*This chapter is a flashback that takes place the morning after the events in "Stars". If you haven't read that yet, I recommend going ahead and reading it (it's only three chapters long) before reading this. You probably don't have to, but I highly encourage it just so that you have a better understanding of what's going on. TW: Discussion of abuse, though this time it is described and in more depth than in "Stars"*

Mike sat on the windowsill, his head leaning against the glass. He couldn't stop thinking about what happened the night before. It all seemed...almost unreal. "You didn't deserve to be hurt", Peter's words echoed in the back of his mind. If he didn't deserve it, why had he been nothing but hurt all his life? He sighed, allowing himself to become lost in his thoughts before the sound of a door opening and closing snapped him out of it.

"Oh," was all Davy said as he entered the Pad, setting his bag down on the ground. "It's you."

"Yeah," Mike whispered, not looking at him, "it's me."

The Brit nodded and there was an awkward silence between them before he spoke.

"Do you know where Micky and Peter are?"

"Out," he shrugged.

"Gee, thanks." he scoffed and laughed, shaking his head.

After another moment of silence, Mike's heartbeat began to quicken. He turned to see Davy standing behind him with his arms crossed, burning holes in his head.

"What happened last night?" He asked accusingly, jumping straight to the point. "And don't tell me nothing or that you two just watched the stars or anything like that."

"That's what happened though." He defended, "Peter already told you the story and what happened."

"I wanna hear it from you." The words came out cold and caused Mike to jump up.

"You were about ready to toss me out onto the curb last night! Why don't you tell me what happened from your perspective?" He hissed but Davy didn't back down.

"Fine." He muttered, "we were inside while you two were out. Then we heard you yelling and Peter crying and we put the pieces together. Your turn!"

Mike felt the urge to correct him but didn't. He felt his anger build up inside and just snapped, rolling up his sleeve quickly and showing his arm to Davy, who gasped. There was a large burn in the center of his arm in the shape of a perfect circle, one that had never properly healed.

"You see that?" He hissed. "My old man gave that to me. He got a call from social services. Apparently one of my teachers had been worried about me and my safety. That night when I came home, he stuck his cigar in my arm and told me never to pull anything like that again. Then-"

He rolled up his pant legs up to his knees, exposing cuts and scars.

"Whenever I'd run off, they'd always bring me home. And he'd pour a bag of grits onto the kitchen floor and make me sit there 'til my knees bled!" He walked away.

"'You're breaking your mother's heart, Robert!'" He called out, "'you're breaking your mother's heart.'" Mike repeated, turning sharply to face Davy, who stood there in stunned horror.

"You wanna know what happened last night? Peter reminded me of my childhood and I became nostalgic for the memories. Reliving them like a greatest hits record." There was nothing but hate and pain and his words, he looked back up at Davy.

"Does that answer your question?"

He didn't know what to say. "Mike, I'm so..." He started but the Texan huffed and ran upstairs, slamming the door shut.

After about half an hour, Davy knocked softly on the door.

"May I come in...?"

No response. He creaked the door open and saw Mike sitting on the floor, hugging his knees, lost in thought.

"Hi, Mike." He said softly, causing him to jump and look up.

"I, uh, made you some tea if you'd like it."

Mike didn't speak, he just stared at Davy for a minute before looking down, shaking his head.

"No, thanks." his voice cracked, and sighed, sadly.

"I'm really sorry, Mike. I didn't mean to provoke you like that."

He nodded, "I know."

Davy sighed, more out of relief than anything else.

"Thank you, I'm gonna leave this downstairs for you when you'd like it."

Mike looked up and saw Davy who smiled a little. He didn't know what to say so he just nodded and Davy walked out, leaving the door creaked open.