Hi guys! It's been a weird time filled with visiting family. Sorry, this took so long to bring another chapter. Also, sorry for all the cursing, its just how I imagine Linc earlier in life. A bit angry, rebellious, but caring. Please enjoy and review if you can! Hope you're all well…..Jewelie
Chapter 8:
Michael felt nervous about telling Linc about Jerry and he started wringing his hands together. They arrived at the bus stop and stood inside the dirty plexiglass. Michael kept his head down and hoped Linc would forget that he wanted to tell him something. Then, suddenly Linc's hands were gently over his, halting them from moving. Linc knew all Michael's nervous tics but this one was the most obvious. "What's wrong Mike? Want to talk about what happened earlier with that girl?" Linc thought maybe Michael was embarrassed about girls, but Mike looked up, looking confused. He ripped his hands out of Linc's, "No Lincoln, I know about girls, I'm not stupid." Michael felt his mood taking a turn and rolled his eyes.
Lincoln was confused about his brother's sudden change in mood and his irritation with the question. He felt like Mike was starting to throw a tantrum, but he breathed in. "Alright Mike, if it's not that, then what's going on?" Linc tried to have patience, but the heat was beaming down on them. He was exhausted after a day of manual labor and he, himself was in a mood. Mike grabbed the hem of his shirt, playing with the string and the bus noisily approached them. "We'll talk about it at home then, you're going to sit on the bus though, so you can think about what you want to say." Michael's eyes got big and watery, but Linc was unfazed by his brother.
The doors opened and Linc fished out the money to pay for the both of them and sat down. Mike contemplated sitting down but he didn't want to. The bus was full, and Michael wasn't sure if Linc would swat him for not sitting down in front of everyone, but he decided he wasn't going to. Gripping the pole tightly Linc looked up, seeing defiance in Mike's eyes, and he was too tired to make a scene. "Michael," he said sternly, "You're adding 10 to your list." Michael shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "Alright, then 15." Lincoln patted the empty seat next to him, but Michael shook his head no, "20 then Michael." Linc's voice was stern, and he sounded irritated, which made Michael not want to sit next to him even more.
This lasted until their stop, a battle of wills, but Linc didn't react, just kept upping the number until he reached 40. He knew there was no way he'd spank Michael that many times but swats at bedtime sounded reasonable. He hadn't done bedtime spankings in years, but Michael's behavior seemed to be going backward in a lot of ways. They exited the bus, and Michael walked behind Linc, not wanting to be within reach of his brother. As they got closer to their apartment building, Lincoln stopped walking, "Hurry up Michael, you either stand next to me or in front of me. You know that." he huffed out annoyed. If he couldn't see his brother, then in his mind Mike was in danger.
Michael decided if he stood next to Linc he could see if he was going to swat him. They continued walking and Michael hated the awkward silence. Why couldn't he just tell his brother about Jerry, it wasn't like he had done anything wrong, it was Linc's creepy boss's fault. Now, he was going to be spanked 50 times with a birch tree branch. He sighed heavily at the thought as they walked into the complex. The elevator was still busted like always, so they walked up the flights of stairs and Michael gripped his backpack tight, irritated he had packed such heavy books. Linc stuck the key in, wiggling the doorknob and they came into the overly warm apartment. Michael hung up his backpack and Linc went to turn on the air conditioner.
Michael went into his room trying to avoid Linc, embarrassed by his behavior. After everything that just happened on the bus, he knew he was in trouble. He decided to lay down on his bed, facing the left side, looking at the door waiting for Linc to burst through it, belt swinging wildly in the air, but, to his surprise, Linc knocked lightly on the door. He decided to walk in without Michael answering. "Hey," Linc came in, sitting on the bed and Michael carefully scooted back, making room for his brother. "Want to tell me what the hell that was all about on the bus?" He wanted to tell Linc that he was just being stupid; it wasn't a big deal, but he bit his tongue. Michael looked at Linc with glossy eyes and Linc patted the side of his knee.
"Are you really going to hit me 50 times with a tree branch?" He whispered out. "It depends Mike, what's going on with you huh?" Linc knew he wouldn't, and they'd discuss punishments later. Michael sat up, even though it stung, and he sniffled leaning his head on Linc's shoulder. "I feel stupid for even saying this…." Linc put his arm around Michael's shoulder, "I was just going to say when I was alone with Jerry earlier, he rubbed against the front of me, and it creeped me out." Linc for a minute felt his heart stop, he never thought he'd have to talk with Michael about someone inappropriately touching him. When Linc was 7 a man in a bathroom stall next to his looked under his stall. He had seen the man's face as he sat on the toilet and screamed. He was with his Father at a rest stop and when his Father heard him scream, he ripped open the stall door. His Dad drug the man out of the stall and beat the man while Lincoln watched. The man was a bloody mess and when they got back to the car his father explained to Linc that there are some sick people in the world.
He explained to Linc the man was a pervert and if anything like this ever happened again, he should come straight to his Father, and he'd take care of it. Linc hugged Michael into his side, and even though he wasn't a 7-year-old, he understood even at sixteen how unnerving that could be. "Yeah, did you say anything to him about it?" Linc tried to soften his voice, "No Linc, I just wanted to get out of there away from him you know?" Linc nodded his head. "Yeah Michael, that makes sense. Did he just umm, rub against you? Or did he try to touch you?" Michael looked at Linc, his eyes large, and shyly told him that Jerry just rubbed against him. He felt awkward and felt his face start to blush, but he wanted to be honest with Linc.
Linc rubbed his upper back to try to make Michael feel less embarrassed. He cleared his throat, "Well, I feel like you did the right thing telling me what happened. If you ever have anything to tell me no matter how embarrassing you think it is, I'm here. I've seen a lot of shit and done a lot of fucked up shit too Mike. So, whatever you say, I've done, seen or heard it before, okay?" Michael shook his head into Linc's shoulder and wiped his nose on his hand. Linc knew Michael was more innocent than most sixteen-year old's his age and he knew it was because he made him stay in this house to keep him safe. Things were changing though, with this chick his brother liked and now with this incident. Internally he groaned, he'd have to have the sex talk with Mike. He'd wait though until this weekend and maybe take his brother to hang out with some of the guys from work.
Linc sighed heavily and Mike knew why. "Mike, why all the attitude before you told me what was going on?" Michael pulled away, "Because Linc it was weird, and I just thought you'd be mad at me." Linc sighed, "I wouldn't have been Mike, you can tell me anything and I'd try to be calm you know? I'm pretty pissed at Jerry though, and I'm going to have a talk with him. No more being alone with him Mike! I fucking mean it, and if I do catch you alone with him, I'm serious, I'll belt you. Also, if you would have just told me instead of pitching a fit, you wouldn't have earned bedtime spankings for the week." He said sadly. Michael jumped up from the bed, glaring at Linc. "No, you can't! Come on Linc, please! I'm sorry and I was just scared." Linc dragged his calloused hand down his face, and he knew Michael. If he said okay let's forget about it, Mike would think he could get away with a lot of shit. It's just the way his brother's mind worked. Yet, maybe if Mike behaved for the rest of the week, then Friday, he'd just bust his butt once and call it even.
Mike looked down at Linc sitting on the bed trying to read him, and Linc snapped his fingers. Michael knew it meant shut up or get spanked there at the moment. Michael sat down immediately wincing, "Here's the deal, you'll write 50 down on your chart thing, and Friday if it all goes smoothly this week, we'll both decide how many you'll get for your spanking. If, and I fucking mean this Michael! If you misbehave between now and Friday, then you'll get bedtime spankings for a week got it?!" It sounded fair to Mike, he shook his head yes and started wringing his hands together. Linc knew then that Mike was going to take this seriously. "Come help me make dinner Mike, I'm tired as hell and I just want to relax." Mike got up and they made hot dogs with macaroni and cheese. The baseball game was on and even though Mike didn't have an interest in the sport, he watched. He thought of what he'd say if he saw Kim again and even forced himself to get seconds. He was tired of being the skinny kid who was small for his age.
Linc looked up from his beer surprised when Mike sat down with more food, he knew his brother would hit his growth spurt soon and he'd be just as tall as him. They watched the game intently, not really talking, but Lincoln silently prayed Mike would behave this week. He just didn't want to have to spank Michael this week. He'd love more moments like this, just relaxing watching the game.