#*dilan

“I do not approve of this.” Even stated when he stopped in front of Dilan.

Dilan who was guarding the door to the double date he had scheduled and cooked for. “We allow you to make your mistakes. Allow Ienzo.” Dilan did not budge from the door and his arms tightened over his chest. 

He knew he meant Lauriam. But that was different. For starters Lauriam had a brain and spine under all of his ego. Demyx was- Myde was- “What does he even see in him?” He meant to hiss it, or at least grumble it, instead it was a soft whisper. He knew Ienzo talked to Dilan. Dilan, for all the fact that he did not date, had always been the one there for dating advice. 

“He makes him laugh.” Dilan stared down at him calmly. “Do you actually need something or did you plan on busting in on a bunch of Keyblade Wielders having dinner?” 

“Seriously?” Even shook his head a little. “The latter. You knew I would try.” 

“Talk to your son, Even.” Dilan sighed. “Ienzo knows how you feel.” 

“You make that sound easy.” Even’s hands curled at his sides. “He’s been impossible to talk to.” 

“He’s trying to learn what it means to be a teenager and an adult at the same time. We destroyed his childhood, Even. Let him have this.” 

Even bit his lip. “I’ll never approve.” 

“You will never approve of anyone. I understand how you feel; no one is good enough for him.” 

Even sighed and turned to lean back against the door next to Dilan. “I just got him back, how am I supposed to let him go again?” 

“I think that worry is unneeded. He does have a kingdom to run.” Dilan tried to laugh but Even only slumped harder against the door. “Ienzo’s not ready for complex emotions. Right now, what he’s doing, is forcing himself. He’s mirroring and trying to make friends. You need to allow him that. This was /my/ idea, not his. If you really must barge in do so as his concerned father, nothing more and nothing less. Otherwise, kindly let him ruin his first date on his own accord.” 

“You think he will ruin it?” Even whispered, gaze on the floor. He had never been a good role model for the boy when it came to relationships. Let alone love. 

“I think you need to give him that opportunity.” 

Even swallowed. “Okay. But I’m complaining about this at breakfast.” 

"That's vague, there are many things I am still learning, but none, I feel, that constitute this reaction." Even stood still, plenty used to Braig and Dilan roughing him up. But this felt more personal.

Dilan lowered his fist and heaved a sigh. "Aeleus is in love with you. I don't mind messing around with you and Braig is Braig. But Aeleus... He was courting you."

"Oh.." Even looked to the ground. "That would deserve this reaction. You've always been protective of him."

"I warned him. I told him to give up on you. I tried to help him with hobbies."

"That scarf..."

"No matter what I taught him it always went back to you."

"I never put weight into it."

"I know. That's the problem. You've been breaking his heart slowly this whole time. I need you to end this before he gets more serious."

"I'm not sure he could."

"Who do you think is more likely to propose? Lord Ansem or Aeleus?"

"I finished that vest I was working on for Even last week. He wore it on their date." Dilan explained.

"Your approval." Rolund nodded.

"Yes. Lauriam could tell me thank you and be done with it."

"You should know by now he doesn't operate like that." Rolund drummed his fingers on his knee. "I might be overstepping by saying this but Lauriam is committing to the castle as a more permanent residence and I was curious if you would be inclined to living together. Officially."

"Officially?" Dilan repeated and sat down beside him. "Are you asking for a label?"

"I know you do not do labels." Rolund shook his head. "But I would like to say that we live together. As more than just roommates."

"Do /you/ want one?" Dilan questioned and set a hand on his knee. "I am sorry."

"Yes." Rolund admitted. "But I love you for the person you are. It's just... I feel jealous sometimes. Not of Lauriam's relationship but of how open he can be. I would like that."

"You want me exclusively yours but no further strings."

"Yes." Rolund breathed deeply. “Something stable. Something mine. I don’t know what to call this, us, and I’m okay with that. I always have been. But at times I think it would be nice to call you mine. But I promised you I wouldn’t let my feelings make this complicated. We agreed that if I did I would leave and I still stand by that.” 

“You will stay.” Dilan’s voice was solid. “Partner.” 

“Don’t push yourself.” 

“We agreed on compromise. I can do that much for you.” Dilan squeezed his knee. “Partner.” 

He had offered to teach him to sew and knit. His mom had taught him when younger to patch his own clothes and make scarfs and mittens. Aeleus had never been one to turn Dilan down.

But the first time he showed Even the scarf he was working on-bright green and soft, it was a start for his heart-and the blond had called it amazing the hobby was solidified.

According to Even.

But according to Even he was not meant to do many things.

“Does Even know you are here?” Dilan asked the smallest apprentice when he joined him in the kitchen.

Ienzo held a finger before his lips before winking at him.

Dilan did his best to surpass laughter. “I see you’ve been spending time with Braig.” Dilan spoke to him in statements and observations. Ienzo rarely need respond. “Pull up a chair. You should know a kitchen knife before a scalpel.”

Ienzo hesitated for some moments before he gave a small nod and went to scoot a chair from the table to the counter. Aeleus would have done it for him. Even would have fretted. But Dilan just continued on.

Ienzo took the lesson at face value. Be self sufficient. But also if he struggled he knew Dilan would help. The man caught his eye various times to make sure he was okay.

Dilan set an apple before him, already cut in half, and a small knife. “Hold it down with one hand and chop downward.”

Ienzo placed a hand a bit clumsily on the fruit. 

“Good,” Dilan nodded and placed a hand on his on the knife to help him with the motion. “No hesitation.”

Ienzo nodded as he cut the apple into a forth. 

“Cut it into sixteenths.” Dilan instructed. 

Ienzo gave a small nod. Math made sense. 

He kept an eye on Dilan as he moved around him. He washed blueberries and blackberries and tossed them into the large bowl he had on the counter. He had been peeling mandarin oranges when he first came into the kitchen. 

Ienzo waited for Dilan to get close enough for him to tug on his sleeve when he was done with the apple. 

Dilan paused and helped him get it into the bowl. 

Ienzo noted the strawberries and grapes. 

“I can’t let you near the stove just yet.” Dilan stated. “But you can be my butter captain.” 

Ienzo puffed out his chest in pride.

That did draw a small laugh from Dilan. He would leave the science to Even, but he and Braig would take care of making sure the child wound up well rounded. 

Aeleus moved the stool for him that time before he gathered up bread and butter and put Ienzo to work buttering up one side of it to make grilled cheese sandwiches. 

“Thank you,” they were the first words any of them heard from Ienzo.

“You’re welcome,” Dilan did not pause at them and for that Ienzo was thankful.

Even always faltered and the first time he had nearly dropped his plate.

Aeleus paused but did not press. Aeleus paused often before he spoke as well.