For justprompts
That's the beauty of the argument. If you argue correctly, you're never wrong. -Thank You For Smoking
1993
He sank on his seat at the dinner table, his jaw tight as he chewed his gum with enough force to show off just how pissed he was right now. He knew this was bound to happen. He knew that his Dad didn´t give a shit anymore, no matter how much he tried to play the good husband part in front of neighbours and stuff. This was his real face. The "I don´t give a shit anymore" one.
He could hear his Mom talking to his Dad on the phone from the living room, warmly dismissing his excuses, turning the other cheek no matter how hurt she really was. He heard her saying her goodbyes, her playful "We´ll try to save you some cake", and things that kept unsaid but were obvious in the hurt of her voice.
She returned to the kitchen and patted his shoulders affectionately as she passed by his side.
"Dad´s going to be late-"
"Again, Mom." Shawn replied dryly.
She gave him a look as she opened the fridge. "Yes. Something came up. He is-"
"I know how it is, Mom. A case. There´s always a case. Henry hasn´t made it in time for dinner in almost 2 weeks. Who would imagine he´d be in time to have dinner with us for your birthday?" He knew he was raising his voice and it always hurt to see his Mom´s face when he did. But he really didn´t care right now.
Madeleine Spencer marched her way back to her son´s side. She planted her palm in front of his face and waited.
"Spit." She finally said. "You either talk or chew. Besides, we are having dinner now."
Shawn rolled his eyes and did as he was told.
He fixed his eyes on the table mat in front of him as she stepped through the room to throw his gum in the trash can.
"You need to stop blaming him for all and everything, Shawn. You know what kind of job your Dad has. I knew what kind of job he had when I married him." He knew she was shaking her head; her voice showing some tired kind of amusement when she spoke.
"And maybe you should stop forgiving him for everything, Mom." He spat back, his eyes carving holes in the stupid table mat.
Everything was silent for a moment. But unsurprisingly she was back by his side in no time, her arms wrapping his shoulders, her lips meeting his forehead.
"Sweetheart. Stop it. You know your father does his best for us." She smiled sweetly as she stroked her thumb over his cheek. "Let´s have dinner, ok?"
Shawn took a deep breath and slowly noded. "...´kay." He couldn´t argue with her. He knew she was wrong, he hated that she avoided this argument, that she wouldn´t admit he was right.
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Present day
Shawn bit his lip as he held his mother´s trembling hand between his own. He stared at her tears running down her face. He smiled heavily, the reassuring words he wanted to give her suddenly stuck on his chest. Silence being much more easy for both of them right now. He wanted to keep contradicting her words, he really wanted to argue like he always did, like he almost enjoyed doing when he was sure that he knew (or could bring out of nowhere) all the answers.
He just didn´t know anymore.
(ooc: Thank you very much to lipstickcatfor the beta. ;D)