Chapter Text
His mom was looking right at him. She was leaning on the back of the couch a guy hugging her while she cried. He barely had time to close the door behind him before he was bombarded with questions.
"Where were you? Why are you home this late? Where is all our stuff?" His mom yelled through her crying.
"I was just out with a friend. I pawned the stuff to pay for the bills." Robby answered.
His mom got up. "The bills aren't paid Robby. Stop lying to me. What did you do with the money." His mom said while pushing a finger into his chest.
"Mom I left the money at a friend. I'll pick it up tomorrow. I'm tired. It's late. I'm going to bed." Robby said while walking to his room.
"Don't walk away while your mom is talking to you!" The guy spoke up.
"... And who the fuck are you?" Robby said to the guy blocking his way.
"Don't take that tone with me, you little punk." the guy said while grabbing him by the shirt.
Robby grabbed at the guy. Trying to get at his neck or face. His shoulder is as far as he got. He was way taller than him.
Holding Robby up by the shirt the guy stared him down.
"Now, show some respect and answer your mother." the guy said.
Robby looked at his mom, hopping she'd tell the guy to let him go. He had no such luck. His mom just gave him a steely glare.
"Where is the money Robby." She asked again this time with a more anger behind it.
"I told you, with a friend." Robby answered.
"What friend? " His mom said.
"Miguel mom. A friend from school" Robby answered.
"Bullshit." His mom yelled. "We both know you dropped out." His mom continued.
The guy tightened his grip on Robby's shirt. Pushing his back against the entrance way to the hall. He could see the door to his room. He was so close to safety.
The guy put his face closer to Robby's. "What did you spend-." The guy said before wrinkling his nose. Getting even closer and then stepping back, into the hallway. The scowl on his face replaced with a look of disgust.
"Is that cum" the guy said while whipping his hand on the wall.
"You stole from your mom. Went out and spend all that money on... Your a f*#*ing fa*" he said and gave Robbie a shove.
He bumped into the side table and knocked something down. He stepped around it and felt something crack beneath his feet. When he looked down and saw the syringe.
“Your gonna pay for that!” the guy yelled before pushing him again.
“I’m sorry Seth.”his mom said.
Robby was pushed into the hallway. His head hitting the wall hard. Even in his dazed state he knew he wasn't going to win a fight. He opened his room door, jumped in and locked it .
Robbie slumped down against the door. He had always planned on telling his mom he was bi. He'd never imagined she'd find out like this. He could hear Seth yelling true the wall. Robby was happy he had a heavy door with a good lock. He could barely feel Seth's attempt to knock it down. It was more like a back massage than an actual threat.
He felt his phone vibrate. His screen lit up with Miguel's face. He let it ring. His night had turned bad. He didn't have to ruïne Miguel's too. After his phone stopped ringing Miguel send a text.
"You're probably asleep."
"Just wanted to talk."
"Was thinking about you"
He traced Miguel's profile pic with his finger. Miguel's home life was perfect compared to his. The bumping on the door stopped. Maybe his mom had finally calmed him down. His mom might have his back after all. Earlier it was probably just the alcohol or whatever talking. His hope was shattered when he felt a hard strike against the door. He heard the wood split.
Robby was back to panic mode. He couldn't stay here. He pushed a dresser in front of his door. That gave him enough time to pack a few things and get out. Luckily Miguel still had the money. He could call him and ask... No Miguel would run if he knew about his home life.
All his friends came with strings attached an most of them lived too far to reach this late. There was no time to think. He just had to get out. He smiled to himself and thought about Miguel as he looked to his window. Luckily his apartment had a fire escape. As he descended the stairs he felt his keys in his pocket. All he had were some clothe, his work keys and his wallet. He knew where he could go, he just didn't want to fuck that up too.
While walking to the car dealership. He started thinking of excuses, none seemed right. Next to Miguel the LaRusso's where the only good things in his life right now. Lying to him just felt wrong.
When he got to the car dealership he went to one of the crappy cars. Some of them were unlocked. They weren't really worth stealing. He made a bed in the backseat. As long as he woke up before they opened it would be fine. He fell asleep while reading Miguel's message again.
******
A ticking sound was the first thing that got Robby's attention, the support under his head falling away the second, the knock to his face the third.
"Robby, I'm so sorry." Mr. LaRusso said as he helped him out of the car.
All he could think was don't fire me, don't fire me, please don't fire me. When Mr. LaRusso asked him to follow him to his office he was ready to beg to keep his job.
When they got there instead of sitting behind the desk he sat next to Robby. Turning his chair towards him.
"Robby I know I'm just your boss and you probably don't want to talk to me but, are you ok?"
Robby was at once delighted that he wasn't getting fired and terrified. He always avoided talking about his home life. His first instinct was to ly. He probably couldn't. How do you explain having to run from your home. There was no way he could make his mom out to be good in that story, not that he wanted to. She didn't even say anything to come to his defence why would he come to her's. On the other hand he didn't want to end up in foster care. It might not be too bad. But he could end up in one of the homes that would just see him as a monthly check.
"If I tell you, you have to promise I won't end up in foster care."
Mr.LaRusso saw how important this request was to Robby. The teen kept eye contact as he waited for his response.
"I can't promise you that Robby."
"Then I can't talk to you" Robby said.
Mr. LaRusso saw the teen guard himself again. His gaze stared of behind him. His arms crossed and he shifted further back in the chair. Mr. Laruso knew he couldn't leave the teen like this. He wanted to know what's going on but Robby's request scared him a little. If it was as bad as Robby made it sound he had to get the authorities involved. Robby's earlier request already made it clear that he didn't want to go. He seemed like the type to runaway. Mr.Larusso knew what it's like out there on your own. He had found the teen sleeping in a car. If he had anywhere to go, he wouldn't be in his dealership right now.
"Robby, you don't have to get specific. I'm just need a yes or a no. Is home safe for you right now?"
Robby didn't answer. He didn't even make eye contact. All he could focus on right now was holding back the tears. His mind kept going back to last night. Switching between Miguel's house and his own. Between his mom and Miguel's family. Was he ever going to have that? He knew Miguel liked him but was he ever going to love him? Was anyone ever going to? This was the thought that broke him.
Mr. Larusso saw tears escape his eyes. Then sobs passed his lips and eventually he lost his composure. Robby held himself as he cried. Mr. Larusso got up and pressed the teen to his chest. After some time he passed he walked him to the car to get the rest of his stuff.
When they got to the door Robby waited to be handed his stuff back but Mr. Larusso just kept walking. He stopped at his own car and kept the door open, looking for Robby to follow him. In the car Robby relaxed a bit. The fear was gone from his mind. He had given up. He couldn't do this anymore. He could either go home and face the violence there or sleep on the streets. Wherever Mr. Larusso was driving him it couldn't be any worse than that.
When the car stopped at a big house in the suburbs Robby was confused for a moment. He recognized it as Mr Larusso house but why where they here. Where they meeting the social worker there and not at the police station.
"You can stay here for as long as you want. I don't know what going on, but I know enough to know you can't go back. You can stay in our guest room. I'll help you get set up."
Mr laruso led Robby to the guest room and left him there. He thought about locking the door behind him. The boy was his guest not a prisoner. When he returned to the room later he found Robby asleep. Car seats don't make for a good nights rest .
He was relieved that everybody was still out. His wife would probably start calling asking where he was. His kids where luckily still at school. He'd have time to think about what to do with Robby before discussing it with his family.