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Story-
Corinthos Household, the next morning-
Despite the drabness that was often associated with Sonny's homemade impregnable fortress, the sunlight still managed to find its way into the room that Damian had slept in for the night. For a very brief period of time it was his room. Would it serve that same function again? Damian still didn't have a concrete answer to that question. He stretched and ran a hand through his hair, which was cursed with the infernal thing known as bed hair. Rummaging through the clothes that he had brought over from his apartment, Damian grabbed what he intended on wearing and made his way towards the bathroom. Perhaps a relaxing shower would ease his tension. It was unlikely, but anything was worth a shot.
Meanwhile, completely unbeknownst to Damian, Michael had decided to take it upon himself to ask his father some questions. The boy walked down the stairs, still in his pajamas, which was not unusual since getting Michael to take a bath was among the most impossible things in the world. Sonny wasn't going to attempt the fight that it would take to get him into the bath. He was already up and dressed in his suit, as usual. Michael had never noticed that it was a very rare thing when he saw his father in anything but the usual attire. As if Sonny had somehow been preset to automatically be clothed in a suit the moment he woke up. Sonny's wardrobe wasn't important. "Daddy?"
Sonny turned and smiled at his son, "Hey, Mike. Did you sleep well?"
Michael nodded, "I was afraid that I was going to have nightmares about bad stuff happening to Damian, but I didn't."
"I told you that I'd keep him safe, didn't I?"
Michael nodded once more, "You promised."
Sonny got on his knees, "I always try and keep the promises I make to you, Mike. You know why? Because a man is nothing without his word. It doesn't matter what happens, once your word is broken, you're nothing."
"Is the bad man that kidnapped mommy a man with a broken word?" Michael asked.
"He said that he was someone that your mommy could trust and he betrayed her. So, yes, he is."
"Damian said that he feels bad for what he did to mommy."
Sonny rolled his eyes. Ric was capable of many things. Remorse didn't appear to be anywhere on that list, at least to him. "Why would Damian tell you that?"
"Because he saw how much I didn't like the bad man, and he said that I should look at him through my own eyes. He said that if I didn't feel like hating him anymore I shouldn't. But I do still hate him, daddy. He took mommy away from me for a long time and no one wanted to believe me when I said that he was the one that took her."
"That was a long time ago, Michael. It's over now. Carly's safe with us here in the house and no one will ever kidnap her again."
"He was the one that told you about Damian, though." Michael sat on the couch. "I don't know what to think, daddy. I still don't like him, but if he didn't tell you that Damian was in trouble something bad could have happened."
Sonny sighed. He'd have to have a discussion with his other son about influencing his younger and much more impressionable son. But, for now, he'd have to play damage control with Michael. But, he could he deny that Ric was the reason that Sonny was tipped off to his son's plight? He couldn't. Worse, Michael was there when Ric barged in, so he knew the truth and Sonny wouldn't be able to work his way around it. "One good deed can never make up for all the bad things that Ric did to so many people in his life, Michael."
"Do you think you'll ever forgive him?" Michael wondered.
"No, I don't think I ever will," Sonny told his son, entirely honest. "Once someone hurts me the way that Ric did, it's very hard to get back on my good side."
"Would you ever get mad at me like that?"
"Of course not," Sonny stated. "Nothing that you ever do can make me mad at you, Michael. No matter what you do, I'll be proud of you. Besides, you could never do something mean like what Ric did to your mommy. You're not the type of person that he is, you're a good boy and you'll become a good man when you grow up."
"I want to be like you and Uncle Jason!" Michael said happily, focusing on the two male role models in his life. "You always help people that need help, and stop the bad people from hurting the good people."
Sonny put on a smile that belied how he felt about what Michael had said. While he, like most fathers, was beaming with pride at the idea that his son wanted to be just like him, Sonny knew that it wasn't nearly as safe as Michael thought it was. Michael didn't realize the things that happened in his life on a daily basis. He might have an idea, but it obviously wasn't enough to turn him off to the idea of carrying around a gun and worrying about being shot by one of your enemies while you walked down the street. Of course, Sonny wasn't about to relay this information to Michael, especially not at the age he was. "You can be a better man than I could ever hope to be, Michael. You will be a better man that I will ever be. You'll find a way to help people better than I ever have, and you'll make me so proud. You'll make us all proud. Not that you haven't already done that so many times. You're one of the best people I've ever met, Michael. You act so grown up when other kids would be so scared. You protect the people that you care about, even when you might get hurt. Never let anyone tell you that you're anything less than a good kid, okay?"
"I'm not sure I understand," Michael commented softly.
"You're not supposed to understand everything right now, Mike. Just remember what I said. When you get old enough, you'll know."
"Can I go color now?" Michael asked.
"Of course. Just don't color on the walls or anything," Sonny remarked as the boy ran up the stairs. A part of Sonny hated that he had to be so secretive about his life to his son, but the bigger part of him knew that Michael wasn't ready to accept what Sonny was. Until Michael could accept that, he would have to remain as in the dark as possible. It was for his own good. Sonny couldn't take having Michael hate the person that he was.
"You're amazing, you know that."
Sonny turned around, "Damian."
Damian walked towards his father, "You're such a good father. I guess I always knew that, but didn't want to see it because of the person I thought you were. But you're not just that person, are you, dad? You're not the Sonny Corinthos that people want me to believe that you are."
"What do you think I am?" Sonny asked.
"I think that you're a person that has been through a lot and is trying to make up for the mistakes that you've made in the past by becoming a better person and giving your sons a better future than you ever had. I'm sorry I was so harsh on you."
Sonny shook his head, "You had reason to be angry at me for lying to you."
"I should have realized these things sooner."
"You're a smart kid, Damian, but even you can't understand everything right away." Sonny walked over and got some water. "We need to talk."
"About what?"
"About what you told Michael about Ric."
"I just couldn't see why Michael hated him so much, dad. He's just a little boy, he shouldn't hold that much hate in his heart for anyone."
"Ric's done some horrible stuff to this family," Sonny said. "You know the story of how he kept Carly in that room for most of the summer."
"I know, but I can't help thinking that he feels horrible about it."
"Ric doesn't feel horrible about anything!" Sonny remarked. "He fed his ex- wife birth control pills and hired a doctor to tell her that she was barren. That man has no soul, no conscience."
"If he doesn't have a conscience then why did he tell you that Faith was coming after me? If he doesn't have a soul then why is he so hurt whenever Michael calls him 'bad man?' Dad, he's family."
"No matter how much either of tries to erase it, we can't get past the fact that we're half brothers."
"You shouldn't try and erase family," Damian stated. "No matter how bad they are, they're a part of you. Believe me, I've got plenty of relatives back in Los Angeles that I can't stand, but I would never want them hurt."
"You need to realize something for your own good, son. Ric's a horrible person who will stop at nothing to use any of us to his advantage."
"I like to think that people can end up atoning for their past, dad," Damian said sadly. He understood that Ric wasn't the best person in the world, but that didn't mean that he was all bad. Elizabeth loved him. How could she love someone that she didn't see as even somewhat good?
"You're entitled to your own opinion, and so am I."
"What about Michael?" Damian wondered.
"What's he have to do with this?" Sonny wondered.
"That's the entire basis of this argument we're having, dad. Don't try to hide it. You're upset that I told Michael how I felt about Uncle Ric. You shouldn't be. I told him that he should feel the way he wants to feel about anything and anyone. I want my little brother to be independent." Damian started towards the door, "But can he do that if you're trying to make him feel one way about something and he doesn't feel it himself?"
"Where are you going?"
"To see Maxie. Do me a big favor, dad. Don't send Uncle Jason after me." Damian closed the door and waited for the elevator to open up. He needed to get out, away from the problems that were already brewing inside that house.
110
Story-
Corinthos Household, the next morning-
Despite the drabness that was often associated with Sonny's homemade impregnable fortress, the sunlight still managed to find its way into the room that Damian had slept in for the night. For a very brief period of time it was his room. Would it serve that same function again? Damian still didn't have a concrete answer to that question. He stretched and ran a hand through his hair, which was cursed with the infernal thing known as bed hair. Rummaging through the clothes that he had brought over from his apartment, Damian grabbed what he intended on wearing and made his way towards the bathroom. Perhaps a relaxing shower would ease his tension. It was unlikely, but anything was worth a shot.
Meanwhile, completely unbeknownst to Damian, Michael had decided to take it upon himself to ask his father some questions. The boy walked down the stairs, still in his pajamas, which was not unusual since getting Michael to take a bath was among the most impossible things in the world. Sonny wasn't going to attempt the fight that it would take to get him into the bath. He was already up and dressed in his suit, as usual. Michael had never noticed that it was a very rare thing when he saw his father in anything but the usual attire. As if Sonny had somehow been preset to automatically be clothed in a suit the moment he woke up. Sonny's wardrobe wasn't important. "Daddy?"
Sonny turned and smiled at his son, "Hey, Mike. Did you sleep well?"
Michael nodded, "I was afraid that I was going to have nightmares about bad stuff happening to Damian, but I didn't."
"I told you that I'd keep him safe, didn't I?"
Michael nodded once more, "You promised."
Sonny got on his knees, "I always try and keep the promises I make to you, Mike. You know why? Because a man is nothing without his word. It doesn't matter what happens, once your word is broken, you're nothing."
"Is the bad man that kidnapped mommy a man with a broken word?" Michael asked.
"He said that he was someone that your mommy could trust and he betrayed her. So, yes, he is."
"Damian said that he feels bad for what he did to mommy."
Sonny rolled his eyes. Ric was capable of many things. Remorse didn't appear to be anywhere on that list, at least to him. "Why would Damian tell you that?"
"Because he saw how much I didn't like the bad man, and he said that I should look at him through my own eyes. He said that if I didn't feel like hating him anymore I shouldn't. But I do still hate him, daddy. He took mommy away from me for a long time and no one wanted to believe me when I said that he was the one that took her."
"That was a long time ago, Michael. It's over now. Carly's safe with us here in the house and no one will ever kidnap her again."
"He was the one that told you about Damian, though." Michael sat on the couch. "I don't know what to think, daddy. I still don't like him, but if he didn't tell you that Damian was in trouble something bad could have happened."
Sonny sighed. He'd have to have a discussion with his other son about influencing his younger and much more impressionable son. But, for now, he'd have to play damage control with Michael. But, he could he deny that Ric was the reason that Sonny was tipped off to his son's plight? He couldn't. Worse, Michael was there when Ric barged in, so he knew the truth and Sonny wouldn't be able to work his way around it. "One good deed can never make up for all the bad things that Ric did to so many people in his life, Michael."
"Do you think you'll ever forgive him?" Michael wondered.
"No, I don't think I ever will," Sonny told his son, entirely honest. "Once someone hurts me the way that Ric did, it's very hard to get back on my good side."
"Would you ever get mad at me like that?"
"Of course not," Sonny stated. "Nothing that you ever do can make me mad at you, Michael. No matter what you do, I'll be proud of you. Besides, you could never do something mean like what Ric did to your mommy. You're not the type of person that he is, you're a good boy and you'll become a good man when you grow up."
"I want to be like you and Uncle Jason!" Michael said happily, focusing on the two male role models in his life. "You always help people that need help, and stop the bad people from hurting the good people."
Sonny put on a smile that belied how he felt about what Michael had said. While he, like most fathers, was beaming with pride at the idea that his son wanted to be just like him, Sonny knew that it wasn't nearly as safe as Michael thought it was. Michael didn't realize the things that happened in his life on a daily basis. He might have an idea, but it obviously wasn't enough to turn him off to the idea of carrying around a gun and worrying about being shot by one of your enemies while you walked down the street. Of course, Sonny wasn't about to relay this information to Michael, especially not at the age he was. "You can be a better man than I could ever hope to be, Michael. You will be a better man that I will ever be. You'll find a way to help people better than I ever have, and you'll make me so proud. You'll make us all proud. Not that you haven't already done that so many times. You're one of the best people I've ever met, Michael. You act so grown up when other kids would be so scared. You protect the people that you care about, even when you might get hurt. Never let anyone tell you that you're anything less than a good kid, okay?"
"I'm not sure I understand," Michael commented softly.
"You're not supposed to understand everything right now, Mike. Just remember what I said. When you get old enough, you'll know."
"Can I go color now?" Michael asked.
"Of course. Just don't color on the walls or anything," Sonny remarked as the boy ran up the stairs. A part of Sonny hated that he had to be so secretive about his life to his son, but the bigger part of him knew that Michael wasn't ready to accept what Sonny was. Until Michael could accept that, he would have to remain as in the dark as possible. It was for his own good. Sonny couldn't take having Michael hate the person that he was.
"You're amazing, you know that."
Sonny turned around, "Damian."
Damian walked towards his father, "You're such a good father. I guess I always knew that, but didn't want to see it because of the person I thought you were. But you're not just that person, are you, dad? You're not the Sonny Corinthos that people want me to believe that you are."
"What do you think I am?" Sonny asked.
"I think that you're a person that has been through a lot and is trying to make up for the mistakes that you've made in the past by becoming a better person and giving your sons a better future than you ever had. I'm sorry I was so harsh on you."
Sonny shook his head, "You had reason to be angry at me for lying to you."
"I should have realized these things sooner."
"You're a smart kid, Damian, but even you can't understand everything right away." Sonny walked over and got some water. "We need to talk."
"About what?"
"About what you told Michael about Ric."
"I just couldn't see why Michael hated him so much, dad. He's just a little boy, he shouldn't hold that much hate in his heart for anyone."
"Ric's done some horrible stuff to this family," Sonny said. "You know the story of how he kept Carly in that room for most of the summer."
"I know, but I can't help thinking that he feels horrible about it."
"Ric doesn't feel horrible about anything!" Sonny remarked. "He fed his ex- wife birth control pills and hired a doctor to tell her that she was barren. That man has no soul, no conscience."
"If he doesn't have a conscience then why did he tell you that Faith was coming after me? If he doesn't have a soul then why is he so hurt whenever Michael calls him 'bad man?' Dad, he's family."
"No matter how much either of tries to erase it, we can't get past the fact that we're half brothers."
"You shouldn't try and erase family," Damian stated. "No matter how bad they are, they're a part of you. Believe me, I've got plenty of relatives back in Los Angeles that I can't stand, but I would never want them hurt."
"You need to realize something for your own good, son. Ric's a horrible person who will stop at nothing to use any of us to his advantage."
"I like to think that people can end up atoning for their past, dad," Damian said sadly. He understood that Ric wasn't the best person in the world, but that didn't mean that he was all bad. Elizabeth loved him. How could she love someone that she didn't see as even somewhat good?
"You're entitled to your own opinion, and so am I."
"What about Michael?" Damian wondered.
"What's he have to do with this?" Sonny wondered.
"That's the entire basis of this argument we're having, dad. Don't try to hide it. You're upset that I told Michael how I felt about Uncle Ric. You shouldn't be. I told him that he should feel the way he wants to feel about anything and anyone. I want my little brother to be independent." Damian started towards the door, "But can he do that if you're trying to make him feel one way about something and he doesn't feel it himself?"
"Where are you going?"
"To see Maxie. Do me a big favor, dad. Don't send Uncle Jason after me." Damian closed the door and waited for the elevator to open up. He needed to get out, away from the problems that were already brewing inside that house.
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