#dad reader

The damage to his truck was pretty extensive. You thought it would just be some sort of quick fix, but here you were, an hour later, and you still kept finding problems.

“What the hell even happened to this thing?” You asked, curious as to what could’ve beaten his truck down so bad. Gator used to take great care of it, always taking it into the shop.

“I just haven’t had much time or money to get it fixed.” Gator said, a bit sheepishly. “Ya’ know, after everything that happened and all.”

You just nodded in understanding. Gator still wouldn’t tell you the exact details of what went down on the ranch last year, but it was clearly still affecting him. Whatever happened had to have been really bad if it meant Gator had completely cut contact with Roy, if he had lent a hand to the FBI in detaining him.

You pushed the thoughts aside as you went back to work. You turned to your right to ask Bonnie for another tool when you saw her attention had been pulled elsewhere, her eyes wide and mouth agape as she watched something across the lawn. You followed her gaze until you spotted a small frog sitting over in the tall grass. God, you really needed to buy a mower.

“Froggy!” Bonnie squealed as she pushed herself to her feet and started running over.

“Don’t run off, sweetie!” You called after her, the frog jumping a bit as she got close.

“Guess ya’ lost your helper.” Gator laughed and you turned to see him watching Bonnie with a fond smile.

“Hand me that.” You pointed at one of the tools on the ground and Gator reached down and handed it to you without a word, eyes flickering back to Bonnie every few seconds as you worked.

“How long ya’ been a mechanic?” Gator asked.

“Since I left.” You shrugged. “I knew a lot from helpin’ my dad.”

Gator hummed in response. “Do ya’ like it?”

“Yeah.” You smiled. “I like workin’ with my hands. Do ya’ like bein’ a cop?”

“Yeah.” Gator said, but it didn’t sound very convincing. “I mean, I guess I used to like the power. Now I like the helpin’ people part.”

“Well, that’s good.” You reached out and nudged his arm, earning a shy smile from him.

Gator had steadily gotten more comfortable showing his emotions around you. Specifically his happiness. And it made you glad to know that he was really starting to change. That he wasn’t stuck in the authoritative mindset of Roy and could actually do some good in this town. That maybe he could make up for the sins of his father.

Gator started to laugh and you followed his gaze back over to Bonnie. She was laughing away to herself across the yard, hopping along right next to the frog every time it jumped. It was adorable. She always loved animals, all kinds.

“She’s a great kid.” Gator smiled and then turned back to you. “Takes after her dad.”

“Yeah, right.” You rolled your eyes with a laugh. “Did ya’ forget the time I snuck into the principal’s office and changed your grades?”

Gator laughed, genuinely, openly. “Thanks for that, by the way. Saved me a lot of trouble.”

“And got me into it.” You huffed. “Had detention for a week. But they never found out what I did.”

“So that’s why my grades stayed good.” Gator mused.

“Well, I couldn’t give ya’ up.” You placed a joking hand on your heart. “Thieves honor.”

“Honor among thieves, ya’ mean.” Gator corrected.

“Same difference.” You shrugged.

Gator continued smiling, but turned smaller, softer, a bit shy. “Hey, um… I was wonderin’ if, ya’ know, I don’t know, if ya’ wanted to get dinner some time?”

“Oh.” You said, your smile fading a bit from shock. Did he mean a dinner, dinner? Or did he just mean dinner? “I don’t know, Gator. I mean, with Bonnie and all. I don’t have a sitter or anything.”

“No, yeah, yeah, right.” Gator stumbled over his words. “I mean, I could, I don’t know, I could ask some guys at the station if they know anybody. A lot of ‘em got kids.” His eyes dropped to your chest, his fingers fiddling with the denim on his thighs. “And, ya’ know, it’s just dinner. If that’s what you want.” He mumbled the last part, as if unsure he should say it.

You looked over at Bonnie, now chasing the frog around, arms outstretched as she tried to grab it. Did you want to go to dinner with Gator? And did you want it to be just dinner, or something more? It sounded like that’s what Gator was hoping for, and you couldn’t say you were totally opposed to the idea. But you really didn’t have anyone to watch Bonnie while you were gone, having just signed her up for pre-school and having to pay more for the summer classes. But Gator did just say he would ask around about a sitter, and you did really need one. Dinner or no dinner.

You opened your mouth, still not sure what your answer was, but you didn’t even get the chance to make a sound before Bonnie came running back over, the frog now held between her little hands, giggling happily to herself.

“Gator! Gator! Look!” Bonnie squealed as she ran over, hands held out as she stopped in front of Gator. “I got the froggy!”

“Well, would ya’ look at that.” Gator mused as he knelt down in front of her. “Ya’ know, I actually have a pet gecko.”

Bonnie’s face lit up even more. “What’s his name?”

“His name’s Danger.” Gator smiled and you almost laughed from the silly name. “I got him when I was eight.”

“Daddy! Daddy!” Bonnie turned to you. “Can we get a pet gecko?”

“I don’t know, sweetie.” You said gently, placing a hand on the back of her head, and she started frowning. “Maybe when you’re older.”

“Okay.” Bonnie said dejectedly, toddling back off with the frog, a small, happy squeal leaving her lips as the frog tried to jump from her hands.

You turned back to Gator who was still kneeling on the ground as he watched Bonnie walk off. He was always so good with her, and she loved him. He helped you out a lot, watching her whenever you had to work on the weekend. He really was a changed man.

“Hey, Gator?” You said quietly.

“Yeah?” Gator said, slowly rising back to his feet.

You smiled at him. “Dinner sounds nice.”

Gator started smiling again, the one that showed off his dimples. And then the two of you were interrupted by a little scream and you both instantly whipped around to see as the frog leaped from Bonnie’s hand and she went chasing back after it again.

"I, um, I wanted to tell you all something." You watched as your son, Ethan shifts nervously for a moment. "I'm gay."

You shake your head, "No, you're not." And just like that, everyone around you freezes. "Everyone has a crush on the same gender." You wave your hand, dismissing him.

Ethan's face drops slightly, pushing the food on his plate around with his fork. "Look, I'm just saying it's normal to like the same gender, even more than the opposite gender. Take me, for example, I have crushes on men all the time. Like your friend Nathan, his dad? I have thoughts all the time about how I'd want to be in a relationship with him. That doesn't make me gay."

You look around, sensing everyone's eyes on you. A variety of different emotions are going around the table, shock, horror, disbelief, hurt.

"What?" You ask, taking another bite of pasta.

Garcia looks at Ethan, "Come on, let's step out for a minute," She gives him a kind smile and they both leave the room, Reid following them.

You look at the remaining members of the team, "What?"

"You know that's not true, right?"

"What's not true?"

"Not everyone is attracted to the same sex," Morgan said, you rolled your eyes.

"Yes, Morgan, they are." You shrugged, "Ethan's just confused. He'll come to terms with it."

"I don't think Ethan's the one who's confused." Prentiss chimed.

"What do you mean?" You ask, giving a soft scoff. "Of course he is."

"I think you're confused." Reid spoke up.

"Everyone has those thoughts." You stated.

"No, they haven't." Morgan argued, "I have never once found another man attractive."

"Not one?" You asked, finding that hard to believe.

"No."

You blinked. None of thise made any sense. "You're joking, you've got to be."

"What makes you think it's normal?"

"When I told my parents about it, that's what they said."

"They told you that?" Prentiss asked, sharing a look with Morgan.

"Yeah," You nodded. "So, I carried on with my life. And Ethan will do the same."

Morgan frowned, before sighing. "It's not something everyone thinks or feels, (Y/N)." He paused.

"Wait. No, hold on." You said, rubbing a hand over your face. "Does that mean that-?"

When you don't finish the sentence, Prentiss does for you. "That you like men?"

"Yeah." You said awkwardly at the question.

"Probably." Was her response.

You frowned. That quite literally went against everything you thought you knew about yourself. Your relationship with Ethan's mum before you separated, as well as every relationship with a woman ever. As well as the bond you had felt growing up with your best friend.

"That changes things." You said, blinking slowly. "I should probably go speak to Ethan."

The team gave soft nods and you headed out into the lounge, where Ethan was, leaning against Garcia, eyes red with Reid on his left. Your heart sank, you looked a lot like that after the conversation with your parents actually. You swallowed, trying to ignore the twinge in your stomach at the thought of passing this confusion onto your son as your parents had you.

"Ethan?" You asked softly, he looked up, quick to wipe the tears from his eyes. "Can I speak to you quickly?"

He only nods when Penelope squeezes his hand in reassurance. "We can stay here, if you want." She says to him softly, and he nods again.

You swallow heavily once again. "I'm sorry." You stated, carefully sitting in the seat opposite him. "I... I wasn't aware that it wasn't something everyone experienced. I repeated what my parents told me and in doing so, I hurt you."

Ethan watches you for a second. "It's not your fault-"

"You don't need to try to make me feel better kid." You said, "I told you what they told me, and in doing so, I invalidated you and your feelings. I dismissed you, and that's not okay."

When he opens his mouth to argue, you give him a firm look and he sighs slightly. "But you also didn't know any better."

"I should have." You reminded, "But I do now. So, I'm so sorry for how I reacted. And I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to talk to me about it, and I'm sorry my original reaction wasn't what you were expecting, or what you deserved."

"That's okay dad," Ethan smiled, a split second passed. "So, Nathan's dad, huh?"

"I will ground you."

"Rey’lan, get down from there—" The sharp crack of splintering coral underfoot drowns out the rest of Kiri’s warning as your youngest daughter vaults off the archway-shaped stone, sending a spray of iridescent shells clattering onto the sand below. She’s grinning, all wild eyes and tangled braids, already twisting midair to evade Tuk’s half-hearted attempt to grab her.

The twins exchange glances by the tide pools, Tìtxanro’a rolling her eyes while Stxeli smothers a laugh behind his fist, both smart enough to pretend they don’t recognise her. Rey’lan hits the shallows with a splash, sending a startled ilu darting away, then pops up dripping and triumphant. "It’s fine," she calls, shaking water from her ears like a wet nantang. "Uncle Lo’ak said this thing survived the Sky People, it can handle me."

Kiri pinches the bridge of her nose, but you catch the way her lips twitch. "Your uncle is an idiot, like your sempul." You scoff, nudging her hip with yours, and Tìtxanro’a lobs a chunk of seaweed at her sister, who catches it midair and flings it back, but it smacks Stxeli square in the chest instead.

The twins devolve into a wrestling match, sand flying, while Mäuti, quietest of the bunch, emerges from the treeline with an armful of fungi. "Can we not scare off every creature within five klicks?" Kiri asks as Rey’lan grins at his brother, dripping seawater onto his carefully arranged harvest.

You barely catch the way Kiri’s fingers slide against your wrist, subtle, practiced, before she tugs you backward into the shadow of the cliffside. The cave entrance is barely visible behind a curtain of vines, damp air thick with the scent of salt and something muskier. "Kids are fine," she murmurs, pressing you against the slick rock wall, her knee slotting between yours. "Tuk’ll keep them alive for ten minutes, at least."

Her teeth graze your earlobe, and suddenly the distant shrieks of your offspring sound very far away. Kiri’s always been efficient, no wasted motion, her hands already working at the ties of your loincloth, her breath hot against your throat. "You’ve been staring at my thighs all morning," she accuses, nipping at your jaw.

The fabric pools at your feet, and then hers follows, a soft thud of woven fiber, the faint scent of saltwater and her skin. Her fingers curl into your hair as she kisses you, deep and slow, the kind that makes your pulse stutter. The cave floor is cool beneath your knees when she drags you down, her legs parting to bracket your hips, her slickness already painting your length.

(Name) saw the two set down photos beside their beds and had an idea.

When the two went to school (name) took the photos to the closest photo store and made copies slightly bigger.

He made sure everything was in place when they got home, the boys tired as they walked down the hall only to pause "since this is the family wall, I thought you guys should have your family there as well"

(Name) managed to get ahold of Izana other family, the Sanos and got into regular contact with the boys grandfather.

The two parties met regularly and at some point the boys went to sleep overs with Mikey and Emma, their half and step siblings and vice versa.

It was nice seeing them so happy.

(Name) was happy that his sons and sort of step kids got along, apparently Mikey invited other friends as well to the sleep over.

The trio went to the grocery store to get some snacks for the sleep over, the two excited as apparently Mikey was starting some form of group and wanted them and their friends to be apart of it.

The two kept the whole gang activities away from their dad.

He was a worry wort to begin with.

"Ok I think this is good, you two think you need anything else?"

"No dad"

"This is fine dad"

That was another development, they regularly called him dad.

He totally didn't cry when they said it.

(Name) drove them to the Sano dojo, also dropping off dinners to give Emma and Grandpa Sano a break "hello again Mr.Sano" (name) said as the three bowed to their elder, the old man letting them in "why don't you boys bring this into the kitchen, yeah?"

"(Name)?" Emma called out as she poked her head from the hall to see her sort of step dad "ah, hello Emma!" (Name) said to the girl "the boys are putting the food away, I made sure to pack your favorite" (name) said kindly and Emma beamed "thank you!" She bounced to the kitchen to get her beloved food before Mikey snagged it.

(Name) chatted with Mr. Sano for a bit, enjoying some tea as the doorbell rang.

Mikey had joined them at this point and answered the door, letting a handful of teens inside.

"Well I guess I best be off, have a good night Mr. Sano" (name) said and got up to leave only to see a bunch of teenagers staring at him wide eyed "oh hello! I'm Izana and Kakuchos dad" he greeted the teens who looked at him like he was a god.

Draken sighed, having met (name) before and he wouldn't deny that Izana and Kakuchos dad was a total dilf but come on.

Have some class.

"Well you kids have fun, behave and remember I love you" (name) said to his kids and step kids, grandpa Sano going to go watch his shows before bed.

"Kakucho, Izana" Baji said slowly and the two knew he was gonna say some dumb shit "your dad's a total dilf"

"Shut the fuck up" Kakucho seethed and then came the argument of if they would have a chance with the twos dad amongst the non Sano/(lastname)s.

Except Sanzu.

Because Sanzu knew that his brother was seeing (name).

Because he totally went through his phone once and knew that (name) was also making plans for the boys to meet each other and such.