Title: No mark
Summary: Barney had a crappy childhood.
Rating: PG-13/14 (some violence, angst)
A/N: I'm feeling crappy today and dreamsofspike had an awesome fic of this uh.. subject *cough* child abuse *cough*
Barney didn't tell anyone. He made sure it didn't show. He wore long sleeves and tried not to make eye contact with anyone. No one would ask if they didn't get close enough.
It's not like he had many friends in school anyways. He didn't care though. He had his own stuff to deal with. And besides he had his brother, James.
He tried to tell his mom. Once.
It didn't go well.
Then he found out.
Well the guy at the time...
He wasn't too pleased.
When his mom was still getting ready for the date, Barney was outside playing with his toy truck he gave him. James was with him. He came straight at him.
"Hey, Charly."
"His name's Barney!" James had defended him.
"Whatever, Barney, come here a sec." Barney looked back to James, afraid to move. "I said get up." The man pulled him up, yanking Barney's shirt.
He pulled right up close to his face so Barney could see just how angry he was. He felt his jaw begin to quiver.
"Your mom tells me you've been spreading lies about me. Is that true?" He asked. Barney couldn't answer. "Is that true?!" He shook the small boy.
"Leave him alone!" James said standing up.
"You stay out of this!" He yelled at James, who was now terrified for himself. "Now listen here, I don't want you punks telling your mom any more lies. Understood?!" He screamed at Barney, its message meant for James as well. "Understood?!" he shook Barney again until he saw the boy nod, his eyes shut tight and his face red.
"Good." Then he hit Barney across the face. Just to make his message crystal clear. Kids always did have a bad memory.
"What's a – what are you guys doing?" His mom came out. She was light on her feet and didn't walk to straight. "Barney, sweetie, what's the matter honey?"
"He fell, clumsy kid. Isn't that right?"
Barney kept his eyes down and tried not to look up. He hated when others saw him cry.
Crying was stupid, crying just a damn useless and humiliating. He hated it. Why couldn't he stop? He didn't get hit that bad...
It's not like it left a mark... It hurt at first but then it went away and you couldn't even tell.
No one could tell...