Chapter Text
TJ’s been having a slow and an uneventful day. His fellow officers haven’t been gunned down and the one perp he caught earlier in the day for selling oxy went surprisingly smoothly. No long chases and no gunshots. It’s honestly been boring.
He’s on patrol. No crime happening for once on the mean streets of Los Santos and his mind wanders, as it often does, to his father. He won’t admit it to anyone but he thinks of his aloof, often enigmatic and newly discovered dad quite often and he’s not entirely sure why. If anyone would have told him months ago that he’s related to the criminal Australian who’s married to one of the most dangerous and notorious criminals in Los Santos he would have laughed in their face. But Barry Benson’s married to Dundee and has adopted him and here they are. His stepfather is literally criminally insane and his dad will go down for him at the drop of a hat. What is his life really?
He also won’t admit to anyone he’s secretly a little glad that Dee’s trial ended in a mistrial. He doesn’t agree with Dee’s constant declared war and vendetta against the PD but doesn’t think he deserves the nines either. Things have gotten a little skewed since Barry popped into his life. He has a duty to serve and protect but he also wants Barry’s approval and wants him in his life. It’s like the law’s Scales of Justice. He constantly has to keep both sides of his very different life in balance and in check, not letting one bleed too much over into the other. Except of course when Barry is being a dumbass and doing crime and TJ has to arrest him, which he does often.
He smiles faintly as he stops at a red light, scanning the streets and intersections for any illegal activities. Nothing. Not a thing. He sighs hugely. It really is a very uneventful day.
He brings up his call log and finds his father’s number. He tries not to take in and cringe that he barely has a call history. He calls Barry the most.
Barry answers after a couple rings.
“Oh hello TJ Walker, my son who’s also a police officer.”
He rolls his eyes fondly.
“Hey, pops. Whatcha up to?”
He continues his patrol over the seemingly dead streets. An old woman pushes a listing grocery cart slowly down the street. He thinks about stopping her to ask why and where did the cart come from but where’s the fun in that? She’s not doing any harm. She’s probably just confused. He turns a blind eye and pretends not to see. Where are all the criminals today? His cruiser makes a few turns like it’s on autopilot. He heads towards Vespucci Beach like his car has a mind of its own.
“Uh. Well. You know, son. Just, uh. Hanging out. Nothing much.”
TJ quirks an eyebrow. His father actually sounds sincere for a change. Usually he gets some BS about being at the famer’s market at Dean’s World or that he’s taking up donations for the less fortunate when really his dad is up to no good and doing nefarious activities with his husband and motor club.
“Oh. Ok. Me too.”
Barry pauses. “Ah. Slow day today, son?”
“Yup.” There’s really no point in denying it. He's bored. This conversation will depressingly be the highlight and most action he’ll see all day.
Barry pauses again.
TJ pulls up to Vespucci Beach noting the cowboy hatted figure up on one of the nearby roofs. His dad’s club has been edgier than usual especially with Dee being sent away and then his mistrial. He tries to not take it personally.
“Well. I just pulled up at Vespucci-”
“I know. I just heard. Son, I told you. You can’t come down here.”
He rolls his eyes as he parks. He knows Barry cares underneath it all but his tone is a little annoying and condescending. He’s a little impressed on how fast they can spot him and radio to each other. They’ve gotten pretty good and he can admit it. He spies a petite blonde woman peek around a building before quickly retreating. It’s all very unnecessary.
Barry sighs hugely.
“I saw them. It’s only me. If we’re both bored maybe we can be bored together?” TJ goes for smooth and cool. He’s just floating an idea to his pops. No biggie. He anticipates the rejection as he sees someone in aviators and a familiar black jean jacket peek over the wall to their meeting spot, the billabong. He thinks it’s one of the higher ranks with the weird name. Barry explained the ranking system to him once but he didn’t really pay too much attention at the time.
He chances it and gets out of his cruiser. It’s maybe risky. Cops are hated and gunned down especially in this area and in Dundee’s turf but this is his dad and he’s done it before.
“Umm.” Barry starts.
TJ walks around the cruiser and leans against the passenger door. He can’t see over the wall to their billabong but his cop tingly senses tell him that his father’s cronies have fallen back. Call it a hunch. He imagines little beetles scattering and scurrying in all directions back into their holes.
He smirks and waits.
“Ok. Uh. Give me a second,” his father abruptly hangs up.
He weighs his options. He could leave and continue his very boring and uneventful patrol or he can wait and potentially be yelled at, cursed out or shot at by his father’s club members or maybe worse shooed away by his father himself. He must have a penchant for pain because he waits.
He fortunately doesn’t have to wait long before his father hoists himself over the wall of the billabong. He’s surprisingly not in his usual jean jacket vest. His “kuttes” as he’s heard them call it. He’s sporting a plain black crew neck t-shirt and black jeans.
“Oh hey.” His father casually saunters towards him.
TJ straightens up and tries to mask his surprise. He was anticipating a call back from him to leave, one of the followers accompanying Barry as “back up” to intimidate him or god forbid Collin descend on him like the mad man that he is. He shudders. He’s really not a fan of Collin.
“Hey.” TJ winches at how over eager he sounds, a little hope trickling in.
Barry puts his hands to his hips as he approaches. “You really shouldn’t come here like this, son. I warned you and if you ever come here when I’m not here I can’t say for certain what could happen to you. Uh. Yeah. I can’t protect you.”
TJ feels a little warmth squeeze at his heart. Did he really just drive here to hear his dad say sappy shit to his face? Definitely not.
TJ approaches. “I know,” he shrugs a little. “You don’t have to protect me. I can take care of myself,” he grasps at the bullet proof vest he’s wearing and stupidly puffs his chest out.
Barry puts his fist to his chin. “Right. Well. I wouldn’t want something to happen to you.”
TJ feels like he’s been patted on top of his head. It’s pathetic and sick and he wants more of it. He has some serious issues. Maybe. He fights back a grin.
“Aww. Well I’m here.” He stretches his arms out wide and motions around them.
Barry’s lips twitch up.
“Ah ok. It’s a slow day for us too. Caught me at a good time I guess.”
TJ cocks his head. He counted at least three of his father’s members in their turf. How is it a slow day? He doesn’t want to endorse crime but certainly they would be up to something by now? He shouldn’t knock it and won’t press.
TJ rocks back on his heels. “Beautiful day today. Want to take a walk down the beach?"
He immediately wants to slap himself. He didn’t mean to voice it but the ocean air is crisp and clean and the salt smell wafting over is refreshing. There’s a slight breeze in the air that ruffles his hair and tickles his face. The sun is blazing high in the sky. It’s inviting and invigorating and his pops is actually talking to him and not turning him away. It really is a gorgeous day.
He can’t see his eyes behind the aviators but he imagines Barry staring incredulously.
“Uh. Ok. Sure.”
TJ has to contain another grin.
It only gets harder to do when Barry takes off down towards the beach first, TJ quick on his father’s heels.
He doesn’t think he’s ever taken the time to walk the beach before. He scans the white sand around them. The beach is fairly crowded with sunbathers on towels and couples sitting close to one another, heads bent towards each other. He has to quicken his pace a little to catch up with his dad. Although they’re about the same height, Barry definitely has a quicker natural pace. Probably due to trying to avoid cops all the time. He refrains from rolling his eyes at the irony of him trying to catch up with his criminal father.
Barry finally slows his pace enough so that he can catch up.
“So, uh. How’s policing going?”
TJ lets the natural smile play out on his lips. Any time his dad has an interest in his life, however forced it sounds, it always makes him feel a little warm and fuzzy.
“Oh, you know. Another day, another criminal scumbag caught. It’s been going pretty well.”
He pauses because they don’t really open up or have heart to hearts at all. He scans the horizon, all shining and dazzling blue water with the sun reflected on it. His shoes are quickly filling uncomfortably with sand. He spies his dad’s huge Timberland type boots feeling a pang of jealousy.
“How’s uh...how’s the club?” he rather not inquire about any of his dad’s criminal activities. The less he knows the better and the more he can deny if asked by his superiors if need be.
Barry hasn’t trained his eyes away from the water as they make slow work to where the tide is coming into the shore. TJ follows his gaze. He wonders faintly if it reminds him of where he grew up in Australia at all. He’s never thought to ask his dad about it.
“It’s been uh, pretty good. Initiated a couple members. They got jackets.”
He nods politely, not really knowing how to add anything but can hear in his dad’s tone he’s pleased. He’s been a cop long enough to pick up on non verbal cues and how to lead with questions. He can’t say he’s overly thrilled to see more of the jean jacket wearing followers around the city in those muscle cars but if his dad is happy then he can try to be too.
They’re getting some looks from their fellow beach patrons. He supposes them wearing all black is a little suspicious and doesn’t at all go with the aesthetic. TJ’s also in uniform. They stick out like sore thumbs. He’s definitely feeling the sun rays absorb into his dark clothes but the breeze is nice.
“That’s good. How many of you are there now?”
Barry hasn’t looked away from the gentle tide lapping at the shore. TJ smiles faintly, watching him.
“Um. Not too sure actually. Is this my police officer son asking for some other reason maybe?”
TJ smiles crookedly and shrugs, a little impressed his slightly aloof father picked up on it.
“Maybe.”
Barry huffs out a laugh. “Nine hundred thousand. We’re like ninjas, son. We can be anywhere at any time. Hiding in the shadows.”
It’s dumb but TJ still laughs.
Barry smiles.
A sudden settled feeling takes over him and he feels himself filling up with something. It’s like a combination of contentment, longing and intrigue. He also feels relaxed.
Why can’t their time together be like this all the time?
He whistles. “Wow. That’s more than the whole population of Los Santos. I’m impressed.”
Barry chuckles.
They stand close together in companionable silence. TJ never thought they could do something like this and how natural it feels. That his dad would actually want to do something like this with him even.
His dad clears his throat, breaking him out of his thoughts.
“So, uh. Do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend or?
He blames the heat and the sun for his cheeks heating up suddenly. He resists rolling his eyes but he has to admit it’s a little cute.
“Nope.”
“Ah. Ok.” His dad seems to mull it over. “Well if you ever want me to introduce you to someone."
A helpless giggle forms in his chest and he has to desperately push it down. Is his dad trying to give him relationship advice and set him up?! Have they actually gotten to that point?
“You’d play matchmaker for me or something?” He can’t help his incredulous tone.
Barry still hasn’t looked away from the ocean. His lips twitch up again. “If I see someone I’ll let you know.”
TJ can’t help the laughter that tumbles out of him.
“You don’t even know what my tastes are! I never said I was actually looking!”
“Oh.” His father blurts it out like it genuinely just dawned on him. “Well Dee and I know a lot of people, so.”
It’s quickly dissolving into awkward territory but he slowly realizes, as he desperately tries to shake off the cringe, that underneath it all Barry is genuinely trying. They’re at the starting point in their relationship and still literally getting to know each other. Barry wants to know him just as much as he wants to try to get to know his father.
He lets the din of the other beach patrons wash over him as he scans the horizon with his father. He’s reminded of how little he actually knows about his dad. He gets caught in an almost trance watching the roll and crash of the waves and forgets that he should try to add something to the conversation. He scrambles for a moment.
“How’s stepdad?”
The words don’t come out easily. He’s not used to the title for Dundee yet. Sometimes he still grapples with the fact that Barry is actually married to him.
Barry turns to him. “He’s uh. He’s alright. He’s Dee.”
He nods politely again. An almost awkward silence hangs between them. His father eyes him. TJ’s feet are really starting to hurt from all the damn sand and he’s sweating a little. He opens his mouth, ready to scramble for a better leading question when Barry’s phone goes off. Barry fishes it out of his skinny jeans.
“Hey, Mick. What’s going on?”
Barry takes a couple steps away but is still within earshot. He wonders if Barry’s trying to be polite or maybe it’s not a secret criminal activity call. Yet.
TJ narrows his eyes, maybe subtly trying to pick up on if crime is happening as Barry shoots looks at him from over his shoulder.
The call is short and Barry joins him again. It’s hard to read his expression.
“So. Uh. This was nice.”
TJ frowns, feeling suddenly and weirdly deflated. Even with the awkward talks and silence he really thought they were getting somewhere, anywhere in their relationship. He was enjoying himself. Of course his dad has something better to do.
He nods, schooling his features. “Yeah.”
Barry puts his hands to his hips and clears his throat loudly. “We should uh. Do this again sometime.”
TJ can’t help but perk up. “Oh? Oh yeah?” He winches at the little tremble in his voice and the stupid hope dripping from his words.
Barry pauses. He scans the beach around him and sighs deeply. “What are you doing right now?”
TJ was trying to subtly shake sand from his shoe but jerks his head up at his father’s question. He stares not thinking he heard him correctly.
“Right now?”
His father trains his gaze back on him. “Yeah.”
He’s torn and feels he’s standing on a precipice of sorts. His father doesn’t agree to spend time with him or asks him to join him. His father is a criminal and he’s a cop. They can’t be any more opposite. He’s also desperately wanted to know more about this man for a while whether he wants to admit it or not.
He looks away and worries his bottom lip. He feels his dad’s eyes on him. How many times has he wished Barry’s picked up the phone and asked to get a drink or take a drive with him. He has no idea what Barry’s plans are and why he wants TJ to join. He selfishly doesn’t want to ask because if he does and Barry tells him it’s criminally related he knows he’ll have to decline. He fingers at the radio on his shoulder. It hasn’t gone off the entire time he’s been with Barry. It really has been an awfully slow day.
A slow tentative smile plays on his father’s lips like he’s nervous and a little hopeful too.
TJ switches off his radio. He feels he’s jumped the proverbial cliff. He could get in a lot of trouble for this. He’s on duty but his father wants to be with him. He doesn’t want to say no. He convinces himself it’ll only be for an hour and then he’ll go. He only wants to make sure his dad stays out of trouble.
“Am I riding with you or?”
The tentative smile turns into a huge grin. “With me. I don’t think you’ve rode in my Sabre or the Paragon have you?
“Not yet. Only chased those cars.”
Barry’s smile is infectious. Has he ever noticed it before? He finds himself smiling as he follows his father back through the beach towards their meeting spot.
His father slows his pace when he notices TJ wincing from all the sand in his shoes.
“You were right,” Barry turns his face up to the sky and inhales deeply. “Really is a beautiful day. Good idea, son.”
TJ hasn’t stopped smiling as they reach the road and he dumps sand from his shoes. Barry patiently waits for him.
His concern and patience don’t stop as he helps TJ over the wall to their billabong and opens the car door to the Paragon for him.
He has to tap down on feelings of wild hope as Barry looks over at him after they’ve buckled in.
“Ready?”
Always, dad. Been waiting for you.
“Yup.”
Barry guns it out of the alleyway and into the streets. The car is ridiculously fast and Barry handles it well even when taking tight turns.
Landscape whizzes past them and he feels he’s leaving a part of himself back on the beach.
He thinks he can ignore that his father is speeding and running lights by the chuckle of sheer delight they share.
“You like it?” His father has to speak up over the engine and traffic noises.
He peers over at his father who looks so giddy yet in his element.
“I do.” TJ finds this to be true.
His father smiles in response as he shifts and floors it.
They speed off to their adventure and he can’t wait to find out what it is.