How Green Becomes Wood

"You know, people love to ask me if, should a surgery or other treatment arise that would give me sight, if I would do it, and I always say that I don't know, because I don't: I'd like to see Dark's face, and yours, and Xander's, and..." She paused, "Cooger's and one... other person's, when the time comes. And I'd like to see the stars and sunsets, and all of those other purely visual things people rave about, but at the same time, I think it'd be really scary... But," She waved her her hand over the rim of her glass to double check there was no straw there, "When I freak out because I can't remember if there is a straw? Yes, I would like to be able to see." Again, she laughed at herself, and put her arm around Alec, "but I am very glad to know sighted people have jabbed themselves too."

"It's not all the different branches of the government," Cooger argued, sitting up straighter, "It's not like the Parks and Rec department needs to know. Hell, the senate probably don't need to know. Just the CIA and the military, and I guess the president. I mean, look at Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project. We were able to get our asses together to invent nukes. And--saying those studies, whatever you want to call 'em, are a waste of time, is a PsyOp. They make the people think they ain't being funded to discourage people from digging deeper. Do I think Area 51 is swarming with greys? Nah, 'course not, because I've done the reading, and anyone who thinks they're in Area 51 hasn't done the reading. Dark, you've done the reading, right? Where are all the aliens kept."

"Ohio," Dark replied, "but I have not really done the reading, I just listen to podcasts where angry men start yelling. Tarot's done the reading."

"I've done the reading on Cryptids, Hauntings, Demons, and Witchcraft, that's different." Daizi replied matter-of-factly.

Cooger nodded, understanding the difference, but then paused and asked, "What about the Pennsylvania Silent Invasion

"Bigfoots don't herald enough doom for me, to be honest."
 
"Man, if you keep me talking about governments and aliens, I'm never going to finish my burger," Declan chuckled. "Besides, to be honest, I always felt like those old-time like peasants or whatever they were. Another king? That's great, taxes go up and down, but it don't change the fact that the crops still need tending to and all that. It's all over my head. I'd rather just eat my burger." He lifted it slightly in demonstration and took a bite.
 
As Declan said this, the waiter brought Cooger's food, and he said, "You know, fair enough. I didn't have mine yet, so I was very content to talk the day away. But now that it's arrived--!"

Once they were all eating, Dark and Daizi felt even more relieved that their friend had shown up. They made it through the majority of the first half of dinner a lot than they would have done if he hadn't shown up, properly, and it certainly relaxed them both to see someone they loved, trusted, was entirely on their side, and was not at all torn between them and Declan. Really, they both thought independently, they should have brought him long before.

As always, partway through the meal, Dark said, "I will cover the bill, it is no problem."

"Aw, c'mon, man, let me at least pay for my portion," Cooger protested, but Dark insisted. Both men were well aware of the routine, and often would scramble to try to outwit the other into paying first (Cooger, because he hated always being paid for and sometimes wanting to treat his favourite people), but this day, Cooger was prepared to let it go, because it was now more complicated than the three of them. And he had not budgeted for paying for so many people, because he was planning to just eat alone. And he was loyal to Dark and Daizi, and to who he percieved as his nephew, but under no circumstances was he paying for a stranger, anyone who would do that when not on a date, in his view, was insane. Dark was insane, but he loved him, so he cut him some slack, "Alright, my brother, but I've got a coupon I was planning to use today. Don't be too proud to miss it, it expires next week and I'll be pissed if I miss the chance to use it."

This was an agreeable arrangement, and Dark did not protest it.
 
"Oh, it's over already," Alec said mildly. He'd barely eaten anything of his already smaller portion, and ended up putting most of it in a little box to take home.

"Shame. Those were some good ribs," Xander said happily, still trying to get all of the sauce off his hands. It was like trying to remove glue, and it got everywhere!

"That was pretty fantastic, alright," Declan agreed, leaving a bit of a tip for the waitress under his plate but not even trying to argue for the bill. "We should do this again sometime!"

Alec was already inching toward the door, though his desire to stay near Dark and Daizi made that motion very difficult. Xander just wandered, following the group contentedly. He was crammed full of good food. He didn't have much to be grumpy about, for once.
 
Dark and Daizi got out of the booth and began heading towards the door. Dark had noticed how little Alec had eaten and was planning to ask him about it later, in private, but for now was content to just be going home, "I am sure we will do so," Dark said, sounding neutral, but having really just accepted the inevitability of it. It was good the twins were--or at least Xander was--glad to see him more than once a week, but three days with the man felt like entirely too much.

"Goodbye Cooger. It was really nice running into you," Daizi said, while they stood just outside of the building, since they had parked on opposite ends of the lot.

"It was good seeing you too," He said, giving her a warm, brotherly hug. When he pulled away he left his hands on his shoulder, he said, "Now, you take care of yourself, okay? And him. He's got some grey hairs in his beard, we can't have that, we'll have to rename him again. And you gotta be good to yourself, Tarot, now I'm serious okay? All of this, it's just noise. It don't matter, everything will be swell, just you watch. Or, listen, I suppose. This will be perfect," he nodded back towards Declan, "That will be fine, now, hey, don't do that--" He looked at her face and hugged her again, "You and Dark both stress too much," He released her, "Speaking of which, I gotta say goodbye to him too. Tell the, uh, Minor Arcana I'm thinkin' bout her."

With that, he turned towards Dark, but then held up his hand and went to the twins instead, "Welp, Little Gladiator, Little Sage, seems it's goodbye for now. Have a good night, eat more" He looked at Alec, "You're still growing or whatever. Dark'll give you the details on that, not my buisness. And speaking of Dark--I heard he sang at karaoke night! He must really love y'all to do that. And my place, Fourth of July, right? Now I'm holding y'all to that. Sparklers, S'mores, probably something else beginning with 'S' too. I haven't figured it out yet, but don't they say things sound best in groups of three? Hey," He looked at the two twins and then back at Daizi, and grinned, "That checks out, don't it? Me, Dark, and Tarot. You two and... Well, I'll see you around." Cooger waved to them, and at last went to Dark, who had been standing confused literally right next to Daizi the entire time while his best friend kept saying, 'I gotta say goodbye to him,' and walking literally anywhere else. But at last they met, and went into a short, but surprisingly complicated handshake, clearly by that point muscle memory, and talked for a bit too long (Daizi sat down on a bench to wait it out), but they spoke too quietly to each other for anyone to overhear. But at last they hugged, and Cooger walked off to his truck with a casual wave.

"Are you finished?" Daizi asked teasingly, "I swear, you don't talk to me that long."

"I think it is about the same. I just see you more often."
 
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"Sparklers, s'mores, and sonic waves!" Xander grinned, waving to Cooger. "See ya!" He looked for Declan, but the other was already long gone. That was a short goodbye, but then again, every goodbye was going to feel short after Cooger's goodbye.

Alec just smiled, watching Cooger go from person to person. He was a good man, that Cooger. Hanging out with him sounded like a lot of fun this Fourth of July, especially if they kept it to just sparklers. He wasn't a fan of fireworks up close like that. At a distance, they were pretty and he enjoyed them, but not up close. He waved to Cooger and moved toward the car expectantly.
 
"You've made him very happy agreeing to go to his place on the Fourth," Daizi told them, standing up, "he's been begging us. Come on, let's go home."

Dark looked off towards where Cooger had gone before getting into the car, "I just hope neither of you are allergic to cats. But if you like it there, it is probably where we will send you when Daizi goes into labor."

"He called the baby 'Minor Arcana," Daizi said, getting in beside him and buckling his seatbelt, "Who wants to pick the music this time?"

"Oh that is very cute."

"I know, I'm kind of mad I didn't think of it first. I wish we had gotten dessert."

"We have ice cream at home," He glanced at the twins, "How was that? Did you have fun?"
 
"It was alright. Kind of boring though," Xander admitted. "Lots of good food! But not much to do."

Alec smiled a little. "I'm glad Cooger got to join us. It's fun to spend time with him."

"Yeah, but he's not the person we were supposed to be spending time with," Xander pointed out.

"Maybe, but if Declan stays, Cooger would have to meet him eventually."

Xander hesitated and shrugged. "I guess you're right there. And he's good at keeping everyone from fighting."

Alec said nothing, but he had to agree.
 
Daizi groaned slightly, "That restaurant was so loud, though, I do not understand what the point of it was. The food was good, but I feel like you had to yell a little bit to be heard, and I thought the whole point of restaurants is to be able to have conversations. I think I have a bit of a headache from it, now that we're somewhere quiet enough to think."

"I think the point of the restaurant was Texas," Dark suggested unhelpfully, but lightly rubbed Daizi's knee.

"Whatever, I think I might go straight to bed when we get home," She turned back to the twins, or more specifically Alec, "I'm okay, just a bit overstimulated, I think."
 
"I want a shower and bed," Alec said. "It was really, really stimulating."

"I'm more interested in ice cream before bed," Xander admitted.

Alec looked at him balefully. "I'm beginning to think you'll eat sun up to sun down if you can."

Xander shrugged. "And why not? Food's good! And I get hungry."

Alec smiled and closed his eyes tiredly, reaching out to touch his brother instinctively. These meetings were utterly exhausting.
 
"I'll probably wake up at 2am and then eat ice cream and go back to sleep," Daizi laughed, tracing circles on her belly. In a gentle, loving tone, she murmured something in Arabic, the way one speaks to themselves.

"Just do not get sick, any of you," He took quick glances towards the other passengers and then drove the rest of the way home. Only a day later, they were back in the car, on their way to work and school. It was a good week for Dark and the twins, they were at the very final days of the semester, and soon they would be on Summer break. For Daizi it was just like any other day. Most classes had already finished their exams, too, because teachers needed time to grade, so it was easy days.

Dark made his goodbyes to Daizi like always, although he might have taken a second or two longer in the parking lot to look at her. She was going on 19 weeks, which would then give way to 20, and then... Uncharted territory. They had never made it beyond that halfway point, and they felt its approach like the change in the air before a storm rolls in. Regardless of how the next two weeks went, it would be life-altering, and they were quietly preparing for that.

But, while driving to the rest of the way to school, he only asked the twins the simple question of, "Are you excited to be on break?"
 
"Yes!" the twins cried, equally excited.

"No more school rules!" Xander groaned.

"No more homework!" Alec cheered.

"No more nosey girls," Xander grumbled.

Alec giggled. "Did another one ask you out? What does that make now?"

"Four girls and one boy," Xander huffed. "Apparently, bad news travels slow."

"It does when it concerns affairs of the heart!" Alec grinned. "You could always be like Peter. He's been asked out at least once every single day."

"At least he can blame his parents when he says no. I'm just a heartless jerk," Xander said, rolling his eyes.
 
"You are not being heartless by rejecting them," Dark said, "If you want to use myself or Daizi as an excuse, you are welcome to, but it is important to learn that you do not owe anybody your time or affection, and you are not owed those things romantically either. It would be more heartless to agree to date them if you were not interested, because then you are stringing them along. If you are not interested, then you are not interested, and there is nothing wrong with that.

He pulled into the parking lot of the school and looked back at them, "As long as you are being nice about it. Are you being nice about it?"
 
"Not this last time," Alec said, but he seemed amused rather than annoyed, which was unusual for him concerning his brother's offenses.

"That's because that was the fourth time!" Xander growled. "And she keeps coming back with new offers and suggestions and she will not take no for an answer! Seriously, if a boy harasses a girl, it's bad news for the boy, but if I yell at a girl to stop harassing me, I'm the one in trouble for it."

"I think she got the point when you told her you'd rather date her dog," Alec said, following Xander out of the car. "Besides, the professor's right. It's not like you owe them a reason."
 
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Dark frowned getting out of the car, "If you got in trouble for that, real trouble, with a teacher or someone, let me know and I will talk to them. You are right, if she will not take no for an answer, as long as you do not turn violent, you should not get in trouble with her." He pulled his bag over his shoulder and sighed, heading towards the school.

"At least the semester basically over, she will have forgotten you by the Autumn."
 
"I certainly hope so," Alec agreed. "No offense to her, but she has this horrible affectation when she talks, and I know it's an affectation because she drops it sometimes when it's just here and that sweet, mousey girl that follows her around sometimes."

Xander shook his head. "She's squeaks. Like a mouse. It's really annoying. Actually, she's just annoying."

"Sloan's not annoying, though," Alec reminded him. "Let's go see if she's in the gym! Professor, did you know some people think she's dating Xander? It's quite funny. It doesn't even make sense because half of the time she doesn't even eat lunch with us."
 
Dark chuckled at the thought, but then paused and looked at Xander, "This is not a good idea, so I do not recommend it, but... Knowing the bit about Sloan that I know, and knowing you are not interested in dating, pretending to date might make it easier, at least temporarily. It is a very messy idea, though." He was doing his best to impress on them it was not a smart choice while also finding it interesting. They were nearly at the end of the semester, so it didn't really matter anyway. And it wasn't like they'd need to pretend to be a couple anywhere outside of the school, so it wouldn't affect their interactions with the neighbors.

But it was a foolish risky idea anyway and not at all a smart choice. Just an interesting one, "I once broke up with a girl with a note that said, 'Someday you will be loved, and then you will hardly remember me at all,' and left her house before she woke up, so... As long as you do not do that, you will be fine. It was not my finest hour."
 
"She remembers you," the twins said simultaneously. They didn't need to be experienced in matters of the heart to know that.

"Absolutely she remembers you," Alec said with a nod.

"Just like how Cooger always knew you were together," Xander snickered. "You couldn't even keep yourselves to yourselves for a week, what makes you think your best and closest friend could miss it when he was like five feet away?"

"Not that he'd ever say anything," Alec giggled.

"Not even when you're old and married. No, he'll take that to his grave!" Xander laughed, and the pair ran off without Dark to resume their usual school day.
 
Dark sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "I know that she does. I was only 19, and I was neither smart nor kind yet and--" He fell silent and stared dumb at the twins as they spoke, and then as they scurried away he spluttered, "Okay first of all it was longer than a week and also he was more than five feet away, technically, because he was sitting on the hood of the van and we were in the back, so--And it only had two beds anyway, and-" He sighed, took a breath, and fixed his hair as he walked to the teachers lounge for coffee and to quietly mail a bag of dicks to Cooger with a note attached with a note attached reading, essentially, Thank you for telling my kids about our van road trip! With that, they would be even, and they could move on.

Really, he was more embarrassed than anything. It wasn't like he could pretend he and Daizi never did 'those things' considering she was pregnant with his child.
 
The first half of Alec and Xander's day went by easily. With things winding down, two of the teachers were already running out of things to do and resorting to YouTube videos and games. Most of the rest were still trying to cram things in, but it was easier now with a lighter homework load.

Lunchtime came around, and as the twins sat to eat, Peter came sliding into their table. "Just the mates I was looking for!" he grinned. He handed Alec a small black box tied with a pink ribbon. "Here, this is from my mum to yours."

"Thank you, Peter, that is really kind," Alec smiled.

"No prob! Are you doing anything over the summer?" Peter grinned.

"We haven't decided yet. There have been some complications," Alec replied.
 
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