2

Chef PeePee had been working in the kitchen for a while now. He didn't even know the exact amount of hours, he'd been too distracted by the pain from his gut creeping back. He was snapped back to reality by a shout from Bowser.

“CHEF PEEPEE!” He turned to see Bowser making his way to the kitchen.

“Yes, Bowser?” The chef said in a tired voice. The anxiety in him was hoping Bowser wouldn't slap him right there. Luckily, his hope was enough, at first.

“I want Macaroni and Cheese, and I want it delivered to me in a red bowl cuz that's my favorite color. You got that?!” Bowser demanded in his usual bratty voice. ‘That's definitely where Junior got that from,’ Chef PeePee thought.

“I guess.” Chef PeePee mumbled, before being met with a hard shove into the kitchen counter behind him. He felt his spine hit one of the drawer knobs, and fell to the ground.

“I said, YOU GOT THAT?”  Bowser repeated, heavily emphasizing the last part. He loomed over the Chef intimidatingly as the Chef looked back up at him in fear.

“Y-YES!” The chef choked out, feeling like so much blood had dropped from his brain and that he was turning white.

“Okay, good.” Bowser said, turning and walking to his room like nothing happened. Chef PeePee staggered to his feet, put his hat back on, and got to cooking.

On the way up the stairs, Bowser had passed Junior, who was coming downstairs to the kitchen to see what was happening and what was for dinner. Bowser pushed his son to the side of the staircase with a grumpy “Move!” And continued to make his way to his room. Junior rubbed his arm to soothe the pain, and continued to walk downstairs.

“Why was my dad yelling?” Junior asked the Chef, who was starting to boil water for the Macaroni noodles.

“I guess I didn't answer him correctly or something. I don't know.” Chef PeePee answered, rolling his eyes in annoyance as he turned the stove temperature up a tad. Junior gave him an “Oh,” and stood there quietly.

The front door opened, and Marvin, Rose, and Jeffy came inside. Marvin seemed very angry, while Jeffy had his usual face on.

“I can't believe you threw a desk, Jeffy! Because of you we had to have a conference with your teacher and I missed my favorite show on the meatball channel!” Marvin reprimanded. Jeffy looked into the kitchen at Junior and gave him a wink as he and his family went upstairs to the red couch. Junior wondered if Jeffy's dad ever hit him the way his dad did. Though he would understand if he got his butt beat sometimes, since he definitely deserved it at least once in a while. He threw a freaking desk, what more could he do?

Chef PeePee slowly started to pour the noodles into the boiling water as Junior sat at the table and got his crayons out. “When is dinner gonna be ready?” He asked.

“Probably in like 20 minutes.” The chef answered, stirring the pot.

“OK! I'm gonna go play with Jeffy!” Junior exclaimed, abandoning his chair and art supplies to sprint upstairs. Chef PeePee sighed, and told himself he'd just pick up Junior's mess later.

Junior heard yelling coming from the red couch room as he went up the stairs. Most of it was incoherent, but he did understand Jeffy saying “GROUNDED?! ARE YOU FUCKING HIGH DADDY?!?!” Junior peered his head in the doorway to see what was going on.

“Jeffy don't cuss! And of course you're grounded! You threw a desk at your teacher and had a kid record it!” Marvin reprimanded back in an angry voice, somehow as angry as Jeffy's.

“Oh yeah, I forgot to send that to Junior!” Jeffy said, completely forgetting his angry mood and switching to a content one as he took out his phone. Marvin had a look of disbelief on his face. Jeffy's message is sent to Junior, making Junior's phone buzz. Jeffy looked to where the noise was and found Junior standing there. “Hey Junior! I sent the video!”

“Thanks Jeffy!” Junior said, coming completely into view. “Wanna play basketball?” He asked, walking over towards the couch, ignoring Jeffy's stunned parents.

“Sure Junior! Also, why's there a mark on your forehead?”

“Oh, uh… I fell down the stairs earlier.” Junior said, stuttering while trying to find an excuse. Jeffy was silent for a moment.

“Oh, ok! Let's go!” Jeffy exclaimed, believing Junior's lie and running towards the stairs.

“Jeffy, no! You can't go outside!” Marvin said, yelling after Jeffy. Jeffy walked back towards his dad a little.

“Why?!” He cried.

“You're grounded! No going outside, video games, friends, or… or any fun! Go to your room!” Marvin exclaimed, seemingly getting more agitated by every word.

“Oh, so I have to live like you now?!” Jeffy fired back. Junior just stood there awkwardly, not wanting to intervene. It's not like he knew how he would.

“That's it! Room now, or I'm gonna throw away your cat piano!!” The red-clad man threatened, standing up in anger. Jeffy screamed in anger, and stormed to somewhere that probably wasn't even his room. Junior watched him leave, not knowing what to do next. Though making accidental eye contact with Marvin was enough to send Junior awkwardly speed-walking out of the room.

Chef PeePee had finally finished dinner once Junior came back down the stairs. He started getting Bowser's red bowl ready as Junior sat down at the table, awaiting his plate.

“Bowser!” Chef PeePee called, knocking on his bosses door. “Your food's done!”

There was a moment of silence, then Bowsers voice was heard. “In a red bowl, right?! It better be!”

“Yes, Bowser. Mac and cheese in a red bowl, like you said.” The chef said in an annoyed tone. He heard Bowser getting out of bed, and walking to the door. He opened it with a scowl, and snatched his bowl from the chef's hands.

“About time.” He scoffed. He then slammed the door in Chef PeePees face. Chef PeePee rolled his eyes, and went back downstairs to give Junior his serving. Then he'd eat whatever was left.

Some days, Chef PeePee would have to miss a meal if there were no leftovers. Sometimes breakfast, dinner once in a while as well, but the meal he missed most often was lunch, since that's when Charleyyy was off for around 30 minutes for some other show Chef PeePee didn't know the name of. Bowser would eat like a goat until he felt full, then he would annoy Chef PeePee if there was time, then he'd go back to Charleyyy. The days Chef PeePee missed lunch were the most torturous.

Bowser wouldn't let the chef have any snacks either because he says that since he bought the with his money, he can decide who eats them. It's a stupid rule, but there's nothing the chef can do but deal with it, and sneak one or two once in a while hoping Bowser doesn't find out.

Junior had already brought his crayons back out and was coloring in some Thomas coloring book by the time Chef PeePee was back downstairs. Chef PeePee told him to put it away so he could eat.

“But why Chef PeePee? I wanna color while I eat.” Junior asked, a small frown appearing on his face.

“Because I don't want you to make a mess, or get distracted and not eat.” The chef replied, putting Junior’s bowl in front of him. “Let me see your crayons. You can have them back after you eat.”

“But Chef PeePee!” Junior complained, starting to pout.

As Chef PeePee was about to respond, he heard stomping coming from upstairs. Whoever it was, they were coming down the stairs.

“CHEF PEEPEE!!!” The person, who Chef PeePee could tell was Bowser by his voice, yelled as he stormed into the kitchen. The chef's heart dropped as he saw the anger on his bosses face. He was holding the bowl of Mac and cheese with a tight grip.

“What, Bowser?” Chef PeePee asked, trying not to seem intimidated. Though anyone could easily tell he was afraid.

“Do you have ears?” Bowser asked him. Chef PeePee was confused by the question, but he nodded anyways. “And are you color blind?” The chef shook his head.

“Why are you aski-” The chef tried to ask, before he was cut off my Bowser grabbing him by the shoulders and staring directly into his eyes.

“THEN WHY THE HELL ISNT MY BOWL RED LIKE I ASKED?!” Bowser screeched, getting Juniors full attention. He stopped coloring and eating to look over at his dad looming over his chef. He stayed silent, and kept watching.

“What do you mean?! It is red!” Chef PeePee argued, pointing to Bowsers bowl.

“THATS MAROON!” Bowser shouted back, pointing to the bowl like the chef did to prove his point. Chef PeePee was at loss for words.

“It's close enough! Besides, that was the only red bowl we have since Marvin's kid smashed the other ones!”

“Then go buy another one, or paint it! I don't care! JUST GET ME A DAMN RED BOWL!” Bowser shouted, before turning to storm to his room. Before he did, he caught a glimpse of Junior with his colors out while he was eating. That set him off even more.

“Junior, put your damn crayons away! It's dinner time!” He scolded, walking towards his son. Junior looked up to him with a frown.

“But I wanna color Thomas while I eat!” Junior protested.

“I don't care! Put it away, now!” His father said once again, looking at him the same way he did Chef PeePee. Though, Junior was less conforming as his chef, and therefore still tried to get his way

“Please dad! Pretty please?! PLEASE!” He begged. Bowser let out a loud annoyed growl before snapping and shoving Junior's coloring supplies and book off the table in one push. He then whipped around to look at his son, before slapping him across the face.

“NO!” Bowser yelled in his son's face. “I SAID NO JUNIOR! GOD!” Tears bubbled in Junior's eyes as his father went to leave the kitchen.

“Pick up that mess, slave!” He spat at the chef before going upstairs to his room.

Chef PeePee sighed, before looking to Junior, who had his knees to his chest, and was crying in his chair.Not again… the chef thought to himself.

“Are… you okay, Junior?” He said, before instantly regretting it. ‘Of course he's not okay, look at him!’ he told himself in his head.

“H-h-he hit m-me… ag-gain!” Junior said in between sobs, slightly looking up from his knees to face Chef PeePee. Chef PeePee had no idea what to do. Hug him? Tell him it'll be okay? Say nothing? The chef pondered, before deciding to go with the first option.

Junior felt two arms go around him, before looking up and hugging the owner of those arms, his chef, back. He buried his head into his chest, still crying. They died down to sniffles after a very awkward minute, awkward to Chef PeePee at least. He never really gave any physical affection to anyone in the house, and Junior was the only one who ever gave any to him.

“Feeling better now, Junior?” Chef PeePee asked, once Junior's sobs died down to the occasional sniffle.

“A little…” Junior replied, bringing his head up from the chef's chest and sitting back in his chair. “Chef PeePee… I have a question.”

“Yes, Junior?” The chef responded, genuinely curious.

“Can… can I sleep in your bed again? It made me feel… really safe…” Junior half-mumbled, expecting the chef to call him gay and say no.

“Well…” Chef PeePee started. He felt like saying no, sleeping in the same bed as a 12 year old boy is kinda weird, and really gay. But if it was like earlier, then he'd just stay on his own side. Besides, he knew the boy needed to feel safe at this time. Chef PeePee sighed. “Okay, fine. You can sleep in my bed.”

“YAY! Thank you Chef PeePee! Thank you!!!” Junior exclaimed, seemingly to instantly lighten up from his gloominess. Chef PeePee found this a little odd, but as long as Junior wasn't scared and crying anymore, he was fine with it.

Chef PeePee grabbed his serving of dinner, finished eating it while Junior picked his crayons and coloring book back up and colored, then they both decided to get to bed.

Junior got on his pajammas, which had Thomas on them, go figure, and the chef just put on his usual black t-shirt, and kept his work pants on since he was way too tired and done with the day to change them. He plopped on the bed with a deep exhale. He was definitely ready for bed.

“Goodnight, Chef PeePee.” Junior said, laying where he was earlier, and still holding that dollar tree stuffed animal. The chef was surprised he kept it. He figured the boy would think it's girly, since it's a purple… thing. The chef didn't even know what it was supposed to be. It was some kind of long blob thing with legs, arms, or hooves? And a unicorn horn. It seemed Bowser didn't even try to find anything good for the boy's birthday gifts.

“Good night, Junior.” The chef replied, before switching to laying on his side.

Chef PeePee figured he'd be out like a light, but surprisingly, he couldn't fall asleep. No matter how still he laid, what position he was in, he just couldn't. It'd seemed like a little over 20 minutes since he first got into bed. So why wasn't he asleep yet?

Junior couldn't sleep either. For the same reason as Chef PeePee, along with his head hurting again, and also the fact he was scared for the morning. He would have to go to school the next day, which means his dad would have to get him ready.

His dad would have to get him ready.

His dad.

Junior loved his dad a lot, even more than any train or TV show, but he hated when he beat him. He never understood why his dad did it, especially so severely. Did his dad not love him back? Or was he just being too much of a brat?

With that question, another question arose in Junior's mind. Why hadn't Chef PeePee left yet? Did Chef PeePee love Bowser? No, he hates his guts. But if he didn't love him, then why did he stay?

The question burned in Junior's head, he tried thinking of answers, but he couldn't find anything that made sense. The only way to truly know is to ask, but was the chef even awake?

“Chef PeePee…?” Junior whispered, trying not to be too loud if the chef was actually asleep.

Surprisingly, he was met with a “What…?” As a response. Chef PeePee didn't turn to face him, but he knew he was awake.

“I, uh… I wanted to know… why haven't you quit yet?” He spat out. The chef was silent. Junior thought he'd fallen back asleep. “Chef PeePee?”

He heard the man let out a sigh. “I have no where to go.” He said rather blandly. Junior accepted that answer, but he didn't know if it was true. “And…” the chef added, getting the boy's attention back. “I… couldn't leave you… with your dad. If I left, there'd be no one else to intervene. I've grown so used to you, even with your brattiness. I couldn't just leave, Junior, I just couldn't.”

Junior was speechless. Chef PeePee really cared this much about him? All this time he could've left, he didn't because he cared? This was… new to the boy. Thinking of this, he had one more question.

“What if you took me with you?”