Ministry📺TV Presents
Written by : AZ-Zombo
Hosted by : Zombocomme
Produced by: Ghriz-kit Radio
Zombocomme: so exciting to drop a little hope on the horizon for our favorite DeCopia vampys!
Starring
Jim Defroque
Cardinal Copia
Milagro Montoya
Zombocomme : FAST FORWARD, The rest of the cast call well, shoulda caught the comercial special sneak peak, haha!
BTL AU episode from the Vault,
BTL : S3 ep 4
DeCopia del Desperado
⚠️MSFW/SFW- language.⚠️
📌Sensative topic: Autism and real life struggles between parents and their children.
(Kind words, everyone! Please! This was consulted with AZ- family members and with permission to share their stories. AUTHOR'S own experience is most heavily of influence, you don't know the author AZ, so please. Relax and enjoy the story and one of my favorite OC's.)
Enjoy
💒🐦🔥🦋🛤🎡✨️🎊🫲🙂↕️🫱🎊✨️🎠🛤🐦⬛🌹💒
*When you look, when you look a little hurt
Sometimes I sing a song that I have learnt
I swear to God there's no way you could've heard
But somehow, somehow
You sing every single word
Somehow, somehow*
"I'm glad you added this one" Copia smiled. His cheeks rosy, from that 2nd glass of champagne.
*Sometimes I go running in the dark
When I don't know how to read the stars*
"I loved the sentiment, I guess," Jim chuckled. His voice dropepd as he nuzzled his husband's neck, softly tracing his nose along a familiar path, soft words dripping like honey, warm and comforting. Copia gasped softly, feeling Jim's lips graze the side of his neck as he spoke warm and inviting.
*Somehow, somehow
I always end up in your arms
Somehow, somehow
I always end up in your arms, oh*
Jim's taste in music really was stellar. And it eased everything along as the hours passed.
The sunset poured pink light into the high arched venue, one of the more pretty ones, light bouncing off of flower petals and crystal flutes of champagne, along delicate lace wraping around the cutlery, the cake, tall and full of gentle colors and designs...
That had been Important to Copia to have. He wanted to embrace the softness of this step in his life. The nurturing. The wholesomeness and warmth of making today one that would be etched in their memories. Letting go of the painful things that no longer served him. And along the way, Jim was there, with his music, moving him along.
Every line
From every song
A love letter from Jim, pouring out his whole heart.
As they leaned in for another exchange of words and lingering kisses on the dance floor, they felt the air kick around their knees.
Charlotte's blond hair shimmered past, bouncing on her back sparkly bow askew, her 3 year old legs clad in white stockings and her little pink shoes cuffed with "church socks", and her "princess shoes"...
Their shared daughter was an absolute joy in their lives. And pretty, like her mother.
Milagro caught Charlotte as the toddler flung herself into her mother's lap, crying. Upset. Refusing to lift her head, needing to be coaxed out of hiding her face in mama''s skirts.
Even at her tender little age, she was stubborn too, like Jim. Stubborn as a mule.
She stamped her little foot. Her arms thrown out straight to a table nearby.
Yeup. There it was.... the thing that Copia was waiting to go wrong all day, a perfect day, a beautiful ceremony in the hills and happy reception, unbothered thus far...till now...
Jim craned his neck, feeling the little one swishing by, "Runnin' like the Devil," Jimmy commented.
Copia looked towards the table his daughter was pointing to, "*Tsk, aohh, look love" Copia pointed with a nod, clearly worried. Jim caught the direction of attention and saw a small pair of feet, laces undone as usual, awkwardly fidgeting, over and over hiding under the edge of the long hanging tablecloth.
"Ah shit-" Jim winced. "Did he have his headpho-"
"I thought he did?" Copia wondered, eyes scanning Jim's face, the both of them trying to recall everything with the whole reception going on around them. They parted through a few guests to get to the table.
Milagro came up to the Groom and Groom, her daughter on her hip. Charlotte was in tears pouting, suddenly refusing to vocalize her crying now that there was more people than mama around.
And like her mama she was not fond of crying or letting anyone except her most trusted see it...
But also...
Sweet girl she knew her brother needed extra attention.
She was tying to not call it to herself.
Gentle soul.
*Exactly the one Jimmy had given up his Life Eternal for. And now that He and Copia had moved past that tumultuous part of their lives- they were free now. The valley was safe, and their children were everything. And Copia would not be alone forever as they had thought when it was Jim's time to go, he had their children to love and hold and probably spoil, for as long as they'd let him...*
"Charlie said one of the older kids and his friends were over here beaing mean and took Ari's headphones." Milagro said, clearly trying to keep her temper in check. She had a love and patience for children, but well, she loved hers more feircely, of course..
Charlotte turned away, laying her head on her mother's soft pink dress, staining it with her hot tears that kept comming anyway.
Jim made that wincing face again.
"They took his headpho- aw mannn!" Jim sighed, a stressed grunt exiting his lungs. He peeled off his suit jacket to have it out of the way as he squatted on the floor, gently lifting thr frocks of the table cloth. The little unlaced shoes retreated farther into the darkness under the table, backing into the hidey-hole. Jim made a sympathetic face and looked to Copia.
Copia looked about as red as ruddy rouge Cardinal, livid ,but before he could speak, Milagro gave Copia "The Look". He needed to calm himself down. Blowing up now, in front of everyone, was not good. In front of the kiddos, even worse.
In front of Millie, and Jim? He might as well go dig a hole and lie in it...
Copia pinched the bridge of his nose and felt that champagne headache surge. He had a wild bachelor party WITH Jim the night prior and still felt the ache behind his eyes... Except now it was mostly from Copia trying not to freak out and absolutely tear into those little Runts that made his children cry, oh how he wanted to give those little shits something to really cry about! Scream at them even, for that and for stealing the headphones from his kiddo whom they frightened into hiding under a table. He could almost see it, eyes dark and wild and fangs dropped, Copia knew he would have looked and behaved beastly to everyone, probably would have scared his own children too...
*But his deamons wilted as he took a slow breath and looked around him. Trying to take in the moment, right here. Right now. And find love in it...*
Charlie had been brave to go to a safe grownup. That was wonderful. They did good as her parents in that regard.
And her Mama was being rather calm about the whole thing. Charlotte almost looked like she felt anger and shame at crying in front of Milagro,who looked the same, clearly upset by the whole situation. Copia didn't know where such shame had been taught to his daughter or his woman and it made his heart ache...
Milagro, bless her, soothing her daughter and cradling her blond head under her chin assuring her, validating her, letting her know it's alright to feel upset, that Charlie did so good trying to take care of her twin brother.
It was touching...
Copia was thankful beyond words for the woman who had brought his children into the world, and had stayed by his side since before and after. She was here, supporting him and Jim, and loving their children they way a parent should. And it was a beautiful thing.
Copia never thought he would have this. And there was so much more work to be done. But at least he was watching, *family* happen around him. Real family. Found family. Years of history between everyone and at this time, here and now, even amidst the stress and worry for his other child, Copia felt something warm bloom in his heart. Approaching Milagro he held out his hands, with two little grabby motions .
"Topellina, do you want to come with Papa?" Copia cooed, to which Charlotte sort of leaned over her mother's arm to reach out for him.
Milagro deposited their daughter in Copia's arms and the little one buried her face in his lace and frills at his neck, letting another wave of tears soak through.
Copia swayed gently, shushing her, a hand caressing her back gently. Charlotte relaxed in his arms and her little fingers twirled a peice of fabric between them, bringing it to her nose, rubbing it softly.
Milagro shared a half smile with Copia- seems she inherited the little self soothing habbit from her mother.
"Amore-" Copie called out over the noise of music, guests, and clinking tableware, Jim lifting his eyes.
Copia did that sort of scrunched-up-face-no words exaggerated-whisper grown ups do to communicate long distance and not have the kids see.
*She's tired, I'll put her to bed*
Jim nodded.
Before Milagro could protest with the possibly t of the line" But it's your day, let me handle the kids", he held up a finger to her lips, *let me*.
She sighed relenting, smiling softly, nodding.
She leaned in and kissed her daughter's head, "You tired mamita?" Charlotte nodded.
"Oh, we're tired? Mmmm-" Copia agreed, his tone a bit sing-song sounding.
"Sounds like we need to have a cuddle eh?" Charlotte nodded and rubbed her nose with the soft fabric of his shirt lazily, tuckered out from the very, very long day of Daddy Jim and Papa Copia's wedding. It was late into the night now and very well past her bedtime. Though unlike most children running around at the wedding reception, tossed onto chairs with jackets, snuggling in their little nests of coziness while the adults' party continued, Copia had a better spot in mind to settle in with his little mouse.
He leaned in and gave Mille a couple soft kisses, thankful ones, and she beamed, so bright, Copia thumbed a gentle caress over her cheek, he really did love her so...
He hoisted Charlotte a little higher onto his chest, "Okidokie, let's go find a spot to cuddle".
Copia was a natural with his children. He understood them. And he knew right now, Charlotte needed some place and quiet away from the party.
He didn't care that it looked odd that he was leaving his own wedding party to take care of his daughter. In fact the guests looked on dotingly watching the once hot tempered Cardinal soften and sweeten with his children growing every day in his arms.
Copia escorted his exhausted daughter out of the venue to find a spot to curl up for a few hours before going home. Besides. Copia was a bit exhausted too. But he was happy he did all this anyways...
He felt a deep satisfaction that he had taken this step of unholy matrimony today, but also, that he was taking his steps to be the present father his children deserved. He deserved to have that chance to be better than his own father had been. And honestly, it was a warm comforting thing, snuggling up with Charlote on his chest on one of the sofas in the "bridesmaid powder room". He could give his daughter this. She deserved his best. Luckily his best was often enough..
Copia pulled his legs up and gripped his discarded wedding dress, the soft satin gentle on his fingers. Swishing it like a blanket, he set it atop Charlotte and himself. She snuggled into the smooth soft fabric, while her Papa wrapped her up in his arms, and kissed her messy blond hair, smoothing it away from her face.
He dipped his veil in a little glass of water nearby and gently wiped away the itchy tears from his daughter cake stained face. She relaxed and her eyes fluttered closed at the gentle touches. Copia smiled and hummed gently over her, his hypnotic voice soothing and soft...and in no time the two were fast asleep...
What a blessing his life had become.
**
Amidst the noise of the party, Jim was on his hands and knees, about to join Ari under the table to help him or bring him back out from it.
Yes, cruelty existed in asshole children, and it landed on the undeserving, like Ari, who was just trying to exist in a world not built for people like him- but the hope Copia had cultivated in his heart, and the healing love Milagro had nourished his soul with, gave Jim the confidence to remind himself, he was doing his best, and it was a beautiful thing.
*The man was 3 years sober from the hard stuff. And everyone was so proud...*
"Jesus" Jim said, his lips pursed a moment, trying not to cry,and be vulnerable and open, and prepare himself. He felt so bad that Ari was so frightened that he took to hiding under the table, seeking shelter against all the lights and noise and sounds...
He was non verbal. And it was too soon to fully tell how severe his autism was. And for Jim, that felt so hard...
All he wanted was his family to be alright. And he worried for his child, Ari/a.
*
"Hay baby, ya'lright?"
Ari had one arm over his eyes and the other over his ear,the hand trying to cup the other closed.
Jim moved into the space. He knew Ari was gonna hate being handled right now but this party wasn't just gonna shut down suddenly; he needed to get Ari out of here.
Trying to be quick, Jim scooped up Ari,who immediately started having a meltdown, kicking and screaming. A few guests watched on as Jim passed by neutral faced, at a quick ,yet unhurried pace, escorting his child out of the main room to a foyer beyond a set of double doors.
Jim could feel his face twinging. It was hard to control Ari and keep them from harming themselves or wrecking things. Jim was overwhelmed. He had hoped to take 'lottie', and that Copia would help handle Ari/a, but not so. And Jim felt his chest tightn like he was about to panick in trying six days to Sunday to calm Ari in his arms.
And poor Ari...
Ari felt like glass shards were pushing onto his skin, his ears singing with the pain of 'too much sound', his little chest sore from hitting his wee fist against it trying to self sooth under that table, and now he was being handled and it felt like he was exploding everywhere that was being touched. So, of course. He was screaming...
All Jim could think to do next was to wrap Ari up in his arms, and sit on the floor, praying the deep pressure would help calm down the screeching and the shrieking, the nogging splitting repeated crying rhythms that just shot panic through Jim's body like getting his whole hand zapped by those electric pens. And this moment was a dar cry from funny...
"Mm-my latest sun is-sinking fast, my race is , is nearly run" Jim sang out. Softly. Warmly. Stuttering as he tried to control his breathing. With all the patience he could muster, and all the love he had to remember to hold on to as it hurt to see Ari/a so upset, but also, that he felt like this situation was making him spiral also.
Fat tears rolled down his face as Ari struggled against Jim's hold, tossing around. Thank God he wasn't a biter or a scratcher.
"Oh come, angel, band"
Ari breathed fast. Trembling, starting to either tire or calm.
"Come and, around me stand, oh bear me away on your snow white wings to my imortal home" Jim sang, his voice steadier now. His gift of voice still there for him, when he needed it most- to take care of his child. But he had to admit, this was helping regulate himself too.
**
Quietly, Teddy was watching from a chair he had been leaning into, feeling the hangover effects the most from Jim and Copia's Stag-do the previous evening, and good lorde did it make him feel a bit ill, after 2 extra glasses of champagne during just the toasts of the evening for the family, oh he felt ill, alright.
Ari's wailing had woken him, but before Teddy could bolt upright for his son, Jim had already passed him and was seated in the dark corner of the foye, wrapped up, trying to calm their special attention child.
As Jim sand and Teddy lingered, approaching the scene as if afraid to spook the little lambs at the Nativity of Christ. Truly Teddy was grateful for his god, in being the rock that held him strong enough to weather life's many storms...
As Teddy's reverent footsteps approached, Ari finally began to still, Teddy rose out of the shaddows, wincing a little but he walked straight softly smiling, eyes on his beloved son. And got to his knees next to Jim, balanced on his fingers in a squat, "You alright Jim ol' bean?"
He smelled like jasmine, wood, and something quiet, like moss on stones. His aura of comfort roaming into Jim and Ari. Both began to feel more soothed.
Jim sighed with releif and handed Ari over to Teddy, who plopped his rear onto the ground beside Jim.
"It's all right love, rain cones down, rain comes down" Teddy chanted softly, his voice warm. Ari hitched and whimpered, but began to twinkle his fingers up and down, still learning how to take deep breaths to calm himself. Hisbeqrly ability to grasp the concept of regulating held hope for them that perhaps he would not require specialized schooling. He seemed quite smart. But of course as parents, mum and Dads, they worry...
Jimmy took a few deep breaths himself, and scoot down, laying on the carpeted floor, and arm over his eyes, "I swear on the sweet in my tea, he doesn't like me."
Teddy gave Jim's covered face a sympathetic look.
He managed to get Ari to stay seated as the child rocked back and forth, trilling softly.
"Jim dearest, you really are much too hard on yourself, these years are precious but I assure you, the totality of your relationship with Ari goes beyond these frustrqtiny moments."
"Yeah.... Yeah I know... fucken fortune cookie...." Jim said, wiping his hands down his face as he groaned and grunted , shaking his hands out before popping his knuckles, fidgeting. Teddy side eyed his friend, and fellow "Brother" in their little group of "Fathers" to their shared children.
"Jim, it's not all bad to have help you know."
"Yeah-well, I'm tryin' not to need anyone so that they can go about their days unbothered". Teddy frowned. "Are you suggesting Ari is the bother or You are?"
"Me dammit!"
"Well it's not *my* fault for you being unclear."
"Oh godd I'm not doing this" Jim said, standing up. A hand held up to stop the looks he was sure Teddy was giving him.
He couldn't stand it.
Today of all days, Teddy is deciding to argue in front of their kid. Jim didn't want that to happen at all. So he marched out, going outside, scrunching his fingers in his hair, and past the double double set of glass doors, Jim let out a frustrated yowl, veins in his neck bulging as he ripped up some grass by the sidewalk.
Teddy palmed his forhead as if it hurt, clearly unimpressed by Jim's behavior and for walking away.
"Well that didn't go very well did it?" Teddy sighed, patting Ari's shoulder in a soothing rhythm. Ari bounced from hand to hand, rocking side to side seated on the ground, his fingers wiggling and his soft trills quieting to an almost chippy sound. Teddy understood why this whole wedding business could overwhelm Jim.
And while he didn't feel guilty, he felt sorry... He had imprinted hard on Ari when he was born. Jim had caught Charlotte when she was born firstbqnd that was his special bonded child. Several minutes after,
Ari slipped through after, but Teddy, who was there to help catch the second baby, had felt bonded in an instant.
Ever since, even now at a toddling age, Teddy could rub his nose over Ari'd black curls falling to his shoulders, and smell that newborn smell still. It felt like comfort. It felt like home...
Everyone always did say Teddy had two great loves in his life, though Teddy would inevitable try and correct the idea and claim his wife his most affectioned heart... but really, there were two... Milagro, his wife in all this, *and his son. He was besotted with that boy the way a father would to his long awaited first born son...
Teddy picked Ari up and swayed softly, singing a soft lullaby, glancing every few moments to check on Jim throufg rhe windows.
Jim was seated, cross-legged in the grass, his back to the doors. He clearly needed a moment.
Ari tucked into his Dada's shoulder. Settling but still fidgeting in the fingers.
At once a group of children scattered through and out the doors surprising Jim outside, as the flock of trampling children took off around the building where the other champagne drinking adults sat on the venue steps.
Jim was bewildered by the heard of little beasties but then tilted his brow down and smirked.
Teddy looked quizzically at Milagro who walked through the main room's doors a smug look on her face. And Ari's headphones in her hands.
Teddy smiled and took them, putting them on Ari who almost immediately calmed and fell fast asleep. His crying had also sounded tired, Teddy knew his children's crying sounds and what they meant better than anyone. Well... except Milagro... who gave a wink to Teddy and Jim through the walls of glass.
Soon she was following Teddy towards the coat room to collect their things and take their little one home, with a wave goodnight.
Jimmy laid back in the soft grass, looking up at the evening sky. "I love that woman" he chuckled to himself.
He saw her face in the door before Teddy had, and she had been half transformed into her beast shape. That woman had single handedly hunted down the little gang of rascals that had dared mess with her children, and like a momma defending her cubs, she had well, scared the ever lovin' shit out of them, and gotten Ari's head phones back. What a woman she was!
Jimmy smiled to himself as he felt the cool grass he lay in, tickle against his neck.
Everything would be alright. He had to have faith it would...
And so with a prayer and a brave face, Jimmy had his moment, got up, and walked back inside to find his newly married husband, his beautiful groom and their beautiful daughter, collapsed in a heap in the powder room. He woke them, got their sleepy forms into the car, the blissful fullnes in his his heart that he fwlt when he was the one to take care of them, take them home to where it was warm and full of lovr. And it felt healing to know, even if he wasn't perfect, like, at fucking all, And he didn't know what he was doing half the time, he knew... He could do this... bring everyone home safe and sound...
***
11 years later
***
Ari nodded his head, dark curls bobbing around his face, making his brain hum hapilly. The little beads woven in a few of the locks clattered softly. Humming contentedly, he stimmed, fingers curling and fluttering the way it feels when butterflied whoosh past.
The sound of music coiling long in his ears. His young shoulders were lean, but strong. He was humming in a soft voice that bordered two singing ranges. And much like his father, and the person of his namesake, his voice could even make the birds stop to listen.
His bed was scrunched in the corner of his room, framed by the low light bulbed by a single desk lamp on the table... and the golden hour outside hiding behind overcast clouds.
High-school photos and awards on the wall flowed like music, he really was turning that side of his room into quite the collage.
He looked up at them,eyes wandering as he mulled over his thouggts. Then a white flash of flapping fluttered up into the tree outside the sunny window. His red flecked eyes, warm and inquisitive, beaming, pursed lips wrapping around his fine featured face in a cheerful smile.
"So, you Are here!" he said, voice breaking a little. But only just. Things weren't exactly hurrying along during these puberty years for him...
But at least it felt like time was finnally moving again. Facing summer, and the white raven trilling softly in the tree outside his bedroom window, he felt like everything would be okay.
Glancing down he flipped to another song and picked what he wanted straight away. Always sure of himself in that regard, of knowing what he wanted.
His knees were drawn into his chest and a sketchbook lay over his thighs. All was calm. All was bright.
There was something endearing about the crowing thing in the tree. Ari flung open the window and the fresh air flooded in with the breeze, bringing the white raven, cawing in with it.
"HaWOwah" It spoke, perching in the window sill, feathers sliggtly ruffled.
"Hello to you too!" Ari chuckled, bowing like a gentleman, ankles crossed and a delicate hand raised aloft. The black Baggy pants and white muscle shirt, high-necked and punky chains and rings, long black curls floating in front of his face as he leant it forward.
"I'm not the one who's late!" Ari said, a bit of a snip in a managed, hospitable, tone as the bird croaked and clicked .
"Hangry, or not, that wasn't very nice!" Ari tisked, crossing to a dresser, with-drawing a handful of bird food: berries, bugs, nuts, Jerry, dried fish and grains. He spread them delicately over the windowsill, compelled to try and sprinkle the contents as evenly as possible, constant throughout the same ratio of things from one end to the next.
Politely the Corvid bowed her head and began with the big things first, her favorites. Dried fruit peices and the crisp of dehydrated minnow-fish.
Quite the array of corvid delicacy.
Ari stood, proudly, with arms crossed and a jutted hip. Almost smug, in the face, his beautiful fae like features mesmerizing the bird to fluster.
Ari took the feather ruffulage as a sign that pergaos he was making friends with something, for once.
"Ari, come on, we're gonna be late!" Another young voice called from beyond the downstairs loft.
"Comming!" He yelled back, snatching up his noise canceling headphones, backpack, Jean battle jacket and his guitar.
"Mind the place yeh?" He smiled at the Corvid, his teeth gleaming nicely.
"GoohBye!' The Raven said. And nothing more. It paused it's eating and looked at aAri confused.
"Well if I take you then everyone will know where I've run off to. Can't keep a secret, or can you?" he mumbled, his question insistant, as if mildly irritated at having to explains something he thought so simple to understand.
"Look if you're comming along, you're staying with me the whole time, flying around up in the sky where everyone can see you, everyone will know, up in the tree or on Sanjays head, don't care."
"LehGoh!"
"Right then!" Ari huffed, holding out his arm.
The bird swooped to it, heavy when one's arm is stretched.
Slinging the guitar on his back and wearing his backpack front ways, Ari hustled down the stairs and out the door. A small note on the little table with the brass key holder dropped in a flash, and out he went
"Gone on sleepover. back by 10a"
As Ari piled into the truck with his crew, sneaking off to the lake, he felt something flutter in his young chest, seeing their faces. He didn't look long in their eyes but his quiet demeanor did not mean he was forgotten. Beloved friends, group of highschoolers, off on an adventure, taking gravel roads all the way there ,"Bring me that Horizon, awooooʻooʻooo!" He howled, arms wide, fist to the sky from the back of the truck window, sitting wedged in the openinng, he was so slim, .
Howling and hanging out of the windows, feeling that free air whoosh past. It was an incredible feeling. And Ari was excited for the night to fall. When they would get to their wooded hideout, "Their Spot" at The Quarry. Where things would happen that no one would ever forget...