[TW: Parent/adult child abuse, suicide mention]
Noel sees his father's hand wind back and has half a second to brace himself before the blow smacks into his face, whipping his head to the side and rattling his brain against his skull. He stumbles back, ears ringing.
"Ungrateful brat," his father spits. "Do you have any idea what you—"
Behind Noel, glass shatters loudly, and the light in the room dims.
Glancing over his shoulder, he finds one of the ornate wall sconces now in pieces on the carpet. When he turns back to his father, he looks just as confused as Noel, and Noel furrows his brows, chancing a peek at Beckett. His brother is standing rigidly in the same spot, hands fisted at his sides, jaw clenched so tightly Noel can see a vein throbbing beneath his skin.
Their father clears his throat. "Noel, I warned you," he says, picking up like he wasn't interrupted by an exploding lamp, "not to cause any trouble."
