Another'verse - Part 2
In another part of the multiverse, there aren't superheroes. Or supervillains. There isn't a Flash or a Captain Cold, but there is Wally and Len.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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Title: Questions from Another Addict
Characters: Evan McCulloch, Roy Harper, Axel Walker, Len Snart
Word count: 2210
Summary: Evan goes through withdrawal. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
Warnings: Mentions of drug-use
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Roy asks why.
Evan tells him to fuck off.
Evan hates Star City. He wants to be back in Keystone, where he's got a job, an apartment of his own, and his friends. He doesn't want to be slumming on Roy's sofa and being forced through group therapy.
Lian's just turning twelve and is miffed at the fact that Roy's not letting her have any friends over while Evan's around. It's to keep him from becoming uncomfortable, Roy says, but Evan knows he doesn't want Lian or her friends being corrupted by their houseguest. Consequently, Lian spends more time out of the apartment.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him that nobody understands him. He says it in his thickest Scots, but Roy doesn't look puzzled.
The therapy group is lead by a bubbly woman called Sandra. She keeps trying to get Evan to talk about his family. She keeps smiling no matter how many times Evan calls her a bitch.
Evan wonders if that's her way of getting people better, make them reform just to stay away from her and her high-school girl giggle.
Sandra prods for information about Evan's parents and he snaps at her. She doesn't seem at all fazed and Evan scowls heavily.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him it's just what people do.
Axel visits. He's left the gel out of his hair for the first time in two years. It's long enough to get in his eyes and he keeps brushing it back, only for it to get in the way again. It throws Evan off long enough for Axel to start talking about what's been going on in Keystone.
Evan doesn't want to hear it.
Instead, Roy fills in the other half of Axel's one-sided conversation. Evan can't take it for long before he locks himself in the bathroom.
He searches for an hour, but doesn't find anything to make it stop.
When Axel's gone, Roy asks why.
Evan tells to him to fuck off and to take his family with him.
The first time the shakes hit, Roy was there. Evan spent the night trying to throw up the nothing that was in his stomach and alternating between shivering and sweating. Roy forced him to drink water as often as he could and was there with a blanket or an ice-pack as necessary.
The second time had been similar. Evan remembers crying throughout that time.
The third time Evan got angry.
And always, always, pleading for a fix.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him his family drove him to it.
Sandra's delighted - isn't she always - when Evan finally spills about his dad. She goes on to say how it's obvious Evan's tendencies are a cry for attention from an unloving father-figure.
Evan tells her to fuck off, he knows his dad loves him.
When he gets back to Roy's, Evan locks himself in the bathroom and practically tears it to pieces in hopes of finding a stash. Roy's apartment is clean. Evan shatters the bathroom mirror and gets glass stuck in his fist.
Roy bandages Evan's hand up and asks why.
Evan tells him he has no idea.
Evan remembers when his dad caught him.
His perception of time wasn't very good and for some stupid reason - maybe one of his friends did it as a joke - Evan's phone was unplugged. Dad could get paranoid sometimes, and he'd gone 'round when Evan had missed a get-together and no one could reach him.
Evan remembers dad first knocking on the bathroom door, then - while Evan was trying to wash the evidence down the sink - kicking the door down. There had been a moment of silence, during which dad's expression turned from worried to furious.
Evan remembers standing there, nose bloody, eyes unfocussed, white powder on his sleeve. He remembers how fucking scary dad looked there and then.
Evan remembers feeling euphoric from more than the blow. He can't for the life of him remember why any more.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him bad decisions are in the blood.
Sandra remarks that Evan's making promising progress.
He's not really, he just wants to get away from her obnoxious blonde hair and cheap perfume she must bathe in.
She still wants him to keep coming to the support group though.
Roy agrees with Evan that it's time he did something with himself and sets up a job with Queen Industries. Having your adopted father being the head of a major corporation is useful sometimes. So Evan ends up fixing printers on all forty-seven floors.
It keeps him busy, which is probably a good thing.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him to stop asking the same question over and over.
Evan hasn't had the job for two weeks before he gets into a fight.
He's on his way back to Roy's apartment when he happens by a mugging. Evan's been wanting to hit something for some time now and launches himself at the muggers. He receives several cuts and bruises and when the police arrive, they pick him up with the muggers.
Evan manages to persuade the cops that he's not with the muggers, but they still arrest him for assault.
The police find out Evan's age from his wallet and contact his dad, despite Evan's protests. Evan closes his eyes and imagines being back at Roy's place.
Roy would ask why.
Evan would tell him that sometimes he's scared. Except he'd never admit that.
Keystone's a good few hours travel away from Star City, longer if you didn't pick the right transport. Evan resigns himself to an overnight stay. The cops move him to a different cell, one with two beds and a cell mate.
Evan immediately doesn't like the person sharing the cell with him. The man has something unsettling in his gaze. Evan tries to ignore it and prepares himself for a long night.
The man makes his move a few hours later, when the lights go down and the cops change shifts.
Evan had been dozing on his bed, when he's suddenly yanked out of it and pressed up against the wall. Evan's not exactly a weakling, but he's still only seventeen. He can't get free.
Absolute terror washes over Evan as the man starts to squeeze his throat. It's getting hard to breathe and black spots start dancing about in front of his vision.
Evan gets enough air in his lungs to ask why.
The man tells him it's for being 'Snart's brat'.
Apparently dad had stabbed this guy and his gang in the back several years ago. They'd never had the chance for payback. Until now.
For all that dad's never been shy about his past activities, it's never really hit Evan until now that his dad's an ex-con.
Evan's starting to black-out, when the guy is ripped off him. Evan falls to his knees and gasps for oxygen. His vision's not completely clear, but he can make out dad pressing the man's face into the floor. Dad snarls that this is the last time they ever go after him by targeting his family.
Dad's hair is grey, he's pushing fifty, and he just owned that guy.
Sometimes it's pretty cool to be part of this family.
Cops pull dad off the man, but most of them look like they'd be perfectly happy leaving them to it. Evan and dad are escorted to the entrance. Dad has to pay a fine, but it's not all that much.
Once outside the station, Evan remembers why he's in Star City to begin with.
Sometimes it sucks to be part of this family.
Evan asks why he couldn't stay in Keystone.
Dad tells him Roy was the best person he knew who could help Evan.
They find a diner that's open and order a late dinner. Both of them pick at their food.
After several false starts, dad talks about what he did at seventeen. He left home and started on his career of being a criminal. Evan listens as dad runs through what he stole or conned from people. It's not glamorous. When Evan asks about his cell mate's gang, dad corrects the story: they tried to stab him in the back first, so he just left them when the cops arrived.
Dad asks why.
Evan tells him it seemed like a good idea at the time.
They finish their meal and head back to Roy's. Evan keeps his head down, staring at his trainers. Dad's not one for idle conversation, but he asks about Evan's job. Evan starts bitching about the number of people who can't read the 'paper empty' sign and call him up just to put more paper in the fucking machines.
Evan finishes up when he realises they've reached Roy's apartment already. Dad says he's not going to come in, he has to get back to Keystone. Evan tries to swallow the lump in his throat and asks when he can come home.
Dad tells him that he can come home whenever he wants and that's always been the case, but it's a good idea for him to stay with Roy for now. Roy knows what he's doing.
The lump in Evan's throat is getting harder to swallow.
No drugs.
Dad makes him promise. Somehow that feels a hell of a lot more binding than the same words to Sandra or Roy.
Dad starts to leave and Evan grabs him in a hug. It's been years since he's initiated a hug, but the only difference Evan can tell is that he's taller against dad now. Dad's arms are still unsure and he gives Evan a rough pat when he pulls away.
Roy's waiting up when Evan enters the flat. There's some rubbish documentary about birds or something muted on the telly. Roy turns it off and heads to bed, convinced Evan's ok for now.
Evan gets the shakes again and spends his night huddled over the toilet. Roy's there to help.
In the morning, Roy asks why.
Evan tells him that too many people don't talk properly.
It takes Evan a whole month to pull together the courage to take a train home.
Dad's flat is empty when Evan arrives. He unlocks the door with the key he'd almost forgotten he had. Even goes to his room and sits on the bed. His stuff is still there. There's a few more boxes taking up space, but if Evan wanted to move back in, he's not going to have to worry about not being able to clothe or entertain himself.
Evan feels seven again, when dad was still Len and Evan wasn't sure he would be allowed to stay. Ten years ago now. Time flies.
Axel arrives with some friends. They all stop talking at once when Evan emerges from his room. He catches at least one whisper of 'cokehead'. Axel herds his friends into his room - where they immediately start setting up the gaming system Axel put together - and mentions that dad's out at work until late.
Evan helps himself to some food from the kitchen. He's halfway through a sandwich when his mobile rings. It's Roy, checking up to see if he made the journey ok. Evan's quick to end the call after hopefully giving Roy enough to stop him calling back.
It's enough, Roy doesn't call back.
Axel's friends are still around when dad gets home. Dad sticks his head into Axel's room and tells them to scarper. There's the usual wheedling from Axel, but his friends file out. It's weird how little has changed.
Dad comes into the kitchen and is surprised at Evan's appearance. He asks how long Evan will be staying.
Evan doesn't have an answer. He doesn't... putting a limit on how long he's allowed to stay...
Dad picks up on his distress and says it's not a problem, but he would like to know how much food he should be buying next time he hits the shops.
Evan manages a tentative smile and says he's there for the weekend. He's still got a job in Star City after all.
Things almost hit awkward, but then Axel bounds into the room and breaks the tension without trying.
The weekend passes by too quickly for Evan's liking. It vanishes in a way that feels dream-like and he finds himself back at Roy's before he knows it. Lian's happy to see him. Evan's touched, until he realises that's because she wants to practise manicures. Roy's nails are suspiciously pink already.
Evan examines his orange and green - orange and green, what had possessed Lian? - nails when he settles onto the sofa for the night. That's when he decides to buy Roy a new settee with the money he's earning from Queen Industries. Both as a 'thank you' and to make sure any other poor sods who end up on it don't develop a crick in their back. Evan swears the one he's picked up is permanent.
He's not alright, not by a long shot. However, he's feeling a lot better than he did when all of this mess started.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him he doesn't know any more and he doesn't want to.
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Title: Coping with Another Stage
Characters: Len Snart, Evan McCulloch, Roy Harper, Axel Walker
Word count: 2174
Summary: Len struggles to deal with his son's habit. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, another perspective on 'Questions from Another Addict'.
Warnings: Mentions of drug-use
AN: What's this, actual dialogue?
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Denial
In hindsight, it's obvious.
But that's the beauty of hindsight, everything is.
Len's surprised, but not all that concerned when Evan practically vanishes after getting his own place. It's not like Len ever looked back after all. So he lets it go.
Over the next few months, Evan only visits when there's some gathering or event, and half the time they don't take place at Len's flat. He's starting to look a little on the scrawny side, but then he's a teenager with very little idea of exactly how much food bills cost. So Len lets it go.
Wally mentions that Evan's been around their house every few days for dinner. He's surprised when Len admits to not knowing that.
“He's eating as much as your truly,” Wally says, “And the way Jai's hit a growth spurt, it's lucky we've got any food left.”
Len just assumes Evan wants some friendly faces, while not looking like he's giving up. He's a teenager, they do stupid things.
So Len lets it go.
Everything and anything that could point to what's about to happen, Len lets go without a second thought.
In hindsight it's fucking obvious.
Anger
Len doesn't like being afraid.
He's never really been afraid for his own life. Despite the many dangerous situations he's ended up in over the years. There's always a way out, someone you can beat, someone you can blag your way past, hell, it's not like cops are all that fond of actually shooting suspects.
Len's friends are tough, they can take care of themselves. He's never had to be afraid for them.
When Evan's line doesn't even ring, instead being disconnected, Len's heart skips a beat.
He gets to Evan's as quickly as possible. On the way, Len can only think of the numerous people he's pissed off over the years. He tries not to think how many of them would be willing to stoop low enough to hurt Len's kid as payback.
Evan's front door is unlocked. That's not a good sign.
Len does a quick sweep of the flat and finds the bathroom door locked. He knocks. He wants to pretend that he's overreacting, that Evan's fine - if maybe a bit sick and didn't make the meet-up because of that - and the phone lines went down without warning.
There's no answer.
Len's had to knock down stronger doors than Evan's flimsy wooden interior one. It shatters under Len's boot and reveals a scene Len had never thought he'd see.
Evan's fine.
Evan's fine if you don't consider the white powder all over the sink and the deer-in-headlights way he's frozen.
The fear that had been driving Len is replaced by a cold, sharp anger. He was fearing for his son's life and the only danger Evan's in is his own making.
He's safe.
He's a fucking idiot.
Len steps forward and opens his mouth. He knows the words. The ones that were shouted at him from the moment he could understand what was going on, to the moment he left and never looked back.
Evan flinches.
He flinches.
Len shuts his mouth with a click.
That was... too close. Len's always been afraid he'd turn into his father from the second a little gap-toothed kid was dropped into his life. Len had sworn to never go that far. To never take his anger out on his kids just because he could.
He almost broke that rule just now.
So Len forces his fists to unclench and reaches for Evan. The kid's too high to take in any sort of real lecture right now, but Len grabs Evan by the chin and forces him to look Len in the eye.
“You're a fucking idiot,” Len says firmly.
Evan tries to focus on Len's face, but doesn't quite manage. Len swears under his breath as he drops Evan's chin and starts searching for Evan's stash, while trying to keep an eye on Evan to make sure he doesn't do something stupid.
Something stupider.
Looks like it's going to be a long night.
Bargaining
Len calls Roy. Truth be told, he doesn't know who else to contact.
Wally's too honest and straightforward, plus him and Linda have their own kids to worry about. Mark's in jail and even if he wasn't, he's too self-centred. Mick's never managed to overcome his own problems.
Roy's the only one who's managed to pull himself back out of that habit.
Roy's a bit snappish over the phone - Len has to admit that “So, you're an ex-junkie” wasn't exactly the best opening line - but he hears Len out.
They come to an arrangement. Roy will take care of Evan and put him through the therapy and the like, for a price. Len agrees to pay the bills from the counsellors without fuss, but he argues over Roy's other demand.
“I'm not the one at fault here,” Len snaps.
“No,” Roy agrees, “Evan's choices are his own, but you can't start to help him unless you figure out why he went down that route. Seeing a professional can help both of you.”
There's a lot more arguing, during which Axel wanders into the room and plays his phone game. The phone game consists of Axel doing his best to work out what the conversation's about as quickly as possible by listening to only this end of things.
Len knows he's worked it out when the colour drains from his face.
Len finally agrees to Roy's conditions and ends the call. For once Axel doesn't have some smart remark to fill the silence.
“Roy'll fix it, right dad?” Axel eventually asks.
Len can only give a vague nod and hope his deal pays off.
Depression
The therapist Len ends up talking to it a large man with a neckbeard. He has a small pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, which he constantly looks over when he's talking to Len.
Len's reluctant to talk at first, but he'd made his deal and he was going to stick with it.
Len draws the line at talking about his own childhood.
The therapist - whose name Len only remembers about half the time - decides that Evan has an abandonment complex. While Len's staring at him, he elaborates.
- Abandoned at birth.
- Passed over for a blood-relation by the family who adopted him.
- A younger brother to take away some of his attention.
- Pushed from the nest before he was ready.
Len protests at the last one, citing that he left home at the same age and didn't care. The therapist points out that everyone is different.
The therapist asks if Evan knew he could come home to visit. Len says of course he could.
“But did you ever tell him that?” the therapist - Professor Strange - asks, “Did you give him a choice in moving out?”
Len finds he can't answer.
Evan's always been clingier than your average kid, definitely more so than Axel. He didn't bring up moving out until Len did. He never visited unless there was some event that wanted the whole family.
Fuck. How did Len not see this? He's been looking after Evan for ten years and he didn't pick up on something this big?
Strange makes encouraging noises and adds some notes to the pad in his hand. Len needs a drink. Or someone to hit.
Preferably both.
Wally agrees to a pub trip and they spend some good hours wonderfully sloshed until they're woken up by Axel at some god-forsaken hour... some god-forsaken hour that's actually only nine a.m. when Len peers at the clock.
Wally's green around the gills and has two traffic cones, plus a mangy cat that does its best to take Len's finger off when he tries to throw it out.
Len's knuckles are bruised, along with varying other parts of him. There must've been a good fight or two.
But...
Dammit.
Len still doesn't feel any better.
Acceptance
The call comes when Len's at work. The foreman tells Len he's fired if he leaves now.
Len leaves.
The cops didn't mention what Evan had been jailed for and the journey to Star City is long enough for Len to think through every possible situation. Twice.
The assault charge comes as a relief. It's even more of a relief when the cops say he was attacking the right people. Len tempers down his - rational - dislike of cops, for now.
Then they mention who they've put Evan in the same cell as.
Len runs to the cell, dragging the cop with the keys along with him. Len takes back any and all neutral feelings he had toward Star City's cops, they're the same bunch of bastards he's used to in Keystone and Central.
Evan's cell mate is currently trying to strangle him. Len rips the keys out of the cop's hand and gets the door open. The guy - Murray, part of the Kobra gang Len once worked with - doesn't even turn to see who's just entered the cell, until Len drags him off his son and shoves him to the other side of the room.
Len doesn't have time to spare Evan more than a quick glance to ensure he's still alive, as Murray lunges forward. The old familiar steps come back to Len as he sidesteps and brings an elbow into the back of Murray's neck. He follows it up with a sweeping kick to the back of Murray's knee. Murray falls, face-first. Len twists one arm up behind his back with one hand and hold's Murray's head down with the other. Len's knee is firmly in Murray's back and he leans down to make sure Murray can hear what he's about to say.
“You ever go after my family again, I'll fucking end you,” Len snarls, “This is the last time you and yours target my family to get to me. Understand?”
The cops pull Len off Murray and out of the cell. Evan follows with what looks like a little bit of pride in his eyes.
The fine is less than Len expects and soon enough, him and Evan are breathing in the cold night-time air. It's a cloudy night, yellow pools of light from street lamps and apartment windows being the only illumination.
Evan's hunched over, eyes on the ground and his hands in his pockets. His hair's unhealthy, lank, and long enough to obstruct Len's view of his face. Evan's only response to Len's suggestion of food is a half-hearted shrug.
The only noise when they start walking to find an open diner is from the occasional car that passes. Len's not used to silence any more. He was once, when he had an apartment to himself, but Axel doesn't believe in quiet and Evan's always made his presence known when he's around.
As such, Len finds himself talking to keep away the silence when they get their food and sit down.
He starts with his first overnight stay in jail - at fifteen, he'd stolen from a corner shop to feed him and Lisa - then moves on to what had happened when he left home at not-quite seventeen. Rehashing past crimes with Evan is kinda cathartic. Much more so than going over them with Strange.
Evan doesn't say much and picks at his food. He's listening though, Len can tell.
They return to Roy's place after Evan pushes his meal away.
Evan asks when he can come home. He just sounds so... raw. Looks like Strange was right about that.
“Whenever you want. That's how it's always been,” Len says, trying to make it sound retroactive, “Roy knows what he's doing, and it's good idea for you stay here for now, but you can come and visit any time you want.”
Evan's got his arms wrapped around his chest, hugging himself. As much as Len would like to reassure him some more, Evan's got to give something back too.
“N-no drugs,” Evan promises with an audible swallow.
Len's expecting Evan's next move and it still takes him by surprise. Ten years to get used to hugs and he still hasn't managed it.
Evan goes inside Roy's apartment and Len heads back to Keystone feeling inexplicably lighter.
And life goes on
Evan's looking a lot healthier when he visits a month later. There's still something... fragile about the way he holds himself and moves, but the circles under his eyes are lighter and he's put on some much-needed weight.
It's only for the weekend and things go well. It doesn't look like Evan's going to be moving back right now, but he's getting there. It's his eighteenth in a few months, maybe he'll be ready by then.
Either way, as much as Len's still pissed that Evan fell into that habit, he's proud his son got out of it.
Though... Father's an ex-con. Brother's an ex-junkie. Len starts wondering what Axel's going wind up with...
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Title: Christmas with Another Nephew
Characters: Lisa Snart, Len Snart, Roscoe Dillon, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker
Word count: 1726
Summary: Lisa comes home for Christmas. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
AN: Something thankfully a little lighter than the past few parts.
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A month before Christmas Lisa makes her usual call to Len to set things up. She didn't used to visit for the holidays, but then one year Len had phoned up and asked if she could set a side a few days so she could meet her nephew.
This year Len asks her if she could buy some presents for another nephew too.
Lisa agrees and hangs up. She's found that as long as there are children around, or they keep the calls short, they can get along to some extent. Lisa doesn't care for Len and Len doesn't care for Lisa, but they're family, and as such should make some effort during the festive season.
Lisa's glad of the distraction of another nephew, it might make Len a little less likely to kill her new husband over Christmas dinner.
Lisa had conveniently forgotten to mention Roscoe over the phone. Well, it could just be a surprise. No sense worrying about it now.
She's got shopping to do.
The build-up to Christmas happens as it usually does, that is, quickly and without warning. Before she knows it, Roscoe's calling for Lisa to hurry up or the taxi will leave without them. In what feels like no time at all they arrive in Keystone City and navigate the streets to Len's apartment.
Lisa raps sharply on the door. She can hear voices and footsteps, then the door is flung open to reveal a grinning, brown-haired, eleven-year-old boy.
Evan is, as always, delighted to see her. Lisa's well aware that it mostly stems from presents arriving when she does, but she'll take what she can get from her nephew. Evan's gaze is drawn to the bags of presents Lisa's carrying, then up to Roscoe with a frown.
It begins.
Lisa introduces Roscoe and Evan, and they are finally let into the apartment.
Lisa reminds herself that it's Christmas, and her thoughts on the décor of Len's new apartment should stay in her head until tomorrow at least. It's simple and stark. Very much a man's place, without a hint of a woman's touch. Lisa decides that she'll do her best to make it much more homely while her visit lasts.
A familiar cursing tells her Len's just dropped something further into the apartment. Some things never change.
And some things do. A blond boy a good few inches shorter than Evan, is standing in the living room and looking at her and Roscoe with a mixture of defiance and trepidation.
That would be Axel, Len's other kid. He's a cutie. Lisa immediately knows she will be taking him shopping as soon as possible. Len tries his best, but he really doesn't know a thing about fashion.
Then there's Len, who has just emerged from one of the back rooms. His face hardens when he catches sight of Roscoe. Lisa quickly sets the children and Roscoe to sorting the presents, while she whisks Len back into the other room before he can start complaining.
They're both trying not to get into a full-blown shouting match, having declared Christmas Day as a truce since Evan appeared four years ago. Now its possibly even more important to stay civil, with both Roscoe and Axel unsure of tradition and protocol during a Snart gathering.
The argument is familiar ground. Len doesn't approve of Lisa's boyfriend. Lisa tells Len he needs to get laid. Len insults Roscoe's face. Lisa insults Len's apartment. Len tells Lisa she needs to be smarter around men. Lisa pointedly asks if any new children have come to light.
They're just getting into dangerous territory when Evan pokes his head in the room and asks if they're going to get to open presents this Christmas. That's as good a reminder as any that they only started celebrating Christmas together for his sake.
They don't shake hands and make up, they're not that sort of family, but Len doesn't insult Roscoe as soon as they return to the living room. In return Lisa doesn't start a line of inquiry on the subject of Axel's mother.
Most of the presents are for Evan and Axel. When it comes down to it, the day's more about the kids than the adults. Axel's still unsure of Lisa and Roscoe, but it's more calculating than Evan when he first met Lisa. Roscoe slowly relaxes, even managing to hold a bit of conversation with Len occasionally. Len himself is splitting his time between watching the proceedings in the doorway and making dinner.
Since Evan had appeared four years ago, Len had realised - no doubt due to nagging from his newer, law-abiding friends - he couldn't bring up a child on take-away and microwave-dinners, and had started to actually cook real food a few times a week.
It is still far below the quality Lisa has on a daily basis from the hotels she stays in, but so far it hasn't harmed either child and Evan has been eating it for over four years. There wasn't any point using Len as a test for food safety, considering what he could hold down.
Besides, there was something nostalgic about it, reminding Lisa of the first year Evan had been around and Len had burnt half the food and undercooked the rest. He'd almost given up, and would have if Evan hadn't saved the trifle from the freezer and put it in the fridge where it belonged.
Now, plenty of swearing, mistakes, and learning later, Len could cobble together a decent roast.
Things are going quite well, until Axel makes a comment about Lisa and Roscoe being married over dessert. They hesitate just a little too long before denying it and even Evan picks up on what they aren't saying. Not that Evan isn't a bright boy, he just tends to be a little distracted most of the time.
Len shuts down. It's hard to tell if you didn't know him, but Lisa knows. Part of her knew this would happen. Ever since Evan appeared, Len's had this odd idea of family that Lisa's never quite grasped.
Not even mentioning your wedding to your brother wasn't very family-friendly, Lisa could admit to herself.
Axel's got this pleased look on his face. Len had mentioned offhand that the kid didn't like lies or tricks. Evan's looking torn between excitement for new family and worry for his dad.
Lisa can see the silent count to ten running through Len's head. He manages to crack a smile and offers his congratulations to the pair. Axel continues to eat his dinner, but Evan comes and shakes 'Uncle Roscoe's hand and welcomes his to the family.
Just last year it would've been a hug, Lisa suddenly realises what Len means when he mentioned that the kids are growing up too fast.
There's an ice-rink nearby that Lisa used to practise on when she was young. As per recent tradition, she obtained the key from the owner before she arrived and the five of them head off during the evening for some skating.
Lisa's the best, of course, closely followed by Roscoe.
Len's always steadier on the ice than Lisa expects and had they been able to afford more than one pair of skates when they were younger, he might have been good enough to get into one of the hockey teams in the area.
Evan's distracted, as always, but gamely keeps trying. He does enjoy it, even if he eventually decides that he's had enough of falling over and holds onto Len's arm to keep himself upright. Lisa's impressed, Evan lasted on his own twenty minutes longer than normal.
Axel's surprisingly good, once he's gotten over his initial wobbles. Smart, cute, and good on the ice, Lisa's beginning to consider asking Len if he'd let Axel go on tour with her and Roscoe. Obviously the blond hair and skating genes prefer the second-born in the Snart family.
Len manages to corner Roscoe while Lisa's buying mulled wine for the adults and warm gingerbread for the children at one of the stalls that stay open on Christmas Day. Lisa lets him have five minutes before she interrupts. Len's looking more pleased than before as he accepts a polystyrene cup of mulled wine. Roscoe's looking a little wary, but thankfully not all that scared. Good. He wouldn't be the man she thought he was if he got frightened away by Len.
It's getting late when they start heading back. Despite all the sugar they've eaten, the kids are tired. Axel's visibly drooping and Evan's had to stifle a yawn or two.
They reach a road where Len and his kids are going one way back to his apartment, while Lisa and Roscoe are heading another for their hotel. Axel's leaning heavily on Len and only gives his aunt and uncle a sleepy wave, but Evan shakes Roscoe's hand again and gives Lisa a sideways hug. Len shakes Roscoe's hand with what looks like a considerable amount of grip, judging by Roscoe's wince.
Goodbyes are said and the group splits in two.
Roscoe is looking exhausted by the time they get back to the hotel room. He admits that Lisa's family was a little more intense than he was expecting. Lisa can't help the grin as she outlines the truce she and Len came up with for Christmas, oh and that they would be seeing them tomorrow as well. Without any incentive to stay civil.
Roscoe groans and declares he married a truly evil woman with a truly evil family.
Lisa just grins and starts putting together a shopping plan for tomorrow. Axel and Evan need spoiling and Len needs an apology in alcohol form. Normally Lisa wouldn't bother with her brother, but she doesn't want him taking it out on Roscoe. There's only so much she can ask her husband to put up with over the holidays after all.
As Lisa starts to pull the curtains closed she thinks over the day and how much fun it had been. She pauses, curtains half open, as she wonders if that's what Len feels like about his kids all the time. Nuisances, but family. The nice sort.
It's not enough to make her want kids of her own, but Lisa starts to wonder if Len wouldn't mind them visiting for the boys' birthdays during the year.
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Title: Listening to Another Voice
Characters: Hartley Rathaway, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker
Word count: 1738
Summary: Hartley knew he wasn't supposed to wander off the garden path, but this boy, with mud on his face and leaves in his hair and a funny voice, was promising that it would be ok. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
Warnings: Heavy Scots ahead
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Hartley's five the first time he hears his own name.
Things don't make sense for a long time. He still makes the trips to that clean, white building and gets looked after by a woman he knows isn't his mother, but it's all accompanied by loud noises that suddenly appeared one day in a lifetime of silence.
There's a lot of catch-up work, with lots of different people. It's difficult, but Hartley quickly learns to speak. Finally he can communicate with others, without moving his hands, which only a few people understood before.
When Hartley's six he starts being allowed to wander the gardens by himself. His nanny reminds him to come back when he's called and goes off around the side of the house to have a smoke.
Hartley isn't supposed to get mud on his clothes, so he carefully walks between the flowerbeds and stays away from the decorative pond. He tried to go swimming in it once, but almost drowned.
There's a rustling in the bushes.
Hartley has seen squirrels running across the lawn from the windows before, but there's never any about when he is. He goes still, hoping that the squirrel decides to show itself. There's some more rustling then the thing emerges.
It's not a squirrel.
It's a boy.
A tall, muddy boy with holes in his jeans and leaves in his hair. He grins and beckons Hartley over. Hartley stays where he is.
“It's ok,” the boy says in a voice unlike any Hartley has ever heard, “Just fer a wee wily.”
When Hartley doesn't move, the boy pulls some crumbled cookies out of a pocket and offers them. Hartley finally follows the boy into the bushes.
It's like a whole new world. The bushes lead into a thicket of spindly trees. The sun can't quite get through the leaves and there's a green tint to the area. There isn't grass on the ground, it's just dirt.
There's another boy, this one with blond hair, waiting for them. He's also got dirt on his elbows and knees.
“Dad's gonna go spare,” the blond boy warns in a sing-song voice.
“Naw,” the boy with the funny voice replies, “We'll be back afair he ken.”
Hartley doesn't know what's going on. He chews on his cookie and stays quiet.
“So that's him?” the blond boy asks, nodding at Hartley.
“Must be. Only wain around,” the boy with the funny voice says, “What's yer name?” he asks Hartley.
“Hartley,” Hartley says.
“Yelch,” the boy with the funny voice scrunches up his nose, “Glad they didnae pick mine.”
“Who're you?” Hartley asks, using up his small build-up of courage.
“Evan,” the boy with the funny voice replies, “And tha's Axel.”
“Give them something to find us with why don't you,” Axel mutters, “You should've used the code-names I came up with.”
“I'm no callin' ye Trickster,” Evan says, “And what kinda name's Mirror?”
“They're code-names, stupid,” Axel shoots back.
They start arguing. Hartley wonders if he should leave. He's just about to when they apparently settle things and turn back to face him.
“How's Emma?” Evan asks, “Or Matthew?”
Hartley doesn't know who he's on about.
“The maid and the cook,” Evan elaborates.
Hartley shakes his head. He doesn't know anyone except his tutors and nanny.
Evan sinks to the ground, looking dispirited.
“Cheer up,” Axel says, “You've got the kid if you want to mess with him.”
Evan gets a peculiar look on his face as he looks at Hartley. “Hey, Hart, how often d'you see yer parents?” he asks.
Hartley shakes his head and mumbles, “Not often.”
“Cannae do nowt right, can they,” Evan says, shaking his head too.
“You're not gonna do anything?” Axel asks incredulously, “You dragged me all the way out here for nothing?”
“Wheesht,” Evan hisses, “Yer gonna get us caught. Look, I think I remember a way into the kitchen from out here. We just need to make sure naebody's watching.”
They run over a plan. Hartley's torn between finding somebody he knows and going along with these kids. He doesn't get to play with other children very often after all.
Well, nobody's called for him yet. Hartley decides he's in the clear.
The plan isn't complicated and soon all three boys are sneaking across the gardens through the bushes to the house. Evan leads them to a side door Hartley hadn't even known existed.
Evan tries the handle, but it's locked. He tugs fruitlessly at the door until Axel shoves him out of the way.
“Let me do it,” Axel says, pulling a few bits of metal with funny shapes on the ends out of his pocket.
He slides them into the lock and starts twisting them carefully.
“Does dad know you can do that?” Evan asks, leaning on the door frame.
“They're his picks,” Axel replies, his tongue poking out between his teeth in concentration, “If he didn't want me to learn, he shouldn't have left them lying around.”
“'Lying around' bein'... where exactly?” Evan prompts.
“Somewhere I could find them,” Axel says.
There's a click and Axel removes the picks. He tries the handle and this time the door opens.
Evan's first through the door. Axel shoos Hartley in then follows after and shuts the door behind them. The lights inside aren't as bright as the sunshine and Hartley has to take a few blinks to get used to it and look at the room they've ended up in.
It's large and warm. There are lots of cupboards and work surfaces, Evan hoists himself up onto a surface and swings his feet. There's also a stove, which Hartley's only ever seen in picture books before. Axel makes a beeline to the fridge and looks inside.
Hartley's caught between wanting to explore and not getting in trouble. He's fairly certain someone's going to catch them any second now.
Axel gives a whoop and emerges from the fridge with a large trifle. Evan hops down from the counter as Hartley's earlier worry comes true and a portly man with a thick moustache enters the room through another door.
“What the - get your grubby paws out of my kitchen!” the man shouts at Axel, “How did you even - I... I don't believe it...” his voice has gotten much quieter, “Young master Evan?”
The man's staring at Evan with disbelief clear on his face. Evan smiles and waves.
“Hey, Matthew,” Evan says, “How's it goin'?”
“It's been so long since I've seen you,” Matthew says, “You've grown so much.”
Evan's starting to look embarrassed. Axel's sniggering.
“So,” Evan says, rubbing the back of his head, “What's Emma up to?”
Matthew's face falls. “She left. Six months after you did,” he says, “Couldn't stand the way things were.”
They start talking about things that Hartley can't really follow, so instead he watches Axel find a spoon and start eating the trifle straight from the bowl. Axel notices him watching and waves him over, producing another spoon for Hartley to use.
Hartley's not all that sure of Axel, he's not a nice as Evan is, but the offer of trifle is too good to ignore.
“You know...” Axel says, looking over Hartley with an appraising gaze, “You're the reason Evan didn't grow up here.”
“I am?” because that's the first Hartley's ever heard of it. He can't remember doing anything to get rid of another kid.
“But then, if you hadn't come about I probably wouldn't be living with dad right now and I wouldn't have Evan for a brother...” Axel says. He looks over Hartley again, his gaze not quite a harsh this time, “And he doesn't blame you...”
Hartley just shoves a spoonful of trifle into his mouth. He doesn't know what to say. The situation's a little more complicated than he's used to dealing with.
“I guess you're good in my book,” Axel finally says, “Welcome to the family.”
Hartley blinks. “You're not family,” he says, “Family means lots of stuffy people and boring dinners.”
Axel laughs, drawing Evan and Matthew's attention. Matthew frowns when he catches sight of the demolished trifle and the custard around Hartley's mouth. Evan doesn't care and moves over to steal Hartley's spoon and eat some trifle himself.
“'Sgood,” Evan says through a mouthful of fruit.
“Alright, enough,” Matthew says, clapping his hands, “Off with you now. I've got a dinner to prepare and another trifle to make.”
“We're goin',” Evan says, “Gotta get home afair dad does anyway. An' Hart,” he ruffles Hartley's hair, “Ye ever wanna piss off yer maw an' paw, tell 'em 'yer aff yer heid'. That'll get 'em in right straights.”
Hartley does his best to repeat what he was told. He's quite good at copying inflection closely after all his catch-up work.
“A natural,” Evan says proudly, “Well, we're off.”
“Good luck with the boring dinners, kid,” Axel says, also messing up Hartley's hair.
Evan and Axel leave through the side door, though not before Axel nabs an apple on his way past the fruit bowl. Hartley waves goodbye and presses his face against the window until they vanish into the hedgerow.
It's almost like a fairy story.
Matthew sighs behind Hartley, who's suddenly aware of the custard still around his mouth and the fact that he's pretty sure he's not supposed to be here. However, when he turns to look at Matthew, the man has a fond smile on his face.
“Let's get you cleaned up,” Matthew says, “And then, as punishment for eating my trifle...” he trails off and Hartley cringes. Matthew chuckles and finishes, “You will have to help me make a new one.”
Hartley can't believe his ears. That's not a punishment, he'd already been considering asking about that in the first place.
Hartley clambers onto the stood Matthew pulls up for him and gets put to stirring a warm bowl of custard until it cools down. Matthew's stood next to him and is peeling and slicing kiwis with movements quicker than Hartley can follow.
“I made a promise,” Matthew says quietly, “And I almost forgot it.”
He waves off Hartley's confusion and keeps his attention on the fruit, though his expression has grown much more serious.
Hartley's just starting to enjoy himself when his nanny bursts in, looking frantic, and Hartley knows his day is just going to get worse from there.
Well, at least it had a good beginning.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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Title: Questions from Another Addict
Characters: Evan McCulloch, Roy Harper, Axel Walker, Len Snart
Word count: 2210
Summary: Evan goes through withdrawal. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
Warnings: Mentions of drug-use
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Roy asks why.
Evan tells him to fuck off.
Evan hates Star City. He wants to be back in Keystone, where he's got a job, an apartment of his own, and his friends. He doesn't want to be slumming on Roy's sofa and being forced through group therapy.
Lian's just turning twelve and is miffed at the fact that Roy's not letting her have any friends over while Evan's around. It's to keep him from becoming uncomfortable, Roy says, but Evan knows he doesn't want Lian or her friends being corrupted by their houseguest. Consequently, Lian spends more time out of the apartment.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him that nobody understands him. He says it in his thickest Scots, but Roy doesn't look puzzled.
The therapy group is lead by a bubbly woman called Sandra. She keeps trying to get Evan to talk about his family. She keeps smiling no matter how many times Evan calls her a bitch.
Evan wonders if that's her way of getting people better, make them reform just to stay away from her and her high-school girl giggle.
Sandra prods for information about Evan's parents and he snaps at her. She doesn't seem at all fazed and Evan scowls heavily.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him it's just what people do.
Axel visits. He's left the gel out of his hair for the first time in two years. It's long enough to get in his eyes and he keeps brushing it back, only for it to get in the way again. It throws Evan off long enough for Axel to start talking about what's been going on in Keystone.
Evan doesn't want to hear it.
Instead, Roy fills in the other half of Axel's one-sided conversation. Evan can't take it for long before he locks himself in the bathroom.
He searches for an hour, but doesn't find anything to make it stop.
When Axel's gone, Roy asks why.
Evan tells to him to fuck off and to take his family with him.
The first time the shakes hit, Roy was there. Evan spent the night trying to throw up the nothing that was in his stomach and alternating between shivering and sweating. Roy forced him to drink water as often as he could and was there with a blanket or an ice-pack as necessary.
The second time had been similar. Evan remembers crying throughout that time.
The third time Evan got angry.
And always, always, pleading for a fix.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him his family drove him to it.
Sandra's delighted - isn't she always - when Evan finally spills about his dad. She goes on to say how it's obvious Evan's tendencies are a cry for attention from an unloving father-figure.
Evan tells her to fuck off, he knows his dad loves him.
When he gets back to Roy's, Evan locks himself in the bathroom and practically tears it to pieces in hopes of finding a stash. Roy's apartment is clean. Evan shatters the bathroom mirror and gets glass stuck in his fist.
Roy bandages Evan's hand up and asks why.
Evan tells him he has no idea.
Evan remembers when his dad caught him.
His perception of time wasn't very good and for some stupid reason - maybe one of his friends did it as a joke - Evan's phone was unplugged. Dad could get paranoid sometimes, and he'd gone 'round when Evan had missed a get-together and no one could reach him.
Evan remembers dad first knocking on the bathroom door, then - while Evan was trying to wash the evidence down the sink - kicking the door down. There had been a moment of silence, during which dad's expression turned from worried to furious.
Evan remembers standing there, nose bloody, eyes unfocussed, white powder on his sleeve. He remembers how fucking scary dad looked there and then.
Evan remembers feeling euphoric from more than the blow. He can't for the life of him remember why any more.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him bad decisions are in the blood.
Sandra remarks that Evan's making promising progress.
He's not really, he just wants to get away from her obnoxious blonde hair and cheap perfume she must bathe in.
She still wants him to keep coming to the support group though.
Roy agrees with Evan that it's time he did something with himself and sets up a job with Queen Industries. Having your adopted father being the head of a major corporation is useful sometimes. So Evan ends up fixing printers on all forty-seven floors.
It keeps him busy, which is probably a good thing.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him to stop asking the same question over and over.
Evan hasn't had the job for two weeks before he gets into a fight.
He's on his way back to Roy's apartment when he happens by a mugging. Evan's been wanting to hit something for some time now and launches himself at the muggers. He receives several cuts and bruises and when the police arrive, they pick him up with the muggers.
Evan manages to persuade the cops that he's not with the muggers, but they still arrest him for assault.
The police find out Evan's age from his wallet and contact his dad, despite Evan's protests. Evan closes his eyes and imagines being back at Roy's place.
Roy would ask why.
Evan would tell him that sometimes he's scared. Except he'd never admit that.
Keystone's a good few hours travel away from Star City, longer if you didn't pick the right transport. Evan resigns himself to an overnight stay. The cops move him to a different cell, one with two beds and a cell mate.
Evan immediately doesn't like the person sharing the cell with him. The man has something unsettling in his gaze. Evan tries to ignore it and prepares himself for a long night.
The man makes his move a few hours later, when the lights go down and the cops change shifts.
Evan had been dozing on his bed, when he's suddenly yanked out of it and pressed up against the wall. Evan's not exactly a weakling, but he's still only seventeen. He can't get free.
Absolute terror washes over Evan as the man starts to squeeze his throat. It's getting hard to breathe and black spots start dancing about in front of his vision.
Evan gets enough air in his lungs to ask why.
The man tells him it's for being 'Snart's brat'.
Apparently dad had stabbed this guy and his gang in the back several years ago. They'd never had the chance for payback. Until now.
For all that dad's never been shy about his past activities, it's never really hit Evan until now that his dad's an ex-con.
Evan's starting to black-out, when the guy is ripped off him. Evan falls to his knees and gasps for oxygen. His vision's not completely clear, but he can make out dad pressing the man's face into the floor. Dad snarls that this is the last time they ever go after him by targeting his family.
Dad's hair is grey, he's pushing fifty, and he just owned that guy.
Sometimes it's pretty cool to be part of this family.
Cops pull dad off the man, but most of them look like they'd be perfectly happy leaving them to it. Evan and dad are escorted to the entrance. Dad has to pay a fine, but it's not all that much.
Once outside the station, Evan remembers why he's in Star City to begin with.
Sometimes it sucks to be part of this family.
Evan asks why he couldn't stay in Keystone.
Dad tells him Roy was the best person he knew who could help Evan.
They find a diner that's open and order a late dinner. Both of them pick at their food.
After several false starts, dad talks about what he did at seventeen. He left home and started on his career of being a criminal. Evan listens as dad runs through what he stole or conned from people. It's not glamorous. When Evan asks about his cell mate's gang, dad corrects the story: they tried to stab him in the back first, so he just left them when the cops arrived.
Dad asks why.
Evan tells him it seemed like a good idea at the time.
They finish their meal and head back to Roy's. Evan keeps his head down, staring at his trainers. Dad's not one for idle conversation, but he asks about Evan's job. Evan starts bitching about the number of people who can't read the 'paper empty' sign and call him up just to put more paper in the fucking machines.
Evan finishes up when he realises they've reached Roy's apartment already. Dad says he's not going to come in, he has to get back to Keystone. Evan tries to swallow the lump in his throat and asks when he can come home.
Dad tells him that he can come home whenever he wants and that's always been the case, but it's a good idea for him to stay with Roy for now. Roy knows what he's doing.
The lump in Evan's throat is getting harder to swallow.
No drugs.
Dad makes him promise. Somehow that feels a hell of a lot more binding than the same words to Sandra or Roy.
Dad starts to leave and Evan grabs him in a hug. It's been years since he's initiated a hug, but the only difference Evan can tell is that he's taller against dad now. Dad's arms are still unsure and he gives Evan a rough pat when he pulls away.
Roy's waiting up when Evan enters the flat. There's some rubbish documentary about birds or something muted on the telly. Roy turns it off and heads to bed, convinced Evan's ok for now.
Evan gets the shakes again and spends his night huddled over the toilet. Roy's there to help.
In the morning, Roy asks why.
Evan tells him that too many people don't talk properly.
It takes Evan a whole month to pull together the courage to take a train home.
Dad's flat is empty when Evan arrives. He unlocks the door with the key he'd almost forgotten he had. Even goes to his room and sits on the bed. His stuff is still there. There's a few more boxes taking up space, but if Evan wanted to move back in, he's not going to have to worry about not being able to clothe or entertain himself.
Evan feels seven again, when dad was still Len and Evan wasn't sure he would be allowed to stay. Ten years ago now. Time flies.
Axel arrives with some friends. They all stop talking at once when Evan emerges from his room. He catches at least one whisper of 'cokehead'. Axel herds his friends into his room - where they immediately start setting up the gaming system Axel put together - and mentions that dad's out at work until late.
Evan helps himself to some food from the kitchen. He's halfway through a sandwich when his mobile rings. It's Roy, checking up to see if he made the journey ok. Evan's quick to end the call after hopefully giving Roy enough to stop him calling back.
It's enough, Roy doesn't call back.
Axel's friends are still around when dad gets home. Dad sticks his head into Axel's room and tells them to scarper. There's the usual wheedling from Axel, but his friends file out. It's weird how little has changed.
Dad comes into the kitchen and is surprised at Evan's appearance. He asks how long Evan will be staying.
Evan doesn't have an answer. He doesn't... putting a limit on how long he's allowed to stay...
Dad picks up on his distress and says it's not a problem, but he would like to know how much food he should be buying next time he hits the shops.
Evan manages a tentative smile and says he's there for the weekend. He's still got a job in Star City after all.
Things almost hit awkward, but then Axel bounds into the room and breaks the tension without trying.
The weekend passes by too quickly for Evan's liking. It vanishes in a way that feels dream-like and he finds himself back at Roy's before he knows it. Lian's happy to see him. Evan's touched, until he realises that's because she wants to practise manicures. Roy's nails are suspiciously pink already.
Evan examines his orange and green - orange and green, what had possessed Lian? - nails when he settles onto the sofa for the night. That's when he decides to buy Roy a new settee with the money he's earning from Queen Industries. Both as a 'thank you' and to make sure any other poor sods who end up on it don't develop a crick in their back. Evan swears the one he's picked up is permanent.
He's not alright, not by a long shot. However, he's feeling a lot better than he did when all of this mess started.
Roy asks why.
Evan tells him he doesn't know any more and he doesn't want to.
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Title: Coping with Another Stage
Characters: Len Snart, Evan McCulloch, Roy Harper, Axel Walker
Word count: 2174
Summary: Len struggles to deal with his son's habit. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, another perspective on 'Questions from Another Addict'.
Warnings: Mentions of drug-use
AN: What's this, actual dialogue?
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Denial
In hindsight, it's obvious.
But that's the beauty of hindsight, everything is.
Len's surprised, but not all that concerned when Evan practically vanishes after getting his own place. It's not like Len ever looked back after all. So he lets it go.
Over the next few months, Evan only visits when there's some gathering or event, and half the time they don't take place at Len's flat. He's starting to look a little on the scrawny side, but then he's a teenager with very little idea of exactly how much food bills cost. So Len lets it go.
Wally mentions that Evan's been around their house every few days for dinner. He's surprised when Len admits to not knowing that.
“He's eating as much as your truly,” Wally says, “And the way Jai's hit a growth spurt, it's lucky we've got any food left.”
Len just assumes Evan wants some friendly faces, while not looking like he's giving up. He's a teenager, they do stupid things.
So Len lets it go.
Everything and anything that could point to what's about to happen, Len lets go without a second thought.
In hindsight it's fucking obvious.
Anger
Len doesn't like being afraid.
He's never really been afraid for his own life. Despite the many dangerous situations he's ended up in over the years. There's always a way out, someone you can beat, someone you can blag your way past, hell, it's not like cops are all that fond of actually shooting suspects.
Len's friends are tough, they can take care of themselves. He's never had to be afraid for them.
When Evan's line doesn't even ring, instead being disconnected, Len's heart skips a beat.
He gets to Evan's as quickly as possible. On the way, Len can only think of the numerous people he's pissed off over the years. He tries not to think how many of them would be willing to stoop low enough to hurt Len's kid as payback.
Evan's front door is unlocked. That's not a good sign.
Len does a quick sweep of the flat and finds the bathroom door locked. He knocks. He wants to pretend that he's overreacting, that Evan's fine - if maybe a bit sick and didn't make the meet-up because of that - and the phone lines went down without warning.
There's no answer.
Len's had to knock down stronger doors than Evan's flimsy wooden interior one. It shatters under Len's boot and reveals a scene Len had never thought he'd see.
Evan's fine.
Evan's fine if you don't consider the white powder all over the sink and the deer-in-headlights way he's frozen.
The fear that had been driving Len is replaced by a cold, sharp anger. He was fearing for his son's life and the only danger Evan's in is his own making.
He's safe.
He's a fucking idiot.
Len steps forward and opens his mouth. He knows the words. The ones that were shouted at him from the moment he could understand what was going on, to the moment he left and never looked back.
Evan flinches.
He flinches.
Len shuts his mouth with a click.
That was... too close. Len's always been afraid he'd turn into his father from the second a little gap-toothed kid was dropped into his life. Len had sworn to never go that far. To never take his anger out on his kids just because he could.
He almost broke that rule just now.
So Len forces his fists to unclench and reaches for Evan. The kid's too high to take in any sort of real lecture right now, but Len grabs Evan by the chin and forces him to look Len in the eye.
“You're a fucking idiot,” Len says firmly.
Evan tries to focus on Len's face, but doesn't quite manage. Len swears under his breath as he drops Evan's chin and starts searching for Evan's stash, while trying to keep an eye on Evan to make sure he doesn't do something stupid.
Something stupider.
Looks like it's going to be a long night.
Bargaining
Len calls Roy. Truth be told, he doesn't know who else to contact.
Wally's too honest and straightforward, plus him and Linda have their own kids to worry about. Mark's in jail and even if he wasn't, he's too self-centred. Mick's never managed to overcome his own problems.
Roy's the only one who's managed to pull himself back out of that habit.
Roy's a bit snappish over the phone - Len has to admit that “So, you're an ex-junkie” wasn't exactly the best opening line - but he hears Len out.
They come to an arrangement. Roy will take care of Evan and put him through the therapy and the like, for a price. Len agrees to pay the bills from the counsellors without fuss, but he argues over Roy's other demand.
“I'm not the one at fault here,” Len snaps.
“No,” Roy agrees, “Evan's choices are his own, but you can't start to help him unless you figure out why he went down that route. Seeing a professional can help both of you.”
There's a lot more arguing, during which Axel wanders into the room and plays his phone game. The phone game consists of Axel doing his best to work out what the conversation's about as quickly as possible by listening to only this end of things.
Len knows he's worked it out when the colour drains from his face.
Len finally agrees to Roy's conditions and ends the call. For once Axel doesn't have some smart remark to fill the silence.
“Roy'll fix it, right dad?” Axel eventually asks.
Len can only give a vague nod and hope his deal pays off.
Depression
The therapist Len ends up talking to it a large man with a neckbeard. He has a small pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, which he constantly looks over when he's talking to Len.
Len's reluctant to talk at first, but he'd made his deal and he was going to stick with it.
Len draws the line at talking about his own childhood.
The therapist - whose name Len only remembers about half the time - decides that Evan has an abandonment complex. While Len's staring at him, he elaborates.
- Abandoned at birth.
- Passed over for a blood-relation by the family who adopted him.
- A younger brother to take away some of his attention.
- Pushed from the nest before he was ready.
Len protests at the last one, citing that he left home at the same age and didn't care. The therapist points out that everyone is different.
The therapist asks if Evan knew he could come home to visit. Len says of course he could.
“But did you ever tell him that?” the therapist - Professor Strange - asks, “Did you give him a choice in moving out?”
Len finds he can't answer.
Evan's always been clingier than your average kid, definitely more so than Axel. He didn't bring up moving out until Len did. He never visited unless there was some event that wanted the whole family.
Fuck. How did Len not see this? He's been looking after Evan for ten years and he didn't pick up on something this big?
Strange makes encouraging noises and adds some notes to the pad in his hand. Len needs a drink. Or someone to hit.
Preferably both.
Wally agrees to a pub trip and they spend some good hours wonderfully sloshed until they're woken up by Axel at some god-forsaken hour... some god-forsaken hour that's actually only nine a.m. when Len peers at the clock.
Wally's green around the gills and has two traffic cones, plus a mangy cat that does its best to take Len's finger off when he tries to throw it out.
Len's knuckles are bruised, along with varying other parts of him. There must've been a good fight or two.
But...
Dammit.
Len still doesn't feel any better.
Acceptance
The call comes when Len's at work. The foreman tells Len he's fired if he leaves now.
Len leaves.
The cops didn't mention what Evan had been jailed for and the journey to Star City is long enough for Len to think through every possible situation. Twice.
The assault charge comes as a relief. It's even more of a relief when the cops say he was attacking the right people. Len tempers down his - rational - dislike of cops, for now.
Then they mention who they've put Evan in the same cell as.
Len runs to the cell, dragging the cop with the keys along with him. Len takes back any and all neutral feelings he had toward Star City's cops, they're the same bunch of bastards he's used to in Keystone and Central.
Evan's cell mate is currently trying to strangle him. Len rips the keys out of the cop's hand and gets the door open. The guy - Murray, part of the Kobra gang Len once worked with - doesn't even turn to see who's just entered the cell, until Len drags him off his son and shoves him to the other side of the room.
Len doesn't have time to spare Evan more than a quick glance to ensure he's still alive, as Murray lunges forward. The old familiar steps come back to Len as he sidesteps and brings an elbow into the back of Murray's neck. He follows it up with a sweeping kick to the back of Murray's knee. Murray falls, face-first. Len twists one arm up behind his back with one hand and hold's Murray's head down with the other. Len's knee is firmly in Murray's back and he leans down to make sure Murray can hear what he's about to say.
“You ever go after my family again, I'll fucking end you,” Len snarls, “This is the last time you and yours target my family to get to me. Understand?”
The cops pull Len off Murray and out of the cell. Evan follows with what looks like a little bit of pride in his eyes.
The fine is less than Len expects and soon enough, him and Evan are breathing in the cold night-time air. It's a cloudy night, yellow pools of light from street lamps and apartment windows being the only illumination.
Evan's hunched over, eyes on the ground and his hands in his pockets. His hair's unhealthy, lank, and long enough to obstruct Len's view of his face. Evan's only response to Len's suggestion of food is a half-hearted shrug.
The only noise when they start walking to find an open diner is from the occasional car that passes. Len's not used to silence any more. He was once, when he had an apartment to himself, but Axel doesn't believe in quiet and Evan's always made his presence known when he's around.
As such, Len finds himself talking to keep away the silence when they get their food and sit down.
He starts with his first overnight stay in jail - at fifteen, he'd stolen from a corner shop to feed him and Lisa - then moves on to what had happened when he left home at not-quite seventeen. Rehashing past crimes with Evan is kinda cathartic. Much more so than going over them with Strange.
Evan doesn't say much and picks at his food. He's listening though, Len can tell.
They return to Roy's place after Evan pushes his meal away.
Evan asks when he can come home. He just sounds so... raw. Looks like Strange was right about that.
“Whenever you want. That's how it's always been,” Len says, trying to make it sound retroactive, “Roy knows what he's doing, and it's good idea for you stay here for now, but you can come and visit any time you want.”
Evan's got his arms wrapped around his chest, hugging himself. As much as Len would like to reassure him some more, Evan's got to give something back too.
“N-no drugs,” Evan promises with an audible swallow.
Len's expecting Evan's next move and it still takes him by surprise. Ten years to get used to hugs and he still hasn't managed it.
Evan goes inside Roy's apartment and Len heads back to Keystone feeling inexplicably lighter.
And life goes on
Evan's looking a lot healthier when he visits a month later. There's still something... fragile about the way he holds himself and moves, but the circles under his eyes are lighter and he's put on some much-needed weight.
It's only for the weekend and things go well. It doesn't look like Evan's going to be moving back right now, but he's getting there. It's his eighteenth in a few months, maybe he'll be ready by then.
Either way, as much as Len's still pissed that Evan fell into that habit, he's proud his son got out of it.
Though... Father's an ex-con. Brother's an ex-junkie. Len starts wondering what Axel's going wind up with...
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Title: Christmas with Another Nephew
Characters: Lisa Snart, Len Snart, Roscoe Dillon, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker
Word count: 1726
Summary: Lisa comes home for Christmas. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
AN: Something thankfully a little lighter than the past few parts.
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A month before Christmas Lisa makes her usual call to Len to set things up. She didn't used to visit for the holidays, but then one year Len had phoned up and asked if she could set a side a few days so she could meet her nephew.
This year Len asks her if she could buy some presents for another nephew too.
Lisa agrees and hangs up. She's found that as long as there are children around, or they keep the calls short, they can get along to some extent. Lisa doesn't care for Len and Len doesn't care for Lisa, but they're family, and as such should make some effort during the festive season.
Lisa's glad of the distraction of another nephew, it might make Len a little less likely to kill her new husband over Christmas dinner.
Lisa had conveniently forgotten to mention Roscoe over the phone. Well, it could just be a surprise. No sense worrying about it now.
She's got shopping to do.
The build-up to Christmas happens as it usually does, that is, quickly and without warning. Before she knows it, Roscoe's calling for Lisa to hurry up or the taxi will leave without them. In what feels like no time at all they arrive in Keystone City and navigate the streets to Len's apartment.
Lisa raps sharply on the door. She can hear voices and footsteps, then the door is flung open to reveal a grinning, brown-haired, eleven-year-old boy.
Evan is, as always, delighted to see her. Lisa's well aware that it mostly stems from presents arriving when she does, but she'll take what she can get from her nephew. Evan's gaze is drawn to the bags of presents Lisa's carrying, then up to Roscoe with a frown.
It begins.
Lisa introduces Roscoe and Evan, and they are finally let into the apartment.
Lisa reminds herself that it's Christmas, and her thoughts on the décor of Len's new apartment should stay in her head until tomorrow at least. It's simple and stark. Very much a man's place, without a hint of a woman's touch. Lisa decides that she'll do her best to make it much more homely while her visit lasts.
A familiar cursing tells her Len's just dropped something further into the apartment. Some things never change.
And some things do. A blond boy a good few inches shorter than Evan, is standing in the living room and looking at her and Roscoe with a mixture of defiance and trepidation.
That would be Axel, Len's other kid. He's a cutie. Lisa immediately knows she will be taking him shopping as soon as possible. Len tries his best, but he really doesn't know a thing about fashion.
Then there's Len, who has just emerged from one of the back rooms. His face hardens when he catches sight of Roscoe. Lisa quickly sets the children and Roscoe to sorting the presents, while she whisks Len back into the other room before he can start complaining.
They're both trying not to get into a full-blown shouting match, having declared Christmas Day as a truce since Evan appeared four years ago. Now its possibly even more important to stay civil, with both Roscoe and Axel unsure of tradition and protocol during a Snart gathering.
The argument is familiar ground. Len doesn't approve of Lisa's boyfriend. Lisa tells Len he needs to get laid. Len insults Roscoe's face. Lisa insults Len's apartment. Len tells Lisa she needs to be smarter around men. Lisa pointedly asks if any new children have come to light.
They're just getting into dangerous territory when Evan pokes his head in the room and asks if they're going to get to open presents this Christmas. That's as good a reminder as any that they only started celebrating Christmas together for his sake.
They don't shake hands and make up, they're not that sort of family, but Len doesn't insult Roscoe as soon as they return to the living room. In return Lisa doesn't start a line of inquiry on the subject of Axel's mother.
Most of the presents are for Evan and Axel. When it comes down to it, the day's more about the kids than the adults. Axel's still unsure of Lisa and Roscoe, but it's more calculating than Evan when he first met Lisa. Roscoe slowly relaxes, even managing to hold a bit of conversation with Len occasionally. Len himself is splitting his time between watching the proceedings in the doorway and making dinner.
Since Evan had appeared four years ago, Len had realised - no doubt due to nagging from his newer, law-abiding friends - he couldn't bring up a child on take-away and microwave-dinners, and had started to actually cook real food a few times a week.
It is still far below the quality Lisa has on a daily basis from the hotels she stays in, but so far it hasn't harmed either child and Evan has been eating it for over four years. There wasn't any point using Len as a test for food safety, considering what he could hold down.
Besides, there was something nostalgic about it, reminding Lisa of the first year Evan had been around and Len had burnt half the food and undercooked the rest. He'd almost given up, and would have if Evan hadn't saved the trifle from the freezer and put it in the fridge where it belonged.
Now, plenty of swearing, mistakes, and learning later, Len could cobble together a decent roast.
Things are going quite well, until Axel makes a comment about Lisa and Roscoe being married over dessert. They hesitate just a little too long before denying it and even Evan picks up on what they aren't saying. Not that Evan isn't a bright boy, he just tends to be a little distracted most of the time.
Len shuts down. It's hard to tell if you didn't know him, but Lisa knows. Part of her knew this would happen. Ever since Evan appeared, Len's had this odd idea of family that Lisa's never quite grasped.
Not even mentioning your wedding to your brother wasn't very family-friendly, Lisa could admit to herself.
Axel's got this pleased look on his face. Len had mentioned offhand that the kid didn't like lies or tricks. Evan's looking torn between excitement for new family and worry for his dad.
Lisa can see the silent count to ten running through Len's head. He manages to crack a smile and offers his congratulations to the pair. Axel continues to eat his dinner, but Evan comes and shakes 'Uncle Roscoe's hand and welcomes his to the family.
Just last year it would've been a hug, Lisa suddenly realises what Len means when he mentioned that the kids are growing up too fast.
There's an ice-rink nearby that Lisa used to practise on when she was young. As per recent tradition, she obtained the key from the owner before she arrived and the five of them head off during the evening for some skating.
Lisa's the best, of course, closely followed by Roscoe.
Len's always steadier on the ice than Lisa expects and had they been able to afford more than one pair of skates when they were younger, he might have been good enough to get into one of the hockey teams in the area.
Evan's distracted, as always, but gamely keeps trying. He does enjoy it, even if he eventually decides that he's had enough of falling over and holds onto Len's arm to keep himself upright. Lisa's impressed, Evan lasted on his own twenty minutes longer than normal.
Axel's surprisingly good, once he's gotten over his initial wobbles. Smart, cute, and good on the ice, Lisa's beginning to consider asking Len if he'd let Axel go on tour with her and Roscoe. Obviously the blond hair and skating genes prefer the second-born in the Snart family.
Len manages to corner Roscoe while Lisa's buying mulled wine for the adults and warm gingerbread for the children at one of the stalls that stay open on Christmas Day. Lisa lets him have five minutes before she interrupts. Len's looking more pleased than before as he accepts a polystyrene cup of mulled wine. Roscoe's looking a little wary, but thankfully not all that scared. Good. He wouldn't be the man she thought he was if he got frightened away by Len.
It's getting late when they start heading back. Despite all the sugar they've eaten, the kids are tired. Axel's visibly drooping and Evan's had to stifle a yawn or two.
They reach a road where Len and his kids are going one way back to his apartment, while Lisa and Roscoe are heading another for their hotel. Axel's leaning heavily on Len and only gives his aunt and uncle a sleepy wave, but Evan shakes Roscoe's hand again and gives Lisa a sideways hug. Len shakes Roscoe's hand with what looks like a considerable amount of grip, judging by Roscoe's wince.
Goodbyes are said and the group splits in two.
Roscoe is looking exhausted by the time they get back to the hotel room. He admits that Lisa's family was a little more intense than he was expecting. Lisa can't help the grin as she outlines the truce she and Len came up with for Christmas, oh and that they would be seeing them tomorrow as well. Without any incentive to stay civil.
Roscoe groans and declares he married a truly evil woman with a truly evil family.
Lisa just grins and starts putting together a shopping plan for tomorrow. Axel and Evan need spoiling and Len needs an apology in alcohol form. Normally Lisa wouldn't bother with her brother, but she doesn't want him taking it out on Roscoe. There's only so much she can ask her husband to put up with over the holidays after all.
As Lisa starts to pull the curtains closed she thinks over the day and how much fun it had been. She pauses, curtains half open, as she wonders if that's what Len feels like about his kids all the time. Nuisances, but family. The nice sort.
It's not enough to make her want kids of her own, but Lisa starts to wonder if Len wouldn't mind them visiting for the boys' birthdays during the year.
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Title: Listening to Another Voice
Characters: Hartley Rathaway, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker
Word count: 1738
Summary: Hartley knew he wasn't supposed to wander off the garden path, but this boy, with mud on his face and leaves in his hair and a funny voice, was promising that it would be ok. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
Warnings: Heavy Scots ahead
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Hartley's five the first time he hears his own name.
Things don't make sense for a long time. He still makes the trips to that clean, white building and gets looked after by a woman he knows isn't his mother, but it's all accompanied by loud noises that suddenly appeared one day in a lifetime of silence.
There's a lot of catch-up work, with lots of different people. It's difficult, but Hartley quickly learns to speak. Finally he can communicate with others, without moving his hands, which only a few people understood before.
When Hartley's six he starts being allowed to wander the gardens by himself. His nanny reminds him to come back when he's called and goes off around the side of the house to have a smoke.
Hartley isn't supposed to get mud on his clothes, so he carefully walks between the flowerbeds and stays away from the decorative pond. He tried to go swimming in it once, but almost drowned.
There's a rustling in the bushes.
Hartley has seen squirrels running across the lawn from the windows before, but there's never any about when he is. He goes still, hoping that the squirrel decides to show itself. There's some more rustling then the thing emerges.
It's not a squirrel.
It's a boy.
A tall, muddy boy with holes in his jeans and leaves in his hair. He grins and beckons Hartley over. Hartley stays where he is.
“It's ok,” the boy says in a voice unlike any Hartley has ever heard, “Just fer a wee wily.”
When Hartley doesn't move, the boy pulls some crumbled cookies out of a pocket and offers them. Hartley finally follows the boy into the bushes.
It's like a whole new world. The bushes lead into a thicket of spindly trees. The sun can't quite get through the leaves and there's a green tint to the area. There isn't grass on the ground, it's just dirt.
There's another boy, this one with blond hair, waiting for them. He's also got dirt on his elbows and knees.
“Dad's gonna go spare,” the blond boy warns in a sing-song voice.
“Naw,” the boy with the funny voice replies, “We'll be back afair he ken.”
Hartley doesn't know what's going on. He chews on his cookie and stays quiet.
“So that's him?” the blond boy asks, nodding at Hartley.
“Must be. Only wain around,” the boy with the funny voice says, “What's yer name?” he asks Hartley.
“Hartley,” Hartley says.
“Yelch,” the boy with the funny voice scrunches up his nose, “Glad they didnae pick mine.”
“Who're you?” Hartley asks, using up his small build-up of courage.
“Evan,” the boy with the funny voice replies, “And tha's Axel.”
“Give them something to find us with why don't you,” Axel mutters, “You should've used the code-names I came up with.”
“I'm no callin' ye Trickster,” Evan says, “And what kinda name's Mirror?”
“They're code-names, stupid,” Axel shoots back.
They start arguing. Hartley wonders if he should leave. He's just about to when they apparently settle things and turn back to face him.
“How's Emma?” Evan asks, “Or Matthew?”
Hartley doesn't know who he's on about.
“The maid and the cook,” Evan elaborates.
Hartley shakes his head. He doesn't know anyone except his tutors and nanny.
Evan sinks to the ground, looking dispirited.
“Cheer up,” Axel says, “You've got the kid if you want to mess with him.”
Evan gets a peculiar look on his face as he looks at Hartley. “Hey, Hart, how often d'you see yer parents?” he asks.
Hartley shakes his head and mumbles, “Not often.”
“Cannae do nowt right, can they,” Evan says, shaking his head too.
“You're not gonna do anything?” Axel asks incredulously, “You dragged me all the way out here for nothing?”
“Wheesht,” Evan hisses, “Yer gonna get us caught. Look, I think I remember a way into the kitchen from out here. We just need to make sure naebody's watching.”
They run over a plan. Hartley's torn between finding somebody he knows and going along with these kids. He doesn't get to play with other children very often after all.
Well, nobody's called for him yet. Hartley decides he's in the clear.
The plan isn't complicated and soon all three boys are sneaking across the gardens through the bushes to the house. Evan leads them to a side door Hartley hadn't even known existed.
Evan tries the handle, but it's locked. He tugs fruitlessly at the door until Axel shoves him out of the way.
“Let me do it,” Axel says, pulling a few bits of metal with funny shapes on the ends out of his pocket.
He slides them into the lock and starts twisting them carefully.
“Does dad know you can do that?” Evan asks, leaning on the door frame.
“They're his picks,” Axel replies, his tongue poking out between his teeth in concentration, “If he didn't want me to learn, he shouldn't have left them lying around.”
“'Lying around' bein'... where exactly?” Evan prompts.
“Somewhere I could find them,” Axel says.
There's a click and Axel removes the picks. He tries the handle and this time the door opens.
Evan's first through the door. Axel shoos Hartley in then follows after and shuts the door behind them. The lights inside aren't as bright as the sunshine and Hartley has to take a few blinks to get used to it and look at the room they've ended up in.
It's large and warm. There are lots of cupboards and work surfaces, Evan hoists himself up onto a surface and swings his feet. There's also a stove, which Hartley's only ever seen in picture books before. Axel makes a beeline to the fridge and looks inside.
Hartley's caught between wanting to explore and not getting in trouble. He's fairly certain someone's going to catch them any second now.
Axel gives a whoop and emerges from the fridge with a large trifle. Evan hops down from the counter as Hartley's earlier worry comes true and a portly man with a thick moustache enters the room through another door.
“What the - get your grubby paws out of my kitchen!” the man shouts at Axel, “How did you even - I... I don't believe it...” his voice has gotten much quieter, “Young master Evan?”
The man's staring at Evan with disbelief clear on his face. Evan smiles and waves.
“Hey, Matthew,” Evan says, “How's it goin'?”
“It's been so long since I've seen you,” Matthew says, “You've grown so much.”
Evan's starting to look embarrassed. Axel's sniggering.
“So,” Evan says, rubbing the back of his head, “What's Emma up to?”
Matthew's face falls. “She left. Six months after you did,” he says, “Couldn't stand the way things were.”
They start talking about things that Hartley can't really follow, so instead he watches Axel find a spoon and start eating the trifle straight from the bowl. Axel notices him watching and waves him over, producing another spoon for Hartley to use.
Hartley's not all that sure of Axel, he's not a nice as Evan is, but the offer of trifle is too good to ignore.
“You know...” Axel says, looking over Hartley with an appraising gaze, “You're the reason Evan didn't grow up here.”
“I am?” because that's the first Hartley's ever heard of it. He can't remember doing anything to get rid of another kid.
“But then, if you hadn't come about I probably wouldn't be living with dad right now and I wouldn't have Evan for a brother...” Axel says. He looks over Hartley again, his gaze not quite a harsh this time, “And he doesn't blame you...”
Hartley just shoves a spoonful of trifle into his mouth. He doesn't know what to say. The situation's a little more complicated than he's used to dealing with.
“I guess you're good in my book,” Axel finally says, “Welcome to the family.”
Hartley blinks. “You're not family,” he says, “Family means lots of stuffy people and boring dinners.”
Axel laughs, drawing Evan and Matthew's attention. Matthew frowns when he catches sight of the demolished trifle and the custard around Hartley's mouth. Evan doesn't care and moves over to steal Hartley's spoon and eat some trifle himself.
“'Sgood,” Evan says through a mouthful of fruit.
“Alright, enough,” Matthew says, clapping his hands, “Off with you now. I've got a dinner to prepare and another trifle to make.”
“We're goin',” Evan says, “Gotta get home afair dad does anyway. An' Hart,” he ruffles Hartley's hair, “Ye ever wanna piss off yer maw an' paw, tell 'em 'yer aff yer heid'. That'll get 'em in right straights.”
Hartley does his best to repeat what he was told. He's quite good at copying inflection closely after all his catch-up work.
“A natural,” Evan says proudly, “Well, we're off.”
“Good luck with the boring dinners, kid,” Axel says, also messing up Hartley's hair.
Evan and Axel leave through the side door, though not before Axel nabs an apple on his way past the fruit bowl. Hartley waves goodbye and presses his face against the window until they vanish into the hedgerow.
It's almost like a fairy story.
Matthew sighs behind Hartley, who's suddenly aware of the custard still around his mouth and the fact that he's pretty sure he's not supposed to be here. However, when he turns to look at Matthew, the man has a fond smile on his face.
“Let's get you cleaned up,” Matthew says, “And then, as punishment for eating my trifle...” he trails off and Hartley cringes. Matthew chuckles and finishes, “You will have to help me make a new one.”
Hartley can't believe his ears. That's not a punishment, he'd already been considering asking about that in the first place.
Hartley clambers onto the stood Matthew pulls up for him and gets put to stirring a warm bowl of custard until it cools down. Matthew's stood next to him and is peeling and slicing kiwis with movements quicker than Hartley can follow.
“I made a promise,” Matthew says quietly, “And I almost forgot it.”
He waves off Hartley's confusion and keeps his attention on the fruit, though his expression has grown much more serious.
Hartley's just starting to enjoy himself when his nanny bursts in, looking frantic, and Hartley knows his day is just going to get worse from there.
Well, at least it had a good beginning.