Work Text:
Peli smiled from the park bench, watching Din as he helped the next child in line onto the zip-wire seat, asking if they were holding on before letting go once he’d gotten a nod. He then rejoined the line and waved to Peli. She waved back, her heart swelling at how well he played with the other kids despite not knowing any of them.
“You’re getting emotional again.”
“Shut up.” Peli jokingly whacked her boyfriend, who was sat next to her. “Go make yourself useful and get us some lunch or something.”
“Alright, fine.” Boba stood, stretching as he did so. “Might need a kiss to get me to the shop, you know?”
“Oh, really?” Peli snorted, but stood anyway and rest her arms over his shoulders, pulling him in for a kiss. “How’s that?” She pulled away slightly, only for Boba to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her close.
“Might need another.”
“You’re hopeless.” Peli laughed and pecked his cheek. “That’s all you’re getting until you bring me a soda.”
“Alright, alright.” Boba chuckled, letting her go. “And for Din?”
“He’s been so good this week, let him have a soda today. Something with fruit in.”
“Alright.” Boba pecked Peli’s cheek before going to do what he’d been set to do. Peli watched him go fondly, smiling when he turned and waved to her at the gate. She waved back, and turned her attention back to Din.
If anyone had told her as a teenager that she’d be sitting happily in a park with her son and her boyfriend, she’d have probably punched them in the face. Moments like this belonged to good people, kind people; They belonged to people who saw good in the world and looked forward to what the future would bring.
Not to her.
“Princess?”
Peli froze.
No… it couldn’t be…
Peli turned to face the speaker, her heart dropping as she confirmed her suspicions; Her father stood behind her, with a large grin on his face. He hadn’t changed a bit since she’d last seen him as a teenager, except for the overgrown stubble and the stench of alcohol on his breath.
“I thought that was you! With that… Man.”
“You’re not allowed near me.” Peli stood abruptly, taking a step back. “And you’re drunk.”
“I’m surprised you found someone to tolerate you.”
“If you come any closer, Vince, I’ll call the police.” Peli warned, reaching for her pocket. She spared a glance at the playground, locking eyes with Din. She threw him a reassuring smile, hoping he’d carry on playing, before looking around for Boba, in hopes he’d forgotten something.
“Oh, come now, Princess, don’t be like that…” Vince smiled menacingly at Peli, catching her attention and giving her that uneasy feeling she’d thought she’d never have to feel again.
“Mom…?” Peli turned to see Din run to her side, hugging her leg and staring at the man with uncertainty. The man gave Din a shark-like grin, which made Din shrink back.
“Go and play, honey.” Peli whispered down to the boy, but Din only hugged her leg tighter and watched the man curiously.
“Hi there.” The man knelt down, triggering Peli into pulling the boy behind her. “Come on, Princess, won’t you introduce me to my Grandson?”
“No. Absolutely not. He’s been through enough.”
“So has Mom.” Din spoke up bravely. “We don’t need you.” Peli tensed, holding Din closer as she froze with fear that Vince might lash out and hurt her for having Din stand up to him. Vince just chuckled, however, which only seemed worse.
“You’ve always been selfish, Peli.” He spat, turning from Din to his daughter. “From the day you were born. You took your Mother from me just so you could live.”
“That’s not fair…” Peli whispered, shaking her head.
“First your Mother, then that dinosaur boy.” Vince stepped closer, and indicated to Din. “It’ll be him next, and that boyfriend of yours that you’ve tricked into believing he loves you. You’ve killed everyone you love, and you always will. You’re poison.” Din broke free from Peli’s hold, ignoring Peli’s cry of ‘Din, don’t!’, and stood bravely in front of Vince.
“Leave her alone! Those are mean words!”
Vince backhanded him.
Time seemed to freeze for Peli as Din dropped to the ground, his hand coming up to his cheek as his eyes watering as he looked up at the man who’d hit him. He whimpered softly, before a small sob escaped him.
Peli threw her weight at the man, shoving him as far away from Din as she could physically muster, before dropping to kneel in front of Din, her eyes burning, running her hands through his hair, over his arms, over his face, trying any and all means of physical comfort in an attempt to calm him before pulling him close.
“I’m sorry, Din, I’m so sorry, sweetheart…” She gasped as he buried his face in her shoulder and clung to her, trying his hardest not to cry, to be brave for his Mom. “I’m so sorry, baby, I’m so sorry…”
“He’s just like you were as a child.” Vince laughed darkly from above them. “Pretending to be all tough and mighty, but truly weak behind the act.”
“I’m not a child anymore…” Peli muttered, holding Din closer.
“I’ve always been able to break you.” Vince snarled, leaning down to get in Peli’s face. She released Din then, pulling him behind her once more, creating a wall between them. She was glad she did when he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her up, his grip painfully tight. “Let’s see if I still can, hmm?”
“Mom!”
Peli twisted her body so her Father was behind her, his arm coming from over her shoulder and around her front, still holding her wrist. She reached up to his elbow, mentally worked out a three-finger distance from the inside of his elbow up his upper arm, and pushed her thumb as deep into the pressure point as she could, like Boba had taught her.
“Fuck!” Vince released her immediately, grabbing his arm in an attempt to soothe the shooting pain. “Fucking bitch!”
“No! I’m done! You may have broken me, but damn it, I will not let you ruin my life anymore! And I sure as hell won’t let you ruin my Son’s!” Peli snapped, turning and gathering Din in her arms. He wrapped his arms around her neck while she picked him up and carried him against her front.
“No, you’ll ruin it yourself, like you ruin everything you touch.” Vince snarled as Peli turned her back to him and walked away. She bit back the urge to tackle him to the ground and hit him. She wouldn’t scare Din like that, like Vince scared her. Instead, she held Din tighter. The boy nuzzled closer, burying his face in Peli’s neck.
“Boba’s by the gate…” Din whispered. “On his phone.”
Peli looked around, her eyes falling on Boba, who was standing by the entrance with a shopping bag in one hand and his phone in the other, seemingly recording Vince. Peli sighed in relief. If they had evidence that Vince had broken his restraining order, they could probably get him in prison again.
“I’m so sorry, Din…” Peli whispered again, changing direction to meet Boba at the gate.
“It’s not your fault…”
“It still wasn’t okay.”
“…I love you.” Din reminded her as they reached the gate. Peli sighed.
“I love you too, baby.” Boba kept recording, turning the camera to Din and Peli, but kept watching the man. Thankfully, he turned to leave in the other direction. “Come here, let me see your face…” Peli lowered Din to the ground and pulled away to check him, gasping softly at the splotch of purple blooming across his face. “Oh, baby- Boba, gimme the bag.”
Boba wordlessly handed the bag to Peli, who rummaged through it as though searching for something specific. She pulled out a soda can, muttering a ‘thank god’ before pressing the cold can to the bruise on Din’s face. The boy whimpered, trying to pull away, but Peli kept him still.
“I know, baby, I know, I’m so sorry…” She brushed a hand through his hair reassuringly. “You know you did absolutely nothing to deserve that, don’t you?” She asked. Din nodded. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Lemme see the bruise.” Boba moved the camera in front of Din’s face as he pulled Peli’s hand and the can away from Din’s face, recording the patch of purple for a few seconds, then letting go again.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart…”
“It’s okay, I didn’t listen.”
“No, Din, no. This is not an okay thing to happen, do you understand?” Peli asked, holding the can to his face again. “You not listening to me did not give him the right to hit you. Nobody gets to hit you, ever, just like you’re not allowed to hit people. Repeat it back to me.”
“Nobody gets to hit me…”
“Good. How much footage did you get?” Peli asked, turning to Boba.
“I got him hitting Din if that’s what you’re asking.” Boba told her.
“You said he used to hit you too…” Din spoke up. “But if he’s not allowed, then why did he?”
“Because he doesn’t care if he’s mean, Din.” Peli explained. “He’s not a nice man. He doesn’t know how to love people like you do.”
“If I didn’t deserve it, then you didn’t deserve it too.”
“That’s right, Din.” Boba nodded. Peli swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded too.
“Yeah… That’s right, Din…”
“Peli…“ Boba stopped recording and knelt down next to Peli, who didn’t respond. “Hey… It’s alright now, come here…” Boba moved to put his hand on her shoulder only for Peli to flinch away.
“Dont…”
Boba dropped his hand.
“It’s okay, Mom.” Din moved the can from his cheek and took Peli’s face in his hands, making her look at him the same way she did to him when he started overthinking. “He used his mean words and they weren’t true. We love you. Don’t we, Boba?” Din looked up at the man, who nodded.
“Absolutely, we do.”
“You won’t make us die.” Din assured her.
“That’s what he told you…?” Boba asked, turning to Peli.
“He said that she’s selfish and that she made everyone she loves die and that she’d make us die too, but she didn’t, and she’s not selfish, except with me because she adopted me. But the people who died were accidents so they’re not her fault, like how she says the car crash was an accident and I didn’t make my parents die.”
“She absolutely didn’t make anyone die.” Boba moved closer, wrapping an arm around Peli’s shoulders and pulling her close, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“He’s a liar.” Din crossed his arms. “I don’t like liars, or their mean words.”
“Neither do I.” Boba chuckled, rubbing Peli’s arm. “That’s why we’re going to get him in trouble with the police.”
“Yay!” Din celebrated by himself, which made Peli laugh. “Is he gonna go to jail?”
“Oh, I hope so.” Boba replied. Din nodded.
“I hope so too.”