#vivireshar

[vivireshar]

Thanks to "Heated Rivalry" for the hyperfix on this song

*All photos are taken from the series and the Internet.

[midgart]

Hello! I really like the way you draw. Your characters are tender and touching.🥰 Thank you for your creativity! Your works make me happy. Please tell me, are you planning to draw the characters of the books "The Captive Prince"? (Laurent and Damien) Thank you for your reply 🤗🧡

Hello! Thanks for the kind words!! <3

I hesitate to say this bc I know it's popular but.. I have read Captive Prince, but I didn't really like it. So I have no plans of drawing anything from it, sorry!!

[vivireshar]

Усыновление

RUS Эндрю/Кевин/Аарон. Надо написать. Хочу такой, где Кевин адекватный взрослый

Эндрю/Кевин/Аарон где Кевин адекватный взрослый (подозреваю, это будет большая работа… которую опять надо думать)

ЧАСТЬ 34

В эту пятницу Кевин был на ногах с самого утра — убирал на места вещи, протирал полки от пыли, готовил еду и всё в таком ключе. Всё потому что они ждали гостя. Кевин готовился к приезду отца.

Он не представлял, как отреагирует Ваймак на близнецов. Если опираться только на телефонный разговор с Эндрю, Дэвид был не против двукратного увеличения родственников. В реальности же всё могло поменяться, стоит только ему спросить у мальчиков о жизни в приёмных семьях.

Кевин доверял своему отцу. Кевин боялся его разочаровать. Кевин был в ужасе от одной только мысли, что отец не полюбит близнецов.

Мальчики ещё спали, когда Кевин поехал в международный аэропорт Сиракуз Ханкок. За час до посадки самолёта из Клемсона. За это время Кевин выпил три больших стакана капучино и съел преступное количество эклеров, которое будет отрабатывать на беговой дорожке до Дня Благодарения.

Когда на большом электронном табло объявили посадку, Кевин вскочил. Он поспешил к нужному выходу. Его сердце, качая кофеин по крови, билось, как сумасшедшее. И забилось ещё сильнее, когда среди пассажиров он увидел высокого и крепкого мужчину в потрёпанной бейсбольной кепке, с этническим рисунком языков пламени, покрывавшем его предплечья, в клетчатой рубашке лесоруба и потёртых джинсах, от которых — Кевин помнил это очень ясно — всегда пахло крепким виски.

Дэвид Ваймак ступил ровно три шага от зоны досмотра пассажиров, и тут ему на руки рухнуло дрожащее тело. Этим телом оказался его двадцатисемилетний сын. Кевин ощутил на своей спине крепкую большую ладонь и зарыдал, потому что мгновенно стал таким маленьким, хрупким и незначительным рядом с этим ,jkmibv потрясающим человеком, что собственное тело стремилось вытеснить его или раздавить.

Дэвид дал ему несколько минут, прежде чем похлопать по лопатке и сказать:

— Кевин, всё хорошо. Давай поедем домой.

И этот голос, господи, этот голос привёл его в чувства быстрее, чем ушат ледяной воды. Кевин отстранился, подмечая, что залил слезами четверть отцовской рубашки.

— Ты в порядке? — спросил отец, укладывая тяжелые тёплые ладони ему на плечи.

— Просто… я так скучал по тебе. — выдохнул Кевин. Дэвид улыбнулся и притянул его к себе, обнимая.

— Ну вот он я. — сказал он со смешком и Кевин зажмурился, пытаясь сохранить в памяти ощущение объятий, тепло и запах папиного одеколона.

Кевин был в порядке, когда они вышли из здания аэропорта. И когда они добрались до припаркованной машины. И когда погрузили багаж и сели в неё.

Его так трясло от нетерпения, когда они с Ваймаком поднимались в лифте, будто это Дэвид будет знакомить его с близнецами, а не наоборот.

Кевин открыл дверь ключом и потянул её на себя. Из квартиры на него пахнуло нежным ароматом свежей выпечки. Разувшись и оставив сумки в коридоре, мужчины пошли на кухню. Там, в центре стола, окруженная наскоро приготовленными блюдами Кевина, на тарелке лежала целая буханка домашнего хлеба. На столешнице кухонного гарнитура было ещё несколько разных блюд, приготовленных мальчиками.

Близнецы вповалку лежали на диване в гостиной, отключившиеся от количества взваленной на себя работы. На их лицах и одежде остались следы муки.

Кевин вернулся в гостиную и присел на корточки рядом с ними.

— Доброе утро. — сказал он им. Аарон открыл глаза первым и сонно улыбнулся. Эндрю едва смог приоткрыть один глаз и вздохнуть.

— Дедушка приехал? — спросил Эндрю, едва ворочая языком.

— Да. Он уже здесь. — Кевин оглянулся на отца, оставшегося стоять в дверном проёме кухни, предоставляя Кевину возможность разбудить мальчиков привычным тихим голосом.

Эндрю сел и уставился на Дэвида огромными глазами. По его лицу сложно было понять. что он испытывает в данный момент или о чём он думает… пока Эндрю не выдал:

— Ты в кепке, потому что лысый?

Брови Ваймака взлетели, плечи затряслись, и он расхохотался, как викинг, — весело и громогласно.

— Нет, малыш, — сказал он, отсмеявшись, — это потому что я люблю кепки. — Дэвид снял кепку и провёл рукой по густым тёмным волосам, тронутым сединой.

— Вау… — восторженно выдохнул Эндрю, рассматривая этого огромного мужчину. Ваймак был выше Кевина на полголовы и Эндрю казалось, что он заполняет собой всё пространство. Это было потрясающе.

Аарон пересилил себя и тоже сел.

— Сколько тебе лет? — спросил он Дэвида.

— Сорок семь. А тебе?

— Четырнадцать. — Аарон неуверенно посмотрел на Эндрю и добавил: — Ему тоже.

Ваймак кивнул так, будто Аарон открыл ему очень важную секретную информацию.

— Вы есть хотите? Я вот голоден, как волк! — объявил Дэвид и пошёл хозяйничать на кухне.

Мальчики переглянулись с Кевином.

— Кажется, нам следует поспешить, если не хотим остаться без завтрака. — заметил Эндрю с ленивой улыбкой и потянулся. Он направился на кухню самым первым из них и Кевин с дрожью выдохнул. Если Эндрю справился, то у Аарона получится тоже.

[vivireshar]

The Twins adoption

ENG

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron. Gotta write one. I want one where Kevin is an adequate adult

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron

Where Kevin is an adequate adult (I suspect this will be a lot of work…which again I need to think about)

PART 33

Aaron was settling into bed as comfortably as possible when Andrew, dressed in his kigurumi, quietly walked into the bedroom and stopped by the bed, holding a pillow and a blanket. Aaron stared at him, waiting for an explanation.

—Move over, — Andrew asked, waving his hand. Aaron raised an eyebrow. —What the hell are you staring at? — his older brother grumbled. —I’m going to make sure you don’t die in your sleep.

Aaron smirked:

—Why would you do that? You can’t stand me.

Andrew hopped onto the bed.

—I’m worried about the safety of my internal organs—the ones that are the right size.

Aaron smiled and nudged him in the shoulder.

—You’re such an idiot.

Andrew nudged him back:

—You’re the one! Move over, I said.

They lay facing each other and simply stared into each other’s eyes for a long time—light brown with dark flecks in the iris.

—How long have you been having panic attacks? —Aaron asked quietly, scratching the sheet between them with a short fingernail.

—What about you? —Andrew retorted.

Aaron frowned wearily.

—Two years. They’re rare, and I didn’t pay much attention to them. —He looked into his older brother’s eyes. —Now you.

—Seven years, —Andrew answered honestly.

—Why didn’t you say anything…? Oh, right. —Aaron slumped.

Andrew gave a disarming smile and shrugged.

—Who would have listened?

—You have me.

Andrew pulled him closer and pressed his cheek against his younger brother’s warm forehead.

—I didn’t want to drag you into this.

—You idiot, —Aaron concluded, wrapping his arms around Andrew’s shoulders.

—You too.

—I love you.

—I know, —Andrew replied briefly, settling in more comfortably with Aaron wrapped in his protective embrace. —Don’t die, got it?

—Okay, —Aaron whispered, already drifting off to sleep, lulled by the warmth of Andrew’s body and the softness of his pajamas.

Aaron fell asleep first, burying the tip of his nose in the faux fur of his brother’s pajamas. Andrew lay awake for a long time, staring at the light-colored ceiling, running his fingers through Aaron’s curls and gently stroking him between his shoulder blades. His eyes stung with tears. Aaron could have died today, and Andrew wouldn’t have been able to save him. It was killing Andrew.

He sniffled, wiped his eyes fiercely, and pressed his lips to Aaron’s hair, leaving a protective kiss. Aaron rubbed his cheek against Andrew’s chest and let out a steady, short moan that sounded like a low moo. Just a sound that meant he was asleep. Andrew gave his hair a second protective kiss and his forehead a third. Only then was he able to calm down and drift off into fitful sleep.

[vivireshar]

The Twins adoption

ENG

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron. Gotta write one. I want one where Kevin is an adequate adult

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron

Where Kevin is an adequate adult (I suspect this will be a lot of work…which again I need to think about)

PART 31

Sweating, Kevin caught his breath between sets on the treadmill. He had fifteen minutes to rest, which he used to post an ad on Craigslist. In the “pay” section, Kevin wrote $36—the hourly rate for a nanny in New York State was $24, but since Kevin had two children, he listed one and a half times the rate and noted that he was willing to cover transportation costs.

In the “Employment Type” section, Kevin selected “On-Call” and “Part-Time,” which meant he would ask the nanny to come in at any time on any day, sometimes including weekends, but only for three to four hours while he was at practice or on set.

In the “level of experience” field, Kevin wrote “entry-level.”

Next, he needed to describe in detail what he expected from those who responded to the ad. Kevin mentally compiled a list and began to elaborate on each point.

1) Part-time/a few hours of babysitting for two 14-year-old boys

-supervision

-feeding (with meals prepared in advance by the parents)

-walks

2) teaching degree / experience working with children

3) you must be available to work any day, at any time

4) Work at the client’s home. Travel by taxi or public transportation is paid for by the employer

Kevin finished posting the ad and was very pleased that he’d managed to figure out that darn website.

There were almost three weeks left until the game in Toronto. Kevin hoped that with a babysitter on hand, he’d have more time to practice with the team. He tried not to think about the possibility that the Craigslist ad might not work out. Allison was with the kids now, and Kevin wasn’t worried for a second because she was the one person he could truly trust with the kids, even though she couldn’t stand them. They’d be fine. All of them.

He was just trying to hope for the best.

The only thing Kevin hadn’t accounted for were the twins.

***

Kevin’s phone was lying on the bench, screen up, with the sound on. A cheerful, life-affirming song was pouring from its speakers—the kind Kevin usually listened to while doing strength training or running. But suddenly the music cut out. Kevin stumbled, losing his running rhythm, and the treadmill nearly swept him backward at breakneck speed. Kevin miraculously managed to plant his feet on either side of the moving belt and turn it off.

The phone emitted a distinctive sound that would now haunt Kevin in his nightmares. The air raid siren caused all his teammates present in the gym to freeze.

Norton Family

🚷 The child “Andrew” has left the safe zone.

🚷 Child “Andrew” is located at 301 Prospect Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203, USA

Norton Family

🚷 Child “Aaron” has left the safe zone.

🚷Child “Aaron” is located at 301 Prospect Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203, USA

Ignoring his teammates’ questions, Kevin copied the address from the notification, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the name of the building on Google Maps: St. Joseph’s Health Hospital.

***

He rushed into the hospital lobby twenty minutes after receiving the notification. To the left of the entrance was the reception desk. Kevin approached the receptionist and said:

—Excuse me, have my sons, Andrew and Aaron Minyard, been admitted here?

The young woman quickly tapped away at the keyboard and replied:

—We don’t have anyone with that last name. If they were admitted recently, their information hasn’t been entered yet. Are you sure your sons were brought here?

Kevin was at a loss. Could the "Norton Family" app have gotten the coordinates wrong? Could the twins’ phones have been stolen? And where on earth was Allison? Why hadn’t she called or texted? Could something terrible have happened to the three of them that required immediate hospitalization?..

Kevin pressed his palms to his temples, trying to calm down. The very first thing he needed to do was call each of them. He took out his cell phone and started calling Allison, but her phone was unreachable. It was probably on silent mode, or Allison simply couldn’t answer for some reason. Kevin started calling Aaron. Because his name was first on the contact list. Aaron wasn’t picking up either. Completely desperate, Kevin called his oldest son.

—Hi. We’re okay.

It was the best news Kevin had ever heard in his life. It was a million times better than the news from his first girlfriend that she wasn’t pregnant.

—Is Aaron with you?

—No, they took him to get an IV, — Andrew replied in a calm voice.

—WHAT?! WHY?! — Kevin shouted.

—Dunno.

—Where’s Allison?

—Right there, — Andrew replied. Judging by the tone of his voice, Andrew waved his hand impatiently, as if his brother and Allison had disrupted his extremely important plans. —They’re fine. We’re at the hospital, but I don’t know what it’s called.

Kevin tried to calm down. He was already here, in this hospital, but he couldn’t just go up to Andrew—then the boy would realize that Kevin was somehow tracking their movements, and Kevin didn’t want to let him know that so soon.

—There’s an evacuation plan hanging in the hallway. The address should be on it.

Andrew made an incomprehensible sound, something like “Yeah, I’ll take a look, dad.”

—We’re at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital.

—Okay. I’m nearby. I’ll be there soon. Where are you?

—In room 214 on the fifth floor. Get me out of here.

Kevin forced himself to walk over to the water cooler and fill a plastic cup with some water. His hands trembled treacherously as he raised the cup to his lips to take a few sips and moisten his throat, which had gone dry with anxiety. After waiting five minutes, he was already running toward the elevators.

The elevator was moving unacceptably slowly for a hospital, but that gave Kevin a little more time before he had to face the twins.

Andrew was sitting on a plastic chair near the ward, shaking his knee. Noticing Kevin out of the corner of his eye, Andrew turned his head sharply, and his tense face took on a relaxed expression; the wrinkles on his forehead smoothed out. He even managed to smile slightly.

When Kevin approached, Andrew stood up, leaving half a step between himself and his father, and pressed his forehead against his chest, calming himself and soaking up the warmth. Rubbing his forehead lightly, Andrew turned his head slightly to press his cheek against Kevin’s chest and listen to the heart beating hollowly within it. They stood like that for a minute. Kevin said nothing until Andrew decided to pull away.

—What happened?

Andrew shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and shrugged casually.

—Dunno. We were riding in a taxi, and then they suddenly changed the route. Aaron was as white as a sheet, shaking and sweating. Allison called for paramedics, and they put us in an ambulance. And then Allison started feeling sick, too.

—Where are Aaron and Allison?

—In some office. They told me to stay here because, like, I’m fine.

—And are you really… fine? — Kevin asked, just in case.

—I have problems with my head, but otherwise I’m doing great. — Andrew shrugged. Kevin groaned wearily and covered the top of his head with his palm, playfully pushing him away. Andrew grinned cheerfully.

Kevin decided to wait for Aaron and Alison in Room 214, keeping Andrew entertained. Or rather, letting Andrew entertain himself: lying in a hospital bed with his legs up in the air, blinking three times a minute, listening to music, eating hospital pudding, and talking and talking and talking. Kevin listened, but couldn’t make out what Andrew was saying. His thoughts were disjointed, as if he were in a feverish delirium. Kevin placed his palm on Andrew’s forehead, and Andrew fell silent, closed his eyes, went completely still, and tilted his head back slightly to increase the pressure of Kevin’s hand against his skin.

—He’ll be okay, won’t he? — Andrew asked very quietly.

—Of course, — Kevin replied.

Andrew opened his eyes and asked:

—You, too?

Kevin smiled reassuringly and nodded. Andrew paused before asking:

—And… and Allison?

[vivireshar]

The Twins adoption

ENG

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron. Gotta write one. I want one where Kevin is an adequate adult

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron

Where Kevin is an adequate adult (I suspect this will be a lot of work…which again I need to think about)

PART 29

They ate breakfast in silence: Jeremy in a state of comfort, Andrew in apathy, Aaron on edge, and Kevin tense—and this might well have continued until the end of breakfast had Andrew not suddenly announced, completely without emotion:

—Grandpa’s coming on Friday.

Andrew continued poking at his scrambled eggs. Aaron dropped his fork. Jeremy stared at Kevin. Kevin sighed and began to explain to Jeremy and Aaron:

—I want to introduce my father to the boys.

Aaron tensed up, putting on an indifferent expression that made him look just like his older brother. Andrew gave his leg a gentle nudge from under the table and shot him a brief, meaningful look that said, “Don’t you dare pull any bullshit in front of him.” Aaron really wanted to pull some bullshit. Aaron tried to breathe and not let on that he was dying-dying-dying inside, while Andrew drew Kevin and Jeremy’s attention to a more pressing problem, giving his brother time to come to terms with the inevitable.

—Did you find us a babysitter?

Kevin shook his head in resignation. It wasn’t as if he’d had a moment to even think about it over the past couple of days… While he tried to eat his scrambled eggs, he ran through all his friends and acquaintances in his head—people he could at least try to entrust his sons to—but came to the conclusion that these very friends and acquaintances either had children of their own, were too swamped with work to help Kevin solve his problems right now, or had no experience looking after children.

Andrew read all this in the agonized look on Day’s face and suggested:

—What about that woman? Allison. Couldn’t she do it?

Kevin rubbed his face with his palms:

—Allison hates kids.

—We’re not kids anymore,— Andrew remarked. —We don’t need to change diapers or wipe noses. Right, Aaron? We just need someone grown-up, right? Maybe we should ask her? Aaron and I could help her with her beauty crap. I’m willing to put up with her until you get back.

It sounded so grown-up that Kevin wondered if it was really his fourteen-year-old son speaking, or some alien from Jupiter.

—What do you think?— Andrew asked.

—That you’re a miracle,— Kevin replied. —But Allison will never agree.

Andrew pushed his empty plate away and shrugged:

—We know how to work together, right, Aaron?— He nudged his brother with his elbow, and a muffled sound escaped from Aaron along with his scrambled eggs. He gave a strained smile at his brother’s remark.

***

Kevin invited Allison over for brunch and thanked her profusely for making time for them and for honoring them with her presence at their apartment today. Waiting for them in the kitchen were a light vegetable salad and a cottage cheese casserole to go with tea, which Aaron had whipped up in a hurry.

Allison, as always, looked impeccable—a long gray-blue silk dress that matched the color of her eyes, blue heeled sandals with thin straps wrapping around her calves, and a beautiful hairstyle—a thick strand of hair had been taken from each temple, intertwined and joined at the back to form a crown, while the rest of her hair flowed down in soft waves.

She appeared in the doorway with the look of a winner and flashed a smug smile.

—You’ve got half an hour, sweetie,— she announced, handing Kevin her purse so he could take care of it and find a spot on the hooks or shelves, —then I have a shoot.

Andrew nudged Aaron forward, and the boy, clinging to Allison’s arm, tearfully uttered a long-rehearsed phrase:

—Don’t leave us!

Allison was taken aback as she freed her wrist from Aaron’s palms, sweaty with nervousness. Kevin blushed deeply. Andrew waited. Aaron hesitated and, stepping back awkwardly, continued:

—We don’t want to be left alone when Dad leaves.

Alison interpreted this completely differently than they had planned. She glanced back at Kevin, who stood frozen with her purse behind her, and asked in a trembling voice:

—Do you have cancer?

Andrew could have confirmed the terrible diagnosis right then and there and made Aaron burst into convincing tears, but Kevin didn’t let him get a word in:

—God, no! I’m looking for someone who could watch the twins while I’m at practice and on set… It’s just for a couple of days! I swear! Until I find them a qualified nanny.

Aдlison, who had been holding her breath, exhaled sharply and launched into an attack.

—Damn it, Kevin! I’m not young enough to put up with your idiotic jokes! — she pounded him on the back, shouting curses that were indistinguishable through her tears.

—I didn’t say anything about cancer! — Kevin protested, shielding his head from the chaotic blows with a small blue handbag. —I invited you to discuss this!

Allison laughed hysterically, not stopping to hit him wherever she could.

—You’re such a jerk, Kevin Day!

—Stop it! — Kevin had to raise his voice and get hit on the head twice before Allison’s hands were wrapped in his palms and stopped.

She was breathing heavily and rapidly. Expensive mascara smudged on her wet lashes, her irises were transparent with tears, and her lips were bitten from the hurt. Kevin had never seen her like this before.

—That’s enough, stop, — Kevin said sternly, squeezing her hands a little tighter. —Stop. We’re going to sit down in the kitchen and talk this through calmly.

***

Kevin’s table was clearly not meant for so many people. Pushed up against the wall, it could seat three, but certainly not five. Jeremy and the twins stood leaning against the kitchen counter, while Kevin and Allison held a silent discussion.

—How do you picture this working? — Allison finally spoke up. —My workday is longer than yours. I’m constantly on the road, and I’m not going to take your kids with me so they can get underfoot.

Kevin tilted his head slightly in response to her words.

—Don’t look at me like that, — Alison said sternly. —If you think that puppy-dog look and that casserole are going to change my mind, you’re wrong.

Kevin said:

—How long have we known each other—ten years?

Allison rolled her eyes.

—Don’t try to play on my pity, sweetie. You’ve got nothing on me.

That wasn’t true, and they both knew it. Allison’s weak spots were gratitude and understanding. And Kevin kindly reminded her of that.

—Allison, I know you’re swamped with work right now and you’re always on the go, but I really need you to look after my kids until I find a nanny.

—Kevin, I have a ton of projects, and I won’t be able to give them enough attention if I’m watching your kids.

—I understand you’re busy, and I appreciate your work. But my kids are already 14; they don’t need constant supervision, they just need an adult who’ll be there if anything happens. They know how to entertain themselves and get along well with each other. — With that, Kevin glanced briefly at the twins. Andrew hurriedly pulled his brother toward him and began rubbing his fist over the top of his head, feigning friendliness. A look of torment appeared on Aaron’s face, and Andrew got an elbow to the stomach. Kevin stumbled over his words, watching their little war, blinked, cleared his throat, and continued: —I’m sure they won’t cause any trouble, and you’ll be able to focus on your tasks without worry.

Allison folded her arms across her chest. Andrew grinned devilishly, making it clear to anyone looking at him right now that he was going to cause a hell of a lot of trouble.

—Okay, but it’s still a long time, and I’m on the move too much to guarantee that everything will go smoothly.

—I promise to help if anything goes wrong—I’ll pay for a taxi or a rental car — whatever you say. — It’s really important to me to be sure the kids are in good hands. And I can leave them something to keep them occupied—games, movies, or whatever else makes it easier for you. — Kevin glanced at the twins again. Jeremy stood between them, arms outstretched to keep them apart and stop them from fighting.

—Okay, I can try. Just once. — Allison pointed a finger with a sharp gray-blue nail at him.

—Thank you so much, Allison! This means a lot to me. I promise, I’ll find them a babysitter, and I won’t bother you anymore. — Kevin quickly got up and didn’t let Allison see the silent scuffle between the boys; he led her into the living room and told her to make herself at home, to which Allison coldly reminded him that she’d be leaving for a shoot in twenty minutes, and the twins had better hurry up and get dressed, or else she’d dress them in shiny pink dresses.

Everyone was ready to leave exactly twenty minutes later. During that time, Allison made seven phone calls to various people, called a taxi, scolded Andrew for his appalling choice of clothes to go out in, praised Aaron for his impeccable taste, let Kevin kiss her on the cheek goodbye, saw Jeremy off, washed her face, and touched up her eyes and lips.

The twins waited patiently for her orders, dressed in their best clothes: Aaron in a shirt and pants, Andrew in a T-shirt, jeans, and a thin lilac-blue hoodie.

—Listen up, you little rascals, — Allison began in a stern voice, fixing her hair, —I can see right through both of you. It’s in your best interest not to smash a raw egg into my purse, Andrew Minyard.

Andrew froze with the egg in one hand and stared at her in surprise.

—Here’s what we’ll do, — she continued, —you’ll obey and behave yourselves, and you’ll be rewarded.

—With what? — Aaron asked curiously.

—We can go shopping or buy the fast food that human beings your age worship.

—Deal, — Aaron agreed. —And can we watch you work?

Allison looked away from her reflection and smiled at him.

—Of course, sweetie.

Aaron beamed, while Andrew folded his arms across his chest in displeasure, still hoping to smash the egg into Allison’s bag, but she put a stop to it by taking the shell and placing it in the ashtray along with Kevin’s keys: an orange fox paw served as a keychain.

[vivireshar]

The Twins adoption

ENG

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron. Gotta write one. I want one where Kevin is an adequate adult

Andrew/Kevin/Aaron

Where Kevin is an adequate adult (I suspect this will be a lot of work…which again I need to think about)

PART 26

When the echo of his voice faded away within the walls of the children's bedroom, Kevin opened his eyes and was surprised to find that Andrew had fallen fast asleep, trustingly resting his head on Kevin's lap. To get out from under him, Kevin had to very slowly lift Andrew's head, trying not to wake him up. When he succeeded, Kevin covered his son with a blanket and turned off the lamp, plunging the room into soothing darkness.

Quietly closing the door to his son's bedroom, Kevin yawned and went to his own room.

***

He dreamed about a match, and for the first time Kevin wasn't playing in it. Players in orange and white uniforms ran across the field, and with his heart in his throat, he recognized the Foxes. There were no names on their backs, but Kevin knew each player anyway. Matt was the most noticeable with his enormous height and strong build. The two light braids and milky skin belonged to Alison, his longtime friend. Seth used his strength to keep his opponent away from the goal, where Robin intercepted the balls. Danielle fought evenly with the midfielder guarding her, not allowing him to get close to Lis with the ball in his stick. This Lis… Kevin didn't know him. Even cheetahs would envy his speed and grace. He was a newcomer. Kevin hadn't seen him before, but Wymack had told him that he had spotted a boy from the countryside and wanted Kevin to take a look too — finding talent in abandoned children was a family superpower.

The game siren sounded, and the match was stopped so the Foxes could change players. Instead of Matt and Robin, two players unknown to Kevin took the field. They were the same height, and for a second Kevin wondered if they were brothers. And at that very moment, the guy with the number 03 on his back looked back to meet Day's gaze, lifted the visor on his helmet, and shouted:

—Look, dad! We did it!

It was Andrew.

Kevin's heart skipped a beat when the boy stood on the goal, and another, number 05, undoubtedly Aaron, took his place next to Nicky Hammick, warming up his shoulders.

Kevin rushed to the door, intending to unlock the bolt and drag the children off the field before the adults crippled them, but he was too late. The siren sounded again, signaling the resumption of play, and Kevin froze. He knew better than anyone that the door could not be unlocked while the ball was in play.

He froze, pressing his face against the Plexiglas barrier that rose a good nine meters around the playing field, and watched as Aaron nimbly avoided direct collisions and stood his ground, holding off his opponent's pressure, while Andrew… his little boy was growing and getting stronger right before his eyes. A minute ago, he was a tiny speck, and now he was a strong man, ready to slay the most fearsome dragon. He stood in goal and didn't let anyone score, intercepting balls so gracefully, as if he were dancing to music that only he could hear.

Kevin, mesmerized by his children's game, couldn't move until the siren sounded for the third time, announcing the end of the match. The Foxes won 8-0. The new Fox raised his hand and waved to Andrew, who responded with a casual nod and a satisfied smirk.

And at that moment, the world became completely clear to Kevin.

***

He woke up suddenly, hearing a child's piercing scream. He didn't notice how he ended up at the door to his eldest son's bedroom and how he threw it open. Andrew wasn't in bed. And as far as Kevin could see, standing there in the doorway, he wasn't next to the bed either. Frantically searching for the light switch, he turned on the overhead light and rushed to his son. Andrew was in the corner between the bedside table and the desk. He was pressed against the wall, his face covered with his hands, screaming and screaming and screaming, and for some reason he couldn't get enough air into his lungs.

Kevin didn't know what to do, and the twins hadn't warned him that something like this could happen. “Something like this” — what? He didn't even know what had happened to Andrew. Was it a bad dream or a panic attack? An attempt to get attention or a cry for help?

Kevin sat down on the floor away from Andrew so as not to scare him even more by violating his personal space. A frightened Aaron appeared nearby, and Kevin said the only thing he could at that moment:

—I don't know how to help him.

Aaron invaded Andrew's personal space and pulled him close with one arm, while covering his mouth, which was screaming in terror, with the other. This acted as a catalyst, and Andrew became quieter and quieter until he fell completely silent. He rocked in Aaron's arms, trying to calm himself, took his hands away from his face and pressed them against his brother's sides, hugging him back. His eyes were empty and glassy, without a trace of human consciousness… Until Andrew saw Kevin, frozen a meter away from his sons.

Andrew pulled himself together, easily wriggled out of Aaron's embrace, and crawled on all fours toward Kevin, trembling violently. Andrew was shaking with terror as he climbed onto Kevin's crossed legs and pressed himself against him for protection. Kevin hugged him — at first lightly and barely noticeably, then a little tighter, so that Andrew could gradually feel him, ground himself, and return to reality.

Aaron crawled over to them and settled down next to them so that Andrew could see him and grab hold of him if necessary. Aaron rested his head on his father's shoulder and hugged his brother with his left arm and Kevin with his right.

In the embrace of his family, Andrew stirred to move closer to his brother and buried his forehead in his hair, calming down.

Kevin lowered his head and hid in Andrew's blond hair, rubbing his nose lightly, calming his wildly beating heart.

After what seemed like an eternity, Andrew calmed down, raised his head, and met Kevin's gaze.

—Sleep with me tonight.

Kevin knew it would look wrong and vulgar — Andrew was only fourteen, and Kevin was almost twice his age, he wasn't the twins' biological father, he was a man… But how could he refuse his son in a moment of weakness?

—Okay, — he agreed. He struggled to get up, holding Andrew in his arms.

—Can we go to your room? — Andrew asked.

Kevin carried him to his bedroom, put him to bed, and exhaled. His heart ached painfully. Without waiting for his condition to improve or worsen, Kevin took a spray for heart pain from the nightstand and sprayed it under his tongue. Andrew watched him with shining eyes.

—Why do you need that? Are you sick?

Kevin shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed, as far away from Andrew as possible. He didn't want to upset his son even more.

—It's to calm down, — Kevin said, telling a half-truth.

—Will it help me too? — Andrew asked.

—We need to talk to the doctor about it.

Andrew curled up into a ball.

—I don't want to.

—I'm not forcing you, — Kevin explained. —I'm just suggesting it. The choice is yours.

Andrew thought about it, gradually relaxing, rested his head on Kevin's pillow, and called out:

—Are you going to sleep sitting up?

—Are you sure you want me to be with you tonight? — Day asked.

Andrew nodded confidently and asked:

—Why don't you sit next to me?

—It's... it's inappropriate, you know?

Andrew frowned.

—Explain.

—You're so young, and I'm twenty-seven... It would be wrong to sleep in the same room with you.

—But you wouldn't hurt me.

It was a damn good point, and Kevin couldn't think of a rebuttal, so he offered another solution:

—Maybe you'd agree to stay with Aaron?

Andrew's eyes moistened.

—But I want to be with you.

It was a forbidden move. That quiet request hurt like a knife thrust into Kevin's heart.

—I understand, dear. But I can't. I'm sorry.

Andrew sniffed. He quickly wiped his tears with his clenched fists and bolted out of the room so fast that Kevin couldn't follow him. The door slammed shut, and Kevin was left alone.

It seemed like he had just buried everything he and Andrew had built over three long days.

[vivireshar]

Just a reminder that you can read 26 chapters of "The twins adoption" in a row on AO3. Просто напоминаю, что на АО3 можно прочитать подряд 26 глав "Усыновления близнецов"

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Vivien_Reshar_03/works