How Green Becomes Wood

Dark shrugged, going to cut pieces, "I do not know. It just seemed right. I wish I could be the person who is home first so I could put out after school snacks. Or at least on Fridays a nice treat. Something to come home to. But I get home after you, and then I basically have to get started on dinner right away, so I cannot." He plated two of the pieces, both with one of the roses, "But this comes close. And if in December, I had not been out late to bring Daizi something, I never would have found you out there. And I never would have known to bring you home, so." He turned back to them, leaning against the counter, "It seemed right to come home late today with something for you."
 
Alec looked at the cake then at Dark. He stepped over and, moving slowly, hugged Dark tightly. "Thank you," he whispered. "We wouldn't be here without you. Thank you for everything, and I'm sorry we- I'm sorry we worry you sometimes. I know you say it's okay, but I'm still sorry."

Xander didn't say anything, feeling awkward and guilty. He got himself a small piece, not all that hungry for once, but he was going eat it no matter what if only to show Dark he appreciated the thought.
 
He turned slightly, and then bent to hug him back, "You are worth the worry," he murmured, a bit surprised they took the cake so seriously, although in retrospect he knew he shouldn't be. Dark gave Alec one tight squeeze before breaking away, "So," he cleared his throat, taking a small bit of the cake for himself, "What are you going to do now that you do not have homework to occupy yourselves with?"
 
"I want to focus more on music and art," Alec stated. "I want to do something with it. I just haven't figured out exactly what that is yet." He took an enthusiastic bite of cake. "Mmm, this is good!" he declared. "I'm hungry. What do you do during the summer? I always thought teachers went to exotic locations and thought about anything other than school until September."

Xander just shrugged. He hadn't thought that far ahead.
 
"I cannot go too far from home, Daizi still works," Dark replied, eating his cake while standing against the counter, "But we go to the lake, carnivals when they are near. I work in my shed. I am making a few things now that I will really get to focus on. Daizi and I will have to finish, or at least mostly finish, the nursery before I go back. And you both are redecorating your room, right? So I will probably help with that, if you need it, or want it. And the three of us still need to go to the Amusement park... and anything else you would like to do. For now it is enough to just get a little bit more sleep."
 
"The theme park is very enjoyable. And the food is all objectively bad, and if you were served it at a restaurant you would send it back, but if you are within the fence? It is everything you could hope for. And you can start redecorating whenever you want, now that you have ideas. You will have to make sure that it is clean first, because painting the walls means you will have to move everything around so you have space to work, but if you have an idea if you are both happy with, then we just need to go and get the paint and all of the supplies." Dark replied, smiling to himself. Seeing them take ownership over their space was special, "Are you just painting or are you looking to add new decor too?"
 
"I am very happy with my ideas," Alec declared.

"I am very not happy with his ideas," Xander said dryly. "I think a white room is just fine."

Alec frowned. "It's so boring! Why can't we bring a little color into it?"

"Why do we have to?" Xander challenged.

"To show who lives there! That someone lives there."

"We know who lives there, we live there, and it's not like there are tours of the place where people have to guess whose room is whose."

"Surely you know what I mean. Why can't we claim it as ours?"

"We have our stuff in it, don't we?" Xander shook his head. "Let's go back to dreaming about fair food while you compensate for no lunch with cake. Are you going to eat cake for dinner, too?"

Alec scowled at him. "You are being awfully grouchy lately."
 
Dark frowned, and he turned to Alec with concern in his eyes, "Did you not eat lunch today?" The bickering didn't bother him. In his estimation, the bickering was normal, but that one line stood out to him, especially because he had been watching what Alec had been eating lately, "Is everything okay?"
 
Alec looked away, flushing slightly. "Big mouth," he muttered to Xander, who shrugged a little uncomfortably. "Everything is fine. I just wasn't very hungry today. That's all," he told Dark. "I'm fine." He quickly finished the last bite of his cake. "And cake is delicious, but perhaps not nutritious, so I won't eat it for dinner."
 
"Are you sure?" Dark asked, "because I have noticed..." He glanced away, not sure if he should bring it up in front of Xander, since they seemed to be a bit tense with each other at the moment, "You can talk to me, if there is something going on. Food is important."
 
Alec looked up at Dark, feeling suddenly anxious. "I didn't waste anything," he assured Dark. "I promise. Xander ate it for me because I couldn't finish. I'm sorry."

Xander stepped forward and put a hand on Alec's shoulder. "It's not a big deal," he said, glaring at Dark, suddenly protective. "Aren't you late for making dinner?" He pulled Alec back, putting space between them, and Alec followed, feeling caught between anxiety and bewilderment.
 
"No, I was not worried about wasting, I..." He sighed, "Yes, I am late. I should get started." They could be so touchy, which made it difficult to ask any questions, "You should enjoy the rest of your day, make the most of it." He then turned and began getting ingredients from the pantry, deciding if the problem persisted, he'd ask again, but not push anything. Pushy parents really just got walls built up, didn't they? It'd be better to just let it rest for the time being.
 
Xander ran a hand through his hair, yanking it in frustration. "I'm going to go take Enkidu for a walk," he said shortly. He turned and whistled for the dog. He didn't even understand why he was so angry. He just was! Maybe if he could go for a run or something, then things would feel better. His head would be clearer.

Alec inched closer to Dark. "Can I help with dinner?" he offered quietly.
 
Hearing his name, Enkidu came charging full speed towards Xander, nearly stumbling his own paws before promptly sitting down in front of Xander, panting and awaiting his leash.

"Of course you can," Dark replied, not taking the previous conversation personally. They were fifteen, they were allowed to be emotional and irrational, after all, "it is probably good if you do. I am trying my hand at making real, American burgers, so you can help make sure I get it right, yes?"
 
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"Good boy," Xander praised the dog, rubbing his ears before snapping on his leash. "Come on. Let's go taunt the neighbors." He pulled on his shoes quickly and opened the door, letting the dog out first.

Alec managed a tiny smile and nodded. "I can do my best! What would you like for me to do first?"
 
Dark thought for a moment, knowing Alec wasn't... the greatest in the kitchen, but also knowing that nobody improves without practice. And it seemed difficult to mess up, so he said, "Wash your hands first, obviously. And then do you want to mix the ingredients? I read you are supposed to use your hands, so... It will be a weird texture. I think we have plastic gloves, but they are probably too big for your hands."
 
"Sure, I can do that," Alec agreed eagerly. "I don't mind getting my hands dirty." He went and washed his hands thoroughly. As he dried his hands, he said quietly, "I'm sorry about Xander. I think he is upset about something. A problem he is trying to solve."
 
"No, it is alright. I am not upset," He replied, measuring the ingredients and adding it to the bowl with the ground beef, "I hope he is alright, though. I hope both of you are alright. I am not just saying words when I mean you can talk to me about anything that is on your mind, even if you think it is stupid, because if it is upsetting you, it is not stupid."
 
Alec sighed and poked the meat half-heartedly. It felt cold and squishy and just a touch slimy. It was almost fascinating how bad it felt. "I don't know what the problem is. I think... I think I might be a part of the problem. Because he won't talk to me, either. He keeps it inside."
 
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