dottolone/panttore family shenanigans
tags: fluff, hurt/comfort, brief misunderstandings, crying, family dynamics, hugs/kisses
note: a bit nervous about posting this one. might be ooc, proceed with caution. hopefully this fic healed anybody's inner child. thea is about 5?
it was unbelievable to find his work station in complete chaos. glass shards scattered across the floor titles, liquids of unknown potions were leaking on the marble countertop. dottore was bewildered, who could have possibly destroyed months of his research and experiments?
his jaw clenched, his lips pressed into a firm line. could it have been one of his segments? no, why would they be this careless, especially without a proper reason? could it have been the work of a subordinate gone rouge? that only seems like the most reasonable conclusion.
regardless, this angered him deeply to his core. he heard footsteps approaching him closer, turning around with a hardened expression. the tension was incredibly thick, his tone lowering at a dangerous level. at this rate, no one will be spared from his wrath. "if you are here to provoke me, i highly suggest that you leave now, pantalone. i'm currently occupied with other matters."
pantalone sighs, his eyes darting over to the chemical mess in the corner. frankly, he was clueless too in this mystery. who could have ruined his husband's experimental notes and test tubes? "calm down, i heard about the commotion earlier and i came here to check. are you injured, love?"
"my well-being is the least of my priorities right now." dottore's tone came off as harsh, his hand tightening into a fist. he was incredibly irritable, like a ticking time bomb ready to detonate. "i'm launching an investigation. someone better start pleading for their life because this is beyond despicable."
the other man reached his hand out to intertwine, hoping to give dottore some comfort although it seem meaningless. "think rationally, dottore. don't jump straight to risky endeavors"
"i am quite rational, banker"
"you're about to send someone to an early grave." pantalone argues, his eyes narrowing at his husband. "at least wait until we find enough more evidence to tie it back to the culprit." a near-growl escapes dottore's lips before reluctantly agreeing, withdrawing his hand from pantalone and marching over to his ruined work station. "fine, we'll do it your way. this shit is so frustrating."
comfort and reassurance seem pointless, all pantalone can do is assist his husband with the investigation. more footsteps could be heard, making the banker turn his head in the other direction. he walks over to the door, noticing their daughter hiding behind the wall.
"thea, princess. why are you here? you should be in your room." he kneels down, extending his arms to her. there was definitely something wrong, she look so guilty and frightened. thea couldn't even look at him in the eyes, her bottom lip trembling. "i-i'm sorry, baba." pantalone raised a brow, gently lifting up the toddler in his arms and walking back to dottore.
"why are you apologizing, thea?" she fell quiet, burying her teary face into his shoulders as her hands clutch his coat tightly. dottore turns around, walking over to his husband and daughter. he tries to soften his expression, his arms crossing over his chest. "what's wrong with her?"
"would it kill you to be nicer right now?"
"it was unintentional, pantalone. i can't help that." pantalone rolls his eyes at dottore before returning his attention to their daughter. he brush her head lightly, trying to encourage thea to look up but she was so scared and upset. "look at me, please. what happened, are you hurt?" his hand wiped a few tears away from her face, taking hold of her chin and lifting it up.
thea crumbles, sobbing in her father's arms as she wails loudly. "i-i ruined papa's lab but i didn't mean to! i wanted to see the cool cups.. but, but everything fell down and broke! im so, so sorry..." oh, at least they found the culprit to this mess but not in the best way possible. her endless curiosity is both endearing and troublesome sometimes.
"it's okay, calm down. take deep breaths, thea." pantalone rubs her back, gently kissing her temple as she weeps. his eyes lingered on dottore's expression, it was hard to decipher his husband's emotions. it didn't help that thea was beyond frightened to face her other father, knowing how bad his temper can get.
this situation was truly unfortunate, enough to give pantalone a headache for days. he could really go for a cigarette right now. a deep sigh escapes the doctor's lips, taking a step closer to his family. in a quiet gesture, dottore opens his arms and pantalone silently understood his intentions, gently passing thea over to him.
she went stiff, expecting a harsh scolding but it never came. instead, all she felt was his hand cupping her cheek, a thumb brushing her tears away. "thea, look at me. i'm not mad, at least not anymore." she hesitated, her hands shaking but she comply, lifting up her head.
dottore sighs, removing his mask from his face and setting it down nearby. he pressed a soft peck on her forehead, his crimson irises looking down to meet her violet ones. "why didn't you tell us earlier?" she sniffles, another round of tears threatening to slip again as she came clean. "because papa would hate me..."
"i don't hate you and that won't happen. i just wished you were honest instead of trying to hide it from us." he tries his best to comfort his daughter, letting thea cry into his chest. truth be told, dottore was still furious but there's no point in taking his anger out on a child who had no ill-intentions. the last thing he wants is to make his daughter afraid of him.
"i'm so sorry, papa. i'm sorry.."
"i know you are. i forgive you, it's okay baby" their little reconciliation warmed pantalone's heart, a fond smile blooming on his lips. he chuckles, resting a hand on thea's head, kissing her forehead. "all is forgiven, princess. at least we won't need an investigation anymore." dottore groans, rolling his eyes at his husband's playful remark. "zip it. cease your teasing, feofan. i'm not in the mood."
although his words lacked venom, he was more focused on their daughter's well-being. she's just as clingy as pantalone, burying her face into dottore's shoulder. despite everything, she was still daddy's little girl.
"is baba and papa fighting again?"
"no, your father is just grumpy with everyone" he really does enjoy getting on dottore's nerves. pantalone ignored the scowl on his husband's expression, leaning forward to peck the doctor's rosy cheeks. "as for the lab.. do you need help cleaning it up?" dottore shook his head, adjusting his hold on thea. "it's fine, my segments can take responsibility for that. i'll worry about it another day."
he really needs add more child safety locks in his work station, he would rather not suffer another repeat of this situation again. all of them walked out of the room, thea clinging to her father's coat. she lifts her head up, noticing that dottore left behind his mask in the lab but he couldn't care less. dottore saw her staring at his scarred face, a gentle smile tugging his lips. a peck landed on her forehead, making thea giggle as her little hands cup his cheeks.
in his peripheral vision, pantalone saw how they were getting along but he made no effort to interrupt the moment, not this time. fondness spread across his face, their daughter was the light of their life, even if she was troublesome sometimes. frightening reptuation as harbringers and yet weak for their child, parenthood really brought out the best in them.
This is so cuteee
