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[technically, baba marta was a month ago and in another country. but it’s april fool in the united states which is close enough. according to his companion, this is better than shooting homeless people with paintball guns. when the video shudders into view, 10-year-old richard gansey iii stands on a heropa beach lit by mitsubishi headlights. the little boy is festooned in birds, a hilariously tall stork standing on his left shoulder, half a dozen tiny swallowtails running down his right arm. he looks very solemn and alarmingly adorable. from behind the cellphone camera, a voice (kavinsky’s) (drunk) (not more than usual) calls out:] Okay mini-Dick, telling your loving public what gives.

[ Dick is, in fact, more interested in the swallows than the camera. He seems relatively at peace with the stork, even when it starts to climb from his shoulder to the top of his head, but the swallows are running along his arms, and he has to keep moving to give them somewhere to go. ]

Are you sure the birds won't be scared of the fireworks? I don't want to make them -

[ Then he does look up, and sees the red light on Kavinsky's phone. His eyes widen. ]

We're already live?!

[ Concern is instantly replaced with the kind of smile that hints this is not his first photoshoot. ]

Hi, everyone! Joseph wants to tell all of you about the Baby Martha.

[ He pauses, looking expectantly at the boy offscreen. ]

Motherfucker I said no name-- fine. Fine, [kavinsky's disembodied voice is annoyed, but cussing at a smol child is just regular kavinsky. he never got pr lessons.] Baba Marta is a celebration of Spring. Life and renewal, bitches! March is a grandma who spends all winter fucking, shakes out her broke-ass mattress to make the last big snow, and the sun comes out when she smiles. [this is not the version you’re going to find in an encyclopedia. It’s also not child-safe. but everything is still mostly ok.] Me and homey here are bringing the Goddamn season.

[ Dick is wearing an expression of strong disapproval every time Kavinsky curses. It’s the kind of look you might see from your dad, which roughly translates as We’ve talked about this, son. But if they have, Kavinsky was clearly not listening, and Dick is not about to be put off by words alone. There are, after all, going to be fireworks. He was promised. ]

Okay, okay! Show them. Oh, wait.

[ One hand waves at the stork, getting it to fly, and then Dick starts to gather the swallows into the relative safety of his hands. ]

Fuckin’ sweet. [and then the camera fumbles. kavinsky clamps gansey’s little head between his elbows and puts his hands over his own ears, so that the camera winds up with a weird, skewed shot of the sky. the next instant, fireworks rip out of the mortar embedded nearby in the sand and up into the night overhead. deafening. red and white. the imports of heropa might even hear it, the distant pop-pop that goes with the flash of smoke and color over the seaside sky, punctuating the boardwalk lights and saturday beach club music. birds soar! the video goes out.]

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[ It's so weird to hear himself called that by someone who's not a teacher. Dick blinks, and then frowns, not fully understanding the look on Adam's face.

He looks alarmed. ]

I will soon. I promise.

Are you okay?

Everything's fine.

[ Why you always lyin'? ]

Which Porter city are you in? I'll come meet you.

Oh, it's Heropa.

[ He's talking a little too loud, thanks to the fireworks in the distance. His camera swings around, though, taking in the view of the bay and the glittering sky behind. ]

At the beach. Adam, the fireworks are magic. They're so cool.

Are you going to come and watch?

[ All he wants to do is find his friend and sling him over his shoulder. But Adam won't raise his voice, nor will he frighten him. And so he has to control his expression even as he's getting up and leaving the Blotter's offices. Christ, he's going to get fired. ]

I don't know.

[ He sucks in a breath then pushes himself through the streets. ] Maybe. But they might be too loud for me. [ Is it terribly manipulative if he uses his sudden deafness to get Gansey away from Kavinsky? Maybe. He'll do it anyway. ]

I thought you were hanging out with Matthew today?

[ Too loud for him? Dick hadn't thought of that, and it shows in the tiny frown appearing between his eyes. Maybe he could meet Adam somewhere else. Like the Porter, maybe. It's not that far. ]

I was! Earlier. We got pizza.

[ As if he suddenly needs proof of where he was. That's a strange thing to think about. Dick doesn't really understands it, but he is picking up on Adam's mood. It's strangely energised, and worries him.

He fumbles with his phone settings until he can make it private, which is not really a thing he's used to. He can't probably work these weird phones yet. ]

Adam, are you okay? I can go somewhere quiet if you want.

[ If Matthew weren't so innocent Adam would shake him for this. He'd gone to work imagining this kind of thing was far from the realm of possibility. But no, he should have realised. He should have taken Gansey with him. ]

I'll just be happier when I'm with you.

[ God, he wants to tell him to run away as fast as he can, but Kavinsky would pick up on that. Instead he lets out a breath. ]

Stay at the beach. I'll be there as soon as I can.

[ Adam seems really worried. It makes Dick think he's done something wrong, which has the unfortunate affect of pricking at his anxiety. He looks uncertainly at the beach. Then, holding up his finger, he quickly clones himself, leaving two Dick Ganseys for the price of one.

With a grin at him, the clone runs off to stay with Kavinsky. Dick Prime wanders away a little, eyes still on Adam. ]

I can do both, see? I'm really okay, I promise. I'm gonna come meet you at the Porter.

You aren't mad at me, are you? I don't want you to be mad at me.

[ He's jogging by now, trying to get some speed behind him while also doing his best to not outright sprint and terrify the small boy. ]

I'm not mad.

[ He's vaguely terrified and he doesn't know why. There's a difference. ] I just don't think he's the type of person you should be hanging out with. [ Adam jostles someone as he passes and his sorry ma'am is soft and rushed. ] He's not a good person.

[ Well. This makes Dick pause, and he actually stops moving. He glances behind him and starts moving again, heading for the Porter. ]

What do you mean? He said we were friends.

[ Another little pause. ]

He didn't do anything wrong. He just made birds and magic fireworks.

He's lying.

[ He's so sure of it, so certain. He has never really interacted with Kavinsky, but he's heard rumours, and those rumours aren't pleasant. He wouldn't let anyone, let alone a ten year old boy, be alone with a pill pushing psychopath like him. ]

I'm at the Porter. I'll be there soon. [ He doesn't know if he can use his device during it. ]

[ So they're not friends? But then why would he say they were?

Dick waits just outside the Porter building, now alone, with an expression that's worried enough to draw concerned adults to him. He's quick to brush them off, and in the interests of avoiding questions, claims that he's waiting for his dad.

Sorry, Adam. ]

[ If Adam had ever considered the possibility of children ( 2.4, a golden retriever, a loving wife ) it's slowly going out the window the more he panics about his child best friend. He can feel his pulse pounding under his skin as his brain helpfully tells him every which way he could get hurt

But then he's out of the Porter building and he can see his friend. Adam calls his name before crossing quickly across the pavement. He sinks to his knees and pulls the other boy to him in a clinging, protective hug. ] Are you okay?

[ His hands find his shoulders, guiding him back so that he can look at him properly. ] Did he hurt you?

[ Oh, this is...

This is really bad. It had never entered Dick's head that Adam would worry about him like this. It doesn't make any sense to him. No one worries about him like this. His parents are always talking about how independent he is. He always thought it pleased them.

But it just seems to upset Adam. So Dick hugs him tightly, and rubs his back like he's trying to comfort him. ]

I'm fine. I promise I'm fine.

He just made some birds and fireworks. I didn't do anything stupid. I wouldn't.

[ Then, much, much more quietly. ]

I'm sorry, Adam.

It's not your fault.

[ There's a low swoop of guilt at upsetting the younger Gansey. Adam has been trying so hard not to, because he knows what it's like to have some older and scarier be angry. He can't do that.

But he also can't let him get hurt. ]

I don't know what it is, but I know that he's bad news. I can feel it.

[ The outside of the porter building is getting the brunt of Adam's anxiety, a slowly creeping moss seeping into all of the cracks and corners. ]

[ Dick turns his head, leaning it against Adam's shoulder. He hasn't let go, and won't quite yet. ]

Okay. I trust you.

[ Even more quietly. ]

I didn't mean to scare you. I'll stay with you, okay? Promise.

[ His hand curls around the back of Gansey's head to hold on to him. It's an instinctive gesture. A careful one. Adam wants only to soothe. ]

It's all right. You're all right. That's all I want.

[ This fear is strange and new and the kind he never thought he'd have to feel for his best friend. Gansey is sure and strong and certain. Gansey can look out for himself. But no, no he can't. Not really. And it's not just because he's small. It's because he thinks he should be sure and strong and certain.

Adam had thought it was a natural part of growing up rich and unafraid. ] Listen, we're going to have to go get your other clone. [ Because Adam had also written notes on that. ] You need to stay by my side. And whatever Kavinsky says, don't listen to him.

[ Dick looks up, his worry building in direct correlation to Adam's. He can see Adam's worry. He knows what those particular stress lines mean, and he's fairly sure that it isn't knowledge he could have from being young. No, this is something else. Something he remembers, or half-remembers, and something he wants to make better.

Without knowing how, all he really feels he can do is respond to what Adam wants. So he nods, and then moves to slip his hand into Adam's. Stay by my side. Okay. He can do that. ]

Okay. We'll go get him. Kavinsky won't hurt him.

[ He pauses, only just a little unsure of this. ]

He won't hurt me. He was being nice. He had fireworks and...we had a sandwich. It's okay, Adam.

[ Gansey takes his hand and Adam finds himself tightening his fingers around the other boy's automatically, like if he just keeps a hold of him nothing bad can happen. ]

I don't like him.

[ It's probably not something he should say to a child, but Adam can find no other way around it. ] I don't think he's a good person, Gansey. You have to just trust me on this, okay? I get a bad vibe from him. [ And after everything that's happened to the pair of them recently he has to trust his gut instinct. ] I want you to be safe. And that's why we can't let your clone stay with him. [ Which is why Adam keeps his hand as he rises. ]

[ Even though he’s young, Dick is not actually that used to holding anyone’s hand through town. It’s been a while since his parents forced him, and he’s pretty responsible.

Usually. When there isn’t someone like Kavinsky encouraging him otherwise. ]

I trust you. [ He looks up at Adam with huge, hazel eyes, as if he’s surprised this would need to be asked. ] I’ll always trust you. I’m sorry I didn’t stay with you, Adam. I will, from now on, I promise. It’ll be okay.

[ Carefully, he goes back to the crossing, and starts to lead Adam to the beach. ]

[ He's surprised by how badly he feels for frightening Gansey. Adam's own worries and anxieties are tight in his chest but this is the first time he's had to see his ( pint-sized ) friend trip over himself to reassure him. It makes him still himself, stops him from tapping his foot while they wait for the light, then keeps him from running back towards the shore. ]

It's not your fault.

[ His voice is low, firm. ] You didn't know. So it's not your fault.

[ He's glad, for the a moment, glad that he has this break before he sees Kavinsky. If they're lucky they can avoid him entirely. And Adam won't have to hit him. ] We'll get this done and then we'll go get pizza, okay? [ Work can wait.

... Christ. ]

[ Dick looks up, taking a careful evaluation of Adam's face. He seems calmer. That's probably a good thing. Dick keeps their hands together and aims for the beach. Adam's worry is, unfortunately, infectious, and he finds that he's eager to get back to the clone. ]

You mean you don't have to go back?

[ He'd known that Adam was working. There's a twinge of guilt, and he looks away. ]

I know you don't want to skip. I can come with you. I had pizza with Matthew, we don't need to get it again.

[ He won't let Gansey feel like he's done something wrong, like he needs to be quiet or out of the way. Adam is sure the boy has already had that from enough people in his life. And so he shakes his head and offers up a warmer smile. ]

Ice-cream then. [ He should make a point for them actually having dinner. But right now he doesn't want to be a stickler for the rules. He wants to keep his friend happy and safe. ] I'll go back and get my stuff and we can go for ice-cream.

[ Keeping his voice light, his tone conversational. ] I haven't had it in a while.

[ Dick considers this. Real live ice cream is very hard to argue with, even if he is worried about Adam not going back to work. He didn't want to be this kind of trouble.

But...that would mean they get to go for ice cream, and also that he gets to be with Adam, which pleases him far more than the ice cream. His protests die quickly. ]

Yeah! Yeah, okay. If you're sure it's okay.

Um, this is the beach I was on.

[ He points, and sure enough, Kavinsky's white Mitsubishi can be seen in the distance. He's currently convincing Dick's clone that it's a good idea to drive said Mitsubishi, which is going very well. ]

[ He feels something pull inside of his chest when his gaze settles on the Mitsubishi. It's definitely not the same old feeling of envy he gets when he looks at various Raven cars. It's more a sense of unease, of panic. For the first time he genuinely wishes Ronan were here.

Instead of voicing that he simply squeezes Gansey's hand and starts off down the beach. ]

Kavinsky. [ He calls out when he's sure he'll be heard, his shoulders squaring deliberately so he won't curl in on himself. ] Gansey needs to come with me now.

[ ... The ... other ... Gansey ... ]

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