Belong pt.4

Hello, hope you are having a good day.

Harun got in Leo's face. Leo clenched his fist.

"Why are you lying to me?" Harun asked.

"I'm not. I swear." Leo lied. Harun chuckled and punched Leo. Leo barely reacted. Then he was hit again and again. Leo groaned as he hit the ground. He was thrown into the walls and trash cans several times. Then Harun pinned Leo against the wall and pressed a knife into Leo's back. He grabbed Leo's hair and pressed his mouth against Leo's ear.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know where Mattie is. Last I knew, she said that she was going to Bristol for a month or so. She said something about having friends there. That's all I know. I swear."

"When was this?"

"A couple of weeks ago."

"Thanks, Leo. Knew I could count on you."

Harun made a swift and deep cut on Leo's back. Leo hissed painfully and whimpered as Harun let him go. Leo fell to the ground and curled up in a ball.

"Looks like we're going to Bristol." Harun chuckled. His men followed him away. When they were gone, Leo got up and stumbled back to Mattie's apartment. Mattie was anxious and worried about Leo. When Leo came in, she relaxed until she saw blood covering Leo.

"Leo, what happened?" Mattie asked. Leo closed and locked the door and put his stuff down.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Leo mumbled as he tried to avoid Mattie's eyes.

"Leo, what happened?"

"I told you. It's nothing."

"If nothing happened then why are you bleeding?"

"It's nothing."

Leo tried to go to the bathroom, but Mattie blocked his path. Leo looked at her slightly and Mattie could see the bruises and cuts on his face. Leo tried to walk away but Mattie grabbed his hands.

"No, you are not going to hide." Mattie sternly said. Leo tried to get away but saw the determination in Mattie's eyes.

"I was attacked." Leo sighed.

"By who?"

"No one. Just a couple of thugs. I couldn't see who they were."

"Was it Harun?"

"No."

"Did they take anything?"

"No. I had nothing worth taking."

Mattie sighed and let go of Leo. Leo went into the bathroom and locked the door. He tried to take his jacket off but couldn't. He hissed as his shoulder was aggravated by his movements. Mattie leaned against the door.

"Leo, do you need help?" Mattie wondered.

"No, I'm fine." Leo lied.

"Why do you keep lying to me, Leo?"

"I'm not. It's just my shoulder."

"Did they see your port?"

"No. It's covered."

"Good. Can I help you?"

"I don't need it."

Leo felt weak and whimpered as his legs started to give out. He fell knocking a few things over. Mattie heard it and tried to open the door.

"Leo are you alright?" Mattie asked. Leo leaned against the door.

"I'm fine. I just fell." Leo moaned.

"Are you in pain? Leo, if you're hurt you should let me help you."

"I don't need it."

Mattie sat on the ground and leaned against the door.

"Leo, please. I'm not going to stop or rest till I know that you are ok. I care about you. I don't want to wake up to find you dead or sick." Mattie begged. "Please, just unlock the door."

Leo let a few tears fall as the pain in his back got worse.

"It was Harun." Leo stated.

"Harun attacked you?" Mattie wondered.

"Yeah. He followed me as I was coming here. He and his buddies attacked me. He asked me where you were. I wouldn't tell him. Eventually, I told him that you were in Bristol. He believed me."

"You got them off of our tail for a few days."

"Yeah."

"Can you let me in so that I can help you? I know you're in pain. Maybe I can help."

Leo hissed painfully as he reached the doorknob and unlocked it. Mattie opened the door as Leo moved away slightly. Mattie went in and saw Leo on the ground clutching his stomach. She knelt and looked at Leo.

"He really got you, didn't he?" Mattie asked.

"Yeah. He cut my back." Leo whimpered.

"Let's get you in the bathtub."

"I can take my lower clothes off, just not my shirt or jacket. I think my shoulder is busted."

"Ok."

Mattie helped Leo take his jacket and shirt off. She started the water and helped Leo sit on the edge of the bathtub.

"I'll be outside. Did you bring more skin patches?" Mattie said.

"Yeah. This should last though. The other one I had on for several days so it was starting to peel." Leo replied.

"Ok. I'll get your clothes and towel."

"Thanks."

Mattie left the bathroom and Leo finished getting undressed. He got in the tub and relaxed as the warm water hit his skin. Mattie texted Mia what happened. Then Mia called her.

"Is he alright? Are you two alright?" Mia asked.

"We're fine. He told them that I went to Bristol. They believed him. He's taking a bath right now. I don't know how bad his wounds are. I just know that he has a bad cut on his back." Mattie explained.

"Maybe I should come over."

"No, we're fine right now. Is there anything I should be careful of? He told me about his wire and about you."

"He didn't tell me, but I could tell that he seemed more relaxed. Just make sure that he charges."

"How do I know when he's low on charge?"

"When his legs give out and he can't get up. When his speech is slurred and when you can't wake him up or you can but he's only awake for a few seconds."

"Ok. Thanks."

"Tell me if he started getting worse."

"I will."

"Thank you. How do you feel?"

"A little weak but better."

"Good. Take care of yourself."

"I will."

Mattie and Mia hung up. Mattie grabbed what Leo needed and went into the bathroom. Leo freaked out and covered himself.

"Sorry. I just thought that you had synth hearing." Mattie apologized.

"It's alright. Just knock next time." Leo sighed. Mattie put the stuff down and saw the cut on Leo's back.

"Do you want help getting cleaned? You have blood in your hair and it doesn't look like you can really lift your arms above your head. Besides you need someone to make sure that the wound on your back is clean."

"Ok."

Mattie helped Leo get cleaned up. She washed Leo's hair and cleaned his back and shoulders. She touched Leo's damaged right shoulder and Leo hissed.

"Does it hurt that bad?" Mattie wondered.

"Yeah." Leo groaned.

"It doesn't look good. I talked to Mia."

"She's worried."

"Yeah. Maybe I should have her come over and check your shoulder. It could be broken."

"I can wait till tomorrow."

"About that. I think I should start going back to school."

"What? No, you can't."

"Leo, Harun isn't there and it's better that way. People are going to get suspicious if I don't show up. "

"But Harun may not leave."

"Harun is stupid, Leo. It's not hard to convince him to do something."

"Fine, but you can only attend the classes that Max, and I attend."

"Fine. Besides, I usually have one of you in each class."

"What about your wounds?"

"I don't really have any on my face or neck. I can cover them. You, on the other hand is a different story."

"Yeah. Well, several boys go to school looking like they've been beaten so…"

"You just fit right in."

The two chuckled. Leo finished taking his bath and got dressed. He sat on the couch and allowed Mattie to treat his wounds. When Mattie was done, she sighed.

"There. You are good to go." Mattie sighed.

"Thank you. You should rest." Leo answered.

"I will. DO you need to charge?"

"No. I'm good till tomorrow night."

"Tell me if anything starts happening."

"Ok."

"Lie down."

Leo laid down and Mattie laid down on him. She put her head on Leo's side. She could hear Leo's breathing even out and she knew that he was already asleep. She fell asleep. The next morning, Mattie woke up to her phone going off. She groaned and sat up. She looked around and saw that Leo was already turning her phone off. He sat up and moaned.

"I don't want to get up." Leo moaned.

"You have to. Come on. We'll be late." Mattie sighed. They got up and got dressed. Mattie got a text from her mum.

'I'm going to come by your school after your class. I just want to see how you are.' Laura texted.

'Ok. I'll be done around 3.' Mattie replied. Leo came out and went to the kitchen.

"My mum is meeting me at school around 3. It's a good thing that we're going." Mattie said.

"Ok." Leo mumbled. Mattie went to Leo and kissed him.

"Are you awake now?"

"I guess."

Leo wrapped his arms around Mattie's waist and kissed her. Mattie kissed back. When they pulled away, they went to school. Mattie had her hoodie on so that no one could see her face. When they got to school, Max was there. He was surprised to see them.

"You two shouldn't be here." Max said.

"It's safe. Harun is in Bristol." Leo sighed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

They had their classes. At 3, a car pulled up. Leo, Max and Mattie had just come out of the building.

"My mum is in that car. She can take me home." Mattie said.

"Ok. I need to get a few things at the store." Leo sighed.

"Be careful."

"I will."

The two kissed. When they pulled away, Mattie got in the car and Leo and Max went to the store.

"Who's that?" Laura asked.

"Leo. He's my boyfriend." Mattie sighed.

"I thought Harun was your boyfriend."

"We broke up."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not."

"SO, are you still in that apartment or did you change that too?"

"It's changed."

They went to Mattie's apartment. They went inside, and Mattie closed and locked the door. She sighed and put her bookbag down.

"This is smaller than the other one." Laura said.

"Yeah, but I don't need a big one." Mattie replied. "Want anything?"

"Maybe just some water."

"Ok."

Laura sat down on the couch and saw some of Leo's things. Mattie came over and put the cups down. She moved Leo's stuff to the bed. Then she sat down.

"It's nice though. It's in a nice location too." Laura said.

"Yeah. It is." Mattie answered.

"Why did you break up with Harun?"

"For a lot of reasons."

"I have time for them. Your father is getting Tobe and Soph from school. He told me that I should come see you."

"Well, a lot has happened and now I can tell you why I left and why I was living with Harun."

"Why were you?"

Leo and Max had finished at the store.

"You can go home. I can take care of myself." Leo said.

"Are you sure, Leo?" Max wondered.

"Yeah."

"How did Mattie react about us?"

"She accepted us. She understands."

"Can we trust her?"

"Yeah. I have no doubt."

"Good."

Max went home. Leo went home to Mattie. When he got home, he opened the door and saw Mattie and Laura talking. He closed the door and locked it.

"Hey, I came back as soon as I could." Leo said as he put his stuff down. Mattie and Laura stood up.

"Mum, this is my boyfriend Leo. Leo, this is my mum." Mattie greeted. Leo nodded at Laura.

"Nice to meet you. Mattie told me a lot about you."

"She never really mention you to me." Laura replied.

"We only just met a couple of weeks ago and a lot has happened in those weeks." Leo sighed. He saw the look on Mattie's face. "I'm going to take a shower."

Leo grabbed his clothes and went to the bathroom.

"We have at least 5 minutes." Mattie sighed.

"Then I suggest you get started." Laura replied. Mattie explained everything. When she was done, Laura was shocked. "Oh, Mattie. I'm so sorry."

"I'm fine now. Or at least… I will be."

"Why is he here then? Why couldn't he have just gone home if Harun is in Bristol?"

"Because I haven't asked him to leave and I won't. I trust him, mum. More than anyone. He loves me and understands me for who I am. I don't have to be a lie around him. I don't have to be a lie at school. I get to breathe. I get to come home now and just be myself without worrying about him hurting me or raping me for it. I love him more than I can say, mum."

"What about him? Does he love you?"

"You'd have to ask him."

"I think I will. Who was that man with him?"

"His brother Max. They have three older siblings. Mia, Fred, and Niska. They work while Max and Leo go to school."

Then Leo came out.

"Mattie, where did you put my clothes?" Leo wondered.

"Bottom two drawers in the dresser. Why?" Mattie answered.

"I need socks. My feet are cold."

Leo went to the dresser and pulled out socks. He put them on. Then he went to Mattie and kissed her forehead.

"How do you feel?" Leo asked.

"Ok. You?" Mattie replied.

"Like someone threw me around and cut me in the back."

"So not good."

"Well, better than last night."

"Good. I'll put the food away. Go sit down."

Leo did as he was told. Mattie took care of the groceries. Laura sat down in a chair and watched Leo.

"Do you love my daughter, Leo?" Laura asked. Leo looked up at her. "DO you love my daughter?"

"Yes. I love her." Leo answered.

"How much?"

"More than I can say really. I haven't really been around people and when I was, I felt angry and hurt, but I don't feel that around Mattie. I feel happy and free. I love her more than anything and I will never hurt her. I'd rather die than hurt your daughter, Mrs. Hawkins. I will do everything I can to protect her."

"That's all I needed to hear. She told me that you were attacked by Harun."

"I'm fine. It's just some cuts and bruises."

"I know it's more than that. If there's anything I can do, tell me."

"Ok."

Laura got up and went to Mattie.

"I need to leave. Your father will be wondering where I am." Laura sighed.

"You can tell him about what happened." Mattie replied.

"Ok. Here's our address. We had to move because of mortgage."

Laura handed Mattie a piece of paper.

"Thanks." Mattie said.

"Be careful and try not to hurt yourself even more." Laura answered.

"Ok."

Laura went home.

"She's nice." Leo stated as he got up and helped Mattie make dinner.

"Yeah, she is." Mattie sighed. When Laura got home, she tripped over Toby's shoes as soon as she walked through the door.

"Toby, move your shoes." Laura exclaimed.

"Sorry, mum." Toby answered as he moved his shoes. Laura went to the kitchen and saw Joe.

"How's Mattie?" Joe asked.

"Good. She has a new boyfriend. His name is Leo and he's much better than Harun." Laura replied.

"I might have to talk to him."

"I already did."

"I mean man to man."

"Oh."

Then Sophie came in.

"How was your first day at your new school?" Laura asked.

"Good. I really love my teacher. She's really good and we get to call her by her first name." Sophie exclaimed.

"What's her name?"

"Niska."

"Oh, that's a nice name. What about her last name?"

"She doesn't really have one."

"Why?"

"Don't know. She wouldn't say."

"Is something wrong?" Joe asked.

"No, its just, Mattie told me that Leo has a sister named Niska and Mattie wouldn't really tell me Leo's last name." Laura answered.

"They could be siblings. What did he look like?"

"Tall, pale, brown/black hair, blue eyes."

"Niska is mum's height with blue eyes, blonde hair, and our skin color." Sophie explained.

"They're adopted." Laura replied. "Leo was with his brother Max at school and he looks nothing like Leo or Niska."

That night, Laura explained everything.

"How did Leo make you feel?" Joe asked.

"What?" Laura mumbled.

"How did Leo make you feel? You said that Harun made you uncomfortable and now we know why."

"I have a good feeling about Leo. I just feel… sorry for him. He looks like he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he seems happy around Mattie."

"What about Mats?"

"She was happy with him. She couldn't hide it. Every part of her body showed that she was happy around him."

"Let's hope he's better than Harun."

At the apartment, Leo was sleeping on the couch. Mattie sat on her bed thinking. She went to grab her phone only to drop it on the floor. She groaned and got off the bed. Leo sat up and looked at her.

"Are you alright?" Leo asked.

"Yeah. I just dropped my phone." Mattie replied.

"Have you slept?"

"No. I can't fall asleep."

"I'm sorry."

"Why? It's not your fault."

"Can I help?"

"Not really. You could tell me one thing though."

"Anything."

"Did you mean what you said to my mum?"

"Every word of it. I heard what you said about me to her while I was in the bathroom. Did you mean it?"

"Of course, I did."

"Then… I guess we're dating."

"I guess we are."

The two chuckled. They both went to sleep. The next day, after school, Laura walked into Sophie's classroom and saw Niska cleaning up.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Hawkins. Sophie's mum." Laura greeted as she walked in.

"Hello. I'm Niska. Sophie's teacher. Is there a reason you're here?" Niska answered.

"Oh, not really. Sophie speaks highly of you. She really likes you."

"She's a good student. She's very smart and well behaved."

"Good. I just came to ask you a question."

"Ask away."

"It's going to sound silly."

"I worked with children. They ask some pretty silly questions."

The two chuckled.

"Are you related to a man named Leo? My daughter Mattie has this boyfriend named Leo and he has a sister named Niska. I was curious if maybe you knew him." Laura questioned.

"I'm his sister. I know Mattie. She has made Leo very happy. She's a nice girl. You should be proud of her." Niska replied.

"Oh, we are, and Leo has made Mattie very happy."

"They're good together."

"Yes, they are. Well, I should go."

"And I have to grade papers."

Laura went to the door.

"I was also going to ask. Why don't you use your last name?" Laura wondered.

"A lot of hard memories. It just seems better not to use it." Niska sighed.

"I'm sorry. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping Mattie. It's good to know that there a people willing to help others."

"It's the least I could do."

Laura went home. Meanwhile, Joe went to the store. He saw a man stocking shelves. Then he saw Mattie and Leo come in and talk to him. Joe watched how Leo and the man reacted to each other. When Leo and Mattie left, Joe went down the aisle.

"DO you need help with anything?" The man asked.

"No. I'm good." Joe answered.

"Have a nice day then."

Joe saw the man's nametag.

"You too, Fred." Joe sighed. Fred walked away. Then Leo and Mattie came back through. Mattie looked over at Joe and then looked down.

"Is that your dad?" Leo whispered.

"Yeah. They're living twenty minutes from here." Mattie replied.

"He's seen us. I'm most likely am going to be confronted."

"Yeah. I'm going to get a few things."

"Ok."

Mattie walked out of the isle. Leo went over to Joe and looked through the shelves.

"I'll tell you what I told your wife. I love Mattie and I would rather die than to hurt her. I will do everything possible to protect her from Harun and from anyone who tries to hurt her." Leo said.

"Are you sleeping with her?" Joe wondered.

"No. I sleep on the couch while she sleeps on the bed. I don't want to take advantage of her. Not after what she's been through."

"Good. You look like a decent man. Just don't hurt her in any way or you will wish you hadn't."

"Yes, sir."

Joe walked away. When he got home, he saw Laura doing paperwork.

"I met Leo at the store. He was with Mattie. I saw them talking with a man named Fred. I assume he is one of Leo's brothers." Joe explained.

"I spoke to Niska. She is Leo's sister. I asked her why she doesn't use her last name. She said that it was because of hard memories. I didn't push her." Laura answered.

"Leo's a decent man. He came to me and told me what he told you. I asked if he was sleeping with Mattie and he told me no and that he wouldn't after what she went through."

At the apartment, Leo's siblings had come over.

"Mattie, your mum came to my school and talked to me." Niska said.

"Why?" Mattie wondered.

"I have your sister Sophie in my class. She had a couple of questions."

"What were they?"

"Just if I was related to Leo and why I didn't use my last name."

"Oh. What did you tell her about the last name?"

"The truth. That there were a lot of hard memories."

"We met Mattie's dad at the store. He saw us talking to Fred." Leo stated.

"I thought he looked familiar." Fred realized.

"Yep. That man that walked up to you was my dad." Mattie sighed.

"He looks like a nice man."

"He is."

TBC