Nobody Messes With My Family Chapter 2 (A Modern Day Castlevania AU fic)
Summary: Julia brings Richter home and has a very serious talk with him. As the conversation goes on, it's revealed that something deeper is affecting Richter. The conclusion to Nobody Messes With My Family.
The car ride home was silent and tense. Richter sat in the passenger’s seat, head down and staring at his feet. Julia had a tight grip on the steering wheel and kept her full attention on the road. Neither Julia nor Richter could look at each other.
Julia pulled into the driveway and put on the brake. Still not looking at him, she held a hand out to Richter.
“Give me your phone.” she said curtly. Richter complied and handed it over. “Now go straight up to your room. I want you to sit up there quietly, no playing any games. I need to make a few phone calls and I’ll be up once I’m done.”
Richter knew it was useless to argue. He slipped out of the car and went inside the house. Julia pinched the bridge of her nose. She took a deep breath before grabbing her own phone.
Richter lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, waiting for his mother to arrive. The adrenaline he felt on the playground had long since dissipated, and now he just felt exhausted and anxious. He’d never been in this much trouble before. Before he knew it, he heard a knock at the door.
“Come in.” Richter answered tiredly as he sat up. His mother entered and closed the door behind her. Crossing her arms across her chest, she glared at her son. Richter braced himself.
“What in the world were you thinking, Richter??” Julia started in a raised voice. “Thank god you only got a week’s suspension, you’re lucky you weren’t expelled!”
“I know.” Richter answered quietly, head hanging down.
“No, I don’t think you do, Richter! This is serious! You know better than to put your hands on another person! I’ve raised you better than that!”
“But what about Nikolai?” Richter asked, starting to get his spark back. “He put his hands on Maria first! He hurt her!”
“Nikolai got a week’s suspension just like you,” Julia reminded Richter. “I’m upset that Maria got hurt too, but that doesn’t mean you should have fought Nikolai. If somebody’s being bullied, you’re supposed to go to one of the teachers or school staff. You know that!”
“But that doesn’t work!” Richter cried, the injustice of the situation upsetting him again. “The teachers drag their feet whenever a kid gets bullied! Nikolai’s been tormenting kids for months and the teachers don’t care! Every year we have these Anti-Bullying assemblies and they always tell us to say something if we see something. But when we do say something, the teachers don’t do shit!”
Julia looked at Richter cooly and lowered her voice. “I suggest you choose your next words very carefully, Richter. You’re already on thin ice here.”
“You didn’t see her when it happened, Mum! I’ve never seen Maria that upset before! She was bleeding and crying and it made me so mad that somebody could even think about hurting her,” Richter felt tears welling up in his eyes and his throat getting tighter. “And the dress that she wanted so much got ruined! I know how hard Auntie Tera worked so she could afford that dress! She worked longer hours so she could buy Maria that dress. And that jerk ruined it in a split second! It’s not fair!”
To both Richter and Julia’s surprise, Richter started sobbing.
“You and Auntie Tera work so hard to take care of us and make sure we have everything we need. And then a stupid bully hurts Maria and tells me that my whole family’s pathetic! It’s not true and it’s not right! I’m tired of people getting away with saying horrible things about people I love!”
Richter was crying hard now, shoulders shaking with sobs. Julia’s jaw dropped. She always knew Richter was sensitive, but she’d never seen her son in this state. Her heart was breaking by the second.
“Oh Richter,” Julia said softly as she felt tears brimming in her own eyes. The only thing she could do was kneel in front of him and wrap him in a tight, comforting hug. “Shhhhhh, it’s all right, my darling.”
Richter pressed his head into his mother’s chest and continued sobbing. Julia slowly ran her fingers through his hair in soft comforting motions. They stayed like this for a few moments, just a mother comforting her son. She gently pulled away and kept her hands on Richter’s shoulders.
“Take a few deep breaths, Richter,” Julia gently instructed him, bringing her gaze to his. “Breathe with me. In and out. That’s it, nice and slow.”
Richter followed his mother’s lead and matched the rhythm of her breathing. It actually started to work and the tension in his body lessened. As Richter slowly started to calm down, Julia brushed his tears away.
“I didn’t know you were aware of how hard your auntie and I had been working lately.” Julia said guiltily, briefly looking away from Richter.
“Of course I am,” Richter said softly through a sniffle. “I live with you. I see everything.”
Julia sighed sadly as she caressed his cheek.
“Sometimes I forget that you’re 10-years-old now,” she started wistfully. “A young man who’s more aware of the world around him. You’re growing up so fast, Richter.”
Julia looked into Richter’s tear-stained face again, this time seeing him in a new light.
“And what a young man you’re turning out to be. One who’s smart and kind and fiercely loves his family. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”
Julia pulled Richter in for another hug and Richter melted into it.
“Does this mean I can get out of whatever punishment you were planning?” Richter asked hopefully as he rested his head on his mother’s shoulder. He could feel her shaking her head.
“Oh no, you’re not getting off that easily,” she responded, voice still soft. “I understand what led you to do it, but you can’t just punch somebody and not face any consequences. What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t hold you accountable?”
“I mean, you’d still be a great mother whether you decided to punish me or not.” Richter answered, still hoping to get a lighter punishment. Julia couldn’t help but laugh.
“Nice try, kiddo, but buttering me up won’t work.” She grinned. Richter shrugged his shoulders.
“Eh, it was worth a shot.” He replied, a smile twitching on his lips.
Julia sat down next to Richter and put an arm around his shoulders. “Seriously though, I hear what you’re saying. If you felt like you needed to take matters into your own hands, that means that the adults in your school aren’t doing their jobs. I’m happy to have a meeting with them to figure out what’s going on. You know I’ve got your back, right?”
Richter smiled at his mom and nodded his head.
“So, in terms of your punishment,” she started more seriously. “You’re suspended from school for a week, so that means you’re grounded for a week. No phone, no video games, and no having friends over. I’ve asked Mizrak if he needs any help with his yardwork, and he said he’d love an extra pair of hands. His house is the only place you’ll be allowed to go this next week. And I’ve already told him that you’re not allowed to play his Switch 2.”
Richter sighed and put his head down. “All right, that’s fair. Anything else?”
“Yes, actually,” Julia handed Richter’s phone back to him. Richter looked up at her questioningly. “You can call Annette and fill her in on what’s happening this week. Also… your Auntie Tera wants to take you and Maria out for ice cream. They should be home any minute. Your punishment officially starts tomorrow.”
Richter’s eyes widened, not expecting this development. “Really? You’ll let me go?”
Julia sighed again. “Your auntie and I went back and forth about this. You’re not being rewarded for beating somebody up, I want to be very clear about that. But Tera insisted and eventually wore me down, so you can go out for ice cream.”
Richter smiled to himself. Auntie Tera was seriously the best.
Richter hugged his mother one more time.
“I love you, Mum,” he said genuinely. “I’m really sorry for any stress this caused you.”
Julia happily hugged her son back and gave him a little squeeze.
“I know. I love you too, Richter,” for good measure she kissed him on the cheek. “All right, go wash up and come down when you’re done.”
Richter washed his face quickly and headed downstairs. He saw his mom and Auntie Tera sitting on the couch, Maria in between them. He caught pieces of the adults’ whispered conversation.
“You’re sure you’re all right?” Tera asked Julia with concern. Julia nodded.
“I am. It was a good talk. Richter’s growing into quite the observant young man.” Julia answered.
Maria heard Richter’s footsteps and turned around.
“Richter!” Maria exclaimed as she jumped off the couch and ran to her brother. She hugged him around his waist.
“Hey, Maria!” Richter said, returning the hug. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better!” Maria answered, pointing to a white square bandage on her cheek. “Mum put medicine on my face to make it stop hurting! It stung a little at first, but then I didn’t feel anything!”
“That scratch should clear up in just a few days,” Tera started as she got up and placed her hands on Maria’s shoulders. “Maria was very brave.”
“And Mum fixed my dress too!” Maria added, her face beaming. Richter noticed that Maria wasn’t wearing the dress anymore, replaced by a t-shirt with bird silhouettes and a pink skirt.
“It was a clean tear, right on the shoulder seam. It was easy enough to mend and now it looks as good as new.” Tera smiled again.
Richter’s smile stretched across his whole face. “Wow, that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you, Maria!”
“My two favorite children in the world have had a very rough day,” Tera started sympathetically, placing an arm around each of the kids. “But it’s nothing that ice cream can’t fix. Ready to go?”
“Yeah!” Richter and Maria said in unison.
“Be sure to enjoy yourself, Richter,” Julia said with both a smile and a pointed look. “Because this is the last time you’re doing something like this for a while.”
Tera nodded solemnly. “Yes, so we’ll have to make this extra special.” She hugged Richter closer to her and gave him a surreptitious wink. Richter caught it and smiled gratefully.
“Bring me back a cup of Rocky Road?” Julia asked Tera as she opened the front door.
“For you, anything.” Tera replied with a quick kiss on Julia’s lips. Their gaze lingered for a few seconds. “All right, let’s be on our way!”
And with that, Tera, Richter, and Maria went out the door and made their way to the local ice cream parlor, giving a sour day a very much needed sweet ending.
