Divider (singular) by @jasper-graphics
The clanking of plates against the table meant only one thing: dinner. A bowl of spaghetti was set in the center of the table. A plate of garlic bread passed through Gesserith’s hands to his mother, which passed to his father. “So Dad,” Gesserith started, grabbing a few meatballs, “long day? You seem a little rough.”
“Boy, was it ever. Lots of repos today. Lots of idiots not understanding rates when they sign. Be better than them, Gesserith. Read what you sign for.” Eric poked at the garlic bread. “A little burnt.”
“It happens sometimes,” Serana replied. “You know how the oven acts up.”
Eric grunted. “Of course. So, Gess, you had that test recently, right? You get a grade back?”
Gesserith spun his pasta on his fork. “Yeah…”
“And so you got…?” Eric turned to face him. Gesserith just took another bite, barely glancing back. “Answer me, Gesserith. What did you get?”
He swallowed hard. “C plus.”
Eric put his fork down. “A C plus? With all that studying? Surely you must’ve just missed something? Another page?”
“No, I did it all. History just isn’t my strong suit. I tried my best.”
Eric’s face hardened. “Your best? Then why wasn’t there an A on your paper? Why did you get a C+? Hmm?”
Gesserith stabbed his plate. “I told you. I’m not good at history. I got an A on my math exam last week. My writing class’s group project is coming along. I am doing FINE.”
Eric tapped the table with the end of his fork. “Well clearly, you’re not. You should be doing better than that.” He took another crunchy bite of the garlic bread. “When I was your age-”
“-you had all As and your teachers loved you and you were top of the class and everyone fell to their knees when you walked by, I know.”
Eric stared at him. “Watch your tone, Gesserith.”
“Gesserith, that was rude, apologize.” Serana finally piped in.
“What did you say?” Eric taunted.
“I said sorry. Listen closer next time.”
Serana cut them off. “That’s enough, you two. Now eat.” They both simmered down and all that followed for a few minutes was the clattering of silverware. “So. Gesserith. What about that band you went to go see, the… what was the name… The Violet Vanishers? That sounded fun!”
Gess smiled. “Yeah, it was a good time. We all got some soda and sat down and just enjoyed the music. Gwin even got called onstage to sing one of their hits. You should’ve seen the look on his face.” He snickered. “Oh, I wish I got a video of it.”
“So THAT’S why you got a C+! You were out with your friends again, that’s right. I knew they were dragging you down. See, I always told you, you have to look out for yourself-“
“I wasn’t their fault,” he interrupted. “It’s like I said. I’m just not good at history.”
“Bullshit.” Eric hit the table with a fist. “You’re grounded until your history grade improves. And if I hear you talking about any of your friends, let alone that little Irina you always hang around with-”
“She is just a friend, dammit! Why won’t you understand that?! I’ve known her for years and she is JUST A FRIEND!”
“DON’T YOU LIE TO ME!” Eric was shouting now.
Gesserith accelerated with him. “Have I been lying to you about her for the past ten years? Have my grades really changed that much? No, you just have your head so far up your own ass that you refuse to see it!”
“Eric, Gesserith, both of you, just sit-”
“NO!” Eric turned and stared her down with a fury in his eyes. “He hasn’t learned his lesson yet. So I’ve got to do something about it since you keep babying him.”
Gesserith rolled his eyes as he stood up. He whispered a little too loudly, “Great, can’t even finish dinner this time…”
Eric undid his belt, whipping around. “The fuck did you say? You talking back to me again?”
Gesserith sighed. “You gonna do the same thing again? Maybe go for the leg this time, that’ll spice it up.”
Eric wound up. “Why you little—” Gesserith saw the arm raise before he felt the sharp pain to his eye. “You need to learn—” the right arm “—to make yourself—” the torso “—better than—” the same eye “—all of them!” the same eye. Gesserith fell back, clutching the now swollen part of his face. “Am I getting through to you? You worthless excuse for a son?” He curled the belt around his hand.
Serana dashed in. “ERIC! What have I told you?! You need to stop! Put down the belt!”
“Don’t you tell me what I need to do to make sure he succeeds! Or else you’re next!” He pointed right at her chest.
Gesserith stood up. “Don’t you talk to her like that. Don’t you talk to Mom like that.”
A strike to the stomach came before any verbal response, followed by one to the shoulder. “Fine. The hard way it is.” He wound up before bringing the metal buckle down on Gesserith’s head.
Gesserith grabbed it, and ripped it down to his side. He still cradled his eye. “Gonna… have to try harder… than that…” He threw the belt away.
Eric rolled his shoulders. “I’ll show you harder, you worthless little- hurgh!” He staggered back as Gesserith threw a punch right to his stomach. “So that’s how it’s gonna be. Alright then.” Eric jabbed at Gesserith, finding a hit before being parried. Gesserith responded with a jab and a cross, both getting blocked by a Brokers shield. “Can’t even fight like a Broker. After ALL THE TIME I put into you.”
Gesserith finally put his arms up in a combat stance. “I’ve had enough of you. Get out. Get out! Right now!” A right hook, two jabs, uppercut. All of them hitting, though barely. “Get the fuck out of our home!”
Serana stood in between them. “That’s enough! Both of you! Please just stop fighting like this!” A quick backhand put her down on her back.
“SHUT IT, BITCH! I AM TRYING TO TEACH OUR SON A LESSO- WOA!” Eric went down to the ground as Gesserith tackled him with full force. Before he was able to cry out again, his face was met with a flurry of punches, one after another without mercy. Gesserith straddled him, refusing to get off. He laid into him, blood starting to come from his eye. As he took a moment to breath, he was shoved back off as both of them came back up. “It’s time. It’s about time. I finally got rid of you. Got your ass on the streets. Get out of my sight!” He wiped the blood from his face before charging Gesserith.
Gesserith brought his foot back. He prepared his arms. And as Eric’s fist flew by Gesserith’s torso, his arm was grabbed. Gesserith placed another hand right under Eric’s armpit. And, using the momentum, he flung his father over his body, and right into the floor beneath them. The air was knocked out of him. Gesserith didn’t show mercy. He dropped down again. And this time, Gesserith landed a blow right to Eric’s throat. Eric responded by rolling over, coughing and hacking up blood. But in a turn of pure instinct, Eric pushed himself up and off the wall, flinging himself back for a final strike. Gesserith, eyes wide open, conjured a shield of his own, perfectly parrying the flying strike. He dashed forward off of the opening, finally putting Eric down with a flurry of blows.
Eric’s body hit the ground, looking up at his son. Gesserith looked back with one eye, no mercy showing. And then, a slow grin creeped across Eric’s face. “Heh. Heh. Heh. There’s that shield. I knew I did something right. Maybe you’re good for something after all.” He slowly pushed himself up, turning around and walking out the door.
The moment the door closed, Gesserith ran over to his mom, carefully checking her for any injuries. Before he got very far, Serana grazed her hand across his face. She pulled him close. “Gesserith…” They both stayed there and cried together for a long time.
Gesserith was eating a sandwich, and Serana was sitting on the couch watching the news. A bandage now covered his slightly-less-swollen black eye. A knock came from the door. “Mom, go get it, I’m eating.”
“Yeah, and I’m watching TV, I’m not getting up.”
He shook his head as he put his sandwich down. “Fine.” He stretched as he got up and walked over to the door. He opened it. “…get out. Go hom- go anywhere else but here. I never want to see you again.”
“Gesserith, please, I’m sorry. I know I went a little overboard, but please, just let me in.”
“I will beat you again. Do not fucking test me, GET AWAY!”
Eric peeked his head in. “Serana, tell him that it’ll get better. Please, honey, you know this isn’t what I’m like, please, just-”
Gess slammed the door shut. Fervent knocking followed. Gesserith, face unmoving, opened the door, and with a single fluid motion, struck Eric clean in the nose, kicked him back on the ground, and closed the door behind him, locking it. “If I see him again,” he warned his mother, “by the Five, I will kill him. I will not hesitate.”
Serana turned off the TV and went over to him. “Gesserith, no, do not. He is your father. You don’t need to kill anyone. Do anything but that. I know him, he wasn’t like this before-”
“Before what? Before me? Before you two got married? He’s been like this my whole damn life. I don’t care what he was like. He’s never changed. People like him never do.”
Serana grabbed her son’s shoulder. “Gesserith, I fucking mean it, you will not kill him. He has done horrible things but he doesn’t deserve death. If I ever hear you do something like that… I don’t know what I’ll do. But you will feel it. So I’m gonna say it again. Eric. Lives.” She stared right through his eyes, into his soul.
Gesserith stood tall, heaving under his breath. Then he started shaking, then crying. “Okay. Okay. He lives. I promise. I promise.” He hugged his mother, both of them barely making it over to the couch before he fell over, emotions overcoming him.