+5
He was always going to be there. That didn’t bother him one bit. Especially not anymore. The Blade was always in his pocket—always, just in case. It was good to be cautious. It didn’t matter if the Curse was broken or not. The supernatural was an unpredictable thing, and Cody Everett Michaelson was no fool.
“You think?” He asked, squinting down at the grand masterpiece presented to him. He crossed his legs as he studied the artwork, smiling down at the remarkable talent. Lifting his head up to look at the seventeen year old girl in front of him, he smiled at her. Twenty-seven years old did Cody well, and he wasn’t even thirty yet. His thirties would be his most prime moment, he could feel it. “I think it’s actually really good. I’m not an artsy person myself so I might not know what I’m talking about, but honestly I love this. And no, just because dogs are my favorite animal doesn’t make me biased. I promise this is a fantastic piece of work.”
The girl was small and sad. Her hair was up in a short ponytail and her bangs covered half her face. She still smiled at him, though, grateful for the genuine praise. She didn’t speak, but signed. Three years ago, Cody had become fluent in American sign language. She placed a hand near her chin and brought it down in a curve. Thank you. “You’re welcome.” Cody told her. Can I ask you something? Cody nodded. Is it bad to paint the walls? Cody pressed his lips together and nodded regrettably. I just wish I had a bigger canvas sometimes. Cody nodded understandably, but an idea popped into is head.
“What about the top floor?” She tilted her head confusedly. “The top floor is... I call it the fun floor. So I’m thinking that floor may not have to be... all white.” The girl’s green eyes lit up at him. “Of course, an entire floor is... kind of a handful so... do you have any friends here, Jessie?” Jessie shrugged. Cody raised his eyebrows with squinted eyes at her. “Come on, Jessie, you’re a sweetheart. You’ve got to have friends. Not just me the owner, what fun is that?” She silently smiled bashfully and nodded. “Do any of them paint as well as you do? Or could help you if you asked?” A nod. “I want you guys to plan something out. Tell me, of course. And you’ll be in charge of painting the walls. Nicely, don’t make it all colorful. It needs a background. I want it to flow. Can you do that?” She nodded enthusiastically and clapped. Cody chuckled, standing up from the stool. She scurried over around the table and wrapped her arms around her.
“T... Thank... you.” She told him quietly, gently. Cody hugged her back, protectively even, like how a man would hug his teenaged daughter.
“You’re very welcome.” She pulled away and Cody sighed. “I’ve got to go do owner things, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to skiddoo.” Jessie beamed, watching as he headed out of the art room. Cody headed down the hall to the ISO units. He opened the door to one and found a young adult boy hitting the padded walls with a fury. “Hey, Kyle.” Cody said, crossing his arms over his chest. Kyle was breathing hard, looking up at Cody in surprise, his anger dying quite slowly. “How’s that going? Did you punch in a hole in the wall?”
Kyle groaned, kicking at the wall one last time before leaning against it and sliding down. “They hate him.” He told Cody, desperately, tiredly, sadly. “They do and I know he didn’t deserve it.” Cody smiled sadly, walking over right in front of Kyle and sitting down, crossing his legs together. “They jus—I just thought it’d make them stop, he was right there, I didn’t mean to.”
“I know.” Cody said, nodding.
“How’s he?” Kyle asked worriedly.
“He’s okay. Luckily you didn’t kill him before the orderly got you... he’s fine. And he forgives you.” Cody sighed, seeing Kyle cover his face and drag his hand down the length of it. He looked down at his own hands, seeing the gold marriage band on the fourth finger. “I know you like him, Kyle.” Cody’s eyes lifted up to the ceiling tiredly, recalling so much in such a small moment before looking over at Kyle.
Kyle began to stutter out words, trying to get them out, “N-no, I—um, no, I—what? No, I, you don’t un—fuck.” but Cody shook his head at him the entire time.
“Firstly, my gaydar is off the charts.” He told him. Kyle sighed shakily. “Deep breaths, Kyle. Secondly, I was you. Liking someone in here. Breaking the most obvious rule in here. If you care about him as much as you obviously do, I think you should refrain from seeing him for a little bit.” Kyle frowned.
“But... no, I can’t—”
“Kyle you can. I said you should take a break from him physically but... I have another suggestion.” Cody smiled brightly. Kyle knit his eyebrows together. “What if you two wrote notes to one another? Slipped it under your rooms’ doors.”
Kyle chuckled. “I’m not so good with words sometimes.”
“Obviously.” Cody laughed. “But... that’s okay. We’ve got a library. You can... look up words and things all you want and take your time writing to him. Just a long conversation until you work with your therapist and take your meds well to control yourself and your anger and get those chemicals in your brain to a better balance.”
Kyle smiled at Cody, looking tired himself, but much calmer than how he was when Cody had first entered. “How long until I can leave the padded room?” Cody held out an index finger. “Alright... cool.”
“I also think you should consider using the tutors here.” Cody told him. “Finishing high school many suck here but finishing on time would be worth many things. Keep you busy and all that. But that’s just a suggestion.” He nodded, standing up and looking down at the eighteen year old. “It’ll all be alright, dude, as long as you cooperate.” And with that, Cody left the room and the door was locked behind him.
As he walked down the hall, his walkie talkie spoke up. “Parents would like to meet you, sir, before they send their son here.” Cody grinned, taking the talkie from his pocket and confirmed he got it, that he’d be right over. Running down the hall and skidding to a halt at the lobby, he smiled at a boy who looked no older than ten and two parents who looked terribly worried.
“Hello, I’m Cody Michaelson, I run this fine establishment.” He said, extending a hand to them. Firm grips met Cody’s and he looked down at the little boy, crouching down so that they were eye level. “And who do we have here? Can you tell me your name?”
The boy looked down from him shyly and made a sort of whining sound. He got on his hands and knees and curled into a ball. Cody knit his eyebrows together and looked up at the parents. “A therapist said he was delusional, psychosis I believe. Can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t. I know kids play pretend but he won’t stop. It’s affecting his every day life, too.” Cody twisted his mouth and nodded, standing up.
“I see. Well, come on, let’s talk in my office then! It’s right this way.” Cody led them down the hall. Just another day at work.
-
It was late when he got home and Finn and Bailey were up late still. “Guys!” Cody said as he walked through the door. “What’re you doing up? It’s ten and a school night, come on, high school was hard last I remember and super draining.”
Finn looked up at Cody and smiled mischievously. “It’s Bailey’s fault.”
“Oh come on you’re the on that saw Harry Potter on ABC Family and convinced me to stay.” Bailey said. “And I was doing homework and it’s all done so technically, I’m a good the kid.”
Cody bit his lip and shook his head as he went over to kiss them both on the cheeks. “Alright but when this one’s done, bed.” Isaac then peeked around from the kitchen doorway. “You’re up too, wow, hi love.”
“Hi love,” They kissed each other gently and Cody blinked over at the counter. “Yes I’m making coffee at ten PM. It’s all the rage.”
“This house is insane today—where’s Aurora?” He asked, twisting around and letting his eyes roam the house.
“The only one in bed, that’s where.” Isaac chuckled. “I made enough for two, alright? And we can watch Harry Potter with them.” Cody tilted his head at his husband. How very interesting. “Oh Finn is such a trooper, taking one for the team. You are the fun parent, you were the one who suggested they stay up, I knew it.”
“No you didn’t!” Isaac scoffed, but they laughed. “Come on, I’ll meet you over there.” Cody couldn’t be upset, not really. He laughed and shook his head as he plopped himself down on the couch. “Oh good, it’s the first one.” He said with a grin, Isaac coming and handing him a coffee as he sat beside him.
Nothing, and he meant nothing could be better than this.
