Disclaimer: All characters belong to Square Enix.
The weeks passed quickly and winter break was getting nearer. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with Demyx because the more time I got to spend with him, the less horrible and cruel the world seemed. It didn't matter how bad the beatings got or how much worse my father was becoming. I had someone who cared about me. Because of Demyx, I was able to withstand anything my father threw at me.
I had to be honest with myself, though, and admit that I was afraid. Recently, my father had taken to drink a lot more heavily than normal. When he was drunk, it didn't matter how quiet or well behaved I was or what excuse I could come up with. He didn't have to have a reason to beat me. He just did it.
I wasn't going to think about that now. I was with Demyx, walking along the shoreline. It was too cold to swim now, but we still enjoyed trips to the beach. The sounds of the ocean and light of the sunset set the mood for a wonderful evening. For the first time in a long time, I was genuinely happy.
There was something slightly off about him, though, that I'd been noticing a lot recently. He always seemed as if he had to fake a good mood when he was with me. There was nothing I could pick up through touching him that would cause this change, and I could still feel his blossoming affection for me, but I was worried now. He was holding something back from me. I knew that he'd been withholding his questions, but this seemed deeper than that.
We stopped moving as Demyx looked across the horizon and said, "God really does paint a beautiful picture, doesn't He?"
I paused, hesitating before replying, "I don't believe in God." It was the first time I'd ever told anyone that. I'd always been afraid of judgment or worse… that the confession would somehow get back to my father. But with Demyx, I didn't have to worry.
"Oh…" he said, worrying at his lip. "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend. Is… there a reason?"
I shrugged and said, "There's just too much pain and suffering in the world for a benevolent deity to exist. If God does exist, he doesn't care about us."
"Can I ask you something?" he asked after a moment. "Feel free not to answer, but if you do I want you to answer honestly."
I paused, looking quizzically up at him and said, "Sure." Was this it, then? I still didn't know how I would react to his questions. I'd gone over probably a hundred different scenarios in my mind, depending on how he asked, but nothing could prepare me for the real thing.
"Are you…" he began, biting his lip. He took a small breath, looked me in the eye and asked, "Are you being abused?"
I blinked, looking away as I asked, "Why would you think that?" My heart was pounding in my chest and I couldn't stop myself from shaking. I didn't want to have this conversation, not now.
"Well…" he said, looking me over. "For one thing, you're really… you're really skinny. You scarf down every school meal like it's your last, so I know you're not just… anorexic or something. And I've seen… bruises… on your wrists and… and your neck. And I've seen the scars… on your back."
I was breathing slowly, not looking him in the eye. He was very perceptive and I could tell that my distress caused him pain. I wanted to confide in him so badly, but I couldn't make myself form words. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and I knew that if I didn't get away from him now, he would see me cry.
"It's true isn't it?" he asked, reaching for me. "Your dad…"
"I…" I said, standing and backing away from him. "I can't…"
I turned to run from him, not getting very far before he grabbed my elbow and called, "Zexion!" He pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me in a warm embrace that made me feel safe and secure. I tentatively brought my arms up to return his gesture before doing something I had never done before in my life. I began to cry in another person's presence. I couldn't help it. The tears were just… there. I couldn't have held them back if I'd wanted to. It was like everything that had happened between us up until now had been in preparation for this moment. It was weakness… I knew it was. I'd just gone down a road that I would never be able to return from. I was showing another person the deepest and most secret part of me. I was showing him my weakness.
He rubbed my head as he said, "It's going to be okay. We can do something about it. I can help you."
"Please don't tell anyone," I sobbed, my body shaking uncontrollably.
"What?" he asked, leaning away to look me in the eye.
I looked up at him, clinging to the front of his shirt as I pleaded, "If anyone finds out, he'll move us again. Please…"
"Something has to be done about it," he said. "You can't just live with it!"
"I've been living with it for seventeen years," I said darkly.
"What does he do to you?" he asked as he stroked the side of my face. "Is it… ah…"
"It's nothing sexual," I said, feeling the burning curiosity through his touch. "When I was little, all he really did was lock me in closets and leave me there. Once, he forgot about me and I was in there for two days straight."
"Oh my god," he said, holding me closer.
"It's a really long story," I said. "I'm just… a really fucked up person. I'm probably not even worth your time. You shouldn't have to waste your time on someone who's broken."
"Zexion…" he said as he lowered his head and pressed his lips against mine.
My eyes widened and my heart just about leapt out of my chest. It was a simple kiss that only lasted for a few seconds, but the true, burning emotion I felt through the intimate contact left me speechless. This had never happened to me before. I didn't know how to react.
"You're not a waste of time," he whispered, holding my head against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat calmed me down enough for me to allow myself to relax against him.
New tears were falling now. Through all the sorrow and the heartache, joy shone through like a lighthouse guiding my pleasant emotions through treacherous seas to make it safely ashore.
"I love you," he said, taking my face gently between his hands. I could barely see him through my tears as he said, "Zexion, I love you. Please, let me help you."
"I think… I love you too," I said, reaching up in an attempt to dry my eyes. It was the first time I think I've ever heard anyone say those words to me. I wanted to revel in them and never let them go. "But what would you do?" I asked, resting my head against his chest.
"I can try to get you out of there," he said as he stroked my hair. "You shouldn't have to live with that… man anymore."
"I was waiting until I turned eighteen," I said with a sniffle. "Then I'll just be able to leave. If I do anything before that, I'll go to child services and be put in foster care."
"You have to do something, Zexy," he said. "He could kill you."
"Very likely," I said with a sigh. "It's nothing he hasn't done before."
"What?" he asked, pulling back to search my eyes.
"He's killed me before," I said. "He's drowned me and brought me back several times before."
"I can't let this happen," he said, closing his eye. "I'll do something. I'll…"
"There's nothing we can do besides go to the police," I said. "And people have tried that before. He'll move us again as soon as he gets wind of a potential investigation. And if something miraculous happens, I'll still be put in foster care. I can just wait it out. I've only got a few months now."
"When's your birthday?" he asked, still holding me close.
"In June," I answered.
"That's more than a few months, Zexion," he said.
"Just please promise me you won't tell anyone," I said, reaching up to touch the blue pendant I wore every day. "Please."
"Okay," he whispered. "I promise. But if things get too far out of hand… If he tries to kill you again, I'm going to the police."
"Alright," I said, blinking back my tears.
"You'll tell me won't you?" he asked. "If things get out of hand, you'll tell me, right?"
"I…" I stuttered. "Yeah…"
"Promise me," he said, lifting my chin.
I was lost in his big blue eyes for a moment before answering, "I promise."
He pressed his lips to mine again before saying, "Good. I don't want to see you hurt anymore, Zexy. I love you."
"Thank you," I said, unable to hold back any more tears as I sobbed into his chest. I must have looked so foolish standing there weeping uncontrollably while he held me, but I didn't care. I'd finally told someone. I'd finally gotten this heavy burden off of my chest without any repercussions. He didn't think any differently of me now that he knew. He still… He still loved me. It was amazing, the feeling. I was… actually loved. It was a feeling I would never forget for as long as I lived.
A/N: A moment of beauty in an otherwise cruel world. That is something to be treasured. More will be posted soon. I've started uploading every day, and since I have four stories going at once, each of them will be updated every four days. If I don't suffer a severe case of writer's block, I plan to continue this pattern. Thank you for reading. :D
