Mitch was wide eyed, waiting for a response from the two men in front of him. Avi knelt down, looking at Mitch seriously as he took the small hands into his.

"Of course, Mitch," Avi answered, smiling when the young boy gasped. "Girls can kiss too!"

"Really?!" Mitch asked, smiling a bit. Kirstie nodded excitedly, loving her newest friend like a brother. "Is it okay though? For me to kiss a boy?"

"Of course," Kevin replied, kneeling down to be next to Avi. Mitch looked conflicted, bitting his finger nails a bit. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"My auntie's boyfriend says it's not," Mitch answered quietly, bracing himself for some reason. Kevin raised any eyebrow, wondering why the little boy seemed to tense a bit. "He calls them...hags? Bags? Gags? I don't know what the word is, but it's very mean. He uses it on me sometimes."

"But you don't look like a bag," Scott defended quickly, hugging his new friend close to him. Mitch visibly relaxed, a smile on his face. "If you are a bag, then you are the cutest, kindest, sweetest bag I have ever met."

"Scott, he doesn't mean bag," Avi told his oldest son sadly, shaking his head. His son tilted his head, not understanding the statement. "It's a very mean word. I'll tell you it when you are older. Go upstairs and get ready for dinner. It'll be ready in thirty minutes."

"Yay," Kirstie exclaimed, grabbing Scott's hand. She ran upstairs, a smiling on her face. "Let's play house!"

Kevin smiled, noticing how Mitch stood there shyly by himself. He sat down, looking at the little boy with a frown on his face.

"What's the matter, Mitchy?"

"What's dinner?"

Kevin had to keep himself from widening his eyes. Mitch is five years old and has no knowledge of what dinner is. What his aunt and her boyfriend doing to him?!

"Dinner is a meal were you and your family sit down and talk about your day," Kevin answered, standing up slowly. He almost tripped when Mitch hugged his leg, looking down at him with a smile on his face. "What's up?"

"All we eat is junk food. Well, if I'm lucky," Mitch explained, shrugging his shoulders. Kevin almost gasped, wanting to talk to the aunt and boyfriend now. "I eat once a day if we have food and if my auntie let's me eat. She usually doesn't because her boyfriend is hungry so I usually just go to my room."

Kevin almost started to cry. This beautiful young boy that is staring at him with innocence is his eyes is going through neglect and that is unfair. Mitch did nothing to deserve that!

"Well, go upstairs buddy. Go play with Scott and Kirstie and we'll call you when real dinner is ready. You must be hungry."

Mitch nodded as he went upstairs, not seeing the tear run down Kevin's face. The man shook his head, ready to hurt someone.

Poor Mitch. I'll save you.

~~~

"Kids, dinner!"

Scott and Kirstie cheered, running downstairs as they laughed loudly. Mitch walked behind them, slowly taking steps so he won't fall down the stairs. He did once because his aim was in a hurry and she pushed him down. All she did was give him an ice pack and a firm spanking for not being more careful.

Please don't let me fall. I don't way to be spanked again.

He finally made it down, realizing how Scott waited for him. He couldn't help but smile at how Scott was already so protective of him even though they only met today. It's like they gave a secret bond of some sort.

"Let's go eat dinner!"

Mitch nodded, smelling the aroma of something that caught his attention right away. His stomach growled as he sat down, smiling shyly as Avi put some food in his plate. He tilted his head, poking at the food lightly. He tapped Kirstie's shoulder, pointing at it without touching it.

"What is this?"

"It's chicken," she told him excitedly, grabbing Kevin's hand. "Shhh, it's time to pray!"

Mitch nodded, noticing how the family closes their eyes as Kevin began to pray. He frowned a bit, wondering why he didn't do it. Did all families do this?

"Amen."

They family began to eat, taking about how their day went. Even Mitch became a part of the conversation! As he was telling a story, he didn't notice that his elbow hit his glass of milk a bit too hard.

"And then it-"

*SMASH*

Everyone jumped, looking at the broken glass on the ground. Milk poured out, going all over the ground. Avi stood up immediately, getting ready to clean it up when he was stopped by begging, his heart breaking in two.

"Please don't get mad at me," Mitch begged, putting his napkin on the ground as he began to clean it up. "I'm sorry. Please don't lock me in the Room. I promise I won't break anything else. It was just one mistake."

Scott and Kirstie shared a look, knowing that their dads won't lock them in a room if they broke something. They'll just be told to be more careful and everything will be okay. Avi knelt down, wiping away Mitch's tears that ran down the small cheeks.

"You're not in trouble. Just be more careful, okay? It's just spilt milk."

"That's on the floor! It'll get stained!"

"If on carpet," Avi corrected, taking the napkin from Mitch's hand. "You're okay, buddy. You'll be fine."

Mitch nodded, hugging Avi tightly. Avi smiled as he hugged back, laughing at how the small arms tried to squeeze him. They separated, a genuine smile on Mitch's face as he laughed a bit.

"That was the first time an adult has ever hugged me. Thank you."

Avi gasped, looking back at Kevin. His husband's eyes are wide, surprised by the most recent comment. Scot and Kirstie ate, oblivious to the scene happening. Avi smiled sadly, tearing up.

"You're welcome."

~~~

"I have to go home now. I had to be home by 7."

Kevin looked at the clock, noticing how it was 6:40. He nodded, smiling down at Mitch as he grabbed his car keys.

"Let's go then! Your auntie probably misses you."

"I hope so."

What are these people doing to this child are they abu-I hope not. I have to tell Avi about this. He'll know what to do.

He unlocked the car, opening the side door so Mitch could go in. He smiled as he saw the young big struggling to go in, picking him up so he could sit done in a car seat. Mitch blushed, smiling at Kevin shyly.

"Thank you, Mr. Olusola."

"You're welcome, Mitchy," Kevin replied, starting the car. He began to drive, looking at the young boy through the mirror. "Where do you live?"

"4549 First Hedge Road. It's a scary place. A lot of people scream there."

Kevin nodded, knowing that the innocent boy was already introduced to horrible things like gang fights, murders, and rape. Little kids are supposed to be taught happy things, it things that could give them nightmares!

It was also a fifteen minute drive to the school so no wonder why Mitch was late. He probably walked all the way to school from there. Kevin shook his head and began to drive, wanting to take Mitch to a safer place than his house.

"Are you mad at me, Mr. Olusola?"

"No, of course not. What made you think that?"

"You shook your head when I told where I lived and you seemed mad. I'm sorry."

"You're okay, kiddo. I'm not mad at you," Kevin promised, smiling at Mitch. "Do you like games?"

"I guess. I never play them because my auntie's head hurts a lot."

"I'm sorry about that."

Not.

"It's okay. She likes to drink her grownup juice a lot, even when I'm around. I'm used to it."

"Well, I'm going to change that. What's your favorite movie?"

"KiKi's Delivery Service!"

"Never heard of that one! How about your favorite cartoon?"

"SpongeBob SquarePants!"

"That's Scott's favorite too! You two are going to be amazing friends!"

They continued the game, laughing loudly at some of the answers. Mitch honestly has never felt this loved by an adult before and he can't be anymore happy because of it. Kevin and Avi make him happy.

I love them.

When Kevin pulled up to his house, Mitch's watch reminded him that it was 7:00 and he hopped out of the car quickly. Kevin almost jumped, waving goodbye to Mitch as the little boy went inside.

"WHERE WERE YOU?!"

"I...I was at a friend's house, Auntie Lila. I'm sorry."

"Whatever, you little brat. You are going to spend an hour playing Paul's  favorite game with him. Get ready."

"No, Auntie Lila. Please don't."

"DON'T TALK BACK TO ME!"

Kevin drove off quickly, not wanting to hear anything else.

Mitch is being abused. I can't let him live there.

A/N: This story might not be as long as I thought it will be. Probably ten chapters or so. I'm super excited for it though, lol. A lot is going to happen and I am very excited for it.:) Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed the chapter and remembered that I love you all.:)

-Maddie🐧🐧🐧