Ambrose and Elliot #31
Masterpost
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Warnings: emotional abuse
10
Ambrose was a bad son.
Or at least, that’s what his parents said. Well, they didn’t say it, but he knew. If he were a better son, they wouldn’t be criticizing him all the time.
“Are you sure you should be eating all that?” commented his mother. Ambrose put down his spoon, heat rising to his face.
Father took a sip of water, unbothered.
“I- I’m just hungry,” he said, “it was tournament day at school.”
“Don’t talk back to your mother,” ordered Father.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well,” mother swished her hair, “at least you got some exercise in. You need it.” She looked him up and down, and Ambrose sank in his seat.
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed miserably.
“Sit up straight,” Father added. “Real men don’t slouch.”
“Sorry.”
___________________
13
Ambrose looked down at the remains of his stuffed lion, Leo. Mother delicately plucked the cotton off of her scissors.
“You’re too old for toys,” she said, her voice calm and emotionless. “I’m doing you a favor, because I love you. You can’t grow up by holding onto silly stuffed animals.”
“Grandmother gave it to me,” he said, numb.
“Regardless. You’re fourteen years old; you need to grow up.”
“Thirteen,” he whispered. “I’m thirteen.”
“Don’t talk back to me.” She turned to go. “And clean up this fluff.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ambrose picked up Leo and stuffed him in the trash.
Sorry, grandmother.
___________________
16
Ambrose woke up to someone banging on his door.
He stumbled out of bed, still groggy, and opened the door to see his father, furious.
Ambrose was awake in an instant.
“What is this?” hissed father, a paper in his hand.
“I- I don’t know-”
“Don’t lie to me!” Father pushed his way into his room, shoving Ambrose backwards. “I know what you’ve been up to!”
“What are you talking about?”
Father waved the paper in his face, and Ambrose could read the words.
His report card from school. His heart sank.
“You’re slacking,” accused Father. “I can’t believe you would disgrace me like this! A B minus?”
“I’m sorry. I really tried-”
“Try harder. You won’t be leaving this room until you do.” Father turned on his heel, and slammed the door behind him.
Ambrose flinched, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
___________________
19
“Oh how lovely,” Mother smiled, swirling her glass. “I’m so glad your daughter is doing well.”
The party guests all looked beautiful in their suits and long dresses, and Ambrose felt distinctly out of place.
It was supposed to be his graduation celebration, but not a single one of his few friends had been invited. Ruffians, his mother had called them.
He was miserable.
“So,” the lady leaned forward towards Mother, a smile on her face, “Is Ambrose going into the family business now that he’s finished school?”
“Not yet,” laughed Mother in her perfect, soft voice, “He’ll be serving in the army for a few years first, just like his father.”
Ambrose stopped breathing.
“We’re all so proud,” Mother said.
The lady turned to Ambrose, and he forced a smile. Mother’s mouth twitched, and Ambrose knew it wasn’t good enough.
“Wonderful!” the woman exclaimed. “You know, my daughter loves a man in uniform,” she winked.
Ambrose felt sick.
“Is that so?” he asked lightly, nausea swirling in his gut.
“Oh yes. She’s single, at the moment. I could introduce you. Such a lovely girl.”
“I’m afraid Ambrose is already engaged,” interrupted Mother smoothly.
Fuck. He was?
“Ah, well. Worth a shot.”
The two women laughed with faux politeness.
Ambrose’s face grew hot.
“Are you alright, dear?” asked the lady.
“Oh, yes,” he stammered. “I just need some water. Pardon me.” He politely excused himself from the conversation.
Ambrose slipped out the back door, towards the balcony, sucking in the fresh air.
His parents had his whole life planned out. He never had a chance. There was never any hope, was there?
They paraded him around like a prized pet and screamed at him in private. They had no intention of letting him breathe, to be himself.
He thought… he thought after school he could at least have some freedom but…
Gods, they had probably already planned his wedding. He could just see his mother picking out the rings, the colors, the honeymoon. His father nodding in approval, telling him how many children he ought to have. For all he knew, it was already decided.
They never cared about what he wanted, and never would.
Bitterness blossomed on his tongue.
“There you are,” said Mother behind him. “You need to rejoin the party.”
“Why bother?”
He couldn’t see her, but he knew what face she was making. An empty one.
“It’s your graduation party. I’d hate for you to feel embarrassed in front of all these people.”
He hated when she did that; pretending she was looking out for him when really she was looking out for herself.
“You mean your party. I don’t know any of them.” Ambrose adjusted the cufflink on his sleeve.
“Ambrose,” she said, firm and unyielding. “That guest list is full of important people. You’d be wise to befriend them. It’s what’s best for your future.”
He turned to face her. Mother’s perfectly styled hair was blowing in the wind, and he felt smug knowing she hated that the wind was outside her control.
“Sounds like you already have that planned out,” he said calmly. “I won’t be going back in.”
Mother turned up her nose. “Fine,” she said, cold as always. “You will deal with the consequences, then.”
___________________
“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” screamed Father. Ambrose stared up at him, silently seething. “You embarrassed them, you embarrassed us! How dare you?”
Ambrose said nothing.
Mother stood by the doorway, her face like stone. But he knew she was enjoying this. Anger boiled inside of him.
“I don’t give a shit,” he snapped.
Mother’s eyes went wide and her crossed arms fell at her side.
Father gaped, his face red with rage.
“What did you say?” He demanded.
Ambrose stood up, and gleefully noted his father stepped back.
“I said, I don’t give a shit.”
Father slapped him across the face, and Mother gasped.
“Are you crazy?” she demanded, grabbing his arm. “You’ll leave a mark!”
Ambrose laughed.
Of course. She didn’t care about him any more than she cared about a painting, or a vase.
He was just a decoration to show off.
“You think this is funny?” Father’s voice lowered to a snarl. “The officers are coming to pick you up tomorrow morning. I suggest you pack.”
Father turned and stalked out.
Mother looked at him, her face turning soft. She put a hand to his cheek, and Ambrose pretended, just for a moment, that it was care and not for show.
“Ambrose,” she said, “my darling boy. Don’t disappoint me again.”
“Of course, Mother.”
Mother dropped her hand and left, the door closing softly behind her.
Ambrose fell back on his bed. He grabbed a pillow and screamed into it, until his voice was hoarse. He lowered the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. He needed to leave. He needed to leave right now.
Ambrose got up, ripped off his tie and threw it at the wall.
The rest of his suit followed, along with his dress shoes. They thudded against the wall, and it was immensely satisfying. Father would be furious when he saw the scuffs.
Ambrose tugged on his favorite clothes, pulled out his duffel bag, and began to stuff it with the rest of his comfortable clothes.
He wasn’t going to the army. He was going somewhere, anywhere, just as long as his parents wouldn’t find him.
He looked out the window, and saw the roofs of the temples glittering in the evening light.
Mother and Father hated temples; what with their charity work and dirty commoners and ‘garish decor!’ as Mother often sneered.
It was beneath them.
It was perfect. They would never set foot in a place like that.
And Ambrose knew exactly which one he would go to.
If he was going into hiding, the god of secrets would surely welcome him.
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