monstertea | [TAZ] i know i like to draw that line when it starts to get too real

[TAZ] i know i like to draw that line when it starts to get too real

The problem isn't that the kid is too young to walk himself home, it was the neighborhood. Taako doesn't live in the slums, but his neighborhood isn't really a place for kids to wander around alone, either. Especially a boy detective who does't know how to keep his nose out of other people's business. That's why he's stuck with the kid in the first place, or so he reminds himself when his brain starts to think too fondly of him.

He walks at a languid pace next to Angus, knowing but not acknowledging that he's in no hurry to go home. "You keep working on that mage hand," he says as they walk through a neighborhood much nicer than Taako's. "Just don't go trying anything fancy on your own, little dude." It's a historic area where buildings have been converted into homes and quickly filled by the hoity-toity type of people who like white picket fences and employ other people to take care of their homes. It's easily the nicest foster home Angus has been in yet. So Taako could have dropped him off at the corner, it isn't a neighborhood that sees trouble. He tries to avoid run-ins with Angus's family, but he always has an excuse to see him to his door. At least with this neighborhood he has the easy excuse that it's just interesting to look at the houses, to answer Angus about what each building used to be. Yeah, he knows shit, too. He's just trying to remind the kid that he isn't smarter than him, he's not trying to impress him.

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Almost without thought, Angus holds out his hand, expression expectant. "Swear jar." Magnus said it was a bad habit to get into, swearing around children, and both Mookie and Angus were supposed to hold their respective father and guardian responsible for keeping their language clean.

"Now I'm grateful I haven't slipped up," Kravitz chuckled. "And Taako, please don't encourage him to use magic to browbeat people into submission. Just....try not to get into fights period." A fond smile crosses his face. "I can't see you ever punching someone, to be frank. Not because I think you're incapable of it, but it doesn't seem like you'd enjoy literally getting your hands dirty." Of course, that's the exact opposite of a dig; if anything, he sounds adoring.

Taako groans, loud and long, as he digs in his pocket to find change. Like a bratty child, he managed to hold the dull note until he's dug out a quarter and tossed it to Angus. "Still gotta get Magnus back for this crap," he mutters, settling back into his seat. "Never had a swear jar when I was a kid." Nope, it was old school with his aunt; if she caught him cussing–and she had to catch him at it, first–he got a good swat wherever she could first get him.

It's hard to stay irritated with Kravitz like that, though. That fond smile, that adoring tone of voice. His annoyance is easily wiped away by it and he's just able to keep from smiling in return. Kravitz is too good at unraveling the threads of his facade. "Got me dead to rights on that one, though I've used magic for a fight or two before." He says it like the punchline of a joke, but the one fight he's been in wasn't funny at all and he hates to even think of it. So of course it's a joke. "Not that I'm trained for that, so you can just imagine what a show that was."

"I'm sure you'll think of something to do to get back at him," Angus hums, not looking bothered as he pulls a small plastic pig from his backpack and drops the quarter into it. The swear jar is actually a pretty ingenuous idea, according to Magnus (if anyone bothered to ask him). It's a way for money to travel from the tsundere elf to his not kid, without the elf getting al weird about it (which he would) or Angus feeling like he should refuse (which he also would). Plus, any amount is suitable to the swear jar, from pennies to quarters to dollar bills. So Angus can get snacks with his friends after school when he's in a less than ideal home situation and Taako swears around the kid .01 percent less. Win-win, says Magnus.

"Have you now?" Kravitz asks, raising his eyebrows. "Did someone not agree on the flowers you recommended for their space or a paint color?" Of course, considering Taako presented the information like a joke, he's playing along, none the wiser. "And even if you aren't trained in battle magic, your school adapts to it very well. I can't imagine you'd be too terribly outmatched if it really came down to it."

"Ugh, this guy was a real piece of sh–" He stops himself barely, glancing at Angus like he's the one who almost cussed, before continuing. "A real piece of work. Goes along with everything, never says a word against it, until suddenly, one day, everything is wrong!" Taako gestures widely with one arm when he says "everything", grimacing. "You don't tell an expert how to do their job, ch'yeah? But no, he figures he's seen enough, he's basically the same level as me."

Taako lets out an indignant snort, leaning on the table. "Well, we had it out," he goes on, sipping his drink. He doesn't remember the fight clearly; he had been drinking and hadn't expected to see the man. Yelling led to punching led to him casting a spell or two and then everything had been chaos as their brawl was broken up. "I walked away a little worse for the wear, but I got my point across to him."

He looks at Angus, pointing at finger at him. "Tip one if you're gonna fight, make sure you're of a higher level of magic so you've got the immediate advantage."

"I can't imagine anyone telling you what to do, expert or not, so I can't imagine that went well," Kravitz says, looking sympathetic. Fighting, violence and the like....it's never really been his cup of tea, and for all that Taako was just giving him a hard time for not appearing tough enough to be a soul bounty hunter, he doesn't exactly peg the elf as being exactly eager to start throwing punches. "I'm glad you were okay."

"Me too," Angus says sincerely, only to look exasperated. "How am I supposed to figure that out, sir? It's not like a video game where I can just check someone's stats and find out if they're higher than a level 2 or whatever."

Taako laughs, waving away their concern. He was more than a little worse for the wear, but he thinks he at least got away without any scars. He's pretty sure he remembers using scorching ray and that had to leave a nasty burn wound. His own wounds healed just fine with time, so far as he's been able to tell, and he's vain enough to check himself over for blemishes on the regular.

"You're supposed to be the smart one," he says with just as much exasperation. "Can't you like, Sherlock style analyze people or something?"

"I mean, I can, but it's not perfect," Angus says, looking a bit flustered. "And I definitely don't know if I have the sense to guess someone's magic level. I usually just notice small stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" Kravitz asks, genuinely curious, which is enough to make the boy perk up like some kind of puppy.

"Um..." Sitting back in his chair, he looks at Kravitz, studying the man up and down. "I could tell from when you were standing up at the counter that your main form of exercise is jogging. It's in your leg muscles and definition." Slowly, he cocks his head to the side. "And you're left handed. There's ink smudges on the side of your left hand and not your right." A shrug. "Just little things like that."

"Little?" Kravitz repeats, looking thoroughly impressed. "Taako, you didn't tell me he was so talented."

"I told you he was stupidly smart," Taako says, almost a hiss like they're not supposed to be talking about it. He looks a touch proud, though. The only thing that comes close to being as great as him being complimented is hearing Angus get complimented. As much as he huffs and puffs over it, he thinks Angus deserves every last bit of it.

"See, eventually you'll be able to size people up magically like that." He tosses his hair back, continuing loftily. "It'll take a while of course, but if you follow my tutelage then, well, as long as you can learn everything as well as I know it, you should be able to do it."

"I don't think "smart" does him justice," Kravitz says, amusement twinkling in his eyes and the expression on his face soft when Angus ducks his head a little, smiling so big and wide at being complimented by the elf. He's heard Taako talk about the boy before, but he hasn't seen them interacting since they accosted him at his house what seems like forever ago. "I'm smart. He's brilliant."

"You're much too nice to me, sir," Angus sputters, his cheeks red, but just like when Taako called him "stupidly smart", he looks so pleased, it kind of makes Kravitz want to compliment him more. "Of course I'll follow your lessons, sir! You know I'm a good study! And with a wizard as talented as you, I know I still have a lot to learn, but who better to teach me?"

"Hoo boy, don't compliment him too much!" Taako reaches across the table, ruffling Angus's hair until it's good and messy. There's a fond smile on his face for a moment, just a blink and you missed it beat of a second. "He might not be now, but his head's gonna get huge if people keep on about what a genius he is."

When he sits back, he looks pleased with himself. He knows he's a shit wizard, but he's happy to enjoy being "talented" in Angus's eyes until he's old enough to know better. "Heck yeah, and I'm a great teacher, too. Most people would get charged top dollar for this shit. Real lucky kid."

Angus looks a little put out when his hair is ruffled like that, but he manages to finger comb the curls back into some semblance of order without a terrible amount of effort. "I'm very humble," he huffs. "Unlike you."

It makes Kravitz smile himself to see that soft, fond look on Taako's face, even though it's only there for a second. The elf acts so aloof, like he's just doing things for Angus to be nice and like the boy doesn't matter that much to him, but those little looks and the pride in his voice speak volumes. "Does this mean I'm going to have to pay for lessons if you decide to give them to me?" he asks teasingly. "And I happen to find Taako's self-confidence refreshing, and endearing."

"Self confidence," Angus repeats, snorting. The elf is downright conceited sometimes.

There's a second where Taako looks surprised at Kravitz's words, but the expression quickly melts into a smile. It's silly how happy it makes him to hear that Kravitz doesn't find his conceit off-putting. At best, people tend to find it funny, never refreshing or, and this is what really gets Taako, endearing.

"Self-confidence is important," he tells Angus airily before addressing Kravitz's question. "I'm sure we can work out some kind of payment plan, my man." His smile teeters into a grin and, oh, to hell with Angus's presence–he adds a wink for good measure.

Kravitz blushes, although it's only mild- or at least, it was mild, before Angus makes a noise at the way Taako winks at him. "Ohhhh, are you suggesting he pay you in kisses?" he asks with a syrupy sweet voice. "Or something more grown-up I'm not supposed to know about, which I really don't, because ew."

"That's quite enough out of you," Kravitz scolds, his cheeks scarlet, and if the boy wasn't already done with his muffin, he would have taken it as punishment. "What did you gentlemen have planned for the rest of the day?" he asks, wanting to steer the subject somewhere else.

Taako wheezes with laughter at Angus's reaction and Kravitz scolding him. Having to make a deal to get Angus to keep his mouth shut about Kravitz is worth it if only for this moment. He'd give him a high-five if he thought Kravitz wouldn't fuss at him not to encourage the behavior.

"Gentlemen," Taako snorts, still tickled. "I didn't plan anything really, figured we'd go with the flow or whatever Agnes wants. What about you?"

"I just got finished helping my mother move some stuff in the garage," Kravitz answers, draining the last of his latte. "I stopped here on my way home, since I walk right by it. I didn't have any plans aside from maybe some paperwork and trying to throw something together for dinner."

"Taako said that you had a skeleton at your house," Angus says, sounding curious. "One that used to be a real person. Can I see?"

The question takes him aback a bit, for one because he didn't think the kid would really be interested, and for two he hadn't exactly planned on having guests. "I don't mind," he says honestly. "Taako is at my house enough for work, though, so I'm not sure if he's eager to sacrifice his weekend there."

"Oh, yes, what a sacrifice it would be!" Taako rests the back of his hand against his forehead, leaning his head away dramatically. "I long for a change of scenery!" He draws a long sigh and then leans on the table, quick as a whip, pointing at Angus. "You and I are going to have a talk about secrets, kid." He pointedly doesn't look in Kravitz's direction. "A very serious one."

He pauses on that statement for a moment, glaring at Angus, letting the full weight of his words sink in. He grabs his drink as he sits back, finishing it off with a noisy slurp of the straw. "For sure, though, I am all about hanging with you more if you don't mind the kid's curiosity. Just give me like, a sign or something if you want us out of your hair. Don't wanna keep you from that paperwork, it sounds real exciting."

When Taako leans on the table in front of him, Angus leans in, his voice dropped to a whisper. "We can have as many conversations as you want, sir, but you've never dated someone in the whole time I've known you," he hisses. "I'm going to milk this for all it's worth."

Kravitz saintly ignores them, since he honestly can't understand what they're saying at the moment anyways. "Honestly, it's fine. I'm not so selfless a person that I'd extend the invitation if I didn't want to." At the mention of his paperwork, he makes a disgusted face. "Someday I'm going to get myself a secretary to help with some of this, doing paperwork is my least favorite thing on the planet."

While Kravitz is talking, Angus packs his book away into his bag, gathering the napkins and Taako's empty cup to take to the garbage so they can leave.

"So glad I don't have to do any paperwork," Taako says with a pleased look. Merle knows he messes up his paperwork on purpose, but the argument got old quickly. The only time Taako does paperwork is if they're really in a rush period, and then only because he'll be made to do it over again if he messes it up.

Standing, he takes a moment while Angus is away from the table to lean into Kravitz. "Seriously, though, I'm not gonna be insulted if you decide to kick us out after a while. I know that chilling with kids isn't everyone's thing."

Angus being a nosy brat aside, he's kind of looking forward to the three of them spending time together. His student-sidekick-whatever and his... whatever Kravitz is that isn't a boyfriend because a handful of dates doesn't mean a relationship. It shouldn't matter what Kravitz thinks of Angus or if he wants to be around him. It should be awkward, that's what it should be.

Kravitz is quietly pleased to have Taako leaning into him, and does absolutely nothing to discourage this. "I like kids," he admits honestly. "Even ones that previously thought I was a lich." True, he's a little old to be having his own children at thirty-something, but he's always been very keen on adopting, and still very much wants to become a father someday in the future. And if the far-off future has an elf and a fifth grader instead of whatever he'd previously pictured for himself, then that's even better.

Not that he's thinking about that. (He doesn't even know what Angus's situation is, he can't just be going around wanting to adopt other people's kids, that's creepy.)

"Are we ready?" Angus asks when he returns, shouldering his book bag and looking at the two men expectantly. "We walked here, so unless you drove, we're hoofing it."

"I also walked," Kravitz says. "I hope that the hike won't be too much for your delicate constitution, dear," he says to Taako specifically.

Kravitz isn't as generous with the pet names as Taako is, so it makes him smile when he's called dear, even if he has to scoff at the idea of having a delicate constitution. "Please, these boots were made for walking," he huffs, stepping away to lead the way away from the cafe. They really aren't, though they're better than his most of his shoes. He doesn't have a car, though, so he's used to walking a good bit.

And he's glad to hear Kravitz likes kids. He's not much of a kid person himself, but damn if Angus hasn't wormed his way into his heart. In spite of him trying to keep from getting too attached to Kravitz, he's pleased to have another part of his life that he easily fits into.

Later (much later), when the evening is done, pizza has been ordered and consumed, Jenkins has been dressed up, and a movie has been watched, it's time for Taako and Angus to make their departure. Angus's home isn't far from Kravitz's, so his family had been okay with him staying out a little later than he usually did when he was spending his Saturdays with Taako. He'd enjoyed himself a lot, for all that he'd made the suggestion largely to get on Taako's nerves, and he kind of hopes that Kravitz will stick around. He's a steadying presence, easily able to keep up with Taako's sharp wit but also reign him in and be the voice of reason as necessary.

It's dark outside when Kravitz closes the door behind them, watching until they're down the walkway and back out on the sidewalk before disappearing into his house once more, leaving the two of them alone. "That was fun," he comments to the eld idly.

"It was, was it?" Taako hums thoughtfully. He means it, though. It was fun and the constant buzz of his brain had quieted some during the day. What he had worried was a situation that would have him on edge the whole time had been entirely too comfortable. Thinking about it warms him through as much as it makes him nervous.

"Now," he says, meandering down the sidewalk towards Angus's house. "I think it's time you and I had a talk, little man. I let you get away with this"–he gestures back towards Kravitz's house–"so I think it's fair I tell you to keep your trap shut and you do it."

Edited 2017-04-02 03:51 (UTC)

Angus nods his agreement, because yes, he did just say he enjoyed it, thanks so much for paying attention sir. Their pace as they walk is leisurely, and they definitely aren't in any hurry, but he finds himself wishing they were maybe moving a little faster because whoops, he's in trouble.

"Keep my trap shut about what?" he asks with a bit of a huff. "Everything went fine."

"That's not the problem." Taako sighs as if to say "look what I have to put up with". This should be simple–tell Angus not to tell anyone about him and Kravitz, problem solved. But he knows the chances he won't have to explain himself are poor. "Look, whatever Krav and I have going on, it's nobody's business. You know, and whatever, that's fine I guess, today was-was-it was fine, it wasn't bad. Merle and Magnus? Those bozos think we're still just flirting and that's it."

"Ohhhhh," Angus says, nodding gravely. "I mean, yeah, duh, of course I'm not gonna tell them." Kid genius here, okay? "I like Mr. Kravitz a lot. He's nice, and funny, and definitely not a lich. And it seems like you like him too. He's good for you, so I want him to stay around. The other sirs poking their noses into things aren't going to encourage that, so your secret is safe with me." He seals his statement by holding out his pinkie.

[TAZ] i know i like to draw that line when it starts to get too real

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