Poop title is poop.

ANYWAY

Welcome again to another project of mines. So I basically wrote this entire story in a few days, fueled by my feels. Thanks for all the views and comments on my other stuff, it's because of that I feel comfortable with posting more.

Anyway, this is basically a novelization of episode 23 with my own little things in it. As such spoilers abound.

For those who have played the episode: You know what's coming.

For those who haven't: The episode itself deals with a very sensitive subject. So, by proxy this fanfic has sensitive subject matter in it. Might not be for everyone. It's not graphic, or at least I hope it isn't.

And of course the obvious warning about language because the MC is a potty mouth.

"Mir?"

I turned to Rosalya. I put on the best smile I could muster. I had to do this by myself. There was no point in trying to get support when I wasn't even sure if it was true or not. She gave me a look. I wasn't quite sure how to decipher it.

"It's nothing Rosa. But I'll take these."

I picked up a fox designed set of pj's to wear to sleep over Nathaniel's house. Yep, that's what I'm doing. I didn't like the fact that I had made this stupid deal with Amber to get it, but I had to find out the truth of his home situation. The images of seeing his bruised back that time was just too much for me to completely forget. Meeting his parents at the open house only seemed to stir the feeling of concern back. I needed to know.

I love him and it hurts that I couldn't do anything.

Rosalya looked at me. Rather, my decision. In her hands was a small blue set that showed more skin than my choice. My face became red at it.

"There's no need to be so flashy. I'm just staying over."

"Exactly! You want to impress a boy with these things!" she said.

"Who do I need to impress? Nathaniel knows how I feel. It's fine."

Rosalya didn't seem too convinced by my response. But she let it go. I bid her farewell as I got back to my house to finish packing for the stay. I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive about this. What would I see? And there was the fact I was meeting his parents formally. Based on the feeling I got from them at school, I may have to be as respectful as with meeting with Dad's friends.

It's not something I like doing. I always feel so out of place when I had to act like that.

I sighed before my phone made an alarm. I looked at the time to get going. Amber had said she would meet at the front of the school to take me to her place.

Only for when I got there, she wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Sitting out there waiting for almost an hour didn't help ease my nerves. I figured I could go back home and see what's up. When I got home, my phone rang. On the other line was Amber. Apparently, she had been trying to call me for a while to give her address. I had only given her my house number in case she wanted to try something with my cell phone.

"But wait, you said we were gonna meet up at the front of the school."

"Don't think so highly of yourself Mir. I may have agreed to let you stay over, but don't think for a moment that this is going to be easy. You honestly thought I was gonna be seen at the school with you? Of all people?" she said while laughing.

Every fiber of my being was telling me just to hang up the phone. But I needed to do this. So for now I'll play nice. She eventually told me where to go and take the bus. When she hung up I grumbled. How far I'd have to go is not particularly cheap in fare. I grumbled while shelling out the fare and grumbled on the trip. Those grumbles turned into silence as I saw where I was going. This part of the city was more upscale than the rest of the residential parts.

I believed that if my parents decided to settle down here then I would have been a part of this gated community.

I'm not so sure if I should feel relieved at that fact.

I got off the bus and followed the directions to the house. I noted the gated entrance and my jaw dropped. I didn't figure for Nathaniel and Amber to be living in a place like this. After seeing their parents I knew that they came from some money.

But not like this at all.

I looked down at myself and wondered if I should have dressed more appropriately. All I was wearing was a t-shirt and some jeans. I was about to ring at the buzzer before I heard the gate open.

"Mir? What are you doing here?" asked Nathaniel.

Shit, I hadn't hoped to see him so soon. Makes it a little less awkward if I saw him with Amber by my side. The surprise was evident on his face. He didn't expect to see me here. At all. I laughed weakly why lifting up my bag.

"I'm your house guest for tonight."

Oh he was definitely shocked.

Amber took that moment to finally arrive. It took him a moment to realize that it was Amber who invited me over. The look on his face was incredulous. I laughed nervously.

"You said you wished that Amber and I got along so I took the first step." I explained.

"Right..." he said, "I hope that this isn't something I should worry about."

After showing me around, it was time for dinner. To say it was tense meeting Nathaniel's parents so closely would be an understatement. They had this imposing nature about them. I don't know how people can handle it.

"Ami, isn't it?" said his mother.

"Yes ma'am?" I squeaked.

"We're having lobster tonight if that's acceptable to you."

I quickly nodded my head. Being careful to not seem rude to them. I have a feeling that Amber was enjoying my nerves being tested.

"The table still hasn't been set up yet?" grunted his dad.

"If you'd like I'll help." I said.

After all I was a last minute addition. It's the least I can do.

"Nonsense." he said, "Nathaniel always set up the tables. Besides you're a guest, it's a rule to never let our house guests work. But you can do a favor and fetch him for us."

I nodded, grateful to be out of there. The air seemed so much better now. I quickly went up the stairs. They seemed like the type of people to not like waiting long. I went to Nathaniel's room and stopped. I took a deep breath before swiftly knocking on the door. I waited a few moments before he opened it. He was a little surprised that I was coming to get him, but he allowed me inside his room anyway. It looked pretty nice. Something that someone of his family background should have.

"You know I don't believe your reason for coming here." he said.

"Don't be silly." I said, "I care about you. Amber and I's fighting stresses you out. I want to ease it a little bit for you."

His face turned red at my reasoning. I felt bad that I was kind of lying to him. But it was the truth in a sense. I wanted to ease the stress for him. I grabbed his hand. I was about to get closer before his mother's voice interrupted the moment. He moved back from me.

"We should get going." he said.

But then he paused.

"I haven't told them...about us I mean."

My eyes widened at the statement. I had figured as much since at the open house he introduced me as a friend. But I couldn't help but feel a little awkward. I shook my head to rid of the thoughts. No, this wasn't the time to pity myself about this. Right now I need to help Nathaniel.

Dinner was tense.

"So you're parents are the Gallades huh?"

I nodded at the man as I quietly ate my dinner. The tension was so thick you can cut it with a chainsaw.

"Yes sir. They're always away on business travel so my aunt decided to take me in to finish high school." I explained.

"That's very admirable. I was certainly surprised to see Mr. Gallade and his wife at the open house. And to find out that their child goes to the same school."

"Ah, yes...I get that a lot..." I mumbled.

It was just mostly small talk and doing my best to ignore Amber. When it was time for dessert however.

"Nathaniel! How many times have I told you to not forget the small spoons!" his dad shouted.

I winced at the sudden yelling. I was surprised that this grown man could get so angry over spoons. Nathaniel looked like he could just die. I wanted to hold his hand for support. But there was the fact that Amber was between us. So I could only watch.

"I'm sorry." was all he could say.

"And this is the second time this week! It's one thing do that. But to have it happen in front of a guest! We'll talk about this tonight."

The rest of dinner went by quietly.

I had a bad feeling. Usually, they are right.

But this was the time I had hoped I was wrong.

I had just finished brushing my teeth and ready to settle down for the night. I had heard some murmurs earlier but any kind of investigation was denied.

"Don't take that tone with me!"

My feet stopped in its place. That was definitely his dad yelling. I couldn't hear what Nathaniel said before I heard it.

Slap!

The sound of a hand hitting flesh echoed through the night hall.

I dropped my toothbrush in response.

No...No

But then I heard it again. My eyes widened. My body was rooting it its spot. I had hoped, prayed to whatever I could to never hear this. His dad was hitting him. I could hear the door close and it was then I realized I shouldn't be standing out here. I quickly made my way back to Amber's room. Only to see Amber look right back at me.

"What's wrong with you? You look uglier than normal."

"Listen Amber, are you sure that you don't know anything about those marks on Nathaniel back then?"

"I swear Mir." she said while sighing, "I just saw that you were desperate and used it to my advantage. I know it's fun to reminisce on me using you, but it's getting late."

Amber legitimately didn't know anything. That meant confronting Nathaniel now about it. I somewhat have hoped I could get the information from Amber. I knew how much he didn't want to talk about this. But I can't ignore this. Not this time. I wasn't going to let him deter from this either.

I waited for Amber to fall asleep. Which, surprisingly, wasn't that long at all. I sneaked out of the room across the hall to Nathaniel's room. I gave a soft knock. He seemed surprised at seeing me at his door.

"Mir it's late."

"I know," I whispered, "but we need to talk. Seriously."

He seemed silent for a moment before letting me in. He sat on his bed while waiting for me to talk. Now that I was here, I wasn't sure how to go about it. This situation was delicate. I took a slow breath before speaking.

"Nathaniel, you can't lie to me anymore. I heard him hit you."

For a moment there was silence.

Then he stood up.

"I know."

Then he gestured over to his computer desk, where my toothbrush laid. My eyes widened at it. I had dropped it when I heard the slaps. I must have forgotten to pick it up when I was running back. I looked over him to see that Nathaniel was not pleased to figure this out.

"I told you not to butt in this Mir. There's no need to worry about me."

"I can't!" I exclaimed, then quieted my voice, "Someone like you doesn't get injuries like that for no reason. I just can't. I know I can't do much. But will you at least talk about it?"

"You lied to me Mir. I had thought that you wouldn't go to such lengths."

"If you would have been honest with me in the first place then I wouldn't have done this. Listen, you're always supporting me when I'm in trouble."

At that moment I grabbed his hand. I wasn't sure if the action got any reaction out of him. It was like my earlier actions seemed to distract him. I stared at him.

It was then I realized that he was shirtless.

And in his underwear. I was fighting a losing battle of me being embarrassed. After all, I've rarely seen guys shirtless, much less in their undergarments.

Now wasn't the time for that.

"Can't you let me support you? Even just this once?"

Nathaniel was silent for a moment. I suppose to think over my words. I gave his hand a supportive squeeze. Just for him to know that I'll wait. After a few moments he sighed.

"Aright. Only because you're so determined to find out."

And so he told me. About how everything was normal until one day his dad had lost his promotion to a younger guy. And in turn the younger guy essentially making his dad's working career a hell. It was that reason he was so hard on Nathaniel for his grades. And when he doesn't meet those expectations...

"He hits you." I finished.

Nathaniel nodded.

I wasn't sure what to feel. I took a few deep breaths. I felt sad for Nathaniel to be a part of this. I was mad at him too for not saying anything. I wanted to go up to his father and set it straight. But I couldn't. That would do more harm than good.

"But that's bullshit." I said, "It's not fair. Why should something that has nothing to do with you have such an effect on you? You're nothing like that man."

"I don't know." he said, "It hasn't gotten as bad as the time in the locker room..."

"That doesn't matter! The fact that he's hit you out of such malice even once is bullshit. A parent's duty is to protect their children. He's clearly failed in that."

"But if he goes away my mom and Amber wouldn't know what to do. And then the school and his job would find out. And it'll just get worse."

"Is that why you won't say anything?"

My answer was met with silence. He separated his hands from mines as he laid down on his bed. I guess he was dropping the discussion. I don't think I was going to get anything more out of this from him. But I got a reason. I had proof.

But I was still rooted to my spot.

I couldn't leave him alone so soon after all of this.

Quietly I got into the bed with him. With his back towards me I couldn't figure out how he was feeling about this. I placed my arms around his waist and got closer. His warmth radiated off his back to me. It felt nice. It was silent between us, just the sounds of our breathing and the ticking of the wall clock. I didn't realize it, but I subconsciously gotten closer to him to the point that our skins were in contact with each other. I wondered if his face was as red as mines realizing this.

"You know..." I started, "When I first came to Sweet Amoris, I was about ready to throttle you for losing my papers."

I heard him stifle a laugh.

"It's true. I worked hard to make sure that my parents signed off on those papers."

"They were misplaced." he corrected.

"But still. It would have been a real hassle to call them and get it redone over again."

I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but we talked about small things. Really insignificant, but I think it helped relax Nathaniel. I was glad that this small thing was helping him.

"...ir..."

I groaned.

"...Mir..."

"Just a couple more minutes..." I mumbled.

"Ami wake up."

My eyes snapped open to the my name. I looked over to see Nathaniel looking right back at me. Even half asleep I remembered I shouldn't be sleeping in his bed. I quickly got up, nearly stumbling into the closet while I was at it. My heart was racing. He looked at me for a moment before smiling.

"You should get back to Amber's room. My parents wouldn't be pleased to know that we fell asleep together. Even if it is tempting to do so."

I nodded. I mean it was nice, even though I dozed off. But I don't think that them finding us in the same bed with Nathaniel in nothing but his underwear would be ideal. I don't want them to misunderstand that something lewd was going on.

We both got enough trouble going on as it is.

"Will you be alright though?" I asked.

"I'll be fine. You being around helped me. Now get going before anyone wakes up."

I gave a nod and made my way towards the door.

"Wait, Ami." I heard him call to me.

I turned around to look at him.

"Thank you." He whispered.

I smiled. The feeling of doing something right spreading through my body.

"It's nothing. I'm just glad that you can depend on me."

I left out of the room and closed the door. I let out a sigh of relief. He finally opened up to me. But the problem is that this is still happening. I let out another sigh. I don't know what to do. But I have to think of something. Nathaniel doesn't realize how dangerous this could get. For his safety I had to do something.