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"Y-You- Y-" Dave barely managed to choke out a simple word. It felt as if the world was closing in on him and his lungs were deflating. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't process everything that had just happened. It was too much.
"It had to be done, Willy," Henry stated calmly, reaching out and putting his hand on Dave's shoulder. Dave flinched back at that, hugging himself protectively.
"N-No- You- S-She-" Dave was barely managing to fight back his tears, and although he knew they'd inevitably spill out within moments, he still made an attempt to stop them. He didn't want to cry in front of Henry. He didn't want to seem weak in front of him. Yet, wasn't that what he really was? A weak, naive young adult? He must seem that way to Henry, at least.
Henry furrowed his eyebrows, slightly scowling at the young man in front of him. "Why do you care so much, William?" He spat out the name venomously, almost in a mocking tone.
"Because that was Jack's sister!" Dave snapped, tears breaking loose and streaming down his cheeks like an overflowing river. He made no attempt to stop them now, knowing there was no way he could anyway.
"Really?" Henry feigned surprise, putting his hand over his mouth. "I never knew." He moved his hand away and crossed his arms. "He'll get over it."
"I- Wh- Get over it?!" Dave took a step back from Henry, his eyebrows furrowed and heart racing. "How is he supposed to just get over the murder of his sister?!" Dave couldn't believe what Henry was saying. He knew Henry had always been a very apathetic person, but he never would've guessed to this degree.
Henry simply shrugged in response to Dave's question. "I'm not sure, Willy. If he couldn't care enough to watch her properly, why should he care about her death? It was his fault, essentially."
Dave could almost feel his heart breaking into pieces. He was so torn- Henry was his father. Adoptive father, technically, but still his father nonetheless. However, Jack was his- well, what was Jack to Dave, really? Dave himself wasn't completely sure, but he knew that they were at least friends. Should he take Jack's side in the situation like his mind was telling-no, screaming at him to do? Or should he remain on Henry's side, like his heart was yearning to do?
"His fault? You're the one who mur-" Dave was abruptly cut off by Henry slapping him harshly, leaving a bright mark on Dave's cheek and a lingering sting. Dave gasped, lifting his hand to cover his cheek gently and staring at Henry. It had been a while since Henry had last hit him, so Dave was in slight disbelief, yet at the same time he wasn't surprised. Dave knew he had stepped way out of line here.
"William." Henry stared down at Dave, his stern glare boring into the poor young man. "This was done for the business, and you know that. It was a simple necessity."
"B-But-" Dave's voice was quiet and trembled as he spoke.
"No buts, William." Henry took a few steps closer to Dave until the two were merely inches apart. Dave seemed to cower beneath Henry, very obviously shaking. His tears had managed to slow down a bit by now, probably due to the shock of Henry hitting him. "Did you really think that Jack was your friend?"
Dave stayed silent, assuming Henry was saying that as a rhetorical question. Of course, he turned out to be wrong about that, as Henry suddenly yelled at him.
"Did you?!"
"...Y-Yes," Dave answered reluctantly. Henry sighed in disappointment, shaking his head.
"Oh, Willy.. When will you learn? Jack doesn't care about you. He didn't even care about his own sister- what makes you think he'd care about you?"
Dave whimpered. Henry's words easily started to get into Dave's head, causing the poor man to go into a state of confusion, panic, and even slight betrayal.
"Jack is not important to you. You don't need anyone except for me. Understood?"
Forcing back another whimper, Dave gulped and nodded. "Y-Yes sir.."
A sadistic, almost controlling smile spread across Henry's lips. "Good." He put his hands on Dave's shoulders, causing Dave to flinch away again, but this time Henry had made sure to keep a firm hold on his shoulders. He tightened his grip, causing Dave to whimper a bit excessively. Henry glared at Dave as a warning for him to shut up, and Dave quickly obeyed.
"You are not to tell Jack anything. You are not to speak to him anymore. If I catch you with him, you'll both regret it."
At this point, Dave could only nod in response. Henry released his grip and Dave immediately began to rub his shoulders in an attempt to soothe the aching pain.
Henry sighed. "I'm sorry for being so harsh, Willy," He said, his voice now softer. Of course, Henry wasn't actually sorry, but after being so aggressive towards Dave, he knew he had to be calming to the man in some way in order to maintain Dave's loyalty to him. "I want to protect you. After what happened with Martha-" Henry stopped. Dave frowned, looking up at Henry in understanding of what he couldn't manage to actually say.
"I-I get it.." Dave mumbled. Henry gave Dave a small smile, warmly opening his arms as a signal for Dave to come and hug him. Still very hurt and confused, Dave hesitated, but he ended up practically running into Henry's arms, despite the two being right in front of each other.
Henry wrapped his arms around Dave gently, while Dave gripped onto Henry as if his life depended on it.
"I love you, dad.." Dave sniffled, his tears finally coming to a stop. Henry smirked.
"I love you too, son."
Dave had fallen right into Henry's trap, and hearing Henry say 'I love you, son," while he was in such a fragile state completely secured it. Henry couldn't help but grin. He had never loved Dave. He had never even wanted Dave. Luckily for Henry, though, Dave was the perfect test subject.
This was going to be a wild ride.