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Sarad laughed, "alright, i'll do my best. it's outside, right? maybe i'll just wear the school sweater and call it good. is that alright with you?" Sarad hadn't seen much of Dale the past week, but they were both busy so he understood. he didn't know why he was so excited for the meet, maybe it was because it was something new? his best guess was that it was because he would be spending time doing something with a friend. he might not be with with Dale, but they would be there at the same time and he would be supporting him so that was close enough, right? besides, he'd made Dale a batch of cookies earlier as a surprise. he planned to set them out after Dale left so that they would be waiting when they returned to their room. "don't you have to go soon? don't want to be late."

Sarad grinned, "promise! i'll get there early." he waved as Dale left and quickly began to set up. Decorations? check. Cookies arranged on the desk? check. handmade card? check. Sarad had everything ready when there was a knock on the door. is heart sank, did Dale forget something and come back? no, he would have just walked in, so the surprise was safe. but who was at the door? "Yes?" he opened the door and felt his blood turn cold the moment he saw who it was. "U-Uncle..."

Akash looked down at the boy and frowned, "haven't i told you to cut your hair?" he lifted an eyebrow at the way the child hid mostly behind his door, "aren't you going to invite me in?"

no. no. nonononononononono. not now. this couldn't be happening. "I-I'm sorry, Uncle, but the r-room isn't fit for visitors," Sarad said, trying the first thing that came to mind.

Akash's frown deepened and he pushed the door open, forcing Sarad out oft he way as he walked in. "what is this?" he took in the decorations and the card that were obviously hand made, but it was the cookies that made him stop. "What are you? some woman?" he turned on Sarad who was cowering behind the door, which only made him angrier. "Come out here at once."

Sarad didn't want to leave the safety of the door, but he had to. he'd already made uncle mad, he couldn't make it worse. he shut the door and stepped out, trying to avoid arm's reach, but knowing it didn't matter. his uncle was too fast and the room too small. there was no escape. "I-It is my room mate's first track meet. i wanted to celebrate with him." he said softly, his eyes on the floor. he didn't see the fist coming until it was too late.

Akash's fist connected with the boy's stomach, dropping him to his knees with one blow. "you wanted to celebrate? what have i told you about useless wastes of your time? they are not needed." he grabbed the paper chain that was hanging from the ceiling and tore it down, "they are distractions from what you should be doing." next the card was ripped to pieces, "distractions an idiot like you cannot afford!" the plate of cookies was pick up thrown over Sarad's crumpled form, shattering and sending cookies and glass everywhere. "clean up this mess and focus, boy. don't be any more of a disgrace than you already are."

Sarad fell, holding his stomach in pain. his uncle was never satisfied with just this much as a punishment. he stayed down as his uncle yelled, covering his face when the plate came down. his arms and back were cut, but the rest of him was ok. "h-he is my friend," it was the words that hurt most of all. the decorations, the cookies, all of that was superficial, but his uncle's words caused Sarad to do something he'd never done before. he stood up to his uncle. he sat up slowly, looking at his uncle and meeting his eyes, "supporting you're friend is not a waste."

Akash's eyes narrowed, "you really are an idiot. it seems i'm going to have to reteach you, since you didn't learn the first time." his hands went to his belt and he watched as Sarad began to shake. "you know what to do."

"U-Uncle-" Sarad whispered, pleading, but he knew that look. there was no getting out of this. he stood and turned. he took off his shirt and stepped to the wall, his hands pressed flat against it. he lowered his head and waited, silently whispering an apology to Dale. He wasn't going to be able to keep his promise.

Akash left when Sarad's legs gave out. he stopped at the door and looked back at the quivering boy, disgust filling him at the sight. "you will come to my house over thanksgiving to continue your lessons. try to remember this one until then."

"Y-Yes, Uncle," Sarad gasped. he was curled up where he'd crumpled, his head pressed to the wall. his back and thighs were on fire. he could feel where the belt had broken skin, the trickle of blood actually cool against his heated flesh. the door shut behind Akash and Sarad began to struggle to stand. he had to clean up. he couldn't leave the room a mess like this. his legs shook so hard he had to hold onto the desk for support, but by the time the room was clean, he was able to stand on his own. the shock of his beating was wearing away, leaving him with just the pain. he looked at the clock and thanked the gods he wasn't too late. he didn't have time to bandage the wounds properly, so Sarad wore layers instead. he put on a black undershirt that was tighter than he usually liked. the cloth against battered skin hurt, but he could live with it. a second black shirt went over that followed by a third, dark blue. they loose school sweater covered everything and Sarad hoped it would be enough. he took a pain killer before hurrying outside. five minutes until the first event, he just hoped he made it on time.

when he arrived, Dale was on the line, the man yelling "Set!" as he raised the air gun. he'd made it-Sarad felt faint with relief...or maybe it was the fact he'd run when he wasn't used to that sort of thing. he managed to find a spot along the fence and yelled out as soon as the gun went off, "RUN DALE!"

Sarad watched with wonder. Dale was so fast! but his energy was starting the flag by the end of the meet. he found somewhere to sit, but that made the welts on his bottom hurt so he didn't do that for long. it was finally over and Dale had done well. no, he'd done great. "guess that means i need to come to more of these," he said as Dale decided he was his good luck charm. his shirt felt tight and stiff from where blood had soaked in and dried, but it hadn't shown up on the sweater, so his plan had worked. "let's get home and changed. after you shower let's go out to eat to celebrate!" he started for the dorms, needing to get more pain medication since his was wearing off.

across the field, Akash watched with narrowed eyes. he'd figured out who Sarad was chearing for easily enough. the boy's name had been announced, and that was all Akash needed. he walked to his car along with the other parents, plans already swirling around waiting to be put into action.

Sarad smiled, "i never knew someone could run that fast! i'm sure you can do even better if you work-" Dale patted his back, hitting the still fresh marks, and Sarad nearly threw up as the pain washed over him. he swallowed hard several times to keep the bale down and hoped the smile was still on his face, though he mention of cookies only made it worse. "H-How about we go somewhere for dinner and then stop at the bakery? they've far better desserts than i could ever make." he couldn't cook right now, he just couldn't. not only would it be too much for him to stand and wisk for that long, but the very idea made him shiver. "deal?"

Dale's hand was a warm counterpoint to how cold Sarad had become. he just wanted to curl into that warmth like he had once before, but he knew he couldn't do that. Dale told him to lay down and Sarad shook his head, "i'm fine, really." he smiled, but when Dale told him to change, he stepped away, grasping his sweater tight, his eyes wide. "No!" he couldn't let Dale see. if Dale saw, he'd know what an idiot Sarad was. only idiots had to have lessons beaten into them. Dale thought Sarad was smart and he couldn't stand to see the look in Dale's eyes when he learned the truth. "I'm ok. j-just go and take your shower. i'll change while you're in the bathroom, ok?"

A cold shiver ran down Sarad's spine at the athority in Dale's voice. before he really understood what he was doing, Sarad was removing the sweater. he hung his head in shame as he held the sweat in front of him like it was some kind of shield. but Dale had said to let him see and the dark color of his layers hide the truth. His hands shaking, Sarad lowered his sweater to the bed and stripped off the layers one by one, the last sticking slightly and causing him to grimace as he pulled dried blood from still tender wounds, reopening them enough that they wept lightly. "I'm sorry-" he whispered, his eyes on the ground. Dale knew. he'd see what an idiot Sarad was, only look at his back is all it would take. who else but a complete moron would need to be taught like this. tears filled his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. he was already shamed bad enough, he couldn't further his embarrassment by crying.