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Grian was going to lose it.
He was.
If he got one single more call from Tommy’s school about the altercation he was already on the way to deal with, he was swerving into traffic.
Well, not really.
Tommy needed a ride home, and Grian couldn’t really do that if he was dead or maimed, but he’d think about it. Hard.
Luckily the notification on his phone had only been Mumbo wishing him luck and mentioning he’d pick up Indian food for the three of them.
He pulled into the bare parking lot and tapped back his thanks before shoving his phone in the pocket of his cardigan. There was a dull thud as he dropped his head onto the steering wheel.
Why couldn’t he get one normal day?
Pulling the sun shield down, he flicked the mirror open as examined his face. He hadn’t gotten anything on it in the last fifteen minutes, but he looked tired.
He always had since Tommy moved in.
It wasn’t Tommy’s fault and Grian didn’t regret it, of course not. Tommy was family, some of the only family left Grian was actually on good terms with, and he had a spare room in his apartment anyways.
Tommy fit in his life better than he expected, as well.
Except for school.
With a drawn out sigh that certainly wasn’t to procrastinate going in, his phone rang again with a number he recognized on sight. The school’s office. He let it ring as he got out and half-walked half-jogged to the main entrance. He was buzzed in immediately by some staff he didn’t recognize.
“Mr. Innit? I can show you-”
“I know where the office is, trust me.” He didn’t bother correcting the name, he never did. It didn’t make a difference anyways.
The hallways were polished, and Grian hoped that wasn’t what he was spending all that money on. It probably was. Who would focus on children’s education or safety when the linoleum hallways were a tad scoffed? Tories, Grian would guess.
The school was why Tommy had to move in. It was too far from where he used to live, and it was too nice of a scholarship to not go. Grian paid the rest.
Tommy had tried to argue, had showed his saving, had yelled about it. He’d threatened to hunger strike as well, which Grian just found hysterical. He’d ordered in that same night and Tommy seemed to forget all about it while he was stuffing himself so full on pasta Grian was a bit worried he’d spoil his appetite for, well, for the rest of his life. That was maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but Grian had never seen someone eat that much food before, it couldn’t be normal.
Tommy had gotten a massive scholarship, sure, and he did have a decent amount of savings, especially for someone his age, but Grian would never let a teenager pay for their own schooling. That would be bad parenting on his part.
Or- well, he wouldn’t say he was parenting Tommy. Maybe cousin-ing him? Brother-ing him? He’d stick with parenting for now, but he made a note to never say it in front of Tommy, who would either die laughing, or die of rage.
He was sure his shoes left at least one scoff on the floor. He relished in it as he knocked once on the office door before letting himself in.
The headmaster wasn’t there.
Tommy was, and on his right side was probably the teacher who had reported him for ‘fighting’ in the first place.
His cousin was looking worse for the wear. Uniform rumpled, tie undone, Tommy was staring at a pencil in his hands that he was fidgeting with.
The teacher wasn’t saying anything, but he stood when Grian entered, holding a hand out. He smiled, and Grian could admit it disarmed him a bit.
It seemed genuine enough, that was the only reason Grian shook the offered hand, looking over the man’s shoulder at Tommy, who was studiously avoiding eye contact.
“Hi, Mr. Crescent, right? Tommy’s cousin?”
Colour him surprised. His actual name being used instead of Tommy’s?
He blinked.
“Uhm. Grian is alright, Mr…”
“Taurtis! I’m one of Tommy’s teachers, I saw what happened, and I just wanted to say-”
Grian knew where this was going. It always ended up there.
“That Tommy is violent? A delinquent?” He guessed sardonically, any good will fading. His arms crossed over his chest, hoping to hide the pang of disappointment he felt. It always sucked when the asshole was cute. “That this isn’t the school for him? Because I’ve spoken with the headmaster several times, and I am sure that these… altercations,” The word was harsh, biting. He hoped it conveyed that altercation wasn’t the right word for what was happening. “are a bit more complicated than he’s willing to admit.”
Taurtis said nothing, eyes focusing a bit, almost scanning Grian. His lips twisted, brows furrowed, until his face relaxed, then scrunched up again as if panicked.
“Oh, you think I-” His hands came up, waving just a bit frantically as he glanced over his shoulder back at Tommy before his gaze shot to Grian again. “No, I think Tommy’s great- I just, I saw what happened, and I wasn’t sure the school was giving you an… accurate picture of everything.” He paused. “But I’m guessing you already know that? That’s good, I was worried I’d have to try and convince you Tommy hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Grian didn’t uncross his arms, but he did shift on his feet, torn between guilt for making assumptions and disbelief that someone else was on Tommy’s side.
He wasn’t quite sure how to continue, and neither it seemed, did the other man.
“I saw everything happen.” Taurtis finally said, the words coming out the wrong side of rushed, almost fumbling over themselves. The man’s hands rested behind his back, but Grian could almost sense them being wrung like a tea towel. “And while I can’t say I believe that violence is the answer all the time…” His gaze drifted above Grian’s shoulder and to the left. “I firmly believe that the other boys wouldn’t have stopped unless Tommy’s response was… active.”
Grian’s eyebrows rose. “Active?”
“I punched one of the fucks.”
Apparently no longer cowed, Tommy chimed in, leaning to the side so Grian could see him from behind his teacher. He was still fidgeting with the pencil, still thwatting against his right hand to an anxiety inducing staccato. But he no longer looked like he did when he’d broken one of Grian’s plates a week into their living arrangement.
Progress.
Taurtis opened his mouth, but Grian just leaned over as well to see Tommy a bit clearly, not at all shocked. “Which one?”
Tommy mimed having big ears. Ah. Tommy had been complaining about that kid for weeks. He nodded. “Did you break anything?”
Again, Taurtis looked like he wanted to speak, but shut his mouth when Tommy scoffed.
“Just his fat fucking ego.”
“And you didn’t hurt your hand?”
Tommy’s mouth dropped open before he was sputtering in his seat. “Hurt my hand? Who am I, Mumbo? Fuck, man, how little do you think of me?”
Finally uncrossing his arms, Grian held his hands up in surrender, giving in with a slight upward turn to his lips.
He turned back to Taurtis, who was staring at him. Probably had been since Grian started acting more like a child than a responsible adult capable of housing and raising (kinda) a teenager.
He stood up straight. Right. Grian was being unprofessional, and this is why no one would ever take him seriously as a guardian-
But Taurtis was smiling.
It wasn’t super noticeable at first, but it became noticeable when he bit down on his lip in an attempt to hide it, eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Okay.” The smile was a bit more prominent. “I’m glad we’re both on Tommy’s side here, Mr. Crescent.”
“Grian.”
“Grian.”
Behind Taurtis, Tommy mimed vomiting.
Grian ignored him.
“I really just wanted to tell you myself that I spoke with the headmaster about this.” Taurtis continued, and oh, he might be Grian’s new favorite person. He wasn’t an asshole and he saved Grian from having to talk to the mush-for-brains headmaster? There really was a god.
“So Tommy’s not in trouble?” He asked, just to be certain.
Sure enough, Taurtis winced.
“Two day’s suspension.” His smile came back. “The other boy got three.” He leaned in a bit, to whisper the second part conspiratorially.
Grian might have to change his opinion on Tommy’s school. Or, at least, change his opinion on one of the staff members.
“I don’t know how I can thank you, Tommy and I have been fighting tooth and nail for those kids to-”
Tommy’s mouth was falling open again, looking between them with what was steadily approaching ill-concealed horror.
“Don’t worry about it.” Taurtis brushed off, bouncing a bit on his heels. He was looking off again, and if Grian wasn’t mistaken there was a hint of colour to his face that wasn’t there before. “Conferences are next week… will I be seeing you there?”
Grian met Tommy’s eyes. The teen was frantically shaking his head, hands waving wildly. He mimed shooting himself, and then hanging himself-
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Tommy fell back into his chair, nearly pulling his hair out.
Taurtis snapped around at the noise, but Grian caught his attention again quickly.
“I work at the library in uptown?” He cleared his throat, hoping to cover Tommy’s groan of complete betrayal and despair. “If you ever need, like, a book.”
Across from him, Taurtis’ smile was wide enough to blind.
“There’s a really nice coffee shop about a block from there, right? It’s a pretty nice place to read-”
“Oh my god.” Tommy finally got up, walking in the space between Grian and Taurtis to reach the door. He glared at Grian as he wrenched the door open. “We have to go, G. I left the stove on.”
Grian snorted in a way he was sure was extremely unattractive.
He started to follow Tommy but threw one last thing over his shoulder.
“The library. Will I be seeing you there?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Tommy’s shout of frustration was just the icing on the cake, really.