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Swansea grumbled as he stomped down the halls. ‘Where’s that kid ran off to now? I swear if he’s playing that poke a man again-‘ Swansea whipped open the utility room door and spotted Daisuke. He was sitting at the desk with he head in his arms. ‘Sleepin on the job!? Oh he’s not gonna hear the end of this.’
As he starts towards him, he watches as Daisuke’s shoulders shake and he lets out a muffled cry. Swansea changes gears mentally and makes his way over to him a lot more cautiously.
“Kid? Are you crying?” He places a hand on the younger man’s shoulder and he jumps looking up at Swansea quickly wiping tears from his eyes.
“N-No!” He says voice cracking. He clears his throat and sits up straight “Nope I was just uhm-reading!” He not so subtly grabbed a book and held it up. It was open upside down.
“Lyin’s a sin Kid. Cryin’ aint. What’s happened?” His usually gruff voice was softer, concern taking over any annoyance.
Daisuke looked nervous shaking his head “It’s fine I just.. found a note dad sent that I hadn’t read yet..I guess it wasn’t what I wanted to hear hahaha..”
Swansea frowned, it wasn’t like the kid to be a downer. He looked to the desk and saw the note.
“ ‘mind if I read? I’m a dad, got two kids of my own at home so maybe I can shed some light for ya?” He offered, he wondered what his dad wrote. The kid was a couple nuts loose of a working machine but he was enthusiastic and tried his hardest. He’s a damn good kid, annoying, but a good kid none the less.
Daisuke paled and he quickly snatched the note holding it to himself. “I don’t know I don’t want you to think less of me too.” He was tearing up again, he sniffled and used his flannel to wipe his tears away.
Swansea rolled his eyes “ Nothin’ is gonna make me think less of you kid. I don’t know what your old man said to you but it won’t effect how I see ya. “ he extended his hand and with a nervous look Daisuke handed over the note.
It was short and he looked it over curiously, why was the runt so worried what he thought? Sure he’s technically his boss but he’s just another old geezer.
‘Dear my beautiful daughter, me and your mother miss you so much! Hopefully you make yourself useful on that silly little trip of yours, and when you get back I hope you’re ready to be done with playing pretend. It’s really driving a wedge between me and your mom and it’d stress us out a lot less if you just went back to being our precious baby girl!’
Swansea stared confused at the note. Daughter? Precious baby girl? Who are they talking about didn’t Daisuke say this was a note from his dad?
“I thought you said this a note from your dad? Why would he call you his daughter you’re not a girl?” Swansea said.
“I.. Swansea I’m trans.” Daisuke said he was shaking and looked like if he could run he would.
“What’s trans? Is that one of those sexualities? Don’t see how that applies here.”
“What no- I’m transgender. I was born a girl but I never felt like one. My mom supported me from the start but my dad…he had other plans for my life. “ tears slip down his face and Swansea can’t help but feel for the kid. If he was being honest he didn’t quiet understand but it’s not a parents place to decide what person their child is.
“I’m not gonna say I get it cause I don’t, I’m sorry your old man’s got his head stuck his ass…you said you told him and he still talks to you like that?” He said looking back down at the note with a grimace.
“You’re not mad..?” Daisuke looks shocked and Swansea huffs “of course not! Why would I be mad at you for something out of your control? I’m tellin’ you your dads in the wrong.”
Daisuke’s eyes widen and he’s jumps up to hug Swansea. The older man raises an eye brow but just returns the hug and pats his hack. “Thank you Swansea! I-I thought for sure you’d think less of me if you found out.”
“Kid I’ve been alive to long to get surprised by something as simple as this. Being a man’s about spirit, it’s about workin hard and puttin family first. That’s what makes you a man, so if you want my opinion, you’re more of a man than your dad’s ever gonna be Daisuke.” He pats his head as Daisuke hugs him tightly crying harder than ever.
“ I don’t know what to do I just want him to be proud of me.” He sniffs, Swansea thinks for a moment trying to figure out how to phrase it with out sounding like he was excusing Daisuke’s dad. Cause that bastard doesn’t have any excuse for treating his own son like this. Swansea would kill to have a son of his own, he always had the same reacquiring drunken dreams back before he sobered up, dreams where he had a son and was able to see the man he could have been if only he’d had a caring father of his own. ‘Poor kid thinks he’s all alone in this. You’ll learn eventually the worlds full of fuck ups.”
“ Don’t waste your time chasin that when you should be making yourself proud. Sounds like the only way he’d be proud is if you lied about who you are. That’s no life son that’s just lettin the world walk over you. At some point you gotta stand up for yourself.” He wasn’t sure he was cut out for comforting. His daughters were right he sucks at it. But he doesn’t want Daisuke to wind up a sad sack like him, the world needs more people like him in it.
“It’s just hard…helping others and being useful makes me feel proud. I’m just not very confident in myself..” He says quietly
Swansea laughs “You won’t like hearin’ this but that’s normal for your age. You’re still a kid. You will get stronger as you get older. And one day your gonna show your old man just what your capable of!” He gave him a final hard pat on the back.
“Okay now let go of me you’re gettin snot all over my shirt.” He laughed and Daisuke stepped back smiling at him. “Heh sorry, thank you again.. you have no idea how much weights been on my shoulders…You’re a really good guy Swansea!”
Swansea chuckled “oh no im not, I’ve just got a working brain. Anyone would be lucky to call you their son, I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to alright?” He watched Daisuke beam and nod.
“Now Jimmy clogged the toilet again and it’s your turn to unclog it so get to it sonny.” He barked, Daisuke groaned but smiled and headed out the door. He paused to wave good bye and Swansea couldn’t maintain his frown.