There's Some Darkness in Our Sunlight
Chapter Inspiration: I See Fire by Peter Hollens and A Light That Never Comes by Linkin Park.
A/N: Hi everyone! It is good to be back! Special thanks to my Beta, Harmony Valenka Smith, for being a continuing source of advice and much needed coaching while I work on this story and also bearing with me when my ideas become too all over the place.
Once again, this chapter is for all those who read/review/favorite/alert as well as new readers who just so happen to stumble across this story.
Hope you enjoy.
Daffy was having a long night; he was stressed out and felt as though he were about to go crazy. Staying calm was becoming harder and harder each minute. Yet he couldn't imagine what Bugs was probably going through.
The only thing he heard since he got to the police station was that Bugs was being questioned and that was all. It wasn't enough information to calm Daffy's racing heart and shot nerves but it was the only thing he had at the moment.
Rex arrived a couple of hours after Bugs did to make his statement, nursing a black eye and a broken nose. Not that Daffy cared; he didn't even want to be in the same room as Rex, the disgust he felt for the man made his face scowl in loathing and his body shudder out of distaste.
But the worst part of all this was that Daffy wasn't even allowed to see Bugs while everything was going on. Instead, he was told to sit and wait and though he wanted nothing more than to defy those orders, he knew a police station was the wrong place to do it.
Bugs had no qualms about telling the officers the truth, despite knowing that they would consider him in the wrong whether he lied or not, for the main reason being that he wanted to get the interrogation over with as soon as possible. Every second longer he was in that room was a second longer he was away from Daffy, the only real person he wanted to talk to.
It didn't even matter that he hurt Rex, probably an issue someone saner than him would have pondered, or that Rex's injuries would have been a lot more fatal had there not been people around to stop Bugs from inflicting more wounds. All he cared about was what Daffy thought of him now.
Did he think he was some apeshit psycho or some immature guy who had a bad temper and deserved to rot behind cell bars? Bugs didn't know and deep down inside the tension and suspense was eating at him.
As the interrogation was about to finally be wrapped up and the officers' decisions almost made to either book or cite him, a decision Bugs was admittedly anxious to hear himself, another officer joined them.
He gave Bugs a look that one could only explain as apprehension. It puzzled the biker boy as he could see no reason for why a police officer could fear or even be nervous around him. Then the uneasy officer handed the lead interrogator a file and soon all three police men were giving Bugs the same jittery look.
"I-I'm sorry Mr. O'Hare. We d-didn't realize that it was you." Officer Number One admitted while the other two nodded their heads furiously.
Bugs looked down at the shiny handcuffs encircling his wrists and then back up at the officers, checking to see if he wasn't in some weird dream. "What?" He asked.
"Your father is Maltheus O' Hare, inventor of the carrot peeler and owner of most of Malibu's estates. I also hear he's interested in buying some property in Santa Monica." Officer Number One explained.
As realization hit Bugs, also came the outrage. "What are you trying to say?" He questioned, eyes flitting from one policeman to the other. "I know who my father is. I just don't see what that has to do with anything—"
"You're free to go. You're dismissed. This is your first offense and your record is clean. The guy you beat up is still walking around. Really Mr. O'Hare this was a mistake on our part, of course there is no need to tell your father about this." The Officer said, flashing Bugs a worried smile.
"Wait," Bugs halted. "You're letting me go because my father is wealthy and owns most of Malibu? Is this for real?"
The officers didn't even look ashamed; instead, they kept staring at Bugs with guilt etched on their faces.
Bugs felt his faith in humanity declining dramatically. He was disgusted in the American justice system but mostly he was disappointed that he wasn't treated fairly as a citizen because of his wealthy background.
"You're just letting him go!" Rex cried in disbelief at the officer currently explaining to him the situation. "He attacked me like some kind of animal! You can't just let him walk free."
"Listen," the officer began with obvious annoyance and indifference. "You can't mess with the O' Hare's. They have more money and power than you can ever dream. All we need is for Maltheus O'Hare to find out that his son is in jail and that's goodbye to all our jobs.
We all assumed Ash O' Hare moved with his father to Malibu and that their influence was put behind us. Apparently not."
Rex couldn't believe his ears. "This has got to be some kind of joke. He's just some kid from the wrong side of the tracks; he isn't rich or anything of high status. This is ridiculous!"
The officer narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer so only Rex could hear what was about to be said next. "You stay here any longer and I'll arrest you for disturbing the peace, got it?"
Rex blinked but took a step back anyways. "B-but I'm not disturbing the peace."
"You're disturbing my peace." The officer barked, glaring at Rex with nothing but scorn.
Rex returned to sit in the proffered chair he was given and averted his gaze to the two way mirror behind the police officer's back. He still couldn't believe what was happening. He got beat up and yet his attacker was allowed to walk free just like that? And he was getting reprimanded for doing absolutely nothing. It just wasn't fair. What was wrong with the world?
This certainly was unusual. What's more, he was a Plasse man and the Plasse men always got what they wanted: respect, reverence, power over authority. Who was this hooligan who was suddenly more important than he was? Who could steal Daffy right from under him? Who could have the AJS putty in his hands? He didn't know but he would find out.
So this was Daffy's secret. He was dating a student far wealthy than anyone could imagine. It was…different to say the least. He never pegged Daffy for a gold digger or someone to go against the norm and date his student for that matter.
Rex supposed he could tell the Dean and have Daffy be fired and also have the thug kicked out of school but where was the fun in that? No, he still wanted Daffy but wasn't prepared to do anything that could ruin his chances. Daffy was going to pick him one way or another anyways.
It was just a matter of timing.
There were no words to describe the relief Daffy felt upon seeing Bugs walking free for the first time in hours. He hadn't realized he had thought he'd never see him again until the reality of seeing Bugs without handcuffs nor an orange prison jumpsuit struck him like a bolt from the blue.
Daffy wasn't much of a hugger as he preferred his personal space but, this time he didn't even think about it as he drew Bugs into a tight embrace. He buried his face in the bad boy's shirt so the other man wouldn't see the tears and the emotion that had been racking him most of the night.
His heart almost broke in two when he felt strong, warm arms wrap around him and pull him impossibly closer. "I missed you." Bugs whispered against his hair.
"I would say I missed you back," Daffy murmured, the sound a bit muffled because most of his face was pressed into the biker boy's shirt. "But I think that would be the understatement of the century."
The light sound of laughter resonated from Bugs at that, but it was followed by a pained sigh, as if something was torturing the grey haired man and he could only hide it for so long.
Sensing this, Daffy pulled away slightly to look into the eyes of the man he trusted the most. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Bugs took his hand and led him further out of the police station until they were finally outside in the warm night air. "I need to tell you something. I bet you're wondering why they let me go."
The raven-haired man nodded; it was true that it was on his mind, how could it not be? But the unfaltering gratitude that reared up inside him somehow buried the pressing questions and burning need for answers that would otherwise plague him.
For the first time since they met, Bugs' opalescent eyes held doubt and uncertainty. He took Daffy's hand in his and just held it for a moment, appreciating the seconds that the raven haired man was still with him and not heading for the hills yet.
"I haven't been completely honest with you Daffy," Bugs spoke. "I told you my father was rich, I just didn't tell you exactly how rich."
Daffy shook his head in comprehension though he wasn't really sure where Bugs was going with this. What was he trying to say? "Did t-they free you because of that?"
Bugs nodded and averted his gaze from Daffy's, unprepared to tell him more but knowing that it was something he had to do.
Daffy bit his lip. "Jesus. H-how?"
"My father is apparently more powerful than I thought." The biker boy muttered so low and with so much acerbity Daffy almost mistook it as a curse. "Look, I told you I didn't want any of his money and I still don't. I don't want anything to do with him. But his influence is inescapable. As you probably can tell.
When I left, I planned to assume the life of someone else, someone who was free from the ties of the wealthy. I didn't want his inheritance or the burden of following in his footsteps. I hated that life. So I rebelled and became my own man. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, it's just not the kind of thing you tell someone."
"So you l-lied to me?" Daffy choked, feeling the surprise and hurt squeezing his chest, making it hard to breathe let alone speak. But something else was racking him, something like disappointment. How could this happen? Deep down he always knew he wasn't good for Bugs and now he learnt he wasn't good enough.
Daffy never came from much and had to work for everything he ever had. He wasn't special or born with a silver spoon in his mouth. How could he ever compare to Bugs?
The taller man seemed very apologetic as he squeezed Daffy's smaller hand in his. It was a comforting gesture but all it did was run Daffy's blood cold. "I know I should have told you the truth. I figured I could hide it but then—"
"Then you met me and figured why not, right? Why not lie to me too?" Daffy cried, pulling his hand away from Bugs'.
"Daffy, it isn't like that I swear. I'm not even that guy. I never cared about our differences, I don't even like to think about my family anymore. I never fit in with them. And to be honest, I think they're glad to have me gone. At least I won't be around to embarrass them anymore." Pain flickered in Bugs' magnetic eyes and Daffy felt it go straight to his own heart. But how? How could he still have feelings for Bugs when the biker boy had been lying to him this whole time as if he were some sort of sap?
"I jeopardized my job for you!" Daffy snapped. "It isn't the same for me. I lose this job and I'll lose everything. You can't possibly understand that." Daffy fought the urge to wrap his arms around himself. The chill was creeping up his spine and spreading to the rest of his body. He felt so empty as if he'd been used and thrown away like a piece of tissue.
Bugs cracked a mirthless smile and in his eyes, Daffy saw the light that usually burned so bright give way to darkness. "Maybe I can't, and if you want me to be honest, maybe I never will. But at least you have a family that loves you. That still cares about you whether you're a professor or a fisherman. I've never had that. And I would give up everything, everything I ever had to have the life you have."
"You know what's worse?" Bugs continued, raking a hand through his always perfectly coiffed, grey hair. "It never would be enough. Not the money or loving family or respectable job or even the liberation of a life without rules. None of that would ever matter because I've realized that what I've been chasing all along, is you. And if I lose you, I don't just lose everything, I lose all that I have ever wanted."
The tears rolled down Daffy's face of their own volition, melting some of the ice that froze him in place. "I'm sorry," he gasped. "But I—we can't. Not anymore."
"No." Bugs intended for it to be a protest but somehow it sounded like a plea. He tried to reach for Daffy but stopped when he saw the other man's eyes. Their dark bourbon depths were totally frozen over, leaving nothing but a cold, lifeless gaze that seemed miles away.
"We can't always have everything we want." Daffy whispered, but his voice was automatic with very little emotion.
"I'm not prepared to have you walk out of my life." Bugs begged. "If it's time you need, then I'll give you all the time in the world. Just don't do this."
But Daffy seemed already resigned to his decision. "Goodbye Bugs." He said grimly, turning his back and walking away. The other man didn't bother to go after him this time. He just watched Daffy disappear further and further out of his life like some sort of ghost, as he looked on.
The graceful and impossibly beautiful Victorian exterior came into view as the cab pulled into the vast parking area of the O'Hare Manor.
When the cab driver left him with his bags and nothing but the stark bleakness of the empty foyer in front of him, Bugs briefly pondered if he made the right decision until a middle-aged, chestnut brown-haired woman suddenly walked out of the huge mansion doors with a butler in tow, to greet him.
Her ice blue eyes, usually so cold and joyless, held—for the first time in years—something akin to happiness upon seeing him in front of her, finally.
Bugs smiled, feeling his heart swell and admitting to himself that he actually did miss her. "Hello mother. Long time no see."
"Oh Ashton!" She beamed, drawing him in for a firm hug. He hugged her back just as tightly, basking in the moment for as long as it would last.
When they broke apart, his mother ushered for Chives, the butler, to get his bags. Before Bugs could protest, she took him by the wrist and led him inside.
"Ashton, you know he would like to speak with you." His mother said cautiously, knowing the situation between her son and his father. "Now that you're here for good he wants to patch things up."
Bugs was about to say something but thought better of it, deciding that it was too early in the day for such drama. Instead, he let his mother lead him to his father, all the while whispering reassuring phrases to him.
Maltheus O'Hare stood facing the huge picture windows of the greeting room, wine glass in one hand, staring at nothing in particular but seeing everything.
There was a noise from behind him and when he turned around, he found his wife, Barbara smiling cheerfully while his son fixed him with an unreadable gaze.
"I see your little experiment hasn't gone so well." Maltheus remarked, taking a casual sip of his wine to cover the amused smile breaking across his face. "Was the humble life a bit too conventional for your rebellion?"
Bugs tilted his head up defiantly. "I came back because it was time."
Maltheus narrowed his emerald eyes at his son. "I hope you are done with your rubbish because I refuse to stand for it. As long as you remain under my roof you will be expected to act like a man of this family."
"You mean heartless and uncaring? Yeah, I think I can manage that." Bugs spat.
"Don't you sass me, boy." His father warned, fingers tightening around the wine glass.
Suddenly his mother interrupted. "Now, Maltheus I'm sure Ashton didn't come here for you to treat him like a child and I'm sure he won't act like one. He wants to be here and accept the lifestyle we live. Don't chase him away again."
The grey haired man before him gave his wife a loving smile before turning a serious expression on to his son. "Very well. It's good to have you back." He muttered.
A/N: Barbara is loosely based off of Babs bunny. Poland Springs is that company that makes that really good water, but is just a fictional town in the city of Los Angeles. I know the AJS can be corrupt sometimes but I do have some faith in it, despite what this chapter might have you believe. Maltheus is a very strict father but he's the only father Bugs has, so let's hope these two sort out their differences. Thank you all for reading! See you next chapter.