UNDEr CONSTRUCTION

James Dahle || 35 || Werefox “Home is not places, it is love.”

[jamesdahle]

grantdahle:

“That’s amazing!” Grant made a move to pick up the taller man and spin him around, because even though he figured Mac was there, it was more than reassuring to hear. “You’re amazing!” Grant stopped sort, his hands falling from where they were when he heard James’ question and realized what the look on his face meant. “Nononono, no, God, no. They’re all still- they’re together, with an older couple. Not like, dying with a cane older couple, like where we’ll be in fifteen years old. Only with us being way more adorable and way hotter.” Grant didn’t know if he made the right decision, separating always seemed like such a bad idea in any work of fiction. This was reality, though. And the reality was it was more dangerous running around outside the bases. “We - I say we, but of course there were some protests in our Brady Bunch - so, I thought it’d be more risky to drag them everywhere while looking for you and Mac. I mean, with our luck, all of them would have been separated from me for one reason or another. This way, I know where they are, where to find them, and…” Grant pursed his lips in thought, a small frown staying in place after, “I wouldn’t say I trust the couple, trust is… a little hard nowadays, but I know where they are, and they’re the closest I could get to maybe trusting someone out here with our family.” Grant sighed, “I think they’re good people… I really do.” But he’s been wrong before.

A few years ago, James had this perfect image of where him and Grant would be in 15 years. Even their youngest kid would be done with college, unless one of them was getting their doctorate. James and Grant would be living by themselves again. James had imagined the domestic goings of their life, had thought about everything happy that could happen between the two of them. And now... he had no idea where that put them. Would they be like the couple watching their children? Taking care of orphans left by the apocalypse? Would they even still be alive?

He pulled Grant in close, wrapping his arms around the other’s waist. It was instinct, the most familiar action. “If you think they’re good people, they must be.” And he knew that to be true. Grant wasn’t as easy to trust as James was. Especially after all that had happened, Grant had to be skeptical of even the nicest people. “They’re in good hands. I trust you.” He pressed his lips into his husbands, letting the last knot in his heart untangle.

[jamesdahle]

grantdahle:

“Thought I’d show up riding on a horse, in a prince charming outfit? I know, I thought about it, too. Sadly, both of those things are really, really hard to come by. Besides, I think I’d look better in a dress, yanno? Why am I asking that as if you’ve never seen me in one before?” Grant didn’t usually deflect with nonsense - not with James, at least. The fact of the matter was, in this case, he already knew what James must have thought. They were the same fears he had since they were separated. He too had the grim realization that maybe they wouldn’t be able to find each other again, that he’d live out the rest of his days rifling through the world for someone who could have already taken his last breath. “I know,” Grant murmured after a few beats, responding to James’ unfinished sentence in yet another way. “I know.” Grant closed his eyes, realizing they had been brimmed with tears without him noticing. Pulling back, he carded his hands through James’ bangs, as he so often did. “It’s okay now,” he said for them both. Leaning up, tears trickling down his own face, he pressed his lips to James’ now exposed forehead. “I love you, too. I really, really love you.”

James was laughing again, still not quite able to believe that Grant was here. It was an unmistakable thing: his voice, his scent, his touch-- there was no way this could be anything else but Grant. He felt those lips press against his forehead and his smile brightened, if only for a moment. “I found her,” he said, glee on his face. “I found our little girl.” Mac had been the first to get lost and it had been hard on all of them. Finding her was like finding a Beacon in a storm. Then, much too late, he realized that it was just Grant. None of the other kids were with him. His smile slipped from his face and he pulled back just far enough to check. Maybe he just hadn’t noticed them yet. And yet no. None of his kids were there. “Are the others...?” He didn’t dare ask the question, but he knew that Grant would know what he was asking.

[jamesdahle]

grantdahle:

“I mean, I was-” Grant abruptly cut off his words as he was pulled into another world. A world James was very much so present in. As he spun around, the reality where he was searching came to an end. The person he was speaking to was part of another life, one Grant was scared would never come to pass. “You’re here,” Grant panted, breathless - only in part from having sprinted over to the other. “You’re here,” he repeated, taking James’ face in his hands, looking over his features simultaneously as if decades had passed, and as if stricken with the most unbelievable and beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He pulled James into his arms, feeling his body quake as relief washed over him. “I mean, I knew you were here, I could smell you,” Grant wrinkled his nose as he spoke. “I just never had to rely on the whole… ‘follow you nose’, thing before. You were always there…” And then he wasn’t, and Grant had been at wits end ever since. “And yes, I totally, definitely just quoted the Fruit Loop commercial slogan.”

Grant had always been good at bringing up emotions through James that he hadn’t thought he was capable of feeling. He hadn’t thought he was capable of feeling so happy that the tears shook his body, that his weak arms could grasp onto someone as tightly as they grasped onto his husband. He never realized he could feel so incredibly happy and so incredibly worried at the same time. Or that he could laugh while crying, because in spite of everything that had happened, Grant could bring that out of him. “Oh, thank god. I thought-” He shook his head, clinging tighter. He thought he’d never see Grant, ever again. “I love you, so much.”

[grantdahle-blog]

“I’m looking for two people,” Grant started, holding up one finger, then another when he realized his mistake. He usually wouldn’t forgo introductions, but this was important! Hence he instantly launched into the first person’s description. “One is about yea high,” Grant waved his hand next to him at what he approximated to be his daughter’s height. “Huge eyes, pretty sure she got them from her dad. Which may not make sense because she’s adopted, but I like to think it makes sense.” Grant kept up his overly talkative and friendly persona, never wanting other people to know just how desperate and strung out he actually was. “She talks a lot - a lot - and that she definitely got from me, if you can’t tell. She’s basically a precious, talkative ray of sunshine - couldn’t miss her.” In hindsight, which he didn’t have, a name may have done better. “The other person, you couldn’t miss either. I mean, he’s adorable. A little taller than me, red hair, Bambi eyes, looks like he’s made of noodles. Which may not sound too attractive, but trust me, it is.”

[jamesdahle]

James wasn't sure when he scented Grant, but the moment he did it felt like time slowed. His heart raced against his chest and he ran as fast as his legs would allow. When he turned the corner, he heard the man's voice, talking to a disgruntled Cora. It was clear she did not want to be having a conversation like this, especially so early in the morning. James would say he understood, but he didn't. Grant was so ridiculously energetic and James loved every second of it. "Grant?" He called out, stepping into view.

[jamesdahle]

“Food, lights, ammunition… Only two things could make this Christmas better.”

[splithale]

“Booze and the rest of those things being dead?”

[jamesdahle]

"That's not quite what I meant, but I'm sure some would appreciate that. You-- you can't get drunk though, can you?"

[jamesdahle]

“Food, lights, ammunition… Only two things could make this Christmas better.”

[dhsourrwolf-blog]

“Yes, this guys’ parents”.

[jamesdahle]

"I was referring to my husband and other kids, but I do agree with you. How's he been holding up?"

[jamesdahle]

“Food, lights, ammunition... Only two things could make this Christmas better.”

[jamesdahle]

nomadicholmgren:

“You know that you’re the only one of us that’s capable of that, J.” She scoffed that he even thought she would be able to move past this if Mackenzie died. If her niece died, then what tie did she have to the pack anyways? Did James expect her to really remain with a pack that only allowed her because of her connection to Mac? 

“It isn’t. His. Fault.” James punctuated every word, though he knew it wouldn’t make Blake understand. Blake was resentful when James was forgiving. She held grudges far too long, where James didn’t hold any. He wouldn’t change anything about her, he knew it balanced the two of them out, but he couldn’t let Stiles take the blame for something he wasn’t accountable for.

[jamesdahle]

Daughter || James and Mackenzie

Shadows settle on the place, that you left. Our minds are troubled by the emptiness. Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time. From the perfect start to the finish line.

“Dad!” Her voice rang out and he couldn’t quite believe that he was hearing it. He had known that she was alive- had seen her in that fake world where she was all grown up and in college. Still, that didn’t quite beat actually hearing her voice. Or seeing her smiling face. It had been months since he’d seen that smiling face. “Dad, you’re actually here! I can’t believe it! Well, I guess I can believe it, because you’re here, but it’s.. unbelievable!”

She hadn’t smiled for days since they found her.

“Stop talking and hug me,” James laughed, closing whatever small distance they had between them. He had felt so broken when he lost her, it felt like parts of his heart were finally starting to mend themselves. He wrapped her up in his arms, kissing the top of her head. She giggled, but squeezed him around the waist.

She hadn’t said a single word since they found her.

“Dad, where’s Papa?” She pulled away from him carefully, almost like she was afraid he’d disappear if she let go of him. Even without her arms wrapped around him so tightly, she was holding onto him.

When he first reached for her, Mackenzie had flinched. There was a terror in her eyes, like she was afraid that thing- that trickster- was inside of him. He withdrew his hand like it was poison.

James sighed, pulling Mac to the bed. He pulled her into his arms, brushing her hair out of her face. “I’m not sure,” he admitted, saying the words quietly. It was so incredibly hard to admit that he had lost Grant, but he wouldn’t lie to their daughter. He would never lie to family.

Not even a second passed and Mac was reaching back out to him, clinging to his hand like it was a lifeline. The scars on her lips hadn’t healed completely yet and they served as another reminder of what she had gone through. As did the terrified look in her eyes. Even as she held onto him, he wondered if she was reliving the events that happened to her.

Mac took the news like a champ, though he knew she would. She put on a grin, bouncing on the bed. “We’ll find him, though!” She exclaimed, cheerfully. “Well, actually, he’ll probably find us. You’re terrible with directions and I’m fifteen, so you can’t expect me to be good at directions! But he’ll find us. He’s superb at that kind of thing.”

James moved slowly, pulling her into his arms. He held her like he did the first day he had arrived at the hospital, his arms resting around her shoulders. Mackenzie buried her head into his chest and he could feel the first set of tears stain his shirt.

“You’re absolutely right, sweetie,” James replied, settling his cheek on top of her head. When they had settled a little, he planned on leaving clues for Grant. Or maybe persuading his family to come with him. He just needed time.

Mac cried for hours. She cried herself to sleep, leaving James there to hold her together. His little girl had suffered through too much.

[driveresque]

[jamesdahle]

mssedated:

Domhnall Gleeson on the set of The tale of Thomas Burberry

(x)

[jamesdahle]

nomadicholmgren:

Blake didn’t want her anger to crumble the way it did when he touched her hand, it was what kept her going. It was what drove her every day. “And if he kills her because of it?” She asked through her teeth, the coals of her anger still alight. It wasn’t directed to James, and he knew that as well as she did.

“Then we forgive him,” James said, quiet enough that he knew even Blake would have trouble picking it up. He had once been told that his forgiving nature was his weakness- that he forgave too easily- but he didn’t think that was true. He would never forgive the Nogitsune for what it was doing to Mac. But Stiles... this wasn’t Stiles’ fault.

[jamesdahle]

triggeredspark:

Stiles was quiet for a long moment, bowing his head as his fingers idly picked at the loose ends of the bandages around his hand. He sniffles once, swiping his good hand across his cheek; smearing tears across his cheek. “– I .. I really couldn’t tell you why it picked her. Maybe Chap was right; because she was the one who was good enough to get rid of it. I don’t know, truly -” he breathed, not making eye contact with the other. He was quiet for a moment longer - but he knew James was right. James couldn’t help Mac if he didn’t know. So, after another moment of silence, Stiles told the tile floor the things that had been done to his daughter.

James sat in breathless silence, listening to all the things that the Nogitsune had done to his daughter. It was horrifying, the things that he heard. Worse so was the horror in Stiles’ voice as he spoke of them. James heart was breaking- not just for his daughter, but for the poor boy who had been forced to do those things. When Stiles was done, James slowly made his way across the room, closing the distance between them. His hand settled ever so gently on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “This wasn’t your fault.”

[jamesdahle]

nomadicholmgren:

“If they don’t find a way to get that thing out of him, he’ll never be their emissary again.” It wasn’t a threat, just the simple truth. But there he was, the level-headed brother that kept Blake in check. She let out a heaving sigh, fists clenched at her sides. She didn’t even know where to look - she couldn’t smell Mac anymore.

James shook his head, smoothing his hand over Blake’s. “Then we find a way to get it out. Without shooting him.” He wasn’t going to budge on that, no matter how much Blake pushed- or how hurt Mac was. This wasn’t Stiles’ fault, he didn’t deserve to take the pain from it.

[jamesdahle]

triggeredspark:

The young emissary started at the voice of the other, raising his eyes before meeting the father’s eyes - an intense wave of shame and guilt washing over the teenager. “I-” his voice broke and his eyebrows furrowed in. “– I never wanted to hurt her, James..”

“I know,” James said quickly, shaking his head. It wasn’t his intention to upset Stiles, or make him feel worse. He knew that talking about it wouldn’t help the druid, he knew that it wouldn’t help him. But it could help Mac. “I know,” he repeated, keeping his distance to show Stiles that he meant no ill will towards the boy. “But I have to know.”

[jamesdahle]

triggeredspark:

“I don’t want to talk.”

There was a part of him that knew he shouldn’t be there. The druid wouldn’t want to hear his questions just as much as he didn’t want to hear the answers. But Mac wasn’t talking and he needed to know. He couldn’t help her if he didn’t know. “What did it do to her?”

[jamesdahle]

grayedbalance:

Chap let out a breath and deflated, “James, isn’t it? Look – I don’t want no one owning me anything. I didn’t do it for that. I did it because I knew I could do something about that thing, and no one else was coming up with plausible ideas. So, I wasn’t going to be the dick who sat on his hands and did nothing. I know what I did was risky, but that’s the way the world is. Really, I’m glad she’s back and she’s alive – I am, but you don’t need to owe me anything. Just … repay me by being there for her, yeah? That thing … was rough on her. And she needs her father.”

James nodded, falling silent for a long moment. This was how a pack functioned, and James knew that. Even though foxes were different- even though they didn’t truly travel in packs, he knew how it worked. This was family, and you’d do anything for family. “Thank you,” he said again, quieter this time. Chap was right, once more. He needed to be with his little girl.

[jamesdahle]

grayedbalance:

“You don’t owe me anything, man. We’re all in this mess together. Y’know? Like High School Musical?”

“I’m no stranger to dreamwalking,” he said simply, like that should explain it all. He knew what kind of risk that Chapman had put himself into, going into Mac’s dreams. He knew that the druid had risked his life for his daughter, and that meant the world to him. “I owe you everything.”