#me watching CPS get custody of me (i did not consent to this)

[batskulldrag]

Phoenix by Fallout Boy

Here’s chapter Two

Trigger warnings for abuse, this story has a lot of abuse mentions in it. 

Chapter Two: Let It Burn by RED      

               The trio watched in stunned silence as Payton argued with the receptionist over something and stormed past her. Just to look at him or be near him made their collective blood run cold. Something came off him, something untrustworthy. This was a man who could bend and break people, and he used to practice on them.

               He moved past them without so much as a glance in their direction. Good. And stormed directly towards a single room. A doctor took everyone by surprise and blocked his path.

               The doctor in question was a tiny morsel of a person with bright red hair and glasses that framed their face. That this of anyone would stand up to the literal worst was amazing.

               “I’m sorry, but no one in allowed in this room right now.” The doctor said, all five feet of them standing confidently.

               “I’ll have you know that my son is in that room! And you have no right to forbid me to see him!” Payton seethed.

               “Your son,” The doctor spat the words back at him. “Has been sedated and is now sleeping. And I have every right to keep you from charging in there and waking him up!”

               “I could sue you for malpractice as easy as I could snap my fingers!”

               “Oh, on what grounds?” They mocked in return.

               “Operating on a minor without parental consent! And denying access to the legal guardian.”

               “We did no such thing. And all I asked was that you don’t charge in there and wake up a child who had just been through considerable trauma.”

               “Do you have any idea who I am in this city?” He hissed.

               “I don’t care if you’re Jesus, you stay out here until the doctor decides that our patient is ok to have visitors.”                

               “Let me through or I will have no choice but to report your insubordination to an actual doctor!” Many people looked over at him as he yelled.

               “You think you can get up in my face ‘cause I’m TINY?!” The doctor snapped right back at him, not moving an inch. “Because if I call security right now only one of us is getting thrown out for causing a disturbance! I’ll let you guess who!”

               “You- you should be arrested for impersonating a doctor!” He fumbled the insult as he backed down.

               Roman walked up to the doctor as if he were in a western.

               “Is this guy giving you trouble?”

               “No, I took care of him.” The doctor said smugly.

               “It seems like you’re suddenly everywhere, Roman.” Payton sneered.

               “And it seems you weren’t home when I pulled your son from a burning building.”

               “Well if you were so conveniently there, I think that would make you a suspect.”

               A tired, disgruntled police officer came between them. Roman knew them.

               “So, you’re the kid’s dad?” The cop, Officer Joan asked.

               “I am, and it was my house that’s been burnt to ashes.” He rubbed his temples. “I feel like the world is testing me.”

               “Where were you at the time of the fire?” Joan didn’t care about his problems.

               “I was meeting with my campaign manager from ten o clock until twenty minutes ago, when I was called and told that my son was in the hospital.”

               “Can they verify that?”

               “Am I a suspect in this? Why would I destroy my own home, or endanger my son?”

               “I have to ask everybody these questions, I asked crazy twin guy the same things.” Joan rolled their eyes, pointing backwards at Roman. “Do you have any enemies?”

               “Yes, and more keep coming out of the woodwork.” He shot a glare at Roman. “I’m a very successful prosecuting attorney, I’ve put plenty of criminals in prison and angered even more defense lawyers. I’m also running for mayor, on the platform of clearing the city of immorality, which gives my opponents a motive. And my brother and his friends have started a smear campaign against me. Which I suppose makes them suspect, especially when you consider who was at the scene of the crime first.”

               “Crazy twin guy has an alibi that can be verified by about two hundred people. Save your bullshit for your day job.” Joan made a few notes. “If you don’t mind, I’d like for you to accompany me to the station so I can ask you a few more questions.”

               “About what? You can’t honestly believe I started that fire!”

               “No, this is about a few things we found odd about your house layout and son’s condition.”

               “I beg your pardon!” He said through gritted teeth.

               “That’s what you say to a judge, not a cop. You gonna come quietly or do I need to put the cuffs on you?”

               “What has Virgil been saying!? I demand to speak to him immediately!”

               “He’s been passed out for the past hour. And he was barely conscious when he got here.” The doctor chimed in. “He hasn’t said anything. Why? What were you expecting him to say?”

               “I invoke my right to speak to my accuser.” Payton hissed, rapidly losing control of the entire situation.

               “Me bitch.” Joan said, pulling out handcuffs. “Let’s talk in the car.”

               “Payton Foster, I’m arresting under suspicion of domestic abuse, child endangerment, disturbing the peace and arson.” Joan slapped the cuffs on. “You have the right to remain silent…”

               The sound of Joan reciting the Miranda bill faded as the two walked down the hallway and outside.

               “Doctor,” Patton asked timidly raising a hand. “Can you point me to the bathroom? I think I need to throw up.”

               “Right down that way.” They pointed.

               Patton darted off and only just made it to the toilet before everything came out. Had Payton really… could he? Sure, supposedly anyone could but, how could they?

                                                                               #             #             #

               So many memories of Payton just walking out and leaving him or their mother with the baby. Because he knew they weren’t going to leave a newborn to fend for himself. He never once thought to test of Payton would still walk out if he refused. But part of him always knew the answer.

               A tornado of his brother’s cruelty hit him upside the head with a tree.

               “Another ‘D’?” The taunting voice of his sibling echoed through. “Why do you even try? You should just quit school and see if someone will hire you as a janitor.”

               “If only we still had a class system so that people of your skill level could still find work.”

               “The only good thing about you being gay is that you won’t be able to have kids to raise to be gay.”

               “Your retard called, he realized he was too good for you after all.”

               “Patton does that retard know you were held back. That you literally couldn’t keep up with things the rest of us find easy?”

               “If you ask me, the retard’s parents had the right ideas.”

               And the ever present “What are you going to do cry about it?”

               And a lifetime later, alone in a bathroom stall Patton cried about it. After some time, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t need to turn around or say anything to know that it was Logan. Wordlessly he slid his own hand on to his husband’s and squeezed it as if it were the only thing tethering him to reality.

               “Child protective services just came in.” Logan said trying to mimic a soothing tone. “They’re going to be looking for next of kin, I think we should talk to them.”

               “Is this my fault?” The words came out barely audible.

               “No. It’s not.”

               “Maybe, but I didn’t help. I may have made things worse.”

               “Patton,” Logan stooped down to his level. “It doesn’t make sense to dwell on that. We’re here and we can’t change anything. The important thing is that Virgil is safe tonight, and his father may end up losing custody of him.”

               “To who? What if it’s someone worse?”

               “That’s why we’re talking to CPS right now. Come on.”

               Patton pulled himself together and joined Logan back in the land of the standing. He stopped to splash some water in his face so it wouldn’t look like he had been crying and the pair went out together.

               The social worker was a short man who was composed mainly of muscle. He looked like he could punch a hole in the wall, granted the hole wouldn’t be very close to the ceiling, but still. Patton couldn’t say anything about what this guy would do, but he was certain that this one could tackle somebody to the ground. But he had a kind face, and Patton could read him from across the room. He looked so sad as he listened to the doctor tell him about the case. And just a bit angry.

               “Boy am I glad he’s not mad at us.” Patton whispered to Logan as they got closer.

               Cobra Bubbles sighed and rubbed his face with both hands as if he were trying to wash the information off. They stopped in front of him and he looked them over.

               “I’m Patton Foster.” Patton held his hand out uncomfortably while trying to pull his hoodie down over his sleep shorts. “I normally wear pants I swear.”

               It wasn’t until this moment that he realized that he was criminally underdressed for any kind of interview. He wished hell would go ahead and eat him as he stood there in just his cat hoodie, with no shirt, and Blue’s Clues shorts (normally made for women, but he got an extra-large pair) that were just barely longer than his boxers, which he just realized were inside out. He looked at his feet to escape eye contact and saw that he was wearing one shoe and one sandal. Never mind hell eating him, he was already there.

               Logan didn’t look any better, sure he was wearing longer pants but they were white with unicorn print. And you could totally see his underwear through them. He had tried to cover that by dawning a long coat, but that just made him look like a school shooter. And the coat was unbuttoned anyway. Patton dared a glance at Logan’s feet and saw that he had his unicorn slippers on instead of shoes. But the worst part, oh the worst part was that Logan wore a powder blue t-shirt that had “Paw-ton” written in block letters across the chest with a big old heart. It was Patton’s shirt, and now everyone knew it was his shirt. And they knew what it implied, Logan wearing Patton’s shirt.

               Their eyes met in a glance of mutual horror as Logan pulled his coat closed with inhuman speed. They shared the same hope that maybe no one saw. Patton quickly sniffed the air, he couldn’t smell anything coming off them, maybe they were in the clear, at least in that instance.

               “It’s one in the morning.” The social worked cracked a smile. “I didn’t think you’d look presentable just now.” He shook Patton’s hand. “I’m Thomas.”

               “Oh, ok.” Patton retracted his other hand and kept trying to pull his hoodie down. “I’m Virgil’s uncle. Payton is my older brother.”

               “Why are you both down here? We haven’t even started calling the next of kin yet.”

               “Our friend broke his arm getting Virgil out of the fire. He called us to get him.”

               “Hi.” Roman waved his cast.

               “Hi.” Thomas nodded.

               “I’m Logan Berry,” Logan stepped up. “I’m Patton’s husband.”    

               “So, I take it that you two are ok with taking care of Virgil?” Thomas said, shaking Logan’s hand. “At least until we hunt down his mother.”

               “She immigrated to Italy after Virgil was born.” Patton stared at the floor. “I-if she wants custody of him, I won’t keep him from her. But I don’t know if she does.”

               “Poor kid.” Thomas looked back to the room. “Well, his mom still has parental rights, so we need to talk to her. But if she left the country and left her baby behind, I’ve got a pretty good guess on how that’s gonna go.”

               “Then it comes back to us.” Logan finished the idea. “And we’d be glad to take him.”

               “Yeah, and we’re all teachers. So, we’re great with kids.” Patton added.

               “It’s nice to finally hear some good news.” Thomas sighed. “Virgil’s not allowed any visitors tonight, so you can go. Come back in the morning and we’ll get everything sorted.”

               “Ok, I’ll be back in the morning.” Patton agreed. “I’ll be here with pants on.”

               His attempt at a joke seemed to fall flat, but Thomas gave him a good-natured smile. Patton and Logan backed away awkwardly before turning around and walking like normal people. Roman joined them and they all got into the car in silence. As soon as the doors were closed, Roman broke the silence by laughing.

               “What’s so funny?” Logan asked tonelessly from the front seat.

               “You two and the social worker.” He choked. “And dressed like that!”

               “We came down here at one A.M to get you from the emergency room.” Logan protested. “We were in a hurry!”

               “It would have been weird if we were dressed!” Patton added. “This actually proves that we’d be good parents, because our priorities are in order! When you get called from the emergency room you throw clothes on in the dark and come down!”

               “Must have been a good night if you didn’t have clothes on when I called.” Roman snickered.

               “FALSEHOOD!!!!!!!” Logan screeched, his entire body turning red.

               “I meant to say shoes! You throw shoes on in the dark! Because you already have clothes on!” Patton fumbled an explanation.

               “So, Logan has a shirt with your name on it because he belongs to you?” Roman teased.

               “You noticed?” Patton whimpered, turning red as well. “Do you think the social worker noticed too?”

               “Ok. No one is allowed to talk until the sun is up.” Logan ordered.

               When the sun did come up, and it came up rather soon especially for a Saturday, the three had other things to talk about anyway.

               “Ok, Patton and I are in one room, and you occupy one room.” Logan began.

               “I knew that SIRI.” Roman sighed. “What are you getting at?”

               “Well, there’s still Remus’s old room, Virgil can stay in there.”

               “We turned that room into a storage closet after Remus went to grad school.” Roman groaned. “I suppose I’ll start moving boxes.”

               “I believe that I’ll be doing most of the moving today, given your injury.”

               “I can still move things!” Roman protested.

               “No.”

               “Can I help arrange the stuff in the attic? That just requires me to slid stuff across the floor.”

               “I will allow that. And we may find something in storage that we can use.”

               “Kill two birds with one stone.” Roman nodded.

               “That’s cruel and has nothing to do with-… oh. Right, a metaphor.”  

                                                                               #             #             #

               Patton walked timidly into the hospital whishing he had stayed behind to get the room ready and sent Logan to deal with the paperwork. But as the legal next of kin, he had to be the one to sign everything. He wondered if he might get to meet Virgil while he was there. But what if Virgil didn’t like him?

               “I see you’re alone this morning.” Thomas startled him. “But at least you remembered your pants.”

               “Logan and Roman are getting the house ready.” Patton said quickly. Why did he feel so guilty, he hadn’t done anything? “They’re clearing out a room and all that stuff.”

               “You seem to be adapting to all this pretty well.” Thomas smiled warmly.

               “I guess, but we haven’t done any of the actual parenting.”

               “What, are you worried about what you’ll do if he comes out as straight?” Thomas joked. “You won’t have time to mess up, you’ll have me breathing down your necks.”

               Patton smiled back, temporarily relieved. At least this guy was friendly, he couldn’t handle a jaded, world weary social worker.

               “Let’s go over the paperwork and the background checks and afterwards we’ll see if the doctors will let him have visitors.” Thomas offered.

               Patton nodded and followed him to administration.

                                                                               #             #             #

               Logan finished organizing the attic and walked down the stairs only to meet Roman in the middle, dragging up a large wooden object. He used one hand and his elbow to grip it. Tell Roman he can’t do one thing and that’s all he wants to do.

               “What is that?” Logan pointed stunned. “And I told you not to lift things!”

               “A portion of my own bed from when I was in my teens. I got it from my parents’ attic. Now move, this thing is heavy.” Roman disregarded him.  

               Logan ran up the stairs, propped the emptied room’s door open and ran down to help Roman with the rest of the bed frame. After three trips, and a good deal of swearing they got all of it into the room. It was then that the truth about this bed came out.

               “Roman, this is the skeleton of a futon isn’t it?” Logan asked, ready to face palm.

               “Remus set my actual bed on fire! This was all they could do! And he set this one on fire as well!”

               “So. There’s no mattress either?” Logan completed the face palm.

               “No.” Roman looked at the ground.

               “Ok, this will have to do until we get him a proper bed, and we will get him a proper bed.” Logan sighed. “Let’s just put it together, where are the instructions?”

               “In the past, no one has seen them in over a decade.” Roman answered hesitantly. “But I helped put it together, I should be able to manage it.”

#             #             #

               Logan felt a migraine setting in and Roman had exhausted his vocabulary of insults from screaming at the futon. An hour had passed, Patton would be home any minute to see what a pair of failures they were. He was at his breaking point.

               “Of course!” Roman yelled triumphantly. “We can google futons like this one and use their instructions.”

               “Why didn’t we think of that an hour ago?” Logan said in a strained whisper.

               After that putting it together only took twenty minutes. This only added to their fury.

               “Ok,” Logan sighed. “I’m going to go scream into a pillow, then we’re going to get a mattress for this monstrosity.”

               “I’ve been thinking about that. We could get a normal mattress and put it on this, so then it’ll just be a normal bed.”

               “Roman, you’re a genius.”

               “Wow, you are out of it.”

                                                                                               #             #             #  

               The paperwork took longer than Patton had thought it would, and the background check took forever. Which was especially annoying because he didn’t have any criminal record. But all that was finally over, he was now prolonging the inevitable as one of the doctors explained everything that was wrong with Virgil.

               “So, Virgil is a good deal underweight and he currently has strep throat. And according to his records, he’s been sick a lot both this year and last year. And there were more than a few injuries. We haven’t had anyone analyze him yet, but we suspect that he has severe anxiety.”

               “Ok.” Patton nodded.

               I hate my brother.

               “He has a few burns from last night, mostly on the palms of his hands and the bottom of his feet. He inhaled a good deal of smoke, but there doesn’t seem to be any damage to his lungs. He also got a few scrapes and bruises from falling off the landing, and he broke his foot when he hit the ground.”    

               “Poor baby.” Patton exclaimed automatically.

               “And the last thing is,” The doctor sighed. “He has a few older bruises on his back, torso, arms and legs. They all seem to very in age.”

               Payton if you don’t go to hell, I will petition all the saints to send you there!

               “Is-is that why you suspected Payton of… of hurting him?”

               “Yes.” They sighed as if the weight of the world was on top of them. “One of the bruises is in the perfect shape of a belt buckle. There’s no explanation for that.”  

               Patton felt his heart racing, and everything turned red. All he could think of was the innocent little baby that he and his mother had taken care of because Payton wasn’t going to. It didn’t look like they were living in a kind universe, but he really hoped it was a just one.

                                                                               #             #             #

               Roman and Logan pulled into the driveway with a mattress strapped to the roof and an old dresser shoved into the back. The dresser had belonged to Remus, and for some reason he spray-painted it black, but that was ok. They could paint over that. At least it didn’t have any bodily fluids on it. Hopefully.

               Roman jumped out and ran to open the door, only to trip on a medium sized box someone had left there. There was a note on the obstruction.

               Crazy twin guy, dude’s going to jail for a while. Cleaned my closet out last month and was too lazy to get rid of this stuff. It’s your problem now. -Joan.

               “We have a benefactor Logan!” Roman said happily. “Officer Joan has given us some old clothes and a message of encouragement.”

               “What encouragement?” Logan asked, untying one of the ropes.

               “Dude’s going to jail for a while.” Roman recited as if it were Shakespeare.

               “That is good news.” Logan smiled. “Should we bring up the mattress first or the dresser?”

               “Mattress, it should be easier. And there is not a doubt in my mind that my brother put his penis on that dresser at some point.”

               “Sometimes I really feel like Remus needs to be sedated and institutionalized.”

               They both pulled down the mattress and hauled it inside.

               “I can’t believe we’re supposed to be identical twins. That means we have one hundred percent the same DNA! How does that make sense?”

               “Only one of you got brain damage.” Logan shrugged. “Besides, Patton’s brother turned out to be a narcissist, do you know how rare that is?”

               They fought the mattress up the stairs.

               “Sure, but it’s not like everyone in Florida is one, just Payton. Seems pretty rare to me.”

               With that they threw the mattress onto the frame.

               “There.” Logan said proudly, “A bed and Payton’s old desk, now all we need to do is haul up that dresser.”

               “Let’s just get that over with.” Roman sighed.

               The two drudged down the stairs and found one of their neighbors standing in the driveway. This one was a particularly annoying middle-aged woman. Single and childless, yet somehow a self-proclaimed expert on both relationships and child rearing. Logan turned right back around and went back inside when he saw her. Roman reluctantly went up to talk to her, it was the only way to make her leave.

               “Can I help you?” He asked flatly, hoping he couldn’t.

               “What are you three doing? I heard you leave at one in the morning last night, and now you’re going back and forth bringing furniture into the house. Are you getting another roommate?”

               “Yes.” A satisfactory lie of omission.

               “Where’s Patton? I saw him leave this morning, and he’s not back yet.”

               “He has a day job.”

               “But he’s not there, I already checked.”

               Roman rolled his eyes. Why couldn’t this one be a sweet old lady? Or I nice couple? Or a cute single guy, gay of course?

               “I don’t know then.” None of her business anyway.

               “You know what I think,”

               You forgot to ask if I cared.

               “I think it has something to do with his brother, you know the one who’s running for mayor, his house burned down last night. It was all over the news.”

               “If you don’t mind Logan and I still have a lot of work to do.”

               “Is it true what he said? You know about his and Patton’s mother?”

               “No, it is a blatant lie Patton already submitted proof of that.” Roman swung the trunk open and dragged the dresser to the door one handed. “Good day.”

                                                                               #             #             #

               Patton bit his lip as he listened to the phone ring on the other end.

               “Hello Patton,” Logan answered in his usual manor. “Is something the matter?”

               “No, I just need some advice.” Patton sighed.

               “Well, what is it?”

               “Virgil’s awake, the doctors are taking care of him now. And I get to meet him when they’re done. But should I wait and introduce us all at once or do it one at a time?”

               He was answered by a brief silence, then Roman.

               “Hey Patton,” Roman said quickly. “Logan and I are just dealing with nothing going on right now.”

               “Logan! Did you just punch me!?” Roman suddenly yelled. “You just did it again, you friggin book germ! Why are you signaling me to shut- oh.”

               “Roman?” Patton asked, now very suspicious.

               “Never mind all that. What do you need to know?”

               “Well, I’m gonna meet Virgil, but I don’t know if I should have us all meet him at once or do in in little bits.”

               “Ok, you’re already there, so I think you should just meet him as you. But you should definitely tell him that we exist.”

               “Ok.” Patton smiled for no one’s benefit. “What’s going on with you two?”

               “Nothing, good luck with the kid. Bye.”

               With that Roman hung up on him.

               “Ok, love you, bye.” Patton said to the dead phone.

               Patton returned the phone to his pocket and took a deep breath to steel himself. He glanced down at the stuffed bear he had bought from the gift shop, it had a little hive that said ‘Bee Well’ across it. That was the perfect dad joke to break the ice, and a cute animal to boot. He could do this.

               He looked through the window and saw several doctors and Thomas talking to a teenage boy. Patton paused. He didn’t recognize him. The baby face had been replaced with Payton’s jawline and Virgil had no baby fat left. In fact, he had almost no body fat at all. That can’t be good. In place of his little blond tufts of hair was long black hair, well long in the front any way. His bangs swept over his face like a curtain. The only things that were the same were his eyes. The same amazing violet eyes. Worry was reflected in them now, but they were still beautiful.

Right now, he was biting his lip and pulling his knees to his chest. Thomas said something and he started chewing on the bandages that covered his hands rather than his lip, the news was out now. Thomas sat down next to him and said something else, at that Virgil put his head on his knees and covered his head with his arms. With his messed-up hands, he fruitlessly pulled at his hair. Thomas talked to him for a minute more then walked to the door to let Patton in.

               Never mind. I can’t do this. Patton walked in quietly.

               Virgil didn’t look up.

               I can’t do this!

               “Virgil,” Thomas said trying to sound upbeat. “This is your uncle, Patton. And he’s going to be taking care of you for a while.”

               Virgil shuddered, and though he was trying to hide it he was visibly shaking.

               Ok, natural greeting. Neutral.

               “Hey kiddo.” Patton said softly.

               WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!!

               “I know this is a lot to take in, and that you’ve been having a rough time.” Patton paused, where was he going with this? “So, uh… I’m not gonna press you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. And… I would like you to come stay with me, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

               “I mean.” Virgil finally spoke, his voice was strained. “I don’t wanna live on the street, and that’s kind of the only other option.”

               Patton walked up to the bed. He knew what to do, it was as if his instincts kicked in.

               “Can I sit down?” He asked. Pointing to a spot besides Virgil.

               “Do whatever you want.” Virgil mumbled into his blanket.

               Patton sat next to him and gingerly placed a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. Virgil flinched. He flinched and made a kind of whimpering sound in his throat. Patton felt a rage burn inside his chest. He feared that if he tried to talk, he would breath fire.

               “It’s ok,” He soothed. No fire, good. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

               “Isn’t that the bare minimum?”

               “I said we’d take baby steps. Nothing you’re not comfortable with.”

               “Yeah?” Virgil looked up at him, his eyes red with tears.

               “Of course.” Patton smiled reassuringly and ran a hand through his nephew’s hair.

               Virgil closed his eyes and sighed almost euphorically at the contact. Patton bit back bile at the thought that this poor, innocent kid was so completely starved for affection that he would all but melt for the first person to show him basic human kindness. If Payton didn’t go to hell…

               Virgil slid his head down and rested it on Patton’s shoulder. He had stopped shaking and was just at rest. Patton wished he had brought a camera, but he knew he’d remember this moment even without pictures. This one was going in the vault.