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You walk over to Nikolai looking beyond pissed off, he’s immediately wracking his brain for the date. “Solyn-“
“Get your shoes on, we need to pick Marco up from school.”
“What happened? Is he sick? Is he hurt?”
“He got in a fight.”
Now he understands your anger, and the small hint of sadness he sees in your eyes, you’d always tried to raise Marco to be the perfect man; both of you had.
“Let me grab my coat..” He presses a kiss to your temple as he passes, hurrying off to grab a jacket and shoes.
You practically cling to him as you walk into the school - a palpable mix of anger and concern rolling off of you.
When you get to the principal’s office he’s already thought through every single scenario - the reason for the fight, possible injuries, and punishments.
Upon seeing your son, all anger is wiped from you, you gasp and rush over to him. He winces as you cradle his face in your hands.
He’s bleeding from his nose and has a black eye - he doesn’t look like he’s been given any treatment at all - not even cleaned up or given an ice pack.
You push his hair back, eyes filling with tears. “What happened, baby?”
If Nikolai wasn’t so level headed he would’ve punched a hole through the wall at seeing you so upset and his son injured, he reminded himself he was a grown man and refrained.
Marco pulls away and stays silent, this only proves to upset you more.
Your anger returns tenfold as you look at the man sat behind the desk. “When exactly was the fight?”
“About an hour ag-“
“And you didn’t bother to get him cleaned up or seen by the nurse? He just sat here in pain for an hour?”
Nikolai is reminded why he married you based on your expression alone, ready to fight someone a foot taller than you for your son.
“Frankly his behaviour-“
“I couldn’t give a fuck less what he did, I’m not doing a single thing until he’s seen by a registered nurse or so help me god that placard will lodge so far up your ass you’ll be able to taste it.”
Half an hour later and your sat next to your son who is now cleaned of all blood and holding an ice packed to his eye.
Nikolai speaks up, wanting answers. “What happened here?”
The two of you share sceptical looks as the man describes a situation where your son had attacked another student for no reason.
Nikolai barely recognises his own voice, it’s been years since he’s directed anger at anyone, having retired when Marco was young. “You’re mistaken. That doesn’t sound like our son in the slightest.”
“I’m afraid-“
“I said you’re mistaken.”
“Sir I can assure you-“
“You’re. Mistaken.”
Your hand lands on his and squeezes gently, only slightly less annoyed than him as you speak up. “Marco. Why don’t you tell us what happened from your perspective, baby?”
Marco looks ridiculously uncomfortable, shifting around in his seat.
You try to catch his eye but he avoids it entirely. “It’s okay, I know you wouldn’t hurt anyone without reason..”
He finally looks at you, only briefly, before speaking.
“He was being mean to my friend and the teacher was ignoring it so I punched him.” Straight to the point, just like Nikolai.
“What was he doing to your friend, hm?”
Your son looks ready to punch someone all over again with how his fists clench in his lap. “Was pushing him around, calling him names..”
The principal tries to speak but you continue before he can. “And the teacher ignored it?”
There’s a small grumble accompanying the nod he offers you. “The teacher saw and I told her as well and she said something stupid about how it being how boys mess around..”
Nikolai looks ready to rip the tie right off the bastard as he starts to deny your son’s words. “CCTV. I assume you have it..”
“I- we do but-“
“Why don’t we just watch the footage, then we’ll know exactly what went on, hm?”
The man relents and sure enough the footage shows Marco defending another boy from being bullied, Nikolai can’t help the pride he feels as he watches his son break someone’s nose.
You’re slightly more focused on the bully’s actions, he seems to be calling Marco’s friend a lot of homophobic terms - your son tenses at the words - understanding the situation better.
You leave the office satisfied that the principal, teacher, and other student will be punished.
Despite his embarrassment Marco lets you baby him a bit, smoothing his hair and kissing his cheeks. “I’m so proud of you baby..”
He huffs quietly but leans into you, melting slightly as Nikolai ruffles his hair. “You did exactly as we taught you..”
On the way to the car you’re surprised when a smaller boy, the one Marco had defended, throws himself at your son.
You share a look with your husband as Marco hugs the boy.
The boy, teary eyed, starts rambling apologies and trying to check Marco’s injuries. “James- no- I’m fine”
James, as you now know him, buries his face in Marco’s shoulder and practically clings to him. You barely make out the words through his sniffling. “Are you going to.. get into-“ He coughs around a sob. “Trouble?”
You waggle your brows, much to Marco’s dismay, as he stroke’s James’s hair. You wink and drag Nikolai to the car, deciding to let them talk in private.
Once you’re sat happily, waiting quietly, Nikolai speaks up. “It’s like us.. how I defend you..” You giggle as he leans over and nuzzles your neck.
“Mm.. he’s just like his papa, hm? Very protective..”
He lifts his head and presses his forehead to yours. “We raised a good man, didn’t we?”
Your arms loop round his neck and card through his greying locks. “We did..”
