How Green Becomes Wood

Xander really doubted he was as complicated as people said he was. It sounded more like a way to excuse his a**hat personality. Saladin had plenty of reasons to be a jerk - losing a wife, not knowing how to deal with a disabled daughter, having a troublesome rebel steal his daughter - but that didn't make him complicated. That was just life. Dark had just as many if not more reason to be a jerk but he wasn't. He was the coolest dude Xander had ever met. If Dark could be chill, so could Saladin. The difference was Saladin did not want to be chill. He wanted to be an a**hat. If someone wanted to be an a**hat, they were more than welcome to. Speaking as a former (mostly) a**hat personality holder, you didn't expect people to roll over for you or like you when you treated them like dirt.

"Good, because I don't like him, and I don't care if he knows that," Xander said blandly. "I'll behave."
 
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Chuckling she said, "I can do that, and I do. He holds his tongue around me, most of the time. But it makes it more difficult to not hold out hope. I don't think he was always like this. He was always cranky, Rashid, Fadia, Saladin, they're all a bit... temperamental. My brother, their father, was a bit temperamental. But I feel more sad for him, than anything."
 
Xander shrugged. "Suppose so. I don't, but I don't have nostalgia. I just have what's in front of me. Anyway, I should get this done so I can get it in the mail tomorrow. It's suppose to go to someone in Ohio."
 
"I think they have corn. Or maybe cows. Something like that," Xander said with a shrug. "Don't know anything beyond that. And soon a belt."

~~

As their date started winding down, Alec texted Dark and Emma her mother. They walked out along the sidewalk until they came to a public bench. Emma took Alec's hand and held it as they sat down. Alec tightened his hand lightly and then held her loosely, not wanting to concern her as his heart skipped a beat in excitement. They were holding hands! Like a real boyfriend and girlfriend! It was so special!

"When are you going to write a song about me?" Emma asked as they waited for her mother. "That's what musicians do, isn't it? Write songs about their partners?"

"I'm not a very good songwriter, but maybe I could try," Alec said. "Please don't be upset if I don't. It just means I couldn't come up with anything good enough for you."

"Oh!" Emma cooed, her eyes lighting up. "That's so sweet!" She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I have faith in you, but I promise not to be cross if you don't."

Her mother's car pulled up, and she bounced to her feet. "See you tomorrow!" She leaned forward and gave him another kiss, waiting for him to give her one in return before she got into the car.
 
"Sure," Xander agreed. He fetched the belt and brought it over to her, rolling it out flat on the desk. The edges all had a decorative scroll rolling along them, and the center was filled with images of wolves running through the grass under the sun and phases of the moon. The holes for the buckle tongue were edged to look like moons. "I just need to put the buckle on and it's ready to ship, but I struggle with the buckles. It's hard not to get them crooked sometimes."
 
"That is beautiful," Zeinab said, picking it up and examining it closely, "I would offer to help you with the buckle, but my eyes are not what they used to be."

~~

As Dark left the house to pick up Alec, Saladin's cab dropped him off, and both men were pleased to be missing each other. When he parked outside of where Alec was waiting, Dark got out and walked over to his son, "How was it?"
 
"That's alright. Thanks for the offer, but I just need to get better at doing it," Xander said, truly touched at her offer. "It's been pretty cool doing this as a job. I've been saving up for a sewing machine for leather. It's a big monster, and even used ones are kind of expensive, but they'll help me get work done a lot faster. Less time on long, straight seams means more time on getting buckles aligned right."

~~

"We exchanged cheek kisses. I guess we're at that stage now," Alec told him with a smile. He sighed. "She makes my heart all fluttery!" He hesitated, his smile wavering just a little.
 
"There are plenty of people who would help you afford it," Zeinab said, wishing she had brought her purse out with her, "I would help you to afford it."

~~

"That is very exciting stage to be at," Admittedly, not one he had any experience with. All of his partners jumped right past that stage. He was about to say he was happy for Alec but then paused, noting the way Alec's smile faded slightly, "Is something wrong?"
 
Xander sighed. "I know. I get told that anytime I bring up buying anything more than a candy bar or a random shirt. I want to be able to afford it on my own. It's my business. If I can't keep it up by myself without outside help while it's this small, how could I imagine it being something that would actually support me? Besides. I never had things like this when I was younger. Just handouts. I don't knock handouts, but it means something to be able to do it on my own, you know?"

~~

"Nah," Alec said, his smile returning. He shook his head. "Not really. I was just thinking about something else. Are you ready to head home?"
 
"That makes sense, but plenty of businesses are given start up money. You have done all of this on your own, surely a bit of help isn't the end of the world," Zeinab said, gesturing around at the fruits of his buisness, "I understand if you do not want help, but most billionaires received help at the start, and often throughout the run of their buisness."

~~

"I am, yes." He answered immediately and then paused, looking over his shoulder, "We could delay a little while. I need to go home. What else were you thinking about, if I may ask?"
 
"Yeah, but lots of other good businesses don't get startup money," Xander said. "I just really want to do this on my own. Besides, it's not like I need to spend on a lot of other needs. I don't pay rent, utilities, food, or any of the other big stuff. Half the time I don't even pay for my clothes. It's nice, but then I wonder why I bother having a business at all. I could just give everything away."

~~

"How different relationships look different." He glanced at Dark. "Is Grandfather at home?"
 
"Okay, okay," Zeinab said, holding up both her hands, "I understand. I will not force you to accept a sewing machine as a gift. But I do think it is normal for teenagers to not pay for their own clothes."

~~

"He is, yes," Dark sighed, looking up towards the sky, "He's staying for dinner. Daizi is delighted. I guess a few days ago they had a talk, and since then she has not heard him insult me, and, truth be told, I have not either. So maybe it worked, but I do not know how long it will last."
 
"Multiple of the kids in my class have jobs just to buy their own clothes. Although I think that's so they can wear what they want and not what their parents buy them," Xander admitted. "Anyway, I am grateful to you and them. I'm grateful that I have people who care about me like that. But doing this..." He ran a hand along the counter. "It makes me feel like a man, I guess. Maybe fulfilled? That's the only way I know how to explain it."

~~

"I'm glad that at least he's behaving," Alec smiled at him. "I hope everyone can get along, but if things don't work out, you did your best!"
 
"I don't quite understand that, but then again, I am not a man," Zeinab shrugged, "I hope you can afford it, though, all on your own. I will leave you to work."

~~

"I did." Dark sighed, slowing down to Alec's natural slide length, even though to him it felt unnaturally slow and cumbersome, "There is a good deal I would tell him, if I could. But I stay on my best behavior."
 
"Thanks, Amty." Xander picked up the best flower he'd made, a rose with a lot of petals, and held it out to her. "Here. You can attach it to your purse or something, if you'd like. It just ties on."

~~

"That's all anyone can ask of you or anyone, right? Even when you don't let people push you around, you can still be properly mannerful," Alec nodded. He patted Dark's arm.
 
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