Sitting up on a pullout couch, Laff held Nadwe in his lap as the smaller had his eyes fixated on the TV playing a children's cartoon.

Laff chuckled softly as he let Nadwe hold his hands "Like the Mighty Rangers, eh?" He smiled warmly, "Maybe when you're older, I'll get you an action figure."

Nadwe didn't look away from the TV, he wanted to see if that girl with the pink long hair would show up again.

Walking out of the kitchen, Shroobz took off his red beanie, "Dinners ready in five you two." Laff looked over and nodded "Alright." He smiled softly "Thanks for taking us in too, Shroobz. I know you have a lot of jobs to do."

Shroobz scoffed softly and took off his apron "Laff, I don't work technically at half my jobs. I say 'bye' and leave." He laughed quietly.

"Do you get paid at least?"

Shroobz shrugged softly, "Jobs im employed at, yes. The rest, if the boss feels generous enough they let me keep the tips I make."

Laff smiled softly "Thats good, at least you have a steady income."

Shroobz nodded "Yeah, I noticed a slightly bigger income now thay Syce isn't mooching off me." He waved his hand "The P.D put him in a discrete location until a trial can be determined or not."

Laff tilted his head "As witness protection?"

"No because the P.D doesnt want him to stary anything. So, like as a protection for the entire community."

Laff let out a chuckle as Shroobz walked over and sat down besides him and Nadwe. "But on a serious note, are you two okay?"

Laff looked at him and nodded softly "Yeah, much better now that my son is home." He pulled Nadwe close to his chest with a warm smile. Nad we instantly squeaked and clung to Laff's arms in response.

Shroobz smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around Laff's shoulders "I'm glad."

Laff chuckled quietly and slowly leaned into Shroobz's arm as the latter kept smiling warmly "You have no clue how happy it makes me to see you smile."

That made Laff turn and look at Shroobz in the face, speaking softly "really?"

Shroobz smiled softly and nodded "Yeah."

The change in the atmosphere instantly became recognizable to Nadwe. He blinked before turning his head to look up at the two adults sitting beside him.

The two silently stared at each other as if in awe of the other.

Shroobz took in a small breath "Laff?"

Laff licked his dry lips subconsciously "yes, Shroobz?"

"Laff...I-"

A quiet but hard knock was heard at the door as the two froze in place. Shroobz chuckled quietly and took his arm back "I should get that"

Laff chuckled softly and nodded, muttering "yeah" under his breath as Shroobz got up amd walked away to the door.

When he walkes away, Laff let out the breath he was holding as Nadwe looked at him funny. Laff noticed and looked down at him "What?"

Nadwe quickly looked away and looked at the TV.

Shroobz walked to the door, grabbing a small bat in his right hand and opened the door. "Hello, who is-"

In the doorway was Joocie, holding a duffle bag and looked disheveled; hiccupping. His bag was covering most of his face, but Shroobz could tell he lookee really awful by how he sounded.

He sniffled softly "c-*hic*-can I-I s-spe-*hic*-end t-the n-night h-here? *hic*."

Shroobz quickly set the bat down and invited Joocie inside, closing the door behind them "Of course, you can stay here as long as you like."

Joocie hiccupped softly and nodded "T-thank y-you…"

Laff quickly looked up and over when he heard Joocie. He quickly set Nadwe on the pullout mattress and got up quickly, walking over "Oh Joocie mate, what happened??"

Joocie shifted how he was holding his duffle bag to cover the left side of his head "U-um...T-Tbh w-was in a-a b-bad mood, a-and when I-I asked i-if he w-was okay a-and he started y-yelling a-at me a-and I-I um…"

He lowered his duffle bag as a black and blue bruise was on his entire left side of his head

"R-ran into t-the wall…"

Laff's eyes widened as Shroobz instantly grabbed Joocie's head, inspecting the bruise

"Did he hit you?!"

"N-no! I-I ran into the wall Laff!" Joocie quickly retaliated as he winced softly while Shroobz inspected the bruise.

"This kind of bruise says otherwise, either you hit the stud in the wall or you fell against the corner of a table." Shroobz stated as he looked at Joocie, who was fidgeting nervously. "Or, you were struck."

"U-uh...I ran i-into the door frame…?" Joocie questioned with uncertainty.

Laff's blood began to boil with rage as Shroobz let Joocie's head go.

"Go sit on the pull-out with Laff and Nadwe, I'll grab you some ice." Shroobz instructed and walked back into the kitchen. Laff grabbed Joocie's wrist tightly and lead him to the pull-out, gritting his teeth.

"If he hit you I swear there will be dead crab meat in the morning-"

"L-Laff he didn't h-hit me-!" Joocie sniffled, "I-I swear!"

"-?!" Laff stopped himself and lowered his voice as the two sat down with Nadwe in between them.

"Why are you defending him?"

Joocie hiccupped and sniffled "B-Because...I-I love him a-and-" he sniffled "T-There i-isn't anyone e-else for me i-if I l-leave him…"

"Oh mate…" Laff held Joocie's hand and looked at him "There are others out thete for you, you don't have to settle with Tbh if he makes you this unhappy."

Joocie whimpered quietly "I-I know...B-But h-he's my best friend, I-I just can't l-leave him."

Laff rubbed Joocie's hand gently "The two of you can still be friends, but if the relationship ain't working out the two of you have to call it quits."

Joocie sniffled "B-But-"

"Please, Joocie...If he did hit you, he could do worse. Just- Please… consider it, I don't want to see you get hurt."

Joocie hiccupped and sniffled "..." He took in a breath and shuddered, letting out quiet sobs as Laff wrapped an arm around him. Shroobz came back with a bag of ice wrapped in a dish towel, gently placing it on the left side of Joocie's head. Joocie winced softly and held it there as Shroobz looked at Nadwe.

He smiled softly and picked him up "C'mon, I'll feed you dinner Nadwe." Shroobz turned and walked back into the kitchen as someone knocked on the door.

Laff got up and walked to the door, opening it to reveal an out of breath Tbh.

"I-Is Joocie here-?!"

Laff narrowed his eyes and leaned on the door frame "Depends, what did you do?"

Tbh held his sides and took a breath before responding. "I-I fucked up...r-real bad."

Laff instantly glared at him "So you hit him."

Tbh quickly put his hands up "N-no! I didn't-! W-well not on purpose, but-!" Laff quickly cut him off "you hit Joocie?!" Tbh took a cautious step back "N-Not on purpose! I-I just wasn't thinking!"

""

Tbh looked around Laff "L-Look, i-is Joocie here?! C-Cause I need to-"

Laff quickly shoved Tbh out of the doorway and into the main hallway. "No, you listen here. If you are DEAD fucking serious about making it up yo Joocie, then you wouldn't mind spending the night out here, waiting until morning. And if Shroobz DOES find you out here in the morning, then MAYBE I'll consider letting you talk to him."

Tbh stood there dumbfounded "W-What-!?"

"It's called punishment in England mate. But in American terms, it's called sleeping in the " Laff shouted as he slammed the door harshly after.

Joocie was sobbing quietly on the pullout as Shroobz stood in the kitchen archway with Nadwe im his arms, holding the bottle.

"...Nadwe." Shroobz looked down at the mentioned child as he looked back up at him.

"I know you're a Dhampir, so I know you can understand me. I need you to do me a favor tonight, okay?" Shroobz looked back at Joocie.

"No matter what, never let go of Joocie until he stoos being sad, okay?"

Shroobz looked back down at Nadwe who was staring at his bottle, contemplating what to do. He then looked up at Shroobz and nodded; earning a smile from Shroobz.

"Good."

Tbh was pacing around the hallway as he fidgeted nervously.

"Fuck...fucking god damn-..."

He turned and faced Shroobz's door, staring at it for a bit while rethinking everything that happened.

First, he had to deal with a few of his co-workers who drive him up the wall sometimes. Second, a string of ungrateful customers that came throughout the day. He then came home and started ranting about his day to his boyfriend; who came close to make sure he was okay.

And in response...Tbh slapped him so hard he basically slammed Joocie into the doorjam.

It was some miracle that Joocie booked it real quick while Tbh decompressed the current situation.

He slammed his boyfriend into the doorjam

Not only that, he hit Joocie.

He hit the mam he currently loves.

All for what? To make himself feel better?

Tbh felt worse than before, disgusted with himself really.

He turned back and slammed his head into the wall "Fucking dumbass piece of shit…" He sighed amd sat against the wall, lookinh at Shroobz's door.

"Got to make this right...even if I have to wait here all night, I'm gonna make this right…"

He looked at the door and nothing else.

-Got to…I have to..-

Laff was laying down on the pullout in his sleep wear, holding Joocie close who in turn was holding Nadwe close to his chest; the two fast asleep as the TV played on as background noise.

Joocie's face was tear stained, but he looked much more relaxed than he was earlier.

Laff quietly laid there, holding the two close as he petted Joocie's haor gently. He never wanted to let the two go.

"Fuck mate…" He whispered "I'm glad you're safe Joocie…"

He kept looking at the two as he felt a sofyly smile grace his lips. "I fucking love the two of yous." He pulled Joocie closer and kissed his head gently, pullinh away and then kissed the top of Nadwe's head.

Nadwe cooed softly in his sleep, shifting slightly as Laff pulled away.

Laff smiled warmly and pulled them closer, holding them both securely in his arms before falling asleep himself.

Coming out of the kitchen, Shroobz grabbed his red beanie and looked over at the three on the couch. He smiled and walked over, looking at Laff.

He reached over and brushed back a few strands of Laff's hair out of his face, blushing softly.

"...I love you, Laff." He muttered softly.

"I know mate." Laff replied silently.

Shroobz smioed warmly and leaned down, kissing Laff's head gently. He then pulled away and stood up straight, the TV catching his attention.

"The courts has come to a unanimous decision and has decided to open up the case of Syce Istabul and hold a trial to determine the fate of alleged half vampire, Nadwe Gas."

"The trial will take place next week on Tuesday."

Shroobz looked over and saw Nadwe sitting up, staring at the TV. He turned and looked at Shroobz as Shroobz let out a slow sigh, looking back at the TV.

"God dammit Syce."