How Green Becomes Wood

"Your sister needs help," Dark said indignantly, pulling his foot away in mock annoyance as Alec shoved leaves down his sock, "She cannot throw yet, it is equitable to give her aid. I am certain if she could express it, she would point out how unfair it is you take advantage of how helpless she is."

Saying this, he looked down at his sweet, innocent daughter's face. The very face of a gentle, loving child who trusted him implicitly and utterly. Then he got down on his knees so he was closer to the ground, and gently tossed her into the leaves, carefully to be certain she wouldn't be at all hurt, but it was a promise of what was to come.

Over the squeals of Ivy's laughter as she was tossed, Cooger set about harassing his blind friend with leaves while Enkidu ran around, barking excitedly and Daizi shrieked with laughter, throwing leaves wildly without any ability to aim.
 
Alec started to chase after Dark's other foot but stopped when Dark started to kneel down. He quickly rolled out of the way to give Ivy plenty of space and laughed when she landed. "Oh, that's a good one! Good job, Ivy! You made a leaf wave!"

Xander started pushing the leaves back into the piles and yelled directions to his mother, trying to help her get at least one good toss on Cooger. He shoved the leaves together and then chased after Cooger, dashing up behind him and depositing a small handfull of crushed leaves down the back of his shirt before sprinting away again.
 
Squealing and shrieking with laughter, Ivy squirmed as Dark carefully dropped small amounts of leaves over her which she did her absolute best to catch. With a soft chuckle, Dark brushed some of the leaves off of her and blew some raspberries on her tummy, only making her shriek more.

"Baba!"

"Oh, what?" He asked, leaning in towards her in the same playfully intimidating way he had with Alec earlier, "Do you think begging will save Ivy?" Saying this, he tickled her sides and kissed her tummy again.

Daizi was doing her best to listen to Xander's directions as she also tried to avoid tripping or accidentally running into her flowerbeds. She was yelling, "Help!" with such mirth and laughter in her voice it would be impossible for any passersby to mistake her for being in genuine danger, although Enkidu still hurried in between her and Cooger, not understanding human play in the same way. Just to be safe, then, Cooger turned around and started chasing after Xander instead.

Still on his knees in front of his squealing, giggling daughter, Dark looked up at the sight of his family running, playing, and laughing throughout the yard. His wife was digging her fingers into her dog's fur, praising him for being such a good boy while Cooger was yelling about how using a dog for help was cheating. Xander was being spry and mischievous and Alec was still grinning beside him. As he sat there, the thought came to him that he could stay here forever, playing in the leaves in his garden with every single person and creature he loved. It was just a simple, Saturday afternoon in October. Taking another glance over at Alec, he leaned in and pulled Alec into his side with one arm, pressing his cheek against the teen's head and holding him tight.
 
Alec started to resist at first, caught by surprise, but the moment he realized what Dark was doing, he relaxed and settled in, smiling in absolute delight and pleasure. He felt safe, secure, loved, and so very happy! He didn't know why Dark had the sudden desire to hug him, but he wasn't going to complain. It really was a beautiful, wonderful day!

Xander sprinted around the garden, keeping a steady distance between himself and Cooger as he occasionally tossed little taunts at him. He took great care to plan his every move, knowing for certain that if Cooger caught him, he would pay dearly for his mischievousness.
 
Ivy sat up, watching her father and brother curiously before crawling over to them and grabbing onto Dark to pull herself to stand before flopping in against him. With a little smile, he wrapped her up in his other arm and shut his eyes, just taking a second to enjoy the moment with the two of them. It just felt so... good. He couldn't find a more articulate word for it. Getting to be part of this loving family felt good. It made him happy.

When Daizi called for him, trying to find her way back to him, he opened his eyes and called back so she could navigate by the sound of his voice. Once she was near him, he let go of Alec, handed Ivy to his wife, and before Alec had any time to react, tossed the boy into the leaf pile.

Cooger had stopped running just long enough to first see Dark's sweet moment with two of his children and then wheezed at Dark's rapid switch from being a loving delicate father to yeeting a sixteen year old from a standing position, completely forgetting about Xander for the moment.
 
Alec was blissfully enjoying his time with his father, soaking in the loving attention and close physical contact. This was lovely! And then he was upended and flying through the air. He managed a shocked squeal before he landed in the pile, leaves floofing up and around him in all directions. He lay for a second, getting his breath back and recovering from the shock. Then he started flailing, yelling indignantly at Dark as he tried to figure out how to dig himself out.

Xander snickered as he watched, and when he realized Cooger had forgotten him, he crinkled up more leaves and made a mad dash toward him. He didn't try to get close enough to shove the leave anywhere, instead satisfied with making it rain broken and dried leaves over Cooger's head. Then he ran in the direction of Dark and Daizi, leaving a nice amount of room so he wouldn't be grabbed next.
 
Dark chuckled softly in his own way, feeling completely satisfied in his decision. When he hugged Alec, it came from a completely genuine place, but when Daizi called his name, it shook him out of his reverie and he realized what an opportunity he had been handed. He would be a fool to not take advantage. The toss was so audible, Daizi knew exactly what had happened and she tipped her head back laughing, leaning against her husband for support.

"So," Dark grinned, which was never a good thing, "You said earlier I could no longer lift you?"

Cooger was wheezing too hard to notice Xander creep up behind him and although he yelled in shock at the leaf attack, when he tried to sprint after Xander, he was still laughing too hard at how hard Alec flailed as he soared through the air.
 
Alec narrowed his eyes at Dark as he found his footing. "You cheater. You used physical affection to gain my trust and then turned on me!" he declared dramatically. "Well, I shan't go alone!" He lunged upward and grabbed Dark's arm. He knew he couldn't pull his father in by himself, especially not when he was braced for it, but he pulled slightly to the side as well as down, keeping himself very much out of the way of Dark's fall path and holding Dark's attention fully on him.

Seeing what Alec was doing and that Cooger was basically paralyzed with laughter, Xander took his chance to creep up behind Dark. He timed himself, and then at the right moment shoved Dark from behind.
 
When Alec grabbed his arm, Dark knew what was coming and tried to pull away, but before he could, Xander's arms were on his back and between the efforts of the two of them, he was pulled down into the leaves--more or less allowing it to happen. Normally, he'd turn around and pull the one pushing him after him, but with Alec pulling him down, he couldn't swivel his body in the right direction to grab Xander safely.

Seeing his friend be toppled like a tree, Cooger's wheeze sounded almost like a tea kettle and he wondered if the pain in his ribs could actually kill him.

Sitting up and trying to shake some of the leaves out of his hair, Dark narrowed his eyes at Xander, "I expected that from him for what I did, but you. Now you are truly in danger."
 
Alec flopped over in the leaves, gleefully laughing his heart out as he watched Dark wallow. It had worked! It worked! He could not believe that actually worked, and it was even better than he imagined.

Xander wisely moved back, keeping an eye on Cooger - who looked ready to pass out - and Daizi. "What can I say? When push comes to shove, twins gotta stick together."
 
"First of all, that is not even true," Cooger replied, apparently deciding to take offense at that.

"Is is absolutely true," Dark replied, running his hands through his hair as he tried to get the leaves out.

"Bull****."
 
"True s***," Xander goaded him with a smirk. "But if you want to spare him in his old age, I suppose you could still try to catch me, Sir Teakettle."

Alec was more or less behind Dark during this conversation, and he shifted over carefully to be in Dark's blind spot. Every time Dark ran his hands through his hair, Alec lightly and with utmost care, sprinkled a little more leaf in his hair so it seemed the leaves were never-ending. He had a feeling that was how his own hair was going to end up feeling like.
 
"Ain't no fun chasing after you, 'cause there ain't a prize in catching you," Cooger shot back with his hands on his hips.

After the first few passes of trying to get the leaves out of his hair, Dark turned around and caught Alec in the act, "Oh, is that how we are playing this?"
 
Xander shrugged. "Then I guess you're out of luck," he said glibly.

"You started it by tossing me when I was most vulnerable," Alec pointed out with a smirk. "But to distract you, haven't you noticed two people who have most definitely not been in the leaf pile yet?"
 
"Those were two completely separate incidents," Dark sniffed indignantly, "I embraced you because you are my son, I love you deeply, and I was moved by how fortunate a man I am. Then, in a separate moment, I saw my chance. Any connections between them is purely of your own imagination." He bumped against Alec's shoulder, gentle warmth in his eyes. Then he looked back about the yard where Daizi was once more playing with Ivy and Enkidu and Cooger and Xander were continuing to challenge Xander. "There are three, by my count, but one may be immune to it. And the other has been constantly with a baby. Cooger I am just waiting for when he feels safe."
 
Alec giggled and started pulling himself out of the leaves. He offered Dark a hand. "I could take Ivy," he remarked. "I saw some ladybugs, awfully late in the season, and I could tell Mama I want to show Ivy!"
 
"Well." Dark said, standing up and nearly pulling Alec over (unintentionally, this time) when he accepted his help up. "That certainly is not something someone as gentle as Ivy deserves to miss. You should alert her immediately."
 
Alec brushed himself off as best as he could and trotted over to Daizi. "Mama! Mama! Can I have Ivy? I spotted some ladybugs! I didn't think there would still be any this late in the season. Can I show her?"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top