Adam intertwined his fingers with Dexter’s without a moment’s hesitation, almost always accepting the comfort the other man gave to him. Just being in the presence of the love of his life was always calming and comforting, but the extra gesture was much needed and appreciated to keep Adam grounded in this moment.

“I’m overreacting,” he mumbled, momentarily pressing his lips against Dexter’s shoulder and listening to him talk, “I’m overreacting. That’s all. I’m sorry.” The apology sounded weak and honestly, half hearted, but all the panic left Adam feeling slightly exhausted. “It’s okay, this is your day. I just think I care about you too much sometimes.” It was a poor attempt at a joke, but when Adam leaned back, he was smiling slightly, almost cautiously. “We’ll drive there, I don’t mind.”

Dex instinctively moved his cheek to Adam’s hair the moment the other man drew closer to him. He listened quietly, breathing slowly through his nose, a gesture that helped him focus, be patient and be calm. As Adam spoke, Dex moved a hand to his lap where he let it stay palm up, asking for Adam’s hand.

“We could apparate there if you want,” he suggested quietly. “I’d stay by your side all night, hold your hand the whole time even. We can stay for however long you want. Two hours, just one, whatever. You know we only have a couple of friends coming, just you know my siblings, boyfriends, girlfriends, Ozzy, the kids, it’s all family, Adam. We’re all family and we’re all…we’re here to look after you, you know that…right?”

Adam sighed, all but flopping onto the bed beside Dexter. He immediately felt himself drawn to Dexter’s warmth and comfort, the same way he’d been comforted by the other man’s presence before they even had their first date. Adam gently rested his head on Dexter’s shoulder, unsure of how to even start - what could he say to fix this? It wasn’t the first time it’d happened and he knew it wouldn’t be the last, but this was supposed to be a special day.

“I don’t want to ruin your day,” Adam whispered, words slightly muffled by Dexter’s shirt, “and I thought I could do it. But I keep thinking of worst case scenarios. And the dumbest part is that the ones that are least likely to happen are the ones that scare me the most. They always end with us never getting to the party.” 

Dex’s eyes followed Adam as the other man stood. He appreciated the gesture, but he let out a soft sigh through his nose before peeling the suit coat from his shoulders as he walked towards Adam. He dropped the coat on the bed before sitting down beside it and patting the bed on his other side. His eyes were still on Adam, requesting that the other man join him instead of making things harder for them both.

“It’s ok,” he said quietly, a small, warm smile on the corners of his lips, “I texted Oz letting him know we’d be a little late.”

Adam had been so caught up in his own mind that Dexter’s voice caused him to jolt slightly, pulling him back to reality. There was a moment when he was sure that Dexter was going to sit beside him, and they could just stay like that, but then he took in Dexter’s appearance, how polished but relaxed he looked, and Adam remembered where they should be heading now.

He scrambled to his feet quickly, face turning a dark shade of red, more from shame than embarrassment, “Hi.” Adam scrubbed a hand over his face, crossing his arms, trying to make himself look smaller, caving in on himself. “Sorry,” he mumbled, “don’t worry, just. Getting prepared. I’ll be down soon.” But he knew it was a lie, one that he’d already told, and Adam wasn’t even sure why he said it now. Dexter would never buy it.

Dex liked holding out hope no matter what and that was his main problem. He waited six, seven, nine minutes thinking to himself maybe Adam was just making sure he looked just perfect. But at the ten minute mark he couldn’t stop fidgeting and had to bound up the stairs of his-their home to see what exactly Adam was up to. He was hoping to walk in on the man he knew and loved half dressed and ready to yell at him for just barging in instead of knocking even though they were more than familiar with each other’s naked bodies.

Instead there’s a scared looking shell of a person on the ground, trying his hardest to get it together, and the way Dex’s shoulders fell upon seeing that person was enough to let anyone know how the rest of the night was going to unravel.

“Hey,” he says quietly, still standing at the door, willing to give Adam some space for now.

It was like his feet were permanently glued to the bedroom floor. He’d told Dexter ten minutes ago he’d be down in five, and yet he hadn’t moved from his spot. Because he knew, as soon as he did, that he would have to walk downstairs, through the hallways, into the car outside, and drive away, into the open, open, vulnerable outside. And it’s not like he hadn’t been outside - it took a long time, baby steps, just starting with playing with Lyla in the backyard, then walking down the street, and eventually working his way up to even travelling to town to go to the grocery store. But this was so different, because they were going to be outside, for hours, with several people surrounding them. And Adam couldn’t breathe, and he couldn’t move, so instead, he sat on the ground and focused on taking in the deep breaths that just wouldn’t come.

lol | st. angelo

The first few months of school were predictably the most stressful for Adam. The guidance counsellor was constantly swamped with students who were dealing with their own stresses, panicking over their futures, their significant others, grades, parents, anything that could cause them to worry was discussed. Adam was an extremely empathetic person, the worrisome students always affecting him and causing him to be a bundle of nerves for months, usually managing to relax when Christmas time came around and the majority of students had settled into the rush of things.

But now as he stood in his office, arranging papers that were scattered around his desk, he couldn't remember what it felt like to have everything figured out and organized. His office was an unorganized clutter, and he hadn't spoken a human being that was his age in what felt like weeks, but was really a short two days. This included Dexter D'Angelo, the person that he not only missed the most but craved the most. He didn't know how his lover managed to do it, but he seemed to take all of Adam's worries away whenever he was around, with gentle touches and searing kisses that contrasted the careful hands that Adam loved.

As if Dexter knew when he was needed the most, the guidance counsellor heard his office door open and close gently, and he turned to see the man he was just thinking about in front of him. "Hi," he whispered, grin immediately spreading across his face. Instead of hugging him like he would usually do, he side stepped around the other man, pushing on the door to make sure that it was fully closed, twisting the lock into position, before turning back towards Dexter. "I missed you," he admitted quietly while ringing his hands nervously. He wanted so intensely, but was always shy when it came to asking Dexter if he could have what he wanted.

Adam shuffled forward slightly, hands hovering just in front of Dexter's chest, before letting them drop to his sides, biting on his lip deep in thought. "Um." The silence was choking him, making him want to blurt out words before he could think through his sentence, something that never ended well when it came to Adam. Instead of talking, he let out a short sigh, cupping Dexter's face and leaning down, pressing a quick but heated kiss to his mouth, "I missed you," he emphasised, pressing more kisses to the Slytherin's mouth and across his face, hoping he understood what Adam meant without him having to say it.

Oatmeal raisin cookies aren't as good as chocolate chip ones but they're not awful, I feel bad for them.

You are quite the charmer, mister. Roy, we are grown adults, do you really think it'd be okay for us to pull a prank? Or appropriate? How could I dislike you? You've been nothing but good to me. Well looks like someone's already beaten you to it- and then my dad'll beat you to it again, so nice try.

You’re very much welcome, milady. Well, pranking people can be rather fun if you aren’t too extreme, of course. Maybe we should prank someone, it’ll be fun. Well, what can I say? I want to stay on your good side, Lyla. I’d be heartbroken if you disliked me. Oh, really? You’d me my poor office? Then maybe I’ll mess with yours, maybe I won’t.

Y'know, dad, there's nothing wrong with not wanting to talk about certain things.

That's such a lie, I've been trying to get him to talk to people for years, but nothing. What, why me? You know I'm way too passive aggressive for this. Ask Charlie or Seb. Or even Ozzy!

Mhm, that's basically my life motto.

Hey, you’re doing that thing again. Stop avoiding things you don’t want to talk about.

Or at least trying to. And he keeps asking how the rest of us do it. How do you even answer something like that? Don’t tell me both locations sound beautiful, you were supposed to be the tie breaker kid!

Right, baby steps, princess. Baby steps.

Thank you, I don't feel like such a whiny baby any more. I never pranked people, I was too scared to. Kinda wish I did now. You're just saying that to get into my good books- just know that if you find that your office is in complete ruins, it might've been me, it might not've.

Complaining is perfectly okay. It’s a healthy thing as long as you don’t do it too often cause you turn into a grumpy monster. Well, I can’t say I didn’t do a prank here and there when I was a kid so damn my younger self for making messes. Well, that’s good. You look even more lovely when you smile, dear.

Deal.

Yeah, dad, I know.

Aw, that's nice, he's finally breaking out of his shell! The awkward phase was supposed to end years ago. It's not an average day if you don't argue over something extremely trivial with pops. Either way, both locations sound beautiful. 

Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it, okay? Baby steps.

I’ll take you up on that challenge. If you can go all of tomorrow without talking to me once your next trinket is on me.

Look, I don’t…you know talking about him doesn’t upset me, right? It’s been a long time since your father’s memory has been a burden to me and I wish you didn’t feel the need to apologize every time he comes up.

My day was the usual. Same old same old. I walked out of my office and saw your brother trying to socialize so that was new and exciting. He didn’t get very far though, but it’s the thought that counts. Had a spat with your papa about where to vacation this summer. He says Spain, I say Greece. We’ll work it out, or have you kids choose.

My office is intact only because kids know better than to mess with my things. This is why you need to take disciplinary measures with them; so they learn.

They're your bad genes kiddo, I'm a good little apple.

Bad genes! Come on, Ly, we just had this conversation, keep up.

Probably not. But I can try.

Ah, nothing. I know he was really coolio. But anyway, how was your day? Is your office trashed or did I just get lucky?

Can you hold a grudge though, Lyla? Can you really?

Hey, what’s there to be sorry about? That’s a good thing, you know. You’re like the personality copy of the most good-hearted man I knew.

Oh, c'mon, why is this family obsessed with blackmail?!

He won’t. Because you won’t tell him. Cause if you do I’ll tell him you passed that kid that one time cause you were too lazy to grade his paper.

Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. You'll never know.

Yeah, well, I'll deal with that when the time comes.

Not the first time I've heard that. Sorry, dad.

I feel like you will though because I’m your dad and you love me, also because I’m the best.

Well, it’s not a bad time to start. You’re gonna come across a bad kid eventually and at that point you’re gonna have to handle them, you know that, right?

Merlin, you’re just like your father, you know that? I honestly forget who I’m talking to sometimes with you.

I will never forgive you if you do.

I... don't think I've ever given out a detention before. I seriously don't mind all that much anyway, dad, let's just drop it. How was your day?

Watch me, baby girl.

That’s not the point. The point is, if someone is messing with your things then make sure it doesn’t happen again by cracking some skulls. And by cracking skulls I mean, giving detentions to scare the idiots who thought it would be funny in the first place to mess with you.

Ouch. Wait until he hears you said that.

I wasn’t that bad. I blame dad. Bad genes.

Oh, I know, I just like to complain sometimes. Damn kids these days. And every day before and after that. I'm actually in a much better mood now, no frowns seen here.

Kids are crazy like that, pretty lady. But no matter how messy things get, with a couple of spells everything will be back in it’s place. Don’t get frowny, pretty please? With a cherry on top?