#verbal fighting | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rainy-wallflower · 2 months

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I totally did not scroll through my entire blog twice in an attempt to ensure that I had actually posted all of the little stories about my guys noooooooooooooooooooooo

ANYWAY

here's the one about Alex that I TOTALLY didn't forget to post lol

Alex had gotten used to hospital rooms. Ever since he’d been alive, his father had been sick. No one would tell Alex what was going on with his father, but they all assured him he’d be fine, though he never seemed to get any better. Eventually, after going in and out of the hospital for a few years, they gave him a permanent room. At every chance he could get, the five year old convinced the family butler to drive him to the hospital so he could talk to his dad. He’d take his backpack after school and get his dad to sign things instead of his mother. The young boy could talk for hours about his friends at school, his assignments, and all sorts of other things he was learning. His father would sit back and listen to it all, interrupting only occasionally to ask a question, which Alex was happy to answer.

However, there were many visits where something would happen and a doctor or a nurse would rush in after a loud beeping sound pierced the room. Alex would watch in fear and they messed with his dad’s tubes and things before leaving once more with promises to check in regularly. The whole ordeal usually made Alex cry. He didn’t know how to identify it yet, but the fear of losing his dad always spiked in those moments. He’d run over to his dad’s bedside and climb in to cuddle next to the larger man, avoiding any tubes and wires if he could. His dad would always scoop him up and place the little boy on his lap, whispering assurances to him as the little boy listened to his father’s heartbeat, still going strong.

“It’s alright, my little mountain man,” he cooed, gently rocking the boy. “You have nothing to worry about. Your papa is a strong man,” he’d flex for the young boy, despite not having much muscle anymore, but it would still make Alex giggle through his tears. “I’ll make it through alright. And I have a lot of great people looking after me. They’re not going to let anything happen either.”

Alex was nearly six when it happened. The whole family was called to the hospital in an emergency. Upon arriving Alex noticed that the familiar beeping that he’d learned to associate with his father’s heartbeat was slower than normal. His breathing was shallow and instead of tubes in his nose he had a mask over his face to let him breathe. One by one, everyone was allowed in the room with him for some, possibly final, one on one time. When Alex was allowed to enter, his chest felt hollow and he stared at his father as fear clouded his mind. His father must have noticed because he smiled as gently as he could and patted the space next to him. Alex padded over and crawled into the bed, nestling himself up against his father’s chest as he had many times before.

“You know, Alex,” his dad started. “I’m a little glad to see you’re not crying.”

The young boy looked up in surprise. “Really? But…everyone’s acting like this is a really sad time. I-I’m sad too, but I just don’t feel like crying this time. I think I feel…empty,” Alex mumbled.

“That’s okay bud,” his dad assured him. “You don’t always have to cry when you’re upset.” A large hand started to pet Alex’s head and the young boy snuggled further into his father’s slow-rising chest. “Hey. I don’t know if anyone has told you, but they don’t think I’ll be around much longer,” he said sadly. “I’m going to miss you. You coming in here and telling me about your week were some of the best moments while I was here, mountain man.”

“Don’t say that,” Alex croaked. The hollow feeling in his chest expanded and suddenly it felt like a great cavern had opened inside of him. “You’re gonna make it. You’re strong and have a great team looking after you.” The man beneath him chuckled.

“That’s true.” There was a short pause before his father sighed. “Alex, look at me real quick.” The young boy pulled away to look up at his father and two pairs of identical green eyes met. The older man smiled gently and continued to run a hand through Alex’s hair. “I know that you’re going to do amazing things with your life, my son. The passion you have while talking about what you do at school is something I want you to carry with you your entire life. And, I hate to say it because I love your mother to death, but I know she’s going to want you to help with the family business when you’re old enough.” Alex made a face, causing his father to chuckle. “I know, I know. Not very exciting stuff, huh? But listen, she’s going to push for it until you agree. But if you don’t want to do it, then don’t agree, okay?

“You are your own person, and I would love nothing more than for you to go and do whatever you want to do when you’re grown up. That’s for you to decide. The world may throw a lot of things at you and try to keep you from your dreams, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to fight back. I call you my little mountain man for a reason, Alex. You’re so strong and I know that nothing can move you when you put your mind to it. Keep that in mind as you grow up, okay?”

“...Okay.” Alex searched his father’s eyes, looking for any sign that these wouldn’t be their last words together, but his father just smiled sadly.

“I love you, my son,” he murmured, as if it were a secret to share just between the two of them. “Even if I leave you, I promise I’ll watch over you however I can. Now, go send in your younger brothers. I’d like to see the two of them together, please.”

Not even a month later the family was dressed in black, tears quietly streaming down their faces as a coffin was gently dropped into the ground on a sunny afternoon, the type of day that he’d loved so much. Alex held onto his eldest sister’s sleeve, watching it through blurry vision. It wasn’t until they were out of sight from any visitors that all the siblings broke down with each other, screaming and crying into each other’s shoulders, allowing their true feelings out instead of keeping it in for any press that might have been present. Even the youngest ones were crying, even if they weren’t sure what for.

After that, their mother officially took over everything. She was given the law firm her husband had created on top of the business she’d been running. With the double workload she nearly disappeared from her childrens’ lives, save for one. She spent a lot of time with her eldest daughter, Azalea, but usually left the children in the care of her housestaff as she went about her day dealing with business.

_____

“Aleeeeeex!” The boy’s bedroom door burst open as his older sister, Terra, glared at him, her brown eyes narrowed in a stare that would make any person freeze in their tracks, but Alex was used to it by now. “How did you get a perfect score on your most recent math test?”

Alex frowned, unsure of why his sister was upset. “How do you even know about that? I didn’t show it to anyone but Lizzie.”

“She put it on the fridge!” Terra pouted. “We can all see it!”

“Oh,” Alex blushed a little, looking off to the side. “I didn’t know she would do that.”

“Uh huh,” Terra barged in, closing the door behind her and dropping a textbook on the floor. “Well, since you’re so good at math these days, teach me.” The younger boy slipped off his bed and looked at Terra’s textbook before making a face.

“I don’t know any of this!” He cried. “This is all big kid stuff! You know this more than I do. Go study on your own and you might actually pass your tests!”

“You’re the one who’s always saying that three years isn’t that big of a difference!” Terra said, crossing her arms. “Besides, if you’re in advanced math classes they’re probably teaching you this-”

“They’re teaching us stuff one grade up at most! I’m not learning about…long division,” he said, frowning at the textbook once more. “If you want to sit in here and study I can’t stop you, just be quiet and don’t expect me to help you.” Alex climbed back up on his bed, resuming reading the book he’d started before Terra barged in.

“Be quiet? Since when do you care about being quiet when people are studying?” Terra pouted, opening up her notebook.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alex asked, his attention being pulled to his older sister again.

“I mean,” Terra huffed with a smirk on her face. “I can think of so many study sessions between me and Azalea where we couldn’t concentrate because you and Dimitry were running up and down the halls, giggling and screaming like there was nothing happening other than your playing. Do you know how hard it is to concentrate when people are shrieking right outside your door?”

“Are you seriously complaining about kids playing?” Alex asked, incredulously. “Some of my teachers say that’s what kids are supposed to be doing. Wouldn’t you rather play than do your homework?”

“Of course I would,” Terra huffed, pushing her long, dark hair out of her face. “But mom wouldn’t allow it. You’ll see soon. Once you hit third grade she’ll really get on you about making sure your grades are good.” She glanced up at Alex before focusing on her textbook again. “Though I guess she doesn’t really have to worry about you, huh?”

“What happened to being quiet?” Alex asked, flopping back on his bed and putting his hands over his ears. “If you’re going to be so obsessed with what mom wants you to do, then shut up and start studying!”

Terra glared at him. “Consider it payback,” she spat. “You were so loud during my study sessions so I think I can be loud during my study sessions, even if I’m in your room. I mean, seriously, this is only a fraction of what Azalea had to go through. It got even worse once Parker could chase after you two. Childish laughter is super annoying when you have a tutor yelling at you for getting a single question wrong on your most recent test. I know Azalea hated it too. Like, what’s the point of running around, screaming and laughing when one day you’re going to have to throw it all aside and focus on something completely different? Did you know that mom took away all of my dolls once third grade started? I wasn’t allowed to have any because she wanted me to focus on my grades. And yet you three get to run around and play as if she won’t do the same to you! I wish I had a muzzle, or something. Anything to keep you from making noise because it’s just so-

A slam made the older girl pause. Alex had closed his book and fixed his older sister with a glare. “Gee. Thanks. That really helps a lot,” he said sarcastically. “Maybe we should get you a muzzle too. You whine and complain all the time about not getting your way. Yeah, it sucks that mom took away your toys, but you don’t have to be mad at your younger siblings because they aren’t doing what you’re doing yet. If we’re going to be suffering like you later, why don’t you help us instead of complaining about us?” The room fell silent for a moment before Alex sighed. “Get out of my room. I don’t want you studying in here anymore. Go to Azalea, she can probably help you.”

“Azalea’s with mom, I can’t just-”

“Get out of my room!” Alex shouted, launching himself out of bed to stand in front of his sister. “Stop bothering me and go study!”

The older girl scrambled back, reaching for her things before bolting out of the room. Alex sighed and climbed back into bed, finding his place in the book and continuing to read, ignoring the muffled sobs that came from down the hall.

The world may throw a lot of things at you and try to keep you from your dreams, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to fight back. I call you my little mountain man for a reason, Alex. His father’s words rang around his head as Alex tried to read the same page over and over. In the back of his mind he knew Terra would go screaming and crying to their mother and he’d get some sort of punishment for being rude, but he couldn’t seem to make himself care. It was only fair after what she said after all.

_____

Alex had always been a bit of a jokester. When his father was in the hospital, Alex was always excited to share any joke he’d learned, especially when his dad gave a genuine chuckle in response. Alex had tried the same trick a few times with his mother, but he learned very quickly that she was not a fan of humor. So as he grew up most of Alex’s jokes moved to his younger brothers, making the two laugh and giggle, especially after a harsh talking to from their mother.

When Alex met his current friend group he’d won them over with his charm and humor, even making the stone-faced Thorn full belly laugh a few times. Alex and Cameron became unstoppable with their schemes, playing pranks and making jokes that brought joy to Alex’s life like he hadn’t felt in…forever. It was a part of himself he could never show at home. The place had become like stone. Gone were the cries of children playing games and instead the occasional loud scolding from a tutor would fly through the air.

At fifteen Alex was starting high school while his oldest sister was beginning to shadow their mother at work, preparing to take over as CEO of their company, despite being only 20. Family dinners were tense as their mother went on and on about how wonderful Azalea was at her job and how she couldn’t wait for her children to follow in her footsteps, working for the company. Each time it happened, the siblings would share quiet glances amongst themselves, trying to alleviate some of the pressure they were feeling. Alex spent as much time with his younger brothers as possible when he was home, but even then, the feeling of suffocation never left them.

“Hey, what happened to all those jokes you used to make?” Dimitry asked one day as the two were doing homework in Alex’s room.

“What do you mean?” Alex asked, looking up from his homework. Dimitry shrugged and reached up to play with his hair, twirling a strand from his bands around his finger.

“It’s just that…when we were younger I feel like you’d always try to make Parker and me laugh. It was a constant, but now you’re just kinda…” he shrugged again, not meeting Alex’s eyes.

“Well,” Alex mused. “I guess I grew out of them,” he said. Dimitry smiled sadly and nodded.

“I miss them,” he said quietly.

“You could always come up with your own,” Alex suggested.

“I mean, yeah,” the younger boy said. “But it felt better when you did it. Like, I didn’t have to think about it and just feel. I almost can’t remember the last time I felt happy at something that wasn’t getting yelled at by my tutor for once.”

“Oh, yeah I get that.” The older boy shook his head. “I guess that’s kind of the reason I stopped. It’s hard to keep making jokes and smiling when the people around you aren’t receptive to it. If no one is going to laugh with you, then what’s the point?”

Dimitry huffed out a dry laugh and flopped back to lay on the floor. “I don’t think you realize how much that makes you fit in here. It’s like you’ve found how to put yourself into mom’s vision and therefore aren’t…” he sighed and raised his hands as he struggled with his words. “You seem so confident with your place in this family.” He decided on. “Like, I don’t want to join the family business or become a lawyer or something like that, but I can’t tell anyone that. Not to mention I’m second to youngest, so I feel like there’s less pressure for me to follow mom’s plans, but at the same time it’s expected that I follow along, ya know?”

“I can see that,” Alex agreed, also setting his work aside. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think I’ll be joining the family business when I graduate. That’s still a few years away, but I’m already making plans. I have some colleges in mind and I have some friends who I want to ‘run away’ with, I guess. We’ve been dealt a shitty hand, but we don’t have to play the game, ya know?”

Dimitry just huffed out a laugh and sat up. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You’re so confident in what you say and do these days and it’s just enhanced by the way you’ve stopped joking around and trying to be the funny guy.”

“Oh,” Alex frowned, glancing at all the work spread out on the table between them. “I guess…I didn’t realize I was doing that. It just came naturally. I don’t want to stop being the funny guy. I remember that dad really liked it when I would joke to him while he was in the hospital, so I kept doing it. Eventually it was obvious that everyone here at home didn’t appreciate it in the same way.” He met Dimitry’s eyes with a small smile. “However, I do have friends at school who I can be a bit more open with. Mother’s not breathing down our necks there so it’s a chance to explore who I really want to be and who I am without any pressure or watching eyes.”

“Seriously?” Dimitry asked, a bit of awe in his voice.

“Seriously.” Alex responded. “You have a couple years yet, but you can start now. Middle school is weird, but it's mostly everyone trying new things and finding who they are while school gets harder.” Alex stood up and moved around the table, placing a hand on Dimitry’s shoulder. “You don’t have to fit yourself into mother’s box of what she wants her family to be. I absolutely refuse to, and you can as well. I’ll be there for you no matter what, Dimitry, so if you need help with anything you can ask me and I’ll help you.”

Dimitry surged forward and pulled his brother into a hug. Alex sat stunned for a moment before wrapping his arms around his younger brother and pulled him even closer.

_____

A few years later, Alex found himself shadowing his eldest sister at her job, interning at the family business. He sighed inwardly as another meeting ran long as potential clients continued to ask actually great questions about the process of their project. If there was one thing that Alex had learned since interning at their company was that he personally did not agree with most of the methods they used in the name of “environmental conservation”. Yeah right.

“And you’re positive the energy for this won’t cause more carbon emissions than needed?” A client asked. Azalea smiled tensely and nodded.

“Our methods have been tested and proven to be in the lead of modern conservation efforts. I promise you that despite how it looks it is quite environmentally friendly, that is what we’ve built our company around, after all.”

The conversation hadn’t gone anywhere in the last ten minutes due to this debate. Alex had allowed himself to pull a blank sheet of paper out of his folder and start doodling discreetly as the negotiations continued. Alex tuned them out as he started drawing, letting little bits of information enter his brain occasionally as things seemed to heat up. Eventually the conversation died down and the scrape of a chair drew Alex’s attention away from his paper. The client had stood up and Azalea followed. They shook hands, tense smiles still on their faces and the clients walked out. Alex’s older sister sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“That was a pain in the ass,” she grumbled. She was only 23 but her stress made her look much older in Alex’s eyes. He smirked slightly and patted her shoulder.

“It’s okay. I think that guy is a pro at causing pain in women’s asses.” He teased, which only caused his sister to glare at him.

“Not appropriate.” She chided. “Just because you’re my brother and an intern doesn’t mean you can just get away with stuff. I know you’re a teenage boy but you’re almost an adult and you’ll be joining the workforce in a year. Grow up.” She sighed and went around to push chairs back under the table.

Alex just shrugged off her comments and pulled out his notes from the meeting. “You said it yourself. I’m simply a teenage boy trying to find some joy in the boring setting that is office work.” He said. Azalea just fixed him with another stare before shaking her head.

“You know how important this business is to our family,” she scolded. “It’s what mom has been pushing all of us towards since we were kids. Would it kill you to finally start getting serious about this? You’re here now, so actually do your job. Don’t think it escaped me that you were doodling for the last few minutes of that meeting.” She sighed and glanced around before sitting down in her chair again and motioned for Alex to join her. The younger boy furrowed his brows but sat as well.

“Look, I’m sorry,” he said. “But you have to admit, they made great points. I know I’m not the only worker here who questions-”

“I know!” Azalea cried, placing her head in her hands. “I know you all do, I did too but it’s not like I can actually do anything about it!” She leaned back in her chair, massaging her temples. “Mom still has quite the hold on the company. She expects me to run it the exact same way she did, so if I change even the smallest thing she’s going to be all over me. I don’t have a lot of choices in the matter.”

“Mother isn’t the CEO anymore,” Alex argued. “She may still have influence but she’s not the person in charge. You’re in charge! Who cares what she thinks? She gave this position to you for a reason, so the least you could do is create some good with it!”

“I care greatly about what she thinks!” Azalea said. “So do many of our investors and project partners. Do you know how frustrating it is when people talk to you simply because of who your mom is instead of your position in a multi-million dollar company?”

“No. I don’t,” Alex sighed and slouched in his chair. “But I don’t think it’s any surprise that I haven’t cared for the longest time now.” Azalea looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

Alex grinned. “Mom wants me to start at the company right after school right? It’s the whole reason I have his internship,” he spread his arms. “However, I’ve already sent out a few different college applications.”

Azalea’s mouth dropped open and she glanced around the room. “You’re kidding,” she hissed. “Do you have any idea what that’s going to do to her-”

“Why does it matter what she wants?” Alex asked, expression becoming guarded. “It’s my life, isn’t it? I don’t care if she’s groomed me to work in this bullshit company for the rest of my life. She may have claimed a hold on all of you guys, but I refuse to let the rest of my life be dictated by someone I don’t even like.”

“You can’t say that about your own mom-”

“I can say whatever I damn well please!” Alex stood up, his chair scraping. “She’s not my mom. My mom would have loved and cared about me after my dad died and not tossed me to the housestaff!

“Stop acting like a child!” Azalea chided, keeping her voice calm. “You’re almost an adult. That doesn’t matter anymore. There are people depending on you, so instead of thinking back on what you wish had happened, look at the present and what needs to happen in the future.”

The room was silent before Alex reached for his things. “Is that what she’s been telling you?” He asked, venom dripping from his voice. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re allowed to grieve and be upset, and wish that things were different. I wish dad had been able to live because maybe we wouldn’t be having this fight. Maybe mother would have allowed you to have feelings instead of making you into some puppet to run her company for her.”

“Alex-”

“No. I’m done. I’m clocking out and heading home.”

“The day isn’t over yet.”

“Good for you.” Alex fixed her with a hard stare. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell mom I'm not coming in anymore for you.”

“You can’t quit your internship halfway through!” Azalea stood up as well, chasing after her brother as he began to leave the room.

“Watch me.” He growled, and slammed the door to the meeting room.

_______

“You’re not serious, are you?”

Alex turned to see his youngest brother, Parker, standing in his doorway, panting with a panicked look in his eyes.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Alex asked, raising an eyebrow and continued to pack his suitcase.

“Because you can’t just leave us! What about Dimitry? He’s looked up to you for so long and you’re about to walk out on him-on us!” Parker fully entered the room and closed the door behind him. “I can’t let you go!”

Alex sighed and zipped up his suitcase. “Dimitry’s gonna be fine. If he actually wants to do it, he’ll do it.” Alex glanced around his room, making sure he had everything he wanted before turning to his brother with a softer expression.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Parker cried before Alex could even say anything. “I can’t believe you’re going to just up and leave! All my life you’ve stood up to everyone in this place! Hell, you even told off Azalea today! But now that you’re dealing with the consequences of your actions you’re just going to run? That’s not the Alex I know!”

“Parker,” Alex interrupted. “I gave mother a letter to let her know I’m quitting my internship at the family business,” he said gently. “I told off the CEO of our family business, who just happens to be our oldest sister, and I’m terrified.” Parker stared at his older brother with wide eyes at the last word. “My entire life I have been terrified of pissing people off. You don’t know what people are going to do when their emotions are out of control, especially when it comes to mother. Most of my life has been spent trying to find ways to get out of her grasp while keeping you and Dimitry safe. The Alex you know has always been terrified, but more terrified for you than he was for himself.”

The older boy padded forward to wrap Parker in his arm. The younger quickly pulled his brother in closer, hiding his tears in Alex’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to go,” he whimpered.

“I have to,” Alex murmured. “But hey, listen to me,” the older boy pulled back and placed his hands on Parker’s shoulders. “You were too young for this, but on our last full family visit to the hospital, dad told me something very important. He said, ‘You are your own person, and I would love nothing more than for you to go and do whatever you want to do when you’re grown up. That’s for you to decide. The world may throw a lot of things at you and try to keep you from your dreams, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to fight back’.”

Parker’s mouth dropped open. Nobody in the house talked about their late father at all, especially around their mother. The youngest boy had only been two when his father passed away, so he had no memories of the man. Instead he’d always looked to Alex. Alex was the oldest boy in the house and took the time to make Parker and Dimitry laugh, to help them with homework, to make sure they had something to eat, to take care of them on the most basic level and more. Tears fell down Parker’s cheeks and he pulled Alex close again, sobbing into his shoulder.

“I should have told you those words sooner,” Alex murmured, burying his face in Parker’s dark hair. “But they’re from dad, and I’m passing them to you. I know mother has been waiting for you to make a choice, but you can make a choice that isn’t one of hers. Leaving is my choice. If I get away from her then things will get easier, and the same goes for you, okay?”

Parker nodded against Alex’s shoulder and the two continued to stand in their embrace for a while longer before a door slammed somewhere in the house. The two jumped apart, standing still and waiting before Parker moved first, reaching for Alex’s packed suitcase.

“You need to go,” he whispered hurriedly.

“Yeah,” Alex agreed and started to move before reaching for an old notebook.

“What are you doing?” Parker hissed.

“One last thing,” Alex said, finishing his task and ripping the page out of his notebook. He folded it and handed it to Parker with a smile. “Don’t you ever forget these, okay? I”ll see you on the outside.”

Parker took it with a smile and nodded. “Now get out of here before mom-uh, mother finds out,” the youngest said sheepishly, handing Alex his suitcase and hurrying them out of Alex’s old room.

_____

Six years was a long time, but not long enough to keep the chills from Alex’s spine when he saw his childhood home. An olive branch had been extended to him from Azalea in the form of an email, asking him to come home for one night to celebrate Parker’s 21st birthday.

Azalea had taken to sending him the occasional update email about his siblings. Work milestones, birthdays, engagements, weddings, the like. Alex accepted them quietly, only reading them but never replying. However, the most recent email explained that Parker had secretly been wishing for his older brother to appear for his birthday this year, and who was Alex to deny the birthday boy, especially when he practically raised the kid.

So Alex showed up, dressed in a dark green button up and black dress pants with his hair tied back and a present in his hand. Parker had decided to work as a secretary in the family company, which Alex thought was a damn shame, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, making his way up to the front door and knocking. A part of him wanted to just barge in, but this wasn’t his house anymore, and he could barely call them his family. A few moments later one of their butlers opened the door and Alex smiled tensely at the man.

“Mast-ahem, Alex,” the older man returned the tense smile. “Thank you for coming. Everyone is currently gathered in the living room, would you like me to show you the way?”

“No, I think I still remember where it is,” Alex said politely. “Thank you, though.” Alex toed his shoes off and moved through the house. The walls were still cold and lifeless, but the sounds of his siblings talking floated through the halls, leading him to the living room. Everything was the exact same as he remembered it. Lavish, but not exactly comfortable. The four siblings sat on sofas around a coffee table, cups in front of them and polite conversation flowing between them, sounding fake to Alex’s ears. He frowned a little but quickly fixed his expression as the conversation died down.

Everyone was staring at Alex in awe, except for Azalea, who instead anxiously took a sip of her drink, avoiding the middle child’s gaze. Alex took in the scene in front of him before glaring at the eldest. “You lied to me, didn’t you?” He asked.

“Well…no, not exactly,” she said, swallowing nervously.

“You actually got him to come,” Dimitry whispered far too loudly to himself. Alex’s eyes jumped to him and then to his other siblings before sighing and moving toward the group.

“Well, I’m here now, so if nobody minds, I'm planning to stay.” The seating arrangement between the five of them hadn’t changed. Just like at their dinner table, Azalea sat at the head, with Terra next to her, and then Dimitry, and then Parker. Alex barged his way in, sitting in the empty spot on the sofa next to Terra and handed Parker the gift he was holding.

“I hope your tastes haven’t changed too much,” he said easily. “I should have asked, but I figured it wouldn’t matter too much. If you hate it you can just throw it out, I won’t be mad-”

“Why are you even here?” Parker asked, causing everyone in the room to go stiff.

“For your birthday, of course,” Alex replied after a moment.

“You haven’t bothered to come to any of them before,” Parker glared. “Or anyone else’s, for that matter.”

“Azalea said you wanted me here, so I came,” Alex said without missing a beat. “All anyone had to do was ask.”

“Yeah, sure,” Terra coughed from next to him. Alex glared at her before sighing and slouching down on the couch.

“Okay, fine, so maybe none of you wanted me here. I can just go-”

“No no, it’s fine,” Parker interrupts, continuing to glare at the older brother. “I’m just trying to understand why the fuck you think it’s okay to show your face here after everything you’ve done.”

“Parker!” Azalea cried in shock.

“Am I wrong?” The youngest looked at his siblings. “All you’ve ever done since you left is spread slander about our family. You’ve said so many things about the family business, the law firm, even the stuff that happened here at home and you think it’s okay to just barge in here like you’re not trying to ruin our lives?”

“Ruin your lives?” Alex asked incredulously. “There’s only one person's life I’m trying to ruin, and it’s hers. So what if I’m trying to expose her years of corrupt business dealings or the abuse she inflicted on her kids? Has it picked up any traction? No! And the reason for that is because somebody keeps paying good money to erase it all! If anything, I’m trying to fucking help you guys from the outside!”

“Nobody asked for your help!” Parker growled. “We were all doing just fine before you decided to mess everything up!”

“Parker-” Azalea tried

“No! He needs to know!” Parker reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a folded piece of paper and threw it at Alex. “That should look familiar to you, asshole. I don’t think those are father’s words at all. I think you made them up that day just so you could manipulate me.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Alex asked, opening the note to see his handwriting had been viciously scribbled out in black sharpie.

“I am! You almost got Dimitry to fall for it too!” Parker said.

“This is exactly what I was trying to warn you about!” Alex cried, throwing the open note onto the table. “Did she put all of this in your head? When have I ever led you astray? What have I done in my life that made you think I didn’t want the best for you? For any of you? I’m sorry that mother decided to worm her way into your head and fuck you up, but you don’t get to take that out on me!”

“Okay, hold on now,” Terra said, placing a hand on Alex’s arm. “Mom hasn’t done anything-”

“Bullshit! Our entire lives she’s been brainwashing us into thinking all we have to do for the rest of our lives is work for her! That’s what all of you are doing right now! Azalea is being a puppet CEO, you’re keeping the legal side of things clean for her, and you two and playing underlings as well! This is why I left! Did you really expect me to stay around when throughout our entire childhood she made us work and work and work with the expectation that she’d control us for-”

“Ahem.”

The room’s temperature dropped ten degrees and all the children sat up, still and silent as the older woman entered the room.

“I do hope my children aren’t fighting on my youngest’s twenty-first birthday,” she said gently, floating over to where Parker was on the couch. She ran a hand through his bangs and leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. “Happy birthday darling.”

“Thank you mom,” Parker replied quietly.

“You’re welcome sweetheart. Alex, it’s good to see you again.” When she got no response she pursed her lips and then beckoned to him with a finger. “Let’s walk and talk dear. We can rejoin your siblings once we’re done.”

“I’d rather not, thank yo-”

“It wasn’t a request.”

Terra swallowed nervously and Alex glanced at her before standing up stiffly. “Fine. But if things go in a direction I don’t like, I’m leaving.”

“Whatever you wish dear,” his mother said, her voice becoming light again as she floated out of the room. Alex glared at his siblings before following.

The two were silent as they walked but Alex recognized the path. They were headed to his mother’s home office where she had only the most serious of talks with her children. Her personal butler opened the door for her and the two entered. Her office was an interesting space. The walls were a dark, icy blue that sucked the warmth out of the room with a dark green carpet to give it some sort of “outdoor” feel. The room was on the inside of the house so it had no windows, but a sun lamp was placed on the desk. The desk itself felt like it took up half the room. It was large and bulky made out of a dark wood. It was kept meticulously clean and organized, showing off how little the room was actually used. Behind the desk stood a plush chair that Alex’s mother situated herself in, leaving Alex to stand, seeing as she wasn't nice enough to keep any other chairs in the room.

“You know,” his mother started after sizing him up. “Much like your…sexuality I thought you leaving home was going to be a phase. Either this is lasting longer than usual, or there’s a problem.”

“My sexuality was never a phase. Unfortunately for you I’m still as gay as they come,” Alex sighed, rolling his eyes. “You can expect my branch of the bloodline to die with me. Don’t worry, you have four other kids you’ve brainwashed to give you grandkids.”

“Don’t give me that sass,” his mother chided, fixing him with a cold stare.

“Oh, forgive me, mother dearest,” Alex pouted, fluttering his eyelashes and letting his voice drip with sass. “Nah, honestly though,” he sighed, voice returning to normal. “You don’t have a hold on me anymore. That’s why I left. If this is all you wanted to discuss, I’m leaving.”

“You’re wasting your talents,” his mother said bluntly. “There were many great things lined up for you and you threw them all away to be with those…low lifes.”

“Don’t call my friends low lifes,” Alex growled. “They may not be as rich as you but they’re still people.”

“Don’t be so generic,” his mother sighed. “Did you know that fire elemental you hang out with has a criminal for a mother? Who’s to say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree?”

“Have you seen yourself?”

“And what about the water girl? Isn’t her family involved in some sort of illegal ring? A fighting one, if I’m not mistaken.”

“It’s not illegal. In fact it’s cultural-”

“And don’t get me started on the ice boy. What a weak link. He was in the hospital for quite some time growing up. Pity he didn’t do as well as your father-”

Alex slammed his hands on the desk, seething at his mother. “You don’t get to talk about my family like that,” he growled.

“Your family? Darling your family is-”

“My blood family hasn’t done shit for me,” Alex interrupted. “Those people took me in while I was struggling and made me feel like I belonged. They made me feel loved, which is more than you’ve ever done.”

“I see you’ve stooped down to their level,” his mother sighed wearily. “People like them will only drag you down in life. They come with so much baggage, debt, and tainted pasts that will come back to haunt them, and by proxy, you. Is that really what you want? Do you want to get caught up in some dangerous scheme?” She glared at him from across the desk and Alex felt a shiver run up his spine.

“I have pride in my family, son,” she said lowly. “Whether you like it or not, you are mine. You come from a place above them, and that is where you belong. Have you no pride in your upbringing? Do you really think your father would be impressed with those you affiliate yourself with? It’s disgusting. You’re smearing your reputation. Our family is made up of pure earth elementals. We control the very planet that everyone lives on and yet you choose to throw all of your power away for some sort of rebellious plot? It is unbecoming of you. You are twenty four. Act like it. There is a spot available for you in our field research department should you want it. Otherwise we’ll have to send you to law school so you can work in the firm-”

“Woah woah woah,” Alex held up his hands as he tried to keep himself from laughing. “Just because I let you talk you think I’m going to come back just like that?” He smirked down at her. “Oh mother, look at what your old age has done to you. Your four other children have let you control them, but I refuse to.”

“Now son you don’t know-”

“I do know. I have known for quite some time. I refuse the world you offer to me. And contrary to your beliefs, I do have pride in myself. I have so much pride my friends constantly have to knock me down a peg or two. My pedigree doesn’t matter anywhere else than in this office,” he growled. “My schooling and my family don't matter anywhere else other than in this house. I’m sure you know since you appear to be a stalker, but the five of us have a nice house, good jobs, a steady source of income, and happy lives, which is more than your other four kids can boast about.”

“I refuse to be spoken to like this.”

“So do I, which is why I’m giving you a taste of your own medicine,” Alex smirked. “Talk about dad all you want, but before he died he told me he knew you were going to push us to join the business or the law firm. He knew it was what you wanted above all else, and you know what else he told me? I’m sure you’ve heard these words before. He said, ‘You are your own person, and I would love nothing more than for you to go and do whatever you want to do when you’re grown up. That’s for you to decide. The world may throw a lot of things at you and try to keep you from your dreams, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to fight back’.”

His mother’s eyes grew wide and her jaw clenched, which only made Alex’s smirk grow. “Yeah, I’m the one who gave those words to Parker. I bet he tried, didn't he? He tried real hard but after losing me you couldn’t suffer another defeat, could you? I bet you doubled down and whispered all sorts of things into his and Dimitry’s ears. Well, guess what? You’ll never have me. You can do whatever you want but your reputation will always be smeared by your middle child, first son, Alex, who fucking hates your guts.”

Alex cackled and backed away from the desk, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Oh, and just so you know, I’m never going to stop posting shit online, not until it takes off and someone decides to look into it. I hope I get to fully ruin you before you die.” His smile turned sickly sweet and he waved at her before leaving the office. He padded through the hallways, feeling much lighter than before. He found all of his siblings in the living room once more. They all stared at him in stunned silence and he was certain the oddly happy smile on his face was throwing them off.

“I’m about to head out,” he said, leaning against the wall. “If you guys want to say anything to me before I leave, I’m all ears. Just know that I’m not coming back to this building until that old bat has kicked the bucket.” The room remained silent and Alex shrugged, pushing himself up off the wall. “Fine then. Sorry if I ruined your birthday, Parker. That wasn’t the intention. I hope the rest of it goes okay.” He gave a small wave to his siblings before turning and walking out of the room, making his way to the front door and leaving, giving the butler an easier smile and then climbing into his car to head home.

“Oh man, Thorn’s gonna lose their shit over this,” Alex cackled to himself, pulling out his phone and dialing a number.

“What’s up man?” Cameron’s voice came through the speaker.

“Is everyone home?” Alex asked, unable to keep the smile out of his voice.

“Uh, yeah. Did everything go okay?”

“Put me on speaker, I can’t wait until I get home to tell you guys.”

“Oh shit, this is juicy,” Thorn’s voice said and Alex simply laughed.

“You have no idea.”

#oc #oc lore #terrible parents #found family #I had some fun with this one #i feel so dumb that i finished this forever ago and never posted it #but here it is #my ocs #elementals #modern setting #verbal fighting #manipulation #parent death #Spotify

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fanficfanattic · 5 months

Text

Just watched the Wembley confrontation approximately 30 times so I could write down the exact dialogue. And to get more of the body language and gestures down. The scene lasts for precisely two minutes. (37:07-39:07)

James pokes his head into the room asking, “Are you decent?” Laughs as he crosses the doorway.

James walks past the security guard to enter the room, puts his thumb to his nose, before saying to the guard, “I told ya” and then to himself, “prick.” Laughs.

James is only a bit into the room before he says to the room, “Oh, gentlemen, gentlemen.” He throws his arms wide and mockingly groans before laughing again.

James is now fully into the center of the room and turns a bit to try and address all of the team. Says “Hey, it’s a tough one lads. It’s a tough one, but no shame to it.”

“Cause, you know, we only ever” pretends to tap his temple like he’s trying to remember something: “beat,” does a few feet bounces and fake little punches, “uh, everybody we play.” Laughs again.

James turns to Lasso who does the quickest fake Midwestern polite smile while Roy stands next to him stiff and angry. Will is looking over his shoulder, between the two coaches, stocking or taking out bottles from a mini fridge maybe?

“So you pups had no chance,” while once again spreading his arms. He finally looks right at Jamie and lets out a fake gasp before saying “Oh.” As though he is disappointed to see Jamie is actually standing there.

He points double finger guns at him while adding, “And there he is, my son.”

Says “My own flesh and blood” with mock grief in his voice. He stares at Jamie from half a room away, and bounces on his feet again.

“Poor Jamie, my son.”

He rocks his hips loose even as he brings his pointer finger to his nose. Does an exaggerated sniff. Then he goes back to addressing the room at large. Faces one way as he starts to talk.

“Now,” and he gestures with his right hand, then turns to take in the other side, “maybe I’m thinking his heart’s still in Manchester” and he gestures with both hands slightly towards his own chest “and that’s why he missed that sitter in the first half.” He points a finger into the air like he’s having a eureka moment.

Chuckles. Does another of his fake sympathetic groans.

“Oh ho ho.” And then lets out a little “Whew!”

Then starts tiny jogging towards Jamie while sing songing “You absolutely bottled* it.” He stops to throw his head back, arms wide, and then straightens up to slow walk closer. He laughs while saying, “You bottled it!”

Then he’s only a few steps away from Jamie and starts pantomiming some boxing moves. Ducks just a bit, has his hands in fists doing small jabs. “What were you thinking?”

Then he is right at Jamie and continues to do the small jabs, not hard, but landing like small pokes right against Jamie’s stomach. Jamie ever so slightly steps back. James pauses for half a second and then does an extra jab pushing Jamie another half step back.

James lets out a teasing “Ah ah ah.” Then “I’m only kidding, hey.” Before laughing again with a bit of a cough in the middle.

Ted does not look impressed and Roy has titled his head back a bit to squint at the man. Will is focusing on the mini fridge until James starts talking again. This time more quietly and just to Jamie.

“Hey, look, uhh…do us a favor…” and he comes back on screen as he moves his hand from his face, while sniffing, but like he’d just gestured Jamie closer or perhaps had gestured to his ear to indicate Jamie should listen to him. He continues “and get Denbo and Bug past security.”

James moves his right arm to indicate the stadium on the other side of the wall. “They wanna go on the pitch-” then he mimes raising a camera and clicking it. Jamie’s mouth turns down into a frown while his head gives the smallest shake. “-take a few snaps and all that, yeah?” Before licking his lips, letting out another sniff, and bouncing on his feet 2-3 times.

Jamie finally says something, which is to answer his dad with “I’d rather ‘em not.” He stares a hair over his father’s shoulder, not making eye contact with anyone.

James looks a bit to the side, not in embarrassment nor seemingly worried what people were thinking about his son turning his request down. More like he didn’t actually need to look at Jamie anymore.

“Yeah, they only want to look around.” And he looks back to Jamie again but it’s because he’s miming a guy jab with his left hand while saying “It’ll only take a second.” Then mimes punching him right in the jaw with a weird sound effect noise. “Doosh(?).”

James mouth drops open into a wide grin and chuckle.

Jamie repeats himself word for word, “I’d rather ‘em not.” But he is slightly louder this time and looks right at his father. He nods his head ever so slightly.

Offscreen James responds with, “What?” Then focuses on his face returning to mockery.

“What, you’re not gonna all go moody little bitch” while looking Jamie up and down, continuing, “just cause you got your arse served to you on a plate, are ya?”

Jamie is quieter again when he responds with “Don’t speak to me like that.” Jamie is back to not meeting his dad’s eye even as James starts bouncing on the balls of his feet again.

Then he pushes a little closer in to Jamie, face seemingly open to hearing what Jamie has to say, before going “ahuh?”

Jamie repeats himself word for word for the second time. “Don’t speak to me like that.”

James repeats his “Huh?” while pressing closer again, head tilted as though to hear him better. Jamie tries to repeat himself for a third time but his dad interrupts with his own third “huh?”

When Jamie finishes, his dad says “Huh?” a fourth time and then pulls back a minuscule amount to look Jamie in the eye.

James says to him “Okay, well,” and James lifts his right hand to flick up in the air. “-let’s see if you can hear this, hmm?”

Beard is shown in the background seething. James is still right in Jamie’s face, where he sniffs again, before leaning a bit closer as though to whisper.

“You know that ‘ickle tv show’ you made?” And makes broad gestured quotation marks even. “You just made it easier for Manchester City” He flicks the first finger of his left hand up like he’s about to count off things but instead uses it to point at Jamie while adding “to kick you to the curb!”

Then he leans back with a grin to continue mocking Jamie. He even adds a tongue waggle of his own.

“And look where you are now.” He laughs in his face. “Twaddling about with a bunch of…”

He spreads his arms wide and spins 180° to address the whole room. “…amateurs! No offense, no offense.”

No one responds to him, so he gives more of a belly laugh, and scratches the side of his nose with his right forefinger. Then turns around, leading with that finger pointing at Jamie. Who is not only not looking his father in the eye, he’s truly looking downwards for the first time.

Then he flattens his mouth and starts to turn away with his dad going “Huh?”

James grabs Jamie’s left bicep with his own left hand, to swing him back to face him yelling “Don’t turn your back on me” then pushing Jamie while finishing with “you pussy.”

Jamie pushes off from the foot he’d stepped back from his dad with to throw his punch.

James hits the floor, palms stopping his fall, with a groan. He pushes half up onto his hip and puts the back of his hand to his face.

Jamie’s face is in a pained grimace.

He pants out “Jesus god” while glaring venomously up at his son. Which must be when he notices that Jamie is wild eyed and terrified. The grimace is gone and instead he looks stunned.

James laughs before pushing himself up to standing, Jamie’s mouth parts while his dad is saying “Oh, yeah. Okay.”

Once standing, James says “You can have that one for free.” And gets one bounce in while readying his own fist.

Which is when Beard grabs him and says “Time to go.”

While being dragged towards the door, James is still trying to fight Jamie. “You wanna go, big time. Hey? Let’s have it, Jamie!”

Beard almost has him to the door when James screams “Don’t you forget where you came from!” Then Beard gives his “watch the door” warning while pushing James’ head against the door.

Edit 2: @kaph123 asked if James said “balled it” (what cc says and I originally posted despite some questions) or “bottled it” (a more common expression). I did a relisten and it sounded like balled BUT also like the accent might be in play. @itsjustpoopeh listened with better headphones and revealed there was a bit of a stutter which indicates its most likely Mancunian consonant dropping and should be bottled. I changed it above!

Edited to add the comfort we all needed at the reminder of our tender human hearts from @thetarttfuldickhead 🤣

#jamie tartt #james tartt sr #james loosens his hips to prepare to fight the same way jamie does to prepare to train #thanks i hate it #ted lasso #roy kent #coach beard #willis beard #will kitman #abuse of an adult child #child abuse #verbal abuse #self defense #trauma

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