"I'm a coming!" Randy called out as he avoided his sister's four children, that were running around the living room, as he made his way to answer the knock on the front door. He had agreed to babysit for Sandy as her and her husband, Static, so the married couple could go out for the night. It was half past 6:00 and Randy was prepping for dinner in the kitchen when he was surprised by the uninvited visitor.
The bright smile Randy had worn on his lips for the majority of the day slipped a bit after he opened the door and saw who was waiting behind the it. Proton Electro stood seemingly just as surprised to see Randy as Randy was to see him. It had been only a few months since he has last seen Proton, but he saw the older male squirrel had seemingly aged years since then. His posture that use to demand compliance and respect was now replaced with a presence of an older tired man, who seemed far too thin and sickly for the fancy attire that he wore. Randy took note that Proton wasn't wearing the contact lens, he usually sported, to hide his damaged right eye and its eerie gray color that only added to the visually sad state the powerful man now projected.
"Randel." Proton spoke trying to show proper manors, but his face took on a bit of discomfort as Randy's full name left the older squirrel's mouth. "I wasn't expecting you to be here."
"I didn't think you'd show up neither." Randy replayed looking off to the side of the house feeling more than a bit uncomfortable having a conversation with the elder Electro. They hadn't really spoken since Proton found out his wife had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, about 5 months back. Proton then lashed out at Randy verbally saying some of the vilest things to the young man that he'd ever heard, and then finishing it all off by breaking off their secret affair and wishing him dead.
"I'm looking for my son." Proton cleared his throat as he then too looked away from Randy feeling the tension between them thickening. "His phone is off, and Sandra's just keeps ringing until it goes to voice mail."
"He and Sandy went out fer da night. Just like they have fer da past three Friday's. They said it's a date night but I know that's just a cover and they are getting marriage counseling. Sandy accidently admitted it da other week. Seems they've been on the rocks pretty bad since Valerie got sick."
"Grandpa!" Tex screamed up as she rushed up to her adoptive grandfather standing right outside the front door.
Proton kneeled down and hugged the six-year-old half hedgehog, half squirrel, girl as her three siblings ran to greet their grandfather behind her. Both men's tension lighted once the kids pushed themselves between the adult's awkward conversation. Proton mood seemed to greatly improve at the loving attention his four grandchildren, two by blood, had started showering him with.
"Come see my fort!" Blaze the youngest male child, of three, related to the Proton by blood demanded as he yanked at Proton's fancy sleave.
"It's our fort!" Wes corrected as he ran ahead of his brother to their desired destination.
Randy moved aside and gestured to the other man to come inside and see their new proudly made fort that was just Randy setting up a camping tent in the living room, so they could say they were having a sleep over with their favorite, and only, uncle.
"Looks like you're all ready to start working for the family business." Proton let out a small chuckle as all four children talked at the same time trying to show him their own personal touches to the tent that now occupied one third of the living room.
"I was just about to fire up the grill and make some burgers. I put together the patties myself and even brought over my frier fer my homemade tots. There is more den enough ta go around." Randy offered as he headed back to the kitchen and took a large swig of his first beer.
"I don't want to be a bother." Proton called back to him as his face took on a more depressed mood again.
"It ain't a bother, Proton. Actually, it'd be nice if ya could keep the kids busy while I play with fire." Randy laughed before his body when tense with emotion causing him to desperately crack another beer and take a long drink from it.
"I suppose I could make this my red meat night for the week." Proton now sat on the couch as the children keep talking to him and showing off different items, and he nodded to them and smiled but his thoughts were lost on Randy... and an overwhelming sense of guilt for how badly he had treated him while they were sneaking around, and even more so when he ended it. And now the young man was obviously in pain but going out of his way to be friendly, and accommodate him to see his grandchildren when he didn't have to.
"You want a beer?" Randy called out as he took the meat and potatoes out of the refrigerator.
"Please." Proton said finally in the forceful voice that Randy remembered.
Randal couldn't help but laugh at finally seeing a bit of the lover he once knew. He opened another beer and took it into his unexpected guest before moving on to open the patio door and headed outside. Proton didn't even have time to give his thanks as Randy just smiled his usual sly smile and then walked right out to fire up Static's overpriced propane grill.
"Sorry it won't be nearly as amazing as I usually am able ta pull off, but yer son is an asshat that can't handle the magic that is grilling with charcoal. Let it be known that I blame yer sorry butt fer not raising him right." Randy taunted as he lit the grill and then set his beer down before heading back in the house and retrieving the meat to be cooked.
Proton could only smile as the two's conversation had taken on a friendly manor as if nothing bad had ever happened between them. Randy had brought up more than a few times that he found himself unable to hold a grudge, likely as he was use to being his family's punching bag and, in his youth, had no choice but forgive or have no one even seemingly on his side, but Proton was in totally awe to see this in full swing with him of all people. That last conversation they had started to play through his head as he started to grip the bottle of beer in his hand tighter. It was honestly less of a conversation and more just Proton yelling an on slot of insults at his young male lover in an attempt to blame him for Proton not being there for his wife that he had discovered was dying. Proton placed his free hand over his face as he became overcome with the guilt of betraying his wife and hurting his lover than never showed him anything but true admiration and love.
Proton Electro was far from an emotional man, but currently found himself so overcome with his recent relationship failures he started to tear up. He fought as hard as he could to hold back, but he was tired. So very tired, but even more defeated by his own shortcomings. Why did he do nothing but hurt those closest to him? No matter how much money he made, or ease of life he could grant those around him it was all pointless next to the pain, and disappointment he spread in his wake.
He recalled back to when Static was just a teenager and found out he had been cheating on Valerie. It took well over a year after he broke it off from his latest mistress and promised his wife, he'd never sleep with another woman again, before he own son would even acknowledge that he existed. If his family found out that he had been screwing around with his son's wife's brother for the past two years he'd likely be alienated... and poor Randy. He had broken an already broken man. The hate that would be thrust upon that poor boy from the Electro's and the Cheeks would likely send that poor young man to his grave. Yet, here was Randel, extending his kindness to a man that treated him far worse than even his abusive father had. Proton knew full well he didn't deserve Randy's kindness, nor anyone else's... Especially his wife who continued to love him even on her death bed knowing full well what a monster he had been in the name of bettering himself. Fulfilling his own needs alone.
"Uncle Randy! Grandpas hurt!" Blaze yelled out seemingly noticing his Grandfather's tears.
"I'm alright, son." Proton reassured the boy, and other children, as he wiped the few tears that had broken past his weakening emotional shield from his face.
"Come on guys, leave yer papa alone. He's just had too much ta drink." Randy then picked up the other man's beer and started drinking it himself.
"You need water, grandpa." Wes scolded causing Randy to frown as he knew the boy had learned that from Sandy scolding Randy during one of his many drunken states in the past.
"How about y'all go get yer sleeping bags while I get yer grandpa all fixed up?" Randy suggested getting the kids to run off to their rooms. "Are ya ok?" Randy asked the mainly purple furred male as he finished off the last of his beer.
"I'm so sorry, Randy." Proton managed before covering his face again in shame.
"Don't." Randy stated forcefully.
"I owe you far more than just a pathetic apology." Proton started before Randy cut him off.
"Just don't!" Randy now yelled as he went into the kitchen and started getting his homemade tater tots ready for the frier.
"Randy-" Proton started as he stood up and followed the younger man into his son's kitchen.
"It's da past, and I had a really hard time putting it there, so can we just pretend nothing ever happened and nothing terrible was ever said? Please... Just for tonight." Randy started to speak aggressively before his voice started to crack as a few tears slide down his own face. "I forgave ya what feels like forever ago... life is too short ta hold onta bad things."
Proton bowed his head as he pushed hard within himself to keep his own emotions in check. "If that's what you really want." He was finally able to muster out in barely a whisper.
Randy just nodded as he started up the fryer and placed his freshly made potato products in a basket as Proton sulked back to his previous held position on the couch.