Chapter Text
"Jake?"
"Oh, Strider is that you?"
"It's been a while."
"You've gotten a lot taller old chum."
"You've gotten a lot more broad... Muscular.... Nice moustache, by the way."
Two men stood silently scanning eachother for every detail they forgot and every feature that was new.
"Ah so you noticed, I thought it made me look quite dashing."
"It does, it does. Is that a bit of grey I see, Jake? That also suits you well."
"I suppose a few grey hairs have sprouted, I'm not as young as I use too be after all. However I see time has treated you kindly." Jake threaded his hand through his now dull black hair, silvery strands cascading through it. "None of us are... How's things with Jane?" Bro kept his voice indifferent only the slightest hint of bitterness came through. "Jane's running the Crocker industries now, she's doing a bang up job too. How's Roxy...?" Jake smiled sadly. "Ah, we.. Split up, actually. She's back in New York, I'm in Texas. We each took one of the kids. She's still... On me about being in a relationship." Bro admitted awkwardly. "Oh I'm terribly sorry, though I must admit, Jane and I are no longer together, the Crocker industries took all her time and we drifted, I suppose. I have custody of our young daughter."
"I didn't even think you guys would last that long, no offense.. You have a daughter? Shit, we should have a play date. Dave's in his Kindergarten class right now, but after I can pick him up.. Where's your little girl?" Bro perked his head up, eyes searching behind shades for any child that may share Jake's features. "Haha, oh Jade is a little adventurer, now that she's old enough to start schooling I was looking to settle down. I was actually in Texas on business, I'm afraid I don't have a steady home just yet."
"Why don't you settle here? In Texas? We can be closer together again." Dirk sounded a little too hopeful and he knew this, but his heart was in an ache and he was hoping Jake could fix it... "I tried to make it work with her, really I did but even I started to see things weren't well, I guess I just wanted the perfect family dream you know?"
"You can stay with us. I have an air mattress and you can stay on the futon with Jade. I'll share the room with Dave." Jake hesitated to answer, trying to piece together his feelings old and new. "Perhaps it would be a nice change from Washington and I would like to catch up with you. Are you still making those auto-bots?"
"No.. Not at all, actually. You sure about coming to stay with me?" A smile tugs a bit at Bro's lips. "Oh, but you loved to tinker with those pile of bolts and yes I'm quite sure, I need the change." Jake let a sly grin out. "It'll be an adventure." He piped excitedly as Bro gave a nod, hesitating before he embraced Jake, holding him close against himself and sighing heavily. "I missed you.. A lot." Jake tensed a bit then relaxed, returning the hug whole heartedly holding Bro tightly too him. "I missed you too Dirk." He felt Jake tensing but ignored it, trying to push it past as nothing. He pulled away with a soft smirk on his face. Jake sighed frowning. "How did we let it come to this, going from best friends to zero contact." The smirk fades at the other's words though, a frown now showing to match Jake's. "I broke up with you, that's how. That kind of sounds cruel, but you get what I mean, right?." Bro then lets him go and tugs out his phone, checking the time. "And it was my fault, I was such an oblivious twat, it's not a wonder you broke up with me."
"I should probably go get Dave now.. Want to come with?"
"I'd be delighted to meet your young son, Strider."
"I uh... He thinks we're brothers, just so you know, Jake. I kind of go by Bro around the kid." He shrugs a bit, pocketing his hands and starting to walk, nodding to him. "Lets go then, huh?" Jake follows his pace and walks beside him. "Oh? Whatever for? Should I call you Bro around him then?"
"Dirk is okay, just don't let it slip that I'm his pops." He smiles a bit at Jake, shrugging. "Makes me feel younger and junk. I don't now.. He said "bo" before he says pops or anything." Jake grinned, following his stride. "Very well then Dirk. Whatever takes your fancy."
"You know I really did watch too much movies as a young lad, I had this image in my head of my ideal future. You know the perfect wife, some young kids running around, just the American dream. I thought I could have that with Jane so I stayed longer then I should of. I'm an old fool." Dirk listens quietly, nodding softly. "It's normal to want something like that. I've wanted something like that for a long time, but it's not something I can have." He clears his throat, trying not to sound too fucking depressing. "Well you have a young son- I mean brother, I know John and Jade were the only thing worth this mistake. John is my oldest, Jane insisted on having full custody of him being "Heir to the Crocker industries" and all..."
"... Yeah." Is all he can muster up to say, flashing Jake a smile. Before you know it, they're outside of a busy elementary school, taking Jake's hand so he doesn't get lost in the scramble of small children and their parents. Walking inside wasn't as bad, but still a mess. He pulled Jake off to the side and waited for things to settle, looking for the boy in red. "So is your young brother as rambunctious as you were as a child?" Jake scanned through the children, looking for one that fits the Strider bill. "He's, uh.. Yeah, pretty much. He causes a lot of trouble." Soon enough, Dave comes tromping over, stopping though as he sees Jake. His brows furrow so far down that they hide behind his shades, walking over and tugging roughly on Bro's shirt. The boy doesn't speak, grunting out what sounds like "bo" much like how Bro said his first word was. He kneels down and is signing frantically to Dave and Dave looks distressed while Bro looks angry. He stands up, sighing and scooping Dave up into his arms. "Dave was supposed to stay with his class rather than come find me, so I should check with his teacher so she knows he's okay. You comin', English?"
"Of course, it's a pleasure to meet you young Strider, I'm an old friend of your brother's." Jake holds his palm out in front of Dave's tiny hands and offers a smile. Dave looks up at Jake for a moment before pressing his face into his brother's chest, clutching onto his shirt. Bro sighs heavily but smiles a bit at Jake. "He'll warm up to you as soon as we're out of here. He's.. He has a hard time speaking, if you couldn't tell. We use sign language to communicate with him, usually. He can hear fine, though, so don't worry Jake." He holds Dave to his chest with one hand, the other pulling Jake along. Bro really just waves to the teacher when she sees them, before he ollies the fuck out. Once out of kiddie traffic, he sets Dave down so he can walk along beside him. "Dave, say hi to Jake. He's my best friend." Dave has furrowed brows when he looks at Jake this time, suddenly letting go of Dirks hand and grabbing for Jake's. who in turn looks down at Dave grinning broadly. "Hey there young chap, I have a daughter just your age, I just know you two will become friends. Her name is Jade."
Dave doesn't speak, stopping on the side walk and just making grabby hands at Jake, doing some kind of sign as well. Dirk clears his throat. "He wants to be picked up..." Jake picks him up lifting him high in the air before holding him securely to his chest. "Those are quite the striking pair of shades you have there young man. Very mature." Dave was actually grinning now, taking a liking to this older man. He reaches up to make a sign near his shades, pinching his index and thumb together. "Glasses." Bro adds, starting to walk again with Jake. "He's probably trying to teach you." Jake imitates the symbol with the hand he wasn't holding Dave with "Glasses, golly your awful smart for such a little guy Dave." Dave wiggles a bit, his grin going when he's called smart. Dave flops down against his chest, arms tucked between their bodies as he nuzzles against his shoulder, being wary of his shades. Bro was smiling a bit at this, walking towards their apartment. "Where's Jade at?"
"Oh I left her with a colleague of mine whilst I was sorting out the last of my paperwork to quit my job."