Mika nodded and hugged her back. “Thanks,” he whispered into her shoulder. Kana was taller than him but shorter than Gen, who still towered over her at around six feet. She took his hand and led him to the island counter.
“Are you hungry?” she asked. “No need to be shy, whatever you want, Kana will provide.”
Mika looked to Gen who shrugged as he sat next to him, water bottle to his lips. “Seriously, we have tons of food,” he said, wiping his chin.
“Okay, I guess I’ll take whatever you have available,” Mika accepted. Kana flinched at the raspy quality of his voice. She nodded and turned to the fridge, pulling out a blue plastic bowl.
As Kana set about fixing up a bowl of homemade soup, Gen unzipped his jacket and tossed it onto a stool that rested against the wall next to a china cabinet.
“Hang it up or die, loser,” Kana said without turning around.
Gen rolled his eyes. “See what I mean?” Mika chuckled then coughed, rubbing his sore throat. Gen reached out his hand to him. “I’ll take your hoodie for you. It could use a wash.” There was a look in his eye that Mika didn’t bother to argue with. He pulled the oversized sweater over his head and handed it to Gen.
“Nice shirt,” he said with a grin as he walked out of the kitchen toward the laundry room.
Kana turned around to see what shirt her brother was admiring. Mika was wearing a black tee shirt with Natsu and Happy from Fairy Tail on it.
Kana slid over to him and leaned on the counter, eyes bright and shining. “Are you a fan, too?” she asked, excitedly.
He nodded. “Me and my siblings are, yeah. My little sister–”he swallowed back glass– “likes Lucy.”
Kana nodded. “She’s one of my favorites. There’s a girl that takes no shit from anyone and can kick ass with the best of ‘em. I love how she sticks to her values and helps her friends every chance she gets. Plus, she falls for one of the coolest dragon slayers ever.”
“I dunno, I think Gajeel is cooler.”
Kana stood up and put her hands on her hips. “How can you possibly believe Gajeel Redfox is cooler than Natsu Dragneel?”
“Because he’s covered in piercings and looks like a total badass,” Gen said, coming back into the room with a cocky grin.
“You would say that,” Kana said, turning back to the stove.
They continued to debate the faults and strengths of various characters from the show, the soup having gone from the stovetop to a bowl placed in front of Mika who ate it, gratefully. The hot broth soothed his burning throat and he almost started to forget about what happened…that is, until Donovan Parker walked into the kitchen, lured in by the smell of Kana’s cooking.
He clapped a hand on Gen’s shoulder. “Chef, one bowl please!”
“Coming right up!” Kana said, lifting her ladle in the air.
Donovan’s eyes fell upon the young man sitting next to his son. He was short, olive-toned skin, with blue almond shaped eyes and long black hair. His frame was small but he wasn’t a waif. But that wasn’t what really drew his attention. It was the ugly bruises that surrounded his throat, almost reaching completely around to the back of his neck.
“You must be Mika Torino,” he said, extending his hand. Mika took it.
“Nice to meet you,” Mika said, his voice still raspy but his throat didn’t hurt as bad.
Donovan nodded. “Same.” He nodded at his son. “Gen told me about you only today.”
Gen grimaced.
“To be fair to him, he doesn’t talk much about anything. I was just happy to hear he finally made a friend.”
Mika smiled at Gen. “Me, too.”
Donovan patted his shoulder. “You have no need to talk more than you need to, young man.” He pointed at Mika’s throat. “That has to be bothering you.”
Mika’s hand went to his throat and he cast a look at Gen who gave him a reassuring nod. “Only if you want to,” he said quietly. Kana brought her dad’s soup over and they all moved to the kitchen table.
Once settled, and he had enjoyed more of the chicken soup, Mika said, “Detective Parker, do you know Thomas Calhoun?”
Donovan sat up straight, his spoon midway between his bowl and mouth. His face said everything Mika needed to know.
Mika put his spoon on the table and sat back, putting his hands in his lap under the table. Gen moved his own hands under the table, and surreptitiously hooked Mika's pinky with his. It was nothing more than a comforting move, but Mika’s previously shaking hands seemed to calm almost immediately under Gen’s touch.
He looked directly at Donovan, his confidence bolstered, and said, “He’s my stepfather.”
Donovan sat back in his chair, his meal forgotten. He said nothing for several moments, letting the wheels in his mind turn as every page of Calhoun’s rapsheet flipped through his mind. This man was a piece of shit, in and out of jail for domestic battery and child abuse. He had been charged for child molestation of a nine year old boy several years ago but had been released on a technicality. He had heard the calls that came through dispatch that involved Calhoun beating the shit out of one of his kids. And it had only ever been just the one kid.
“So, it’s you, then,” he finally said.
Mika nodded, his eyes lowered. Gen looked at him, not sure exactly what his dad meant.
“Why won’t your mom press charges, son?”
“Because of the kids,” Mika responded. “Because she’s scared of him. Because ‘he’s only like this when he’s drunk’.” His hand clenched and Gen moved his own hand to cover Mika’s before his pinky became a casualty. “You’ve heard all the excuses, Detective, my mom’s are no different.”
Gen didn’t take his eyes off of Mika and this did not go unnoticed by either Kana or Donovan. He squeezed Mika’s hand, trying to convey whatever comfort and support he could in that one action.
“That’s the sad fact of DV,” Donovan nodded. “There’s always something hanging over the head of the victim by the perp. Not to mention that even if she did press charges, he wouldn’t stay locked up long, especially if he makes bail. Then he just comes out even more pissed off, as you well know.
“Does your mom know where you are?” Kana asked.
Mika nodded. “She trusts Gen. She can’t say that about the rest of my friends.”
“Why not?” Gen asked.
“Honestly?” Mika said with a bemused grin. “Because they’re not scary enough.”
Kana nearly spit her soup out over the table as Gen’s face went completely blank. Mika laughed so hard he started coughing.
Donovan had to bite his tongue so as not to laugh at his son’s expression.
“I have no idea how to take that,” Gen muttered. Under the table, Mika’s hand flipped inside of Gen’s, their fingers interlacing. He hoped that with that one simple move, Gen knew that the feelings he had weren’t one-sided. He smiled shyly and went back to eating his soup with his free hand. Gen leaned back in his chair and the conversation shifted once again.
After dinner, Kana stole Mika away to play with his hair and get to know him a little better. Gen joined his father out on the porch.
“I like him,” his father said. “He’s a nice kid.”
Gen rolled his eyes. “He’s not a kid, Dad.”
“I’m old, you’re all kids.” He grinned at his son as Gen leaned up against the wall, his eyes staring out over the backyard and through the brick wall, his jaw clenched, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I had a feeling,” he said quietly. “But I didn’t push it. There were signs, I just…I didn’t want to make him feel like he had to tell me.”
Don nodded. “The sad truth of the matter is, Mika’s been a punching bag for that asshole for years.”
Gen’s eyes drifted down to his father.
Don leaned forward in his chair, his lit cigarette dangling between his knees. He sighed. “I called Jo after you left to pick up Mika.”
“Dad–”
“Mika’s been a shield for his mother since he was a kid, taking all the abuse. On every single call, the report was DV on a child, and then later a teenager, never her or the little kids, always Mika. He never let it happen to anyone else. He would rather it be him that gets it than them. The worst part is, Calhoun doesn’t leave marks. At least not any that can be seen. This is the first time I’ve seen anything visible, or even this bad. I don’t know what set him off, but Mika could have died because of it.” He looked up at his son who was shaking with rage. “Calhoun nearly crushed his windpipe. His throat is going to be bruised for days.”
Gen gritted his teeth. “I’ll kill him,” he hissed.
“Eugene, you will do no such thing.”
“You said yourself–” Gen started to yell.
“Yes, I did,” Don said in the same level tone. “But I’m not going to lose my son to a prison cell over a murder committed in the heat of rage.” Gen looked down at him, eyes blazing. “Do you understand what I’m saying to you?” Gen’s grip on his arms loosened and he did his best to calm down under the patient gaze of his father. Don flicked his cigarette into the flower pot that contained the rest of his dead butts and stood up, putting his hand on Gen’s shoulder. They were about the same height so looking Gen in the eye was no issue.
“What have I always told you?”
Gen sighed and looked off into the darkness. “Strength means nothing if it’s only used to hurt the weak.”
“You’re strong, Gen, very strong. You’re also a lot bigger than Mika is. If you ever have the misfortune of running into Calhoun, you’ll see he’s also a big guy. Use what you have to protect Mika, not cause him any more pain.”
“I’d never do that,” Gen said, turning his eyes back to his dad. “You didn’t see how he was when I picked him up, Dad. I’ve never seen him like that before and it fucking killed me. I will never let that monster hurt him again. I can’t.”
“Unfortunately, you can’t stop it,” Don said, sadly. “None of us can. We can only put a temporary pause on it, that’s all.” He dropped his hand. “Jo has given the OK for Mika to stay over tonight but he has to return home tomorrow.”
“But what about–”
“He took off when Mika was passed out.”
It’s been two hours…he’s probably having dinner with his family…
Gen’s eyes closed as the realization dawned on him. “Fuck,” he whispered. “I know why he got hurt.”
“If you blame yourself, I’ll kick your ass from here to Kingdom Come.” Don said firmly. “Men like that don’t need a reason to hurt someone weaker than they are.”
“He’s no man,” Gen snarled.
Don shook his head. “Nope, but you are. So protect what’s precious to you while it’s in your hands.” He grinned. “And before your sister steals him from you.” He winked at Gen and opened the sliding glass door.
Gen stood there a moment, mouth opened. Did his dad just tell him…? He looked inside to see Mika staring at him, pleading for help. Kana had braided his hair and was fawning over him like he was a new puppy.
“Oh for fuck’s sake…” Gen walked into the house and slammed the door behind him. “What the hell did you do to him?”
“Oh come on, it’s not that bad.”
“I’ve never had my hair braided before,” Mika said. “It feels weird.”
“He looks super cute, right?” Kana gushed. She pulled his head into her breasts and his face went red.
“Alright, that’s it!” Gen grabbed Mika’s hand and his bag from the floor and pulled him up the stairs. “I’m getting him away from you before you decide to dress him up like a Barbie doll.”
“I would never!”
“Like hell you wouldn’t!”
“I dressed you up one time!”
Gen halted at the top of the stairs and slowly turned to Mika, his eyes darkened. “If you tell anyone she said that, I will kill you.”
Mika choked back a laugh and made a zipper motion over his mouth. Gen pulled him along the rest of the way up and down the hall to one of only two doors on this floor. He opened it and they both entered. Gen walked over to his desk and set Mika’s bag down.
“You can close the door,” he said, not turning around. He went over to the wall where a large stereo system was set up and pushed the power button on.
Mika closed the door behind him, taking in the huge room. It was crammed full of anime merchandise, music items, his desk, a huge bed, a gaming chair, a computer, and clothes and a huge assortment of hoodies thrown everywhere. He suddenly realized he had no reason to worry about the cleanliness of his own house. Although, he did notice this was the messiest room he had seen in the entire place.
Gen sat on the edge of the bed, a remote in his hands. He pushed a few buttons and Man With A Mission came on over the soundbar that was attached to the top of the wall. He tossed the remote to the side and leaned back on his hands, crossing his ankles.
“Welcome to my loft,” he said, grinning. “I acquired it in the takeover. You like?”
Mika nodded. “Let your freak flag fly,” he muttered. He continued looking around, taking in all the posters and figures that filled the shelves. He also saw CD’s from bands he only recognized from anime, scattered among more Western groups like Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park, Bad Omens, and Falling in Reverse.
Gen grinned. “I like what I like,” he shrugged. He leaned forward and folded his hands loosely between his knees, his smile fading. “Tell me something.”
“Hm.”
“He did that because I was there, didn’t he?”
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