Lost Little Boy (Kitten)

[Lorie]

Nodding firmly this time Dorian agreed with Nate's assessment. "I think.." the little boy started as he took the sip cup, his sip cup, to hold in his hands, "I think Daddy should choose where we eat." it seemed the natural thing. Daddy, Nathan felt like the head of the house. Not that papa was less in-charge.

Biting full bottom lip the ghostly eyed boy looked between his newly acquired family. Letting go another deep breath Dorian decided he needed to come out of his shell and ask some hard questions. Starting with, "Am I going to pay my way in this relationship? With either money and or chores?" the last thing Dorian wanted was for these nice guys to resent him down the line because he's taking advantage of them.

[Kitten]

"La Madeleine is fine then. We can get all of our errands done at once and relax this afternoon." Nathan shook his head. "No, baby. We don't expect anything like that."

"Unless there's something you want to buy for yourself," Charlie interjected ignoring the dour look Nathan threw his way.

"How about, for the time being, we just agree that if you have an opinion on something; positive or negative, that you'll speak up." Nathan played with Dorian's hair lightly, he looked so small with his sippy cup, trying to be all grown up. "Do you think you can do that, cub?"

[Lorie]

Untying volumous curls Dorian decided he didn't really need to straighten his hair for this outing. Nathan taking over and making the call on how the morning was going to run eased a lot of the small brunette's anxiety. And Charlie's assertion made a great deal of sense to the once orphan.

Untangling himself from daddy's arms Dorian turned to look at papa with a very serious expression. "Could I earn those things doing chores here?" he asked before bringing his cup to his mouth. The little boy was pretty positive they would be living in this nicer, bigger, apartment away from the bad memories the of the other building.

"I kinda don't want to go back to working at the store." Dorian confessed casting glances between daddy and papa.

[Kitten]

"You sure could babydoll," Charlie grinned, cupping Dorian's face in his hand and kissing his nose. "I can always use help around the house."

"He can do some appropriate chores. He's not a maid, Charles." Nathan lectured as gently as his thinning patience would allow. "You don't ever have to go back there, Dori."

"How about he can do whatever he wants? And what do you care if you're not even staying with us?" Charlie demanded hotly.

"We haven't even discussed it..." Nathan worked his jaw in irritation. "How about you watch the attitude, Charles David."

"Yeah? Well, how about you blow me, Nate?" Charlie jumped off the couch, partially because he was frustrated building towards furious and partially because he wanted some distance between him and Nathan after that outburst.

[Lorie]

There was the middle name again...Papa was dangerously close to going over daddy's knee. With a huff Dorian put his mostly empty cup on the floor then turned quickly to Nathan sending curls bouncing around cherubim face.

"You're not leaving?" Dorian half asked half asserted, "daddy you were just saying how nice this place is. And it's so much closer to your work." taking Nathan's hand in his slimmer hands the little brunette hopped up onto his knees placing himself between Nathan and Charlie. "If papa and I do a really good job cleaning up you won't have to feel stressed about the mess."

Or you could ease up just a little Dorian though a bit sarcastically. He kept that to himself though since the ghostly eyed boy didn't want to be in the same boat as papa.

[Kitten]

"Yeah, stop pretending like you don't want to be here!" Charlie took another step back just in case Nathan moved Dorian out of his way.

"Well then stop arguing with every sentence that comes out of my mouth." Nathan passed his hand through his hair. "It's not about the mess."

"You were pissed at me last night," Charlie countered. "You were pissed this morning about the mess. I mean what else do I have to do..." he bit his tongue to keep from finishing that sentence.

"What?" Nathan gently moved Dorian back on the couch. His eyebrows came down over his eyes in a seriously pissed expression. "What else do you have to do to what, Charles?"

[Lorie]

Maneuvered back out of the way Dorian sat rigidly with his hands between his legs, under his thighs, trying to make sense of the tension. Chewing on plush lip the legally blind child fought the fear that he had caused a rift between these wonderful friends. Tucking hair behind his left ear the small man averted his gaze before shifting off the couch. "I need to find my glasses." orphan mumbled moving toward the bedroom he probably shouldn't have shared with the duo last night.

Wasn't this just like so many of the homes he'd been placed in growing up? Everything seems fine then Dorian arrives and arguments burst out between people who had been deeply connected for forever. Kyle must have been right. There has to be something toxic about the dark haired young man that made people angry.

Behind the closed door of the bedroom Dorian pushed the heel of his hand against one eye in an attempt to stop the tears. He didn't have a right to cry. It was his selfish foolishness that broke these wonderful men.