Trauma

"Uh... Hey, kiddo."

It had only been a couple days after Danny was killed, and Teth led Nick back to the ship. Now, the father was trying to make small talk with the teen.

Nick looked behind him at Teth a little reluctantly, and shifted uncomfortably, staying silent. Teth sighed, and walked next to Nick.

"Are... Are you doing anything?" Nick shook his head, and Teth slowly sat down next to his son. The teen gave Teth an awkward look, and the older man shook his head, reaching out his hand to set on Nick's shoulder. The teen tried not to notice.

"I, uh... I'm sorry," Teth admit.

"I treated you... Badly. I never wanted you to become- uh, be under Danny's control. You didn't deserve what he did to you," Teth murmured. Nick sat silently, pulling his knees up to his chest and setting his head on them, burying his face. His father took his hand off of the teen's shoulder, and wrapped it around him instead, holding him in a slight embrace. Nick sniffled, and began to cry softly. His sobs made his entire body shake and tremble. Teth continued to hold him, and hoped that maybe more talking would help.

"Nick, I know what he did to you..." Teth sighed again, and continued: "He would brag about it to people. I've... I've heard everything. And I'm sorry. You didn't deserve any of that. Nobody deserves that." Teth continued to hold a reluctant and crying Nick, who remained silent other than his sobs. After a few moments, Nick turned around and hugged Teth back, continuing to sob. The man was surprised by this, and gave Nick a light pat on the back. The boy managed to speak, but only in a weak whisper.

"Sorry," Nick sobbed quietly. Teth didn't let go, but squeezed him a little tighter.

"It's okay," Teth assured him.

"He's gone now, Danny is dead. Nobody... Nobody will do that to you again, okay?"

Nick sniffled, and tried to surpress any more tears. He closed his eye, and clung onto Teth.

"... Okay."