Coping and Christmas
Two this time.
Title: Coping with Another Stage
Characters: Len Snart, Evan McCulloch, Roy Harper, Axel Walker
Word count: 2174
Summary: Len struggles to deal with his son's habit. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, another perspective on 'Questions from Another Addict'.
Warnings: Mentions of drug-use
AN: What's this, actual dialogue?
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Denial
In hindsight, it's obvious.
But that's the beauty of hindsight, everything is.
Len's surprised, but not all that concerned when Evan practically vanishes after getting his own place. It's not like Len ever looked back after all. So he lets it go.
Over the next few months, Evan only visits when there's some gathering or event, and half the time they don't take place at Len's flat. He's starting to look a little on the scrawny side, but then he's a teenager with very little idea of exactly how much food bills cost. So Len lets it go.
Wally mentions that Evan's been around their house every few days for dinner. He's surprised when Len admits to not knowing that.
“He's eating as much as your truly,” Wally says, “And the way Jai's hit a growth spurt, it's lucky we've got any food left.”
Len just assumes Evan wants some friendly faces, while not looking like he's giving up. He's a teenager, they do stupid things.
So Len lets it go.
Everything and anything that could point to what's about to happen, Len lets go without a second thought.
In hindsight it's fucking obvious.
Anger
Len doesn't like being afraid.
He's never really been afraid for his own life. Despite the many dangerous situations he's ended up in over the years. There's always a way out, someone you can beat, someone you can blag your way past, hell, it's not like cops are all that fond of actually shooting suspects.
Len's friends are tough, they can take care of themselves. He's never had to be afraid for them.
When Evan's line doesn't even ring, instead being disconnected, Len's heart skips a beat.
He gets to Evan's as quickly as possible. On the way, Len can only think of the numerous people he's pissed off over the years. He tries not to think how many of them would be willing to stoop low enough to hurt Len's kid as payback.
Evan's front door is unlocked. That's not a good sign.
Len does a quick sweep of the flat and finds the bathroom door locked. He knocks. He wants to pretend that he's overreacting, that Evan's fine - if maybe a bit sick and didn't make the meet-up because of that - and the phone lines went down without warning.
There's no answer.
Len's had to knock down stronger doors than Evan's flimsy wooden interior one. It shatters under Len's boot and reveals a scene Len had never thought he'd see.
Evan's fine.
Evan's fine if you don't consider the white powder all over the sink and the deer-in-headlights way he's frozen.
The fear that had been driving Len is replaced by a cold, sharp anger. He was fearing for his son's life and the only danger Evan's in is his own making.
He's safe.
He's a fucking idiot.
Len steps forward and opens his mouth. He knows the words. The ones that were shouted at him from the moment he could understand what was going on, to the moment he left and never looked back.
Evan flinches.
He flinches.
Len shuts his mouth with a click.
That was... too close. Len's always been afraid he'd turn into his father from the second a little gap-toothed kid was dropped into his life. Len had sworn to never go that far. To never take his anger out on his kids just because he could.
He almost broke that rule just now.
So Len forces his fists to unclench and reaches for Evan. The kid's too high to take in any sort of real lecture right now, but Len grabs Evan by the chin and forces him to look Len in the eye.
“You're a fucking idiot,” Len says firmly.
Evan tries to focus on Len's face, but doesn't quite manage. Len swears under his breath as he drops Evan's chin and starts searching for Evan's stash, while trying to keep an eye on Evan to make sure he doesn't do something stupid.
Something stupider.
Looks like it's going to be a long night.
Bargaining
Len calls Roy. Truth be told, he doesn't know who else to contact.
Wally's too honest and straightforward, plus him and Linda have their own kids to worry about. Mark's in jail and even if he wasn't, he's too self-centred. Mick's never managed to overcome his own problems.
Roy's the only one who's managed to pull himself back out of that habit.
Roy's a bit snappish over the phone - Len has to admit that “So, you're an ex-junkie” wasn't exactly the best opening line - but he hears Len out.
They come to an arrangement. Roy will take care of Evan and put him through the therapy and the like, for a price. Len agrees to pay the bills from the counsellors without fuss, but he argues over Roy's other demand.
“I'm not the one at fault here,” Len snaps.
“No,” Roy agrees, “Evan's choices are his own, but you can't start to help him unless you figure out why he went down that route. Seeing a professional can help both of you.”
There's a lot more arguing, during which Axel wanders into the room and plays his phone game. The phone game consists of Axel doing his best to work out what the conversation's about as quickly as possible by listening to only this end of things.
Len knows he's worked it out when the colour drains from his face.
Len finally agrees to Roy's conditions and ends the call. For once Axel doesn't have some smart remark to fill the silence.
“Roy'll fix it, right dad?” Axel eventually asks.
Len can only give a vague nod and hope his deal pays off.
Depression
The therapist Len ends up talking to it a large man with a neckbeard. He has a small pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, which he constantly looks over when he's talking to Len.
Len's reluctant to talk at first, but he'd made his deal and he was going to stick with it.
Len draws the line at talking about his own childhood.
The therapist - whose name Len only remembers about half the time - decides that Evan has an abandonment complex. While Len's staring at him, he elaborates.
- Abandoned at birth.
- Passed over for a blood-relation by the family who adopted him.
- A younger brother to take away some of his attention.
- Pushed from the nest before he was ready.
Len protests at the last one, citing that he left home at the same age and didn't care. The therapist points out that everyone is different.
The therapist asks if Evan knew he could come home to visit. Len says of course he could.
“But did you ever tell him that?” the therapist - Professor Strange - asks, “Did you give him a choice in moving out?”
Len finds he can't answer.
Evan's always been clingier than your average kid, definitely more so than Axel. He didn't bring up moving out until Len did. He never visited unless there was some event that wanted the whole family.
Fuck. How did Len not see this? He's been looking after Evan for ten years and he didn't pick up on something this big?
Strange makes encouraging noises and adds some notes to the pad in his hand. Len needs a drink. Or someone to hit.
Preferably both.
Wally agrees to a pub trip and they spend some good hours wonderfully sloshed until they're woken up by Axel at some god-forsaken hour... some god-forsaken hour that's actually only nine a.m. when Len peers at the clock.
Wally's green around the gills and has two traffic cones, plus a mangy cat that does its best to take Len's finger off when he tries to throw it out.
Len's knuckles are bruised, along with varying other parts of him. There must've been a good fight or two.
But...
Dammit.
Len still doesn't feel any better.
Acceptance
The call comes when Len's at work. The foreman tells Len he's fired if he leaves now.
Len leaves.
The cops didn't mention what Evan had been jailed for and the journey to Star City is long enough for Len to think through every possible situation. Twice.
The assault charge comes as a relief. It's even more of a relief when the cops say he was attacking the right people. Len tempers down his - rational - dislike of cops, for now.
Then they mention who they've put Evan in the same cell as.
Len runs to the cell, dragging the cop with the keys along with him. Len takes back any and all neutral feelings he had toward Star City's cops, they're the same bunch of bastards he's used to in Keystone and Central.
Evan's cell mate is currently trying to strangle him. Len rips the keys out of the cop's hand and gets the door open. The guy - Murray, part of the Kobra gang Len once worked with - doesn't even turn to see who's just entered the cell, until Len drags him off his son and shoves him to the other side of the room.
Len doesn't have time to spare Evan more than a quick glance to ensure he's still alive, as Murray lunges forward. The old familiar steps come back to Len as he sidesteps and brings an elbow into the back of Murray's neck. He follows it up with a sweeping kick to the back of Murray's knee. Murray falls, face-first. Len twists one arm up behind his back with one hand and hold's Murray's head down with the other. Len's knee is firmly in Murray's back and he leans down to make sure Murray can hear what he's about to say.
“You ever go after my family again, I'll fucking end you,” Len snarls, “This is the last time you and yours target my family to get to me. Understand?”
The cops pull Len off Murray and out of the cell. Evan follows with what looks like a little bit of pride in his eyes.
The fine is less than Len expects and soon enough, him and Evan are breathing in the cold night-time air. It's a cloudy night, yellow pools of light from street lamps and apartment windows being the only illumination.
Evan's hunched over, eyes on the ground and his hands in his pockets. His hair's unhealthy, lank, and long enough to obstruct Len's view of his face. Evan's only response to Len's suggestion of food is a half-hearted shrug.
The only noise when they start walking to find an open diner is from the occasional car that passes. Len's not used to silence any more. He was once, when he had an apartment to himself, but Axel doesn't believe in quiet and Evan's always made his presence known when he's around.
As such, Len finds himself talking to keep away the silence when they get their food and sit down.
He starts with his first overnight stay in jail - at fifteen, he'd stolen from a corner shop to feed him and Lisa - then moves on to what had happened when he left home at not-quite seventeen. Rehashing past crimes with Evan is kinda cathartic. Much more so than going over them with Strange.
Evan doesn't say much and picks at his food. He's listening though, Len can tell.
They return to Roy's place after Evan pushes his meal away.
Evan asks when he can come home. He just sounds so... raw. Looks like Strange was right about that.
“Whenever you want. That's how it's always been,” Len says, trying to make it sound retroactive, “Roy knows what he's doing, and it's good idea for you stay here for now, but you can come and visit any time you want.”
Evan's got his arms wrapped around his chest, hugging himself. As much as Len would like to reassure him some more, Evan's got to give something back too.
“N-no drugs,” Evan promises with an audible swallow.
Len's expecting Evan's next move and it still takes him by surprise. Ten years to get used to hugs and he still hasn't managed it.
Evan goes inside Roy's apartment and Len heads back to Keystone feeling inexplicably lighter.
And life goes on
Evan's looking a lot healthier when he visits a month later. There's still something... fragile about the way he holds himself and moves, but the circles under his eyes are lighter and he's put on some much-needed weight.
It's only for the weekend and things go well. It doesn't look like Evan's going to be moving back right now, but he's getting there. It's his eighteenth in a few months, maybe he'll be ready by then.
Either way, as much as Len's still pissed that Evan fell into that habit, he's proud his son got out of it.
Though... Father's an ex-con. Brother's an ex-junkie. Len starts wondering what Axel's going wind up with...
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Title: Christmas with Another Nephew
Characters: Lisa Snart, Len Snart, Roscoe Dillon, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker
Word count: 1726
Summary: Lisa comes home for Christmas. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
AN: Something thankfully a little lighter than the past few parts.
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A month before Christmas Lisa makes her usual call to Len to set things up. She didn't used to visit for the holidays, but then one year Len had phoned up and asked if she could set a side a few days so she could meet her nephew.
This year Len asks her if she could buy some presents for another nephew too.
Lisa agrees and hangs up. She's found that as long as there are children around, or they keep the calls short, they can get along to some extent. Lisa doesn't care for Len and Len doesn't care for Lisa, but they're family, and as such should make some effort during the festive season.
Lisa's glad of the distraction of another nephew, it might make Len a little less likely to kill her new husband over Christmas dinner.
Lisa had conveniently forgotten to mention Roscoe over the phone. Well, it could just be a surprise. No sense worrying about it now.
She's got shopping to do.
The build-up to Christmas happens as it usually does, that is, quickly and without warning. Before she knows it, Roscoe's calling for Lisa to hurry up or the taxi will leave without them. In what feels like no time at all they arrive in Keystone City and navigate the streets to Len's apartment.
Lisa raps sharply on the door. She can hear voices and footsteps, then the door is flung open to reveal a grinning, brown-haired, eleven-year-old boy.
Evan is, as always, delighted to see her. Lisa's well aware that it mostly stems from presents arriving when she does, but she'll take what she can get from her nephew. Evan's gaze is drawn to the bags of presents Lisa's carrying, then up to Roscoe with a frown.
It begins.
Lisa introduces Roscoe and Evan, and they are finally let into the apartment.
Lisa reminds herself that it's Christmas, and her thoughts on the décor of Len's new apartment should stay in her head until tomorrow at least. It's simple and stark. Very much a man's place, without a hint of a woman's touch. Lisa decides that she'll do her best to make it much more homely while her visit lasts.
A familiar cursing tells her Len's just dropped something further into the apartment. Some things never change.
And some things do. A blond boy a good few inches shorter than Evan, is standing in the living room and looking at her and Roscoe with a mixture of defiance and trepidation.
That would be Axel, Len's other kid. He's a cutie. Lisa immediately knows she will be taking him shopping as soon as possible. Len tries his best, but he really doesn't know a thing about fashion.
Then there's Len, who has just emerged from one of the back rooms. His face hardens when he catches sight of Roscoe. Lisa quickly sets the children and Roscoe to sorting the presents, while she whisks Len back into the other room before he can start complaining.
They're both trying not to get into a full-blown shouting match, having declared Christmas Day as a truce since Evan appeared four years ago. Now its possibly even more important to stay civil, with both Roscoe and Axel unsure of tradition and protocol during a Snart gathering.
The argument is familiar ground. Len doesn't approve of Lisa's boyfriend. Lisa tells Len he needs to get laid. Len insults Roscoe's face. Lisa insults Len's apartment. Len tells Lisa she needs to be smarter around men. Lisa pointedly asks if any new children have come to light.
They're just getting into dangerous territory when Evan pokes his head in the room and asks if they're going to get to open presents this Christmas. That's as good a reminder as any that they only started celebrating Christmas together for his sake.
They don't shake hands and make up, they're not that sort of family, but Len doesn't insult Roscoe as soon as they return to the living room. In return Lisa doesn't start a line of inquiry on the subject of Axel's mother.
Most of the presents are for Evan and Axel. When it comes down to it, the day's more about the kids than the adults. Axel's still unsure of Lisa and Roscoe, but it's more calculating than Evan when he first met Lisa. Roscoe slowly relaxes, even managing to hold a bit of conversation with Len occasionally. Len himself is splitting his time between watching the proceedings in the doorway and making dinner.
Since Evan had appeared four years ago, Len had realised - no doubt due to nagging from his newer, law-abiding friends - he couldn't bring up a child on take-away and microwave-dinners, and had started to actually cook real food a few times a week.
It is still far below the quality Lisa has on a daily basis from the hotels she stays in, but so far it hasn't harmed either child and Evan has been eating it for over four years. There wasn't any point using Len as a test for food safety, considering what he could hold down.
Besides, there was something nostalgic about it, reminding Lisa of the first year Evan had been around and Len had burnt half the food and undercooked the rest. He'd almost given up, and would have if Evan hadn't saved the trifle from the freezer and put it in the fridge where it belonged.
Now, plenty of swearing, mistakes, and learning later, Len could cobble together a decent roast.
Things are going quite well, until Axel makes a comment about Lisa and Roscoe being married over dessert. They hesitate just a little too long before denying it and even Evan picks up on what they aren't saying. Not that Evan isn't a bright boy, he just tends to be a little distracted most of the time.
Len shuts down. It's hard to tell if you didn't know him, but Lisa knows. Part of her knew this would happen. Ever since Evan appeared, Len's had this odd idea of family that Lisa's never quite grasped.
Not even mentioning your wedding to your brother wasn't very family-friendly, Lisa could admit to herself.
Axel's got this pleased look on his face. Len had mentioned offhand that the kid didn't like lies or tricks. Evan's looking torn between excitement for new family and worry for his dad.
Lisa can see the silent count to ten running through Len's head. He manages to crack a smile and offers his congratulations to the pair. Axel continues to eat his dinner, but Evan comes and shakes 'Uncle Roscoe's hand and welcomes his to the family.
Just last year it would've been a hug, Lisa suddenly realises what Len means when he mentioned that the kids are growing up too fast.
There's an ice-rink nearby that Lisa used to practise on when she was young. As per recent tradition, she obtained the key from the owner before she arrived and the five of them head off during the evening for some skating.
Lisa's the best, of course, closely followed by Roscoe.
Len's always steadier on the ice than Lisa expects and had they been able to afford more than one pair of skates when they were younger, he might have been good enough to get into one of the hockey teams in the area.
Evan's distracted, as always, but gamely keeps trying. He does enjoy it, even if he eventually decides that he's had enough of falling over and holds onto Len's arm to keep himself upright. Lisa's impressed, Evan lasted on his own twenty minutes longer than normal.
Axel's surprisingly good, once he's gotten over his initial wobbles. Smart, cute, and good on the ice, Lisa's beginning to consider asking Len if he'd let Axel go on tour with her and Roscoe. Obviously the blond hair and skating genes prefer the second-born in the Snart family.
Len manages to corner Roscoe while Lisa's buying mulled wine for the adults and warm gingerbread for the children at one of the stalls that stay open on Christmas Day. Lisa lets him have five minutes before she interrupts. Len's looking more pleased than before as he accepts a polystyrene cup of mulled wine. Roscoe's looking a little wary, but thankfully not all that scared. Good. He wouldn't be the man she thought he was if he got frightened away by Len.
It's getting late when they start heading back. Despite all the sugar they've eaten, the kids are tired. Axel's visibly drooping and Evan's had to stifle a yawn or two.
They reach a road where Len and his kids are going one way back to his apartment, while Lisa and Roscoe are heading another for their hotel. Axel's leaning heavily on Len and only gives his aunt and uncle a sleepy wave, but Evan shakes Roscoe's hand again and gives Lisa a sideways hug. Len shakes Roscoe's hand with what looks like a considerable amount of grip, judging by Roscoe's wince.
Goodbyes are said and the group splits in two.
Roscoe is looking exhausted by the time they get back to the hotel room. He admits that Lisa's family was a little more intense than he was expecting. Lisa can't help the grin as she outlines the truce she and Len came up with for Christmas, oh and that they would be seeing them tomorrow as well. Without any incentive to stay civil.
Roscoe groans and declares he married a truly evil woman with a truly evil family.
Lisa just grins and starts putting together a shopping plan for tomorrow. Axel and Evan need spoiling and Len needs an apology in alcohol form. Normally Lisa wouldn't bother with her brother, but she doesn't want him taking it out on Roscoe. There's only so much she can ask her husband to put up with over the holidays after all.
As Lisa starts to pull the curtains closed she thinks over the day and how much fun it had been. She pauses, curtains half open, as she wonders if that's what Len feels like about his kids all the time. Nuisances, but family. The nice sort.
It's not enough to make her want kids of her own, but Lisa starts to wonder if Len wouldn't mind them visiting for the boys' birthdays during the year.
Title: Coping with Another Stage
Characters: Len Snart, Evan McCulloch, Roy Harper, Axel Walker
Word count: 2174
Summary: Len struggles to deal with his son's habit. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse, another perspective on 'Questions from Another Addict'.
Warnings: Mentions of drug-use
AN: What's this, actual dialogue?
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Denial
In hindsight, it's obvious.
But that's the beauty of hindsight, everything is.
Len's surprised, but not all that concerned when Evan practically vanishes after getting his own place. It's not like Len ever looked back after all. So he lets it go.
Over the next few months, Evan only visits when there's some gathering or event, and half the time they don't take place at Len's flat. He's starting to look a little on the scrawny side, but then he's a teenager with very little idea of exactly how much food bills cost. So Len lets it go.
Wally mentions that Evan's been around their house every few days for dinner. He's surprised when Len admits to not knowing that.
“He's eating as much as your truly,” Wally says, “And the way Jai's hit a growth spurt, it's lucky we've got any food left.”
Len just assumes Evan wants some friendly faces, while not looking like he's giving up. He's a teenager, they do stupid things.
So Len lets it go.
Everything and anything that could point to what's about to happen, Len lets go without a second thought.
In hindsight it's fucking obvious.
Anger
Len doesn't like being afraid.
He's never really been afraid for his own life. Despite the many dangerous situations he's ended up in over the years. There's always a way out, someone you can beat, someone you can blag your way past, hell, it's not like cops are all that fond of actually shooting suspects.
Len's friends are tough, they can take care of themselves. He's never had to be afraid for them.
When Evan's line doesn't even ring, instead being disconnected, Len's heart skips a beat.
He gets to Evan's as quickly as possible. On the way, Len can only think of the numerous people he's pissed off over the years. He tries not to think how many of them would be willing to stoop low enough to hurt Len's kid as payback.
Evan's front door is unlocked. That's not a good sign.
Len does a quick sweep of the flat and finds the bathroom door locked. He knocks. He wants to pretend that he's overreacting, that Evan's fine - if maybe a bit sick and didn't make the meet-up because of that - and the phone lines went down without warning.
There's no answer.
Len's had to knock down stronger doors than Evan's flimsy wooden interior one. It shatters under Len's boot and reveals a scene Len had never thought he'd see.
Evan's fine.
Evan's fine if you don't consider the white powder all over the sink and the deer-in-headlights way he's frozen.
The fear that had been driving Len is replaced by a cold, sharp anger. He was fearing for his son's life and the only danger Evan's in is his own making.
He's safe.
He's a fucking idiot.
Len steps forward and opens his mouth. He knows the words. The ones that were shouted at him from the moment he could understand what was going on, to the moment he left and never looked back.
Evan flinches.
He flinches.
Len shuts his mouth with a click.
That was... too close. Len's always been afraid he'd turn into his father from the second a little gap-toothed kid was dropped into his life. Len had sworn to never go that far. To never take his anger out on his kids just because he could.
He almost broke that rule just now.
So Len forces his fists to unclench and reaches for Evan. The kid's too high to take in any sort of real lecture right now, but Len grabs Evan by the chin and forces him to look Len in the eye.
“You're a fucking idiot,” Len says firmly.
Evan tries to focus on Len's face, but doesn't quite manage. Len swears under his breath as he drops Evan's chin and starts searching for Evan's stash, while trying to keep an eye on Evan to make sure he doesn't do something stupid.
Something stupider.
Looks like it's going to be a long night.
Bargaining
Len calls Roy. Truth be told, he doesn't know who else to contact.
Wally's too honest and straightforward, plus him and Linda have their own kids to worry about. Mark's in jail and even if he wasn't, he's too self-centred. Mick's never managed to overcome his own problems.
Roy's the only one who's managed to pull himself back out of that habit.
Roy's a bit snappish over the phone - Len has to admit that “So, you're an ex-junkie” wasn't exactly the best opening line - but he hears Len out.
They come to an arrangement. Roy will take care of Evan and put him through the therapy and the like, for a price. Len agrees to pay the bills from the counsellors without fuss, but he argues over Roy's other demand.
“I'm not the one at fault here,” Len snaps.
“No,” Roy agrees, “Evan's choices are his own, but you can't start to help him unless you figure out why he went down that route. Seeing a professional can help both of you.”
There's a lot more arguing, during which Axel wanders into the room and plays his phone game. The phone game consists of Axel doing his best to work out what the conversation's about as quickly as possible by listening to only this end of things.
Len knows he's worked it out when the colour drains from his face.
Len finally agrees to Roy's conditions and ends the call. For once Axel doesn't have some smart remark to fill the silence.
“Roy'll fix it, right dad?” Axel eventually asks.
Len can only give a vague nod and hope his deal pays off.
Depression
The therapist Len ends up talking to it a large man with a neckbeard. He has a small pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, which he constantly looks over when he's talking to Len.
Len's reluctant to talk at first, but he'd made his deal and he was going to stick with it.
Len draws the line at talking about his own childhood.
The therapist - whose name Len only remembers about half the time - decides that Evan has an abandonment complex. While Len's staring at him, he elaborates.
- Abandoned at birth.
- Passed over for a blood-relation by the family who adopted him.
- A younger brother to take away some of his attention.
- Pushed from the nest before he was ready.
Len protests at the last one, citing that he left home at the same age and didn't care. The therapist points out that everyone is different.
The therapist asks if Evan knew he could come home to visit. Len says of course he could.
“But did you ever tell him that?” the therapist - Professor Strange - asks, “Did you give him a choice in moving out?”
Len finds he can't answer.
Evan's always been clingier than your average kid, definitely more so than Axel. He didn't bring up moving out until Len did. He never visited unless there was some event that wanted the whole family.
Fuck. How did Len not see this? He's been looking after Evan for ten years and he didn't pick up on something this big?
Strange makes encouraging noises and adds some notes to the pad in his hand. Len needs a drink. Or someone to hit.
Preferably both.
Wally agrees to a pub trip and they spend some good hours wonderfully sloshed until they're woken up by Axel at some god-forsaken hour... some god-forsaken hour that's actually only nine a.m. when Len peers at the clock.
Wally's green around the gills and has two traffic cones, plus a mangy cat that does its best to take Len's finger off when he tries to throw it out.
Len's knuckles are bruised, along with varying other parts of him. There must've been a good fight or two.
But...
Dammit.
Len still doesn't feel any better.
Acceptance
The call comes when Len's at work. The foreman tells Len he's fired if he leaves now.
Len leaves.
The cops didn't mention what Evan had been jailed for and the journey to Star City is long enough for Len to think through every possible situation. Twice.
The assault charge comes as a relief. It's even more of a relief when the cops say he was attacking the right people. Len tempers down his - rational - dislike of cops, for now.
Then they mention who they've put Evan in the same cell as.
Len runs to the cell, dragging the cop with the keys along with him. Len takes back any and all neutral feelings he had toward Star City's cops, they're the same bunch of bastards he's used to in Keystone and Central.
Evan's cell mate is currently trying to strangle him. Len rips the keys out of the cop's hand and gets the door open. The guy - Murray, part of the Kobra gang Len once worked with - doesn't even turn to see who's just entered the cell, until Len drags him off his son and shoves him to the other side of the room.
Len doesn't have time to spare Evan more than a quick glance to ensure he's still alive, as Murray lunges forward. The old familiar steps come back to Len as he sidesteps and brings an elbow into the back of Murray's neck. He follows it up with a sweeping kick to the back of Murray's knee. Murray falls, face-first. Len twists one arm up behind his back with one hand and hold's Murray's head down with the other. Len's knee is firmly in Murray's back and he leans down to make sure Murray can hear what he's about to say.
“You ever go after my family again, I'll fucking end you,” Len snarls, “This is the last time you and yours target my family to get to me. Understand?”
The cops pull Len off Murray and out of the cell. Evan follows with what looks like a little bit of pride in his eyes.
The fine is less than Len expects and soon enough, him and Evan are breathing in the cold night-time air. It's a cloudy night, yellow pools of light from street lamps and apartment windows being the only illumination.
Evan's hunched over, eyes on the ground and his hands in his pockets. His hair's unhealthy, lank, and long enough to obstruct Len's view of his face. Evan's only response to Len's suggestion of food is a half-hearted shrug.
The only noise when they start walking to find an open diner is from the occasional car that passes. Len's not used to silence any more. He was once, when he had an apartment to himself, but Axel doesn't believe in quiet and Evan's always made his presence known when he's around.
As such, Len finds himself talking to keep away the silence when they get their food and sit down.
He starts with his first overnight stay in jail - at fifteen, he'd stolen from a corner shop to feed him and Lisa - then moves on to what had happened when he left home at not-quite seventeen. Rehashing past crimes with Evan is kinda cathartic. Much more so than going over them with Strange.
Evan doesn't say much and picks at his food. He's listening though, Len can tell.
They return to Roy's place after Evan pushes his meal away.
Evan asks when he can come home. He just sounds so... raw. Looks like Strange was right about that.
“Whenever you want. That's how it's always been,” Len says, trying to make it sound retroactive, “Roy knows what he's doing, and it's good idea for you stay here for now, but you can come and visit any time you want.”
Evan's got his arms wrapped around his chest, hugging himself. As much as Len would like to reassure him some more, Evan's got to give something back too.
“N-no drugs,” Evan promises with an audible swallow.
Len's expecting Evan's next move and it still takes him by surprise. Ten years to get used to hugs and he still hasn't managed it.
Evan goes inside Roy's apartment and Len heads back to Keystone feeling inexplicably lighter.
And life goes on
Evan's looking a lot healthier when he visits a month later. There's still something... fragile about the way he holds himself and moves, but the circles under his eyes are lighter and he's put on some much-needed weight.
It's only for the weekend and things go well. It doesn't look like Evan's going to be moving back right now, but he's getting there. It's his eighteenth in a few months, maybe he'll be ready by then.
Either way, as much as Len's still pissed that Evan fell into that habit, he's proud his son got out of it.
Though... Father's an ex-con. Brother's an ex-junkie. Len starts wondering what Axel's going wind up with...
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Title: Christmas with Another Nephew
Characters: Lisa Snart, Len Snart, Roscoe Dillon, Evan McCulloch, Axel Walker
Word count: 1726
Summary: Lisa comes home for Christmas. Takes place in my 'Ramblings of Another West'verse.
AN: Something thankfully a little lighter than the past few parts.
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A month before Christmas Lisa makes her usual call to Len to set things up. She didn't used to visit for the holidays, but then one year Len had phoned up and asked if she could set a side a few days so she could meet her nephew.
This year Len asks her if she could buy some presents for another nephew too.
Lisa agrees and hangs up. She's found that as long as there are children around, or they keep the calls short, they can get along to some extent. Lisa doesn't care for Len and Len doesn't care for Lisa, but they're family, and as such should make some effort during the festive season.
Lisa's glad of the distraction of another nephew, it might make Len a little less likely to kill her new husband over Christmas dinner.
Lisa had conveniently forgotten to mention Roscoe over the phone. Well, it could just be a surprise. No sense worrying about it now.
She's got shopping to do.
The build-up to Christmas happens as it usually does, that is, quickly and without warning. Before she knows it, Roscoe's calling for Lisa to hurry up or the taxi will leave without them. In what feels like no time at all they arrive in Keystone City and navigate the streets to Len's apartment.
Lisa raps sharply on the door. She can hear voices and footsteps, then the door is flung open to reveal a grinning, brown-haired, eleven-year-old boy.
Evan is, as always, delighted to see her. Lisa's well aware that it mostly stems from presents arriving when she does, but she'll take what she can get from her nephew. Evan's gaze is drawn to the bags of presents Lisa's carrying, then up to Roscoe with a frown.
It begins.
Lisa introduces Roscoe and Evan, and they are finally let into the apartment.
Lisa reminds herself that it's Christmas, and her thoughts on the décor of Len's new apartment should stay in her head until tomorrow at least. It's simple and stark. Very much a man's place, without a hint of a woman's touch. Lisa decides that she'll do her best to make it much more homely while her visit lasts.
A familiar cursing tells her Len's just dropped something further into the apartment. Some things never change.
And some things do. A blond boy a good few inches shorter than Evan, is standing in the living room and looking at her and Roscoe with a mixture of defiance and trepidation.
That would be Axel, Len's other kid. He's a cutie. Lisa immediately knows she will be taking him shopping as soon as possible. Len tries his best, but he really doesn't know a thing about fashion.
Then there's Len, who has just emerged from one of the back rooms. His face hardens when he catches sight of Roscoe. Lisa quickly sets the children and Roscoe to sorting the presents, while she whisks Len back into the other room before he can start complaining.
They're both trying not to get into a full-blown shouting match, having declared Christmas Day as a truce since Evan appeared four years ago. Now its possibly even more important to stay civil, with both Roscoe and Axel unsure of tradition and protocol during a Snart gathering.
The argument is familiar ground. Len doesn't approve of Lisa's boyfriend. Lisa tells Len he needs to get laid. Len insults Roscoe's face. Lisa insults Len's apartment. Len tells Lisa she needs to be smarter around men. Lisa pointedly asks if any new children have come to light.
They're just getting into dangerous territory when Evan pokes his head in the room and asks if they're going to get to open presents this Christmas. That's as good a reminder as any that they only started celebrating Christmas together for his sake.
They don't shake hands and make up, they're not that sort of family, but Len doesn't insult Roscoe as soon as they return to the living room. In return Lisa doesn't start a line of inquiry on the subject of Axel's mother.
Most of the presents are for Evan and Axel. When it comes down to it, the day's more about the kids than the adults. Axel's still unsure of Lisa and Roscoe, but it's more calculating than Evan when he first met Lisa. Roscoe slowly relaxes, even managing to hold a bit of conversation with Len occasionally. Len himself is splitting his time between watching the proceedings in the doorway and making dinner.
Since Evan had appeared four years ago, Len had realised - no doubt due to nagging from his newer, law-abiding friends - he couldn't bring up a child on take-away and microwave-dinners, and had started to actually cook real food a few times a week.
It is still far below the quality Lisa has on a daily basis from the hotels she stays in, but so far it hasn't harmed either child and Evan has been eating it for over four years. There wasn't any point using Len as a test for food safety, considering what he could hold down.
Besides, there was something nostalgic about it, reminding Lisa of the first year Evan had been around and Len had burnt half the food and undercooked the rest. He'd almost given up, and would have if Evan hadn't saved the trifle from the freezer and put it in the fridge where it belonged.
Now, plenty of swearing, mistakes, and learning later, Len could cobble together a decent roast.
Things are going quite well, until Axel makes a comment about Lisa and Roscoe being married over dessert. They hesitate just a little too long before denying it and even Evan picks up on what they aren't saying. Not that Evan isn't a bright boy, he just tends to be a little distracted most of the time.
Len shuts down. It's hard to tell if you didn't know him, but Lisa knows. Part of her knew this would happen. Ever since Evan appeared, Len's had this odd idea of family that Lisa's never quite grasped.
Not even mentioning your wedding to your brother wasn't very family-friendly, Lisa could admit to herself.
Axel's got this pleased look on his face. Len had mentioned offhand that the kid didn't like lies or tricks. Evan's looking torn between excitement for new family and worry for his dad.
Lisa can see the silent count to ten running through Len's head. He manages to crack a smile and offers his congratulations to the pair. Axel continues to eat his dinner, but Evan comes and shakes 'Uncle Roscoe's hand and welcomes his to the family.
Just last year it would've been a hug, Lisa suddenly realises what Len means when he mentioned that the kids are growing up too fast.
There's an ice-rink nearby that Lisa used to practise on when she was young. As per recent tradition, she obtained the key from the owner before she arrived and the five of them head off during the evening for some skating.
Lisa's the best, of course, closely followed by Roscoe.
Len's always steadier on the ice than Lisa expects and had they been able to afford more than one pair of skates when they were younger, he might have been good enough to get into one of the hockey teams in the area.
Evan's distracted, as always, but gamely keeps trying. He does enjoy it, even if he eventually decides that he's had enough of falling over and holds onto Len's arm to keep himself upright. Lisa's impressed, Evan lasted on his own twenty minutes longer than normal.
Axel's surprisingly good, once he's gotten over his initial wobbles. Smart, cute, and good on the ice, Lisa's beginning to consider asking Len if he'd let Axel go on tour with her and Roscoe. Obviously the blond hair and skating genes prefer the second-born in the Snart family.
Len manages to corner Roscoe while Lisa's buying mulled wine for the adults and warm gingerbread for the children at one of the stalls that stay open on Christmas Day. Lisa lets him have five minutes before she interrupts. Len's looking more pleased than before as he accepts a polystyrene cup of mulled wine. Roscoe's looking a little wary, but thankfully not all that scared. Good. He wouldn't be the man she thought he was if he got frightened away by Len.
It's getting late when they start heading back. Despite all the sugar they've eaten, the kids are tired. Axel's visibly drooping and Evan's had to stifle a yawn or two.
They reach a road where Len and his kids are going one way back to his apartment, while Lisa and Roscoe are heading another for their hotel. Axel's leaning heavily on Len and only gives his aunt and uncle a sleepy wave, but Evan shakes Roscoe's hand again and gives Lisa a sideways hug. Len shakes Roscoe's hand with what looks like a considerable amount of grip, judging by Roscoe's wince.
Goodbyes are said and the group splits in two.
Roscoe is looking exhausted by the time they get back to the hotel room. He admits that Lisa's family was a little more intense than he was expecting. Lisa can't help the grin as she outlines the truce she and Len came up with for Christmas, oh and that they would be seeing them tomorrow as well. Without any incentive to stay civil.
Roscoe groans and declares he married a truly evil woman with a truly evil family.
Lisa just grins and starts putting together a shopping plan for tomorrow. Axel and Evan need spoiling and Len needs an apology in alcohol form. Normally Lisa wouldn't bother with her brother, but she doesn't want him taking it out on Roscoe. There's only so much she can ask her husband to put up with over the holidays after all.
As Lisa starts to pull the curtains closed she thinks over the day and how much fun it had been. She pauses, curtains half open, as she wonders if that's what Len feels like about his kids all the time. Nuisances, but family. The nice sort.
It's not enough to make her want kids of her own, but Lisa starts to wonder if Len wouldn't mind them visiting for the boys' birthdays during the year.