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Cecil watches the rain fall from underneath the awning of the antiques mall.
It’s just his luck that today of all days, when his car wouldn’t start, and he had to walk to and from work, it would rain.
It’s not as if he doesn’t like stormy weather, he does enjoy the smell of rain, or curling up inside with a blanket, the water pounding against the window, but he doesn’t want the rain to ruin his makeup, or soak into his knitted crop top.
So for now the Radio Host is stuck here, waiting for the rain to subside.
“Dad!” Esteban shouts, getting Carlos’ attention. “Come look at this!”
Carlos darts out of the kitchen, concerned at the vague nature of his son’s commotion.
They live in Night Vale, it could be quite literally anything going on.
Esteban’s sitting backwards on the couch, hands pressed to the non-reflective glass of the window, the tip of his nose touching it as well.
“It’s raining!” His son exclaims.
Carlos lets out a sigh of relief, before smiling, and ruffling Esteban’s dark mop of hair.
“Can we go out and play in it?” Esteban asks, turning and looking up at him, his big eyes pleading and excited.
“Will you wear your boots and jacket this time?” Carlos questions in return.
Esteban, in response, nods vigorously.
“Then yes, we can go play outside.” He says, earning a huge smile from his son. “In fact, your Papa should be getting off of work soon, so I’ll see if he wants to meet up with us.”
Cecil turns the handle of his cane over in his hand, the normally comforting rhythmic sound of the rain falling having long become irritating.
Maybe he should call someone to pick him up, since at this rate it seems like the weather won’t be letting up anytime soon.
He kicks at the sand on the sidewalk, scrunching his noise as he sees the water slowly encroaching on his dry spot.
Cecil glances back up, catching sight of a familiar man on the other side of the street.
The Radio Host leans forward, narrowing his eyes. He’s probably mistaken, but… The man on the sidewalk across from him looks kind of like Carlos.
He’s about to call out to Carlos when he spots a small figure at his side, wearing a bright yellow coat, and red rubber boots.
He bites his lip, stopping himself.
The more Cecil looks, the more he convinces himself the man on the other side of the street isn’t his boyfriend. Carlos is clean shaven, and the man on the sidewalk has a beard, as well as more gray hairs than his boyfriend.
The Voice takes a step back, hiding himself further in the shadow of the awning.
Someone, a taller, pale man, with tattoos and a third eye like Cecil’s, rushes up to the pair, bending down to give the child a hug, before kissing the handsome one.
No one in the trio seems to be bothered by the rain dripping from their hair, or their water drenched clothes.
They look like the happiest family in the world.
Cecil smiles, a bit sadly, as he watches them.
He would love that life someday, but… Who knows if he would even be a good dad with how he was raised. It scares him. What if he messed up his kid? What if he wasn’t the perfect father? What if he disappointed both his child and his husband? He would never be able to live with himself.
The taller man, with the tattoos, and the best outfit, turns, looking directly at him, purple eyes gazing into his soul.
Cecil stiffens, standing straighter, clutching his cane tightly, which, as he’s just noticing, the other man has an exact copy of.
Something about him unnerves the Radio Host, the way he looks at him, his stance, the familiarity…
Suddenly the other man smiles and waves at him.
“Hey-!” Cecil starts.
“Cecil?” Carlos’ voice, from next to him, cuts him off.
The Radio Host spins, smiling as he sees the Scientist standing just beyond the awning, umbrella in hand.
“Carlos, hi!” He replies.
“Didn’t your broadcast end over half an hour ago?” His boyfriend asks, stepping into the dry space.
“You said it yourself, time doesn’t really work here, so who’s counting?” Cecil asks, trying to brush the concern off.
“You could have just called me, I would’ve come to get you.” Carlos presses, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Sorry.” The Radio Host murmurs, looking down at his sparkly shoes. “I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Ceec, you’re never a bother.” Carlos says softly.
Cecil looks back at him, giving him a slightly wavering smile, before getting pulled into a kiss.
Carlos walks down the sidewalk in the rain, Esteban jumping in every muddy puddle they pass beside him.
The walk to the radio station from their house isn’t a long one, and soon he spots Cecil striding towards them.
“How did work go?” He asks, as his husband bends down, giving their son a hug.
“It went quite well today.” Cecil answers, before stealing a quick kiss. “How was yours?”
“I think we’re about to make a huge breakthrough.” Carlos replies, excited, and having to stop himself from infodumping about his latest research.
He’s certain his husband will let him rant about it at home, but he doesn’t want to bore his son so much that he runs off in search of adventure and excitement elsewhere.
“That's wonderful, Babe.” Cecil says, before turning back to their son. “And how was school, Esteban?”
“It was great!” Esteban exclaims, smiling widely up at his Dads. “There was this kid who pushed another kid off the swing set, so I turned him into a rabbit!”
Carlos and Cecil exchange glances, before his husband giggles. He shakes his head, unable to suppress a smile from the sheer absurdity of it, and how this is now becoming a common occurrence, although making a mental note that they really do need to sit down and make it clear that Esteban can't keep doing this.
Carlos watches as their son jumps in another puddle, before catching a glimpse of Cecil staring, frozen, at something.
“Is something wrong?” Carlos asks.
“No, no.” Cecil replies softly, his intent expression turning into a smile as he starts to wave. “Everything's alright.”
The Scientist turns, gaze narrowing in on where his husband is staring, before, with a start, he realizes that the people across the street look like younger versions of them .
“Is that-?” Carlos starts, unable to figure out how to word the question without it seeming utterly ridiculous.
“Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is.” Cecil replies, before turning to look at him. “I think I remember it, too. It was back when we first started dating, and it had started to rain on my way back from work.”
“Was that the time where your car hadn't started, but you didn't call me to take you to and from work?” Carlos asks, starting to recall the day.
His husband nods.
“I had been so used to trying to be independent, and didn't want to burden you, in case you determined I was a bigger hassle than I was worth.” Cecil explains, a sadness deep in his beautiful eyes. “I was so silly back then.”
“We were both a little young and naive back then.” He responds, wrapping an arm around the Radio Host's waist.
“I was anything but young.” Cecil snorts.
“Were you naive though?" The Scientist teases.
“Maybe a little.” His husband relents, kissing his cheek.
“Should we… say something?” Carlos asks, glancing up at his Love.
“Nah.” Cecil replies, placing a hand on his shoulder, and giving it a tight squeeze. “I think they'll be okay without us interfering.”
Carlos looks back at them, watching them walk down the sidewalk together, his past self holding the umbrella over both of their heads, their hands intertwined.
“Yeah,” He says softly. “I think they'll be alright.”