Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Paauuuuuullllllll.”

Paul sighed, looking up into the mirror, finding Pokey  instead of his own reflection staring  at him. 

“Pokotho what is it?”

“Why do you call me that? I’m your father! I expect you to call me a proper name!”

Paul decided that he wasn’t in the mood to answer that.

“Anyway, I heard Mama Mia is holding auditions, you should audition, I haven’t seen you act in a play since elementary school!”

 Yeah because you and mom made me do it.

“Aren’t you tired of your little teenage rebellion? I’m sure your voice would help you get that barista.”

Paul groaned.

“First, I’m 30, I think I’m to old for a teenage rebellion, and I am not using my voice to try and get Emma.”

“That’s right, your only 30, most of our children live to at least 130, your still so young!”

God I hope not.

“I don’t have time for this, I have work to get to.”

He turned around, hurrying out of the bathroom.

***

“So how are you doing Paul?”

He turned to see Bill leaning out of his cubicle.

“Pokotho decided that I should try and audition for Mama Mia today.”

Bill winced.

“I know how you feel, Alice has been asking about her other dad, apparently he’s been talking to her again.”

Paul shrugged.

“You're going to have to explain it to her eventually, she’s old enough to realize that she’s different from other kids.”

“Yes, but how do you explain that he’s an eldritch god?”

Paul didn’t really know how to answer that, Pokotho had made no effort to try and hide what he was, combine that with the fact that he’d inherited the voice he’d always kind of known.

“You could ask one of the others for help.”

Bill shot him a look.

“What like Ted?“

Yeah that does sound like a terrible idea. Plus Pete knew a lot of that stuff before, thanks to Tinky talking to him when he was younger

“Maybe bring it up with the others at group?”

“Maybe.”

***

Pete groaned, trying to brush his hair in a way that would hide his horns

How are they getting this big?

Pretty soon he’d have to start to have to grow his hair out even longer to hide them.

Maybe I could try and shave them down? Not sure who I could convince to do so and would keep them a secret.

He was pretty sure he could ask Ted to but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to.

“Come on Pete Cub your horns are nothing to be ashamed of. Your a growing boy.”

Pete gritted his teeth.

That’s right, I’m trying to be a normal HUMAN boy, I don’t want people knowing I’m half eldritch.

“I’m just saying, I think you’d get bullied less if people knew.”

And draw the attention of the government who I’m sure would love to get their hands on me.

He finally managed to get the hair covering his horns hurrying out of the bathroom glancing around nervously, not wanting to run into Max.

Chapter Text

Seventeen years ago

Ted yawned as he opened the door, rubbing his eyes, feeling a headache forming.

God I drank to much last night.

 In his defense, he was celebrating finishing his finals. His foot struck something, and he looked down to find a bassonet sitting on his doorstep, with a baby nestled in it, blinking up at him.

What the-?

He picked up the note that was pinned to the babies clothing.

Heya Teddy Bear, you remember nine months ago? Well this is the result, his names Peter by the way!

Ted stared down at the kid, the way the note was written did vaguely remind him of a blonde woman  he met nine months ago, but he could have sworn he’d warn protection. He picked up the baby, wondering what he was going to do.

Are babies supposed to have this much hair on them? I have no supplies, where is he going to sleep?

***

Present day

Paul stood up stretching, and glanced at the clock and standing up.

“I’m going to get some coffee, do you want me to get you an Iced Caramel Frap Bill?”

Bill leaned back shooting him a grateful grin.

“Please? I’ll reimburse you.”

He nodded, heading for the door, silently hoping that he wouldn’t run into Zoey, he already had to deal with Pokotho.

***

“Pete!”

Pete bit back a groan turning to find Grace Chastity  standing there smiling at him.

“What do you want Grace?”

Grace shoved a piece of paper in his hands, he stared at it, finding that it described some church event.

Not this again. It’s kind of ironic  that her parents are so Christian given who her dad is.

“I’m inviting all the kids like us.”

Grace said, her sharp teeth glittering. Pete shuddered, he could have sworn he heard Tinky chuckling.

Pretty sure that if I entered a church I’d be set on fire. 

He didn't think the others would be that game for it either,  it was on the same day as group, and for those who didn’t go to group, he was pretty sure they were members of the Starry Cult.

“Sorry, I’m busy that day, I have group.”

Graces smile dropped.

“I’m sure you can miss group, and I bet we  can help you with that problem of yours more then they can.”

She said, her eyes flicking up to his head. Pete felt his heart drop, brushing a hand over his head, relived that at least his horns weren’t visible.

How did she know that?

To his relief the bell rang signaling the end to that awkward conversation.

***

Paul tensed as he entered Beanies, seeing Zoey manning the counter.

Might as well get it over with.

Zoey shot him a knowing look as approached the counter.

“Coming into see that Emma?”

Paul shook his head, hoping he wasn’t blushing.

“No, I just want to get some coffe.”

Zoey grinned at him.

“Sure you do. You know it’d be easy to romance Emma all you have to do i-.”

Paul groaned.

“I am not using the voice, on Emma.”

Zoey rolled her eyes.

“I don’t understand how we’re related, it’s using a natural genetic advantage! It’s not that different from using your looks to pick up someone.”

Paul sighed.

“We’ve been over this already Zoey, you know why I don’t want to do that, can I please just have my coffee?”

Zoey turned around.

“You know, I could put in a good word with  Emma for you.”

Paul felt a blush forming.

“No! It was bad enough that you told Pokotho about her.”

“Come on Paul, I already told you to not call me that, and I want to know about your love life, and if you’d just let me help, I’m sure you’d  be  able to get Emma.”

Paul shivered, he knew what Pokothos help meant, he’d “helped” him in theater, and it led to his teacher and a classmate having a mental breakdown