How Green Becomes Wood

"Guess so." Milo replied easily, "but I watched my dad die at eight, had to give my mom narcan for one of her overdoses... It's pretty hard regardless. And hopefully by the time I have a kid, I'll have a really assertive partner who will go to battle against the bully's parents and the schoolboard, and if I'm a single dad I'll just call you." He looked at Xander, "With evil people like that, there are so many times a person could intervene, I can't take all of that responsibility on. It'd suck if that happened, but if everyone thought like that, there'd be no people left."
 
Xander raised his brows at Milo. "You know, that's literally the most positive I have ever seen you be outside of when you're talking about your mum. You're pretty serious about being a dad."
 
Milo looked away, a bit embarrassed, "I want to be like my dad. He died when I was just a kid, so it's like... if I'm a dad, it's like... maybe I'll get to know him better, because we got cut short."
 
Dark was like that, but not quite. He'd had said something slightly different. It was more like he wanted to be the opposite of his dad. What would he say in this situation? Xander hesitated, trying to think of the right thing. It felt like it was on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn't sure.

Alec turned toward them before Xander had the chance to say anything and asked, "What are you guys talking about?"
 
"Oh, yes, it is a stupid risk, but it's probably the best stupid risk to take," Alec said happily. "She did stand up! She looked so confused! Like she wasn't sure how she got where she was. She'll be walking in no time!"
 
A look of horror crossed Alec's face, and he swallowed hard. "I hadn't thought of that. Oh dear. And sequins."

"That's why we need a lock on our door," Xander stated with a smirk.
 
"It's pretty good to have a lock regardless, even if she doesn't get into your glitter storage. You don't want her to walk in on you changing." Milo added, resting his chin in his hand.
 
"It would absolutely be more traumatic for you," Milo replied, smiling a tiny bit, "she's too young to have learned to feel shame and too young to remember it. That's why babies take off their clothes all the time, once they learn how to undress themselves, they haven't learned there's something wrong with nudity."
 
"I thought they just liked the attention," Alec mused. "With people running after them to put their clothes back on."

"That's why you did it, I bet," Xander remarked.

Alec gave him a little shove. "I liked clothes! You were the one who Mum had to fight to get to put on pants. Shirt and shoes but no socks or pants!"

"Airing out dirty secrets ain't classy," Xander told him with a tiny shove back. "You were the one who kept trying to wear Mum's shoes until you tripped and cracked your skull open."

"I liked the height," Alec said primly.
 
Milo laughed quietly, "See, that's what's great about having kids or having much younger siblings, you'll get to know all their dirty secrets, but they don't know yours, so you get to embarrass them without putting yourself at risk."
 
"Oh, trust me, when it comes to siblings, you are always at risk," Xander said dryly.

Alec flopped over onto Xander. "At risk of love and affection!"

Xander pushed him off. "Same thing as embarrassment. At least everyone here keeps their clothes on."
 
"Just hope that you're not living at home when they potty train her," Milo commented, looking up at the ceiling, "Everyone sees things they hoped never to during that. But at least you have leverage over her."
 
"Ugh, why? Why did you have to mention that?" Xander asked, shuddering.

Alec laughed and told Milo, "You should come over sometime for a playdate with her. She'd love having someone new to interact with once she got over her shyness, and it'd be good for her to see people outside the family unit."
 
"I don't know," Alec admitted. "I don't think I've heard many people talk about it, but you could play with her and hang out with us, a two-for-one thing."

Xander shrugged. "If you want, sure. Why not?"
 
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