How Green Becomes Wood

"Whenever you want to learn, habibi, I'll teach you." She told him, putting one arm around his shoulders and kissing his forehead. "I love you, baby."

When the door rang, Dark started to stand up, but Daizi tapped him lightly, "Eat your breakfast." Then she went and opened the door, "Hello?"
 
Alec practically glowed with happiness at Daizi's promise and praise. He looked forward to her teaching him if for no other reason than to spend time with her. He followed her at a distance when she went to open the door, curious to see who it was.

"Hey, Daizi," Lex said, pronouncing her name with great care to get it right. "It's Lex. Toby said your boys got into a speck of trouble after your husband punched somebody. Either a drug dealer, another teacher, or something about a mafia. I'm guessing none of those were right except for the part of them all getting stuck home."
 
"Oh, hi, Lex," Daizi said, her smile warm but tired. "Those rumors are kinder than some of the others that have gotten back to us. There was a bit of an incident, but everyone is on the mend. Is there something you needed?"
 
"I bet," Lex muttered. Then more cheerfully, "Nah, I just dropped by to give you something." She paused with a frown. "Sorry, I'm not actually sure how to give you something. Do I describe the shape or about how you should hold your hands?" She was trying not to be rude, but she genuinely wasn't sure how to give a blind person something she couldn't just put in a single hand.
 
"Oh that's really kind, thank you!" Daizi replied, holding out her hands in a vaguely neutral shape, "What is it? And as long as you don't let go before I have whatever it is, we should be fine!"
 
"It's a big casserole dish, and it's got sloppy joes in them," Lex said, carefully putting the large, glass dish in Daizi's hands. The foil wrapped on top crinkled in her hands, and there were heating directions written on the top. "It's, uh, New Jersey sloppy joes, so they're more like deli sandwiches. A lot of people like them cold, but my family always stuck them in the oven to heat up. There's corned beef, Taylor ham, and roast beef with assorted cheeses and coleslaw and stuff. I managed to fit about thirty of them in there, so you got a few choices. Hot, cold, whichever you like."
 
"Oh wow, thank you this is great," Daizi said, adjusting how she held the container as she figured out its general shape and weight, "That'll make some things a bit easier--especially since the twins are still growing and Dark is so tall, honestly they'll probably all be gone by tomorrow. I really appreciate this, Lex, thank you."
 
"Not a problem," Lex said with a grin. "I've seen your man, and I may not be the best judge of character, but he's the kind of guy who, if he slugs a guy, it's not for no reason. I'd also guess he wouldn't be happy about doing it, either, so I thought you might want at least one meal you don't gotta worry about." She shoved her hands into her pockets. "If you need anything, I'm just across next door, and if I get too nosey, lemme know."
 
It was such a high school reaction, but anytime someone referred to Dark as 'her man', she felt warm inside. He was her man, "I shouldn't, but I will admit it's nice knowing he's still got that power to him. But this will be really helpful, I think we're all a bit worn out, so not having to think about it is a blessing. If something comes up, I'll be glad to reach out, but... Well, I'm just hoping we all get a bit of much-needed peace. And I'll bring this back as soon as we've washed it. I'd invite you in, but I'm not sure if anyone is in the mood for guests just now."
 
"Oh, yeah, no, it's cool," Lex chuckled. "I totally understand, and I gotta get back to work anyway. Don't worry about the dish. Whenever you got time, it can come back to me whenever you have a break." She gave Daizi a wave, not thinking about how Daizi couldn't see it. "I'll at least let you have the peace of not having me around. See ya!" She headed back toward her house and her latest project.
 
"Bye Lex," Daizi said, and thanked her one last time before shutting the door. Then she brought the casserole dish into the kitchen and said, "Lex brought us dinner, so we don't have to worry about it tonight."

"That was very kind of her," Dark commented, eating breakfast as he was commanded to do.

"Mm, I thought so," Daizi hummed, coming up behind him and draping her arms over his shoulders and kissing the top of his head, "She seemed very impressed with you, and I think she has every reason to be. I love you, Goose."
 
"You are truly a mighty warrior," Alec said quietly. "Like Aragorn. It's amazing." He looked down at Ivy and smiled at her. "Right, Ivy? A defender of the weak, but so meak and mild and kind to all! He's the kind of guy you should use as your role model, okay?"
 
"I don't think he's meek," Daizi murmured, still hanging on her husband, "He's quiet, and he's gentle, but he's not someone who would ever let someone speak over him. You're right, baby, he is like Aragorn. He's a warrior poet."

"You all speak too highly of me," Dark said softly, looking down at his hands.

"No, I don't speak highly enough," Daizi said, resting her chin on his shoulder for a moment, besotted, but then she released him and took Ivy from Alec, "Habiti, if you grow up to be someone who dates boys, you kick them to the curb unless they treat you as well as Baba treats you, okay? Do not settle for a crusty boy." She kissed Ivy's cheek, "Do you want to come play with us, Goose?"

"After I finish my breakfast and coffee."
 
"I mostly meant the gentle and quiet part of the meek definition," Alec admitted. He went to wipe off his shirt where Ivy had been sucking on it, trying to get it a little bit drier. Did he want more fruit? Yes, he wanted more fruit. He wandered over to get more fruit, staying quiet so Dark could eat his breakfast in peace.
 
"He is the strongest, most impressive man I know," Daizi hummed, meaning every word. That's her man. When Ivy babbled happily, she said, "See? Ivy-Qadira knows. Ivy-Qadira knows her Baba is the greatest Baba in the whole world."

From beneath his heavy eyelashes, Dark watched as his wife and daughter left the room, his heart feeling heavy because he wished he could believe what they said about him. Instead, he sipped his coffee and stared into the middle distance, drinking in the quiet than the warm liquid. Finally, he said, "I did not anticipate Ivy having difficulty telling you and Xander apart."
 
"Me neither," Alec admitted, sitting down to have a couple more pieces of fruit. He started with one, nibbling lightly on the end. "That hasn't happened since middle school when Xander started going more, I don't know, punk, I guess. Up until then, the only one who could consitently tell us apart was our mum and our third-grade teacher, Miss Flynn. She was nice. I wonder if she still teaches?"
 
"I am sure you can find that information if you looked. Your elementary school likely has a staff directory online. My name, work email, and work phone number are completely searchable, which is why," He took out his cellphone with a bit of aggravation, "I am still getting an unfathomable number of emails. I have set up an automatic response. It does not help." He set it down on the counter and then, after a moment of looking at it, shoved it further away from him. "Was it frustrating being mistaken for each other?"
 
"I don't know if she'd want her old students stalking her like that," Alec said, watching as Dark pushed his phone farther away. Why would he give his personal cell phone as a public work number? He shook off the question, deciding it didn't matter, and answered Dark's question instead. "Yep, It was really frustrating, but we also kind of got used to it," he admitted. "We were always together anyway, so what did it matter if they were calling Xander, Alec, or Alexander? Every now and then it could be fun, but usually it was just a thing to tolerate. Unless someone started talking to me about Xander's interests or vice-versa."
 
"I have taught for eleven years," Dark told him, sitting up a bit straighter and looking firmly at Alec, "There has never been a time I have been bothered by a former student reaching out to my work email. It is comforting to know they are doing well. If that is why you are reticent to reach out, do not let it stop you." He paused to eat a bit more of his breakfast, and after swallowing, he said, "When I was really little, I remember really wanting to have an identical twin, or a long-lost sibling."
 
"Maybe I will, then," Alec agreed with a little nod, surprised and yet not with how seriously Dark took the idle comment. He finished off his piece of fruit and decided he didn't want another. "I think Milo's said something similar, too. I wouldn't know how that feels, but I do know how it feels to sometimes think you've lost your personal identity and even wonder if you ever had one to begin with."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top