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

[monstertea]

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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[solarisirius]

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.

[monstertea]

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.

[solarisirius]

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.

[monstertea]

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?"

[solarisirius]

"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."

[monstertea]

"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."

[solarisirius]

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.

[monstertea]

"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.

[solarisirius]

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.

[monstertea]

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.

[solarisirius]

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.

[monstertea]

"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."

[solarisirius]

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."

[monstertea]

"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."

[solarisirius]

"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.

[monstertea]

"Good, because otherwise I will murder you and make it look like an accident." The venom in his voice is quickly replaced with a soft laugh. He's glad he saved him the trouble of trying to subtly ask what he thought of Kravitz. He's happy that Angus likes him. "I don't know about this good for me business you're talking about," he snorts, because he doesn't want to think about Angus worrying about him or anything like that. He should stop existing the second they're not together, he thinks. "I hope he sticks around too, though." Smiling softly, he hooks his pinkie with Angus's.

[solarisirius]

Angus gives a little shrug, his expression serious for a kid of his age. "Well....you seem lonely, sometimes, is all." Yeah, Taako may not want to think about him worrying about him, but tough tootsies, he does. Just because Taako is the adult doesn't mean he's not someone who he can worry about, and he knows from what he's been able to glean that the elf's life hasn't been great. He deserves lots of good things, and Kravitz, at least so far, seems like a good thing. "So, I'm gonna keep it to myself, and embarrass you whenever I can if we run into him, and it'll all be great!" Grinning widely, he gives their linked pinkies a little shake before letting his hand fall.

[monstertea]

"Yeah, yeah, it's gonna be real great," he grumbles, giving Angus a light shove at the shoulder after he lets go of his pinkie. He officially has way too many emotions going on inside him. The least Angus can do for him is let Taako pretend they don't care about each other, sheesh. "And every time you embarrass me, I am going to make your life hell. And that doesn't count for the swear jar, it's a place and like a baby swear."

[solarisirius]

"Oh, you could never make my life hell, I treasure every moment we spend together," Angus says with wide-eyed sincerity that's just a little too much to be believable, but whatever, that's what he's going on. "And that's fine, if hell is a baby swear, that means I can use it too, since I'm actually a baby according to you."

[monstertea]

"Angus McDonald!" Taako gasps in horror, hands going to his hips. That is not what he meant and the brat knows it. "You can suck up to me all you want, but you don't get to swear. Baby swears are for young adults. I'd say I'm aware you're not a baby, but if you're going to act like one." He shrugs, sighs. "I'm hardly qualified for infant care, and what do babies even need magic for?"

[solarisirius]

"Babies need magic for a lot of things," Angus argues just for the sake of arguing. "What if their bottles get cold and they want to re-heat them? Sacred flame is good for that! Or what if their oatmeal is too hot and they burn their widdle mouths? Ray of frost! And mage hand, of course, could be used to retrieve wayward stuffed animals that fall from their cribs!"

[monstertea]

"Awww, do you need help with getting your wayward stuffed animals?" Taako coos, crouching down so he's at eye level with Angus. "Is widdle Agnes afraid of the monster under the bed trying to get him if he gets out of bed to his teddy bear? Is this you trying to ask if there's a spell to ward off boogeymen? It's okay, little man, you can tell Taako."

[solarisirius]

"The monsters under my bed are scared of me, thank you very much," Angus says primly, crossing his eyes at Taako when he crouches down like that to talk to him. Didn't anyone teach him that that's the worst way to go about talking to kids? "What I am afraid of though is Silvia being mad at me for coming home even later than I already got permission to be." Not that he's scared of his current foster-mom in any kind of serious way, but just in the same way any kid is scared of their mom figure. "Let's get a move on, sir."

[monstertea]

With a good-natured laugh, Taako stands back up. "There's a good point," he says, letting Angus set their pace for the rest of the way. "I'll walk you up to the door and everything, make sure Silvia knows I'm looking out for you since this one's on me." Like all of Angus's foster parents, Taako tries to keep a distance between himself and them, while still maintaining a pleasant persona so they won't refuse to let him see Angus anymore. He just thanks the universe that Angus can keep a straight face when Taako is playing up his manners.