Annals of Autumn: Early September
Jul. 25th, 2012 06:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warThis was my last day off before my vacation next week (when I'm fairly sure I won't find time to write at all) but it has been too hot to write. The next chapter of Harmonies might be really short.
Title: Annals of Autumn
Chapter: 3 — Early September
Series: Seth and Steven Ito-Parker
Status: Incomplete
Genre: Family, 'married' life, drabbles
Length: about 4,000 words
Summary: Seth and Steven deal with home and family and school after the boys come to live with them, but still manage to find time for each other
Prompt: # 38 tree, party, hiding
Title: Instead
“Shh,” whispered Zoe from behind a tree. “I’m hiding from Dani.”
That was understandable. Dani overwhelmed most people, but she had a special place in Seth’s heart as the only person at Matt and Belinda’s house who didn’t remember a time before he lived with them.
Seth made his way to the house. Dani looked out the door with a frown. “Where’s Zoe. I want to dress her up.” She held a knitted bonnet at least two sizes too small for Zoe. “I want a fancy tea party.”
“Will I do?”
“Yes.” Dani grinned. “You can be my special guest.”
-
Dani is Seth's six-year-old half sister.
Prompt: # 39 sleep, neighbor mischief
Title: Alone
Seth stepped inside after dropping the boys off at the neighbor boys’ sleepover. Zoe was spending the night with her cousins. Even Gramma was gone, visiting her friend for the weekend.
The house was blissfully silent.
Steven welcomed him onto the couch. “What mischief should we get up to?”
They could watch whatever they wanted on the bigscreen in the living room.
Or make love until three am then get up and eat ice cream.
The possibilities were endless.
Or they could make out on the couch which judging by where Steven had just put his hand was Steven’s vote.
Prompt: # 32 picture girl swinging statue
Title: random park
“Push me,” demanded Zoe from the swing.
They only stopped at this park because Zoe had needed the bathroom, but now that she was done she wasn’t ready to get back in the car. Neither were the boys. This was as good time as any for a break to stretch their legs. Seth gave Zoe a few pushes.
Steven called them over to go on a walk. This park had a trail that bordered an odd shaped lake. One of the little off shoot ponds was coved in water lilies.
The walk had been a great idea, like all Steven’s.
Prompt: # 15 earth, wind, fire, crop circles
“Dad,” Javier pointed to the field of long grass, “this is long enough to make a crop circle.”
Last night the kids had watched a show where college students made some.
“Would it have to be a circle?” asked Seth. “What about other things, like a square?”
“I could make a square.” Javier strutted down the sidewalk, the wind blowing through his hair.
“Words?”
Javier looked away. “I don’t think…”
“Maybe in Seth’s first language,” Steven put in. “Fire, for instance, looks like a teepee with extra lines. Or earth, a cross on a line.”
Javier nodded, his face saved.
Prompt: # 25 sneaky, quiet, crash
Title: sneaking in
Seth closed the front door as noiselessly as he could. He wanted his and Steven’s rare night out to continue in their room, not end with wide-wake children who needed to be soothed.
Steven’s arms came around him. Seth stopped and looked where Steven was pointing. Those sneaky kids. Seth had almost walked into a rope, which would have dumped an open tin of dominoes off the table with a crash.
Seth backed up and walked around the other side of the table and they made it to their room with the door locked while the house stayed silent.
Prompt: # 45 bruises, shade, thunder
Title: Paradise
Seth rested against Steven in the shade of an old willow tree. The wind blew gently and rustled the long grass, masking the noise of the kids playing.
It was as if Seth and Steven were alone in the whole world.
Steven gently rubbed one of the love bite bruises he’d left on Seth last night.
Seth purred. He loved these marks. Steven rolled him over and let his love be felt with hands lips and tongue. Seth was the luckiest man in the world.
He even believed that after a thunder of feet announced the arrival of the children.
Prompt: # 128 wasp, chase, picnic
Title: Family
Seth sat at Matt’s picnic table with a sister on each side and Zoe in his lap. They folded origami as Matt grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.
Belinda had Steven cornered at the other end of the table, telling a story that seemed to illustrate how WASPy her family was.
Maybe because his skin was dark and his eyes slanted Belinda’s parents never fully accepted him. Seth was glad they hadn’t ended up raising him.
Quinton raced out the back door, wearing Josh’s favorite cap, and Josh and Javier chased him around the yard.
Kids were such a good distraction.
Prompt: # 54 wood, wig, nose
Title: Intermission
Seth filled the tub. Steven was supposed to be here, but Zoe had wigged out after hearing that the boys found a spider in their room.
Seth loved these kids. He did. But between bedtime and the shriek, Seth and Steven had gotten hot and heavy. Seth was sporting wood. Hard wood that wouldn’t go away without the firm and gentle touch of Steven’s hands.
He picked up Steven’s shirt and buried his nose in it.
Warms arms wrapped around him. “I said I’d only be a minute.”
And Steven more than made up for the time he’d been gone.
Prompt: # 40 moving, treasures, embarrassment
Title: Step kids
“So how are your little treasures doing?” Grant asked, much to Seth’s embarrassment. He should be nicer to someone helping him move into his dorm, childhood friend or not.
All Seth’s friends had known he was in love with Steven since forever and they liked Steven well enough. They even liked Zoe, who could charm people just by being shy. But since Steven and Seth had brought the boys home this summer, the running joke among Seth’s friends was that his stepson was only six years younger than he was.
It was a good thing they hadn’t met Wendell yet.
Prompt: # 75 reincarnation, clog, positions
Title: Homework
“Seth?” asked Javier. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”
“Why? I’m Japanese not Buddhist.”
Javier looked up from his homework. “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“The short answer is No.”
“And the longer one?”
Seth shifted position. His feet were falling asleep. He had so much homework and about as much patience as time. Not enough. “Later maybe.”
A moment later, “Do people in the Netherland wear wooden clogs?”
Seth sighed. “Did you see anyone in the Netherlands in wooden shoes?”
“No, but—”
“Javier,” said Steven. “I need your help with dinner.”
Steven was the most wonderful man on earth.
Prompt: # 69 cage, cry, heart
Title: Mom
Seth looked at his feet.
“But, Darling,” said Belinda. “Why wouldn’t Steven want something to do to keep him busy while the kids are at school?”
She didn’t understand him at all.
“But Zoe isn’t in school yet.”
“She will be next year. He must be bored out of his mind.”
Steven wasn’t her. He didn’t need charities and fundraisers to keep him busy. If he wanted to work, he could. But Seth couldn’t say any of this without breaking her heart. She might even cry. He was in an iron cage that burned his soul.
“Sure, Mom, we’ll go.”
Prompt: # 105 snow, forth, think
Title: Mountain
“Does it snow here?” asked Javier.
Seth glanced at Javier’s magazine, which had pictures of men snowboarding down mountains. Wasn’t Javier supposed to be doing a report on Brazil?
“Not every year, but never enough to ski. Although I think we could find snow on Mt. Hood. But… homework first."
Javier sighed.
Seth and Steven had had a little back-and-forth about the mountain already. Steven wanted his children to experience everything, but safely, while Seth worried about giving the kids too much.
But Javier having to take lessons if he wanted to snowboard was something they had both agreed on.
Prompt: # 109 Comic, light, ruler
Title: Happiness
Seth looked at his worksheet and then, with the ruler, drew a perfectly straight line exactly 5.2 inches long. He’s picked these specs of the three choices because the complicatedness gave him the most leeway for his art.
A soft giggle floated down the hallway. The kids must be back from the park. He looked at his blueprint and was happy with his progress.
He turned off the overhead light. He could use a break to read the comics to Zoe, answer Javier’s questions, watch Quinton cartwheel across the lawn, or cuddle with Steven.
Or all four. He wasn’t picky.
Prompt: # 110 fur, sameness, fingers
Title: Present
Seth ran his fingers through the fake fur throw. He loved the softness and the feel of each individual hair against his palm. It would feel even better against other parts of him. Would Steven agree?
It would be kind of a present for Steven. Not for any particular reason. Steven’s birthday was in January, Seth’s in February, and their anniversary just before Christmas.
But Seth still wanted to buy it.
Not only was the texture tempting, but the color and pattern stood out from all the sameness of its cousins.
He would get it. Now to find a babysitter.
Prompt: # 117 kidnapped, moon, patient
Title: Dealing with Dragons
Steven dumped the clean laundry on the table and pulled out a towel to fold. Zoe and her friends trooped in. “Papa, were kidnapped princesses. We need a snack.”
Steven pulled a bag of carrot out of the fridge. He’d better warn the other children’s parents about what books they were reading.
As Steven folded the last of the socks, Zoe returned. “Papa, our dragon is sick. We need medicine.”
Who had they got to be their patient?
Steven handed over four cookies. Zoe danced like she was over the moon.
“Thanks, Papa.”
Steven smiled and got back to work.
Prompt: # 121 watch, learn, want
Title: Time
Seth looked over his syllabus. He had an essay due in two weeks on a book he hadn’t read yet. Time to get cracking.
“Papa, do you have a watch?” asked Quinton.
“No, Sunbeam,” said Seth. “I have a phone.”
“Uncle Matt has a watch.”
“Yes, he does.” Matt needed to know the time even when his hands were full. “Do you want a watch?”
Quinton hid his hands behind his back. “Watches are for grownups.”
“Dad doesn’t wear a watch,” said Javier.
Maybe if they bought Quinton an analog one it would help him learn to tell time better.
Prompt: #16 dog, run, big
“Papa, Javi wants a dog,” Zoe fluffed up her purple skirt, “and I want a mouse.”
Seth grinned. “And Quinton wants a cat. We could be our own cartoon.”
“No,” said Zoe. “My mouse won’t run away. Quinton’s cat won’t eat him. They will be friends.”
“Will they?”
“Yes. And Javi’s dog won’t be big. It will be cute and little and play with me and lick my face.”
That last part sounded like a real dog.
“Will it?”
“Yes, and we will all play together in the yard.”
Seth grinned at his little girl and kept his mouth shut.
Prompt: #7 newspaper, nudity, silly
“Don’t be silly.” Zoe demanded from the hallway.
“What else would I be?” ask Javier.
Seth sank back onto his pillow. Steven sighed and got up. Weren’t Saturday morning cartoons invented to keep kids busy, so parents could sleep in or have adult time? And Seth wanted adult time. He wanted Steven’s hands on him. He wanted kisses and touches when he didn’t need a lamp to see Steven’s gorgeous face.
He should just put his clothes on. He had to research old newspaper articles for Monday’s paper anyway.
Maybe the kids would go to sleep early tonight.
Yeah right.
Prompt: #11 horror, dark, soft
Steven ran his hand down Seth’s side as Seth snuggled closer on the soft beanbag chair in the dark TV room. Their movie was nearly over. It was only the second they’d manage to watch all the way through without getting interrupted since they’d brought the boys back to live with them.
Seth loved Steven’s children as his own, Steven was sure. And Steven certainly couldn’t be this good of parent without Seth at his side. But Steven and Seth didn’t get enough time together alone. Did Seth regret falling in love with Steven?
That would be Steven’s worst nightmare.
Prompt: #3 storm, tree, palace
Seth leaned back on the bed. The kids were awake again. He loved Steven’s kids well enough during the day, but once their bedroom door was shut, he wanted it to stay shut.
But the big storm tonight had taken out a tree a few blocks away and knocked out all the lights, including Zoe’s little purple nightlight. She refused to sleep alone in the dark. Steven was trying to convince her to sleep with her brothers.
She wanted to sleep with her Papas. But Steven and Seth agreed on this. Their bed was their love palace. No children allowed.
Prompt: #24 crystal, bouncing, cat
Title: insights of a child
Steven navigated the crowded mall. Zoe had decided to walk today, which was rare for her and not terrible convenient for Steven. He wanted to get in and out with the least amount of hassle, but being a parent wasn’t about him.
Zoe stopped short. Then she bounced and pointed at an inexplicably low display window. “Ooh, that’s pretty.”
The crystal cat was indeed beautiful.
“But Quinty wouldn’t like it.”
“And why is that?”
“Because he wants a warm, soft kitty, not a hard, shiny one.”
Steven grinned, but he wasn’t going to let her talk him into any pets.
Prompt: # 28 cradle, history, birth
Title: memories
“Dad,” asked Javier. “Where was I born?”
“Madrid.”
“Where you there?”
“No.”
Seth got up and wrapped his arms around Steven’s waist. Steven was very sensitive to the years he spent away from his children.
“Why not?”
Steven tensed. Seth rubbed his arm.
“I attended Phoebe’s birth. Blood, crying, pain. I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Yuck.”
“Exactly. I did buy you a cradle, but I don’t know if your mother ever used it.”
“Oh.” Javier looked back at his homework.
“But he’s glad you were born.” Seth said. “He loves all of you.”
Steven’s hug told Seth he was loved too.
Prompt: # 29 punishment, safe, quenching, grounding
Title: punishment
“So do you think this was a fitting punishment?” Steven asked Javier.
Javier sighed. “I’m never going to do that again. Lemonade is for quenching our thirst, not drenching our little sisters. But how come Quin wasn’t grounded?”
Steven sat down on Javier’s bed beside him. “Why do you think?”
Javier sank back. “Because he’d enjoy not being able to go anywhere. But he did get punished?”
“Yes.” Steven ruffled Javier’s hair and got to his feet. Quinton’s punishment was going on a school fieldtrip without either Steven or Seth.
Javier sighed, safe in the knowledge his brother got his.
Prompt: # 34 picture horse on cart
Title: date plus kid
“Papa, I want to ride it.”
It was a statue of a donkey balanced on a tiny cart.
“No, Zoe,” said Steven. “It’s art. We don’t touch the art.”
“But there are statues of animals not far from here that you can touch,” said Seth, hoping that was all right with Steven.
Zoe pouted.
“One is a baby elephant, right next to a kid’s park with slides and swings.”
“And you’ll push me in the swing?”
“Of course, but you better behave here or we’ll go straight home.”
And Zoe was better than ever. Seth should bribe her more often.
Prompt: # 37 bright, tight, wow
Title: Dressing up
Seth pulled on his bright jeans and tight t-shirt. Steven hadn’t asked him to dress up, but Steven had a meeting tonight and people tended to expect less from Steven when Seth looked like his kept boy. Steven didn’t want any extra responsibilities right now.
Being a stay-at-home father to three growing children was enough. He volunteered for their school field trips and things, but just because he didn’t have a job didn’t mean he had forty spare hours a week.
Steven wrapped his arms around Seth and admired him in the mirror. “Wow. Maybe we should just stay home.”
Prompt: # 48 honey, wrap, note
Title: Lonely
Seth looked around the quiet house. Where was everyone? Had they left a note? The only thing on the fridge was a shopping list: butter, tortillas for wraps, tomato sauce, and honey.
Where were Steven and the kids? Seth knocked on Gramma’s door. She didn’t answer. Seth texted Steven, but a small beep from the bedroom meant Steven had left his phone.
Then the front door banged open and many feet trampled in. “Papa, we’re home.”
Steven wrapped his arms around Seth. “A neighbor’s dog had puppies. We thought we’d get back before you.”
Seth held Steven close. “No worries.”
Prompt: # 49 owl, up, sang
Title: Insomnia
Seth couldn’t sleep, but at least the owl outside was keeping him company. Periodically it sang, hohohohohoho, like Disney’s Tigger. Milne’s Tigger said worraworraworraworraworra like a real tiger had the one time Seth had been at the zoo just after dawn.
He always meant to go back and show the kids what animal’s acted like at that special time, but getting kids up that early was too much work. Even though they got up earlier on school days.
Seth sighed and rolled over. Arms wrapped around him. “Can’t sleep?”
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“But now that I am…”
Prompt: # 70 fall, lights, borderlines
Title: The perfect scene
Seth sighed happily. Light from the setting sun fell across the bay. The night air was borderline chilly, just barely too cold to not wear a sweater, but with Steven’s arms around him he was just right. Music flowed up from a hidden radio. Seth had had no idea that Spanish music could be so romantic. And the salty sea air wafted at him in the gently breeze.
Only they’d foisted the kids off on Matt and Belinda and were spending the weekend in a beautiful, but out of the way hotel at the coast. And the bed was calling.
Prompt: # 73 distance, divide, memories
Title: Memories
Steven looked off into the distance. Some days the memories of his childhood and flight to Europe were heavy upon him. He’d see someone who reminded him of his father or of the ship’s captain or of the many people who he’d slept with as he hitchhiked across Europe. Then he’d look down at his children or his Fairy Queen of a mother, happy again after all these years, and feel the divide, the split between the old him and the man he tried to be today.
Then Seth’s arms would wrap around him and he’d hear, “I love you.”
Prompt: # 78 transform, cheerleader, mojo
Title: Zoe is always right
“I think I want to be a cheerleader,” said Quinton at breakfast. “Do I have to wait to get to high school?”
“Maybe,” said Steven. “But gymnastics or a dance class might put you in good standing for when you try out.”
“I’ll have to try out?”
“Dad,” said Javier, “you can’t take him seriously. His mojo is not just going to transform him into a girl.”
“Boys can be cheerleaders too.” Seth moved Zoe’s cup further from her elbow.
“Can they?”
“They can!” Zoe snapped. “My book says so.”
And breakfast was derailed until Zoe had proven her point.
Prompt: # 142 assignment, smile, interest
Title: Mother tongue
Seth sat across the library table from Quinton, who for once was taking little interest in his homework assignment. Maybe he needed a break. Seth nodded at a nearby mother. She was reading her toddler a book in French.
“Do you want to say hi?”
Quinton hid his face. He must miss his mother and his brothers and even simply hearing his native tongue.
Seth got up. Quinton ran around the table and took his hand. The woman smiled as they approached. She was more than willing to talk to Quinton in French, which made Seth’s Sunbeam beam even brighter.
Prompt: # 140 elevator, decanter, muffled
Title: Library
Seth walked down an aisle at the university library. He needed one last book for a bibliography reference. Then he could go home and enjoy Steven for a few hours before one of those annoying study groups.
He saw, inside a meeting room, an outlandishly dressed person in elevator shoes pour nothing from an empty decanter into an empty wine glass.
The man waved his arms in broad gestures, but his words were muffled by the thick glass.
A woman in an apron curtsied to him.
Oh. The theater club, practicing for Saturday’s performance. Maybe Steven would like to go.
Prompt: # 144 roflmbo!
Title: Reading
“What does that mean?” Javier pointed at the screen.
Seth explained each letter. “But it might be best not to read the comments.”
Javier shrugged. Seth returned to his book. Just as the hero’s life was on the brink, Javier asked, “Why butt? Does anyone actually do that?”
Seth shook his head. “That’s not the point. roflmbo! isn’t necessarily any funnier than lol. Once something is overused it ceases to have meaning.”
Javier went back to reading. Seth waited an extra moment, but Javier ignored him. He probably wouldn’t ask another question until Seth was again lost in his book.
Prompt: # 146 dark, trusted, mind
Title: Trust
Seth stifled a sigh. He really didn’t mind Steven talking with people and having a good time without Seth. He trusted Steven. He was the person Steven loved. The one he couldn’t live without.
But Seth’s dark thoughts came from not being able to trust other people. Not only was Steven beautiful, with dark hair and bright eyes and the smile when he was really happy and not just faking interest that make the day brighter by association. And all those other things that made Steven the best man in the world.
No, Seth couldn’t trust other people at all.
Prompt: #154 Ô¿ Û
Title: at the park
“Hello.”
Seth looked up from his book. Two girls smiled at him. Seth glanced around the park, hoping for an excuse to leave, but none presented itself. He mentally sighed. “Can I help you?”
The girls looked at each other and giggled. Then they asked him if he went to his old school. He reluctantly said that he had. They giggled again.
From by the swings Steven winked at him as if to say that he was glad other people thought Seth was as good looking as Steven thought he was.
Why couldn’t Steven be jealous enough to rescue him?
Prompt: #171 revealing, old, disconnected
Title: The perfect place
Steven didn’t feel thirty-four. Did anyone? And he felt disconnected age-wise from people his age like Belinda and her friends. They acted older than him, liked they looked down on his small, little, contented life. But that revealed more about them than it did about him. He’d lived more over the last twenty years than most people did over a lifetime.
And he was happiest he’d ever been where he was, taking care of his children, doing laundry and dishes and mopping floors, being near his mother and his family, and loving Seth, the most wonderful man in the world.
Prompt: # 112 want, tower, breath
Title: Hot Night
Seth lay on the fake fur throw as Steven read aloud Arabic love poetry. It was the kind with necks like towers and breasts like gazelles—whatever that meant—but it sounded lovely in its original language.
Steven grinned. “That gave me an idea.”
His idea left Seth hot and sweaty and breathless and in desperate need for Steven to stop just using his fingers, lips, and tongue on every part of Seth’s body and get on with the good stuff.
But in all fairness, Seth decided when his brain worked again, with Steven it was all the good stuff.
Title: Annals of Autumn
Chapter: 3 — Early September
Series: Seth and Steven Ito-Parker
Status: Incomplete
Genre: Family, 'married' life, drabbles
Length: about 4,000 words
Summary: Seth and Steven deal with home and family and school after the boys come to live with them, but still manage to find time for each other
Prompt: # 38 tree, party, hiding
Title: Instead
“Shh,” whispered Zoe from behind a tree. “I’m hiding from Dani.”
That was understandable. Dani overwhelmed most people, but she had a special place in Seth’s heart as the only person at Matt and Belinda’s house who didn’t remember a time before he lived with them.
Seth made his way to the house. Dani looked out the door with a frown. “Where’s Zoe. I want to dress her up.” She held a knitted bonnet at least two sizes too small for Zoe. “I want a fancy tea party.”
“Will I do?”
“Yes.” Dani grinned. “You can be my special guest.”
-
Dani is Seth's six-year-old half sister.
Prompt: # 39 sleep, neighbor mischief
Title: Alone
Seth stepped inside after dropping the boys off at the neighbor boys’ sleepover. Zoe was spending the night with her cousins. Even Gramma was gone, visiting her friend for the weekend.
The house was blissfully silent.
Steven welcomed him onto the couch. “What mischief should we get up to?”
They could watch whatever they wanted on the bigscreen in the living room.
Or make love until three am then get up and eat ice cream.
The possibilities were endless.
Or they could make out on the couch which judging by where Steven had just put his hand was Steven’s vote.
Prompt: # 32 picture girl swinging statue
Title: random park
“Push me,” demanded Zoe from the swing.
They only stopped at this park because Zoe had needed the bathroom, but now that she was done she wasn’t ready to get back in the car. Neither were the boys. This was as good time as any for a break to stretch their legs. Seth gave Zoe a few pushes.
Steven called them over to go on a walk. This park had a trail that bordered an odd shaped lake. One of the little off shoot ponds was coved in water lilies.
The walk had been a great idea, like all Steven’s.
Prompt: # 15 earth, wind, fire, crop circles
“Dad,” Javier pointed to the field of long grass, “this is long enough to make a crop circle.”
Last night the kids had watched a show where college students made some.
“Would it have to be a circle?” asked Seth. “What about other things, like a square?”
“I could make a square.” Javier strutted down the sidewalk, the wind blowing through his hair.
“Words?”
Javier looked away. “I don’t think…”
“Maybe in Seth’s first language,” Steven put in. “Fire, for instance, looks like a teepee with extra lines. Or earth, a cross on a line.”
Javier nodded, his face saved.
Prompt: # 25 sneaky, quiet, crash
Title: sneaking in
Seth closed the front door as noiselessly as he could. He wanted his and Steven’s rare night out to continue in their room, not end with wide-wake children who needed to be soothed.
Steven’s arms came around him. Seth stopped and looked where Steven was pointing. Those sneaky kids. Seth had almost walked into a rope, which would have dumped an open tin of dominoes off the table with a crash.
Seth backed up and walked around the other side of the table and they made it to their room with the door locked while the house stayed silent.
Prompt: # 45 bruises, shade, thunder
Title: Paradise
Seth rested against Steven in the shade of an old willow tree. The wind blew gently and rustled the long grass, masking the noise of the kids playing.
It was as if Seth and Steven were alone in the whole world.
Steven gently rubbed one of the love bite bruises he’d left on Seth last night.
Seth purred. He loved these marks. Steven rolled him over and let his love be felt with hands lips and tongue. Seth was the luckiest man in the world.
He even believed that after a thunder of feet announced the arrival of the children.
Prompt: # 128 wasp, chase, picnic
Title: Family
Seth sat at Matt’s picnic table with a sister on each side and Zoe in his lap. They folded origami as Matt grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.
Belinda had Steven cornered at the other end of the table, telling a story that seemed to illustrate how WASPy her family was.
Maybe because his skin was dark and his eyes slanted Belinda’s parents never fully accepted him. Seth was glad they hadn’t ended up raising him.
Quinton raced out the back door, wearing Josh’s favorite cap, and Josh and Javier chased him around the yard.
Kids were such a good distraction.
Prompt: # 54 wood, wig, nose
Title: Intermission
Seth filled the tub. Steven was supposed to be here, but Zoe had wigged out after hearing that the boys found a spider in their room.
Seth loved these kids. He did. But between bedtime and the shriek, Seth and Steven had gotten hot and heavy. Seth was sporting wood. Hard wood that wouldn’t go away without the firm and gentle touch of Steven’s hands.
He picked up Steven’s shirt and buried his nose in it.
Warms arms wrapped around him. “I said I’d only be a minute.”
And Steven more than made up for the time he’d been gone.
Prompt: # 40 moving, treasures, embarrassment
Title: Step kids
“So how are your little treasures doing?” Grant asked, much to Seth’s embarrassment. He should be nicer to someone helping him move into his dorm, childhood friend or not.
All Seth’s friends had known he was in love with Steven since forever and they liked Steven well enough. They even liked Zoe, who could charm people just by being shy. But since Steven and Seth had brought the boys home this summer, the running joke among Seth’s friends was that his stepson was only six years younger than he was.
It was a good thing they hadn’t met Wendell yet.
Prompt: # 75 reincarnation, clog, positions
Title: Homework
“Seth?” asked Javier. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”
“Why? I’m Japanese not Buddhist.”
Javier looked up from his homework. “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“The short answer is No.”
“And the longer one?”
Seth shifted position. His feet were falling asleep. He had so much homework and about as much patience as time. Not enough. “Later maybe.”
A moment later, “Do people in the Netherland wear wooden clogs?”
Seth sighed. “Did you see anyone in the Netherlands in wooden shoes?”
“No, but—”
“Javier,” said Steven. “I need your help with dinner.”
Steven was the most wonderful man on earth.
Prompt: # 69 cage, cry, heart
Title: Mom
Seth looked at his feet.
“But, Darling,” said Belinda. “Why wouldn’t Steven want something to do to keep him busy while the kids are at school?”
She didn’t understand him at all.
“But Zoe isn’t in school yet.”
“She will be next year. He must be bored out of his mind.”
Steven wasn’t her. He didn’t need charities and fundraisers to keep him busy. If he wanted to work, he could. But Seth couldn’t say any of this without breaking her heart. She might even cry. He was in an iron cage that burned his soul.
“Sure, Mom, we’ll go.”
Prompt: # 105 snow, forth, think
Title: Mountain
“Does it snow here?” asked Javier.
Seth glanced at Javier’s magazine, which had pictures of men snowboarding down mountains. Wasn’t Javier supposed to be doing a report on Brazil?
“Not every year, but never enough to ski. Although I think we could find snow on Mt. Hood. But… homework first."
Javier sighed.
Seth and Steven had had a little back-and-forth about the mountain already. Steven wanted his children to experience everything, but safely, while Seth worried about giving the kids too much.
But Javier having to take lessons if he wanted to snowboard was something they had both agreed on.
Prompt: # 109 Comic, light, ruler
Title: Happiness
Seth looked at his worksheet and then, with the ruler, drew a perfectly straight line exactly 5.2 inches long. He’s picked these specs of the three choices because the complicatedness gave him the most leeway for his art.
A soft giggle floated down the hallway. The kids must be back from the park. He looked at his blueprint and was happy with his progress.
He turned off the overhead light. He could use a break to read the comics to Zoe, answer Javier’s questions, watch Quinton cartwheel across the lawn, or cuddle with Steven.
Or all four. He wasn’t picky.
Prompt: # 110 fur, sameness, fingers
Title: Present
Seth ran his fingers through the fake fur throw. He loved the softness and the feel of each individual hair against his palm. It would feel even better against other parts of him. Would Steven agree?
It would be kind of a present for Steven. Not for any particular reason. Steven’s birthday was in January, Seth’s in February, and their anniversary just before Christmas.
But Seth still wanted to buy it.
Not only was the texture tempting, but the color and pattern stood out from all the sameness of its cousins.
He would get it. Now to find a babysitter.
Prompt: # 117 kidnapped, moon, patient
Title: Dealing with Dragons
Steven dumped the clean laundry on the table and pulled out a towel to fold. Zoe and her friends trooped in. “Papa, were kidnapped princesses. We need a snack.”
Steven pulled a bag of carrot out of the fridge. He’d better warn the other children’s parents about what books they were reading.
As Steven folded the last of the socks, Zoe returned. “Papa, our dragon is sick. We need medicine.”
Who had they got to be their patient?
Steven handed over four cookies. Zoe danced like she was over the moon.
“Thanks, Papa.”
Steven smiled and got back to work.
Prompt: # 121 watch, learn, want
Title: Time
Seth looked over his syllabus. He had an essay due in two weeks on a book he hadn’t read yet. Time to get cracking.
“Papa, do you have a watch?” asked Quinton.
“No, Sunbeam,” said Seth. “I have a phone.”
“Uncle Matt has a watch.”
“Yes, he does.” Matt needed to know the time even when his hands were full. “Do you want a watch?”
Quinton hid his hands behind his back. “Watches are for grownups.”
“Dad doesn’t wear a watch,” said Javier.
Maybe if they bought Quinton an analog one it would help him learn to tell time better.
Prompt: #16 dog, run, big
“Papa, Javi wants a dog,” Zoe fluffed up her purple skirt, “and I want a mouse.”
Seth grinned. “And Quinton wants a cat. We could be our own cartoon.”
“No,” said Zoe. “My mouse won’t run away. Quinton’s cat won’t eat him. They will be friends.”
“Will they?”
“Yes. And Javi’s dog won’t be big. It will be cute and little and play with me and lick my face.”
That last part sounded like a real dog.
“Will it?”
“Yes, and we will all play together in the yard.”
Seth grinned at his little girl and kept his mouth shut.
Prompt: #7 newspaper, nudity, silly
“Don’t be silly.” Zoe demanded from the hallway.
“What else would I be?” ask Javier.
Seth sank back onto his pillow. Steven sighed and got up. Weren’t Saturday morning cartoons invented to keep kids busy, so parents could sleep in or have adult time? And Seth wanted adult time. He wanted Steven’s hands on him. He wanted kisses and touches when he didn’t need a lamp to see Steven’s gorgeous face.
He should just put his clothes on. He had to research old newspaper articles for Monday’s paper anyway.
Maybe the kids would go to sleep early tonight.
Yeah right.
Prompt: #11 horror, dark, soft
Steven ran his hand down Seth’s side as Seth snuggled closer on the soft beanbag chair in the dark TV room. Their movie was nearly over. It was only the second they’d manage to watch all the way through without getting interrupted since they’d brought the boys back to live with them.
Seth loved Steven’s children as his own, Steven was sure. And Steven certainly couldn’t be this good of parent without Seth at his side. But Steven and Seth didn’t get enough time together alone. Did Seth regret falling in love with Steven?
That would be Steven’s worst nightmare.
Prompt: #3 storm, tree, palace
Seth leaned back on the bed. The kids were awake again. He loved Steven’s kids well enough during the day, but once their bedroom door was shut, he wanted it to stay shut.
But the big storm tonight had taken out a tree a few blocks away and knocked out all the lights, including Zoe’s little purple nightlight. She refused to sleep alone in the dark. Steven was trying to convince her to sleep with her brothers.
She wanted to sleep with her Papas. But Steven and Seth agreed on this. Their bed was their love palace. No children allowed.
Prompt: #24 crystal, bouncing, cat
Title: insights of a child
Steven navigated the crowded mall. Zoe had decided to walk today, which was rare for her and not terrible convenient for Steven. He wanted to get in and out with the least amount of hassle, but being a parent wasn’t about him.
Zoe stopped short. Then she bounced and pointed at an inexplicably low display window. “Ooh, that’s pretty.”
The crystal cat was indeed beautiful.
“But Quinty wouldn’t like it.”
“And why is that?”
“Because he wants a warm, soft kitty, not a hard, shiny one.”
Steven grinned, but he wasn’t going to let her talk him into any pets.
Prompt: # 28 cradle, history, birth
Title: memories
“Dad,” asked Javier. “Where was I born?”
“Madrid.”
“Where you there?”
“No.”
Seth got up and wrapped his arms around Steven’s waist. Steven was very sensitive to the years he spent away from his children.
“Why not?”
Steven tensed. Seth rubbed his arm.
“I attended Phoebe’s birth. Blood, crying, pain. I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Yuck.”
“Exactly. I did buy you a cradle, but I don’t know if your mother ever used it.”
“Oh.” Javier looked back at his homework.
“But he’s glad you were born.” Seth said. “He loves all of you.”
Steven’s hug told Seth he was loved too.
Prompt: # 29 punishment, safe, quenching, grounding
Title: punishment
“So do you think this was a fitting punishment?” Steven asked Javier.
Javier sighed. “I’m never going to do that again. Lemonade is for quenching our thirst, not drenching our little sisters. But how come Quin wasn’t grounded?”
Steven sat down on Javier’s bed beside him. “Why do you think?”
Javier sank back. “Because he’d enjoy not being able to go anywhere. But he did get punished?”
“Yes.” Steven ruffled Javier’s hair and got to his feet. Quinton’s punishment was going on a school fieldtrip without either Steven or Seth.
Javier sighed, safe in the knowledge his brother got his.
Prompt: # 34 picture horse on cart
Title: date plus kid
“Papa, I want to ride it.”
It was a statue of a donkey balanced on a tiny cart.
“No, Zoe,” said Steven. “It’s art. We don’t touch the art.”
“But there are statues of animals not far from here that you can touch,” said Seth, hoping that was all right with Steven.
Zoe pouted.
“One is a baby elephant, right next to a kid’s park with slides and swings.”
“And you’ll push me in the swing?”
“Of course, but you better behave here or we’ll go straight home.”
And Zoe was better than ever. Seth should bribe her more often.
Prompt: # 37 bright, tight, wow
Title: Dressing up
Seth pulled on his bright jeans and tight t-shirt. Steven hadn’t asked him to dress up, but Steven had a meeting tonight and people tended to expect less from Steven when Seth looked like his kept boy. Steven didn’t want any extra responsibilities right now.
Being a stay-at-home father to three growing children was enough. He volunteered for their school field trips and things, but just because he didn’t have a job didn’t mean he had forty spare hours a week.
Steven wrapped his arms around Seth and admired him in the mirror. “Wow. Maybe we should just stay home.”
Prompt: # 48 honey, wrap, note
Title: Lonely
Seth looked around the quiet house. Where was everyone? Had they left a note? The only thing on the fridge was a shopping list: butter, tortillas for wraps, tomato sauce, and honey.
Where were Steven and the kids? Seth knocked on Gramma’s door. She didn’t answer. Seth texted Steven, but a small beep from the bedroom meant Steven had left his phone.
Then the front door banged open and many feet trampled in. “Papa, we’re home.”
Steven wrapped his arms around Seth. “A neighbor’s dog had puppies. We thought we’d get back before you.”
Seth held Steven close. “No worries.”
Prompt: # 49 owl, up, sang
Title: Insomnia
Seth couldn’t sleep, but at least the owl outside was keeping him company. Periodically it sang, hohohohohoho, like Disney’s Tigger. Milne’s Tigger said worraworraworraworraworra like a real tiger had the one time Seth had been at the zoo just after dawn.
He always meant to go back and show the kids what animal’s acted like at that special time, but getting kids up that early was too much work. Even though they got up earlier on school days.
Seth sighed and rolled over. Arms wrapped around him. “Can’t sleep?”
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“But now that I am…”
Prompt: # 70 fall, lights, borderlines
Title: The perfect scene
Seth sighed happily. Light from the setting sun fell across the bay. The night air was borderline chilly, just barely too cold to not wear a sweater, but with Steven’s arms around him he was just right. Music flowed up from a hidden radio. Seth had had no idea that Spanish music could be so romantic. And the salty sea air wafted at him in the gently breeze.
Only they’d foisted the kids off on Matt and Belinda and were spending the weekend in a beautiful, but out of the way hotel at the coast. And the bed was calling.
Prompt: # 73 distance, divide, memories
Title: Memories
Steven looked off into the distance. Some days the memories of his childhood and flight to Europe were heavy upon him. He’d see someone who reminded him of his father or of the ship’s captain or of the many people who he’d slept with as he hitchhiked across Europe. Then he’d look down at his children or his Fairy Queen of a mother, happy again after all these years, and feel the divide, the split between the old him and the man he tried to be today.
Then Seth’s arms would wrap around him and he’d hear, “I love you.”
Prompt: # 78 transform, cheerleader, mojo
Title: Zoe is always right
“I think I want to be a cheerleader,” said Quinton at breakfast. “Do I have to wait to get to high school?”
“Maybe,” said Steven. “But gymnastics or a dance class might put you in good standing for when you try out.”
“I’ll have to try out?”
“Dad,” said Javier, “you can’t take him seriously. His mojo is not just going to transform him into a girl.”
“Boys can be cheerleaders too.” Seth moved Zoe’s cup further from her elbow.
“Can they?”
“They can!” Zoe snapped. “My book says so.”
And breakfast was derailed until Zoe had proven her point.
Prompt: # 142 assignment, smile, interest
Title: Mother tongue
Seth sat across the library table from Quinton, who for once was taking little interest in his homework assignment. Maybe he needed a break. Seth nodded at a nearby mother. She was reading her toddler a book in French.
“Do you want to say hi?”
Quinton hid his face. He must miss his mother and his brothers and even simply hearing his native tongue.
Seth got up. Quinton ran around the table and took his hand. The woman smiled as they approached. She was more than willing to talk to Quinton in French, which made Seth’s Sunbeam beam even brighter.
Prompt: # 140 elevator, decanter, muffled
Title: Library
Seth walked down an aisle at the university library. He needed one last book for a bibliography reference. Then he could go home and enjoy Steven for a few hours before one of those annoying study groups.
He saw, inside a meeting room, an outlandishly dressed person in elevator shoes pour nothing from an empty decanter into an empty wine glass.
The man waved his arms in broad gestures, but his words were muffled by the thick glass.
A woman in an apron curtsied to him.
Oh. The theater club, practicing for Saturday’s performance. Maybe Steven would like to go.
Prompt: # 144 roflmbo!
Title: Reading
“What does that mean?” Javier pointed at the screen.
Seth explained each letter. “But it might be best not to read the comments.”
Javier shrugged. Seth returned to his book. Just as the hero’s life was on the brink, Javier asked, “Why butt? Does anyone actually do that?”
Seth shook his head. “That’s not the point. roflmbo! isn’t necessarily any funnier than lol. Once something is overused it ceases to have meaning.”
Javier went back to reading. Seth waited an extra moment, but Javier ignored him. He probably wouldn’t ask another question until Seth was again lost in his book.
Prompt: # 146 dark, trusted, mind
Title: Trust
Seth stifled a sigh. He really didn’t mind Steven talking with people and having a good time without Seth. He trusted Steven. He was the person Steven loved. The one he couldn’t live without.
But Seth’s dark thoughts came from not being able to trust other people. Not only was Steven beautiful, with dark hair and bright eyes and the smile when he was really happy and not just faking interest that make the day brighter by association. And all those other things that made Steven the best man in the world.
No, Seth couldn’t trust other people at all.
Prompt: #154 Ô¿ Û
Title: at the park
“Hello.”
Seth looked up from his book. Two girls smiled at him. Seth glanced around the park, hoping for an excuse to leave, but none presented itself. He mentally sighed. “Can I help you?”
The girls looked at each other and giggled. Then they asked him if he went to his old school. He reluctantly said that he had. They giggled again.
From by the swings Steven winked at him as if to say that he was glad other people thought Seth was as good looking as Steven thought he was.
Why couldn’t Steven be jealous enough to rescue him?
Prompt: #171 revealing, old, disconnected
Title: The perfect place
Steven didn’t feel thirty-four. Did anyone? And he felt disconnected age-wise from people his age like Belinda and her friends. They acted older than him, liked they looked down on his small, little, contented life. But that revealed more about them than it did about him. He’d lived more over the last twenty years than most people did over a lifetime.
And he was happiest he’d ever been where he was, taking care of his children, doing laundry and dishes and mopping floors, being near his mother and his family, and loving Seth, the most wonderful man in the world.
Prompt: # 112 want, tower, breath
Title: Hot Night
Seth lay on the fake fur throw as Steven read aloud Arabic love poetry. It was the kind with necks like towers and breasts like gazelles—whatever that meant—but it sounded lovely in its original language.
Steven grinned. “That gave me an idea.”
His idea left Seth hot and sweaty and breathless and in desperate need for Steven to stop just using his fingers, lips, and tongue on every part of Seth’s body and get on with the good stuff.
But in all fairness, Seth decided when his brain worked again, with Steven it was all the good stuff.
