STATIC → newt , tmr [EDITING ; VERY SLOW UPDATES]

chapter ix

"I have to face her at some point," he murmured as he pulled away. "I also punched her, so the least I can do is apologize."

"That's not the answer I'm looking for," Newt said gently. "I asked if you're gonna be alright. You are seeing your mother, who you thought was dead. I don't imagine that's very easy."

Tiago shrugged halfheartedly. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?" He took a deep breath. "Better to get it all over with now than wait it out any longer." He smiled down at Newt again, then turned and walked into the tent.

It didn't look particularly spacious from the outside, but it felt more cramped on the inside than Tiago could've imagined. Any space inside the tent was taken up by something; cots, boxes, small cabinets full of supplies. There was a small table with three chairs at the opposite end of the tent. Vince occupied one seat, and Tiago saw his mother resting on one of the cots. Her face was slightly swollen, her left eye purple with bruise. Tiago's chest clenched tightly, anxiously. He suddenly wished Newt was at his side to calm him down.

"You injured one of our only doctors here," Vince said quietly. Tiago tore his gaze from his injured mother to look the older man in the eyes. "She told me your her son, that she deserved the hit. But now I wanna ask you, boy." Vince paused, his gaze going to Tiago's clenched fists. Tiago tried his best to relax himself, but he was nervous. Being in the same room as a woman he thought had been dead for years was unnerving. "Why'd you hit Belle?"

Tiago took a ragged breath, a last attempt at calming his nerves so he could try and speak without his voice wavering. It didn't seem to work, which was evident as soon as he opened his mouth.

"I didn't know she was your doctor," he began, "all I saw was a woman who should be dead. It was like seeing a ghost." He looked at his mother. "For what it's worth, I am sorry I injured you ... Mother." He winced after he said the word. It came up like bile from his throat. He regretted saying it instantly when he saw the hopeful look on his mother's face.

"Do you regret it?" Belle asked quietly. Vince glanced at her, opened his mouth, but she simply raised her hand and he closed it again. "You say you're sorry, but that doesn't mean you regret that it happened."

"I ..." Tiago didn't want to answer the question. His silence was enough for both of them.

"Vince, I'd like to talk to my son alone, please," Belle said, looking to Vince. The older man was watching Tiago now, who almost looked to be shaking.

"You alright, boy?"

Tiago blinked thrice, then nodded. "Fine. Still just a bit freaked out, I think."

"Vince," Belle said impatiently, "please."

"If he hurts you―"

"He won't," Belle said firmly. "I promise you."

Vince stood, moved to lean down and kiss Belle's cheek. He stood straight again and walked towards Tiago.

"If you lay one finger on her―"

"Vince!" Belle scolded. "He won't touch me, I swear."

"I'm not a violent person," Tiago jumped in quickly. "To be completely honest with you, I thought she wasn't real. And when she mentioned my father ..." He shook his head. "I only saw red. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry I injured your doctor."