Figured it out, he's going to town first, though we didn't actually physically get there yet; here's the chapter update and a snippet:
Ethan offers with clear hesitation; Rose of course immediately rats him out, telling her father casually that Karl was being a very bad patient again, walking around despite a splitting headache. Her blunt, matter-of-fact delivery and accusatory pointer finger kicks a laugh out of Karl, which he could tell eased Ethanâs nerves a little.
"Who taught your girl to be a snitch?â
Ethan shrugs, proceeding to look through the cabinets to make some breakfast. The fact he did so with such automation was always slightly amusing to Karl, but it also perhaps spoke volumes of how relatively safe these two felt around him. Even now.
His smile fades as Karl turns his gaze away to drink from his coffee, feeling the headache get worse again as his irritation spiked a little. Ethan had no business to be like this; it was absolutely foolish behavior, but then again he had no idea. There was still so much this oblivious dumbass didnât know, and would it even matter if he told him or not? His wife was dead, so revealing to him how much of a pathetic piece of shit enabler she had been would not bring the same kind of satisfaction anymore.
It wouldnât break a now nonexistent marriage.
It would not ruin the life of an already dead woman.
It wouldn't even make him particularly happy, because now there was a kid mixed into all this and he was kind of tired of feeling guilty over children getting hurt because of him.
And, of course, there was the most annoying part of all this that heâs reminded of as Karl watches Ethan prepare some breakfast, while chatting with his kid.
He understood painfully well why Mia had been so desperate to save him. Men like Ethan were a rarity, even before world went to shit.
"âŚ.Uncle, I think you really should rest. I can tell the headache is bothering you.â
Rose comments as she suddenly looks back at him; apparently he couldnât fully hold his poker face together, or it was her weird ass vision ability snitching on him again. Whatever, she wasnât wrong anyway as his head did hurt pretty bad even now.
"You shouldâŚ..probably go sleep in the bedroom. Weâll be making noise cooking.â
Ethan tells him with that same hesitance still coloring his voice, and fuck was he tempted to kick him through the door at that; he had no business worrying over the very man whoâd nearly killed his wife and threatened his life to her. But, Ethan didnât know any of this.
All he knew, all Ethan saw was a traumatized, mutated vet whoâd chosen to help them far beyond what anyone else had done before out here apparently. Who helped him keep his kid safe and alive. Yeah, no fucking wonder Ethan gave a shit, heâd practically made sure this dumbass would grow attached to him in some way, all he could do was blame himself.
Karl downs rest of his coffee, putting the empty mug down into the sink.
"Yeah. Sure. Maybe youâll stop trying to burn a hole through my skull with your staring then, kid.â
"I donât think thereâs anything powerful enough to do that uncle.â
He barks out a laugh, unable to help himself. Instant regret of course as it agitated his headache.
"Maybe there is, but I obviously wouldnât tell you about it. I don't have a death wish.â
Rose just rolls her eyes at him, but she was clearly trying not to laugh.Â
