debauchery *gawsten* ✓

Chapter Twenty-Five

1.6.18
edit: 8.19.20
tw; mentions of abuse
another round of me not knowing names baybee
1,538 words

awsten p.o.v.

the seven of us migrated to their front room. nana and grandpa sat in armchairs. gracie was on the floor with otto, and i was sitting on geoff's lap on the couch with mrs. wood beside us. to my surprise, no one questioned my choice of seat.

"what is it, sweetheart?" nana asked me.

otto started to translate for me as i signed. so, as you know, mum brought gracie here when i was-

"awsten, what are you doin'?" grandpa asked. "what are those...movements you're makin' with your hands? and why is otto tellin' the story?"

"awsten, do they not know?" otto asked. i shook my head. he sighed and turned to my grandparents. "a lot has happened to awsten when his mum died. we-we've stayed best friends, but he also drifted away from me. he...oh, i can't, it-it's a lot-" he buried his face in his hands. gracie patted him on the back for support.

geoff cleared his throat. "when mrs. knight died, mr. knight...succumbed to drugs...and alcohol, and-"

"we would never let our daughter marry such a man!" grandpa snapped.

i whimpered and geoff held me closer. nana must have noticed because she said, "awsie, do you have any proof?"

"we're supposed to just buy this story?" grandpa demanded. "and who are you?" he asked geoff.

boyfriend, i signed, and mrs. wood translated for me this time. at first, i thought grandpa was actually homophobic, but he just settled back into his chair.

"well...i support whatever relationship you have, don't get me wrong." he said. "but, how do you expect us to-"

"fredrick." nana snapped sharply, making grandpa shut up. she turned back to me. "awsten, honey, are you mute?"

i nodded, and she frowned. "you used to have the sweetest voice..."

"he still does, honestly." otto chimed in. "he sort of missed the puberty bus. he-he's talked like, three times in the last seven years, that's how i know."

i held up eight fingers, and everyone looked upset. i put my hands down and my cuddles with geoff intensified.

"he has pictures that he wants to show you." geoff said. "and-and...of a third thing-"

"what more has dad done?" gracie asked. i almost forgot that she was in here. so far, she was taking this conversation like a champ, but not for long if geoff keeps talking.

i shook my head and got out of geoff's lap. i started to sign fervently to gracie. no, you've heard enough, i...i don't want you to be in here for this next part, it's too much.

"awsten!" otto said sternly. "she's your sister, she needs to know."

"know...what?" gracie looked from otto, to me, and then back to otto. i held eye contact with otto for a few seconds before i sat slowly back down in geoff's lap. he wrapped his arms around my waist.