lose him. He will not lose Asher. He loves him. Asher manages to worm his way into the Barker household. He is a part of the family, even if he denies it. Robert will win his trust again, and he'll die before he stops trying.
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Hey everyone! As much as I love Robert, he definitely deserved that abuse from Asher. He's not a bad guy, but he was annoying me. Since I control his life, I felt like he needed that abuse. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Liz
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Homebound
Teen FictionAsher wants to escape the loneliness he feels and find refuge in a family of his own. Living with the Barkers wasn't his idea of blood bonds. He grows fond of them, but a secret threatens to ruin everything he's dreamed of. What he doesn't know is t...
