Work Text:
Jazz music is a panacea for the soul. When I drive, I like to have it playing in the background, but I keep the volume of the radio low because I also love to listen to the sound of the engine. It relaxes me to hear how the two sounds mix together, but my favorite song has just started so I reach for the knob and turn the volume up a bit.
Car trips are always very relaxing, especially when I go on them in my beautiful vintage car and with the cigarette holder between my fingers, but this time I am relaxed and happy even because of my destination. Weekends have always been all about relaxation and time dedicated to myself, but in the last two years I have found myself waiting for them with more impatience than before. I have to ask the principal for permission to spend them away from campus, but it's a pain in the neck I'm willing to put up with if it means spending time with my family.
I take a quick look at the fur coat carefully placed on the passenger seat, to make sure it hasn't slipped down, I take a deep drag of my cigarette and blow out the smoke with a sigh. Before I get to my destination I have to finish it, I can't smoke in front of my little girl, it wouldn't do her any good. An amused snort escapes me. Before, on weekends, I smoked more than other days and only because I couldn't do it in the presence of my students. Now it almost seems like I have to hide because I can't even on my two days off. It's ironic.
I take another deep puff and exhale it, creating a small spiral in front of me, without obstructing my view of the road. I arrive at the private parking lot near the west port of Sage Island, the place where we agreed to meet, and I can say that the cigarette is finished, so I enter the garage that I have reserved for myself every weekend and turn off the engine. I would never dare to leave my beautiful red Excalibur Phaeton V in a public parking lot, there are too many thugs and curious people to park it in a public place for two whole days. So, I unfasten my seat belt and get out of the vehicle. I stub out the cigarette in the empty ashtray that the owner of the place always leaves me and then I grab the fur coat. Fortunately, the trip did not ruin it, the salt air will probably take care of it. I dust it off for a moment, put it on and, after closing the car, I move away from the place, heading towards the port where I know they are waiting for me.
I find it stupid, yet every single time I come back here, my heart goes crazy in my chest, eager to see them again. It's only been five days, I can't do that every time! On the outside I seem calm and on the inside I feel like that. Stay! I said stay, stupid muscle!
The sea breeze is not something I would have appreciated three years ago, but now it gives me peace because it smells like home and my beloved ladies. It makes me smile to think how my life has changed in just over two years, but deep down I like being a family man. Of course, I didn't expect to become one so soon, I thought it would take me longer, that I would have fun longer, but family responsibilities suit me, they are not too different from being a teacher, and my little girl immediately became my most precious possession, even more than my luxury cars and designer fur coats. I wouldn't have expected it from myself.
The shrill cry of the seagulls makes me look up to the sky and make a grimace. I hope they don't bother me: last time they stole my raisin bun that I had just bought, and what’s more, (Y/n) even laughed at my misfortune.
I sigh and put a hand in my pocket. That woman... She drives me crazy and I don’t even mind if she laughs at me. I met her about three years ago, at one of the many high-ranking galas I usually attend and even if there was an immediate attraction between us, I didn't think she would become my partner in such a short time. And that not long after we would have Peggy. It was all a bit too fast, but that's okay: I'm glad she decided to keep her, now we have our two-year-old puppy. It makes me smile.
Between the chatter and the various inhabitants of the quay I see them from afar and inevitably the smile widens: (Y/n) holds the little girl's hand and is explaining something to her while looking out at the sea. Turning to her, she raises her eyes and notices me, so she points at me and Peggy also turns to look at me.
The way her eyes light up is a panacea, so I crouch down and open my arms, inviting her to run towards me. The fur coat is half-fallen over the dirty ground, but who cares when you see your little puppy happily pattering towards you.
"Daddy!" she throws herself into my arms, almost banging her head against my chest, and I lift her off the ground.
"Peggy, my puppy," I kiss her cheek and she laughs. "Were you good while dad was away?" she nods forcefully, "good girl," I give her a caress to reward her.
In the meantime, (Y/n) approaches us and I greet her by leaning over to peck her on the lips with the baby still in my arms.
"How was the week?" she asks me as I put Peggy down.
"As usual: stressful, full of unruly puppies and some punishments," I adjust the little girl's dress, smiling when I realize that it's white with black polka dots, combined with a belt and black Mary Janes: (Y/n) definitely has a sense of fashion.
"I just hope you haven't been too stern with them."
When I get back on my feet, Peggy raises a little hand waiting for me to take it. "I had to. Unruly puppies need to be brought back into line," I reply, clutching her small hand in mine. "But now enough about work. Shall we go?" (Y/n) nods and then we begin our walk.
It is regenerating and I would never have imagined that something as simple as a family walk could be so beautiful and pleasant. We had taken a few steps, I was about to relax, when I hear something that I hoped I wouldn't have to hear until next Monday.
"Professor? Professor Crewel?"
I turn toward them wearing my usual stern mask. Ace, Deuce and Grim were a few meters from us. Those three have grown up a lot over the years, but they have never ceased to be thorns in my side, problematic and unruly puppies. They are in their fourth year now, why are they on Sage Island and right where I am with my family?
"What are you doing here? Aren't you at school?" asked Deuce, curious, and I couldn't hold back the little grin that formed at the corner of my lips.
"Can't you see?" I reply arrogantly, "I'm taking a walk with my family. Now if you don't mind..." I turn to my girls, "I have something important to do".
I never looked back at them again, but I am sure they were stunned. What did they think? Even a professor can have a family and time with mine is sacred. As much as I appreciate my students, I'm not a professor now, I'm just Divus and I want to devote my free time to (Y/n) and Peggy.