How Green Becomes Wood

"It is not the fact they ditched class that worries me," Dark was saying, privately, to his wife, "it is that clearly what is going on is really affecting them, and I do not know if it would be right for us to just walk off into the city and leave them to deal with it alone. Alec, obviously, does not want us involved, but Xander has spent some time with me, and I do not want to send the message that if they say they do not want us involved, that we will just not care, and rush out to have a fun time as if nothing is going on with them."

Daizi murmured her agreement, "and if we asked them, I know they would tell us they want us to go, regardless of if they actually do or not," she rubbed her face, "and I don't know how I'd have a pleasant and peaceful time if the entire time I'm thinking about if they are okay."

"But, if we stay home when they want us to go out, that might also make it harder on them," Dark pointed out, and realizing it was a much more complicated issue than he first believed, sighed, and said he would call her back later so they could figure out what the best plan was.
 
Alec and Xander spent the rest of their day alone at the house quietly dealing with whatever needed done. Xander eventually put on an old CD of Meatloaf he found out in the school yard, and he listened to that while tidying up the house, finishing his homework, and generally just trying to keep busy and occupied.

Alec helped for a while, but eventually, he went up to his room and closed himself in. He sat on the floor by his bed idly playing with his color pencils and staring at the blank page of his sketch pad. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to handle this. He wasn't even sure what it was he was supposed to handle! Everything was just a mess right now. He started sketching random shapes and letting them form whatever they wanted to on the page.
 
Eventually Dark came home, still unresolved about his date. When he came in, he allowed a few extra minutes of silence while he gathered himself before saying, "I am home," he said, bending to pet his dog, not knowing where everyone else was, and wanting to give them whatever space they needed. But because he didn't know if he and Daizi were going out, he didn't know if he needed to make dinner or if he needed to shower and change into something that smelled less like high school.
 
Xander was out back, but he'd left the door open so he could hear when Dark called out. He brushed himself off and came inside. "Hey," he called, hands shoved into his pockets.

Alec came down slowly, stopping on the stairs to watch Dark, gripping his hands tightly. He'd disappointed Dark. He'd disappointed him and worried him. He'd hurt him!
 
"Aren't you two going out tonight and leaving us to starve on our own?" Xander drawled, leaning back against the counter. "Or are you sticking around to play jailer? For what it's worth, it was my idea. He just went along with it, that's all."
 
"We are not playing jailer," Dark replied calmly, "and we would never leave you to starve, which is why I am asking what you would like to eat. I can order a pizza or Chinese or whatever you would like. But Daizi and I just want to be avaliable for you both, I know things have been difficult lately."
 
Xander couldn't help rolling his eyes. "The starving bit was a joke. I do know how to cook, so I can take care of things. And things have been difficult, which is why you two should go out and relax for a change, right? Restore your batteries a bit before we bring more trouble home."

Alec stayed where he was, watching and listening. Dark seemed almost too calm. Or was that is own anxiety speak? No, it was only his own anxiety. Still, he felt he might feel better if Dark at least acted a little frustrated. Being completely calm and unbothered seemed so unnatural even though he knew that was Dark's way.
 
"I know you can cook, but it is Friday, so if you would rather not go through the effort of cooking, you have options," he glanced at Alec, "or I can say your punishment for ditching school is that you are not allowed to order in food, like I otherwise would have let you."
 
Xander shrugged. "That seems like a reasonable punishment," he agreed. "Did you have any other options for punishment? Like washing the dog?"

Alec relaxed just a tiny bit as he watched Dark. He still felt horrible for worrying Dark and disappointing him. Disappointment was worse than anger.
 
Dark looked at Enkidu who was sitting happy as ever, "Washing him would be a punishment for him, and he does not deserve that. But just, relax. We are okay." He looked again at Alec and repeated himself, "We are okay. I promise. You need to prioritize your mental health, I understand that. Just tell me next time."
 
Xander eyed Dark skeptically. Really? No punishment? Or at least a minimal one? He could hardly believe it, but he guessed he had to. He gave a little shrugged and accepted it. "We'll catch up on everything on Monday, no problem. Anyway, if you two are going out tonight, you might want to change. You smell like a high school classroom with all students present and accounted for."
 
"I was going to," he said, brushing away invisible wrinkles, "and I do not mean to alarm you, but... You will both still have to talk to Daizi about this. But so you do not freak yourselves out too much, she is more concerned than angry. She... We both really just want to help you two, with whatever is really going on." He drummed his fingers against his thigh, and then, hesitatingly, said, "but right now I need to shower."
 
Alec flinched when Dark brought up Daizi. That was going to be so much worse! He slipped away and crept up to his room.

"I'll do it," Xander promised. "It's just weird to us because we've never had this problem before. I don't even know how to do proper procedure check out or whatever the heck you have to do to escape."
 
"We can talk about that," Dark promised, and then sighed, gazing down at Xander for a long time in the quiet way he had while thinking deeply about something. Eventually he said, "You know I do want to punish you for ditching school like that. But you are both already dealing with so much that it feels punitive. And I know you did not leave just fun. I trust that you will not do it again, but you should know that if you do, I will not be so quickly forgiving, because I understand you are still adjusting to be able to rely on an adult, and I know you did not know how to do it the right way, but you also know by now how important it is I know where you are."
 
Xander studied Dark for a bit. "I don't always get it, the reasons and stuff, even when you try to explain them, but... I am trying to respect your rules." He looked away and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's not that much to ask of us. Sorry we didn't tell you. It just... didn't occur 'cause you were busy. Sorry."
 
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Dark relaxed somewhat, although he had never been inordinately tense, "I know you are sorry, and I know you are trying. And I do sincerely appreciate you being honest with me when I asked where you were. Like I said, that is why I am not more upset. That is why we are okay. But I still have to make sure you understand it is an active choice of mine to not be more upset."

He lingered again for a few moments and then said, "We are all learning. And I do not think Daizi will be angry with you two either." Then, finally, he took himself upstairs to shower.
 
Xander stretched, forcing the tension out of his muscles, and headed upstairs to join Alec in their room. Being someone's kid was hard! He didn't fully get why Dark disproved of what they did - no one was hurt, they hadn't deliberately skipped any classes, and they'd gone straight home - but he really didn't mean to upset the man or break the rules. He figured Dark didn't need to be told about them leaving because he was busy working. Why would they interrupt him for something so trivial? But he guessed if something had happened, the adults' first instinct would have been to look for them at school even if they had their phones on them at (nearly) all times. Well, at least he didn't intend to make skipping school a habit.

Alec sat looking out the window. He didn't say anything when Xander came in. He didn't know what to say. All of this was his fault. All of it. He just wished none of it had happened, and he wished he better understood what was happening.
 
When Daizi came home, after greeting her sweet boy dog with his sweet fluffy face, the first thing she did was go up to the twins bedroom and knocked on their door, "Hey," She said in a soft, kind voice, "can I come in? I'm not mad. Or disappointed. I just want to talk."
 
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Xander glanced at Alec before getting up to open the door. "That is like the worst opening line ever," Xander said dryly, moving aside and making sure her way to the nearest desk chair was clear. "You know how many breakups start with that? Or murderers in the movies? But it could be worse. It could just be 'we need to talk,' which is way worse."

He was mostly joking to try to keep the atmosphere lighter than it wanted to be. Why was Daizi up here talking to them when Dark had already covered all the bases? But he wasn't going to tell her no.
 
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