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Felix never believed of the existence of luck.
He's a man of logic, of measurements and timing. He didn't believe in any of the...weird spiritual bullshit his mother used to feed him.
But perhaps he could allow himself to believe, just this once.
The car swerves of the side of the road and for a second, Felix Kranken thought that he and the two children he was with would topple over the sizable cliff just centimeters away from the road. He had lost control of the car the moment he decided to speed up. And in his drunken stupor, he ignores the screams of protest from both Ed and Molly. He closes his eyes, seeing flashes.. visions, of a bloody, mangled Ed and Molly on the back seat of his car, Rocket long forgotten. So he presses onto the brake's pedal, hoping against all hope that it would be enough to save the three of them from the inevitable.
Maybe miracles really did exist.
The car spins 2 times after hitting a bump on the road, veering them off the path heading towards the cliff. Eventually, it stops due to momentum, leaving his car splayed in the middle of the road.
He looks back, seeing Molly and Ed intact, he throws up.
"Uncle Felix!!", Molly whines, "That's disgusting!".
"U-uh sorry about t-that Molly", he says, the event giving him a sense of sobriety. He gets out of the car and checks up on the two, Molly didn't seem to have any injuries but Ed had tiny bruises on his arms. Nothing that would compare to what he'd seen moments before his car flew off the ridge.
"Are you kids alright?", just to double check.
"My arms hurt", Ed says, Molly agrees, "Mine too!".
"Alright... I-I'll fix this, just", he gestures for them to come out, "You guys are fine with walking, right?".
Both children nod and they began walking, thankfully civilization wasn't far off and soon, they were standing in front of Jack's post and beam styled home. Truthfully, he was scared. He knew he'd just endangered (and possible murdered) Ed and Molly's lives. But he also knew that he'd have to tell Jack eventually, no matter which case.
He knocks 3 times, hears commotion, and finally, the door opens to reveal Jack. Molly and Ed hugs their father, before rushing past him to, presumably greet their mother and older sister.
"Felix! You're back! You-", he looks behind him.
"Where's the car?", the shorter man seemed to twitch, and that was all Jack needed to know.
Felix thought he'd get screamed at, possibly get his partership with the company revoked. He already envisions Linda leaving him to succumb to his alcohol addiction, and finally, killing himself for being such a waste, a failure.
Miracles definitely did exist.
Jack puts both of his hands on Felix's shoulders, fully ready to lecture him. But Felix looked like he was waiting to be hit, his stance was too closed, his eyes shut, head bowed. And it looked like he wanted to raise his arms to defend himself. So Jack decide's against it and hugs him insted.
Felix smells of brandy and car engine, he also seemed to be shaking badly, his legs gave out and Jack couldn't support both of their weights. So they both ended up kneeled on the floor, with Felix's head resting on Jack's shoulder as he sobbed. Soft reassurances followed Felix's attempts at apology and they stayed like that until..
"What happened?".
Felix tells him everything, from Linda wanting a divorce, to being offered a drink at the school party, picking up Ed and Molly, crashing the car on a nearby tree (this he altered, he didn't need to tell Jack that he almost sent the car flying out of bounds) and finally, walking home.
"I didn't mean to", Felix says, guilt and pain lacing his tone, "I was sober up until then, its just... I don't know, I don't know anymore". He weeps and Jack just stares at him, seemingly deep in thought and Felix opens his mouth again, "I- You- you can revoke my rights of the company.. o-or call the police for attempted murder or something.." his chest heaves, "I also understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore after this, I'm sorry, hopefully it repays... any of this".
The taller male looked horrified and hardens his grip at Felix's coat, "No! I- Are you listening to yourself!?", he hugs him tighter,
"I can't do that, I almost lost two of my children, I can't lose you too".
Felix was at a loss for words, to think he'd already prepared for what was to come, that he'd thought so lowly of Jack, that Jack wouldn't be able to forgive him. How is Jack forgiving him?
"How could you forgive me so easily!?", he asks, almost hysterical, "I almost killed your kids Jack! They- Oh god- They could've".
"But you didn't, yeah?", Once again, Jack shows Felix how better he is than him, "You didn't and.. what happened might've been fucked, but it wouldn't have been fair to you". He smiles at Felix, "So I'm choosing to forgive, but I don't think I'd be letting you drive my kids again anytime soon", and yeah that might've stung, but its fair.
"I wouldn't be able to anyway", Felix says, almost laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all, "My car's gone".
Jack giggles, being joined by Felix soon after. They looked absurd, two grown men kneeled infront of the entry way, giggling like a bunch of teenage girls watching a romance movie. They know it wasn't really that funny, but everything that happened really took a toll on both of them. This was their way of coping with it.
Once everything has calmed down, Jack looks at him dead in the eye, "Felix, I need you to promise me one thing".
"Anything", Jack breathes in and exhales slowly, "I want you to promise me that you will try and get rid of your addiction", Felix looks away, ashamed, "This can't keep going on man, you can't keep putting your life, or others at risk".
"I know", Jack smooths the fabric of Felix's coat and pats his shoulder, "We'll be here with you, we'll guide you through it. Please never forget that you can always talk to me when you have problems, I mean... what am I for?", he adds . Felix smiles a bit and Jack gestures for him to get up, "Can't have you flooding my entry way" he jokes and the other lightens up a bit.
He's not alright, and he knows that Jack isn't too. But, they can fix this. Jack gave him a chance, and he'll take it. Make things right. As he walks in, he watches the rest of his bestfriend's family sitting on the dinner table, Rosemary gestures for him to settle down next to them.
He wouldn't have it any other way.