To say that Shawn was shocked, would have been a bit of an understatement because he was hurt. He hurt for Sepiroth, and his eyes watered as he continued to look at him with his mouth open. He didn't know if he could believe it, but knew there was nothing else to do but believe it. He chewed on his bottom lip for a minute before he was reaching for his water to get rid of his dry mouth.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry." Shawn said, several minutes after the story was over. "I..." His voice was quiet, trying to make sure he didn't stutter or dry out his throat "I knew your... Your story was... Um, worse than mine." He looked away to his hands, focused on his fingers as he twisted them and tried to find the right words. It took a few more minutes before he was able to speak again, proceeded with a large shaky breath. He'd never told anyone before, no one but his brother Leo, and he was there to beat him too.<br/><br/>"I don't remember when it started... I don't remember my mom... I just know we were happy once. A real family." He started, which was true. He didn't remember his mother, or when his beatings started, just that was how it was now. "I think mom disappeared when I was eight? No, maybe s-seven." He closed his eyes to continue "Dad likes alcohol, dad knows schools important and you have to go, there's no way around it." Something on Shawn's face changed and his opened cloudy blue eyes with a scowl in place and did his best imitation " 'I don't care how broken you are boy! You go to school! If Leo can go, you can sure as fuck get your ass up and make it there! Ride!? Ride!? No boy, you don't get no ride! Rides are for football stars!' "<br/><br/>Shawn closed his eyes again "He's mad, always mad. If something goes wrong at work, I fix it because dad's anger is diffused with me. The bigger the bruise, the less the anger, the better he does. I don't know what he does, I just know if he isn't mad, he does better. Or if he remembers mom, than he really beats me, or if I do something wrong. Like having your phone. I don't have phone privileges, those are for football stars who go to championships. Not boys who barely pass." He looked over at Sepiroth after a moment "They both get mad easy, but hasn't used me like that... Leo... He wouldn't." Shawn sat up slowly "I don't know if I should go to your place anymore. I'm already gonna be behind on laundry, and dishes and they haven't eaten since... Since whenever I've been here. And I haven't been to school either and he's already gonna beat me for that. I'm not supposed to miss school, if he finds out..." Shawn looked down and away "How... How long h-have I been here?"<br/><br/><br/>((Geez, I guess I'm not as dark as I had even thought I was. Hope its good enough. And he thinks Leo wouldn't, but remember how I had him lurk in the doorway?))