#(((('''':

THIS  ISN’T  SOMETHING  ANY  CHILD  SHOULD  HAVE  TO  FACE,   and  charles  and  kaidan  knew  that  this  could  happen   (  and  kaidan  has  long  since  feared  that  it  would  happen  sooner  than  they’d  like  ).   and kaidan’s heart sinks  immediately  as soon as he steps outside and answers the phone,  as soon as he hears elijah on the other end trying to be  brave,  and kaidan doesn’t need to hear the background noise to know exactly what’s happened.

“  oh,  god,  ”   he breathes,  goes back inside only for his things   (  he doesn’t have  time  to change,  to wipe away this paint and makeup from head to toe,  barely has time to catch the stage manager’s eye and mouth  my  husband  while knowing that they will know precisely what he means  )   before he’s back outside,  dashing to his car.

“  i - it’s going to be  okay,  mijo,  ”   he says in the meantime,  tries to say it as calmly as he can manage,  already feeling tears pricking at his eyes   (  it was  inevitable  ).

“  you did  so  well,  e - exactly as i told you,  ”   he continues,  key in the ignition,  cell phone balanced upon his shoulder as he peels out of the parking lot.

i’m  scared.

he is,  too.   this time,  he’s  terrified.

“  i - i know,  mijo.   i can tell that you’re being  so  brave.   dad is going to be so proud of you.   i  am so proud of you.  ”   he swallows thickly,  sniffs quietly,  still tries to be as  positive  as possible,  doesn’t want to make elijah feel  worse.