Agh. After that mess of a chapter before this, I hope you're still keeping with me. xD I promise, It'll get better! At least… I hope it will. Whatever. Let's go!
Best part about this chapter? You guys get to meet not only Feng's lovely parents (Seriously. I think you'll love the mother) but also his darling son.
Running Blind
Chapter Six
Starry Eyed
Thud.
Andy growled and stared at the steering wheel as the car slowed to a halt (or rather, it screeched). The little box in the backseat containing the objects Feng had put together some time ago hit the floorboards and he visibly paled, irritation lining every expression he made, including the smile he gave his lover in the passenger seat.
"…Maybe I should drive, next time." Seth spoke carefully, giving the Sylph a nervous smirk.
Andy shook his head. "No. It's fine. I can handle it. I wouldn't have stopped so fast if that fucking squirrel hadn't leapt out."
Said animal hopped onto the car, staring at the man in the driver's seat. Blue eyes met brown and the little furry creature moved slightly. "…"
"GET THE FUCK OFF OF MY CAR." Andy hissed, honking the horn – the squirrel scurried away, chattering as it did. Seth blinked in shock before stifling a laugh.
"Well. At least we know you aren't a Gnome…-"
"I'd hope not, my entire life would be a fucking lie. Help me with that damned box."
Seth sighed and unbuckled the seatbelt, hopping out of the opened door. Andy did the same; swinging open the back doors with such fury one would have imagined he could pull the thing right off its hinges. "Easy there, tiger." Seth cooed, grinning at his lover from across the way, "I don't want to have to pay for another bill relating to that damned car. Again."
"You? Please. I paid for it."
Seth scoffed, assisting the brunette with hauling the box out of the car, pushing while the other pulled.
In just a few moments the box flopped out of the car, thudding against the ground noisily, but to both men's relief, the box did not spill its contents about the ground. "How the hell does Feng do this every month?"
Seth shrugged. "Alone, at that. You know how he is."
"…Do you think maybe he's in the forest?"
"Doubtful. You said it yourself. He'd have told somebody."
Andy sighed softly and leaned, grabbing at little toys and seeds, things he had never thought an Elemental out in the forest would need. Still, Feng had placed them in the box – they must have meant something.
As Andy attempted to pick up the box, Seth scoffed. "Andy. You aren't in the city anymore. You can have a little… help."
"…I can? You won't report it?" he asked curiously, and Seth scoffed.
"Please. You know just as well as I do that the forest is well beyond my jurisdiction… everything that happens here is none of my business." He gave a sly grin, watching Andy laugh and focus his hands on the box – before long, a loud gust of air pushed the box up. Seth worried quietly of Andy's dwindling power but knew it'd be pointless to argue with him – no matter the situation, it would always be the same answer –
"I'm fine, Seth."
"…I didn't say anything."
"You had that… look."
They were silent for most of the walk – the only sound was that of their feet and the contained gusts beneath the box. Their hands still held onto each side, which added even more control, but it was now considerably lighter. Moments like this, Andy was rather happy that he'd been born a Sylph.
"Andrew Falion, is that you?" a woman called, her boisterous voice pulling Andy from his quiet contemplation.
"…Aah! Mary, how nice to see you again." Andy smiled at the seamstress' assistant and bowed respectively. "Just on our way to pay a visit to Feng's family. You know how he is about sending supplies."
The woman nodded, her blond curls bouncing on her head as she laughed, throwing her head back. "Yes, yes, but – how is the boy, anyway? I haven't seen him for a while."
Andy frowned nervously, and Seth shifted his weight. The officer cleared his throat, directing her attention to him. "…I'm afraid he's gone missing, ma'am. We can't find him, but I'm sure he's around here somewhere."
Mary seemed calm, despite the brief flash of worry in her eyes. "Oh dear… Olivia will not be happy to hear that, no, sir."
Andy nodded, sighing and shaking his head softly. "No… I don't think his father will, either. Not sure about Glen."
Seth put his hand on the other's shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze. "I'm sure he'll be fine – they aren't close."
"…But he's still his father."
Olivia watched her son play with her grandson, the latter of the two quietly laughing when the other tripped over his own feet. She had been rather content with sitting in silence as her mate worked – but seeing a familiar face had gotten her to stand abruptly, smiling happily. "Andrew!"
"Olivia," the brunette smiled and accepted her hug and kiss to the cheek, repeating her action and bowing to Feng's father respectfully. "I've brought the supplies Feng had gotten together for you,"
"Oh, that boy worries too much," the older man laughed but took the box – Andy had to fight the glare as he realized that he could carry it with not even a trace of trouble. Seth smirked but said nothing, leaning against a tree quietly as he waited.
"Speaking of," Olivia started, her hands buried into the box as she pulled a few things out as soon as her lover had set it down, "where is my Fliairio?"
Andy frowned. Seth cleared his throat.
"…Err…"
Olivia stood slowly, black hair waving as she narrowed her eyes. "…where is my baby?" she asked, her voice trembling. By now silence had taken over the little camp, Feng's family nervously turning their attention to the conversation.
"…Gone, ma'am. I don't know where. We can't find him." Andy broke the news, and Seth winced.
Probably not the gentlest way to go about telling the city-fearing woman-
"My Baby!" Olivia cried, her eyes brimming with tears. "You promised me it would all be over, Andrew! You promised me you would watch over him!"
"Olivia, I-"
"After that Undine nearly took him away from me I though it was the end of the trouble. Would you care to explain to me why he's-"
"I don't know!" Andy's voice broke as he attempted to calm the woman and Olivia silenced, her hand dropping as she fell against her mate. He covered her lips and closed her eyes, shaking her head.
Glen was quiet, his cerulean eyes downcast, black hair shielding his face as he trembled. He was always this way around anybody but his grandparents and his father – quiet, alone, and often he retreated completely. But not now. Instead, he clenched his fist and looked up slowly, his youthful face reddening with the tears threatening to come down.
"Is Papa going to be okay?" he asked, the young voice coming out in a steady, if a little scared, stream of speech.
Andy remained mute for a moment before smiling, leaning down to the child and setting a hand on his shoulder. "He'll be fine, Glen. He'll be okay."
Seth was leaned over the box in an attempt to keep himself from speaking – he wasn't familiar with the family, and as he had been around Andy's family for a long while, chose silence over attempting to speak. His thought process was 'if they wish to know me, they will'. And it had worked like a charm.
He moved a small tin out of the way with a light ting before his fingers caught something soft, furry. Blinking in confusion he pulled it up, noting a small ribbon wrapped around its neck and a letter attached.
To Glen.
Seth gave a slow smile, recognizing the toy. He turned to face Glen and Andy, the former having collapsed into tears of fear and the latter attempting to console him. The officer shifted uneasily for but a moment before taking his place next to the Sylph, patting Glen's shoulder.
"Hey. I know things seem bad now, but… your father will be home soon. He wanted us to give you this." He held the toy out, slim fingers grasping the arm lightly, relinquishing his hold when Glen wrapped his own hands around it. "…it was given to him when he was in the hospital, when you were born. He kept it around. He wants you to have it – he cherished it, and now you will, too. It's important to him, take care of it."
Glen pulled it closer to his chest, fingers squeezing on its head. The bear's fuzzy skin caved in and Seth chuckled, patting the boy's head and ruffling his hair. "Don't worry. I'll find him. It's my job, after all, both as a police officer… and a friend."
Glen smiled.
"Find my daddy. Please."
"I will."
