It Beats This Hard [1/5]
Title: It Beats This Hard
Rating: PG-13/R?
Fandom: Bandom [Elliot Minor/Empires]
Pairing(s): past Teddy Hetherton/ Ali Paul, past Teddy Hetherton/ Tom Conrad, Alex Davies/Ed Minton, brief mention of Tom Conrad/ Mikey Russell/ Sean Van Vleet, not to mention some mystery pairings!
Summary: It’s been twenty years. This will take time.
Genre: AU/Angst/Romance/Fluff
Warnings: swearing, violence, sexual situations, tears, het, children, TOM CONRAD THE COCKBLOCK.
Notes: [13,086 words] It's twenty eighth in the gadflyverse, I would recommend reading the others first. Title from William Tell’s “Nobody Has To Know”, which appears to be undownloadable D< It’s the one you may have heard about, that super gadfly? It’s no longer called “A Hero’s Ending”, because every time I looked at it I thought it was about the death of Hero.
Mordent (16)|Dinah (15)|Aaron (14)|Melchior (12)|Sebastian (9)|Curtis (9)|Oscar (8) (NONE OF THEM ARE FREAKY BABY FISH ALIENS, EDEN, YOU CAN LOOK.)
“And I look ok?” She checked her make up in the car mirror again. “I mean... I don’t want to make you look bad.”
“You won’t, you really won’t.” Ali assured her, a hand on her knee. “C’mon, Sarah. I love you.” He leant over to kiss her cheek. “And you’re beautiful, and amazing, and totally right for me.” She turned with a smile and he kissed her lips softly.
“PAPA!” They were broken apart by something - someone - smacking against the window. “Papa! Open up!”
“Little monsters.” The Indian man chuckled, opening the door. “Hey, Oscar, what are you doing here, hmm?” He suddenly froze, realising the implications of his words. Sarah rested a hand concernedly on his shoulder, but he didn’t have time to turn to her.
“Oscar, what have we told you about running around like a crazy thing?” His ex-husband appeared in the door, his arms folded. Ali swallowed, trying not to look at the way his plaid shirt clung to his stocky frame, or the way his hair badly needed a cut.
“I wanted to say hi to Papa.” Oscar explained, skipping back.
Teddy’s face was completely impassive as he bent down to hug his littlest son. “You’ve still got to be careful, yeah? Remember when I ran out in front of a car?”
“It was a truck.” The eight year old said solemnly, his face falling. “It broke you.”
“It did break me.” The cellist nodded, straightening up with a wince. Ali noted the slow way he still moved, how it took him far longer than it used to for him to straighten up, and wondered how far the damage went, how much of the original Teddy was left. The two disappeared back into the house.
“Was that...?” Sarah left the question unfinished, looking across at him nervously.
“Teddy.” He affirmed with a nod, his mouth taunt. “My ex-husband.”
-
“Al, I-” Alex was suddenly next to him, a hand at his elbow.
“I know.” He looked across at his best friend. “If it’s about Teddy being here, I know, we saw him when we arrived.”
“I’m sorry Ali.” The violinist gave him a hug. “I didn’t realise Ed had invited him.”
“It’s alright.” Ali shrugged. “I mean, we’ve got to be able to breathe the same air, right? And I’m engaged, it’s not as if Teddy Hetherton has any hold on me anymore, he’s just someone I used to date.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” A familiar voice remarked in amusement from behind. Ali spun around to find himself only inches away from his ex-husband. “The feeling is totally mutual, Ali. After all, we only dated, right?” Teddy was smirking.
“Teddy, this is my fiancée, Sarah.” Ali said calmly. “Sarah, this is Teddy.”
“Charmed.” He watched in slight confusion as Teddy raised Sarah’s hand to his lips. “It’s really a pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you from the children.”
“The feeling is mutual.” Sarah said uneasily, shifting a little closer to Ali. The cellist inclined his head to him with a blank face before walking across the garden to tease Sebastian and Oscar. “No offence or anything, but your ex-husband is creepy.”
“He was creepy when I was married to him too.” Ali murmured back. He looked across the garden. Melchior was playing on the swings with Lonnie and Gus, the two boys teasing the five year old gently. Oscar and Sebastian were leading an investigative team consisting of Boudicca and Grier - Dan’s nine year old twins - and seven year old Kempston, and Teddy was laughing at them as they tramped along with their magnifying glasses. Aaron was trying to be a moody teenager in the corner of the garden with a can of Strongbow, but the effect was ruined by little Elijy - again, Dan’s - tugging at his trouser leg.
Ali’s head was spinning at the amount of Hethertons in the garden. He looked towards the karaoke machine near the French windows, where Dinah and Mordie were singing, the newest Dan spawn, Dalton, sitting between them and clapping his hands.
“C’mon.” He grabbed Sarah’s arms and put them around his neck. “I love this song.” He placed his hands on his fiancée’s hips and twirled them around, aware of Teddy’s eyes on him.
-
“Jesus!” Ali kicked the wheel of his car, feeling furious. For some ungodly reason, it wouldn’t start. “This is ridiculous, where are we going to find a taxi? Does anyone know a taxi that will come to the middle of nowhere?”
“Ali, calm down, it’ll be ok.” Sarah grabbed his arm and stroked it soothingly. “We’ll sort something out, it’s ok.”
“Problems?” His eyes narrowed as his ex-husband came up behind them, keys to his people carrier hooked on his middle finger. “Need a lift?”
“No!” Ali scowled immediately, glowering at the older man, who shrugged and opened the door to his own car.
“You sure? We know where you live, it won’t be any trouble. You might have to have Oscar sitting on your lap, but as you contributed to create him I don’t think that’ll be too much of a hardship.” Teddy leant on the hood of his car. “And I haven’t been drinking, no illegal drugs have been ingested, and I’ve been drinking far too much coffee to be tired.”
“Fine.” The Indian man growled, too tired to protest.
“I can take Ozzie on my lap, if you’d prefer...” Sarah offered tentatively, trailing off when she noticed Teddy’s narrowed eyes.
“His name is Oscar.” The cellist said through gritted teeth, before swinging himself into the driving seat. Oscar settled the matter himself, climbing across a slumbering Sebastian to sprawl himself across Ali’s lap.
“Hey Oscar.” Ali murmured, stroking his youngest son’s hair. He watched as Sarah climbed into the passenger seat next to Teddy.
“Love you Papa.” Oscar mumbled before falling asleep.
-
“I cannot believe you married him.” Sarah shuddered, closing the door behind her and pulling off her boots. “He’s so freaking creepy, Al.”
“I know, I know. It doesn’t help he doesn’t like girls.” He sighed, hanging his light jacket over the banister. “The only girl he likes is Hero, and that’s more borne out of the fact he’s known her for so long. He didn’t like her when he first met her - mainly because he thought I wanted to sleep with her. Oh the irony.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Do you want some wine, Sar?”
“Yeah, we have that bottle from Lindsay still in the fridge.” The woman took Ali’s coat and hung it up in the closet.
“One day I’ll learn.” Ali grinned sheepishly, taking the bottle out the fridge.
“Before we get married, Alistair, otherwise I’ll scalp you.” She sighed, taking the glass of wine offered. “Is it weird to be marrying again?”
“My last marriage didn’t have a proper wedding.” Ali took a gulp of his wine, undoing the top buttons of his shirt. “Registry office, and Ed and Tim were our only guests. Teddy didn’t want a fuss, so... so I went along with it, I guess. Jeans and t-shirts. Ordinary day.”
“Ali.” She put down the glass and swept a hand through her blonde hair. “Ali, can I ask you a question?” He inclined his head. “Do you regret marrying him?”
Ali swallowed his mouthful of wine. “No.” He said quietly. His fiancée raised an eyebrow. “I did love him, Sar.” He flicked his eyes down to the wooden counter. “I really did.”
“But-”
“He’s the father of my five kids. Regretting marrying him, regretting being with him... None of my kids would be around, and I love them all.” He sighed, putting his glass down on the counter. “I can’t regret my kids, Sarah.”
The glass that the woman had raised halfway to her lips crashed to the floor. “Ali, he cheated on you.”
“We’ve been over this.” Ali sighed, stepping across the room to wrap his arms around her waist. “Why does it matter, ok? I love you, not him.”
“Are you straight now then?” She quizzed him.
The Indian man bit his lip. “I... I don’t really know. After Teddy, I’ve never really been attracted to another guy. But I was really attracted to Teddy.”
“That’s disgusting.” She shuddered, pecking his lips gently before taking his arms from her waist.
“No. No it wasn’t.” Ali stared at the wood grain of the counter. His eyes began to widen in realisation. “It wasn’t disgusting at all. I loved him. And he loved me, I know he did. I don’t know what happened, but I know he did love me. The twelve years we were married were some of the best years of my life.”
“You’re talking as though-”
He cut across her again. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry. It’s not you, it’s me, and that’s cliché, but it’s the truth. Maybe we can pick this up, but I can’t do this. I... I... I’m so sorry.” He whispered. He didn’t even stop to grab his coat before leaving.
-
Ali pulled the car to a halt, and stared bleakly up at the house in front of him. He had no idea why he was here, but this was the only place he wanted to go. He let his feet carry him to the front door and knocked. The Indian man realised how late it was. Did Teddy still go to bed late?
“What the fuck do you want at this - Ali?” Teddy blinked at him. “I was just about to go to bed... Are you ok? I thought I had the kids this weekend, I swear, why didn’t you... did you leave something in my car?”
“No, I...” The younger man suddenly came to his senses. “I... I’m sorry.” He turned to go, but his ex-husband grabbed his arm.
“Ali... are you ok?” Teddy asked softly. Tears sprung to Ali’s eyes and he shook his head, pressing his lips together. He scrubbed furiously at his eyes. “Ali, what’s wrong?”
“I... I...” He tried to pull away, but he’d forgotten how strong his ex-husband was. “Oh God.” Ali choked out, his tears spilling onto his cheeks. He was unprepared for the cellist to pull him into his arms, holding him tightly, but that was the final straw. He fell into the other, trembling like a leaf.
“Hey, hey, come on.” Teddy murmured firmly, half carrying him into the house. “What’s happened? Who’s hurt you?” He sounded so protective; it was almost as if the past five years hadn’t happened. The Indian man curled his hands around the soft cotton of Teddy’s sleeping shirt, clinging to it for security.
“Sarah and I split up.” He whispered into Teddy’s chest. “I didn’t know where else to go, I couldn’t... I didn’t...”
“It’s ok.” The cellist stroked down his hair. “Ali, it’s ok.”
“I didn’t love her.” Ali mumbled. “I don’t love her.”
“Come on.” His ex-husband stood up abruptly. “I’ve got some stuff you can wear, you can sleep in my spare room. I think you need some sleep.”
-
When Ali woke up, he didn’t remember where he was for a second. It was the ceiling he recognised first. He’d woken up to it for twelve years, although it had been a while since he’d last saw it. He looked down slowly, staring at two large canvas photographs. The Indian couldn’t help comparing them.
One of them, the one on his left, he remembered. Alex had taken it when they were messing around on a picnic. They were young; twenty five at most, and Ali was hanging off Teddy’s back. The cellist was laughing, the bubbling laugh that Ali remembered and could never hate. In the corner of the frame, a curious Melchior was making his way towards the camera. The next shot was a close up of Melchior’s nose and eye.
The other was obviously posed; but then again, it was Tom. The two men were back to back, leaning against each other. Tom’s hand was curled around Teddy’s fingers, and neither of them were looking at the camera, neither of them were smiling.
It wasn’t just Ali’s bias. Teddy looked happier in the first picture.
He stood up, in his borrowed shirt and his own boxers, and walked across to the dresser to check the time. Ali hadn’t noticed the note before, but it was addressed to him in his ex-lover’s hand. He opened it curiously.
Ali.
We didn’t do anything. I thought I’d clear that up first.
Taken the kids to school, then heading to work. Key on the kitchen counter, lock up when you leave. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, mi casa es su casa et cetera.
I haven’t told them anything about you or Sarah, or that you spent the night. It’s up to you what you tell them.
If you need anything, call me.
-T.
Ali stared at the phone number scrawled across the bottom of the page, a smile curving his lips gently. He dialled it on his mobile.
“Teddy Hetherton speaking.” He picked up on the second ring.
“Thank you for last night.” Ali said awkwardly, before he could forget. “I... I was wondering, can I buy you dinner? To make up for putting you out and all.”
“You don’t have to sleep with me as a thank you.” The older man sounded amused. “But... yeah, why not. Wednesday?”
“At seven? Bella Italia?” He bit his lip as the other confirmed it. “Don’t be late.”
“I’ll try not to forget.” Teddy chuckled, and then he was met with the dial tone.
35yrs old and u still cant use a phone properly. The Indian texted him in revenge. The reply came back speedily.
Yeah, tom used to complain about that too.
-
Ali shoved his hands in his pockets nervously and shifted from foot to foot. There was no sign of Teddy - and why the fuck was he worrying anyway, like he cared if Teddy didn’t show up, it was just common courtesy that he’d asked him out for a meal.
“Are you dining with us sir?” The waiter asked for the third time.
“I... uh...” Ali bit his lip, about to shake his head and leave, when he saw a blue shirted figure walking briskly towards him.
“Shit, I’m so sorry!” Teddy remarked breathlessly. “I completely forgot, Tom had to call me, I’m really really sorry.”
“How did Tom know?” The Indian man couldn’t help the slightly jealous tone in his voice, and he knew his ex-husband picked up on it.
“Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays I see Tom.” The cellist dismissed his words with a wave of his hand. “How are you holding up?”
“I don’t miss her at all.” Ali gave him a strange smile as the older man walked a head, touching his elbow in hello.
“We’re being dreadfully civilised.” He commented, taking a seat. “Considering the fact that we’re divorced, you’ve just split up with your fiancée, and... I got hit by a truck?” The older man ordered the wine without asking Ali; like they’d never split up. “Oh shit, sorry, is-”
“It’s ok.” Ali laughed. “I’m used to it with you.” He paused delicately. Teddy’s black joke had made him think, but he didn’t know how insensitive the question would be. “Are you... how are you...”
“Am I mental?” The cellist asked bluntly, leaning his chin on his hand. “More than I used to be, you mean?” He grinned and took a sip of his wine. “Yes. No. I’m not sure. Tom saw me before and after, I think...” He bit his lip. “It takes me longer to react. I get fucking terrible headaches. I’m even moodier than before, and sometimes I can’t breathe right. I’m slower. So I’ll probably get hit by a bus again. I-”
“I’m glad you survived.” The younger man blurted out, before flushing as dark as he could go. “I, I mean...”
Teddy gently reached out and squeezed his hand. There was a moment of a slightly awkward silence. “I’m thinking of suing you for copyright. That Sarah looked like Tom with breasts.”
The Indian man tilted his head, thinking of the pale blonde man who’d sat silently one side of Teddy, who’d barely said a word, and waited, just waited. “I can see the resemblance.” He grinned.
“Of course, Tom was better looking.” Teddy said smugly.
-
“Thank you.” Ali said, slipping into the passenger seat of Teddy’s car. “For... for going, and driving me home and... shit.” He laughed. “We could go right back and say saving Mordie too?”
“I forgot how fucking annoying you were when you’re slightly drunk.” The cellist sighed. “And if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you planned everything - me taking you home. Only you’re Ali, and you really do stupid things when you’re sober - re: my cello.”
“Tim saved it.” It was Ali’s turn to wave dismissively.
“Do you have any idea how important that thing was to me?” The older man asked incredulously, backing the people carrier out of the parking lot.
“More important than your family?” He huffed.
“In a word, yes.” Teddy smirked, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’ve had it since I was ten, Ali, it’s the longest relationship I’ve ever had.” The Indian man rolled his eyes; he knew Teddy was partly joking. He hoped Teddy was partly joking.
“So, if there was this criminal mafia group...” Ali raised his voice over Teddy’s scoffing laughter. “This criminal mafia group, and they have me tied up, and your cello - not tied up, because the cello won’t try and escape - and it’s between them shooting me or burning your cello. Which would you choose?”
“Am I in the same room? Are you both within arm’s reach?”
“Yes, uh... I guess?”
“Then I’d grab your ankles, use you to knock the criminal mafia group out, grab the cello and run.” Teddy looked smug and satisfied.
“You’re tied up too.” Ali amended his original plan with a scowl.
“Ok. So I’m tied up - kinky - in a room with criminal mafia persons? And they’re gonna either torch the cello or shoot you - can I say no to either? And we’re in the same room? You’re within arm’s reach? Are you drunk?”
“Yes, yes, no, yes, yes - what the fuck does that matter?!” Teddy still got under his skin like no other.
“Well, if you’re drunk, then it’s the cello.”
“Bastard!” Ali punched his arm and the car swerved slightly.
Teddy turned and look at him, an eyebrow raised. “So, you know, I think they’re refusing to give me free medical insurance anymore, so if we get into a car crash you’re paying.”
“I am not fucking paying!” The Indian man snorted, but he took the warning and slumped down in his chair. The car journey continued in silence.
“Who was babysitting them tonight, anyway? I’m normally your babysitter, and I’m not...” Teddy steered the conversation onto safer topics.
“Alex. But... I-”
“Who am I? Kevin from work, Julie taking you out for a thank you meal?” The cellist grinned.
“Sarah.”
“I’ve got bigger tits than her anyway.” The older man shrugged. “If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought you were pulling an Ed. But if you were, that would involve you marrying someone that looked like me, and not my ex-husband.”
“Oh shut up.” Ali grumbled, folding his arms.
“Your house is just up there. In keeping with being Sarah, I’m not going to drive up to it. Alex is a fucking retard, but not blind.” The cellist raised his eyebrows at him.
Ali kissed him.
It wasn’t a desperate kiss, or a prelude to sex, or anything like that. It was soft and gentle, and he felt rather than heard Teddy’s surprise, and fingers curled themselves in his shirt - that Ali might have stolen from Teddy, so many years ago.
Teddy broke away. “Ali.” He whispered. “Ali, Ali, no, we can’t do this.”
“Oh, I...” The Indian man blinked, pressing his lips together. He could feel himself beginning to blush. “Yeah, you’re right, I...” He climbed out the car before he could embarrass himself anymore.
It was only when he was climbing into bed that he realised Teddy had said if to his ridiculous question, and that Teddy might have even considered putting him in front of the cello.
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