#victim!chris

[mintsturniolo]

How it felt waking up and not seeing a Treehouse fic this morning @sturniololuv08 😭

[darksturnioloqueen]

TreeHouse - Chapter 19

"The school called."

Summary: Chris is doing well in school and catches a teacher's attention.

"For with knowledge comes pain"

⚠️This Fic Series will NOT be for people with triggers. This Fic Series will have very descriptive moments of abuse.⚠️

Please Read At Your Own Risk.

⚠︎Trigger Warning: angst, anxiety, mention of old wounds, unfair circumstances, yelling?, pain, Victim!Chris getting punished. ⚠︎

Chris POV:

I woke up in the basement. I remembered hearing her voice lulling me to sleep, but not how I got back home. I looked around and heard everyone upstairs moving around, starting their day. I wanted to go up there and act like a part of the family, but I was afraid I would just be presenting myself as a target. I sat up and looked around the slate grey basement. It wasn't so bad being down here because I got to sneak in and out and stay away from them. Just then, the basement door opened, and Nick came halfway down the steps.

"Let's go. Matt wants to race." I rolled my eyes. He knew I'd never win, and that's why he loved it. He and Nick drove to school, while I usually took the bus. However, every once in a while, Matt would want to, quote, "race me." It always resulted in me being late to school, worn out, in pain, and when I got home, I was beaten up for losing. I got up and grabbed my bag. I changed my pants, so it looked like I was in a new outfit. Though I knew Nessie would know it wasn't. She was the only one who would notice. It hurt to know I couldn't hide this side of my life from her. I never thought I would see her again. I always thought I'd be stuck at home while she was just moving on in her life without me. I was okay with that. Every day, I thought about her, and I was happy to imagine her living her life to the fullest, even if it meant without me. As I emerged up the steps to the warm-toned house, I was met with silence and glares.

"Let's go." Matt cocked his head towards the door, so I knew to follow. I did without hesitation. Other than my thighs burning from malnutrition and being under-exercised, and any old wounds flaring up, I enjoyed this game. It was nice to give up and walk the rest of the way to the school by myself. Which I did this time because the pencil stab wasn't healing the best. I arrived, and all the buses were done unloading kids, and Matt's car was in his parking spot. Late, as usual. I walked through the main office and got a slip to get to class. I looked at a clock in the hallway and made sure I hadn't missed my class with Nessie. The whole class looked at me and whispered as I walked. 

"Late again." The teacher raised a brow.

"Overslept. Missed the bus." I kept it short. The teacher held out their hand for my tardy slip with a sigh. I sat in my seat and caught my breath for the rest of the lesson. The bell rang, and I quickly darted for the door. I just wanted to see Nessie. I weaved through the hallway just to find Nessie smooshed up against a locker with Matt hanging over her. Her eyes flicked my way and immediately back to Matt. She knew not to push him. I slipped into the classroom and sat down. I covered my head with my hood and rested my head on the desk. The image of her stuck, assuming she was being harassed by Matt, and I couldn't do anything to help her, tore me up inside. I lurched when I felt a soft, singular poke on my elbow.

"It's okay." Her voice flowed down my spine, countering the chills with something more soothing. I removed my hood and looked at her. My eyes held nothing but apologetic words. "It's okay." She knew I was upset about Matt without me having to say anything. Even though she said it was fine, she was quieter than usual this period. I knew she was bothered. I changed. She didn't. She probably didn't know this, but she had all the same tells from when we were kids. Her nose scrunches when she is in thought. She tucks and untucks a strand of her hair when she is nervous. Lastly, she goes quiet when she is really upset. She was never a loud outburst kind of person. She would seal her lips as if there were never the right words to explain her sadness, but with me, she didn't have to. I knew. This class ended faster than any other class on my schedule, and I knew it was because it was the only one I had with her. I tried to catch her before Matt appeared, but it was like he knew. He smiled at me, and it was nothing inviting. He was aware he had the upper hand.

"Chris, can I speak to you a moment?" Nessie looked back when she heard the teacher say my name. She was just as on edge as I was. Surely, she didn't tell them. She wouldn't. She had to know it would cost me more in the long run.

"Uh, sure." My voice wavered. The teacher looked me up and down as all the students flowed out into the hallway. I looked down at the ground, waiting. I wasn't sure what they were going to say. Mostly, I was afraid of what they would ask me. I would lie, I knew that, no matter the question. But would it be believable enough? Could I make it believable enough? And if Nessie had said something, it would be my word against hers.

"I just wanted to check in with you." I avoided looking at them.

"I'm fine," I mumbled.

"I can tell you are. It's challenging to transition from homeschooling to public school, but you are adjusting very well. Your grades are improving slowly, and your last paper was some of your best work." I slowly lifted my head as the praise sank into my mind. It was new. It felt good.

"Thank you." I still avoided looking directly into their eyes. I was afraid that if I did, they would see the water glossing over mine.

"Keep up the good work, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Their tone wasn't ominous or coated with hidden meaning. It was simply just that. I left and went through the rest of the day feeling a little more confident in myself. It was a different feeling, but I couldn't help but repeat their words over and over in my thoughts. I knew it had to do with Nessie and me in the treehouse. We usually studied as a way for me to avoid talking about anything personal and a way for her to feel like she was helping me. I suppose it was reflecting on my true academic performance. The day ended, and I got on the bus. Nessie was talking with her friends. As soon as I neared the back seats, they all looked at me. She got up and sat next to me.

"Are you okay?" She whispered.

"Yeah." I looked out the window at the school's football field. I felt her fingers tickle across my own hand. I didn't flinch; I held my breath. She slowly interlocked just our pinkie fingers. I closed my fist a little and made sure to squeeze her finger closer. The bus ride was the second fastest part of my day, all because it was the only time I felt comfortable. We walked off the bus and went our separate ways with just a look. We both knew what that look meant. The treehouse. It was a routine I desperately needed. Sometimes I wondered if she needed it too. I made it home and was immediately regretting opening the front door. I was a little shocked because Matt wasn't waiting to accept his prize for winning this morning's race. Instead, I was met with both of my parents waiting. Something very different from the usual.

"The school called." My mom said. The way her lip twitched meant she was upset. My body sent one single shiver down my spine, causing my muscles to go numb shortly after. I wanted to tell myself Nessie wouldn't say anything. That she would understand the consequences would be far worse than the help, but all I could think was how could she?

"I'm sorry," I whispered. Father's hand swung swiftly through the air across my mouth, causing my lip to crack against my teeth.

"She didn't say you could speak." His voice was never cold. It was always void. He was empty inside. Everything told me that his voice, his eyes, and the love he once carried for me were empty. I wanted to apologize again out of reaction, but I licked my blood off my lip instead.

"We made it very clear not to bring attention to yourself at school." She hit me. Not as hard, but I knew it wouldn't stop there. "So why is the school calling us about you?" Rhetorical. She knew already because she talked to them. She hit me. "We don't want them calling this house again for you. Even if it's because you are doing well." She hit me. "Do you understand?" Not rhetorical, but I was afraid to speak without actual permission.

"Better fucking answer her." My father said, raising his hand into a ball.

"I understand." I wanted my words to be clear, but my voice was shaky.

"Oh, we'll make sure you understand." Mother's lip twitched again, and I knew this was it.

Gonna try and finish our babyyyyyy <33333

Royal Subjects

(Official Taglist)

@emely9274 @alexisa78 @iloveduckssm @n0tlorelai

[darksturnioloqueen]

TreeHouse - Chapter 20

"When was your last shower."

Summary: Chris and Sienna share a very intimate moment.

"The ultimate act of power is surrender."

⚠️This Fic Series will NOT be for people with triggers. This Fic Series will have very descriptive moments of abuse.⚠️

Please Read At Your Own Risk.

⚠︎Trigger Warning: visible injuries & scarring, emotional distress, trauma responses, unsafe home environment, anxiety, nudity, abuse things. ⚠︎

Sienna's POV:

Waiting was something I was getting used to doing. The time wasted never truly felt like a waste once Chris eventually showed up. Getting to see him walk up to the tree house meant everything to me. It was getting late, which was making me fidget more and more. I kept looking out the tiny window etched in the wood, hoping to see him disproving my growing fears. I saw my parents in the kitchen, having a heated discussion. They were fighting a lot more. I noticed it started when I was in the tree house.

"Nessie." The whisper shot through the cooling air.

"Chris." I squeaked. My head looked down the hole, and I saw him climbing up. "You okay?" I asked regularly. It was always a loaded question, but I would hope that, if he truly weren't,  he would tell me one day.

"Yeah..." He grunted, climbing in. He lied; the usual. The silence fell between us. It wasn't uncomfortable, though. Even with all of our visits, I didn't know how to start conversations with him. Sometimes I wanted to start rambling about myself, but then it felt selfish knowing what he was going through. Other times, I thought school was the safer option, but we usually settled on that in the end, so starting with it felt boring. I could assume he didn't know how to start them either because he never did. I could sit in this silence with him for hours if it meant he knew I was here supporting him. I stared at him. Usually, he would avoid my gaze and look nervous, but I slowly watched that wall crumble, and right now, he was staring right back at me. Not in a challenging way, but a soft gaze like he was capable of breathing again, even if just for tonight.

"We are almost done with our book." I jangled the book in the air, showing how little of it we had left. Chris smirked a little. Reading was our other main activity. He wasn't a fast reader, and I didn't mind when he fell asleep in my lap. I liked knowing he felt safe enough with me to do so.

"Damn," he chuckled. The conversation opened him up, and he physically relaxed a little, as if the words were permitting him to be comfortable.

"You'll have to pick a new one." I always let him choose things because I wanted him to feel a sense of control. I speculated everything about him, mainly because he never told me anything too personal, even now. I assumed he probably felt pretty helpless and out of control, given that whenever he was hurt, he couldn't stop it, and it was coming from the people in his life who were supposed to be closest to him. We got into our usual reading positions, book in my hands just above his head in my lap. I started reading. It didn't happen right away, but after a few minutes of being settled, I could smell him. His stench was permeating the air. It wasn't good. At first, I dismissed the immediate idea that popped into my head. I kept reading. Then I teased the idea more. Realizing my voice was fumbling words from a book I had read at least three times, I shoved it back down when I couldn't find the words to say to him. It is rude to tell anyone they smell bad outright, but knowing his situation only made it that much harder not to sound brutal in delivery. Of course, I had a feeling he would know that I wasn't trying to be mean in any way, but I just had to be delicate about it because I didn't want to push him away. After stuttering a simple sentence, lost in my thoughts, I spoke. "Chris?" My voice was broken from my dry mouth. I was immediately afraid to ask after opening the door.

"Yeah?" His voice, for the first time, sounded happy, cheerful, upbeat even. It only crushed my heart more for what I was about to say.

"When was the last time you showered?" The minute I finished talking, I felt Chris start moving away from me. It felt like he wasn't just rejecting the question but me, and it hurt.

"What?" He looked upset. I knew that reaction was a given since it was a horrible question to ask in the first place. I looked at him, hoping my eyes could convey my intentions, being placed somewhere other than genuine malice. His face showed several emotions, so I couldn't tell how he truly felt about the random question. His eyes looked guilty or sad. His mouth frowned in a way that looked angry. His body language looked anxious or scared, like he was about to be in trouble. 

"It's okay. I just want to know. Do you -"

"Yes. I shower." His voice sounded defensive. 

"When was your last shower?" I tried to keep my voice nonchalant so he would think this was just an everyday conversation, but I knew it was shaky. I was always scared to hurt him more because he clearly didn't need that. But I was mostly just afraid he would leave. His walking away to live a life I'm only just now discovering, one that is as appalling as it is, would haunt me no matter how close we got. 

"A couple of days ago." He shrugged slightly. He was lying. It wasn't that he had any secret tells like an eye twitching or biting a finger. It was simply the fact that he never told me the truth first that I knew he was lying. 

"Chris..." I sighed. I locked eyes with him, and he looked down at his hands as if to see the dirt present on his skin. He started picking at the skin under his fingernails. 

"They don't let me often." He still didn't answer the question, but that was okay. I understood. 

"Do you want one?" His head popped up to study my face. I read deep into his bright eyes. No one wants to smell foul or feel dirty, I knew that. The pleading mixed with excitement was enough to tell me he would do anything for a shower but would never ask aloud if it was okay. "Yeah," I said, so softly I don't even know if he heard me, answering his look. Chris nodded. Our friendship, though very short when we were younger, was so strong that words were never needed, and it endured our time apart. We both climbed down the ladder. I reached for his hand, and he let me have the whole thing. "We have to sneak in. My parents are home." I didn't mind getting caught with Chris. If anything, I feel like it might jump-start saving him from his home life, but I knew he would be terrified. He nodded again, the mere idea of a shower removing his words. I led him into the back door and tugged him along. All the lights were off deeper in the house, so I tried to keep him closer to me so he didn't accidentally run into anything. We successfully made it into my bathroom. Chris looked scared. "It's okay," I reassured him. "Their room is on the other side of the house, and I'll stay in here so if they wake up, they think it's me." He again nodded. We stared at each other for a while, exchanging looks that ranged from neutral to intense. Mine was full of reassurance; his held something less heavy.

"Can you turn around?" Chris smirked slightly.

"Oh. Yeah. I'm sorry." I felt my cheeks heat up, embarrassed from being called out for staring at him as he waited to undress. I shut my eyes and covered my face with my hands, hoping he couldn't tell I was blushing. After a few minutes, I heard the shower curtain rings jingle. "Just tell me when I'm good." I mentally cursed myself for being uncool moments ago. I knew it wouldn't take a lot to impress Chris, but I still didn't want him to see me as a stupid girl.

"You are." The water turned on as I spun around. I sat on the toilet.

"Take all the time you want, okay?" My voice was smoother than I intended. I wasn't about to rush him. He needed this, and I was happy to help him with another thing. Time passed, the water kept running, and I waited. Only this time I wasn't anxious, I was relieved. The shower curtain in between us was stopping the real view behind it, but I could only imagine his head steeping in the piping hot water, dirt circling the drain, and one burden being lifted from his shoulders.

"Fuck!" Chris' voice broke through the silence, sharply and abruptly stopping my thoughts. My anxiety took over my body all over again, and I jumped up and ripped the shower curtain back without a second thought to check on him.

"Chris!" I shrieked. 

"Nessie!" Chris flinched and started trying to cover his exposed body, though I saw it all already. The scars, pink and raised. The cuts, scabbed and red. The bruises, everywhere. The array of colors casting over his body like a broken, beaten canvas.

"Oh, Chris." I gasped, realizing how bad it was. The water was running down his body, light grey from old dirt and pink from reopening old wounds.

"Nessie, don't." His voice was stern and scared. It grabbed my gaze. His eyes were horrified. I have finally seen the entire truth. He couldn't lie to me anymore. Everything he tried to hide from the world, including me, was now my secret too. I was learning it all right here.

"Chris..." I whispered, feeling my voice choke in my throat. My eyes started to well up with tears.

"I'm fine." His ribs showed ridges beneath the fresh purple and old yellows.

"Let me help." The words flowed out without any thought. All I ever want to do is help him. In any way I can, or rather any way he would let me.

"No." He closed the curtain harshly. I reopened it fast, causing the rings to scratch the metal like nails on a chalkboard. It clearly bothered Chris because his shoulders scrunched up, and he shrank into himself before me.

"Chris. Please." I felt a few tears roll off my lashes. I wasn't giving up on him. He looked at me and immediately softened. He nodded slightly, causing water to drip from his hair. I felt my heart leap a little. I wanted to show him a bold act of trust, so without another thought, I ripped my shirt off, exposing my bare chest. Chris's eyes widened, staring blankly at my naked upper half. I felt my nerves flood in, unsure of what he was thinking of me, and unbuttoned my pants a little slower. I watched Chris closely, trying to catch a glimpse into his brain. I slipped out of everything I had on and stood completely bare before him. I slowly stepped into the water and felt how cold it was. "Jesus." I lurched forward into Chris' body. He caught me unafraid of the physical touch. I looked up at him. "Why is it cold?" I whispered.

"Please don't." His eyes begged me not to press. I wanted to. Everything in me wanted to ask about every injury displayed on him. How he got it, who it was from, could he have tried to stop it, did he? I slid past him so I wasn't in the water anymore and grabbed some soap. I carefully started with his shoulders. They looked the least damaged. I was afraid of hurting him more. He rested his hands on the tile in front of him. His head hung in the water, the droplets splashing back, helping me soap him up. After I had good bubbles, I slowly rubbed my hands down, feeling my finger tips run over the ridges on his sides. He stood frozen in the cool water. I could tell, even though he was allowing me this close to him, he was still petrified. 

"If I hurt you, tell me." I managed to say. I was beyond speechless. There was no way one human body could endure this kind of abuse and be okay. My fingers brushed over softening scabs. I moved in slow, deliberate circles. The pain he must physically feel every day was beyond what anyone could know, myself included.

"Just go slow." I nodded, not even registering that he wouldn't see me. The silence was loud. He was trusting me—more than he ever had before. I went slow and soft, letting the bubbles soothe over every inch of him. It started smelling like warm strawberries. A girly scent that I owned but felt he would enjoy. Truthfully, I felt like he would enjoy anything that meant being clean. My hands worked their way down more. I was staring directly at the back of his head for any indication that I was hurting him or that touching him was too much. My hands moved down, and I felt a circular hole in his left side. "Fuck." He flinched. I jumped a little before my protective reaction came over me, and I wrapped my arms around his chest, pulling him back to me. I just wanted to hold him. I didn't know if my arms would make it better or worse, but I got my answer. I felt his shoulders move down. His chest moved up then down in one big heave. I rested my lips on his wet back. I closed my eyes, realizing how comfortable he was with me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered on his back, my lips brushing his skin.

"It's okay." He whispered as he removed my arms from around his chest. I didn't want to push the physical contact because I was already getting more from him than I ever thought I could. He turned around, and I saw a contrast between his back injuries and his stomach ones.

"These are fresh." I blurted.

"The school called my parents to tell them I was doing well." He said it bitterly. He knew getting in trouble for something like that was wrong. I could see it on his face.

"Can I get closer to you?" I smirked a little, knowing what I asked. Chris's lips twitched into an involuntary smile.

"Yeah." He opened his arms slightly allowing me a spot to hug into. I was still careful of his body, especially after having just hurt him by accident. I wanted to hold him firm enough to tell him he was safe with me, but not so much that he would retreat from the idea of letting me in. To my surprise, as we stood there, bodies connected, water cascading down both of us, he squeezed me a little tighter. 

in·ti·ma·cy

noun: intimacy

close familiarity or friendship; closeness.

a private cozy atmosphere.

intimate act.

I wanted to highlight some things about intimacy and one of the major things about it is that everyone believes it MUST be sexual! That is not the case! Intimacy can be as simple as cuddling, holding hands, or an intimate act out of love that is again, not sexual! THIS IS THEIR FIRST SUCCESSFUL INTIMATE MOMENT <3

[darksturnioloqueen]

What if I said I had motivation for Treehouse ?

A BIG IF

[darksturnioloqueen]

TreeHouse

(Victim!Chris Fic Series)

Summary: Sienna, 'Si' 'Nessie', lost her childhood best friend, Chris. After being forced to grow up without him, how is she supposed to feel about Chris reappearing after all these missed years? Is Chris the same boy she remembers, or have things changed?

⚠︎ This Fic Series will NOT be for people with triggers. This Fic Series will have very descriptive moments of abuse. ⚠︎ Please Read At Your Own Risk.

Playlist

Character Intros

Victim!Chris Nessie!TreeHouse

Chapters

TreeHouse Prologue

Thee Matthew Sturniolo

This Is Your First Shower... In How Long?

A Gentleman Always Pays For The Date

We Are Not Family

He Was Just A Childhood Best Friend; They Never Really Last Anyway

You Better Do Whatever They Tell You To

I Ditched With Matt

Secret Handshake Promise?

Last Night Was A Mistake

Matty Wants To See You In His Room

I Can't Tell You

I'll Meet You In The Treehouse

Keep Your Enemies Closer

What The Fuck?

You've Been Spending An Awful Lot Of Time In The Treehouse Lately

You Think You Can Fight Me?

Can I... Can I Get Closer To You?

The School Called

When Was Your Last Shower?

Wash That Off

[darksturnioloqueen]

TreeHouse - Chapter 18

"Can I... can I get closer to you?"

Summary: Chris is absent from school.

"The best way to get to know someone is to simply spend time with them."

⚠️This Fic Series will NOT be for people with triggers. This Fic Series will have very descriptive moments of abuse.⚠️

Please Read At Your Own Risk.

⚠︎Trigger Warning: angst, anxiety, throwing up, mention of sex with Matt, yelling?, old wounds, old bandages, pain, talk of being stabbed, Victim!Chris getting scared, refusing medical care, talking about the stab wound, joking about pain?, FLUFF FLUFF FLUFF. ⚠︎

Sienna's POV:

He never showed up. I waited up all night. The only thing I could feel was the panic in my chest, tightening every muscle in it. It hurt to breathe, to speak, and to think about him. That was the worst part. All I could do was think about him. He never showed up. At the bus stop, waiting for him, he never showed up. The air was only getting thinner from there. He wasn't in the hallway. He wasn't in our class together. He wasn't here. School dragged by. The more I thought about him, the less I could breathe. It felt like the day I first saw him. The world was not turning anymore. The oxygen in my body wasn't enough.

"Hey, you okay?" I turned around to see the last person I wanted to see. His arms wrapped around me, and I felt trapped. I couldn't shake the thought of Chris not being here because of him.

"Yeah, why?" I plastered the fake smile on.

"You just seem distant." Matt nuzzled my shoulder. Without all of my knowledge, I probably would have blushed and invited the warm touch, but he made me sick. Not knowing what happened to Chris was making me feel sick.

"I'm going to get sick." I snaked out of his arms and walked fast to the bathroom. I lurched over the toilet and threw up. It wasn't a lot, just enough to be a physical response to the stress I felt. I wiped my mouth with my thumb and flushed the lever. I leaned against the stall and closed my eyes. "Where are you, Chris?" I whispered, feeling my gut twitch again.

"Si?" It was Julia. Her voice was recognizable. I came out of the stall and collapsed in her arms. "What's wrong?" As a best friend, she just knew I wasn't okay.

"I'm not allowed to say anything, and it's killing me." I felt the sobs getting stuck in my throat.

"It's okay. You will when the time is right." I knew she had no idea what I meant, so I pretended that her words were comforting. The bell rang, dismissing everyone for the day. "Schools over. You can go home and relax." She pulled away from me. I looked into her green eyes for only a few seconds cause if I looked any longer, I knew I'd fully collapse and spill every detail I was sworn to secrecy with.

"Okay. Thank you." I went to the sink and rinsed the acidic flavor out of my mouth while she got me a paper towel. She was never a quiet friend, but her silent demeanor meant she was trying to figure me out. We walked to the bus corral and parted ways. I instinctively looked for the dark moppy-haired boy. "Fuck." I whispered to myself. I kept my head low, hoping not to run into Matt. Luckily, I avoided him.

"Julia texted me, are you pregnant?" AK, being the boy in our group, made him less sensitive to matters.

"No. That's insane." I laughed a genuine laugh. That was the first time since last night that I felt like I could breathe. "Impossible." I snickered a little more.

"Not, Matt?" He raised a brow as the bus moved.

"Fuck. No. Never with Matt." I would never choose to have sex with someone so cruel ever.

"That is too bad. I would love the dirty details of -"

"Okay, we're done. We're done." I plugged my ears. The bus halted at our stop, and we shuffled off. The minute my Converse touched the pavement, my heart beat quickened. The air felt thick but useless in my lungs. I reached the front door and ran straight to my room to get my things for the stakeout in the treehouse. I just had to hope he would show up tonight. I needed it for my reassurance that he was okay. I needed him. I was about to dart through the kitchen to the back door when I was stopped by my mom.

"Honey, can I talk to you?" She had a concerned look on her face.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." I haven't done anything bad lately that would get me in trouble, so I had no idea why she would be concerned about me.

"I'm worried about you. You have been a little more distant than normal lately." She started.

"What do you mean?" I knew she meant me going into the treehouse almost every night for the past few weeks, after not having been in it for years. But I couldn't tell her why.

"Sienna, honey. I know you love your space and your father and I have always been good at trying to give it to you, but you haven't shown a single drop of interest in the treehouse since -"

"It's a quiet place to study. It calms me." I interrupted her. I didn't want her to bring up Chris, although I wasn't sure if she even remembered him.

"Okay. If you need to talk -"

"I know. I know. Go to you or dad." I playfully rolled my eyes. I looked out the window to the treehouse and felt my chest tighten again. What if he didn't show up tonight either?

"Or just me. You know your father can be... a mess." She chuckled, and I knew that was my permission to leave. I gripped my homework a little tighter as I walked through the grass. I put my books and notebook in the little bucket I kept at the bottom of the ladder to make it easier to haul everything up or down. I set the bucket down inside and hoisted myself up into the square hole.

"Chris." He jumped from my loud outburst. I couldn't contain my relief and crawled to tackle him down.

"Nessie, stop!" he yelled aggressively. I realized my mistake and got off of him as fast as I could.

"I'm sorry. I didn't... I forgot... I -"

"Shhh." His voice was soothing to my nerves. I never wanted to hurt him, physically or mentally. I wanted to be a safe person for him.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. Without any warning, he lifted his shirt and looked at his old bandages. They were soaked through with deep brown. He seethed a little when he moved to sit back up.

"It's okay." I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or about his new wound.

"What happened?" I never knew what else to say. I knew I probably shouldn't be asking him, but deep down, some sick curiosity just had me wanting to know. 

"Matt stabbed me."

"He what?" I yelled. Chris flinched from my words. "He what?" I whispered, completely in contrast to my original outburst. Chris avoided eye contact with me. "Okay," I sighed. "Do you need to go to a hospital?" I was more than willing to take him.

"No, I can't. They'll ask questions." Chris finally looked at me, his eyes expressing how serious he was.

"Can I see it?" I wanted to decide whether he needed to go to the hospital myself. Chris shook his head, no. "Chris..."

"I don't want you to see me like this, Nessie."

"I get that, but I need to know you are okay." I pressed. If he was stabbed too deeply, he could die, or without proper care, it could get infected. I had to know he was going to be okay.

"Can we just not talk about it?" Chris wasn't just begging. He was pleading.

"Promise you are going to be okay." I needed something to cling to, no matter how silly it sounded, I just needed him to promise me.

"I promise." He smiled softly, and my heart tightened, but in a good way, for the first time all day. Chris's smile was the most calming and beautiful I had ever seen.

"Okay." I nodded, letting him know we could move on. 

"I would secret handshake promise, but -" He chuckled. His little laugh made me feel something flutter in my stomach. I almost felt like crying.

"Oh. Shut up." I giggled with him, letting him make light of a situation that wasn't light. "I brought a book. I thought I could read it to you if you wanted." Chris nodded excitedly. His excitement over such a simple thing warmed my body up. I got settled in my spot and saw him carefully lay himself down in his. I observed him, envisioning the boy I used to know being the person before me. It was a surreal thing to do because they were precisely the same, but not. Chris was still the Chris I knew, but only in brief moments. And then other times, he was someone I wished I had never had to meet.

"Are you going to start or just stare at me?" I blinked fast and looked at him lying down fully, ready for me to start. I smiled and felt the heat rising to my cheeks.

"I'll start." I opened up the book and smiled down at the page. I started reading each word carefully, emphasizing the ones I thought sounded best.

"Nessie?" Chris's voice was thin.

"Yeah?" I lowered the book, marking the sentence we were on with my thumb, and gave him my full attention.

"Can I... can I get closer to you?" It wasn't even his question that hit me hard. It was the way he asked. His voice was so sweet and soft. How could anyone deny his voice?

"Yeah. Of course." I wasn't sure how close he was talking, so I looked around to see where he wanted to move. At this moment, I knew deep down that Chris was trying to let me in. He carefully plopped his head in my lap and did a little snuggle shimmy. I didn't want to question a good thing, so instead I held the book a little higher than his head and continued reading to him. I was mindlessly reading each word as I thought about how unfair it was that a perfect person was treated so cruelly. I would peek down at Chris every once in a while to see if he was still awake. It took one chapter for him to fully fall asleep laying on my legs. I continued reading anyway. Even though I knew he wouldn't remember this book, I would remember this moment.

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[darksturnioloqueen]

TreeHouse - Chapter 17

"You think you can fight me?"

Summary: Chris gets angry.

"The wise warrior avoids the battle."

⚠️This Fic Series will NOT be for people with triggers. This Fic Series will have very descriptive moments of abuse.⚠️

Please Read At Your Own Risk.

⚠︎Trigger Warning: angst, anxiety, being uncomfortable, being threatened, being told to die, light crying, disassociating/ trauma blocking/ suppressing feelings, anxiety, paranoia, taunting, Matt losing his shit, mention of bruising and blood, mention of being punched, being stabbed, sad shit. ⚠︎

Chris' POV:

I kept kissing her. I couldn't help myself. Being around her, I felt safe. I felt normal. Being in the treehouse almost every night was a risk, but I accepted it for her. I decided I deserved something good in my life. I had spent the majority of my life unknown and targeted. I deserved Nessie—my Nessie. I was at the bus stop hoping she would show up. Her face when she saw me waiting was the highlight of my day. I couldn't understand how someone like me made her so happy, but it was always evident on her face.

"You're here." She whispered.

"I'm here." I smiled softly at her.

"Si!" My head shot up faster than hers to see her friend.

"It's okay. It's just AK." She went to touch my arm but realized before her hand brushed me, and lowered it without making contact.

"Did you happen to see what Nick was wearing yesterday?" He asked her.

"Yeah, of course I did." I felt my heart start to beat faster. I didn't like hearing about him.

"Oh my god." I froze. "He rides our bus?" Her friend said, trying to be discreet, but I heard it.

"Yes, so be normal." Nessie turned her back on me. I didn't like the feeling.

"You should ask if they are related," AK suggested.

"What? No." The tone of her voice was stressed. I could tell she didn't like this situation. Neither did I.

"Hey."

"AK, stop!" She tried to stop him, but it didn't work.

"Chris, right?" He asked me.

"Yeah," I whispered. I was terrified.

"You wanna sit with us on the bus?" He asked politely. I looked up at him quickly, then looked back down again. I didn't want him to notice any bruising underneath my hood.

"No, thank you." I wasn't sure if Nessie would want me to say yes. I didn't know what to say or do, and it was making me panic.

"Well, if you ever want to, you can." His voice was polite, but I wasn't sure why he would be nice to me. The bus showed up and I sat in the first seat I saw. Nessie looked down at me when she passed to sit in the back seat with her friend. I was about to walk up to her in the school lobby, but Matt got there first. He snaked his arms around her, and I saw her friends smiling. They looked happy for her to be with someone like Matt. Matt kissed her cheek, and I felt something boiling inside of me. For the first time in my life, though I wouldn't dare do it, I wanted to punch him back.

According to the school schedule for today, I don't have any classes with Nessie. But I unfortunately had one with Nick—gym class. I slowly made my way down the hallway to the gym doors. The fear filled my body one step at a time. The chatter in the locker room ceased the moment I entered. I knew I couldn't change in front of everyone because the bruises would be questionable, so I took my clothes into the bathroom stall to change. The locker room slowly became quieter as everyone left. It was so quiet I could hear someone breathing outside of my stall. I already knew who it was. I slowly opened the door and was immediately snatched up.

"Fuck you, you know that?" He yelled at me. "You ruin everything." I closed my eyes, not wanting to know when he was going to hit me. I immediately envisioned Nessie sitting in the treehouse. I was dropped down. "No one wants you here." Nick shoved me. He was always lighter than Matt with his hands on me. He shoved me back against the tile wall. "You need to die." He punched me in the gut, and I barreled over from the old bruises' pain, mixing with the new ones. I sat on the ground and coughed a little bit from the blow.

I waited until he left, and then I cried. I hated the fact that I was a teenage boy who cried, but at this point in my life, I wasn't sure what else I was supposed to do. I was more trapped than anyone knew. They were always watching me and listening to me, waiting for me to make a mistake. I suppressed my feelings, so my tears would halt immediately. I stood up and went to the sink. I splashed cold water on my face and looked at the minimal damage in the mirror. Once my blurriness had cleared, I pulled away from the sink and walked out of the locker room door onto the main gym floor. Everyone was in their special cliques. I stood off in the corner by myself, hoping no one would notice me. I got lucky.

After playing an awful game of dodge ball where Nick purposely threw every ball directly at me as hard as he could, the teacher dismissed us to start getting ready for our last class. Back inside the locker room, Nick avoided me at all costs. Then someone made it a problem.

"If he is your brother, why don't you talk to him?" I heard the words just as everyone else did. The silence fell in the room, coating everyone with thick tension.

"We just don't have anything in common." Nick's voice was flat, void, and pissed. I grabbed my bag and left the locker room still in my gym uniform. I didn't think he was dumb enough to try anything in front of everyone, but I was smart enough not to find out. I felt my panic slowly creeping up. I couldn't breathe. They asked him about me. I could only imagine the pain he would inflict on me if he did find me. I aimlessly started walking through the hallway, dodging students who were filing in and out of classes.

"Hey!" I bumped into someone. As soon as I locked eyes with her, I felt my panic dissolve. "Hey." Her tone switched to soft and understanding.

"I can't -"

"Chris, what's wrong?" She went to touch me, but I pulled away. I had to get away.

"He's coming."

"Who? Matt?" I looked around the hallway to make sure Nick wasn't behind me.

"I have to go." I needed to get to my last class so I could be safe. They wouldn't do anything with a teacher around.

"Wait, Chris?" Her voice carried the same panic that filled my chest. I left her behind and made it safely to my class. I couldn't focus on my work because I kept feeling like I was being watched. I didn't have this class with either of them, but for the first time, I wondered which one of their friends knew? Were they watching me too? Reporting back to Matt and Nick about me? I jolted when the bell rang. The realization hit me. I have to go home. Where Nick and I will be alone, or worse, Matt will be there too. My body started trembling as I made it to the bus loading area.

"Si!" I heard his voice calling to her. I whimpered, knowing in a matter of a few minutes I was going to hear that voice screaming at me. Hitting me. Hurting me. I watched them closely from the bus window. She looked happy. Matt's hand wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her into him. She was giggling like she enjoyed it. I couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't fake, if she genuinely had some kind of feelings for him. As Matt pressed his lips to hers, I looked down.

"Can I sit with you?" I looked up to see her standing above me. I nodded. She was careful not to touch me when she sat down. The bus started moving, and I could feel she wanted to say something, but was hesitant. The bus stopped at our stop, and she stood up. "Treehouse?" She asked.

"Yes." I stood up and looked her in the eyes. I was trying to memorize every swirl of color in them in case it was the last time I saw her. I wanted to try kissing her again, but I was worried about her friend watching us. I sulked home. I knew Nick was going to be ready to punish me for what I had done earlier today. I walked in the front door and saw Matt. I felt the lump in my throat choking me before he did.

"Nick had to stay after school." His grin was wicked. "He told me what happened today. We told you not to cause problems for us." Matt made a clicking noise with his tongue and teeth. I felt my body starting to shake. "My room." He shoved me, and I whimpered. I walked through the hallway to his room. I could tell we were home alone, which made this even worse for me. Even though my mother and father don't intervene when they are home, I could always feel Matt or Nick holding back. He shut his door behind us, and I wondered what he had planned. "I saw you watching her from the bus." My eyes widened in pure fear. This wasn't just about Nick. This was about Nessie. "You know I'm going to fuck her." Matt boasted. I clenched my fists. Matt peered down at my hands. "Oh? Does that bother you?" He questioned in a taunting way. He knew it did.

"No," I mumbled. I couldn't have Matt using the one thing, the one person, who brings me peace against me.

"Are you sure?" Matt walked over to me and shoved me to the floor. He quickly straddled me and made fists. I didn't know what kind of answer he was looking for, so I stayed quiet. "I'm going to fuck her so good." I felt my jaw clench. I couldn't fight back, no matter how badly I wanted to. Matt punched me a few times. Usually, they would hurt, but the only thing I could feel in my body was rage. "I'm gonna have her screaming my name." Matt kept going. "She is going to tell all her friends how good and rough I was." I bit my tongue hard. "I bet she is a virgin. Imagine how tight Nessie feel -" I did the unthinkable. I shoved him back. For a brief moment, he looked shocked, but that expression quickly gave way to a new level of anger.

"I'm sorry. I... Matt... I'm -" Matt lost it. He started throwing fists at me anywhere they would land.

"You think you can fight me?" He screamed. He closed my eyes and took all the strikes. They halted for a short moment before I felt the worst pain in my side. My eyes shot open, and I saw Matt's fingers wrapped around a pencil. The pencil was lodged into my exposed skin. Punching me wasn't enough for him. I was sure that if Matt could get away with it, he would kill me. He got off me and smiled down at my discolored body. The red blood, my blood, started dripping out of the tiny hole when I pulled the pencil out.

"Uh." I huffed from the new pain. The sharper pain.

"Get out before you get blood all over my room." Matt didn't care about me at all. I didn't question his dismissal. I slowly shuffled my feet to the bathroom. I lifted my shirt and saw the tiny stream of blood ruining my school clothes.

"Fuck." I whispered, grabbing a towel fast. I held it over the hole until I found some bandages. I was surprised I saw any at all, given that I was constantly having to use them. I took everything down into the basement and collapsed on my bed. I quickly tried to clean up the bloody wound and examine the depth of the hole. After sitting for a moment, the adrenaline wore off, and I began to feel slightly dizzy. I looked at the window and closed my eyes. "I'm sorry, Nessie."

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[darksturnioloqueen]

TreeHouse - Chapter 16

"You've been spending an awful lot of time in the treehouse lately."

Summary: Sienna slips up.

"If you don't try, you will never know."

⚠️This Fic Series will NOT be for people with triggers. This Fic Series will have very descriptive moments of abuse.⚠️

Please Read At Your Own Risk.

⚠︎Trigger Warning: angst, threatening, anxiety, lying, being uncomfortable, mention of bruising and blood, cut lip, mention of being punched, pushing self boundaries, sad shit. ⚠︎

Sienna's POV:

After Chris ran off, I knew I had pushed him too far. I felt horrible. I also wasn't sure how I felt about myself. I loved Chris; that was always a given, but did I love him? When I kissed him, all I could think of was the boy who abandoned me, and I had grown to despise him for it. But that boy wasn't Chris. Chris wanted to kiss me back. Chris wanted me to. I pushed the double door to the library out of my way. His blue eyes locked on mine, and his smile grew.

"Hey."

"Hey, can I talk to you?" I was playing a dangerous game, but I needed more answers than Chris was willing to give me. I also didn't want to keep pushing him too far.

"Yeah, of course." Matt pulled out the chair for me to sit in. I set my bag on the table and swallowed hard. I could already feel the regret for this idea settling in the pit of my stomach.

"It's hard to -" I felt myself choking.

"It's okay, Si. You can talk to me about anything." There was a moment in his voice when I believed him. I felt like I could. But he didn't know that I knew. He wasn't aware of what I was about to say or all of the things I wanted to say.

"Are you related to Chris?" I avoided looking at him as best as I could, but eventually failed. He was stiff. I felt like I needed to explain why I was asking. "I got paired with him for a school project and I -"

"Yes, he is Nick and I's long-lost brother. We don't talk about it." He lied, which I figured he would. Why wouldn't he?

"Long lost?" I played into his cover story.

"Yeah. He disappeared when he was young, and we were recently reunited. It's weird for us, so we don't discuss it. We are still trying to understand it all." His voice was so genuine, I almost wanted to question Chris now.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to -" I wanted to end this conversation as quickly as I started it.

"It's fine. Just don't tell anyone." His hand gripped the back of the wooden chair, trapping me. His piercing eyes were glaring at me. This was a threat.

"No, I would never," I whispered. The bell rang, saving me from this uncomfortable situation I put myself in.

"Want me to walk you to class?" He asked, standing up, grabbing his things. I watched him closely.

"Uh, yeah." I raised my voice, trying to sound normal. I couldn't let him know he got inside my head. We walked the halls, and everyone stared at us. Being with Thee Matthew Sturniolo was a big deal. He was the one everyone wanted, but only one person was allowed to have him, me. I mentally cursed Julia for getting me into this situation. It was her note that sparked his interest in me. He dropped me off and kissed me on the cheek. I brushed it off with a forced giggle, only because I didn't want him to kiss me ever again. The way Chris tried to kiss me was better; it meant more to me.

School finished up, and I didn't see Chris once. It always worried me. It sent my mind into a dizzy spiral of what-ifs, and none of the what-ifs were good. I got on the bus and sat next to AK.

"What's new?"

"Matt and I are good." I lied immediately. We were far from good. For all of five seconds, I might have believed him about Chris being a long-lost brother, but then he made a very clear threat againstme. I couldn't bear the thought of pursuing him, knowing what he does to Chris.

"Ohhh." He gave me a slight shove, and I flinched. "I hope it works out. Cause lord knows I'd do anything to get -"

"Nick." We both said at the same time with differing tones.

"You can't tell me that man doesn't just ravish you in bed." AK gushed. He never missed a chance to talk about the Sturniolo twins. Triplets?

"I'll text you," I said, getting off the bus and walking away from him quickly. I made it home, shut the door behind me, and sighed.

"Rough day at school?" I opened my eyes to see both my parents staring at me with expressions that were odd.

"Yeah." I sighed again as I walked into the kitchen. My mom started getting me a snack from the fridge.

"We are going to a work meeting tonight. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, Dad." I smiled, knowing it meant I didn't have to worry about them seeing Chris. I knew he wasn't ready for it, and I wasn't really sure how to explain it to him yet. "I think I'm going to do some homework in the treehouse." I said in a nonchalant manner, grabbing the plate with my snack.

"Honey, are you okay?"

"You've been spending an awful lot of time in the treehouse lately."

"Yeah, I just got reminded how special it was." I immediately thought of Chris.

"Okay." My mom had a skeptical look.

"Okay." I accidentally gave her a little attitude. I just needed to get all my thoughts straight, and it was hard doing that, feeling like everyone was watching me and judging my every move. I left and went into my room to change into something comfortable for the treehouse. I grabbed a book and my phone to take with me for something to do. Once I crawled up the wooden ladder, I sat in my designated spot. I sighed a different kind of sigh—one of relief. Something about being back in the treehouse evoked a sense of nostalgia. I felt like myself again. I was always myself with my friends, but the piece of me I left here was slowly reattaching back to me, and I couldn't explain how it truly felt. I started playing some tranquil music on my phone and reading. After a while, my parents interrupted my reading to let me know they were leaving. I hollered back and then looked at the time. It was getting late. I felt that same sense of worry from whenever I didn't catch a glimpse of him at school. I kept reading to distract myself, waiting. After clearing several chapters in my book, I lay down on the matted rug. I felt my eyes starting to get droopy, waiting.

"Nessie?" I fluttered my eyes open.

"Chris?" I whispered.

"You fell asleep. Why are you out here?" I sat up and looked around. I settled my gaze on Chris's face. His lip was split with fresh blood dripping. His eyes were dark. His cheeks were pink.

"Chris," I said, focusing on his face more.

"I'm sorry it took so long. I -"

"What happened?" I asked, sitting up and really looking at him. I wanted to know, but I didn't. It was a weird feeling. I wanted to know everything, but at the same time, my heart couldn't take the truth.

"Why are you still out here?" He asked again, avoiding my question. I huffed, annoyed with the circles.

"I was waiting for you," I answered first. "Now, tell me what happened to you?" He looked down, ashamed. "Chris?" I whispered. His head slowly lifted again.

"Matt was angry about something." My breathing stopped. Could it be me talking to him today? Talking about Chris?

"Is it bad?" I wasn't sure what else to say. I felt the ache in my hands from wanting to reach out and grab his face and hold him, but I knew better.

"No, just some punches. It didn't last long." Chris looked around the treehouse, and I saw his shoulders visibly relax.

"Calming isn't it?" I chuckled, knowing he was feeling the same relief I felt from being back in here.

"Safe." He was short, but I knew what he meant. The treehouse was a safe space for him. After a long silence, I spoke up.

"I won't kiss you unless you ask." I just wanted to let him know I respected him. I knew he was unsure of his boundaries, and I didn't want to be the one to push him. "We can go at your pace," I reassured him. I personally had no experience with a situation as sensitive as this. I needed to be careful. He nodded in understanding.

"Can we... try again?" He finally let his eyes meet mine.

"Are you sure?" I asked. I wanted to kiss him more than anything. My stomach was twisting thinking about it.

"Just don't touch me." His voice was very serious. I moved over to him and sat down carefully in front of him. He lifted himself to his knees and looked at me. Since I was closer, I could see more bruising and his split lip more clearly. He leaned in first, so I knew he felt comfortable. His slow movement was building the flutter in my gut.

"Are you sure?" I had to ask again. I couldn't imagine him feeling uncomfortable because of me. He moved his lips closer to mine and pressed them lightly. I saw him close his eyes, feeling every push his lips started pining for. I closed my eyes and felt my breath being stolen. This was how it was supposed to be. This time, Chris took his hand and cupped my jawline firmly. "Okay," I whispered. I wasn't sure if I was asking him if he was or if I was telling him I was. Chris pulled me up to his level. I noticed a slight metallic taste invading my mouth. He was really into this. I felt him brush my hair out of the way. He was pushing his boundaries for me. I lifted my hands and grabbed his waist. He immediately pulled back and shoved me away. "Fuck. I'm sorry." I stuttered. "Did I hurt you?" I asked, worried I just ruined this moment, too.

"No. No. I'm fine." Chris mumbled. "It's late. I should go." He started leaving the treehouse. I was starting to learn one thing: I couldn't keep him here. I couldn't make him stay.

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