Chapter 34: Witness
Well, someone's spotted them. You can never be too careful...
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What neither of them knew was that there was a pair of eyes watching the entire scene unfold. It didn't take long before their normally summer sky blue darkened to almost twilight and their black pupils dilated in anger.
He'd only gone out because he ran out of smokes and although he still had plenty of beer at home, he thought he'd better make sure he had enough for the evening. An important game was on so he thought he'd invite his buddies over. But he'd be careful as usual with Daryl in the house after that last terrible time.
Will had learnt his lesson about trusting adult men with his son the hard way.
As soon as he came out of the store he found himself stopping in his tracks by what he saw a few feet away. They were standing far too close to each other - within kissing distance for fuck's sake! He immediately went to partially hide behind a tree but he doubted they saw him, so engrossed in the moment and each other they were. He suppressed a gasp at what happened next. His son smiled and giggled like a lovesick girl and flirtily proceeded to pull the other boy down an alleyway!
Will knew the boy's name – Eric – even though they'd only met twice and he knew that this was the friend Daryl kept running off to.
Prior to this the only thing personal he'd had against Eric was that the kid looked rich with his nice clothes and he stood out like a sore thumb in their hick backwater village. Anyway, that one reason alone had been enough for Will to scrunch up his nose in contempt at the pampered little snot. Probably a Mummy's boy too. Of course, then there was the fucking fact that he kept stealing his son away from him that made Will able to stand him less and less – up until now that was. Now he had a ton of reasons to hate him.
Like what was about to go down now in front of his horrified eyes. But even when he saw Daryl take his hand and drag him off, Will still hadn't quite registered what was about to happen in his mind – bordering on numb with shock – and it kept on insisting on the more palatable reason that it must be drugs. That's why they'd gone to hide themselves where they believed they were out of sight to take them, but little did they know.
Yes, it must be drugs. He mentally breathed a sigh of relief even if he wasn't all that thrilled about his youngest doing drugs, already having one doped up, useless son was quite enough. Drugs weren't so bad but he thought Daryl was special – smarter than his brother and that maybe he'd go places. They must have done some already Will surmised as he squatted down even further behind the tree to watch. Daryl was acting all giddy - he must be high. He sniggered at that.
But Will snarled despite himself and almost leapt forward in disbelief when he saw the other boy shove his sweet boy against the wall before fisting his hair, drawing his mouth dangerously close to his son's. But then he thought better of it when he realised that Daryl was grinning. Daryl didn't seem to mind one bit.
He held his breath when the other boy made the first move to kiss him - of course he did, no surprise there, Will knew his little boy was shy.
What did surprise him was that Daryl didn't bloody the little fudge packer's mouth as he should have done. Instead, he kissed Eric right back!
Will's heart nearly jumped out of his chest when the little bastard started feeling up his son under his shirt.
He winced when he saw a flash of purple on skin that he had bruised almost black about a week ago.
Will hazily recalled how he'd lost it and battered the boy badly enough for him to almost have to go to hospital. His rage and the subsequent violence he'd inflicted on him was all coming back to him - although not all that clearly- and now he felt a tiny shiver of guilt. It had all just escalated out of control because of some guys down at the bar who couldn't keep their mouths shut about a boy and a teacher and he'd heard them just as he walked in.
However, they shut their pieholes pretty quickly once they spotted Will taking a seat at the front bar.
Except for the half-cut cocky asshole who unfortunately reminded him of his former friend Mike with his obscene taunts aimed at Daryl. Will had nearly started a bar-fight over it.
He winced again at that small patch of skin – did I really do that?- that was revealed when the other boy pushed his son's shirt up a little more. Nevertheless, the stricken father had to admit Eric was very gentle with his son, as if he knew about the bruises. Had Daryl gone and bleated to him? Probably.
He told himself that he couldn't blame his son for running to this boy – the thrashing itself must've seemed endless to him. Maybe he even thought that his father was going to kill him! He must have been terrified... Will had to admit reluctantly to himself that he'd taken things too far and decided not to punish him again. Not for running away, at least.
But this…this was something else. The worst sin in fact…
Will recalled finding the rumpled bed that morning, the sheet tied up to form a rope out of the window and thinking 'Damn fool boy – I'll make you regret running away in the middle of the night!' in his still inebriated state.
Until he realised what the makeshift rope out of the window could mean and then he'd immediately gone to it to check that Daryl wasn't lying injured or worse on the ground. Will had struggled for breath when he looked down, dreading what he might see. Fortunately, seeing no sign of him, Will regained his breath again but even then he'd still been unwilling to remember the reason why Daryl had run away in the first place.
Well, that was before he saw the bloodstains on the floor and a few drops splattered on the walls. The sight of his son's blood had sobered him up pretty quickly.
Returning to the present, Will was just about to go over and drag the little pervert off his son and beat him to the ground for merely touching Daryl but stopped when he saw the latter smile in return and then run his own hands under Eric's shirt!
Even though he hated that other boy right then, he had to admit that Daryl didn't seem scared or like he didn't want what was happening to him. Will was forced to admit to himself that Eric was being the utmost patient with Daryl, carefully avoiding his bruises and not rushing him. They were both as hesitant and playfully curious.
Fury and horror aside, he found himself getting excited watching them, but pushed all of it down. He was still pissed after all. Daryl wouldn't tell him the truth about what that teacher had done to him. He'd been careful not to let his name slip too, no matter how badly Will hurt him even though he'd been given him plenty of 'encouragement' and opportunities to tell the truth.
Had the little slut protected and taken the pain for the bastard because he liked what he did to him? Just like his 'so-called best friend' was doing to him right now? But Will thought it looked like this was their first kiss, with them being so shy (at least Daryl was) and tentative with each other.
How Will wished he could read their lips when they paused to come up for air. Probably it wasn't his fault – what Mike did first to him with his interfering and then the teacher had set Daryl on this path and for all Will knew it was still going on with the latter and that's why his boy refused to say anything. God forbid, maybe Daryl had feelings for the twisted teacher.
His eyes narrowed as he faced worst case scenario. Maybe Daryl wasn't so innocent like he seemed. Maybe the little floozy was messing around with the teacher and this boy at the same time. Who knew how far they'd gone with him despite appearances? Perhaps it was all just an act – him pretending to be all sweet.
He must be a real little cock slut, Will was almost sure of that as he watched the two boys. Daryl seemed to know what he was doing like he'd done it all before despite his timidness.
Instead of horrifying him, Will's speculations as well as what he was witnessing were turning him on and there was nothing that he could do to stop it. He groaned when the mental images assaulted him – Daryl on his knees in front of them – especially with the teacher.
It wasn't like Will wasn't accustomed to having Daryl in all kinds of sexual scenarios in his fantasies, even in his dreams and they were the best. His favourite was when Daryl pretended to be unwilling and innocent for his father's sake but was secretly begging Will to take him. Where Will could pretend to be punishing him but afterwards, Daryl would cosy up to him and sigh in satisfaction.
He'd perfected his art of fantasy of late. For example, he could conjure scenarios vivid enough close to movie-like, making them almost seem real. He had to restrain himself to not grab his dick as he pictured his son being taken hard against the teacher's desk, his boyish moans mixed in with an older man's. He bit his bottom lip hard as he desperately tried to distract himself and ignore his twitching member.
Even though he didn't want to, more lately, his mind led him to thinking about the likes of Mike. Will now allowed himself to think about his former best friend in detail for the first time in years - what the bastard tried to do his son at such a young and impressionable age...scumbag wasn't ever going to come back, he knew that even though they'd never discussed exactly how Merle had actually taken care of him. Will didn't want to know although he could see that Merle needed to talk about it. But as time passed, he noticed that Merle started to relax about it and stop looking over his shoulder and put it all to the back of his mind so they just left it like that. In fact, that piece of shit was rarely mentioned in their house since that night. It was like he had never existed – just as they'd wanted for Daryl's sake, as well as for their own.
Daryl, what are you doing! Will cried out silently to him as he saw them deepen their kiss and their touching became hungrier and less reserved.
He decided to leave then, he wasn't going to interfere and besides, a half-formed idea was forming in his head. But could he go through with it? He couldn't bear to watch them anymore, so he turned on his heel and slipped away in silence.
He needed time - every second of it that he could get to be able to calm himself down before Daryl got back home. He didn't want his son to cotton on that he'd seen them.
He couldn't beat the boy again, that would send him to the hospital without a doubt.
But that didn't mean his son was off the hook by any means. It didn't mean he wouldn't file away this latest indiscretion and use it when the opportunity presented itself. In other words, the next time Will needed to punish the boy. Besides, he could do plenty else to punish him without necessarily beating him.
He smiled despite his shock and revulsion, it was clear to him now.
Daryl was a fag, probably had been sucking dick and taking it up his ass for a long time already no matter how convincingly he played the innocent little boy. Especially with his own father! If the rumours about him and the teacher hadn't been proof enough, he'd seen it now with his own eyes.
It was his damn duty as a father to put his sons straight.
Surely this special crime deserved a very 'special' punishment? But what exactly? Will shivered in anticipation but held himself back from thinking of the obvious, despite his wrath.
He would wait a little longer, he'd done it for years already. Biding his time until the boy majorly screwed up, justifying some new form of punishment and decide then.
He could wait – he was a Dixon, a silent hunter. They could wait forever for their prey.
Slamming the door as soon he got home, Will couldn't help mutter at his absent youngest. Merle looked up in surprise from the instruction-manual he'd been reading for their new radio he just bought. He put his dirty boots down quickly from the table where he'd had his legs crossed on it but his father barely noticed.
'Who are you praising with those lovely words, dad? Somethin' happen?'
'Shut the fuck up'. Will glowered at him and turned away.
Merle greeted this with a grimace and went back to what he was doing before being interrupted.
Will started with dinner absently, burger and fries was on the menu today. All the while he was somewhere else in his mind. He just couldn't stop seeing the image of them kissing. That other boy's hands all over his son. When he sauntered in, clearly in a good mood, Daryl had no idea of the danger that loomed all over the house when he walked into the kitchen clearly without a care in the world. Will clenched his fists to his sides unseen by either of them and resisted the urge to slap that happy smile right off his face.
Slap it bloody, in fact.
Happy for once, even though he'd taken to moping around the house ever since Will had forbidden him to go to Europe with his friend. Friend?
Had he really thought of Eric as a 'friend' of Daryl's just now?
Clearly that was the least the little shit was to him. 'Special friend' rather. No wonder they were so eager to get away from the watchful eyes of the villagers and him.
His son's sudden change of mood infuriated Will who when he whipped his head around to glare, was met with a smile on Daryl's face.
'What the hell you got to be so goddamn happy about?'
He noticed with annoyance that Daryl actually looked amused by this question, smiled that same knowing smile that he'd recently offered Eric while he tried to fix his hair that was slightly messed up. He actually dared to ignore Will's gruff greeting. Unknown to Daryl, he was walking over smoldering hot coals straight into fire as he made his way over to Will to look in the pan.
"Smells good, dad. What's cookin'?'
Will saw red then and lost it– burgers already sizzling in the heavy pan as he swung it at his youngest son's head.
Of course, he missed, that kid was always on the alert for anything coming at him. The near constant threat of danger made for fast reflexes. Yet Merle was equally fast on his feet and soon had Will in a death grip, his arms locked around their thrashing father.
Daryl, for his part, retreated pale and shaking, his good mood fled.
Will's hands were itching to punish him for what he'd seen that day, but he literally couldn't move and Merle wouldn't budge. Not when it comes to his precious baby brother, Will thought bitterly to himself. He was left wondering just when the hell Merle had got stronger than him.
Meanwhile, Daryl just stared at him, unable to get a single word out as his mouth opened and closed rapidly with that look of panic that their father despised. His breathing had already ramped up.
'What the fuck's the matter with ya?' Merle hissed in their father's ear. 'It ain't just that pan is heavy enough to crack his skull, it's boiling hot to boot! You could have killed him! What the fuck were ya thinkin'?'
'Get off of me! How dare you!' Will snarled back and tried his luck again to get those muscular arms to move, but of course he failed. Merle was a full-grown young man in his prime, that much was clear. 'Better let me go now, Merle!' He warned edgily, quietly.
'Nope. What did he do anyway? All I heard was you being an ass about him being happy for once, and him saying that the food you cooked smelled good.'
'I've calmed down now, it's OK. I won't do nothin' to him.'
'My ass ya won't. Daryl – get out of here.'
But he didn't move, transfixed by the impossible scene of his brother overpowering his dad. Will fought a wave of humiliation, vowing to make the both of them pay for it later.
Will sheepishly dropped the frying pan to the floor then as he realized with mixed emotions that this battle was lost. But they haven't won the war, he thought slyly to himself. Merle waited for a few more minutes just to be sure while he felt his father gradually relax.
When he released him finally, the older boy immediately went over to his brother, knowing from bitter experience that Will was an excellent actor and wouldn't hesitate to strike out one last time. Just to have the last word, or in more cases than not, a last well-placed fist.
This time, however, Merle got behind his little brother and folded his arms protectively around Daryl's chest, instead of putting himself between them like he usually did, sending the older man a clear message.
Will took this as another sign of his diminishing authority along with his strength. But I'm still stronger than you, Daryl. And when the cat's away…
'Ya know how much damage ya could have done if ya hadn't missed, huh? You could've killed him!' Merle repeated, screaming at him then.
'Wish I had! He's better off dead! Rather than bein'...bein' a...' Daryl's lips trembled at that as he looked away. Will had just stopped himself.
When he saw their shocked expressions, he genuinely regretted what he had said in his outburst.
Daryl was hyperventilating even as Merle rubbed his upper arms to try to calm him. Merle snarled from where he was, hugging his brother closer. 'What the fuck ya mean?'
Will backtracked. 'Sorry, son. Of course, I didn't mean it like that - just had a shitty day is all...'
Merle was so furious, he didn't ask any more questions. He didn't care to hear anything he had to say just then.
'Don't ya ever say shit like that to him ever again, ya hear me?!' He was immediately on the attack.
Will knew he had gone too far this time. 'Ya know how I get sometimes, I rarely mean what I say when I'm mad. Ya know that.' He tried to take a few steps closer but Merle was fast to make his point, even though Daryl was in front. He succeeded in preventing Will from getting near them just by a simple look.
So, although the father surrendered to avoid even more fights, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his lips zipped if things got heated again.
He sighed as he nodded slowly, made his voice suddenly all fatherly and cajoling. 'Look, why don't I get the beers outta the cooler and make some more burgers? Still got more burger-meat in the freezer...'
Daryl glared at him from the safety of his brother's arms before he shrugged and Will could physically see the tension ease out of his shoulders. Gauging it safe enough to release his brother, Merle let him go. Daryl didn't notice how reluctantly he'd just done that. But their father did, as his eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. Will shook his head and passed it off as Merle typically playing the overprotective big brother.
They sat around almost in companionable silence, the anger on both sides had apparently faded away after a good solid meal and a few beers. By the end of it, they were all in a relaxed mood, more or less.
'Shit! That was good burgers, Dad!' Merle belched, clutching his stomach. 'Thanks for the beer.'
Daryl didn't say anything. He'd had less beer than the others but still was in a pleasantly mellow mood. Didn't even flinch when their Dad reached over and ruffled his hair.
'Goin' for a piss.' Merle got up and staggered to the bathroom, barely noticing.
Will had kept his hand on his youngest son, pleased that he was relaxed enough to let him as he lazily traced the side of his jaw that wasn't fading yellow before he cupped it gently in his hand. The half-bottle of whiskey that he hadn't shared with his sons - decent stuff now that Merle was home with the dosh - was working nicely on him but he wanted to do more, so much more. He was almost overcome with how nice it felt not to have Daryl struggle or act like he was afraid of him. In fact, his son was leaning into his touch!
Will forgot all about his anger fast enough as he could so easily see how starved he was for some fatherly affection. Just a simple touch for Christ's sake and Will stroked his cheek tenderly as he felt the need to say something. In a way he wanted to offer some words to reassure his boy that he really didn't wish him dead, riding high on his guilt trip wave he was even on the brink of telling him that he'd seen him and Eric and that it was OK with him (even if it wasn't). But he didn't want it to come over as weakness either, so Will said nothing instead. Still, he enjoyed being able to touch without him startling.
He wasn't too keen on losing the fearful respect that kept the boy under his control either. He sighed, for letting Daryl once again get under his skin by making him feel guilty when he usually didn't give two fucks if he'd said something especially hurtful to someone. And he never apologised to anyone for anything. 'Ya know I'm sorry 'bout what I said earlier, of course I didn't mean that…'
'Dad...' His eyes were fluttering closed. 'It's OK. I know you didn't.'
Will even allowed himself to hope - maybe if I do it right, he'll let me. He wasn't even clear in his mind as to what 'it' that was. Or more likely - he didn't dare allow himself to dwell on it because that was very dangerous.
Will reached down and planted a quick peck on his son's cheek, quick enough that it could be taken as a clumsy, drunken accident rather than him losing control - if only for a second.
'I'm sorry son, I didn't mean what I said before.' He repeated, genuinely meaning it in that moment. 'Sorry about the fryin' pan too...'
'That's OK. Said forget it, Dad.'
Will drew back from him when he heard his brother come back.
'Shit, anyone know where I left my car keys? Think last I saw of 'em was here in the kitchen. Not sure now though … Forgot something in the trunk...'
'I'm sure they'll show up, son. How many times do I need to remind ya to use the fuckin' hooks where we hang'em up?'
Will pointed towards where their keys were mounted on a piece of board that he'd made himself over on the wall.
Merle grumbled and walked past them in a hurry to look elsewhere.
Will got up to get his smokes and cranked open the window.
Daryl was immediately up and looking everywhere. Will stayed right where he was, having already spotted the keys over at their kitchentable's far end, he couldn't help the little smirk curling his lips. Not sure what had triggered it, his anger was back, gnawing at the pit of his stomach like a vicious viper ready to strike and he was no longer feeling benevolent.
He didn't say anything though because he was enjoying watching his youngest racing round to find the keys for his beloved brother all over the kitchen instead. Looking for them higher than his height allowed without him reaching to be able to get a good overview. Will's mind took him back to that night with Mike, how he'd eyed his son hungrily as his shirt had slipped up to reveal his smooth skin. Much like it was doing now. He cursed the boy silently as he drank the rest of the beer, popping open another.
Across the other end of the large wooden table, inherited from Will's mother, Daryl spotted the small bunch of keys, key-chain complete with a picture of a naked woman on them and smiled.
'Why didn't ya say somethin'?' He shot at his father who just stared at him without giving an answer.
He turned his back on Will then and laughed as he leaned over the table to reach the keys rather than going around to get them.
'Found'em, Merle, ya dumbass! They were on the..' He called out to him triumphantly but he didn't get the chance to finish the sentence as Will, overcome at the sight of his baggy jeans stretching over the shape of his small ass, pounced on him.
Will Dixon's lust for his own son had taken him over and the rage he'd been suppressing all day was long gone, and had been replaced with raw need instead.
'Dad...what the fuck?' Daryl was too taken back by surprise to even struggle as his father pinned him to the kitchen table by his hips. He even giggled nervously to Will's utter shock. He laughed at something like this? Maybe he'd been right about him not being so innocent after all.
Suddenly angry about the fact that someone else had probably already taken his son's innocence away, he fisted his shirt, slamming him hard against the table, angry because Daryl had probably let them.
Even doing this Will kept control of himself as he could see and hear his son breathing hard when he realized his father was done being nice and feeling sorry and now he wasn't playing around with this new wave of anger was directed at him. Will stared down at the contrast of his huge hands gripping those slight boyish hips and had to stifle a groan at the sight. Daryl looked so small in comparison.
He could hear Merle upstairs, he knew it wouldn't take him long to come thumping back down to them. So, he leaned in close, making Daryl tense up.
'Guess ya'd be used to this, boy.' He hissed in his ear, he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to hold him still.
'The fuck ya talkin' about?!'
He heard the indignation and confusion in Daryl's voice, but right then nothing he could say would make a difference. Will heard what he wanted to hear and quickly convinced himself that his son was feigning ignorance.
He didn't have time to ponder this before he felt two hands fisting his own shirt and he was being pulled away.
'Bastard! Get the fuck off him. Ya bein' sorry sure didn't last long, did it, huh, Dad?'
Will didn't resist, even when Merle shoved him further away from his brother in another blatant sign of disrespect. Will breathed hard and looked past Merle's shoulder over at Daryl who was frowning, looking very confused.
'Why ya always protectin' him, Merle? He ain't ever gonna toughen up and stand on his own two feet with you always mollycoddlin' him.'
'Shut up! Ya forget he's only a kid? Make ya feel like a big man always beatin' on him, raggin' on him all the time?'
Will snarled without bothering to reply as he stomped up to bed. Even as he left, he could hear his older son hushing his youngest.
'What the fuck just happened? He hit ya again?'
'No, Merle. But I found ya keys.' There was a jingle and Will could imagine him offering them up to him with a sweet expression of triumph on his face.
'Never mind those now. Come here. Ya OK?'
Their father shook his head in disgust as he slowly mounted the stairs. Vowing vengeance on the both of them – he would find a way to use Daryl against Merle – punish both of them for this insurrection at the same time.
'I raised a couple of sissies, and one of 'em a fuckin' fag and a slut for his teacher.' He muttered angrily to himself before he turned over and started snoring almost immediately.
But not before he recalled seeing the confusion in Daryl's eyes. His earlier fears had been wrong after all. His boy was just as innocent and sweet as he ever was and he really didn't have a clue what Will was implying by pinning him to the table like that.
Thank God he hadn't got too rough with him or pressed himself against him too hard, that would've given his erection away and that wouldn't have been easy to explain. Merle would have seen it for sure.
Will clenched his fists and growled. He didn't hear his two sons creep up to their rooms, Merle spending a few minutes with Daryl to make sure that he really wasn't hurt despite it all before turning in himself.
Will had already passed out and was snoring loudly on his back.
