How Green Becomes Wood

"Hello," Dark called as he stepped inside, touching the salt with one hand, although he waited until he had set the pizzas down before he removed his shoes, not wanting to risk dropping them. "Dinner is here."

The scene in the living room gave him a bit of pause, "It looks like you have created a summoning circle. Are you having fun?"
 
"It's a one-ring circus!" Alec said brightly. "I'm having fun, and I think Ivy is having fun. Xander's out back, but I can go yell for him while you say hi to Ivy. Pizza smells so good!" He got up to go fetch his brother, pausing to give Dark a hug. "Welcome home!"
 
"I am glad to be home," Dark replied, hugging Alec back. "I am sure your brother will be delighted dinner arrived. And she certainly looks like she is delighted. Is Baba's sweet girl having fun?" Dark asked, sitting down across from her. When Ivy began to crawl towards him, he lifted a stuffed animal, booped its nose on hers, and lifted her in his arms to hug her hello.
 
Alec headed outside and called for Xander. It took a couple of tries, but eventually, Xander came out of his shed at the lure or pizza. Alec set up the plates and things needed for pizza while ander got everyone a drink, including Ivy.
 
Since Ivy wasn't allowed the pizza, Dark prepared a lovely meal of baby food for her, and had her sitting contentedly in her high chair. As he spoonfed her, he said, "I thought we could watch a movie tonight, after Ivy goes to bed, since it is just us home."
 
"That sounds like fun! What movie?" Alec asked eagerly.

Xander shrugged. "Does sound like fun, but I got a new order in I need to finish. I'm heading back out after pizza. Sorry."
 
"Whatever you would like," Dark replied, giving Ivy another spoonful of goop, "There is no issue if you are busy tonight, Xander, but if you change your mind, I am sure I will be around."
 
"Alright, cool, next time for sure," Xander agreed.

Alec looked disheartened and didn't say anything else as they ate pizza. He only managed one and a half pieces while Xander happily scarfed down four and eyed a fifth before deciding four was enough. For now. Xander headed out to his shed to work, and Alec helped Dark clean up the kitchen. Pizza meant there wasn't much to clean up, but he still tried to make it spotless for Dark's sake.
 
It was true, there wasn't much to clean, but Dark still appreciated the help. He knew, of course, or at least suspected, Xander was trying to avoid hanging out with Alec. Neither of them were adelt at hiding their feelings, but he had hoped a silent activity like a movie would help them cope with being in the same room together. Oh well.

"We could do face masks, too," he offered to Alec, trying to get him to perk up a little bit. His punishment was no extracurriculars, anything done at home was completely above board, and he wanted to make the most of the rare evening when it was just him and his children. "Daizi will not be home until late."
 
The offer did cheer Alec up, and he happily agreed to face masks, even suggesting a foot soak because why not? Foot soaks felt nice. He cleaned up the living room on his own and put everything away neatly, including the coffee table. Then he helped Dark pick out a movie and settled in for a light spa session at home. Xander didn't know the luxury he was missing!
 
Dark did agree to the footsoak, although he normally didn't do them---partially just because it was difficult enough to find a container large enough for his absolute flippers--because Alec seemed cheered by the possibility. He let his son clean up while he put Ivy to bed, and afterwards came downstairs. In the time between, he wondered if there was any sort of skincare he could include Ivy in, but decided very quickly there was no shot he could do anything she wouldn't immediately try to eat off her face and cause a huge mess, and trying to wash her face was already a battle.

So he settled down on the couch with his son and enjoyed having the one on one time with him, eventually asking, before the movie really started going, "The customers at Tristan's shop, they treat you well, yes?"
 
"Oh, sure," Alec said, stopping himself from nodding so he wouldn't mess up his mask. "Sometimes someone might be in a rush or try to argue about flower prices, the usual nonsense, but Tristan always steps in, and he never leaves me alone to deal with the customers for more than a minute if he has to get something from the back. Actually, most of my work is in the back sorting flower, cutting the wraps, things like that, but I go out front during busy times. He says I'm a natural at bouquets, but I do need to work on my listening skills with what the customer wants."
 
"There is the sort of too nice where someone is a people pleaser, and they do not stand up for themselves or set healthy boundaries, but what I mean is... the sort of nice where they... say kind things, but kind things which you are uncomfortable hearing from them." It was surprisingly difficult for him to describe, "None of the adults who visit his shop say inappropriate things to you?"
 
"Oh, no!" Alec hurriedly assured Dark. "Never!" He paused. "Well, once this old lady pinched my cheek and told me I was the most adorable carrot she'd ever seen, but she looked like she was a hundred years old or something. Tristan laughed and said he agreed but that carrots aren't to be touched, no matter how cute they are. She agreed and kind of said sorry but not really. Still, she was like a hundred, so I gave her a pass."
 
Dark nodded, satisfied with how Tristan responded to the one time anyone did touch Alec. "Good. I am glad of that. If it ever changes, tell me, okay? Do not let people step over your boundaries, there or anywhere. Do not think certain things cannot happen because you are not a girl."
 
Alec turned enough to look at Dark suspiciously, wondering what might have happened to prompt this conversation. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll remember that." He turned back to the movie. "Are you enjoying the shop, or can you hardly wait to be done?"
 
"I do enjoy it. More than I thought I would," He admitted, stretching out as much as he could with his feet in a tub, "But at the same time, I miss being here. I quit my job for a reason, and I feel strongly I made the correct choice, and I loved working as a teacher more than I love being an errand boy."
 
Alec giggled at that. "I imagine it would be a step down. I really love it, and I get to learn more things about flowers and things that Mama loves! And I like getting some of the leftover flowers to bring home."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top