19

Kyndal Inskeep- Parachute

~

momitch

Are you up for a date, Sunshine?

It had been an hour since he agreed to going on a date with her. Since she told him to come over.

At first, Paris had been shocked at the question. She had gone radio silent for three days, and suddenly texted him, asking him out on a date?

A part of him felt that she wanted to compensate for not being there for him, but the other part knew she wouldn't do that.

Alex survived on pissing him off.

Still, he had gotten a little excited and told Elise, who had gotten more excited than him. "So that means you're together now?"

Paris had stared at his Mother, confusion on his face. "Together?"

She nodded. "I'm aware it's only sexual."

She had not been lying when she said those words. It was true. They were just... Pet and Owner with slight benefits. She hadn't asked him out, and he hadn't asked her either, but that was soon going to change.

When both of them were alone during their date, he would ask out, and he was sure she wouldn't say no.

Paris just hadn't banked on the idea Marcos was invited as well.

"Hermes?" Alex asked, staring at him with her head tilted. "You dressed,"

Dressed? He didn't. All he had on was a sky blue T shirt with a baby pink and blue knit sleeveless sweater and ash pants.

With his hair perfectly brushed and horn rimmed glasses. He wasn't dressed. "And you? What in God's name are you wearing?"

He could see it, but it pissed him to think of it too much. She had on a light brown sweatshirt with joggers and her hair packed, though some curly strands bounced over her face. "Clothes,"

"Mommy?"

Paris' head turned to the direction of her bathroom, watching a dresser Marcos walk out with a sad pout on his face. "I dunno..."

His voice was tinier now, his lips fuller, but that wasn't what caught Paris' attention. No. The male now had his hair in two pigtails, his white eyeliner outlining the area around his eyes with his light brown skin, and light red lipgloss on his lips.

He also had on a black choker with a black and white varsity jacket, white crop top that had his nipples peeking out and baggy jean trousers with black and white converses.

Hold on, was that his jacket?

"You look beautiful, little one," Alex stated, now walking to him before standing behind the male and saying to Paris, "Isn't he?"

He looked like a walking Succubus, and it was obvious he wasn't even trying. "Okay, so he's dressed and you aren't—" Then he paused, a look of recognition crossing his face. "You little—"

Alex was covering Marcos' ears. "Ah-Ah. No bad words in front of my baby," Then she took it off, smiling sweetly at him. "Go wait for Mommy downstairs?"

The boys cheeks puffed, like he was about to disagree but he licked his lips and nodded before walking outside.

When he was gone, Alex's smile had gone as well. "Today's a date day, not a fuck me day. I don't want you cussing, Hermes,"

"You set me up!" He snapped, finger pointed at her. "You knew I'd look like this and Marcos would—! It looks like me and the idiot are on a date and you're the third wheel!"

A small smile began to creep on her face as she said in a small voice, "Now, why should we care what people say?"

Paris could feel the veins on his neck come out. "He's wearing my jacket!"

She nodded, "It's a very lovely jacket."

"Alex,"

"Hermes," She said, with a pointed look on her face before adding, "There's no need to freak out. If you didn't notice, Marcos is a little bit different,"

"What did you do?"

"I called him and told him we're going on a playdate," Alex said, now walking to her closet and bringing out a tote bag while he watched as she put some toys in it, books, a pacifier, napkin, sippy cup—

Why did she have that?

"And?"

"Right, you don't know." She turned to him now, strap on her shoulders. "I'm sure you've done your BDSM assignment so you've heard of Sub space, but there's also Little space. Now, the latter doesn't always involved sex, rarely does, but this is when the person involved age regresses. In other words, he acts younger than his original age. Marcos has Little space though he has to be triggered with keywords, and when I called I might have accidentally told him it was a Playdate, not a date date."

And I should believe it was an accident when you have those... What?" Paris asked, eyes moving to the tote bag. "Things,"

Alex stared at him for a few seconds before folding her hands and saying, "What exactly upsets you, Hermes? The fact that I'm not dressed? That Marcos is coming along? That Marcos is going to act like a six year old? Or the fact the two of you would look like you're both in a relationship?"

Everything. Which was true, but worse, was the fact he wasn't going to spend it with her alone. He wanted to spend the day with her. Just once.

"Kitten,"

She stopped in front of him now, hand cradling his face. It was stupid how easy it was for her to crack whatever walls he kept up. And what was more stupid, was how much he liked it. "We're just going to have fun,"

Paris didn't want fun. He wanted to be serious with her. Ask her to be his. Permanently. He had never really even thought about it till she brought up the date.

At first, he was okay with being anything to her, but being her boyfriend... There was a nice feeling to it. He didn't care if anything changed. The title just made him feel better.

Yet, he said nothing about all of that, nodding. "I understand,"

And Paris did understand. He was going to be accommodating, he was going to be nice. If he was nice to Marcos, she'd treat him nice too, but an hour after, he was so close to shoving the devil into the road.

While they walked, Alex said Marcos had to stay in the middle because the edge of the road wasn't safe, which didn't just keep her away from him, but the demon kept holding her hand.

And swinging it.

Like he was just trying to make Paris strike him dead.

"Have you had breakfast, baby?" Alex asked now, looking at Marcos who shook his head.

"Nuh," He shook his head a little, moving his fingernails to his mouth. The jacket hung loosely around his hands, making him look tinier than he already did.

"You?" Alex asked, turning to Paris. "Hungry?"

"I ate," He said, grim look on his face. "But there's this Cafe—"

"Wook!"

Paris' eyebrows narrowed now at the male who was now bouncing excitedly on his feet, pointing across the road to an Ice Cream Parlour called 'Lickety Splits'.

"Sweets, huh?" She turned to him, a small smile on her face. "That isn't food, honey. Desserts always come after,"

"Bwut—" There was a pout on his face now before Paris cut him off.

"As I was saying," He glared at the male. "There's a Cafe, that has actual food. We can go to his place after. If we need to,"

Marcos suddenly turned to him with a speed that had Paris moving back as he stomped his feet and shouted in a high pitch. "No!"

"Eros," Alex's voice had grown deeper, more domineering. "You don't talk like that to people older than you. That's not nice,"

Marcos turned to her, cheeks puffed. "Meanie,"

She looked soft again. "He's right, though. If you're good enough, behave well enough, we can go over. Is that alright?"

Paris stared at her now. It was a side of her he hadn't seen yet. Gentle, caring, completely void of sexual intention.

He liked it, but he was jealous at the same time. He didn't even understand what the tyke was doing, acting like this, but if he was in a little space, that means he had her attention without trying.

He closed his eyes for a minute. This isn't a contest. There's no need to make it look like one.

But how was he supposed to do that, when it was obvious Marcos was having a stick up his ass?

When they got into the Cafe, Alex had found a place away from people that they could sit, close to the window.

The corner had two seats, allowing them to face each other with a square table in the middle and Marcos had decided to cling unto Alex, because of course, he wanted to stay with her and Paris had to sit opposite her.

A waiter had walked over and asked what they wanted but Alex had said she'd go over to the counter and order something instead while Paris took a cup of coffee.

"Don't let him drink it," Alex stated, standing up. "He's too young to, okay?"

Paris didn't need her to tell him. He was done with sharing for the day.

As soon as she was gone, he rose the mug to his lips, watching as the male's round eyes followed his every move till he set the mug down and said, "Don't even think about it,"

A small whimper left Marcos' lips, nearly breaking the frown on Paris' face. How could he forget that he was as soft as putty around this male?

He pouted, "Pwease?"

At that moment, Paris didn't care if he was faking it or not. Grown up Marcos was cute, this... This was torture. "No,"

Marcos let out a longer whimper, looking at his mug before turning back to Paris who was beginning to feel his head hurt. God, he had no idea how Alex managed to handle him, or anyone without smacking them in the head.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds, still feeling the male's own on him before he pinched the bridge of his nose, saying, "It's not even as sweet as you think it is, besides, if you keep asking, I'd tell Al—"

And then he heard the sob.

Paris' eyes flew open now, complete shock on his face. Marcos' eyes were tiny now as he heaved and began to so a little bit louder, tears falling out his eyes.

He didn't need to turn to know some people were looking at them, and the fact that Alex hadn't come meant she was still over at the counter and she hadn't heard him yet.

Shit, what if she thought he hurt the brat?

"Hey, hey," Paris started, now reaching out for the tote bag, shoving his hands into it. What in God's name was in here? It was so packed to the brim, before he brought out a small puppy plushie. "Look at the puppy. Very nice, puppy."

Marcos stared at it, sniffing now, though he wasn't sobbing as loudly as Paris began to move it towards him. "Puppy doesn't like pretty boy sad."

"P-Pretty?" Marcos asked, voice still tiny.

A grim expression came on Paris' face. Right, he knows that. "Yeah, and look," He raised the puppy up. "He's gonna hit me for making you cry and— oh!"

Paris held one of it's paw to hit his cheeks, letting out a cry that caused Marcos to giggle before he gave himself a punch from under his jaw, groaning out again. "It hurts. Make him stop, pretty boy!"

"Stop!" But he didn't sound sad. He was laughing and giggling all at ones, hands out. "Stop it, Rexy!"

Rexy? Where'd he get that name?

Still, he played along, landing one final blow to his stomach before throwing the puppy towards Marcos who caught it still giggling and pressed it to his chest. "Good boy,"

Good boy? He was supposed to tell the dog he was bad. Violence was never the—

And then Paris froze.

He realized the Cafe was completely quiet, because they were all looking at them. Him. What the fuck?

"Well," Alex returned to the seat with a tray in her hand beside Marcos who happily clung to her arm again as she smiled at him. "Wasn't that cute? Though advise for next time, use the pacifier. It gets him calm,"

A look of recognition crossed his face as he watched the girl in front of him take a bite out of the sandwich she had gotten. "You— You wanted this."

"Wot?" She asked, chewing with a hand over her mouth as she slid a plate of biscuits towards Marcos then swallowed and said, "What in God's name are you talking about?"

"You—" She knew he was going to piss Marcos off. She knew the male would cry. And she knew Paris would try to calm him down, so when people saw them together, no matter what happened, it'd look like they were the ones together, not them with her.

Or her with either of them.

Plus, Paris could barely sit there without his face burning up so instead, he just stood. "Let's go to the Parlour,"

"Yay!" Marcos rose his hands up, "Ice cweam!"

"Aw, come on," Alex licked her lower lip. "I just got our—"

"Now."

She paused, staring at him. A look flickered in his eyes that made the little bravery he was feeling die down but as soon as it came, it was gone because she laughed and said, "Right, Eros. We can eat out,"

For a second, it looked like she was ready to put him in his place, but considered Marcos at the same time.

Still, he wasn't sorry. She had tricked him. Again. For fuck's sake, it would have been nice if she had just told him.

They got to Lickety Split in ten minutes,  and once again, Alex sat opposite him but this time, the snacks she brought are on the table, a ham cheese sandwich in front of him with biscuits and a bowl of chocolate sherbet ice cream in front of Marcos that has it all around his mouth while Alex had something orange, Paris didn't know what it was except it looked like balls of cream.

"Are you sure you don't want it?"

"No," He was still upset about the Cafe thing, and he knew getting angry at the rainbow kid would be pointless so he was directing it at Alex, hoping she'd apologize.

She only tilted her head at him. "Ice cream always calms babies down,"

"I'm not a—" Paris bit back the snap in his tone and said, "It's exactly why I don't want it."

She chuckled now. "You surely didn't take me serious,"

He sent her a pointed look as an answer.

"Okay," Alex sent down the spoon in her bowl and clasped her hands together, finally giving him attention like she wanted to be on his good side again. He wouldn't take the bait. He wanted an apology. "What's your favourite flavour?"

"I don't have one,"

"Your childhood was non-existent," Alex said now, shaking her head. "Did you ever even have an ice cream?"

He tried his best not to shout. "Of course,"

"When?"

Paris opened his mouth to reply but realized he couldn't exactly remember when. In fact, he was beginning to realize a moment like that never existed.

"Knew it." She turned to Marcos who was still happily eating his gelato and said, "Little one. Big brother  Paris has never tasted an ice cream before,"

He paused, looking at Paris with wonder in his eyes. "Big... Brother Pawi?"

Alex turned to a lost Paris and said in a small voice, "Of course, didn't he help you at the big people place today?"

Marcos hurriedly nodded looking at her before Paris. He stared for a few seconds then took a spoon from his cup before moving it to Paris' direction and saying with a voice full with enthusiasm, "Pawi, take!"

He stared at the spoon for a while before turning to Alex who had gone back to her own in silence. Was this what she had been trying to do? Marcos had earlier been upset with him because they went to the Cafe first and she wanted the male to be comfortable again...

And there he was, upset.

Fuck, he hated her sometimes. The fact that he couldn't predict her. Or tell what she was thinking.

But at the same time, it made him want to stay with her. Figure out every single thing she was thinking.

How was he supposed to feel now?

Marcos' happy face faltered, "Pawi no want?"

"No," Paris replied, shaking his head before looking at the brown thing on the spoon. Hold on. If he took this, it'd be kissing him—

Fuck, don't overthink it. He's already kissed you before, and that, as shocking as it was, felt weirdly alright.

He took it in his mouth, watching the male beam up again before Alex suddenly grabbed Marcos' cheeks and turning him to her face, making him pout as she said, "Look at your mouth. All dirty,"

And before Paris could blink twice, had her tongue moving across his lips.

He choked, spluttering on the chocolate in his mouth before taking a napkin to his face while Marcos giggled, letting her lick him like he was a baby cat and she was cleaning up.

That, however, wasn't the way Paris was seeing it.

Later, they were in a park, sitting under a tree with it's shade hovering over them. Alex in the middle, Paris by her right and Marcos laying on her lap while he used some crayons in his colouring book.

Alex stayed quiet, hands moving through Marcos' hair. She hadn't said a word to Paris ever since they left the Ice Cream shop, and as much as he liked pissing her off, he didn't like silent treatment. "Alex, I—"

"Don't apologize," She didn't sound upset. Instead, she sounded calm. Like she wasn't surprised. "I understand why you must have thought I tricked you earlier, which I did in the beginning. I wanted Eros in littlespace so you'd get to know each other better, and I left you both alone, to get him comfortable with you, but not to mock you. Still, that's how we met? Your first impression on me, and how everyone sees me..."

Paris sat erect. He didn't like the fact she was comparing him to everyone. He knew most people already treated her like they'd rather never see her, and he wasn't like that. Not with her. "That's not what I—"

"Dun!"

Marcos shot up from her lap, book in his hands. It was a princess he had coloured up, with brown crayon for her skin, yellow for her hair and blue shoes. "Pwetty?"

It wasn't, but Alex was nodding, "Yes, princess. Very pretty,"

He giggled before showing Paris who knew what to do was agree with him, before he shot his hands into the air and yelled, "Stowy!"

"You've been all over the place, Moondrop," She chuckled, reaching out to hold the little boy's hands as she said, "This is why we eat food before desserts, or you'd be all energy but fine, what do you want me to read for you?"

Marcos shook his head, now seated on the floor with his legs crossed and a pout on his face. "Nuh. You."

"Me?"

He shook his head, the ends of his hair. Bouncing. "I wunt you!"

You want a spanking. That's exactly what you want. But Paris stayed silent, watching them.

Alex laughed. "Okay, okay. You want my own stories. Alright, but you'd have to be really quiet, okay?"

Marcos nodded, hurrying back to her thighs before resting his head on it and staring up at her and as she started talking, Paris felt warm fingers intertwine with his.

The little tyke.

A small smile came on his face as he held Marcos' and gave him a little squeeze. "There was a woman. Jane, let's call her that, who was in love with her bestest friend, Kei. They had grown together, and everyone always believed they'd end up as one, Jane believed this too. Eventually, when they were sixteen, she found out she was pregnant for Kei. They were young, and Kei had nothing to raise a family with, but he swore to take care of them, and joined the Army to do so. While he was on service, Jane had her child and named her—"

"Ducky!" Marcos suddenly squealed.

"No, let's not call her that," Alex said with a chuckle, patting his hair softly. "But it shows you're listening so I'd give you huggies later. Let's call her Lana. Lana doesn't see her Daddy till she's five and likes him immediately because he's more fun than Mommy who's always so proper and stiff. He likes mud. Likes to fight, and Mommy isn't sad when he's around, but there are times when he goes away, and Mommy is sad again but things are fine. One day, when Lana is six, she hears her parents fighting about her. Mommy wants another child, Daddy doesn't because he says Lana is enough. Lana thinks she's not enough for mommy though but doesn't say it, and later, after a while, Mommy has... Mikey and Nicky,"

The more she spoke, Paris noticed that her voice was growing softer. Tinier. Like she was recalling a memory she didn't like remembering. "Daddy is never home, so Lana has to stay alone with Mommy... Who doesn't act the same anymore. She's colder, meaner, and—"

"Mommies mean not good," Marcos cut in, shaking his head.

"Mhm," She said, but she doesn't comment on it and continues, "She can tell she prefers Mikey and Nicky, and didn't like it when Lana was alone with them. She waits for Daddy to come, because he will make everything better, he always does, but this time, when he comes back, he lost a leg during the war, was sent away, and he's depressed."

"De... Pwess?"

"Not happy anymore, sweetie," Alex said, under her breath. Paris could tell that her throat was clogging up even though she kept a straight face. "He's being mean to Mommy, and she is blaming Lana again. Mikey and Nicky, they're little so they don't understand, but they hear the fights and get scared so Lana protects them from her experience with it. Years pass, and they are always still fighting but she has learnt to hide it more. Keep it down more. Everyone outside loves her, even though no one at home does so she survives on that. It's hard though, always having to keep herself happy so they'd not stop liking her but it's fine. She'd do anything for someone to love her."

"But then one day," She gives a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "The house rent and bills haven't been paid. Mommy's job isn't paying well enough, and Daddy's still unable to get a job even though he's got one good leg, so Mommy, finds a sort of exam for Lana to read so she can get a scholarship and take care of the family, as the first kid, you know. She's stopping her from going out of the house. Seeing her friends. Lana's going insane from the pressure, from the fights of her parent's, and Mommy's anger, from the fact the one thing she fought to have, was being taken away from her, but still, maybe if she'd pass this exam, Mommy will love her. Maybe..."

Alex stopped now, looking down at Marcos who was snoring softly on her as Paris said, "Did she get the scholarship?"

She didn't answer immediately. She stared at Marcos for a while, parting his hair quietly before saying in a soft mumble. "No."

Lana was Alex, it was clear. He had seen the twins, but not her parents. Still, he had questions. She was smart, wasn't she? How hadn't she gotten it? Did her Mom love her now? And her Dad? Alex didn't seem rich enough but she had seen her credit card, known it had no limit.

Things had changed, and he wanted to know if it was for the better, but he couldn't ask.

"Don't let this change how you feel towards me," She said now, looking at him. "I'm not telling you to feel pity for me, or understand me. I'm telling you because I think it'd be better you know this, before seeing or hearing something about me. I don't care what you think after either. Or maybe I do, but it doesn't matter. The past doesn't,"

She turned to Marcos, smiling at him before resting her hand on Paris' intertwined finger with the male and said, "I'm just glad I have two people who care for me now. And that's enough."

~

They took Marcos home first, the male wrapping Paris in a tight hug before they stopped at her place.

Paris parked in front of her house, putting off his car engine before he held her hand and said, "Hold on," Then he put his hand into his pants pocket and brought out a paper then began to fold it. "Took this from Marcos' book. Don't tell him, and there's something I want to show you."

In two minutes, he's holding the paper in a cushion fold shape, a thumb and index finger on the left side and the same on the right while four words show on its outer sides. Red. Blue. Yellow. And Black. "Pick one,"

Alex stared at it. "What?"

"Just... Pick," He livkrr his lips. "It's an origami fortune teller. It like, tells you what's going to happen in the nearest future."

"Paris—"

"Humour me."

She stared at him for a while before saying, "Red,"

"Okay," He holds up the red lapel up and reads what's underneath it. "It says, You're going to get asked out."

She blinked "What—"

"Date me."

Her eyes widened and he slapped a hand on his forehead. "That came out wrong. Desperate. Disgusting. Jesus. I meant, please, go out with me? I mean, you don't have to... What am I saying?"

She had a look on her face now as she said, "Is this because of the story?"

"No!" Paris snapped, then calmed down and said in one breath. "Of course not. I— God, I can't believe you're making it hard. I like you, okay? A lot. I like how you always make it hard for me to get my way. I like how you challenge me. I like how you keep me on my toes, and make them curl too. I like how you fuck me, and how you look at me. I like it when you say what I can't dare say. I like how you know me and what I want and don't judge me for it. No, I don't like you. I love you. And— And if you don't date me, it's fine, but I'd probably be too embarrassed to show my face and I'd hide behind a box for the rest of my—"

"I love you too."

"Life and—" He paused, looking at her. "What?"

"I love you too, Kitten." Alex smiled, reaching out to brush his cheek. "And yes, I'd be your girlfriend."

"You're making it so easy. Why are you making it so easy?" He asked.

"Do you want me to fuck you and get you repeating your confession?"

"I—" No. Yes. He frowned. "I hate you,"

She laughed, "Come,"

As soon as he leaned in closer, she kissed him. Except it was different this time, or maybe he was just overthinking it but it felt different. Butterflies buzzed around his stomach, celebrating more and every move of her tongue on his had him melting in her hands.

When she pulled away to look at him, there was a droopy look on her face. "Goodnight."

It went away immediately. "Wait—"

But Alex had pushed open the car door, running out of it laughing before entering her house. Paris stared at her, letting out a small hiss then laughing.

Boyfriend, huh? Has a nice ring to it.

~

It's trash, I know. Wasn't really feeling it. Haven't been feeling it. Maybe I just need a sad chapter. It's exactly what I need, thank you for telling me.

Do you have any questions about the character? Comment and I'd answer as much as I can. Or if you don't, you can just leave a nice comment, (you don't have to!) And star.

Thank you!