Gripping the tiny hand, he let the boy plod alongside him a few more steps before hoisting him up and throwing him onto his shoulders. Brown eyes scanned the are from behind sunglasses as he felt the same tiny hands assume their regular position of holding onto the brim of his snapback.
āCars buddy, we need to wait,ā he explained, grasping his little legs to steady his son. āWe gotta go the studio, call Mommy, get food for Da and the puppies and then if youāre good, we can play some games.ā
Crossing the street, he kept his vision fixed on where he was going. Over the years heād gotten used to the quiet town but the fear still lingered in the back of his mind. Being outside and alone, with his son, had him fear flashes and the quick invasion of his space. Heād denied company more and more recently, knowing that if he wanted his boy to grow up with every opportunity, Cooper couldnāt tarnish his view on the world with his own fear.
Hearing the familiar voice, his grip tightened ever so slightly and his gaze flicked up before refocusing on the sidewalk ahead. Daddy, can the spaceguys see us?
āUh- I imagine they would need a super big telescope to see us. We probably look like ants. Teeny tiny people,ā he answered his twenty-second question of the day, which was fairly good considering it was only ten in the morning.
āDuck your head, bub,ā Cooper instructed as he crouched to get them under the doorway into the studio. Setting the boy down, he watched him run off to the couch to attack his Uncle Frank, the familiarty of the area left both father and son with comfort. āZac, make sure your Uncle behaves,ā he warned with a smirk.
Listening to his manager, Cooper had to remember to pay attention instead of zoning out. It had been a new step in his path, to have someone manage his career. The man had done it himself for the last twenty years and the length heād gone to in order to find someone he could trust had lasted two of those years.
āOkay, yeah I know what I wanna do,ā he answered back confidently with a nod of his head. āIāll give it a run through and then send that shit to Spotify,ā he paused before watching his son open his mouth and immediately shooting back a āZachary James,ā which prompted him to close it with a grin at his father.
āYouāve made me into my mother,ā Cooper grumbled to himself before loading up his phone. āAshes, can you load that one up? I can play the piano but I will need the strings added afterwards and the click,ā the man rambled.
āDo you want me to drop the key?ā āNah I can hit it, Iāve had enought practice in the shower, trust me.ā Yeah he always sings it, came the small quip from the couch. Cooper looked across, watching his son with his head in a Classic Rock magazine, heād undoubtedly yanked from the coffee table.
A morning spent in the studio was a welcomed one as he watched his son often press his face against the glass to watch his father. Spending some time at the mixing board, he held one arm around his waist to keep him seated on his knee while discussing how he wanted the vocals and instruments to blend together.
Boucing him on his knee, Cooper felt the weight drop against his chest and adjusted to hold him up against his chest, supporting the boyās head on his shoulder. Dropping his voice to a softer tone, he leaned forward listening to the track and offered his comments. Hearing soft snores, he left Frank and his team with a side hug before stepping out into the Georgian sun.
Humming Sweet Dispostion under his breath, he sang softly to the piano in his head. Zac had grown up hearing his fatherās voice around the house but especially at bedtime. Cooper mostly saved that soft acoustic for him.
Calling into a local store, he picked up the few items he needed, having mastered how to juggle most things with one hand while holding the boy in the other. Feeling him stir, Cooper snuggled against him and kissed his cheek, humming softly until he felt the nuzzle into his neck. āLove you, buddy.ā
Getting home, he warmed at the sight of the three pups rushing over to greet them. āHi guys,ā he whispered, tippy-tappy paws on the wooden floor while they tried to check on their littlest member of the wolf pack. āHeās sleeping, okay?ā#
āDaās not home yet,ā he murmured before walking to the refridgerator and plucking out a ham sandwich and accompanying his lunch with some cheetos.Ā āHey baby,ā he smiled at the sleepy face looking up at the sound of rustling.Ā āHere look,ā he handed him some water to sip.Ā āDid you sleep good? Huh? You took a big nap. Weāre home now, buddy.ā
The little sleepy pleas led him to tear a piece of his sandwich off and hand it across. Setting the bag of cheetos closer, Cooper turned his attention back to the television, selecting The Lego Movie and relaxing into the calm atmosphere.
Sometimes he missed his old life, the hustle and bustle. Yet the fear still lingered in the back of his head. The flinches at a loud noise or the quiet stares as his mind drifted into the archive of his life. Yet a small, Daddy, often pulled him out.
āWanna team up on dinner tonight? Iām sure if we both nag enough we can get cheeseburgers?ā he suggested as he heard a small hum of approval between crunches of cheetos.Ā āThatās my man,ā he smirked to himself softly.Ā
By evening, heād sat himself at the piano, the sounds of his family behind him as he had a moment to himself. It was an adjustment, this new life. It felt like an entire world away from what he knew. Part of him longed for it back, an addict craving the fix. Yet the giggles in the bathroom interrupted those thoughts.
āThe water stays in the bath, Zac,ā he called, taking a sip from his beer bottle before hearing the small murmurs of a conversation in the distance.Ā
āHi darling,ā he smiled when the little black and white boston terrier jumped onto the stool.Ā āI know, I know,ā he nodded in response to the two paws on his leg.Ā āIām okay, just...ā he shrugged his shoulders and smiled.Ā āMelancholy?ā he ran his hand over her back and tickled her chin, speckled with grey fur.Ā
āWeāll get there,ā he whispered and leaned his head down, pressing a kiss to her fur and getting his own sloppy kiss in response. Running his fingers up and down the scales, he drifted into some soft Sinatra. Forever a comfort.Ā
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