#poor duncan

‘What are the implications for you?’ Jerome asks Y/N. ‘There’s no direct consequence here for you, is there?’

‘It doesn’t seem so.’ Y/N answers, ‘But…we’re not exactly dealing with a normal baby here.’ 

Jerome’s lips quirk up into a grin, ‘You could never do anything normal, could you?’

Y/N smiles back, ‘Getting involved in a foursome. No, I don’t think that’s norm for most people.’ 

‘Get rid of it.’ 

Both Y/N and Jerome’s head snap to the balcony. Jim stands there with eyes of fire. His hands flex into fists and then release as he stalks over to Michael. The Antichrist stands, knowing the fight was about to come sooner or later when Jim’s fist slams into his jaw. The crack resounds around the room from a blow that would have anyone fully human unconscious. 

Slowly, ever so slowly Michael turns his head back to face Jim. But the boy isn’t done. He lands the second punch to Michael’s jaw, an uppercut and Michael feels something crunch from the impact. Duncan’s arms fling themselves around Jim right as the boy is about the launch himself at Michael. ‘LET ME KILL HIM!’ 

Y/N has sprung to her feet. She puts her hands on Jim’s shoulders, looking directly into his eyes. ‘You lay another finger on him Jim and you’ll be out!’ 

The beach boy’s eyes are crazed by now, ‘You’re defending him. HIM!’ He manages to shove Duncan off him, a finger jabbing in Michael’s direction. ‘HE’S GOING TO KILL MY CHILD!’ 

‘We’ll find a way.’ Y/N is adamant, her hands still holding onto Jim. ‘I’m not letting anything happen to these babies.’ She glances to Michael, ‘Either of them.’ 

‘Cool it, Jim.’ Duncan hisses in his ear, ‘This is not the place.’ 

‘Easy for you to say.’ Jim bites back, ‘What have you got in this? Nothing?’

The weight of Jim’s words hits Duncan. He lets the boy go and he charges for Michael. The Antichrist does nothing. He knows he deserves it, every single atom of Jim’s rage he deserves. Jim raises his fist again, his eyes focused on where he can do the most damage. Michael just watches him, waiting for the blow. 

‘Jim.’ Y/N speaks again, ‘Don’t.’ 

He wavers and then Jim’s fist falls by his side. He glowers at Michael and then keels down into a crouch, ‘FUCK!’ 

‘You’re right.’ Michael whispers, ‘I…I don’t know what I was thinking.’ His eyes flick to Duncan, ‘I was jealous. You had Y/N and Duncan had just taken her. I was enraged and I did what I always do. I make a mess. I ruin everything.’ Michael knows his eyes are glassy, but he can’t stop himself. ‘But things will be different. I won’t let it go the way my birth did, Jim. I swear it to you. I swear it on Y/N’s life.’ 

‘That doesn’t mean shit to me.’ Jim hisses, ‘You and your genes are cancer.’ 

It’s like bearing the weight of a hundred gunshots. Michael staggers back, Jim’s words far more painful than any physical blow. 

‘You take that back.’ Y/N says, ‘Right now.’

‘And still you defend him.’ Jim rounds on her, throwing his arms out to the side. 

‘Back off, man.’ Jerome puts himself in front of Y/N. ‘Think of the babies, sport. Stress isn’t good for a pregnant mother.’ 

‘His baby monster is killing mine and you stand there and defend him till the end of your days.’ 

‘I believe in Michael.’ Y/N shoots back, ‘I know he would never let anything happen to your child, Jim.’ 

Jim looks to Duncan for back-up. The Media Mogul hesitates, his eyes flashing round the room. Michael can feel the turmoil radiating off him, but Michael cannot suppress the one thought rocking round Duncan Shepherd’s mind. 

They aren’t his. He’s lost.

‘We monitor the pregnancy.’ Duncan decides, ‘Right now Jim’s baby is the smallest because he’s the runt. But if this….this alpha baby starts depriving him.’ His eyes fix on Michael, ‘We’ll have to take action.’ 

There’s a horrible silence and then Y/N’s hand slips over her stomach. ‘No matter what any of you say. I’m not losing my babies. Not for anything.’ 

‘But you’ll let mine die.’

’That isn’t going to happen, Jim!’ Y/N repeats, her voice rising again. ‘You are so cynical about everything-’

Jim’s lip cocks up into a sneer, ‘I never had a shot with you.’ He says, ‘It’s always gonna be him. It’s always gonna be Michael Langdon, the spawn of the literal devil. You know I risked everything for you. I moved from PV, I don’t speak to my sister much anymore, I’m penniless and living in this fucking apartment under Duncan’s nose because I stand not being near you. And what is it all for? You’ll always choose him.’ Jim’s eyes flick back to Duncan, ‘We were never a long-standing option.’ 

‘That’s not true.’ Michael has to pipe up, ‘You weren’t with her when things fell apart. Y/N…she was miserable. We both were.’ 

‘The fact remains Michael,’ Duncan interjects, ‘That your child has the potential to end Jim’s. Just like what happened with you and Jeffrey.’ 

‘Don’t.’ Michael pleads, his voice catching. ‘I didn’t mean to. I had no idea! And neither does the baby. I’ll….I’ll talk to them.’ 

Jim heads back out onto the balcony. He swipes a cigarette from his pocket and lights it, inhaling a large puff of smoke. Y/N watches him, her mouth hanging slightly open. The despair is clear in her eyes as she walks over to Duncan. He slides his arms around her at once, pulling her into his chest. ‘It isn’t true.’ She says, ‘I love all of you so much. I just want things how they used to be.’ 

Duncan simply nods, holding her against him. 

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DUNCAN

The moment passes in silence as Y/N calms down, getting ahold of her breathing. She feels so good against him, warm and soft. Duncan can only imagine the bump that will soon be between them, those little babies sheltered in Y/N’s stomach. 

Babies that aren’t his. 

Duncan has been trying to shield his thoughts from Michael, but he knows it’s impossible. It’s selfish, he knows that too. But Duncan would be lying if he said that a part of him did not die on hearing that irrevocable news. 

So he’ll take whatever he can get before he’s pushed out. Before the twins become the most important thing in his loved one’s lives. 

Y/N clings to him like a child, her nose pressed into him. She inhales his aftershave, before looking up at him. ‘I’m so sorry, Duncan.’ 

He forces a smile, ‘Don’t be. You’re giving birth to two beautiful babies. You’ll be an excellent mother.’ 

Y/N looks as if she’s going to say something, but she holds her tongue. She nods against him as Jerome steps over to Michael. The Salesman pulls a face, ‘You’re uh…bleeding there.’ 

He’s not wrong. Michael looks like shit. Jim got him good, a shiner forming round his right eye while his nose has swollen like a clown’s. Michael’s fingers prod at his nose and winces. It must feel tender, swollen. There’s blood gushing from his nostrils. 

Duncan shoves down the pang of sympathy forming in his gut. 

He knew what he was doing. He know how this would turn out. 

Y/N breaks away from Duncan to take hold of Michael by the jaw, inspecting him. ‘This is too far.’ She murmurs, taking some tissue and holding it under Michael’s nose. 

‘No.’ He says, ‘Jim’s within his right to be angry.’ 

‘You should….get that seen to.’ Duncan offers, lamely. He’s laced his fingers together for something to do. He looks to Jerome who just twists his mouth into a crease before sinking onto the couch. ‘Fuck me.’ He mutters, ‘Twins.’ 

‘This doesn’t mean you aren’t as important.’ It seems Michael couldn’t hold back from voicing his thoughts. ‘Just cause-’

‘Thank you.’ Duncan says, cutting him off quickly. He looks between Michael and Y/N. They always looks so perfect next to each other, ready to conquer the world and annihilate it. ‘Well….my apartment is always available. A kind of…safe space between you both.’ 

‘You’d do that?’ The wonder is clear in Michael’s voice. 

‘Yeah.’ Duncan says, ‘No offence but…I don’t trust either of you right now and…Jerome’s right…we shouldn’t stress the kids.’ 

Michael nods to himself, lost in his own thoughts. ‘I’ll…..leave for now then.’ 

‘You don’t have to go anywhere.’ Y/N insists, ‘Not right now. I don’t think you should be alone.’ 

‘I’ll be fine.’ Michael chokes out the lie, ‘I promise.’ He places a kiss on her cheeks, whispering something Duncan can’t hear. Y/N breaks out into a smile though, her hand rubbing his shoulder. 

Michael approaches the balcony, leaning against it. ‘Jim,’ He calls. ‘I’m leaving now.’ 

‘Good.’ Jim doesn’t look at Michael. He just continues rolling his cigarette between his fingers. 

‘Jim I know you’re hurting right now.’ Michael keeps trying, ‘I know you don’t want to listen to me and that you despise me right now. But I love you and your baby. I would never do anything to hurt either of you, or Y/N.’ Y/N joins Duncan, leaning against him slightly. She laces the fingers of her left hand in his, Duncan’s thumb running over them. He watches Michael toss his hair over his shoulder and finally square his shoulders. ‘But I love my child too.’ The Antichrist says, ‘And I am going to do everything and anything to make sure they come into this world. Nothing will get in the way of that.’ 

Jim tenses, clearly listening to every single word. Michael takes his leave, sweeping from the apartment with a kiss to Y/N’s cheek. ‘I’ll be in touch.’ He says, ‘Look after them, please.’ 

‘We will.’ Jerome chirps, waving Michael off. 

A muscle in Michael’s jaw twitches, but he says nothing to the Travelling Salesman. The moment the front door is closed, Duncan turns to Jerome. ‘Let’s get one thing crystal clear.’ He says, ‘I appreciate all you’ve done, I really do. But this is my house and you’re with people I love. That doesn’t mean you’re on an equal plateau.’ 

‘I’m just pointing out that you’re at work 24/7.’ Jerome’s says, ‘And if this is a safe spot that means fisticuffs can’t stay here either.’ 

Jim re-enters at that moments, ‘The fuck? I’m staying with my kid.’ 

‘Actually he has a point.’ Y/N moves over to take Jim’s hands in hers. ’Till this is sorted out, I think it’s best we get you a hotel room.’ 

Duncan nods, ‘Just because that way there’s no claiming, or any of that shit.’ He explains quickly, ‘You both can visit Y/N whenever you like and there’s no…underhand stuff.’

‘Meanwhile you get to play happy families.’ Jim eyes Duncan, ‘I know what you’re doing, I’m not dumb.’

‘Our…associate makes a point.’ Duncan sighs, ‘I do have work. Which means that I can’t support Y/N as much as I would like to. Even by working remotely.’ 

‘Sounds like more reason for me to stay-’ 

‘Or, I have Jerome stick around.’ Y/N cuts Jim off. 

The Salesman breaks out into a grin, ‘You know I do need a place to stay for a couple’a months.’ 

Duncan blinks, ‘Absolutely not.’

‘You just said you don’t have the time to take care of me.’ Y/N says, ‘Who better to help than a friend?’ 

‘No.’ Jim and Duncan say it at the same time.

‘Too bad you don’t get the final say.’ Y/N heads into the kitchen. She rummages in the fridge and produces a can of coke and the sandwich Duncan was saving for lunch tomorrow. ‘Jerome stays. Jim goes to a hotel but can visit whenever he likes, as can Michael.’ 

‘And if this killer baby turns deadly?’ Jim asks, arcing an eyebrow at her.

‘We cross that if it happens.’ Y/N takes a huge bite of Duncan’s sandwich, cracking the can open. 

Jerome smirks, patting Duncan on the shoulder as he floats towards the bedrooms, ‘Guess I’m you’re new nanny. I’ll go unpack my briefcase.’ 

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