[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

His father had barely held back the previous night. It had been really hard to move this morning. And he knew his movements had been a little stiffer than usual.
[break][break]
Most of the bruises were easy to hide behind clothing.
[break][break]
But not the bruise on the side of his face.
[break][break]
There was a big bruise on the left side of his face that stretched from his left temple to his cheek. From where his father had thrown him into a wall.
[break][break]
At least he didn't have a black eye this time.
[break][break]
So maybe he could say he had run into a tree or something. It was entirely possible. And it wasn't like anyone would know any different.
[break][break]
Definitely couldn't use his normal fighting excuse.
[break][break]
Letting out a huff, he finished getting dressed, wincing slightly as one of his bruises pulled. He grumbled under his breath about getting carried away before giving himself a once-over in the mirror. Making a face at his reflection, he sighed. He supposed that was the best he would do.
[break][break]
He started to walk towards the door and stopped.
[break][break]
He couldn't go out walking the way he was.
[break][break]
Gritting his teeth, he practiced walking until he was walking normally.
[break][break]
Once he was satisfied with his walk, he checked the time. "Good, he had more than enough time to get to his destination."
[break][break]
After making sure his father was nowhere to be found, he made his way out of the house. Once outside, he felt he could breathe a sigh of relief.
[break][break]
Once he had enjoyed being free for a few seconds, he made his way to the battle cafe. It was always his first stop upon leaving the house.
[break][break]
He reached his destination right on time. Not a minute before, not a minute after. Just like he normally did.
[break][break]
Though upon entering, he realized that the sight of someone occupying the usual empty seat that was beside his usual seat meant this day wasn't just going to be a normal day. Especially when the guy called him over.
[break][break]
Shit, how did this guy know his name? He didn't know him. He would remember if he had seen anyone like him.
[break][break]
Realizing he was just standing there, he recovered his composure and made his way over, seating himself in his usual seat.
[break][break]
"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked, more out of politeness than because he really wanted to help.[break] Nikita Sokolov

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

For most, being scrutinized would be uncomfortable. He was used to it, however. If it wasn't the bruises that drew people's attention, it was something else, usually his attitude. He generally bounced between indifference and being snarky, not giving any thought beforehand about voicing his opinions aloud.
[break][break]
With that kind of attitude, it's no wonder people bought the lies he fed them about all the fights he got into, all without checking the facts. And for all that, he was sure he had simply been written off as some kind of delinquent.
[break][break]
Taking a sip of his own black coffee, he studied the man in front of him. Something told him this guy wasn't just your average guy.
[break][break]
The mention of his grandparents was unexpected. He had been expecting anything from the guy being a business associate of his father to him wanting to sell him something.
[break][break]
Not him being sent here by his grandparents.
[break][break]
"I told them I was fine."
[break][break]
He was not fine.
[break][break]
Not like he would ever admit it though.
[break][break]
Before the older male's laptop closed, he caught a glimpse of what he assumed was some kind of poisonous plant. Not a camera recording him, good.
[break][break]
Was he paranoid?
[break][break]
Maybe a bit.
[break][break]
No telling what his dad would do if he thought his grandparents knew something.
[break][break]
"I don't have a lot of money, usually what I do have is spent on coffee. Besides, it's hard to find some concealer that works with my complexion."
[break][break]
That was only half of it. He, at this point, could apply basic first aid to any injury his father gave him with his eyes closed. However, applying concealer in such a way that it wasn't overly obvious he was hiding something escaped him.
[break][break]
If the older male expected a reaction out of him at the mention of his father, he would be disappointed. While his natural instinct was to lie, claim he had run into a tree or had gotten caught up in a fight, he knew this guy wouldn't be so easily fooled.
[break][break]
"I can handle whatever he throws at me," he said.
[break][break]
He was too scared of his father to admit the abuse to authorities and too proud to admit he needed help or to get away.
[break][break]
He was strong. No matter what his father said, he wasn't weak. Whatever his father threw at him, he would handle it like a man.
[break][break]
And men don't run from fights.[break] Nikita Sokolov

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

Okay, so using fine wasn't the best idea. It was kind of an automated response, after all. But what else was he supposed to say?
[break][break]
“I did tell them I was well enough one time, but that only ended up with them asking me what I meant by that. Like it wasn’t obvious,” he huffed. Seriously, talking about his feelings wasn’t something he cared for. In fact, he was still in the stage where talking about feelings was awkward.
[break][break]
And at least he tried to answer. Or maybe it was just that he wasn’t stupid enough to try and tell them it was none of their business. Because yeah, that would go over so well.
[break][break]
Yeah, pride was part of it, but there was more to it than that. Something he kept hidden even more than the fact his father abused him. Part of me felt he deserved it. His father was right about one thing: if it wasn’t for them, his mother would still be alive.
[break][break]
“Even if I didn’t have pride, I wouldn’t be in any hurry to get out. My father isn’t to be taken lightly. As unfortunate as it may be, my father is cunning, manipulative, and charismatic. If I didn’t know firsthand what kind of guy he was, even I would have trouble believing him to be capable of doing the things he has done. We meet here because this is the only place I know of where he wouldn’t have eyes on me,” he explained, keeping his voice low to maintain the lowered volume he had been maintaining. After all, he didn’t want everyone in the cafe to overhear their conversation.
[break][break]
It was not the very subtle taunt about his money handling; he had to resist the annoyed glare he wanted to send his way. “I don’t have a job. My father gives me money to get me out of the way, but it’s not much. Though perhaps using it to buy a few cups of coffee isn’t the best idea, I don’t have any other means of keeping myself from falling asleep.”
[break][break]
Sure, preventing yourself from sleeping wasn’t entirely healthy. But considering the type of person his father was, he was reluctant to be so unguarded around him. Not that being awake around his father really helped him much.
[break][break]
As he pushed some money toward him, he looked down at it. He so badly wanted to quip that becoming a prostitute probably wasn’t the best way to get out of his situation. However, his dislike of wasting time warred with that, and he bit the inside of his cheek to prevent those words from escaping.
[break][break]
"Fine, let’s pretend in this scenario that my father is not very bright... If given the chance, I would take it. One would have to be a fool not to take a shot at freedom,” he commented with a small shrug.
[break][break]
He didn’t admit that he had already tried to get out once before. Well, running away would be more likely. It could probably be implied that he had already tried to escape, though.[break] Nikita Sokolov

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

At the question, he frowned. “When I was younger, I admitted that I still held out hope that my father would change. By the time I gave up on that happening, it was too late. My father became more cautious when I was older. No mail I sent out was sent out before he looked it over; he keeps a close eye on my correspondence with my grandparents,” he said with a small shrug, a bit uncomfortable with talking so much. I’m sure his throat actually hurts from talking so much. Even so, he needed him to understand a few things.
[break][break]
“People around here are either gullible or don’t want to see what’s in front of them. The people around here will believe whatever lie I tell them, mostly that I have a bleeding heart and can’t turn a blind eye to someone who needs help, which usually ends up with me standing up to bullies. That’s the lie that I usually feed people.”
[break][break]
It was actually pretty annoying how easily that lie was believed. Very few people questioned it. Seriously, you would think people would wonder why adults weren’t doing more to remedy a bullying problem if that was the lie he told everyone. But he supposed that doing something like that was actually something he would do if he didn’t already have too much on his plate.
[break][break]
While he was in no way getting beat up on by other kids, it was true that he was a protective person. It was also true that he couldn’t turn a blind eye to someone who needed help, even if it was something as simple as helping an old lady cross the street.
[break][break]
He had learned from a young age that the best way to make a lie believable was to have some truth in the lie that one made up. Though he never actually admitted that that was what he was doing, to him, it would be like admitting a weakness.
[break][break]
Of course, he didn’t like the way things were. If there was one thing he hated the most about his situation, it was lying. “Of course not; my father is good at tracking thoughts,” he said, struggling to keep his voice at a lowered volume. "Look, contrary to belief, I haven’t just taken it all these years. I tried to get out when I was ten. I planned it all out in my head. I would go on a Pokémon journey, win some battles, and save up on my money until I had enough to get a plane ticket or something. I set out in the dead of night, but I didn’t get very far before my father tracked me down and dragged me back home.”
[break][break]
He hadn’t tried again after that. The beating he had gotten for that little stunt had made sure of that. If he wasn’t feeling so defensive about what he had been through, he wouldn’t have breathed a word of his failed escape attempt, mainly because it was something he was quite bitter about.
[break][break]
Seriously, where had he gone wrong? Had one of the neighbors seen him sneak out and tip off his father? That was the only thing he could think of, unless his father had already had eyes on him on the assumption that he would make a run for it.
[break][break]
His expression became thoughtful upon hearing the question. What was really keeping him here? Obviously, his parents had been tipped off that something was wrong. He hadn’t acted well enough to get them to think everything was alright. It had been harder to lie to them than it had been for everyone else; perhaps that was what had caused him to unintentionally slip up.
[break][break]
Now he had the opportunity to get out, like he had always dreamed. Well, the part of him that hadn’t believed he deserved everything he got anyway. The part that believed in the bitter remarks of his father blaming him for the death of his mother.
[break][break]
“Fine, but only because I know my grandparents will rest easier knowing I’m out of that house. I still have to prepare, though, so I still have to head back, even if it’s temporary,” he said at last, letting out a sigh.[break] Nikita Sokolov

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

“It was a nice thought at a time before I truly realized just how deep his hatred was. It’s not as simple as him having anger issues. My mother died giving birth to me, and he can’t get over the fact I survived when she didn’t. Just being thought of as a killer hurts worse off. I can take the beatings; it’s the words that cut deep, as silly as that is.”
[break][break]
Seriously, it was just some words. Was he really that much of a crybaby? In reality, he knew he hadn’t really cried over anything since he was like six or seven. That had been around the time he realized crying didn’t actually solve anything and often made things worse.
[break][break]
“Probably not, but it’s not like I have a cellphone,” he pointed out, almost like he was reading the others thoughts. Or maybe it was easy to figure out that’s where someone’s line of thinking would go. “My father wouldn’t waste that kind of money on me. And he’s confident enough that I can lie my way out of a situation that may have people looking closely at him,” he told him.
[break][break]
That, and he was pretty sure his dad had eyes on him. Sure, his dad wasn’t the nicest towards him behind closed doors, but he was charismatic enough to have garnered some friends.
[break][break]
Glaring down at the table, he let out a huff. “You’ll be surprised at how many people turn the other way if you throw enough money at them. That’s besides the point,” he said with a shake of his head. “I didn’t even make it to the next town. Perhaps a neighbor saw me and mentioned it to my father, or even back then he had eyes on me. I sometimes notice people following me; they always seem to disappear when I come in here.”
[break][break]
Almost like they didn’t want to be seen. Who would’ve figured?
[break][break]
He noticed way more than his father gave him credit for. He could actually shake his father's friends or whoever they were to him if he really wanted to, but that would tip his father off that he was smarter than he seemed. No, it was actually best to just play it safe until he actually had a plan. And now it seemed he finally had one. Or at least the beginning of one.
[break][break]
Simply nodding, he downed the rest of his coffee before throwing the cup away. Making sure he had everything he was about to make his exit when the older male spoke once more. “Don’t remind me, not looking forward to admitting what’s been going on,” he said with a small sigh before leaving and making his way back home.
[break][break]
Once there, he would make sure his father was still gone before making a beeline for his room. Once in his room he would pull up some loose floor boards where he had stored things just in case he got the chance to run again and would gather it together.[break] Nikita Sokolov

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]