FluffMistress: Urgh... Please. Kill me. I have the worst case of allergies a person could get. I don't own Digimon in any way, shape, or form.
Summary: It killed him to see what was happening...but he was too scared to stop himself or anyone else...
"Crow…" Terrified eyes centered on the black German shepherd that lay limp in the middle of the Kitchen floor. The boy's mother walked up behind her son, gasping. "No…why…?" Matt turned to his mother, distraught gaze staring at her. Natsuko shook her head as her husband entered, looking around. He spotted the dog and grunted, stepping over it and heading for the coffee maker. "Matt, wake that damned dog up before I kill it." Matt shook his head. "But…he's already…"
"Go now damnit!"
--
"Matt, what happened to the doggy?" Takeru sat on the ground, poking the still dog as Matt continued to dig a large hole. Matt shook his head.
"He's sleeping, Take-Chan." Matt said, air staling around the two. Once the dog was buried, Takeru stood.
"Why you burry her, Matt?" He asked, pointing at the ground.
"It's 'him', Takeru…And…He…He needed a more…comfy place to sleep."
"But the ground's not comfy…Matt…?" Takeru followed him, talking on end about how the dog was not supposed to be in the ground. Once the two reached the house, Matt held Takeru back at the door as he listened.
"The damned brat is coming with me, Natsuko. Give it up. Ever since we've had him, he's liked me more than you."
"You're wrong! I'm not letting you have my son, Hiroaki!"
"I'll fuckin' kill you. Leave him to me. Or else.
"No!"
"Shut the fuck up, damnit!" There was a thud, and Matt backed up against the wall with Takeru as their father stormed from the house, leaving in the car. Matt sighed, and pulled Takeru into the house. Being five, Matt was sure his brother didn't need to see what was happening to their family. Natsuko sat up, starting to sob. Takeru walked over to her, poking her in the arm.
"Mommy, why are you crying? Where did daddy go? Mommy…? Matt shook his head and only offered his mother a hug.
"I'm sorry…mom…" Matt said. Natsuko just shook her head, pulling both boys to her.
"Matt…please…If I do anything to make you hate me…anything at all…Just know that I never meant to hurt you…" She ran her fingers through Matt's hair, pulling the older of the two close.
"You're father—he wants to keep you…I'm going to have to file a divorce…I want to take you with me, Matt. You and Takeru.." Matt bit down on his lip.
"It's fine…I'll stay. I don't want you to get hurt, mom. You take Takeru and keep him safe. He's the one that doesn't need to be exposed to this kinda stuff…" Matt said. He headed down the hall to his room, shutting the door behind him. Natsuko knew Matt was angry with her. She could only hope that he forgave her for being so weak…
--3 years later--
'Aw man…If I actually get finished it'll be a miracle.' Matt was scrubbing the Kitchen floor. With a toothbrush. Why with a toothbrush? Because. He had forgotten to lock the shed after getting some blankets out for winter. He was forbidden from eating and restricted to his room unless he was doing chores or going to the bathroom for nearly a month. He grumbled, throwing the toothbrush into the soap bucket. He picked it up, carrying it to the east end of the house.
"At least I'm going to see mom this weekend." He grumbled. That was good. That meant he was getting away from his dad. He glared at the door across the room, getting the toothbrush out and scrubbing furiously on the hardwood floor.
"Hey brat! Are you done yet? Dinner's in half an hour and I'm hungry!" Matt rolled his eyes, mumbling something very inconsiderate under his breath.
"Yes, Dad!" Matt called. He put the toothbrush away, before going to the Kitchen to turn the soup he was cooking off. He then prepared a bowl, taking it back to his Dad's study. He walked in, setting it on the desk. "I'm going to bed." Matt grunted, walking back to his room. He, fortunately, hated his dad. It was Friday, the last day of the week. A whole two days from chores was a godsend, in his opinion.
--
The weekend hadn't come quick enough for Matt. He jolted off the train, running straight up to Takeru and his mom and hugging Takeru as if he were his lifeline.
"Hey Takeru!" Matt grinned, tapping Takeru on the nose. Takeru grinned. "Look Matt! I lost a tooth!" He said. Matt nodded. "Very good!" He said. He then looked up to his mother. "Hey, mom, what's that over there?" He grinned as Natsuko looked away, and Matt took the few seconds to take five dollars from his pocket and press it to Takeru's palm. Takeru grinned as Natsuko looked back, holding his hands behind his back.
"Uh huh." Natsuko gave Matt a warning look, before plucking Takeru up off of the ground and holding her hand out to Matt. As they walked back to the Apartment, Natsuko noticed something. "Matt? Where'd that bruise come from?" She asked, brushing her fingers across Matt's cheek. Matt winced, pulling away immediately.
"U-Uh..I tripped off of the bus on the way home from school…" He grumbled quietly. Natsuko frowned sadly at him. "You don't have to hide it, Yamato. I know." Natsuko shook her head. "I just wish I could do something about it…But… I don't have custody of you…I should do something though…" Matt panicked as he saw the determined look.
"N-No! I don't want you or Take-Chan involved!" Matt said feverishly. "I don't want you guys hurt…Just…stay away." Matt let his head drop as he walked. Natsuko sighed. She would get arrested if she got caught up in it. Her son was only eight and had already matured far more than he should have. She looked up at Takeru, frowning. It pained her to see Matt forced into adulthood so quickly. He already dressed himself, didn't need help taking a bath, and he was making straight A's in school… With anyone else, the parent would be mother fucking proud. But for Natsuko, it was just one huge mess and nightmare that neither she nor Matt could escape.
"Mama, can we go to the Park today?" Takeru bounced on his heels as he watched Natsuko make lunch.
"I don't know…maybe tomorrow. Tonight you two need baths and we also need to go shopping for new clothes." Natsuko said. Matt walked into the Kitchen, standing next to Takeru. "Mom? Can I help you with anything?" He asked. Natsuko shook her head. "No, sweetie. You don't need to do anything except be a kid here. I don't like you acting all…adult like. It scares me, Matt." Matt tilted his head to the side, confused. He then turned and walked back towards his room, Takeru on his heels.
"I'm gunna party like a rock star, hit a bunch a strip bars, wake up naked in a hotel room!" Takeru was spinning about the bedroom as Matt fiddled with some songs on the computer. Even though his brother was completely off key and probably knew nothing about what the songs were about, it was still amusing to see him try. Matt turned, leaning back and watching the younger sibling attempt to do some odd break dance.
'He's so naïve…how did I lose that? I can't remember being like that…' Matt stared off into space, an odd smile quirking his lips. Takeru stopped, walking over to him and climbing up to sit in his lap.
"Watcha thinkin' 'bout, big brother?" He asked. Matt shook his head. He laughed. "I'm thinking about how dorky a dancer you are." He said playfully. Takeru pouted. "Do not! I don't dance bad! Mama said I dance good!" Takeru said. "I'm just kiddin', Take-Chan!" Matt said, shrugging. Takeru laughed, jumping from Matt's lap to the floor. He stood up, grinning. "I'm superman! Did ya see that? I flew! I flew!"
"Heheh, I saw, Takeru." Matt turned the music off, before going down the hallway back to the kitchen where Natsuko was setting the table. "Alrighty, guys. After you eat, we're going shopping…" She eyed Matt wearily, before nodding. Matt nodded also to her, and went to the table to eat. At least here, he didn't need to worry about starving or anything. He wanted more than anything for things to go back to the way they had been before his parents started fighting. It was mainly over Takeru…
No. He wouldn't blame his brother for anything. The child had done nothing. Though, between the time Takeru was born and the time he turned a year old, his dad had turned into the worst possible fear for a four year old. Matt hadn't liked the change, either. No one had. Though…
"C'mon guys. Let's go." Takeru stumbled after Matt as he walked, hopping into the backseat as they left for the store. This could result in something good…or bad. But Matt was for once, scared.
And he couldn't stop it.
FluffMistress: Should I continue or trash it? It's up to you!