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Little Nacho is surprised at who his dada brings home to the reactor.
He’s actually surprised he’d brought anyone home at all, but Nacho definitely didn’t expect it to be Jeremy.
“Dada?” Nacho says in lieu of an actual question, expecting his father to know him well enough to understand him immediately.
To Nacho’s credit he does.
“Nacho uh- you know Jeremy yes? He sells the uh- the cards you like.” Multi asks for confirmation.
In response Nacho nodded. “He’s mama’s friend. Is he gonna help us find mama?”
Multi didn’t have a chance to respond before Jeremy piped up. “Yes, we’re going to find Katie and bring her home Nacho!” He declares dramatically.
“Okay uh… yes uh- shut the fuck up Jeremy.” Multi deadpans. “Anyways… yes Nacho, we are going to get his help in finding mama.”
Jeremy sputters at Multi’s words but is quickly dismissed by the father and son.
“Now? Now? Now?” Nacho babbled animatedly as he bounced up on the heels of his little feet.
For a moment Multi dimmed before his usual closed off and calculating expression overtook his features again. “Not eh… not right now Nacho. Remember I said we needed a plan first?”
The little boy pouted, even as he accepted the fact that his father was right in that they probably shouldn’t just go fuck off to who knows where before they even knew for certain where Katie was.
It would be far too risky and most definitely give them no leads. It would waste a whole lot of time too. Time that Nacho’s precious mother could be being harmed while they were helpless to stop it.
“I think! We should talk to Ewron first.” Jeremy suggests.
“The cockroach? I- uh… don’t know if he’d say anything to me really. Last time I saw him I tried to murder him.” Multi purses his lips. He’d definitely let his emotions get the best of him on that front.
“Yes, but he is the one who sold Katie out! He has to know something about where they are keeping her.” Jeremy reasons. “Even if you can’t talk to him we can probably get him to meet with me.”
Multi nods once. “Yes! Yes- yes… I think that… that… yes that could work.” His excitement making him trip over his own words.
Not that you could tell that he was excited much just by looking at him, but Jeremy noticed the way his words were rushed and his posture opened up.
“Okay, okay… so uh- yes. You go and see Ewron and youuu… what… you ask him directly or what are you going to do or… uh- what will you say to him?”
For a moment Jeremy only stares. “We can get him to meet me somewhere… we can make a room and reinforce it. Like uhh… with only one exit… and if he refuses to tell us where she is… you can… uhhhh… kill him?” He offers.
“Yes! Yes! Okay- okay! I like this yes… this is very good Jeremy. Yes.” There was a pause as he turned to his son. “You agree Nacho? You want to help me if he won’t tell us?” And a rare but genuine smile crosses Multi’s face.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” The child chanted repeatedly as he hopped in circles around his dad.
Multi chuckled as he reached out to hoist Nacho into his arms where he was soon settled on the man’s hip.
“Okay Nacho! You will help us get revenge on Ewron!”
A small smile found its way onto Jeremy’s face as he watched the two of them. He wondered distantly if in another life he’d be in Multi’s shoes, holding onto Nacho and looking for his beloved Katie.
The smile soon faltered as the guilt soon washed over him. Nothing about Multi’s situation was enviable right now.
But then again…
Multi was someone Katie called family, and that was something that would make being in Multi’s position worth all the hardship in Jeremy’s eyes.
Because at the end of the day she comes back to Multi and Nacho.
And distantly it burned, because Jeremy wishes that just once… even if only for a few moments… she would come visit him instead.
That maybe she would come home to him one day instead of the her unorthodox family consisting of a mad scientist and their bear-egg son.
Jeremy bites his lip. “What do we do when we get her back? I’m not sure they will let her go very easily.”
“Kurwa… she can hide out in the reactor until it is safe for her.” Multi’s face hardens as he takes on a more serious demeanor.
“Okay… well if you’re ever found… she’s welcome to come to me! Oh! Of course you and Nacho are welcome too!” Jeremy admittedly tacks that last part on at the end last second.
Theres silence for a few moments as Multi stares at him. “I think I can take care of Katie just fine… but yes if she does need something and maybe I am not there to uhh… assist her… maybe I will consider sending her to you.”
“Yes Multi! I swear in the event that you aren’t there to care for Katie I will care for her in your place!” Jeremy beams.
In return Multi scoffs. “Do not get your hopes up too high Jeremy Frieser, I am still here and I do not plan in going anywhere anytime soon y’know? Katie and Nacho are my family, and I will do everything in my power to keep them safe.”
At Multi’s stern words Jeremy nods seriously. “Of course! I want to see Katie happy, no matter who she is with.”
And while what he had said wasn’t entirely false… it wasn’t entirely true either. Somewhere deep down inside he did want a place in Katie’s heart, but the better of him choked down those selfish feelings that threatened to claw to the surface.
Feelings that shrieked and cried as he stared at the man who is standing in the place he so desperately wants to be in.
Right now however, those feelings are irrelevant. Katie’s life is on the line, and if they don’t get her back neither of them will get a chance at the peaceful life they imagine with her.
It seems they’re at a stand still. It’s an uneasy alliance at best, but their mutual fondness for Katie ensures safety on both sides.
They would never dare risk her.
“I’ll start setting up the room.” Multi nods to Jeremy stiffly, hands now clasped firmly behind his back.
“I’ll start up a conversation with Ewron. Just let me know when you’re done.” The brunette requests.
“Yes… uhh… for Katie.” Multi’s lips purse as a light pink flush radiates from his face.
“For Katie.” Jeremy nods back, a similarly warm pink shade of embarrassment residing on his own expression.
”For mama!” Nacho cut in as he waved a small little fist in the air triumphantly.
They both soften even as both their minds wandered respectively.
In the end though, both had one goal in mind.
They would find Katie.
And they would bring her home.