Into The Future

Atticus was thankfully the only one home when Serafino arrived, bounding downstairs to answer the door. He smirked openly at the other boy as the heavy french doors swung open, giving him a little wave. "Well, well, well. The infamous Serafino Giovanni is at my front door. Never thought this day would come. Get inside. It's cold as fuck outside."

Shutting the doors behind Serafino, he lead him through the entrance hall and up the wide staircase. The hallway here was wide, doors running down either side. They went half way down before Atticus lead the other boy into his bedroom, a massive room with stone walls and a polished wooden floor, everything dark and gothic.

"So," Atti said, the moment he shut his door. "I heard Auggie got the shit smacked out of him for taking off with you!"

Serafino had prepared for a healthy dose of teasing over his choice of partners. Or for the possibility that Atticus had found out about his way out of character gentle treatment of Augusten two nights before. He hadn't exactly prepared for that little tidbit, because he hadn't really expected anything of the sort. So when he opened his mouth to respond with a smartassed comment he had to take pause while his brain switched gears to process what he'd heard.

"He got what now?" He asked, wrinkling his nose. "When the fuck did this happen?"

"When ever he got back from your place! Uncle 'Li was so pissed off, man," Atticus said, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "He found out about Augusten skipping school, and he was furious that he left when he was grounded. Hit him right in the fucking face, you should see it. It left a bruise and everything. Then my dad and uncle 'Li got into a screaming match over Augusten, and Auggie ran out of dinner in tears!"

Shaking his head, Atticus shrugged one shoulder and studied Serafino. "You've hung out with him twice, and he's spent the night at your place twice. I saw the hickies, dude, what the fuck is up? What happened to your 'only fuck them once' rule? Cause that makes twice. With Augusten! OH OH! That's not all either, by the way. Today he didn't show up at Bean Town to work, he stayed at school late and didn't call home. Eli left James in charge of the coffee shop so he could meet Auggie when he got home."

Serafino was sending a text message before Atticus was even finished telling him Eli had found out Augusten skipped school.

are u home? and are u allowed to go to attis house?

He snapped his phone closed and folded his arms, leaning back against the wall.

"Who nominated you as the Seri's Laws enforcer?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously. Since when do you care what I do behind closed doors?"

Atticus smirked and shrugged again. "Since you're doing it with my cousin," he said simply, leaning back against the headboard of his bed. "You totally banged him. Twice."

He leaned forward when he heard Seri's phone beep. "That him? Awwww."

im home. i can come to attis. gotta walk though.

then start walkin.

He didn't mean it to sound so harsh, but he'd make it up to the guy with sour patch kids later.

"Yeah, it's him. And yeah, I banged him twice," Serafino answered, rolling his eyes. "So where's the issue? Cause I ain't seein' it."

on my way....

"Well, what makes him special? Why does he transcend the ever important one fuck rule?" Atticus asked, kicking his legs and grinning. "Come on. Do you like him? What's up with this situation?"

Outside the gate swung open and Augusten started up the icy driveway, burrowed inside the hoodie that Serafino had given him. He let himself in, carefully removing his shoes in the entrance hall, taking his time.

"No, they freak me out," Augusten admitted, taking off the scarf and hoodie and then his shirt. He quickly turned around so his back was facing Serafino, not wanting the other boy to see the bruises all over his ribs and chest, and down over his abdomen.

Sliding off his jeans, Augusten stood there facing the sink in just his boxers, arms crossed over his chest. He bit his bottom lip and glanced around a little. "Your house...it's nice," he said softly, trying to make diversionary conversation.

"Yeah. I mean it's...I dunno. It's kind of big, it always feels empty. And it's got so much open land around it." Serafino made a face, adding the bubbles and rising to get the towels and washcloths. "I've been living in the condo in the city since I was fourteen, when I started high school. I begged Ma and Papa to let me, so I could go to public school and be able to live somewhere where there was just...stuff and people. But it's nice to come out here now and then."

He set the towels and cloths down on the side of the tub and glanced over at Augusten.

"...so how bad is it?" He asked softly. "You don't have to show me if you don't want to, I can leave the room."

Augusten bit his lip, taking in a deep breath. "I'm ashamed," he said softly, simply. But he turned around. Serafino was being so nice to him, and taking care of him. He knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he didn't have to feel that way.

He moved his arms down to his sides, staring straight down at the tile floor under his feet. He knew it was bad. He knew it without even looking in the mirror or at Serafino's reaction. He could feel it, every single bruise, every time he breathed.

Serafino managed not to wince. He gave a little sigh and crossed the room, taking a closer look at the bruises.

"You don't hafta be ashamed," He said after a moment, taking Augusten's hands in his own and looking at the other boy's face instead. Or, rather, the top of his head, since he was staring down. "Really. You got beat up a little. Well, okay, you got beat up a lot. Nothing to be ashamed of...you saw how Ma went at me with that magazine, and I just stood there and took it. And I'd probably stand there and take it if she hit me with her fists. Kids don't fight back against parents, even when parents get outta hand. Now c'mon, look up and let me see your face. No reason for you to stare at your feet the whole time you're here."

"Yeah but everybody knows parents shouldn't hit kids like he hit me," Augusten whispered, peeking up at Serafino. He bit his bottom lip, letting out a shaky breath. "Um...do you want to um, take a bath with me?"

He wanted to look down again but refrained, staring Serafino on the eye. He just looked at him, like he was searching for something, his own eyes very open and very honest, nothing to hide at all.

Here was that dangerous territory again. The appropriate answer, of course, was 'no'. The appropriate course of action was to leave the other boy to his bath and go make sure the ice packs were available for when he finished. Leaning in to kiss Augusten softly wasn't anywhere near the list of appropriate responses, but it was the one he picked anyway.

"Tub's almost full, go ahead and get in," he murmured when he pulled away. "Lemme just go grab us some PJs, I'll be right back."

Augusten blushed at the kiss and bit his bottom lip, doing as he was told. He slid off his boxers and climbed slowly into the bath tub, sinking down into the hot water. He whimpered and closed his eyes, taking some deep breaths.

He wasn't sure anymore exactly what the hell was going on. He wasn't sure how he'd ended up on this situation or how he'd ended up in this place, but he felt better now. Safer, like a weight was lifted, and that was good.

Leaning back against the ledge of the tub, Augusten opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling, just thinking it all over. He did not, however, come up with any answers.

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