daddy

Part 9

‘Thwack!’

“Ouch, that hurt!”

“I warned you, now out of the bloody kitchen before I do it again and there is nothing left for dinner.” Will chuckled exasperatedly as Angel quickly walked out of the kitchen rubbing his arse grumbling “That’s not what a wooden spoon is for and I was just taste testing,”

Will’s eyes shot up. “Taste testing. That was not taste testing.”

“Yes it was,” Angel said defensibly, from the kitchen doorway.

“No, it wasn’t, taste testing is where you taste a small amount, not scoff half the bloody food.” Will chuckled as he stirred the pasta.

Angel smiled seductively at his boy as he took a small step into the kitchen.

Will grinned cheekily and raised the wooden spoon threateningly, “I’m warning you,”

Angel pouted. “I was just going to sort out plates and that.”

Will raised an eyebrow, giving Angel a ‘yeah right’ look.

“Honest.” Angel took another step into the kitchen.

Will suddenly spun round cursing as the pasta began bubbling over. Angel smiled and used the distraction to slide up behind his boy, burying his chin in his neck, nuzzling as he slipped his arms around the thin waist and pulled his boy in close. Will melted into the strong arms, while he stirred the pasta.

“What are you doing in the kitchen again?” Will chuckled as Angel kissed and nibbled his neck.

“I’m distracting the cook.”

“It will be your fault if it’s ruined.”

“You can’t ruin spaghetti bolognaise it’s just not possible.” Angel slowly began kissing his boy’s neck.

“True,” Will agreed tilting his head to the side to give his lover better access to his neck. “But you can burn it, if the cook gets too distracted.”

Angel sighed as he released his boy and began looking around. “Don’t suppose Mum bought any wine?”

“There’s a couple of bottles of red in that cupboard.” Will pointed.

Angel rubbed his hands together. “Good old Mum, always remembers the essentials. You want some?” Angel asked unthinking as he read the label on the bottle.

Will looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“What?” Angel asked

“Nothing.” Will stuttered, quickly turning back to stir dinner.

Angel nodded to himself thoughtfully as he walked over, cupped his boy’s chin and whispered in his ear “In this flat there are no rules, no laws, if you want a drink have one.”

Will smiled. “In that case, I would love a one.”

Angel smiled and set about opening the bottle and pouring two large glasses of wine.

Will took his with a thoughtful look. “To our first home cooked meal,” he said solemnly looking Angel in the eye.

“Home?”

“Yeah,” Will whispered wistfully, “I think I am finally home.”

Angel smiled sadly and drank deep. Will mentally gave himself a shake, pushing back the tears that were threatening to fall. “Now out of the kitchen you, before you decide to start eating again,” he ordered, quickly breaking the tension.

“Fine I’m going.” Angel surrendered holding his hands up and quickly snagging the bottle of wine on his way out.

As soon as Angel was out of the kitchen Will fell forwards heavily, bracing himself against the counter and taking deep breaths. After the wave of pain subsided Will dug into his pocket and fumbled with the pot of pills trying to open them.

“Nothing is going to spoil tonight,” he muttered as he popped two pills into his mouth and swallowed them down with a gulp of wine, making a face as the wine hit his taste buds. Taking a deep breath Will slid the pills back into his pocket and began dishing up dinner.

“It’s ready,” he yelled

“At last,” Angel said seeming to appear out of nowhere “I’m dying of hunger here.”

Will chuckled and handed Angel his plate, picked up his own along with his glass and going into the sitting room.

Will stood and took in the sight before him, Angel was lying on a pile of cushions scattered by the fire. Will smiled as he carefully bent down, placing the plate and wine on the floor before slowly laying down opposite Angel.

“Thought we were going to sit up at the table?”

“Decided it was more fun this way, besides I didn’t fancy moving that lot,” Angel said indicating the table covered in piles of papers, books and just stuff.

“Thank you.”

Angel looked at his boy in a knowing way then broke the gaze saying happily, “What for? You cooked, and can I just say, this is really, really good.”

Will smiled knowing that Angel had purposefully misunderstood his words and settled down to eat, drink, talk and laugh most of the evening away.

***

“Your drunk,” Angel accused.

“S’not, I’z just… I’z just a bit piddled.” Will laughed, as he drained the last of his wine, Angel reached for the bottle and refilled the glass.

Angel snorted. “Yeah right.”

“Oi, you’z s’not soba either.” Will giggled

Angel smiled and looked at the two almost empty bottles of wine. “No, but at least I can still talk.”

“I’z can still talk,” Will said defensively while trying to balance a spoon on the end of his nose without much success.

“Not without slurring you words you can’t,” Angel pointed out.

Will laid there spoon in hand waving it pointedly at Angel, pouting and trying to think of a really good come back, gave up and had another drink instead.

“You’z know’s what zhis stuff ain’t bad,” Will said indicating the wine.

Angel laughed, his boy was so adorable. “No, it’s no…” A knock at the door interrupted him. “You expecting anyone?” He asked as he looked at his watch, 8:30 p.m.

Will just gave him a ‘Duh’ look then said, “Could be Cordy.”

Angel quickly got up and wobbled. “Probably,” he said as he walked towards the door in a not so straight line.

Will snickered. “You’z may be able to talk but you’z sure az hell can’t walk in’z a straight line.”

Angel began opening the door and he stuck his tongue out at his boy, making Will crease up in laughter “Iz zhat the best you’z can do?”

“Well, let’s see if you can walk in a straight line.” Angel pouted at his boy as he opened the door.

‘Should have left the chain on.’ Angel mentally scolded himself as he looked at a middle aged man wearing glasses, standing before him.

“Can I help?” Angel asked, already having some idea who this was before him and carefully shifting his weight, pulled himself to his full height and put his left foot directly behind the door.

‘Shit should have checked the spy hole as well Dad is so going to kill me.’

“Hello, I am looking for William,” The man said politely.

“And you would be?”

“His father, Giles,” The man said extending his hand.

Angel looked at the hand and wondered what to do, should he shake it? He would rather tear the arm off and beat the man with it for all the hurt and pain he’s caused his boy. Angel took a deep breath calming himself. “I’m sorry, but he doesn’t want to see you,” he said, as he started to close the door.

Giles pushed the door, making sure that his foot was in the way so Angel would be unable to close it. “Just let me talk to him,” Giles pleaded.

“No, please move away from the door,” Angel asked as politely as he could, while his temper roared inside him.

‘How dare he come here and demand to see my boy after what he did. Must calm down, either that or punch him in the face. Deep breath count to ten…one…two, now just piss off you bastard.’

Angel felt a hand on his shoulder, twisted his head and saw Will standing behind him. Angel gave him a questioning look.

“Let him in, luv,” Will said quietly.

Angel could feel his eyes bugging out of his head. “What?” he asked his face and voice full of confusion.

‘Let him in? Has he gone mad? Not going to happen, never going to let anyone near my boy again.’

“Let him in,” Will said quietly.

“Why?” Angel’s confusion clear.

“Because I’m asking.”

Angel stood back from the door and opened it. Giles slowly walked into the room, Will took a step away crossed his arms and stood staring at the man before him, feeling suddenly very sober.

“William,” Giles said as he entered the flat.

“Dad.”

“You look good.”

Will huffed. “What do you want?” he asked

“To take you home.”

‘Not going to happen you prick, why don’t you just go away and leave my boy alone.’

Angel started to close the front door, not knowing what else to do.

“Keep it open luv, he won’t be here long.”

Angel looked at his boy and nodded in understanding.

‘Thank god, he just wants to talk to his dad, what the hell is going on in that mind of his.’

Giles was looking round the front room, suddenly he leaned in close to Will and sniffed. Will instinctively tensed and looked at the floor knowing that eye contact would get him into trouble.

“You’ve been drinking?” Giles said in astonishment. “Wait till you mother hears about this, she will throw a fit, now go get your stuff, we are leaving,” he ordered.

Will stood there looking at the floor trying to work out why exactly he had even entertained the idea of allowing his father into the flat and near him. Slowly Will raised his eyes and looked at he man before him, wondering why he had been afraid of him all these years; he looked tired, worn, old, small. He saw Angel move towards his Dad, and shook his head, Angel backed off, but not as far as before.

Will looked down at his feet and chuckled, knowing he must be insane or that the whole word was and he was the only sane one left. “Let me get this straight, you want me to come home?”

Giles looked at his boy. “Of course, I want you to come home.”

“Why?” Will asked.

“Because you are my son and that’s where you belong, not here with this man getting drunk and doing god knows what.” Giles’s voice was getting angry.

“Right, I’ll just go get my stuff then, shall I?”

Giles nodded, Angel stood there unsure what the hell was going on.

‘No way is he walking out of that door with that man, even if I have to tie him to the bed…nope not thinking of that…spread eagle…hands tied…feet…STOP IT concentrate your boy is about to walk away from you.’

Will began to turn towards the bedroom, Angel took a step towards him, unsure what he would do but knowing he had to do something. Suddenly Will swung round and started laughing in his fathers face.

“Do I look stupid? Or do I have idiot tattooed across my forehead?” he asked his voice cold and full of anger, “Cause I’m beginning to wonder.”

Angel looked at his boy and shuddered.

“What?” Giles sputtered, obviously shocked at his son’s reaction.

“What? Is that the best you can do, come on old man, I know that brain of yours isn’t that slow, haven’t you got it yet? I’m not going anywhere with you ever again,” Will spat, his voice dripping with hatred.

Giles took a step toward Will, placing a hand on his shoulder, and Angel saw the tremor run through his boy. “Don’t touch me.” Will’s voice was no more than a whisper but it was stone cold, full of contempt, hatred and disgust, Giles instinctively pulled his hand away as if it had been burnt. “You don’t ever touch me again.”

“Get your stuff now son or I will drag you out of here regardless of how it looks.”

“No, you won’t,” Will said hands on hips, eyes challenging.

“If I don’t take you home now, I will call the police and they will drag you back, especially after I tell them that this man,” Giles stated, indicated Angel “has been giving alcohol to a minor.”

‘Oops maybe he does have a point.’

Will lost it and started pacing slowly back and forth screaming, “Oh that’s funny Dad, so let me see if I’m understanding you right, I’m old enough for you to fuck my arse on a regular basis but not old enough to drink?”

Giles’s eyes bugged. “I do no such thing,” he spluttered.

“Really? Cause I have these things called nightmares that are telling me that you do.” Will stopped pacing before his father and leaned in invading his personal space and said in a sick voice. “I wonder if I was given a full medical what the doctor would say. I wonder if they did some x-rays how many breaks and fractures they would be able to spot and what would they make of my current condition?” Will took a step back and looked at his father saw a look of incomprehension on his face, and threw back his head stared at the ceiling and laughed. “Oh, right, Mum forgot to tell you.” He looked directly at his father. “She gave me a beating before I left, my arse is covered in slashes and cuts, most of which are healed in case you were wondering, but they sure would take some explaining if the police were involved.”

Giles took off his glasses and began to polish them. “Why did she do it?” he asked quietly.

Will snickered. “Since when does Mum need a reason to do anything.”

Giles replaced his glasses. “It doesn’t change anything, I still want you home.”

“No,” Will said forcefully.

“Please Will,” Giles begged.

Will looked at his father and something clicked in his brain, something that had been nagging at him for years. “You cowardly bastard. You want me home so she can take it out on me rather than you, bloody hell…” Will began to pace again.

“William language”

“I knew you two were fucked…”

“Language,” Giles scolded.

“Up but this…this is…” Will stared at his father lost for words.

Giles just looked at his son.

Will took a deep breath and asked, “Am I right?”

Giles nodded.

Will ran his hands through his hair. “Why didn’t you just leave? Get out? Get away from her?”

Giles sighed looking at the floor. “And leave you there, with her?”

“Oh and you fucking my arse on a regular basis didn’t have anything to do with your decision to stay?” Will asked his voice dripping with sarcasm and pain.

Will looked at the floor took a deep breath. “You could have taken me with you,” he said quietly, “I could have coped with the fucking, it’s the beatings that I can’t stand.”

“I had no choice,” Giles said so quietly Will almost missed it.

“What?” Will demanded

Giles looked up and stared at his boy, so beautiful, so full of confidence. “I…I had no choice.”

Will stared at him, mouth open in astonishment. “What do you mean you had no choice? You had to stay or you had to fuck me because from what I can remember, no one was holding a gun to your head.”

Giles sighed and ran his fingers through his hair “Have you ever wondered why you were never allowed to move the furniture around in the bedroom?” Giles asked.

The question came so out of left field that Will began to wonder if his father was insane. “What are you on about?”

“Think about it, what happened that time you did move your room around?”

Will looked thoughtful staring at the floor. “Mum gave me a hiding I wouldn’t forget in a hurry.” Quietly he asked, “Why, she do that?”

“Because you covered up one of the cameras.”

Will’s head shot up, had he just walked into an alternate reality or did his Dad just say that there had been cameras in his bedroom. “Explain this to me because I’m having a bit of trouble getting my head around it.”

Sighing Giles looked around the room. “Can we sit down and close the door?” Giles asked, “and maybe have some privacy.” The last was said directly to Angel.

‘What the hell is going on? Camera…ummm…close font door, yep, that’s about the only thing I’ve heard tonight that does make any sense.’

“Angel stays,” Will said firmly.

Angel closed the door and walked into the room, making it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere and stood near his boy, calm and collected. His mind, on the other hand, was a mess. What the hell was going on?

“William, I do not wish to discuss our private life in front of strangers,” Giles said forcefully

“Tough. Angel stays. If he leaves, I leave.”

Giles nodded, walked towards the couch and sat down. Will turned, looked at Angel and smiled a sad smile of thanks. He needed to know what was going on and the only person with the answers was his father. Will walked over to the couch and looked at his father. “Okay, you have my attention, now talk.”

“Sit down, Will,” Giles said.

Will chuckled. “Can’t sit, my arse hurts from where she lashed me with the belt,” he spat his voice full of pain.

Giles flinched but nodded in understanding. “You remember when you were thirteen? That first time when Mum went away?”

Will nodded too scared to talk, as memories flooded his head.

Giles stared into space and quietly said, “That was the first time I took you into my bed.” Will watched in horror as his fathers voice broke and silent tears began to roll down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry…I didn’t want to…I’m so sorry…” Giles stuttered.

“What are you talking about?” Will whispered.

Giles looked at his son. “I made a choice, it was either me or some bloke your mother found. I tried I really did, but she was adamant this bloke would pay her a fortune to have you first.”

Will’s world crumbled, he felt his knees give way, but he never met the floor. Angel caught him as his legs began to buckle, held him close and slowly lowered them both to the floor, Will sitting on Angel’s lap, back to chest wrapped in his lover’s arms. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Giles looked at his son, tears streaming down his face. “It wasn’t so bad to begin with she only wanted me to touch you and for you to touch me. Then she asked for more…we argued for weeks, but I wasn’t strong enough…I’m so sorry Will, I never wanted any of this…she…she made me…”

“My mother wanted to sell me to some bloke?” Will asked his voice dead and lost sounding.

Giles nodded.

“You…you…or him?” Will asked.

Giles looked at his son. “It wasn’t just him, she had clients lined up, lots of them.”

“Clients?”

Giles nodded.

Will looked at his father. “Why didn’t you just walk away?” his voice came out as a sharp whisper.

“I couldn’t leave you with her,” Giles explained.

“You could have taken me with you,” Will said his voice full of bitterness.

Giles sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I wish that I had, the truth is your mother and I aren’t married.”

“What?” Will squeaked.

Giles sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “We never married and to tell you the truth, you may not even be my son.”

Will stared at the man before him, a man he suddenly realized even though he had known him his whole life, he knew nothing about.

“It’s a long and old story…the fact is that because your mother and I were never legally married, basically I have no rights when it comes to you,” Giles explained. “Not only that, but way back when, if I had fought for you, I probably would have lost. Courts, always favored the Mother, well at least that’s what my lawyer told me at the time.”

Will sat on Angel’s lap looking dazed.

“You’re a very rich young man William,” Giles said quietly.

Giving himself a mental shake Will looked at his Dad. “What do you mean?” he asked

“Your Mother doesn’t work, well at least not in a conventional job,” Giles explained. “Every time, you…and…I…” Giles shifted uncomfortably on the couch, “Well, she would record what…well let’s just say there are a lot of people out there who like what’s on those tapes.”

Will stared at his father in shock. “People…people…” he stuttered, “People watched you and I…”

Giles nodded staring at the floor, reaching into his back pocket he with drew a bank card and held it out. Will looked at the card then at his Dad questioningly.

“It’s for you, not much, about ten thousand, but it should be enough for you to start afresh, away from here.”

Will stared at the card again. “How?…wha?…huh?”

“I know it’s not much,” Giles said with a shrug, “but it’s all I was able to siphon off your Mother’s account over the years,” Giles explained

Will reached out, hands shaking as he took the card and stared at it.

“It’s in your name and the pin code is 1990…”

“The year I was born,” Will whispered still staring at the card.

“Yes,” Giles said wistfully. “There’s something else as well.”

Will looked at him. “What?” he asked dreading what could come next.

Giles reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out an A4 brown envelope. “This” he said holding it out.

Will looked at the envelope. “What is it?” he asked his voice full of trepidation.

“Evidence, against your mother and me, bank details, web sites, everything you would need to put her and me behind bars if you chose to, or you could use it to blackmail her...there is also a letter in there from me, well not a letter more of an explanation, I know this is a lot to take in right now…” Giles sighed.

Will took the envelope. “What will you do?” he asked.

Giles snorted. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Will you go back to her?” Will asked.

“No, I don’t think so. What will you do?” Giles asked

Will shrugged. “Dunno. Think I suppose.”

Giles stood and prepared to leave.

“Where will you go?” Will asked.

Giles looked at his son and smiled sadly. “I honestly don’t know,” he whispered.

Will stood with Angel’s help. “But you have money and that, right?”

Giles reached forwards and ruffled his son’s hair making, Will smirk rudely, “Yes, I have a bit put away.” Giles walked to the front door.

“You’ll keep in touch?” Will asked.

Giles paused, his hand on the door, he looked at his son. “I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

Will walked forward. “Please,” he begged, “I don’t blame you, in a way I understand what you did, you were protecting me in a warped way, and I get that I really do.” Will turned to Angel. “What’s your phone number?” he asked

Angel walked to the table and grabbed a pen and paper and quickly scribbled his mobile number and his parent’s number on it and handed it to Giles. “The top number is my mobile, if anything should happen that bottom number is my parents, I’ll make sure they know how to get hold of Will no matter what.”

Giles nodded, took the piece of paper and placed in into his wallet. He looked Angel in the eye. “You look after him for me.”

Angel nodded.

“His mother won’t give up easily, but what’s in that envelope should keep him safe.” Giles turned to his son. “I’m sorry for everything, wish it could have been different for you; wish you had a proper childhood.”

Will nodded tears prickling behind his eyes. “You’ll keep in touch?”

Giles nodded.

“Promise me,” Will said forcefully taking a step forward.

“I promise, as soon as I get settled I’ll contact you.”

Will nodded and Giles turned and walked out of the flat, closing the door firmly behind him.

Will stood there looking at the closed door lost in his own mind, thoughts, feelings and memories flowing through his head.

“Will?” Angel placed a hand on his boy’s shoulder.

“Huh?”

“Why don’t you sit down?”

Will nodded automatically. His face had a lost look as he allowed Angel to guide him to the couch. Angel sat and gently lowered his boy down next to him. Will leaned in and Angel wrapped his arms around him holding Will close as his boy clutched the card and envelope in his hand.

TBC