IC Contact - Duplicity

[understood]

username: Cst.B.Fraser

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[understood]

[ Ben kisses the side of his head. ]

You're doing all the right things.

[scarrystories]

I'm trying.

[ There's a reply pretty much immediately, and Andy replies back without thinking. ]

He wants to talk, I think I'll be right—

[ And then he disappears. Pls hold, he will return shortly. ]

[understood]

[ UH. The sad part about this is Andy misses out on getting to see Fraser look wildly startled. He'll just. Wait. ]

[scarrystories]

[ Maybe he'll get to see Ben startled when he reappears just as suddenly like thirty minutes later, holding a bowl of popcorn and a t-shirt. ]

... I think we should invite him to dinner sometime. Hi dear, sorry about that. Popcorn?

[understood]

[ He's sort of expecting it, so he only looks a little bit startled. The popcorn does get a nonplussed stare, though. ]

...

Sure.

Thanks.

[ He takes a handful and pops it into his mouth, although he gives it sort of a dubious look first. ]

[scarrystories]

The nice wizard is gonna look into it for us, he shares our concerns. He dragged Ky in too, Ky is— god, I get that he loves Andy, and he's very worried, but this would be a lot easier if he weren't so pig-headed.

[understood]

I take it he's very set on hiding everything from Andy?

[scarrystories]

He is, yeah. He was dismissive of the whole family dynamic we got going and he didn't want to talk with me still in the room.

[ He's annoyed about it, but he'll get over it. ]

Doctor Strange will look into it, though, he's a good person. Not much into the feelings part of it, but very focused on helping.

[understood]

Well, that's Kieron's prerogative.

[ As it happens, Fraser is inclined to be dismissive of Ky's dismissal. ]

But that sounds promising.

[scarrystories]

[ Andy kisses him. ]

I'll check in later, if he doesn't get back to me. I really think he can help— or tells us there's nothing to worry about, if Ky's right about it fixing itself.

[understood]

[ Ben noses softly at his cheek. ]

Good.

Are you ready to go home?

[scarrystories]

Yeah. God, today's felt eternal.

It's not even that late, is it?

[understood]

Not really, no.

[ He pats Andy's thigh. ]

Shall we get ice cream on the way?

[scarrystories]

Yes, please.

... are you okay?

[understood]

Yes.

I'm used to dead family members.

[scarrystories]

... Sweetheart.

[understood]

[ Oh God, he just realized how that sounded. ]

No, I mean— I wasn't being morbid— well, technically, I suppose I was being morbid, but I only meant I'm somewhat accustomed to the idea that death is not the end of the line for being a present, talkative member of a family. So perhaps it's less of... of an adjustment in thinking, for me.

[scarrystories]

[ Andy covers his face with a hand and laughs a little brokenly. ]

God. I guess that's reasonable.

[understood]

I didn't mean to be upsetting.

[scarrystories]

It's not, it makes sense. Just... weird to think about.

[understood]

I suppose it is, yes.

[scarrystories]

... do you think it matters that we've only known Andy for a few months?

[ Andy doesn't think it matters at all, but the way Ky said it— it wasn't an attack. ]

[understood]

In what sense?

[scarrystories]

Do we have... I don't know, the right to be Andy's parents, I guess?

[understood]

He gave us the right. If that's how he feels about us, and it's a responsibility we've chosen to take up in response, I think we do have it.