She listened to them bicker for a few moments, sipping from her wine and pursing her lips as she looked over her boys. Aurelia didn’t call this family dinner for them to sit and argue, in fact it was for the complete opposite reason and yet she had maybe expected more maturity from the two of them than this. “Enough.” The fae spoke curtly, setting her wine glass down as hardened eyes looked between the other two fae. “I don’t care to know who either of you have had relations with and really, I had hoped to have waited until after dinner, but it’s apparent that isn’t going to be possible. Jasper, do you think you’re the only one hurt by what happened? Do you think that you got abandoned and no one else had any other emotions about it?” She asked, though she wasn’t about to leave Samuel out of her reaming as eyes fell on him, “And do you think winding him up in a situation in which he’s already obviously going to be on edge is a good idea when I wouldn’t have called you all here if I didn’t think it was necessary?”
Aurelia let the words hang in the air as she picked up knife and fork, and took a bite of the starter that had been made for them. “Jasper, I didn’t leave you voluntarily, I don’t know how much more plainly I can put that. There is nothing in this world that hurts me more than the time I’ve lost with you, though I’m not sure how I can get you to believe that other than the fact that you know I can’t lie. I care about you, and therefore I care about Malakiah if he’s important to you. I don’t need to know the ins and outs of your relationship, in fact I rather hope you spare me the details.” She looked between them all this time, including the fallen as she let out a sigh. “Someone targeted us, and I don’t remember who it was. They altered my memories and that means I can’t keep you safe from them if they decide they didn’t get what they wanted from me. We need to protect one another, whether or not you care Jasper, you have my surname. Whether or not you’re serious about threats Sammy, you’re a part of our family. And you, Malakiah, are known to mean something to my son now and so I’m sorry but you are also a part of this.”
“I sound paranoid, I know that. I couldn’t protect you before, I couldn’t protect myself. I can and will now.” A pause again, as she focused on her food once more, having another sip of wine. “Someone tell me about Amos and why he thinks he should have any semblance of control over a Dalton.”
The thing about pulling the pin, lobbing the grenade, and a watching it explode was that Sammy enjoyed every second of it. Seeing Jasper get all wound up. Oh it was magical. After years and years of knowing the his little brother, Sammy could push and poke just the right buttons to get a reaction out of him. Little tickle here. Little tap there. Flip that switch. Watch him spin around. What a game it was to enjoy. Even if mom didn’t love it so much, Sammy was in his glory. Even when Jasper grabbed the back of his neck. Turned the attention on him instead. Or tried to.
Mommy wouldn’t have that.
Tonight, it wasn’t about Sammy. It was about Jasper and his knew little thing. So, no matter how hard Jasper tried he was always going to be in the spotlight. Exactly where he didn’t want to be. What a joy!
Sitting up a bit, Sammy swatted away Jasper’s hands and looked at his mother as they started to lecture each the two of them. “Please, all of you. One question at a time.” He raised his hands and sat back. Looking to Jasper, Sammy offered him a smile. “First of all, I’ve been fucking my wife and husband thank you very much.” Sammy started. “Maybe a few others but that’s neither here nor there.” He waved one hand a bit. “Second, how dare you? Have you forgotten what Finding Nemo taught us? Fish are friends, not food. They should be eaten out and nothing more.” He pointed out in calm tone before turning his attention to his mother.
“Third, yes. Yes, I do think its all a great idea.” Sammy answered her first question about winding Jasper up. “Gotta get his little ticker working again. It’s been all looped out since you went bye-bye for a hot minute.” He informed her with a quick smile. “Forth, mom, I hate to tell you this, but I kill people for a living. It’s messy but lets be honest, you knew that already. If someone’s coming after us, let’em. They can met me at the door instead. Then I’ll make them go sleep with the fishes. And no in the fun way. No more problem. The useful son will take care of it. End of story.”
Jasper’s emotions were taking hold of him; to the point where he had completely forgotten his boyfriend was there in the room. In his head, it was just him, his brother, and his mother who had abandoned him. Whether it was her choice or not was still up for debate in his mind.
He opened his mouth to speak, but instead, flinched as his mother interrupted him and Sammy. His hands flattened against the table only for his fingers to curl in on themselves; his nails digging into his the soft skin of his palms.
Jasper squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his chin to his chest. Focus. He hissed at himself internally as his mother continued to speak. But it wasn’t just her voice out loud that was causing him to grow dizzy. It was her in his head.
I did leave, Sper. But I’m back now.
I taught you better manners than that.
“Who the fuck said I need you to keep me safe?” He found himself hissing at his mother’s physical form. “I’ve handled myself for years without you.” He spat. “Years without dad.” A sticky substance coated his fingers as he dug his nails into his skin even more. “And this fucker isn’t much help.” He shot a glare at his brother. “I haven’t needed you for a long fucking time so what makes you think I need or want you now?”
So cruel, Sper. Why are you so cruel?
“Because you made me this way!” He shouted at his own thoughts. Though, it took him a moment to realize that he had said it out loud. His hands were shaking as he took a step back from the table.
I raised you better than this.
Sammy’s words were swimming in his head; jumbling up into a scrambled mess. He was unable to focus on anything other than the tone of his voice. He seemed calm but the words – as jumbled as they were – didn’t connect with the calmness of his voice. “I’m not crazy!” Was the only response the younger Dalton gave to his brother.
I am crazy. I’m very much loony tunes.
“I’m not. I’m not crazy. I’m not–” Jasper shook his head back and forth as he placed his now bloodied hands on his face. “Fuck you!” He spat. “Fuck you all. For sitting around this fucking fake ass table, bullshitting like we are a normal fucking family again!” He shouted. “Newsflash: We will never be that family again. Never in a million fucking years.” And then his eyes found Malakiah’s, causing air to catch in his throat. Fuck. “I– Not you. I didn’t mean–” Too much. Too fucking much.
“I need some fucking air.” He turned without another thought and walked out of the room.
As the family began to bicker with one another, Kia had to look down at his plate. He rubbed just under his nose to hide a smile that cracked across his lips as they all dug under each others skin. He’d never family and part of him had always wanted one. Well, in the past he had. After seeing the three of them interact, Kia was perfectly happy with the family he had now. Jasper. Who he understood a hell of a lot more now than he did a second ago. He tried to contain his laughter before hearing Jasper start to actually lose it. He could tell the difference between annoyed Jasper and angry Jasper.
Looking up at his boyfriend, Kia caught his eye as soon as he warned everyone that he didn’t want to see them again. “It’s okay, I know.” He answered back quickly. He didn’t take it personally. Jasper had a tendency to fixate and forget about everything else around him when he did. Known of what he had been saying was aimed at Kia.
Standing up as Jasper began to leave, Kia cleared his throat. “Thanks for dinner.” He told Auralia. “You don’t have to be worried about him or myself. We know how to take care of each other. We have been for a while now.” He informed her. “He’s a fucking hell of a lot stronger than you think he is. Saved my ass too many times to count.” Kia added, his wings puffing up a bit as he pushed in his chair and walked out after Jasper.
Catching up to him outside, Kia didn’t say anything before he wrapped Jasper up in a tight hug. His wings folding down around the two of them. Shielding them both from the rest of the world. His arms tightened around the other, not caring if any of Jaspers blood got on him. He wanted to make sure that Jasper knew his family didn’t scare Kia. If anything it was good to meet them. To understand why Jasper was the way he was.
“Move in with me, will you?”
