Work Text:
*abuse triggers*
~~~~~
Jake tapped his foot anxiously. It was visit day: and that meant his mom was coming. Which probably meant Kayleigh and Chase were as well... He thought happily...
But with Kayleigh and Chase came Matthew, Jake's abusive stepfather. Sure, being 6 feet and 190 pounds would surely mean he could defend himself... right?
Yes... now. Back when Jake lived at home, he was only five' five" and 140 pounds, he had no chance of defending himself. He watched as Nat checked her watch anxiously, looking around.
It would appear most forgot it was visit day. Bob's mom was working, Coyote's family were on holiday, Payback and Fanboy's parents were busy, who knows what was happening with Nat's family, Roosters were dead, and Jake only hoped his wouldn't turn up.
Alas: he wasn't so fortunate.
~
Jake was very anti-social when he was younger. His parents had begun to argue every day when he turned 7. This led to an even bigger rift in the household. His stepdad would yell and complain about having another mouth to feed and look after, while his mother tried to defend him, even though they all knew his stepdad was right. They would argue, his stepdad would throw things, his mom would curse at him and they’d storm off, leaving Jake to watch free-tv.
His parent's arguments progressively grew increasingly aggressive, with more curse words thrown, more vases broken and more cracks made. Jake fell out with one of his school friends when he was 9 and called him a fat bastard.
He got suspended for a week and his step-dad beat him for the first time.
His mother lost her shit when she found out that he’d been beaten while she was at work and threatened to slit his stepdad’s throat while he slept.
Every weekend when his mother had to work, his stepdad would beat him if Cassie wasn’t around. She tried to be around as often as she could, but Jake told her not to worry, that he was a big boy. Cassie had smiled sadly and cuddled him all night until their stepdad stumbled in from work, shithoused on booze.
Jake’s mom was a good mother. She loved Jake and Cassie very much, even a stranger could see that.
But then their mom met Matthew. For some reason, he loathed Jake and Cassie. The feeling was very much returned. If Jake or Cassie had their show on while the twins were playing, Matthew would storm in and “accidentally” kick them as he walked by to put the twin's show on. Jake’s mom was a bit of a… back alley lurker, if you get the hint, so she wasn’t at home much, leaving Matthew to watch all 4 kids most evenings.
Sure, he watched Chase and Kayleigh was overwhelming love and care, but he couldn’t give 2 shits about Jake or Cassie. They grew up fending for themselves.
Jake was only 9 when the physical abuse started. It started quick. Jake came home from school once with Cassie in tears. Someone had called her fatty-four-eyes and Jake had punched them in the face. He’d gotten sent home early, and Cassie snuck out with him. Matthew wasn’t home, so they took the opportunity to sneak some food in and get a shower before he came back. Cassie went first to grab a shower, while Jake grabbed a handful of snacks. He snuck them upstairs and hid them in Cassie’s period draw. If Matthew found them, then he’s a perv. Cassie came out of the shower and went into her room to dry quickly. Jake went in next.
He came out about 10 minutes later and snuck into his room to dry and get dressed. He walked out and straight into a broad chest. Jake stumbled back in shock and tripped over a rift in the rug, landing on his ass. “Pathetic,” Matthew had sneered. “Get up,” Jake bit down his fear and stood up. “Out,” He’d commanded. Jake scurried out and waited outside his room, knowing he’d be in for it if he left.
Matthew stormed in, throwing the door open with an angry roar. “WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!” He’d yelled, throwing something hard at Jake. He just about caught it and saw it was a mug Kayleigh had made and given him. “Kayleigh made it for me!” He squeaked out. Matthew snarled. “Don’t lie to me, you little shit!” He lunged at Jake and pushed him out of the room.
Jake tripped over the rift in the rug, losing his footing as he stumbled down the stairs.
Jake tumbled to the bottom, groaning in pain. Matthew walked by, standing on his hand with all his weight. Jake screamed out in pain. Matthew twisted his foot, breaking the bones in Jake’s hand even more. “Shut up you pussy!” Jake bit down his screams as he tried to stay awake. “That’ll teach you for lying.” He stared disgusted at Jake. “Go and clean up before your mom and Kayleigh get home."
It went on like that for nearly 5 years before Jake ran away.
The problem was: Jake could never bring himself to tell his mom Matthew hit him. Jake knew his mom, for whatever reason, loved Matthew. He never hit her, and she seemed happy… so Jake kept quiet.
~
"Bagman, your mom's here," He looked up with a wince. "Yeah... I know," He felt the ever-present fear of teenager Jake returning with full force when Matthew stepped out of the cab. "You alright? You're usually happy to see your mom," Nat asked. Jake wrang his hands. "Yeah, yeah... I'm... I'm just tired, I guess," He knew it was a lame ass excuse but... Nat hummed. "Wanna try again? That was a shit excuse, and you know it,"
Before Jake could answer, a scoff broke through the air. He shut his eyes tightly, preparing for the verbal abuse to start. In the corner of his eye, he caught the others moving closer, almost like a warning. Matthew must've given off abusive vibes, he thought with a small inside chuckle. "Mom," He greeted. Lauren Black (nee Seresin) gave a small wave. He grinned at Kayleigh, Chase and Cassie. "Hey, guys, s'nice to see ya'll again," Cass grinned back, Chase stared in awe at the jets surrounding them and Kayleigh made eyes at Rooster.
He finally met Matthew's eyes. He gave a single nod. Matthew sneered as he glared disdainfully at Nat. "The navy is no place for a woman," He hissed. Jake blinked in shock. "Sorry?" Nat asked. "Women need to be in the home, cooking for the men." Jake took a step in front of Nat. "Don't speak to her that way, she's more of a man than you ever were," He spat, voice shaking. Matthew scoffed again. "Oooh, Mr big shot here! Can you believe him, Lauren? He thinks he can mouth off to me?" Jake's mom didn't answer. "Sir, I'm only going to tell you this once. If you continue, I'll have to get security to take you off base," Rooster warned. Matthew eyed him. "Uh-huh. You're in the navy and have security guards? Wow, our countries fucked,"
"Sir, with all due respect, shut your mouth," Nat spat. Jake placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nat," He warned quietly. "No. We fly out there, in those jets every single day, risking our lives to protect your pathetic one," She continued. "All you do is sit on your ass, or in your 9-5 job. You don't protect anyone. You don't help anyone. You're a nobody,"
Matthew took a step forward. "Back off," Bob hissed. Jake felt lost: why would they all help him? He'd been nothing but an ass to them.
"You're done. You can go back in that cab and crawl into whatever hell spot you crawled out of. I'll be happy to personally escort you,"
~
"I'm sorry he was such an ass to you, by the way," Nat said. Jake hummed, looking away from his phone. "He seemed like an absolute douchebag. I'd be an asshole if I lived with him as well," Jake looked away again. "Yeah, well, I don't anymore, thankfully... so there's no need to talk about it anymore." Nat eyed him curiously. "You know... if you ever need to rant, or speak about it, I suppose I can lead you an hour of my time," She offered.
Jake glanced over. "Uh huh, thanks for the offer Trace."
Nat rolled her eyes. She knew he was putting up a front again, but... she'd done her part.