Chapter Text
Asa was busy in the kitchen when the conversation had first come about. He was making dinner as Anthony slid his arms around the man’s waist and pulled him close. “It’s almost done.” Asa turns, smiling as Anthony kisses him.
“I was having a think…and after dinner I’d like to discuss something.” Anthony admits, resting his head on Asa’s shoulder. “I hope it’s something that will make you happy.”
Asa chuckles, turning off the heat and reaching for some bowls. “You’re not often this cryptic. Am I sensing some slight nerves?” He begins serving the meal.
“Ngk…” Anthony runs a hand through his hair, stepping back so Asa could move to the table with the food. “Perhaps. I don’t know how you’ll feel and it’s quite important to me.”
Asa rests a hand on Anthony’s cheek, brushing a thumb over the man’s face. “You can talk to me about anything.” He plants a gentle kiss on the man’s lips.
—
It was later that evening, the two of them sat on their deckchairs looking up at the stars when Anthony felt able to bring it up. “So about the conversation…”
Asa sits up and turns, holding Anthony’s hand. “It’s okay.”
“I was thinking… it’s not something that I thought I could realistically want before but.” He grumbles, afraid of what his husband's reaction would be. “I want to be a father.”
Asa’s mouth turns to a gentle smile and he squeezes Anthony’s hand. “That’s wonderful Dear, it’s something I’ve thought about too.”
A sigh of relief escapes the man’s lips and he smiles. “You never mentioned it?”
“Well we’ve spent so long being told we wouldn’t be allowed to have kids that I lost hope in it.” Asa admits, shaking his head. “But this is great news. Thank you for telling me.”
—
Anthony shared with Asa his desire to adopt from Scotland, to find a child in need from one of the villages he grew up around. And of course Asa had agreed.
“So what is this village called?” Asa asks, taking a boiled sweet from the holder in their Bentley as Anthony drove.
Anthony turns down the radio. “Gartcosh. It’s in Edinburgh. I’ve booked a little flat for us to stay in for a little while.”
Asa seems surprised. “How long do you think we’ll be staying?” He was expecting a day trip.
“Well we’ll have to meet the child, let them get to know us before we even think about taking them back to the cottage. These things take time, angel.” Anthony takes the man’s hand and squeezes. “I’m very excited.”
—
“It’s cozy….” Asa points out as they pull up to the village, looking around the aging village.
Anthony chuckles. “It looks like it’s still in the 70s, I know it and all of the people who live here probably know it.” He jests with a hint of nerves sneaking into his voice.
Asa leans over, planting a kiss on his cheek and squeezing his arm gently. “It’ll be okay. We’ve got each other and I’m sure the children will love you.”
The man's mouth grows into a small smile. “Let’s go in.” He unbuckles the seatbelt and slides out.
Asa follows, holding Anthony’s hand but feeling a slight hesitance from him to hold it back. “You’re safe.” He says, brushing fingers against the other man’s. “Times have changed.”
Anthony takes the man’s hand and whispers a gentle ‘thank you’ before walking towards the building. “Let’s find our child.”
—
The building was drab and it was obviously funded by donations and charity but the attempt to decorate was there; pictures created by the children were placed on the wall and posters that were attempting to be positive.
“Good morning, how can I help you two?” A woman with kind looking eyes approaches; she was carrying a basket of laundry with a couple of teddy bears laying on top.
Asa is the one who speaks up, sensing that his husband was still nervous about coming back here and sharing something of his life that he previously would be turned away for. “We’ve come to meet the children in hopes to adopt one.”
Anthony looks around, noticing that this building was full of children who had been abandoned whether that be by the parent’s choice or the cruel twists that life had. The fact that they’d raise the hopes of all these children to then only pick one weighed heavy on him.
“Of course, most of them are in the garden. Follow me.” She moves down the hall and the two men follow, Anthony sliding his hand around Asa’s arm.
As they walked they passed dormitories and whilst most were empty there was one room with a young lad sitting in it. This sparked Anthony’s interest. “Why is he inside?” He asked the lady, trying to wave to the boy but he was looking down at the floor.
“That’s Campbell. He’s trialling new medicine for his condition. It’s made him quite sluggish but that should tamper out.” The woman answers, trying to direct the men back on track and towards the garden where they could hear laughter and children chattering.
Asa picks up on Anthony’s thoughts almost immediately. “What is his condition?” He asks, hoping the boy did not mind being talked about in front of him.
“He's a manic depressive. Parents couldn't handle him anymore, we are waiting for him to be placed in the local asylum. They’ll be able to care for him better than we can.” She explains. “We don’t have the facilities to keep him and the others safe when he has an episode.”
Anthony’s blood runs cold…this lad couldn’t be more than 12 and they were going to put him in a mental facility where he’d be drugged up, isolated and frankly left to waste away. “I want to meet him please.” He says matter of factly.
—
“I’ll be right outside, go careful.” The woman says which felt odd to say to two men about to talk with a child.
Anthony goes in first, taking Asa’s hand and leading him in. “Hi there, my name is Anthony and this is Asa.” He says gently, the two men moving to sit opposite the boy.
He looks up, eyes red and tired, but doesn’t say a word. He was a sad sight; arms littered with scratches and bruises. He looked between the two men.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” Asa speaks next. “Campbell is a great name.” He squeezes the other man’s hand gently. “We’d like to get to know you. If that’s okay?”
Campbell nods, looking to the door at the woman who stood there watching. He clears his throat before speaking just above a whisper. “Hello. My name is Campbell.” It was spoken robotically, like he was reciting a script.
Asa looks over to the woman briefly but she doesn’t react at all, leaning against the wall. “Nice to meet you.” He tries again, holding a hand out gently.
Anthony scans the room, looking for something that may spark some conversation. “Is that wee guitar yours?” He says, spotting one in the corner.
Campbell nods. “M don’t know how to play yet.” He mumbles, shuffling slightly. “Fergus got it for me before he left.”
“That was nice of him, is he your friend?” Anthony continues and gets another nod from the boy.
“They took him away, to the bad place. I have to go there too.” Campbell frowns, gripping at his arm.
Asa felt his heart breaking, he could sense that Anthony felt the same. “I’m sorry to hear about what happened to your friend.”
Campbell sniffles, wiping away a tear. “No one normally talks with me…they want a happy child.”
At that moment Anthony knew what they had to do, he looked to Asa and exchanged some silent words before he spoke up to the woman. “I think we have some paperwork to do.”
—
After a while in the office and frankly more paperwork than both were expecting the woman stands. “So I will submit this paperwork and you should hear back from us in a week or so. During that time it is suggested and encouraged that you regularly visit the child to build a rapport.” She rattles off as if she’s said it dozens of times before, and well she probably had.
Asa’s hand remains firmly in Anthony’s grip. “Can we see him again, explain what is happening?” He asks, hoping that they hadn’t moved too fast but Anthony was certain.
“Visiting hours are till 4pm, you are welcome to stay until then.” She staples the paperwork and then encourages the men out of the room. “I have to start making dinner.”
Anthony leads Asa back to the boy’s room and sits back down. The boy hadn’t moved a muscle, staring out of the window at the other children playing. “Do you ever play with them?” Anthony asks, not forcing eye contact.
“They don’t like playing with me, too scared.” He rests his chin on his knees. “I’m not bad.” His voice attempts to break.
Asa rests a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We know you aren’t. It’s okay.” He makes circle motions with his thumb against the boy’s tense muscle.
Campbell chokes and then starts to cry. “I don’t mean to hurt people… break things.” He looks away, brushing his hand over a hole in the wall. “Everything just gets too much.”
Anthony swallows. “Would you like it if we were to look after you? If we took you home with us?” He suggests, hoping this would not startle the boy.
“No one wants me, I’m too much. They say they are willing… but I always end up here. They aren’t able to look after me.” He moves away from Asa’s touch so fast it seemed as if the boy was reacting to pain.
“We are.” Asa says softly. ‘Willing…” He smiles softly. “And able.”