This is Random Crack because and no other good reason exists

[element_wizard]

The spatula waved in the air as Alec sang the Beatles to the empty apartment. He was making a stir fry for dinner, under the assumption that Andrew would be back from work in time for dinner. If not he'd just save the rest for lunch the next day or snack later.

It didn't matter in the long run.

He just was cooking, having a good time, and singing about being a paperback writer while dancing horribly.

The day had been good. Quiet. He'd done well on his test in class. Andrew would be hopefully pleased. A little.

He'd even finally saved up enough money - when he got his allowance today - to get that laptop he wanted.

So.

He was happy.

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[rianofski]

When Andrew opened the door to the apartment, he immediately looked around, assessing where Alec was, noting that he was cooking dinner, and almost feeling guilty about the surprise he was about to spring on the young man. Almost. Discomfort was probably closer to the emotion he was feeling than guilt -- guilt was a waste of time.

Still, it wasn't without hesitation that he walked into the kitchen, pushing a young boy in front of him. The boy looked quite a bit like Andrew, albeit with lighter hair and brown eyes instead of blue. He still had that powerful bone structure and serious expression.

"Alec. There's someone I'd like you to meet."

[element_wizard]

And it's always better to spread discomfort around? It appeared to be a family hobby?

Alec turned and stared at the boy as he yanked out the earbuds. He then looked up at Andrew.

"Who's this?" he asked.

[rianofski]

There weren't generally times when Andrew stumbled over his words, but today seemed destined to be one of them. "This is Jack. He's your... he's my son."

He had been intending to say that Jack was Alec's brother, of course, but that wasn't entirely true, and this was already a confusing enough situation in it of itself.

[element_wizard]

A long silence followed.

"Son?" Alec repeated. "Biological?"

It's a stupid thing to say, of course. It's obvious that Jack is Andrew's biological son.

But, still.

[rianofski]

"Yes," Andrew said, nodding slightly. It was a situation he didn't want to go into detail on, but if forced, he supposed he'd have to. Maybe out of Jack's earshot.

"Say hello to Alec, Jack," he said, nudging the small, quiet boy.

"Uh, hi," Jack muttered, looking up at Alec as though he was terrified of him.

[element_wizard]

He gives Andrew a we are going to talk about this later look, before turning his attention back to Jack.

"Hi. I'm Alec. Um. Do you like stir fry?"

Right. Stir fry. He spins around and snatches the frying pan off the stove before it started to burn and slides it on to the counter before it catches fire.

[rianofski]

"I dunno," Jack said, staring at the stir fry dubiously. "I mostly just... uh... ate cereal and stuff at home."

Jack's mother was someone Alec had probably seen coming around before, but Andrew wasn't going to discuss that in front of the child. Of course, Alec was bound to ask questions. Ones Andrew didn't want to deal with.

[element_wizard]

"I tried that but Andrew makes me vegetables," Alec says, chattering nervously.

Grabbing a bowl from the dishwasher, he scoops some stir fry into it and sets it on the table.

"Here. Try that. And then maybe Andrew and I could talk for a moment about um... well.. .stuff."

[rianofski]

"Okay," Jack said, seemingly content to take the bowl and plop himself down at the table, staring at it for a few seconds before taking a tentative bite. He was a quiet seeming child, but polite, and he didn't seem particularly disturbed by the situation at hand, or if he was, he wasn't showing it.

Andrew nodded towards the living room, indicating that he and Alec should take the conversation in there. "We'll be right back, Jack," he said, and Jack simply nodded.

[element_wizard]

Fortunately for Jack, Alec was a good cook. He had to be to survive in Andrew's home. "If you want more, just take it."

He then goes off to the living room, expecting Andrew to follow him.

[rianofski]

Andrew follows close behind, already preparing what he's going to say. Alec probably isn't going to handle this well.

[element_wizard]

For a moment, Alec considers asking Andrew about this entire thing in Russian, but decides to take a tiny bit of pity on the guy.

Just a tiny bit.

In a low voice he asks, "Well?"

[rianofski]

"As was mentioned before, Jack is my biological son. No, I was not aware of this until extremely recently. No, I did not choose to bring him home, but... circumstances beyond my control forced my hand. Yes, he'll be staying here for the foreseeable future."

[element_wizard]

"Can I yell at you about using condoms?" Alec asks, only a bit snidely.

[rianofski]

"Can I make the point to you that I did, and was uninformed about the unfortunate fact that it broke until I found out I had a child. A seven year old child, I might add, who I have been entirely unaware of until two weeks ago?"

[element_wizard]

"Blackmail?" Alec asks. "Or something happened to his mother?"

There is probably something in between there, but generally it doesn't seem to exist in Andrew's particular world.

[rianofski]

Andrew gave Alec a grudging smile. The boy certainly understood his life well, even if that meant that he had to deal with some unpleasant things. "Something happened to his mother. She lost custody of him."

That's all the detail he'll go into with that.

[element_wizard]

"I'd ask if you made her lose custody, but I think you have enough issues with one kid," Alec says dryly. "That means she was one of your paid lady friends?"

Yes. He understood his life well. Both of theirs.

[rianofski]

"She wasn't a prostitute, Alec," Andrew said, tone only vaguely reprimanding. He had, of course, helped her pay her rent, so maybe she was a paid lady friend, but he chose not to see it that way.

"In any case, Jack is... young and confused. I'd appreciate it if you'd talk to him."

In other words, he wanted to provide Jack with a perspective that wasn't simply sudden new father figure, which could be intimidating.

[element_wizard]

Totally paid lady friend. Totally. Alec gives him a mildly disbelieving look.

"What am I supposed to say to him?"

[rianofski]

"Make him feel..." Andrew waves a hand dismissively. "Comfortable. I don't know. Ask him what he likes? Make him feel like he's not entirely alone here."

[element_wizard]

"How long is he going to stay here? He's not going to be staying in my room, is he?" First some priorities needed to be taken care of.

[rianofski]

"He's not going to be staying in your room. He'll stay in the guest room."

That was the benefit of having a huge apartment. Being as wealthy as Andrew had its definite advantages.

"He'll stay until the custody situation gets... adequately handled."

Which really didn't provide a number at all.

[element_wizard]

It didn't. Which irritated Alec. Andrew was his, damnit.

"You realize the last custody situation that got adequately handled has let me live with you for seven years now?" Alec says, as if trying to warn Andrew that if he's not careful he'll end up with two kids.

One is enough and that one is Alec, thank you very much.

[rianofski]

"Of course I realize that, Alec," Andrew snapped, having thought much the same thing himself several seconds before, and been made to feel extremely uncomfortable about it.

"It's not a permanent solution, but he is my child."