Chapter Text
Oliver’s POV
It was early the next day when he woke up. The sun is just starting to seep through the kitchen blinds. He was droozy and not entirely aware of the activities of last night, but what he was aware of was that someone was coming towards the kitchen. He shot to his feet, his mind barely awake and hardly active, one of the biggest problems that came with age.
Intruding pirates or maybe urchin children looking to steal the socks off his prized ostrich. He thought as he looked around for weapons to defend himself, and in his delirious state, forgoed the knives or anything of that nature for a cutting board that his hand found first. So half asleep, barely conscious and holding a near-useless weapon, Oilver rushed from the kitchen to find his foe.
William POV
He was tired but less stressed and was ready for some sleep, no matter the quality. No one around, finally some peace and quiet. This hope was nearly instantly dashed from his mind when his eyes met his father, his eyes half open, charging down the hall with a Cutting board, a cutting board. Was that seriously the best weapon he could find? Vell I feel this is one time we can’t blame someone for their incompetence, the man is clearly not fully aware.’ ‘This reminds me of the battle of Gettysburg when..’ ‘I know I am the one who is usually cut off because I am the only sane one here, but I can’t handle hearing another one of those insane fake stories from a war we were born decades after.’ ‘You know vhat, Dave, you actually did something good for once.’ William was getting annoyed. Why was his head so full of people all the time, and what made it worse was that he knew them all by name.
There was Dave, a Jimmy Cricket in his brain that told him that every action he made was wrong, and he loved to cry a lot about William's art and the fact that their family had shrunk so much, and it was so sad. William hated Dave; he was a constant reminder of everything he hated about Henry, but what made him hate Dave even more was what time he appeared because he had the nerve to come into existence the night..she..ARGHHHH. There was also Miller, who was a slightly more posh version of himself, and that was practically for them. Then there were the two historicals, as he called them, Johnny and Gauleiter or Gau for short. Johnny was southern, and he would remind the rest of them that at every opportunity, especially when it came to his oh so great Confederacy, and Gau was pretty much the same with slight variations, but he was also the most enjoyable to talk to and William’s personal favourite.
He shook his head, remembering the situation at hand; his father was about to attack him. This in itself was no issue, as he was the much better combatant and the one with real weapons. The only problem then was who it was that was attacking him, his own father. Now, it was not like he didn’t want to cut his father up into his next art piece because, oh god, he very much did want that, but sadl,y the man was too famous, and he was his father, so that had to count somewhat in his favour so killing him would be to much big of a problem to clean up even for him leaving Oilver in the small and special untouchable list next to Micheal and Henery. This left William with one option to deal with his delirious pereant: wake him up.
“Father, it’s me, your son William, please put down my cutting board.” He yelled in a kindly voice, which had obviously worked as the man stopped in his tracks.
“I don’t trust you. How do I know you're not going to steal Mr Fluffy Feathers' socks after I put down my laser gun?” The man responded in an almost drunk manner.
He couldn’t help but facepalm after that. Was the man drunk or something, because if he was, that meant he had found William’s personal drinks stash, which, if he had, it might change his current position on the safe list. He took a breath before striding towards his father and slapping him on the cheek. This worked better than yelling as the old man stumbled and made a very clear groan of pain before getting back to his feet.
“You know, I was wondering why you don’t come to the family Christmas parties more, but if that is your idea of manners, I think you being a no-show is more of a blessing than not.” The man grumbled, clearly salty at being woken up this way.
“I’m shocked you're not more thankful you were because I mean you were talking about a pet called Mr Fluffy Feathers or whatever.” He mocked a new grin forming across his face.
“Oh shut up, Will.” His father responded
“So how were the boys not annoying, I hope.” or at least not Harley.
“Oh, they were simply wonderful. That Harley kid of yours has such an incredible mind, and Michael is so welcoming and a great cook to boot; we had many a great conversation last night. I’m actually surprised we even fell asleep.” William searched his father’s words for any hint at description and found none. It actually seemed that the man had a great time and was genuinely gushing about the experience. This gave William a weird feeling that was almost pridful, but with most unknown feelings, he ignored it and the emptiness in his heart quickly consumed it despite Dave's incessant protests that it was a good thing. But this also gave him a new idea because his father will most likely be so much more pliable now after some family bonding. He hadn’t planned to do this so soon, but it was now a nice bonus of this practically pointless meeting with his father.
“Wonderful. I’m really glad to hear that, Father.” He declared his well-practised mask slipping on to help sell the foreign emotion of genuine gratitude. “Now I was thinking, what about we work together on a simple little business deal? It could be some good old father and son bonding time.” He will lap this family closeness rubbish up like a dog.
“That sounds amazing. What are you thinking?” There we go, follow the carrot for me, nice and be nice and subordinate.
“You see me and a pal of mine, you probably haven’t heard of him, he’s this financier on the East Coast, jeffory epstein is his name, well, as I said, you probably never heard of”
“No, I have. I believe he’s friends with Prince Andrew, a sort of American aristocrat, yes.”
“You're dead on the money there, so yeah, he called me up the other week and told me about this plan he had because you see the way the economy is going, I see the United States getting into some form of financial slump or even a collapse in, let’s say, ten to twenty-five years. Which, I mean, that is good because it will be way too easy to prepare for. But you see, Epstein and I, after he explained his plan, think that it is such a shame that we won’t be able to get the dividends from shorting our stocks when this great collapse happens.”
“So?” Oliver remarked.
“What if we say make it come just a little sooner, you know, so we can get all the benefits. And before you ask how, let me tell you how simple it would be. All we would have to do is put our own men in the big banks and get them to change who they operate a little bit. That is why we need you, Oliver. you’re station as head of our house means you are in charge of every bank and company that our family controls, and if you do it, the rest will be like lemmings and follow you. If you don’t help, it will be impossible to create the climate needed artificially. So what do you say, Father, are you in?”
“No.” His father said instantly after William finished his speech. What did he just say? ‘I do believe the man said no.’ Miller sneered I know that you worthless parasite, but it must be a mistake.
“What was that, Father?” William said, perplexed.
“I said no as in I’m not interested,” Oliver confirmed with passion in his aging voice.
“If I may be so bold, but why is this the case?”
“Because I just don’t think it’s right..” He said defensively before William interrupted.
“‘Because it's right’ When has that ever been something you cared about? It’s not like it will hurt anyone in our family, really; the only people it would hurt as those beneath us.” William fought back
“They may not be as rich as us, but their still people, William, have a heart,” he said kindly
“No, they are not. You told me this. Grandfather told me this, and every member of our family I have ever met has told me this. “Son, you are an Afton, and we are the strong; we are not alone in that fact, but unlike the unthinking masses, we use our strength to thrive above the rest” You told me that, and I told my son the same thing because I knew it was true, and you did too well at least before you went soft.” He said his voice was full of pride.
“I have not gone soft; all that has happened is that I have finally realised that I don’t like hurting people, and you should learn that too.”
William started to laugh in response to this declaration, his evil cackle drowning out the pleas of his ‘Father’
“Now that is rich, coming from you, are you not the man who said in this very house no less? “It didn’t matter how much you hurt someone else as long as you gained from it; those who disagree might as well be dust beneath your boots.” Hypocritical much, Father. But more importantly, have you forgotten what family you represent? We have done the things that you now are repulsed by for nearly one thousand years, but now Mr Different has to show everyone that you're unique. What's next, are you going to start smoking weed and wearing dresses like a Fa**ot.”
Oilver was starting to get redder in the face, and his fists were shaking. “Like you're one to talk about forgetting your family, when was the last time you even called for anything other than a favour? Your mother hasn't seen you in years. You never come to family gatherings, you never send even a Christmas card to us, but as soon as you get pressed on anything, it’s oh I’m an afton oh I’m part of a mighty house, well maybe you should start acting like you actually want to be a part of it for something more than just the title.”
William was starting to stutter now; he had little to fire back with, and it only seemed that his dad was getting more confident.
“You what I’m starting to think? Clara wasn’t in the accident.” Her name it was like a knife digging into his chest, and it made him furious. He was now forcing himself from reaching into his coat, stopping himself from pulling his tools out.
“Of course, she was in an accident.” As far as you know, at least. “What are you getting at?” He was stuttering, anger slipping out from behind his mask.
“What if she just couldn’t bear LIVING IN A WORLD WITH YOU!” He yelled, his voice craking with anger and rage, but it didn’t last long, the rage quickly being replaced with noticeable regret and sadness. “Will I’m sorry I didn’t mean to.. I just lost control.”
It shouldn’t have mattered to him. She was dead and buried, nothing more than a traitorous bitch, he had put her out of his life himself. Yet it still made him so angry when he implied that she would have done that to get away from him. Sure, she had said that she didn’t love him anymore, but that was simply a mistake on her part; if she had the chance would have happily gone back to him. He just couldn’t trust her anymore, so he had to kill her; otherwise, she might never come back. But now they were together forever, he, in fact, kept her skull on his office desk and made sure to kiss it every time he had the chance. But he also hated her for trying to leave him in the first place, like some common hore. He wanted so badly to never think of the bitch aging, yet also wished she were always here. But in the end, the side that loved her won out today, and it couldn’t stand what his father had said.
“Get out.” He said firmly
“William, I’m sorry.” His father tried to apologise.
“GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HOUSE!” He screamed, and Oliver complied without protest leaving down the haul with his tail between his legs.
William watched him leave in silence, not really processing what had just happened. ‘Well done, William, you have finally done it, pushed away the last person who would actually loved you, great job.’ Dave remarked saracitaly. Shut up, you parasite. ‘Parasite, all I have ever wanted was to stop you from losing everything, but I see I failed at that, so let me let you know this, William, you are going down a one-way road. There were many opportunities to turn off this road, but every time you refused to go down them because you are so self-centred, you think that if you believe it must be fact and that the universe itself will literally bend itself to make sure you get your way. But that’s not the case, William and one day your actions will catch up with you, and I will be there to watch everything you ever built fall from under your feet.’ Dave seemingly finished his speech and went silent. No matter what the others tried, he kept silent for a very long time.