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Chapter 12: Taunt

Try as he might, sleep alluded the youngest Strider that night. His mind was too conflicted to even begin to think of sleep.

'Is, is it true?' Dave's mind would not rest, 'All this time, could, could Bro have been trying to get rid of me? For years? How, no, why? What could I have possible done to make him want to get rid of me? Surly if Bro was struggling, he would have told me, right? Maybe, maybe I could have helped him, somehow.' Dave's heart ached in betrayal.

'But then again, why did we have all those strifes? What was their purpose? Were they truly to help me for some reason? To train for some upcoming war or something? Or, for Bro to take out his anger, on me?' Dave's eyes widen in horror at "the truth".

The heartache sparked the fire of all consuming hatred.

'That, that was it, the whole time! It all makes sense now! If he truly loved me, then why would he have been so hard on me? Did he not even care that he was hurting me everytime he kicked me down; or when he would nearly slice my face off?! Every cut, every bruise, was just part of his plan to get me taken away and out of his hair! That was it all along! How could I have been so blind...' Dave's eyes burned with anger, 'Well at least he's happy now. And I finally have someone who TRULY loves me. I could care less if I ever saw that sorry prick ever again!'

But before long, his anger subsided for the moment and Dave rolled over and stared out the sun roof. He wished he had his phone with him right now so he could ease his mind with some "peaceful" music. But noooo, the dumb thing decided to die when he was at John's; and in a cruel ironic twist of fate, when mother nature thought he was over due for a blond moment, he forgot to pack the charger. Lovely.

Dave quietly stared up at the stars until he just couldn't hold his eyes up any longer. Sleep had finally overcame and won the battle.

"Wake up David, we're here!" Derrick happily sung as he patted his son on the leg, trying to wake him up.

"What? Huh? We made it?" Dave snapped his head up from the seat, stiffly trying to sit up.

"Yep." Derrick said opening up his door, "How did you sleep?"

"I've slept better." Dave said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Dave got out of the Escalade and had a good stretch before he focused his eyes on his new surroundings. He rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on him. They were in the drive way of a large mansion.

"Woah! This, this is where you live?!" Dave blurted out.

"Not exactly, this is where we'll be staying until everything settles down." Derrick said nonchalantly.

"How long will that be?" Dave said, following his father up to the front door.

"I'm not sure. We'll just have to see." Derrick said unlocking the door and stepping inside.

"Derrick Strider?! Is that you?! Oh my God, I haven't seen you in forever! How have you been?" a woman with long brown hair in a pink silk robe said as she made her way down the grand staircase.

Claudia approached Derrick and noticed he wasn't alone, "And who is this handsome young man you got here?" Claudia said, pecking Derrick on the cheek.

"Claudia! Dear how are you?" Derrick said returning the favor, "I went to visit my sons in Texas. This is my youngest son, David." Derrick said, placing a hand on Dave's shoulder. "Don't be shy David, say hello."

"Hello," Dave nonchalantly held out a hand to shake the woman's hand in a polite manner.

"Hello David! How are you?!" Claudia on the other hand, opened her arms and embraced the boy.

"Okay, I guess. We had a long trip," Dave said, not really even bothering to return the kindly gesture.

"Oh I can image! You must be exhausted, darling," Claudia said placing her hands on Dave's shoulders, slightly leaning down to his eye level.

"Yeah, but I'm surprised Dad didn't wrap us around a telephone pole or something. He drove all night."

"Derrick you drove all night with this baby?"

"We had to make it here as soon as possible, Claudia," Derrick lowered his voice.

"Derrick, you go get some sleep, and I'll show David to his room. And that is not a request," Claudia ordered, taking Dave's hand.

"Yes ma'am," after being up for almost 24 straight hours, Derrick was too tired to argue with anyone.

Claudia led the two upstairs, down a hallway, and showed Dave his room. "This will be your room David," Claudia said, opening the door.

Dave lifted up his sunglasses to make sure he was seeing everything properly. The room was huge! Arguably the nicest bedroom that he had ever been in. And it was all his! The room had dark hardwood floors, the walls were white and had painting all along them. To the right side of the room, there was an ivory desk, a nightstand near the bed, and a changing screen near the bathroom and closet. To the left there were a chest of drawers. In the center of the wall, there was a huge flat screen T.V., in front of the T.V., there was a coffee table and a couch. And directly in front of the T.V., also was large canopy California-king sized bed. It had a red comforter and pillows on it, and a chocolate brown bedskirt, and it actually had red curtains tied to the canopy railings.

For a moment, Dave thought his dad really did fall asleep behind the wheel and he was now in heaven.

"Do you like it David?" Derrick said behind him.

"Yeah...I mean it's cool and all; but it could use some of my personal touches if you know what I mean," Dave said, wearing his usual expressionless look on his face.

"I'm glad you like it," Derrick happily said, "Why don't you get some rest before lunch? Claudia will come and wake you when lunch is ready."

"Okay," Dave said yawning.

"Good night David," Derrick hugged his son and kissed the top of his forehead.

"Good night Dad," Dave simply said.

Derrick exited the room and made his way toward his own bedroom. Everything was going perfectly. He had better luck than he thought, making it all the way up here undetected. The only problem he had was at the border, when they were stopped. An officer shined a light in the backseat and saw Dave. They asked who he was and what relation did Derrick have with him. Derrick simply told them that Dave was his son and he shown them the custody paper with Dirk's forged signature on it. Derrick played a sob story for the officer. Telling him that he went down to Texas to see his sons; but when he saw his oldest son abusing his youngest son, he had his oldest son sign over custody and he was going to Canada to start a new life for themselves. The officer bought it hook line and sinker, and wished them on their way.

Oh yes, everything was going perfectly.

Dave plopped down on his new bed. He breathed in the fresh scent of the clean fabric. He couldn't believe that all this was now his. He had to admit, the place did look pretty sweet. Heh, just a few Strider touches and it would be home sweet home.

'Maybe this place won't be so bad after all,' Dave thought as he shifted his body to get under the covers.

Dave let out a sigh of comfort. It felt so good to lay in a bed. Sitting in a car all day was insufferable.

Dave placed his sunglasses on the nightstand; and in a matter of moments, he was out.

"David? Wake up sweetie, lunch is ready," Claudia gently shook the boy awake.

Dave slowly began to stir from his sleep. "Miss Claudia? What time is it?" Dave asked sitting up, rubbing his eyes before he put his sunglasses back on.

"It's 12 pm, David. And please, just call me 'Claudia'," Claudia smiled.

"Okay Claudia, and please, call me 'Dave'," Dave smirked. Claudia couldn't help but laugh.

"Here, these are the clothes your father picked out for you to wear," Claudia said, handing Dave the garments, "Just leave your dirty clothes in the hamper in the bathroom, the maid will come by and pick them up later."

Dave sighed and took the clothes, "Thank you," Dave said, trying to hide his irritation.

"I'll just wait outside until you get changed," Claudia said steeping towards the door, trying to give him some privacy.

'This is getting really old,' Dave pouted as he stepped behind the changing screen.

'Why can't I pick out my own clothes? I'm not five anymore.'

But Dave really didn't think it would be a wise idea if went against his father's wishes, especially now that they were in a different country. So, he put on the clothes his father picked out without protest.

"Well don't you look handsome!" Claudia doted as Dave stepped out the door. Derrick had picked out a red and white pin stripe bottom up shirt and a pair of black jeans. Dave had to admit, no matter what his father picked out, he still looked good.

"Why thank ya ma'am," Dave smirked, whipping out his Texan accent, that just seemed to make Claudia swoon.

"Oh just wait until the others see you!" Claudia put her hands to her face like a blushing schoolgirl.

"Others?" Dave said, as Claudia grabbed his arm and lead him to the dining room.

"So, James, tell me. How were last quarter's profit margin?" Derrick asked his business partner and friend James Nickel, as he took a sip of his water.

"Profits were up by 93% since January. We haven't seen such a gross spike like that in one quarter since your father ran the company, God rest his soul. I'm telling you Derrick, you're going the right track expanding internationally," James stated.

"Good, good," Derrick said leaning back in his chair.

Derrick looked over his shoulder and smiled when he saw Claudia and Dave make their way into the dining room.

"David, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if Claudia ran off with you somewhere," Derrick said getting up from his seat.

"David this is James Nickel," Derrick pointing to James, "And this is Randy Coperstone, Justin Cox, Amanda Blue, Austin Johnson, and Laura Harper. They are all my business partners," Derrick said pointing to each of them.

"Hello." Dave simply said, not really knowing what else to say.

"Please David, have a seat," Derrick said pulling out the chair next to him.

All the business partners cast their eyes on the young man, taking an immediate interest in the boy.

"So this is your son we've hearing about for the past hour, huh?" James spoke first, eyeing Dave.

"Yes, this is my youngest son David. My eldest son wasn't raising him and taking care of him properly, so I took it upon myself to do so," Derrick informed him.

"Yeah okay. Hey David, you wanna know why 'your dad's' eyes are brown?" James said gesturing to Derrick, "Cause he's so full of his own shit."

"Yeah Strider, cut the crap. Where'd you kidnap this kid from. Cause there's no way he came from your ugly old ass," Austin and James picked at Derrick.

Everyone at the table laughed, even Dave, a little.

"As I live and breathe, he is my biological flesh and blood," Derrick said, holding his hands up in a friendly manner.

Light laughed made it's way across the table.

"Okay, lunch is served everyone," Claudia announced as she lead a team of servants into the dining room, carrying dishes upon dishes of fresh cooked food. To which Derrick took it upon himself to fix Dave's plate, deaf to his many protests.

By the time Derrick was done, Dave's plate had Volaille a La Crème, roasted lamb, a salad, and a whole bunch of stuff that Dave couldn't even pronounce on it. None of which looked real appetizing to a 13 year old boy.

Derrick's business partners thought it was all an amusing sight. "Damn Derrick, are you going to cut his meat for him too?" James stated. To which Derrick replied by giving him a stern, 'mind your own business' look.

"Come on David, eat," Derrick almost demanded.

After seeing all that food, eating was the last thing Dave wanted to do. But, in fear of his father's wrath, he done so anyway. It's a good thing Dirk thought him to master the poker face his whole life, other wise every bite would have brought a look of disgust and maybe even a gag.

Aside from Dave throwing up in his mouth at least half a dozen times, lunch went by fairly peaceful and uneventful. The business partners introduced themselves to Dave.

James Nickel was Chief Financial Officer.

Randy Coperstone was Chief Analytics Officer.

Justin Cox was Chief Operating Officer.

Amanda Blue was Chief Human Resources Officer.

Austin Johnson was Executive Officer.

And Laura Harper was Chief Marketing Officer.

They explained to Dave that they worked for his dad for many years, even when Derrick's father was over the company. The tried to explain to him a bit about business, but really it all just went over Dave's head.

Dave told them that he was from Texas and he was raised by his brother from the time he was born. Dave tried not to talk about Dirk too much; he was still hurt and felt betrayed by his brother's so called actions. To talk about him, or even think about him, made Dave hate and resent his brother more and more. The business partners reassured Dave that they had known his father for a long time and that he would take great care of him. Hearing this reassurance comforted Dave greatly.

"David, your father bringing you here is really a blessing to us," Laura Harper informed Dave.

This caught Dave by surprise, "Really? How so?"

"Because, for years we have been looking for a spokesperson, a poster child if you will for our expansion. We've had countless auditions, and not one of them had that spark that would catch people's eye. You, young David, just have the spark that we have been missing. Would you be interesting in being our poster child, model so to speak?" Laura smiled.

Dave thought long and hard about it before giving an answer. He thought it would be cool to be a model, and ever since he was five people had been telling him that he should model. But still,

'What if I don't make the cut? What if I'm not good enough? What if I'm really not what they're looking for? What if...'

"What do you say David?" Derrick asked his son.

'But what if Dad wants me to do it? I mean he's all I got left, and if it'll make him happy...why not?'

"Well I don't know much about business or anything like that; but if they're any way I can help you, I'd be glad to," Dave finally spoke.

"Wonderful!" Laura spoke with joy, "You'll be so perfect!"

"Awesome, when do we start?" Dave asked

"Immediately," Derrick deeply spoke.

"How's it coming in there Dave?" Claudia knocked on the door of the room that Dave was changing in.

"Good," Dave sounded a bit out of breath. 'Do you think they could have a tighter pair of jeans?' Dave was used to wearing skinny jeans but damn. These were like the mother of all skinny jeans.

Dave opened the door and walked out very stiffly.

"Can you even breath in those?" Claudia giggled.

"A little bit," Dave tried not to breath in and out too much; fearing that too big of an inhale or exhale may cause the the button on the jeans to fly off across the room and the jeans would split down in half. "Why exactly do I have to wear these?"

"It's for a shoot called 'From New York to L.A.' You'll stand infront of a green screen and they'll take a picture of you walking down the street in New York. And then they'll take another picture of you walking in Los Angeles. And then they'll spit it down the middle and combine the picture like you are literally walking from New York to L.A."

"Okay, that sounds cool, I guess," Dave said walking over to the set.

"Good luck," Claudia gave him a thumbs up.

"You're wonderful Dave, such a natural. Keep it up!" the photographer said, cheering Dave on.

Dave really was having fun with it. All the shots were turning out great. They were very clever too. There was of corse the New York to L.A. one, which turned out way better than Dave expected it too. Dave thought they would have to do like a thousand takes with him, but no. They only had to do a few. Other ones included Japanese themes, by far Dave's favorites, different European country themes, even Egyptian and Indian themes. They even done domestic themed shots. Like since Dave was from Texas, they done some cowboy shots. Dave thought they all were pretty cool.

But the only thing Dave didn't like about his new found talent/job, was all the looks he was getting from some of the people there. Especially from James and Austin. Like they would just stare at him, without even blinking sometimes. It was really beginning to creep Dave out. But he tried not to think about it too much. Maybe they were just admiring his work.

"Okay David, I think that'll be good for the day," the photographer called out.

"Okay, are you sure?"

"I've got about 5000 shots, I think we're good."

"Wow, oh yeah I think we're done," Dave sarcastically spoke.

"You were great Dave!" Claudia said as Dave walked off the set.

"You think so?" Dave smirked, but kept his usual poker face on.

"I know so! When we get those pictures out, Derrick will have so many expansion requests that he won't know what to do with," Claudia put her arm around the boy.

"Speaking of Dad, where is he?", Dave asked, walking into his dressing room.

"I think he was in his study. You might want to visit him when he is in his room though. He doesn't like it when people go into his study," Claudia said outside the door.

"Okay, thanks for the info."

Dave got dressed and tried to make his way back to his room. But on the way, he ran into two unexpected visitors, literally. Dave ran right into James and Austin when he walked out of the mansion's studio.

"Oh excuse me. I must not have been paying attention," Dave apologized.

The two men just jokingly laughed, "It's okay kid, it was an accident. You didn't mean too."

"Hey you were great out there today, kid. I think you're just what this company was looking for," James said, giving Dave a thumbs up.

"What can I say? I am a Strider after all." Dave cockily said.

Both men laughed. "You are too much like your old man, kid," Austin said

"Yeah," Dave smirked a little, "Well, I'll just be going to my room now. And I'll try not to run into anyone or anything else," Dave said backing up a little.

"Yeah, you do that. See ya around kid," James waved off.

"Yeah, see ya," Dave said turning around.

'Well those two don't seem so back after all,' Dave thought as he made his way to his bedroom.

What Dave didn't see behind he his back, was both James and Austin staring at him like a hungry dog as he walked away.

Dave stayed in his bedroom for hours, playing video games, watching T.V. and movies, and trying to mess the place up a bit to make it feel a bit more like home instead of a hotel; until he thought it would be a good time to find his father.

"Well, it's almost six. Maybe he's in his room now," Dave said as he wondered to his father's room.

"Dad, you in there?" Dave knocked on the door. "Dad?" Dave poked his head in the door.

"Hello David! Come in, come in!" Derrick said sitting by the desk in room, "So David, how do you like it here?"

"It's okay, the people here seem pretty nice, and the modeling was pretty cool," Dave kept his expression blank as he walked into the room.

"That's good, David. I am glad you like it here!" Derrick said embracing his son.

"Say David, I have some good news," Derrick sung happily.

"What is it?"

"I've filled adoption papers Son. I'm going to adopt you," Derrick said.

For a moment, Dave felt his cool kid persona slip. He just stood there with his mouth wide open, "I-I..."

"Isn't it wonderful! We can be a real family here, and we can be happy!"

Dave didn't know what to say, he was flabbergasted. He really didn't know what to think about all this. They just got there and all ready Derrick was planning on making them a family.

"Aren't you happy David?" Derrick looked down at Dave.

"No, I mean yes I am," Dave stammered, "But didn't this happen a little fast, you know. I mean, we just got here and..."

"I know things to have seemed to have happened a bit fast. But trust me David, the sooner we get this out of the way, the better."

Derrick's words began to weave their way into Dave's mind. Like a poison, it spread until everything was consumed.

'Maybe, maybe this is for the best. Like he said, we could be a real family. Father knows best after all. Bro never adopted me so what would it matter?'

Dirk, just the thought of the man made Dave want to spit fire.

As if he could read his young son's mind, Derrick instantly brought up Dirk.

"Oh your brother. How could I forget him? I think we could call him and tell him the good news."

Being the complete jackass that he is, Derrick picked up the phone on his desk.

"Hello?" Dirk hastefully answered the phone, praying to God that it was his beloved baby brother.

"Why hello Dirk, and how are you this fine evening?

"DERRICK! YOU SON OF A BITCH WHERE IS HE?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM?!" Dirk was practically foaming at the mouth when he heard his bastard father's voice over the phone.

"Haha, yes he's doing good. A whole lot better now than ever before if you ask me," Derrick said happily as if absolutely nothing had happened.

"What?!" Dirk said confused.

"Anyway, I just called to let you know that I have good news. You won't have to worry about David anymore. I'm going to take good care of him," Derrick said slightly laughing.

That's it, Dirk just blew up.

"YOU LISTEN TO ME TO PIECE OF SHIT! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE! IF YOU LAY SO MUCH AS A FINGER ON HIM I WILL PERSONALLY HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME YOU SON OF A BITCH!?" Dirk screamed his lungs out at him over the phone.

"Uh uh uh, now Dirk remember your manners. It's talk like that that can make a man plummet in regret," Derrick toyed with his eldest son.

Dave really didn't know what his father meant by 'plummet to regret', but Dirk did. Derrick had basically just told him that if he didn't act politely, then he was going to see to it that Dirk will never see his beloved baby brother again.

"Pl-Ple-ase," Dirk cried with tears streaming down his face, "Let me talk to him. Please!"

Derrick let out an evil, devilish chuckle. "Oh David, your male sibling is on the phone."

Dave hesitantly took the phone. Was he ready to talk to his brother after he thought he abandoned him.

"H-hello?" Dave quietly answers, trying to conceal his anger behind the shell.

Dirk is over joyed at the sound of his baby brother's voice. "DAVE?! OH MY GOD LITTLE MAN IS THAT YOU?! ARE YOU OKAY?!" Dirk cried hysterically in the phone.

"Uh yeah I'm okay," Dave pouted, still very angry at his bro, "Why do you care?!"

"What? No Dave, no you have to listen to me!"

"Why?! You never listened to me when I would tell you I didn't want to strife. You always told me too bad and suck it up!"

"Dave listen to me! You have to let me explain..."

"Explain what?! How you used those strifes to try and get rid of me?! You couldn't take care of me, so you tried to put as many bruises on me as you could so I would get taken away!" Dave hollered into the phone, gritting the teeth.

Dirk couldn't believe what he was hearing. Had their father turned his little man against him?

"You know I always thought you were kidding when you said you were going to drop me off at the orphanage; but apparently you sure proved me wrong!" Dave was so mad that for a moment he thought fire was coming out of his breath.

"No, please Dave..." Dirk felt like his heart was about to stop beating. Their bastard father fed his baby a bunch a lies and now he hated him.

"You know what Dirk, I don't want to hear it anymore! Good bye Dirk Strider!" Dave slammed the phone back onto the receiver and stormed out of the room.

Dirk devilishly smirked as he watched his young son storm out in such a blind fury.

To give one last kick in the nuts to his eldest son, Derrick thought he would send some of those pictures of Dave to his older brother. Some of the more 'less than modest' images he had taken of him today. In some of the Egyptian photos, he had Dave put on tight shorts that hugged his legs and butt perfectly. Those would really make him squirm.

Derrick had a special computer in his office that was completely untraceable. He went to office and opened his email. He sent the images, along with a few others he thought would rub salt in Dirk's wounds. He titled the email "More coming soon..." and clicked Send.

Oh there would definitely be more coming soon.

As if you thought you couldn't possible hate Derrick anymore…

*NOTE*

Due that it was brought to my attention but the angels of FanFiction, Featherain and TriforceBrave; I went in and fixed this chapter to make Dave's chapter sound more, like Dave, to the best of my knowledge. To anyone who read this chapter before I fixed it, I am so sorry I didn't do it right the first time! You guys deserve so much more than me half assing a chapter!

And please, let me know if I left anything else out.