Notes: ok I kind of ran away with this but basically: girldad!techer!Steve (also little league coach) and boydad!mechanic Eddie having kids who are besties and both of them are sick of the heteronormative bullshit other parents at the school put on their kiddos
Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, glasses dangling from his other hand, as the first grade classroom reached a fever pitch. The excitement for the first day of nice weather was clear, and recess was just a few short minutes away. The kids were supposed to be having free work time, but they had all gathered around the windows watching the kindergarteners play. There were complaints about the “babies” tearing up the nice new mulch and excited squeals about the colorful equipment that had been added to parts of the playground in a much needed renovation two weekends before. Only a few of the kids were actually doing work. Connor Munson was one of them, sitting quietly in the corner reading a fantasy book that was probably several grades higher than the average reading level in the class.
“Alright kids, one you were just like those ‘babies’ last year and two its independent work time and you should be doing something quietly in the classroom for the next fifteen minutes. I know we are all excited, but we need to finish up the morning before we can run around.” With several annoyed huffs, the kids found their way to the small tables or on comfy spots on the floor. many took up reading, but a few pulled out some materials to do other things and Steve’s head stopped throbbing as he watched them return to a hum of excitement rather than the reverberating yelling from before.
The first and second graders raced onto the playground, immediately swarming towards the new equipment and the screaming started almost right away. Steve and the rest of the teachers were clumped in a few different spots to ensure full coverage of the playground, quietly chatting.
“Daddy!” Steve turned his attention to the little blonde who was running full speed, knowing he would catch her into a big tight squeeze. Claire giggled, pressing her face into his shirt.
“Did you have a good morning?” She nodded as he set her down.
“I told everyone how you let me bring leftover pizza for lunch!” Steve let out a chuckle, as did the other first grade teacher, Claire’s teacher in fact.
“Well why don’t you go play. I think Connor went over that way.” Steve gestured in the direction he had seen the little boy go towards and she gave his leg a tight squeeze before skipping off.
“Oh those two, attached at the hip. They’re an adorable little couple.” Steve tried not to let the cringe show on his face, just plastered on a little smile to keep the peace and made up an excuse to check another part of the playground. It had been going on for two years, the commentary. Connor and Claire, attached at the hip, then immediately to couple. It enraged him, and he knew it made Connor’s father angry too. The heteronormative bullshit had been pushed on Steve throughout his lifetime too, forcing it to take years longer than it should have for him to realize he definitely didn’t only like girls. He did his best with Claire at home. She knew he went on dates with both women and men, and she adored her Aunt Robin and Auntie Nancy, but Steve could see that the six year olds heard the comments.
The rest of the day came and went. He also ate leftover pizza for lunch, not because he was such a fantastic father, but he hadn’t made it to the grocery store this weekend while he was preparing for the soccer little league. Connor loved soccer, Claire did not, but the girl still did it and Steve appreciated, maybe a little too much, the fact that Eddie Munson would be there every weekend, right where Steve could ogle him without making a playdate excuse.
“Cooooonnooooooooor.” The loud voice cut through Steve’s lack of focus and he looked up to where Eddie Munson appeared, wearing a slightly grease stained shirt, his hair tied up behind his head in, what Robin said was, a messy bun. The little boy who had been sitting beside Steve and Claire leapt out of his spot and ran to his dad, tossed into the air and then squeezed into a tight hug.
“Hi dad.” Steve stood up, sticking out his hand for a shake as Eddie came over.
“How was my boy today?”
“A little angel as always,” Steve laughed, handing him Connor’s backpack. Claire had stood up too. It was a little routine they had, Steve staying after with the kids so that Eddie could finish his shift. There were a number of kids that had parents who couldn’t pick them up at 3 on the dot, since they had shifts that ended on the hour of the half hour, and with Claire and Connor wanting to spend time together, Steve had never had a problem being the teacher who stayed. And if it meant he got to see Eddie Munson one more day of the week, well five more, well no one had to know that.
“We’re still on for this weekend?” Eddie’s eyes had gone soft and Steve did a quick look around, all of the rest of the kids and parents had gone. He gave Eddie a smile reserved only for him.
“Always.” Sure their kids might be attached at the hip, but not because of some stupid expectation that they would fall in love when they were older, more because they were practically siblings at this point.
