Hi guys! I'm so sorry for the slow updates. Please leave a review and this has been a hard chapter to write oddly. It's really like when is discipline okay and where's the line for it becoming abuse….I know Linc loved Michael but I've always been stuck on Veronica saying in Prison Break Linc kicked Michael's ass to keep him off the streets. Thank you, guys, for the reviews they mean so much to me, Jewels
Chapter 3: The way it is
Michael clutched the white comforter digging his nails again into it crying so hard he felt like he couldn't breathe. Apart of him wanted to pull up his boxers and curl into a ball, but he felt so confused. If he moved would Linc belt him again? If he didn't move would Vee be mad? He knew the blanket was covering him thankfully, but he felt so embarrassed. He could hear faint yelling over his sobbing, but he was holding nothing back. His shoulders shook and his chest hurt from gasping in deep breaths. He tried to calm down because he knew this was leading to a panic attack. His cries were now whimpering noises and he wiped his snot on the comforter. His eyes stung from crying so much and suddenly he felt a gentle hand on his right shoulder.
"Hey, Mikey, why don't I go to the kitchen and grab you a glass of water? You can get something comfy on and when you're ready I'll be in the living room." Veronica's voice was soft and concerned. Michael sniffled in, "Wherere, whehhhre isss, Lincoln?" He stuttered out. She sighed, "He's in his room, but he isn't going to spank you more tonight. Calm down and I'll see you in the living room." She rubbed his upper back one last time and left shutting his room door. He slowly tried standing up crying in pain as the back of his legs felt stiff and moving caused a new sting. Closing his eyes, he imagined blood running down his legs and welts. He gently pulled up his boxers and cried when they went up to his blazing hot thighs.
He knew though, that most likely he was okay and managed to walk to his dresser and pull out his drawer finding his soft sleep pants. He wanted to walk to his bathroom and look at the damage, but Vee was in the living room. He cried tugging on his sleep pants wincing at the pain, but eventually, he was dressed again. He looked at LJ's blanket to see if there were any blood on it, but thankfully it was clean. He debated washing the blanket but scoffed he had to wipe LJ's butt, so what was the difference his butt had been on the blanket? He made the toddler's bed and gently opened his door still scared Linc would yell at him for coming out of his room.
"Michael hun, please come out here and drink this water." It was Vee's gentle voice and Michael felt calmer wiping his tears on his shirt. He could hear Linc in his room, but Linc didn't open his room door, so Michael walked into the living room. Vee sat at the kitchen table, and Michael looked at the hard chair across from Vee not wanting to sit down. He knew the sting would be almost unbearable, but he knew it wouldn't be polite to not sit down. His blue-hazel eyes looked at Vee silently pleading for her to understand he couldn't sit down. She looked at him and sighed heavily, "Go grab a pillow to sit on from your room then Mike." He half smiled and walked to his room slowly grabbing his soft feather pillow placing it on the chair. Vee pushed the water towards him, "Drink please." Michael lowered himself down gently on the pillow wincing but shakily took the water to his lips and sipped.
Vee gently smiled, "So, Mike, you going to explain what happened?" Michael gulped a sip of the water looking down at the table. "Where's Linc?" He whispered out. Vee reached across the table lifting Michael's chin, so he'd look at her. "That's not your concern, now, what happened?" She dropped her tone, so her voice sounded stern, and Mike knew that voice. It was the don't screw with me voice, and he knew Linc was in the apartment, so he didn't want another spanking. He sighed, "I was grounded because I kept missing curfew. I, just, wanted to see this girl Vee, I really like her. So, I," Michael looked at Vee and she nodded for him to continue. "I left and went to meet with her and Jasper at the pier." He rushed out.
"Did you leave Linc a note at least?" she asked like it was the most obvious solution. Michael looked down at the table again picking at his fingernails. "No, but it's because I thought I'd make it back before Linc got off work." He grumbled. Veronica looked at Michael, she couldn't believe this kid. He really had a death wish and she now understood Linc's anger towards him. Yet, she knew Linc took things too far and she felt annoyed. "I thought Linc stopped spanking you?" She asked confused. Michaels face burned red with embarrassment, "Well, he um pretty much has, but I think this was just a knee-jerk reaction you know?" Vee laughed. "Well Mike, I think you've been pushing him pretty hard to do something. I heard about your attitude with teachers lately and missing curfew."
Michael looked down again ashamed of his behavior lately and he knew he was pushing Linc away. He was just trying to figure out who he was and wanted his own life. Vee reached across the table grabbing his hands in hers, "I feel like Mike he was out of control in there though and was beating the shit out of you instead of disciplining you. Does that make sense?" Her voice was soothing, and Mike looked up, "He would never hurt me on purpose Vee, I just made him so mad. I think he was worried I was shot in an alley or something you know." Michael started to sniffle. Vee gripped his hands a little harder, "There's two choices Michael, I stay here tonight, and you can talk to Linc. Or we go to my parents' house for a little sleepover. It's really up to you, but either way, I want you to know one of two things. One, Linc should have never lost control with you that way, okay? Two, you were wrong, and I feel like since you were already grounded you should have gotten a spanking. Does that make sense?"
Michael started crying, "I, I want Linc Vee!" He yelled and it reverberated through the small apartment. Michael felt overwhelmed and guilty for making his brother out to be the bad guy when it was his fault all this had happened. He heard a door open, and he wasn't even scared Linc would be mad at him for yelling. He looked towards the living room and Linc stood there in his white tank top. His face was red like he had been crying and Michael was mortified. He made Linc cry, and he felt a wall of guilt hit him. "Michael, I'm," His voice cracked with emotions and Michael slowly got up. Even though he felt like he could die from the pain, he ran to Linc and hugged him tightly. Lincoln held his little brother tight kissing his forehead and rubbing his upper back to calm the kid down. "Shhhh, it's okay Mike, everything will be okay."