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“Why are you so against fun lunches?” Wade rolls his eyes, wearing his ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron over his pajamas as he argues with his boyfriend (he told me it was integral that you know that Logan and Wade had been an official thing for a month) in his fluffy bunny slippers, Mary-Puppins in hand.
“We are not giving the kid fucking jolly ranchers and PB and J’s every day!” He argued right back, this was a constant feat. Logan was overly cautious about Laura’s health all the time.
“I think you have some unresolved trauma with PB and J’s that you need sorted out, my love” Wade cooed, definitely not in a sweet way.
“Chicken and rice are a good option, my love ” He retorted, they hadn’t actually said ‘I love you’ yet but that didn’t mean Logan didn’t think about it every day. Using these ‘jokes’ as a way to gauge when he should.
Wade groaned loudly, finally putting Mary-Puppins down to let her roam free. Hands on hips, “Funny, you always suggest these grand fucking meals, but you are never the one doing the cooking.” He narrows his eyes.
Logan gets up, grunts, pets Mary-Puppins and then makes his way over to Wade. “Sorry, since when has chicken and rice ever been a grand meal?” He said, fighting back the laughter- Wade always made ridiculous claims. He cups Wade’s face with both hands and plants a soft kiss on his lips. “Just do it, sweetie.” He pulls away, smiling. Honey, dripping from his voice and Wade is also pretty sure something is dripping from him as well.
“I am so wet right now.” He spoke, eyes wide. He licks his lips.
Logan throws his head back, laughing and Wade has the urge to bite at his neck. “Oh my God, just make the food since you love cooking so much.”
“Ugh, only since you followed the rules” he said, pointing at his apron. Logan gave him a nod and walked back to the couch, cuddling Mary-Puppins. He didn’t have work today and Laura was at school so they could relax. And, thankfully, Wade had nobody to fuck up that day.
Al walked out of her room, yawning and sniffing profusely- definitely cocaine. “Can you be gay a little quieter?” She sighed, light impertinence coating her tone.
Wade turned around swiftly, “Have you tried being blind a little quieter, Althea?”
“You literally call me ‘Blind Al’ so it’s a bit impossible Wade.” She sat next to Logan, “Good Morning, sweetheart, wasn’t talking about you.” Logan smiled, saying ‘Thank you’, she was always more loving towards Logan.
“You. Suck.” He glared, “You can’t even see the face I’m making right now!” He stomped his foot like a toddler having a tantrum.
“And you blow, by the way, our walls are thin. Just cause Laura is at school doesn’t mean it’s fair game.” She actually didn’t care much, the TV was on so loud most of the time that the occasional thud from the other room didn’t bother her. But, it was really fun to tick Wade off.
Wade gasped, pretending to be shocked. Logan died from embarrassment. Nobody said anything for a few minutes. “Hit a nerve?” She asked.
“There’s a joke in there somewhere, Althea…there’s a joke in there somewhere.” Wade smiled, returning to the stove.
𖥸
It had been oddly very difficult for Laura to sleep recently. She normally was really good with sleeping through the night, she was an insanely quiet baby too. Logan would have to check her breathing just to make sure nothing had happened. So, it was odd, for no apparent reason she could no longer sleep in her big-girl bed anymore. She would crawl into bed late at night, between Logan and Wade. They would both wrap their arms around her and give each other worried looks.
“So, Laura, is everything okay Baby?” Logan asked her the next morning at breakfast. She was poking at the cereal she once ate in stride a few weeks prior.
“Mhm” She said, not breaking eye contact with the too-full bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats.
“You sure, sweetie?” Wade added, it broke him to see her this way, once so vibrant at breakfast and now anything but.
“STOP ASKING ME THAT!” She yelled, Laura usually didn’t yell, she was pretty calm most of the time. So, it was a surprise when her claws protruded out of her knuckles with a loud SNIKT. The claws knocked over her orange juice that was in front of her. When she realized what she had done she began sobbing loudly “Sorry, Daddy, Sorry, Sorry” She repeated, Logan immediately held her snug in his chest. Wade began cleaning up the juice, rubbing her back periodically.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Logan scooped her up and put her on his lap, rocking with her “Nothing at all.”
Dropping her off at school was tough. Wade and Logan sat in the parking lot for a few minutes digesting what had happened this morning. “I wonder what it is…” Logan murmured, resting his head on the steering wheel.
“I wish I fuckin’ knew.” Wade pulled his seat back, getting comfortable, “Maybe we should try asking her again. She does better with direct questions, right? With autism and everything. "He waved his hands around.
Logan sat up and turned to him, “She does, but that doesn’t mean she’ll answer it truthfully.” He sighed; Laura wasn’t known to lie but he wouldn’t put it past her when it came to this.
Wade put a hand on Logan’s knee, his attempt at being comforting. It felt awkward so he removed it. “At least we would have tried.”
They wouldn’t have to wait that long to have some semblance of an idea as to what was going on.
𖥸
“Sorry, she did WHAT!?” Logan said on his lunch break, wide eyed, absolutely dumbstruck. He sighed and pressed his face into his hand to prevent screaming on the phone.
“I understand it’s hard to hear Mr. Howlett, however, your daughter did make inappropriate and disrespectful comments towards another student. I’ll need you to come pick her up and I’d like to see you again soon for a meeting.” He said, as if it was nothing. As if he hadn’t just fucked up Logan’s entire day.
Safe to say, the car ride home from school was quiet. Logan was upset, more than upset- he was furious. He couldn’t even look at her right now and that ached his chest in a way it hadn’t in a long while. He decided to discuss it with Wade and then have them sit down to have a talk with her. Maybe even Al could be there too…well, probably not, Al always made excuses for Laura.
“She said WHAT ?!” Wade said as soon as they had gotten home. He said it in a whisper-shout to avoid Laura hearing in the room over. She was made to do her homework. Mary Puppins wasn’t allowed in her room as it’d be a distraction.
“That’s what I said!” Logan agreed, taking a seat on the bed.
“Well, what’d the little asshole say to her to get that reaction?” Wade snorted.
Logan groaned angrily, for once he thought Wade had taken something seriously but no. “What the fuck, Wade? She can’t talk to other kids like that! She can’t threaten them! Mutants are hated enough.”
“You seriously aren't putting the reputation of all mutants on the back of a six-year-old right now, right? Because that would be fucking insane, even for you.” Wade scoffed. Annoyance evident in his tone.
Logan shook his head, “No, no, sorry. But it’s still not okay.”
“Did you ask her why in the car?”
Logan was silent. He hadn’t said anything in the car. Not providing any comfort or anything. It hit him all at once, he hadn’t asked his baby girl what was wrong- he had so many opportunities and yet…he waited, for what? Guilt gnawed at his gut.
“You didn’t, did you?” Wade interrupted his brutal train of thought. Logan didn’t answer, he just stared off, becoming lost in his head all over again. Wade put a hand on his back, “Wanna do that now?” This was the first time there seemed to be no choke waiting at the end of a sentence. Just honesty. Logan knew it wasn’t really a question though. It was an obligation he had as a father, something he had fucked up. He had spent so much time being upset with her. He hadn’t even tried to understand. That’s worst of all, he hadn’t even tried. There was a troubled expression on his face that Wade desperately wanted to kiss away. But some things can’t be solved with a kiss.
“Yeah, I’ll go do that now.” He nodded.
𖥸
He knocked at the door softly, holding Mary-Puppins in his hands as a peace offering. He didn’t get a response. He decided to just go in. Laura was sitting on the floor leaning over a Phonics and Handwriting workbook she’d had for school. There was assigned homework every night (except weekends). She normally breezed through the pages, but she seemed to just be staring at them.
“Hi, Bumblebee.” His voice was soft.
Laura looked up “Hi.” She choked out, she began pretending to write something on the page she had most likely been staring blankly at for 30 minutes. It hurt him. He took the book from her and closed it, placing it on her bed.
He sat next to her and handed her Mary-Puppins to hold. She held the dog cautiously, unsure of what it meant. She looked at him quizzically. He put his hands up, “Just wanted to talk.” She holds the dog tighter, nodding lightly, “Why did you say that to the boy at lunch?”
“Because Billy’s an asshole. Somebody had to tell him that he’s a dumb fucker.” In any other circumstance hearing this from a six-year-old would be hilarious, no doubt she’d learned these choice words from Wade. He’d probably even tell her it’s not allowed, but that wasn’t the point right now.
“Laura,” he said, prompting her to answer again.
She frowned, eyes darting to every corner of the room, her hold on Mary-Puppins getting tighter. “I’m always hungry”
The sentence startles Logan, it’s not what he expected to hear. It seemed to have nothing to do with what he asked her or what happened at school. “Hm?” escaped his lips, he cleared his throat “What do you mean? Should we pack you more lunch?” His voice was still gentle. “You can always ask for more.” He assured her, moving a few strands of hair out of her face.
She shook her head from side to side swiftly, “I don’t need anymore. I just want my lunch.” Tears began to suckle in her eyes, she fought them back.
Logan furrowed his eyebrows, “I don’t quite understand, Baby.” He took her hands in his, “But I want to understand, okay? I do.”
She finally looked up at him, her eyes red from the tears. “Everyday Billy takes the lunch Papa makes me, all of it. I’m always hungry when I get home, but I feel bad asking for more.” Her voice began to break as she said, “He calls me mean names, he takes my food, he spit on me.” Laura rubbed a hand across her cheek to show him where the spit once lied.
Logan’s jaw began tight, grinding his enamel in his mouth. His lips curled into a scowl; nostrils flared. Ready to fight a six-year-old. He tried taking a deep breath, it didn’t work all that well. The feeling of anger was soon replaced by sadness, however. He resented himself for not discovering this sooner. He wraps his arms around her, Mary-Puppins escaping onto the bed, and holds her tightly, passionately, lovingly. “I am sorry that I didn’t know. I should have known.” He said, her head buried in his shoulder, the tears finally falling fully and violently. Part of him wondered why she hadn’t told Ms. Munroe when they came in after lunchtime, she would have told him right away. But he couldn’t focus on that right now. “I’m going to protect you, okay.” He whispered into her hair, giving her a kiss. He was going to make this right; he would not settle until that kid was at a different school…or dead. But murder was illegal, so he’d have to settle for the former option.
𖥸
“I heard crying,” Wade said as soon as he returned to their room, tear stains on her shoulder.
“You did.” Logan said getting under the covers, Wade looked at him expecting more explanation, “There’s this kid, Billy, he’s been torturing her for weeks…stealing her food, calling her names, spitting on her. It’s why she hasn't been able to sleep. She’s hungry and she’s just been scared to tell us, I don't think she wants to be ‘weak’.” He took a deep breath after all that.
Wade chuckled, I wonder where she gets that from” He said sarcastically “Where does this kid live, for research purposes by the way?” He was definitely planning on murdering a six-year-old.
“I thought about it too, we can’t kill a six-year-old. There’s a meeting with the principal this week, I’ll just try and get him expelled-if they don’t then switch her school, it is the only logical option.”
Wade gasped, “MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPAL? OH, I’M COMING.” Logan wanted to protest, Wade could see it in his eyes, “SHE CALLS ME PAPA OKAY! I’M GOING TO THE MEETING.” He couldn’t argue with that, so he didn’t. He just turned off the lamp and grunted a ‘Good Night’.
𖥸
Because of Laura’s suspension, she’d be staying at home for two days. Which was okay, she had the likes of Al, Mary-Puppins and all her favorite cartoons to keep her company. Logan was actually grateful for it, sure, the situation wasn’t…ideal but the kid clearly needed a break of sorts. So, while they headed to her school for a meeting she stayed at home. Wade wore a full fucking tuxedo like an asshole, Logan wore a button down and jeans. He cursed him for it the entire car ride, though he did think Wade looked hot in it (he’d never admit that) it was still ridiculous.
The principal was taken aback by it too, given his wide-eyed expression at the sight of Wade. “Oh- Thank you for joining me Mr. Howlett and…” He turned to Wade, incredibly confused “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met, you are…” He studied Wade’s ridiculous get-up “the child's nanny of sorts…?”
Logan sighed, knowing the tangent that was soon to come. Wade gasped, slapping his hand against his mouth “Never in my life, have I faced so much disrespect.” He put a hand over his heart, Logan closed his eyes praying this would be over soon “I appreciate the work nanny’s do everyday. But I am actually this man's gay lover! Laura…is like a DAUGHTER to me. And you sit here and disrespect my family in such a way.” He pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at his (already dry) eyes.
The principal, his desk plate says Mr. Carlos, looks panicked. “Oh, I am SO sorry…Mr. Howlett? We respect all familial dynamics here. Believe me, my son is gay.” He motioned over for Wade to have a seat.
He put his handkerchief away “Mr. Wilson, actually.” He sat down, putting his elbows on the table “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”
“You sure are dressed for it.” Logan muttered under his breath.
“Ah, yes, So I wanted to talk about Laura’s recent behavioral issues in the cafeteria. She told one student to…” He pulled out a file, reading off it “‘Leave her the fuck alone, you dumb cunt before she claws his fucking eyes out’” He adjusted his glasses and looked back up.
Wade burst out laughing, Logan cracked a smile, unable to pretend it wasn’t a little funny.
“Do you men find this behavior funny?”
Logan said “No, not at all.”
Wade put up a finger in objection, “He does not speak for me, I find it fucking hilarious.” Mr. Carlos glared from across the desk.
Logan cleared his throat, “That boy had been stealing her lunch for weeks before she snapped. Do you know he spit on her? Did you even ask her why she said all that?”
Mr. Carlos’ eyes widened, he hadn’t been expecting such a rebuttal “Well, no… But-”
Wade cut him off “Do you know why that might be?” He said it like he was a detective on an old show, “If it were up to me, I’d give him the death penalty.” Logan elbowed him in the stomach causing him to cough.
“I didn’t ask her why she would say that because it wasn’t important, what is important is that we don’t encourage the use of this language and behavior.”
“But you encourage bullying, the act of stealing…all that is fair game?” Logan’s eyes furrowed. He gripped his thighs, squeezing tight, trying to ground himself.
“Are there teachers monitoring the lunchroom?” Wade asked, pacing the room now with his hand behind his back. Somehow, he had also acquired a fedora, he looked ridiculous.
“Yes, there are. I advise you to take a seat Mr. Wilson,” Mr. Carlos spoke
“I will not be advised!” He snapped, then took a breath, “So, none of the teachers on lunch-room duty noticed the horrendous bullying taking place. Is that correct?”
“How does someone spitting on my daughter go unnoticed but her saying a few cuss words is where you draw the line?” Logan questioned,
“She threatened violence.” He reiterated,
“And yet that boy was the only one being physical? How does that go unnoticed?” Logan said, Wade nodded in agreement, finally sitting back down (he was NOT advised). “I get it, Laura shouldn't use that language in school, I can talk to her about that. But how about it shouldn't be allowed that a kid can terrorize someone every day and that be alright. His parents should be here too, he shouldn’t be allowed to come back to this school.”
“You know I can’t do that!” Mr. Carlos retorted,
“WHY NOT?!” Wade slammed his hands on the table, standing up to hover over the man. “Mr. Carlos, I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t really give a fuck what you say. I’m not leaving here until that kid is expelled from this school. I have a Glock in one pocket and 80,000 dollars in the other, make your choice.”
𖥸
Safe to say, Laura wouldn’t have to talk to Billy ever again.
“Where the fuck did you get that much money?” Logan’s eyes were wide, astonished.
Wade giggled, “Oh Honey-badger, who said that money was real? I’m actually just going to put a pipe bomb under his bed.”
“Wade. You cannot KILL Laura’s principal.” The car was moving now, headed home.
Wade groaned “Oh my GODDDDD, You’re no fun. Fine, he’ll realize soon enough the money is fake and then I’ll just threaten him with the death of all his family and friends, sound better?”
Logan contemplated for a moment “Yeah. Better.”