You look like your father- Rafe Cameron x reader
ik everyone like wholesome dad rafe but i think he carries too much of his childhood trauma for that. he tries to be a good dad of course but your his wife before your the woman of his kids, so when the oldest triggers him by going after you he loses all composure.
angst & fluff
a/n: i have like three versions of this but i think this is the best😭
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When your oldest son's school calls you threatening him for suspension and letting you know he's been detained there's not much you can do but call your husband and hesitantly relay everything the school told you.
He picks up on the first ring and as you start going into detail, with worry in your tone you could tell he was trying to not be so reactive to prompt you into telling him everything. He takes a deep breath before saying, "I'll handle it, I'm handling it." You can hear him biting back irritation, what sounds like him rummaging around his office, and soon the roar of his truck starting. "I'm gonna kill him." he mutters under his breath.
"Rafe" You sigh with a warning tone, aware of the difference between your husband and yourself. The two of you agree to wait until you can talk to him together, undermining each other is something you guys try to avoid, but with polar opposite parenting styles it's hard not to.
Your oldest son had been in fight, detained, suspended from school, broke a nose, and has pending charges. You would've never expected this from him in a million years, your baby boy following in footsteps that are eerily familiar.
Within the next hour they both pull into the driveway, walking through the door together and Rafe is immediately on ten. "Take his keys" he says looking at you, "Grounded" he says pointing back at him.
You don't even get a chance to say anything before your son walks up to the kitchen island where you're standing and carelessly tosses down his car keys.
"You wanna tell us what happened?" Rafe stands tall next to you as you, his arms are crossed and a permanent scowl is etched onto his face.
Your son sits at the kitchen island and scans the both of you with his eyes. "Seems like y'all already know" he mumbles before plopping an elbow on the marble and resting his head on his hand. It kills you to see the split on his lip and reddened knuckles, you want to be mad, but you also want to hold him as tightly as possible. You try your hardest to seem indifferent, knowing not to take sides or undermine Rafe's authority, but your kids already know that you're the softer parent by far.
His response makes Rafe take in an audibly deep breath, "Don't be a smartass" he says raising his eyebrows as a sign to your teenager to proceed with caution. "I mean what the hell were you thinking?" he asks, moving his hands to his hips.
He's met with silence as your son gives the two of you a lazy shoulder shrug. Rafe turns to you with widened eyes as your signal to step in. "Okay, not responding is not an option right now" you tell him, definitely more calmly than Rafe would've.
"Is going to my room an option?" he deadpans looking between the both of you.
"Absolutely not, you broke that kid's nose" Rafe responds with a scoff before turning around and holding his head in his hands, trying his hardest to gain composure.
"It's like you don't even care?" you add in, confused because your son has never been this dismissive. The two of you are sure you raised respectful kids, so you just can't fathom this new attitude.
He just looks at you guys and silently shrugs again.
"Well we do care, you know I had to keep your ass from being charged right?" Rafe points a strong finger at him that you softly pull down saying, "We care a lot because we're concerned about you sweetheart, this isn't like you"
He makes eye contact with both of you and remains silent.
"We're not angry with you-" you start until Rafe scoffs, "Yes the hell we are"
The two of you exchange challenging stares as you struggle to remain impartial, "Your father and I feel a bit differently, but regardless what happened isn't okay." You look over at Rafe and he gives a small nod, signaling that the two of you are on the same page before continuing, "We just-"
"Oh my god, just leave me the fuck alone" he yells before storming up the stairs.
The bass in his voice leaves you stunned, you don't even get to process hurt or anger before Rafe breaks the silence, "What the hell did he just say to you?" he turns to face you, his voice is eerily calm, so calm that you try to restrain him before he even moves.
You watch his eyes darken and attempt to deter him by resting your hand on his, "Rafe no-" but before you can fully grab his wrist he darts up the stairs behind him.
It takes you longer to get up the stairs as you're not as blinded by anger, but you can hear the room door slam shut and rip open just as quickly. Your son and your husband are instantly going at each others throats, yelling over one another to the point where you can't even make out what they're even yelling about.
When you make it to the doorway of the room you're immediately angered to see Rafe has him picked up, holding your son against the wall. His fist is grounded in his chest and he has an iron grip on the material of his shirt that keeps him firmly in position against the wall, somewhat on his tippy toes. "You'll apologize to your mother right now or so help me god."
"Rafe, are you fucking serious?" he turns and when he feels the way his icy glare meets the fire in your eyes he begrudgingly lets him go, but not without pettily throwing him back against the wall slightly.
They both stand breathing heavily, cold stares shooting daggers at each other like an old western showdown. Your son hasn't looked this much like Rafe since he was a pouty toddler, it's almost scary now seeing him grown up, too much like his dad for his own good.
"He was arrested for fighting and your solution is this? Both of you are ridiculous" you scold them not sure who you're more upset with yet.
"Both of us? In what world do I let my wannabe delinquent son disrespect my wife in my goddamn house?"
Rafe's focus has shifted as he didn't like you being mad at him. When it comes down to it you're his wife before anything else and a mother to his kids second.
"You don't have to excuse his behavior, but don't manhandle my son like that ever again." you say pointedly before turning towards your son, "And god forbid I'm worried about you, I-" you fight to keep your voice still as your eyes begin to gloss over. Overwhelmed by the chaos of the situation you just throw your hands up, "I can't even right now" you start to walk towards the door, "Your father said you're grounded, so you're grounded." You remind him before leaving, although it seems empty. You don't even know what that means, if you're supposed to take his phone or his controllers, turn off the wifi, unplug his tv? You'll have to count on your husband to follow through with the grounding. You leave the room to get air and you can feel Rafe hot on your heels following you to your shared room. He doesn't say anything as he closes the door behind the two of you and reaches out to turn you to face him.
You slap his hands away, "Have you lost your fucking mind?" you yell at him in a hushed whisper.
"He was cuffed in front of the fucking school, and gets back home acting like an asshole after I got his charges dropped" he responds back in the same hushed tone.
"So he's obviously going through something, it's our job to figure that out, not make him feel like it's us against him"
He pinches the bridge of his nose and squeezes his eyes shut before groaning, "Youre coddling"
You roll your eyes at him, "I’m coddling because i'm not putting my hands on him?"
"You're acting like I actually hit him" Rafe gasps out with widened eyes.
"You were pretty close" you glare at him, making yourself angry all over again.
"Someone needs to. Do you see how he's acting?" He says it so carelessly that it almost makes your jaw drop as you look up at him, frozen. "Do you hear yourself?" you ask him stunned with disbelief. "Is that how you really feel?" you scan his face trying to familiarize the man standing in front of you.
You can see his demeanor soften like he regrets saying it, "No, but.. I know that behavior. I don't want him to turn out like I did" He starts avoiding your eyes, trying to keep his tough exterior built up. You know Rafe is never one for a heart to heart about his feelings but whenever what he's holding onto starts affecting his life like this he knows you won't back down. As expected you don't, as soon as the words leave his lips you slowly approach him.
"I still loved that version of you" You speak softly to him, not wanting him to shut down, but he can't because he knows it's true. You managed to love every version on Rafe and continue to love him unconditionally even though he struggles with doing the same. All his love is reserved for you and he wouldn't have it any other way.
He finds your eyes, "You shouldn't have had to, I'm gonna make up where my parents lacked"
"By acting just like them?" You fire back, watching his eyes start to dart back around, more nervously this time.
He's quick to respond, his voice just below a whisper, almost begging you, "Don't say that"
Your heart hurts just from looking at him, you knew the comparison would strike a nerve, but it's the only way you think he'd understand. "That's what I saw, I'm not gonna let you become a father you'll regret"
"I- i fucked up okay!" he creates distance between the two of you and you watch as he stares off going uncharacteristically pale. You call after him, following him as he keeps walking away from you, now beginning to dry heave at the thought of turning into his father. Watching him spiral scares you, you reach out to touch him and you can feel his body slightly trembling as he speaks, "You don't know how bad it scares me to continue the cycle, to be like Ward, for him to grow up and be like me, it fucking terrifies me."
You hold his face in your hands, forcing him to look you in your eyes as you thumb away the few tears that escaped from his eyes. "It's okay to be scared, but don't let that fear control you. I mean we've done pretty good so far. We may be a little fucked up, but our kids are great. I'll talk to him and figure out what happened" you promise him and you can feel his hands grip you tightly as he pulls you flush against him for a hug.
"I'm sorry, I was reactive and wrong." he talks lowly in your ear as your arms drape on top of his shoulders. "I shouldn't have lost my temper or grabbed him, i'll apologize, find a way to make it right" he says quietly with a guilty look plastered all over his face when you pull back to look at him.
"Maybe we give him back his keys and just give him an earlier curfew?" you suggest softly.
"He's paying for his own gas"
"Deal" you agree, knowing you might still slip him gas money if he asks.
"I love you, We're good?"
"We're good, I love you too." you confirm with a soft smile that he presses a kiss to.













