Day’s head snapped up.
“Yeah, I know, that physically makes no fuckin’ sense, but he acted like he believed it… probably to ease his guilty conscience. He let me recover for a bit, but it wasn’t long before we were fighting again.” God took a long gulp of his coffee to wet his dry throat. He couldn’t believe how it felt to get this out, but it didn’t make the memories any less bitter.
“The day he brought back those guys that raped me I think I lost my mind. I screamed for him over and over as they had their way with me. They left me bloody and I felt half-dead. After a few hours I hauled myself up to get cleaned up and he was in the kitchen still in his uniform, fuckin’ eating a snack like nothing had happened. He started in on me. Calling me a faggot and telling me he wanted me out of his house immediately. He tried to fight me but I could hardly defend myself. He was beating the shit out of me when he pulled his service weapon.” God took another shaky breath.
“Leo, I don’t know for sure if he would’ve shot me. But after all the other shit he’d let happen, I fought for my life, I fought for my mom, I fought for Gen. I figured if I died, there’d be no one to keep him from hurting them. We wrestled around with the gun between us, and fell to the floor. The gun went off and I knew I was dead. We were both still for a long time until I realized that my pain wasn't from a gunshot wound. I pushed him off me and realized that he was dead, bleeding out from the bullet in his stomach. I managed to get up and I picked up the weapon off the floor. Of course, just like a damn movie, my mom and Gen walked in while I was standing over a dead body holding a weapon. My mom started screaming, Gen started wailing. I tried to explain, but she was afraid of me, telling me to stay away from them. I dropped the gun and ran.
“I slept in the park that night, the pain so fucking intense I wished for death. I ended up turning myself in. The police officers were not so gentle with me after I killed one of their own, but one officer believed me. He brought the DA to me and they got me to a hospital. There was clear evidence of long-term violence and gang rape. They didn’t prosecute me, I was never charged, it was deemed a justifiable homicide. All the medical records and legal documents were sealed for my protection.
“When I got out of the hospital… I didn’t have a family anymore. My mom let me grab a few things, but said she never wanted to see me again, that the gang I was in that told me to kill my father could be my family. She wouldn’t let me anywhere near Gen either. I went to a homeless shelter and a couple of nuns helped me to set up residence to finish school.” God finally looked at Day, he wasn’t crying but his eyes were glistening and God realized that his eyes burned with unshed tears too.
“I made it through school and did one tour in the military before I joined the police academy. Since then, I’ve taken care of her and Gen from a distance. They don’t know it’s me that got them their house and pays for everything they need.” God saw Day put it together immediately.
“That’s why you don’t have any money. Because you give it all to them,” Day stated.
God nodded his head.
“Things may be different now.”
God nodded his head again. “I went over there to fix the sink the other week. They came home early and saw me there after not seeing me in years. Let’s just say, Gen was nicer the day he came to my place than when he caught me in their house.”
“Your house,” Day amended.
“No, Leonidis. It’s their house. I'll take care of them until I can’t anymore.” God looked seriously at his lover, telling him it wasn’t up for debate.
“Fuck, babe. Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Day was up and pacing, his mind going a mile a minute.
“It’s not exactly something you want to talk about while eating burgers and playing pool, Leo.” God sighed like the story had drained him of energy. He closed his eyes for a couple seconds but when he opened them again Leo was on his knees in front of him.
“I want you to know that I appreciate you trusting me with this, and understand that it doesn’t change a goddamn thing between us. But it kills me that you would rather your mom hate you for the rest of her life than tell her the truth.” Leo ran his strong hands up and down God’s thighs.