Here's chapter 3! Please enjoy
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and am making no money off of this work.
Expect Ch. 3 sometime next weekend
"John it's time for breakfast!" Jim called down the hallway from the kitchen.
John had been living with him for a week now and seemed to have settled into the routine well enough. And Jim, well he was utterly in love with the small child. Though Jim had plans for today.
John shuffled into the room, still slightly skittish though he gave Jim a small, shy smile before settling at the table. Jim placed a plate in front of John, full of nutritious foods, his boy needed them. He then settled himself across from the boy.
"So John, I was thinking we could go into town today." The boy's eyes jumped up before looking back down at his plate.
"Yes sir." Jim clenched his fist below the table before letting out a gentle breath. He still could not break john of the habit to call him sir. Not only did it mean John was uncomfortable with him still, Jim was only 24 for god's sake, and he was nowhere old enough to be called sir. Though Daddy had a nice ring to it he was not going to ask the boy to call him that. He did not want to scare the child away.
"John." He spoke softly, but firmly. John's eyes looked up at him fearful for a moment before he relaxed.
"Sorry…Jim." Soft and shy and terrified of rebuttal.
"It's alright John, no need to apologize, you'll figure it out soon." He smiled at the boy and was gifted with a quick flash of upturned lips and teeth.
"Once you finish eating go ahead and change and then we will head out alright?"
"Yes si…Jim" Another set of smiles before the boy ran off, but not before washing his plate and setting it to dry. A sad smile passed Jims lips.
"Someday, things will be alright John, someday." Jim murmured as he shuffled off to get ready.
Jim and John were walking around town, John's small hand barely gripping at Jim's pant leg, obviously worried about the response he would get if he gripped even harder. Jim sighed before gently gripping the hand in his own.
For a moment John tensed up, expecting to yelled at or thrown aside, but instead Jim just held his hand and John gradually relaxed.
John was very calm at first, looking resolutely forward and not letting anything grab his attention. But Jim watched as John slowly relaxed and began to look around, excitement filling his eyes.
Jim led them into their first stop of the day, a toy store. John currently only had some books and a few toys that Jim had some of his minions bring, but he wanted John to pick something out. They wandered in and John's eyes instantly brightened at all the colorful toys, though Jim noticed the way his face went a little sad. Jim frowned but told John to go ahead and wander. John looked at him quizzically, before his face hardened and almost looked betrayed for a moment before he went ahead and systematically went up and down each aisle. Jim was confused, what did that look mean.
John walked the aisles slowly, with an odd deliberation, but he did not look at the toys, he looked straight ahead. Jim followed him for the first three aisles before getting fed up.
"John!" He snapped. The boy jumped making Jim feel guilty, but Jim was trying to do something nice, why did the boy act like this was a betrayal.
The boy turned to him slowly, fear evident in his eyes. Jim took a deep breath before kneeling before the blond.
"John, why don't you look at the toys, I want you to pick something out." Jim said gently.
The boy's face went cold and he shook his head before lowering not only his eyes but his entire face. Jim frowned. What was wrong with the boy? It was just toy….oh.
Dammit Jim what is wrong with you! The man thought to himself. Of course, the boy probably never had a toy in his life. And from what he understood of the boys parents they often denied John the smallest pleasures. Jim would not be surprised if they had offered something to the child before snatching it away, laughing at the heartbroken look on the boys face.
Jim picked the small child up, (so small, excessively so) and took him to the front. He sat John down on a play mat and told him to stay put.
Jim then wandered up and down the aisles grabbing this and that. He had about 5 different toys (he wanted more but he could only hold so much and he did not want to leave John alone for too long) before he went to pay. He took the bag and Johns hand (John looked surprised) and they headed outside. A quick text and there was a minion at his side to take the bag from him.
And without a word Jim lead John down the street again. Time for something to eat. What would be good, something John could eat but was also palatable for Jim.
Jim looked at Johns face and once again saw the brightening of eyes, then the sorrow that took over as John saw the ice cream parlor.
"John, would you like some ice cream?" Perhaps not the best thing for lunch but he wanted to spoil his little boy.
"No thank you Si-Jim" Jim frowned. John had probably been taught to believe that he didn't deserve anything, and considering his response when Jim asked he had probably asked if he wanted something then laughed at.
Well then. "Well it sounds delicious to me so do you mind if we have some for lunch?"
"O...of course not si-Jim." Jim beamed. They headed over, settling at a table and waited for a waitress while they perused the menus. Well Jim perused and John sat on his hands and looked resolutely down at the table.
"Hmmm, what's better John, chocolate or vanilla." John glanced up in surprise.
"I…I've never had chocolate sir but I've heard its good." Jim ignored the sir.
"Okay then, two scoops of chocolate each, in a bowl with waffle cones and rainbow sprinkles please." Jim told the waitress. She smiled at them both.
"Of course." She flashed flirty eyes at Jim, though the man ignored her until she walked away. They sat in silence until the ice cream was brought over, by a teenage boy this time.
Jim and John stared at each other in silence for a bit until Jim gave up and took a bite of the ice cream in front of him before giving the boy an encouraging look. Slowly, so slowly John reached out and took a bite. The look of surprised joy on his face was worth it.
