PawPaw #18, Vanilla Custard #20, Black Raspberry #15 + Roisin's Treat + gummy bunnies
Story: Blaze Mafia Family
Title: Let's Be Honest
Prompts: PawPaw #18: I wouldn't dream of it, Vanilla Custard #20: where there's a will, there's a beneficiary, Black Raspberry #15: two's company, three's a crowd + Roisin's Treat (Alicia firsts comes onto the scene) + whipped cream + gummy bunnies (500themes #69: a child's truth)
Rating: PG13 for a cuss word
Words: 432
Characters: Alicia Montgomery, Atlas Blaze, Firebird Blaze
Summary: Atlas brings Alicia home to meet Firebird for the first time. It goes as well as he imagined it would.
"Daddy, Uncle Nicky was here earlier and he..." Firebird trailed off, her happy expression fading as she stepped into the foyer and saw Atlas with Alicia at his side. Atlas saw the shock on her face a second before she took a deep breath and blanked her face like he was teaching her to do when faced with an unwelcome surprise.
Atlas let go of Alicia's arm because he felt that itching under his skin that usually heralded a fight. He felt more comfortable having both hands free...just in case. "Firebird, this is my friend Alicia. Alicia, my daughter Firebird."
Firebird didn't say anything. He could see that agile mind of hers working through the situation while her eyes roamed Alicia in quick assessment.
Alicia wasn't comfortable with silence. She stepped forward and crouched down on her sky high heels in front of Firebird. Atlas hid a wince. That was a bad move. Firebird didn't like being patronized by adults, even if she was only ten.
"Hi, Firebird," Alicia said softly, a reassuring smile on her face. "Your dad's told me a lot about you. I feel like we're already friends."
Firebird regarded Alicia's offer of friendship for a moment then up at her father. "Is she pregnant?"
This time Atlas flinched. Sometimes his kid was too smart for his own peace of mind. She knew there were only a few reasons why he would ever bring a woman to meet her, and what the most likely one was.
Firebird measured her father's response, took it for the affirmation it was, then stared stone faced down at a shocked Alicia. "No matter how many children you pop out, I will always be daddy's heir."
"Firebird!" Atlas snapped, stepping forward to draw Alicia up onto her feet.
Alicia reared back on her heels. "What did you just say to me?" she asked hollowly, reeling from such an unexpected verbal sucker punch.
"Well, Daddy obviously didn't keep you around for your stunning wit," Firebird said. "And we're not friends. I don't like stupid whores."
"Enough, Firebird," Atlas said sharply. "Go upstairs. You and I are going to talk later."
Firebird's blank face wasn't quite up to par yet. When she looked up at her father, he saw the betrayal in her eyes. How could you? She's not Mom.
But she didn't voice her accusations. Instead she nodded shortly and walked quickly up the stairs to her room.
Alicia turned on him suddenly, "What the hell was that, Atlas?" she shrieked, her face flushing angrily.
Atlas rubbed his temple. "That was about what I expected."