#killahkahn

“Hot damn, this is a good pretzel.”

“Kevin, is that language really necessary?”

“It is for this pretzel.”

Edward rolled his eyes and resisted the urge to laugh. The man, at times was utterly ridiculous. Kevin seemed in a good mood which Edward interpreted as the divorce negotiations going well. The red-head’s disposition was infections so staying irritated over language seemed an impossibility. The weather being particularly nice, they had decided to take lunch outside. Sitting side-by-side on a park bench, they watched joggers run by and pigeons pick at the ground hoping for breadcrumbs.

Edward was sure they looked odd, he being dressed in the strict uniform of dress slacks, button down, and tie that seemed demanded in a medical field. Kevin wore a pair of jeans with a hole in the knee, a random t-shirt, sunglasses and a backwards baseball hat. Despite getting a couple of odd stares, Edward didn’t mind. Their differences, although stark, somehow made their friendship more interesting.

“Want a bite?” Kevin offered, breaking off a piece and holding it in front of Edward’s face.

“No thank you, I’m quite—“

“Eat it.”

“I assure you—“

“Eat it. You know you want to eat it!”

“Kevin, I—“

“Eat it!”

Groaning in aggravation, Edward took the piece from his fingers and popped it in his mouth. He chewed, glaring at the man who smiled from behind a pair of black Oakleys.

“Told you it was good.”

“Why did that work?”

“I have no idea. It’s how I get Ailey to eat green beans though.”

—-

“Eduardo, you must call your mother. She worries.”

“No,” Edward shook his head, “She doesn’t. She just wants me to talk to Dad.”

“Do you know what is in your mother’s heart? You can have all the brains in the world and not know.”

Edward closed his eyes and counted slowly in an effort to calm himself. He had picked up the phone out of surprise. His aunt hardly ever called anymore. Now he knew why. Mother had gotten to her.

“All she talks about is Dad. She calls, asks me to speak to him, and won’t accept otherwise.”

“Your father is sick, mi´jo.”

The memory of screaming and blood made Edward’s eyes hurt and his fingers went up to his hat.

“He has always been sick.”

—-

Kevin had a business meeting to attend. He would be gone the bulk of the day, was having a horrible time finding a sitter, and so Edward had volunteered to take the day off work to watch over Ailey. Kevin and Edward both walked her to school, Kevin kissed her goodbye, and Edward walked with him to the bus stop as the father went over everything he could possibly think of that she would need. A key to his apartment was slipped into Edward’s hands.

“I had a spare made…for emergencies…so keep this. I’ll be back tonight around seven. Don’t worry about her getting a bath. I’ll take care of it when I get home. Thank you.”

Giving a look of both gratitude and ‘oh-God’ that only a father can manage, Kevin patted Edward’s shoulder and boarded the bus.

Although Edward had appeared calm, admittedly, he had no idea what he was supposed to do. He had experience with Ailey in limited time frames but, watching over her for almost the entire afternoon was rather intimidating. Unsure what to do while she was at school, he wandered around a nearby bookstore, choosing to purchase A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking and beginning it as he sat in the café eating a raspberry Danish. Twenty minutes before her school was to end, he went and stood outside the building, giving nervous smiles to the other parents as they waited for the final bell.

If he worried over activities once school let out, it wasn’t for long as Ailey exited the building, slipped her hand into his and begged for a trip to the park. Unable to resist the excited freckled face, he agreed and the two made their way to the playground while she rambled over everything she had learned during the course of the day.

While Ailey played, Edward sat on a bench and waited. Being too nervous to read, he kept a watchful eye in case anything became the matter. After a while of finding no visible threats and the boredom of watching a six year old go down the same slide ten times, he decided to pick up the book after all.

Fifteen extra pages in is when he head he scream.

“Let go!” she demanded of a boy about her age who was yanking on her pigtails. “Leave me alone!”

Edward stood but, before he could get a word out, the boy pushed her to the ground.

“Hey!” he called, running over to the two.

The boy, now frightened, ran to his father.

“Ailey, are you alright?” he asked as he helped her up.

“I hurt my knee and hands.” She sniffled, revealing scrapped skin.

“I’ll be right back, okay? Stay here.”

She nodded and Edward attempted to collect himself as he made his way over to where the boy now stood. His father, having seen what occurred, began walking to meet him halfway.

“Your son pushed, my daughter.” The words came out before he  even had time to consider them.

“She seems fine.” He shrugged.

“She has a scrapped knee and it’s not fine. She asked him to stop and he didn’t. It’s bullying.” he could feel the anger tensing his shoulders

“You know how boys are, if they hit someone it means they like them.”

“Oh, yeah,” Edward nodded before punching the man with every bit of strength he had. The man reeled back, his hand going to his nose.

“What the fuck!?” He cried, blood pouring between his fingers.

“Call me.” Edward winked before walking back, scooping up Ailey, and leaving with middle finger raised high.

—-

When Kevin arrived home, he found Ailey sitting on the couch watching The Princess and the Frog for the millionth time. He wasn’t surprised anymore. What did surprise him, however, was the bandages on her hand and knees.

“Ailey, what’s this?” he asked as he knelt on the floor, his hands going to hers.

“Dinosaurs!” she smiled.

“I see but why do you have them?”

“This boy pushed me,” she yawned, scratching the dark spot on her arm absentmindedly. “We were at the playground and he pulled my hair and pushed me and Mr. Edd punched his dad.”

“He did what?” the level of disbelief in Kevin’s voice astounded even himself.

“Yeah, blood went everywhere! His head almost exploded! Then Mr. Edd took me to get band-aids and I picked out these ones. Then he made me mac and cheese with broccoli in it.”

“Edd punched a guy and you ate broccoli?”

“Yeah, it was good.” Now bored with the conversation, she frowned and leaned to better see the television.

“Are you okay? Does your knee and hands still hurt?”

“I’m okay. Dad, I can’t see the movie!”

“Where’s Edd?” he asked, being sure to completely block all view.

“In the bathroom. Move!”

Kevin kissed his daughter’s forehead before finally moving out of her way. Looking up, he saw Edward enter, and jutting his head, he motioned to be followed into the bedroom.

After flipping on the lights, he turned to Edward.

 “You punched a guy out over Ailey?”

“I didn’t ‘punch him out,’ Kevin. He was still very much awake and coherent.” He sighed.

“But there was blood?” eyebrows rose.

“Well, yes. His nose was bleeding. It isn’t a proper way to act no matter what his attitude. Ailey deserves a good role model and I essentially taught her that violence is appropriate.”

“You beat up a guy over Ailey.” Kevin smiled, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Kevin, for the last time, I did not beat—“ but Edward sentence was cut off as Kevin pulled him into a tight hug, his arms almost cutting off his breathing as he squeezed.

“Thank you.” Kevin whispered, his voice breaking. “Thank you for protecting her.”

—-

“Finals are going to be brutal.” Jeremy admitted.

“I’m sure if you study diligently, you’ll be fine.” Edward smiled encouragingly.

“You could always tutor me,” a smile and a bitten lip made Edward both consider it and roll his eyes.

“We both know you—“

Edward cut-off as he heard the elevator ding. The two had lingered after Jeremy’s visit, talking in the hallway and attempting to make future plans which would be slow-coming due to finals. The sound of the elevator doors sliding open and the prospect of being overhead by neighbors had silenced their innuendo laced conversation from the start.

Seeing that Kevin and Ailey had been the passengers, he was thankful.

“Did you see Doubront’s pitch last game? It was pitiful!” the red-head argued.

“I like him!” the girl protested.

“You just like his butt.” Kevin teased.

“I doooon’t!!” The word came out almost as a howl as the little girl threw her head back in protest.

Laughing, the father looked up to notice Edward for the first time, his smile lessened as he took in Jeremy beside him.

“Mr. Edd!” Ailey called. “Guess what? The Red Sox play today! We’re going to watch!”

“Sounds fun.” He smiled.

“You should watch with us! It will be more fun that way.”

“I’m sure that’s just between you and your father. I—“

“It’s not.” Kevin interrupted, his eyes fluttering over Jeremy for half-a-second before meeting Edward’s. “You are welcome to join. If you aren’t…busy.”

“Who are you?” Ailey asked, her head cocked to the side as she finally acknowledged the blonde beside him.

“Ailey, this is Jeremy.” Edward introduced them. “Jeremy is a friend of mine.”

“Yo.” The blonde raised his chin in greeting.

“Only douchebags say ‘yo.’” she glared.

“Ailey!” Edward’s mouth dropped in utter shock but Kevin only laughed. “Kevin, she gets her language from you.”

“I didn’t tell her to say it.” He shrugged.

“Regardless, you were the reason she’s come into contact with such foulness.”

“You two argue like a married couple.” Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Look, Edward, I’m heading out. Call me later or something.”

Jeremy quickly pecked Edward on the cheek so as to show he meant no disrespect.

Edward blushed not out of affection but embarrassment.

Kevin glared and he wasn’t sure why.