Kaos made it to the door and inside first, and Francis trailed along. He hoped it wasn’t anything bad, but he also knew that Padraig’s work with the animals in the county brought the sheriff’s department to his door more often than one would think.
Francis went in, but was stopped with Kaos, standing barely inside the waiting room.
Padraig was introducing them to the deputy who was on the other side of the small space. It was as if Francis had summoned him. Padraig’s words “…this is Deputy Mark Forrest” penetrated his brain.
Francis stared at Mark, who was trying his best not to look at him. Luckily, Padraig had given the puppy to Kaos, and Francis could concentrate on the dog while trying to get his heartbeat under control. He stepped inside. “Deputy,” he greeted Mark as if they were strangers, then cooed at Hestia and didn’t lift his gaze again until Mark made his quick retreat and the front door closed behind him.
“That was… weird,” Kaos murmured.
Padraig grunted an affirmative. “He’s a weird guy. A bit jumpy when it comes to LGBTQ people these days.”
“Oh?” Francis asked, keeping his eyes on Hestia who was trying to give him kisses and wiggled around. Kaos handed her over, and Francis wrapped his arms around her when she settled in for a cuddle.
“There was a thing at Makai’s in the summer. They cleared out an old boat shed. Bunch of firemen from Mercer and Sheriff’s people from here came to help, apparently,” Kaos started.
“Right, and Lotte with her kid, Joie, were there, too. Forrest had gone on a bit of a rant about Lotte raising ‘her son’ wrong by allowing ‘him’ to wear dresses and whatnot. It wasn’t pretty.” Padraig made the air quotes in appropriate spots.
It sounded like something the Mark Francis had met would do. He felt… angry at the man, especially now that he’d gotten to know Kaos and his gender identity a bit better. He vaguely remembered Lotte and Joie, from when the latter had been an infant. But he also felt sad.
Kaos continued, “Turns out he had some opinions on LGBTQ issues, and the sheriff was behind his back while he spewed his opinions out. All over several LGBTQ people and allies.”
Francis hissed and shook his head. “That’s not good.”
“No, not at all. Seems like he’s more careful now. But he would’ve heard about Kaos being in town and that might’ve been it. Hell, he might’ve known one of my old friends was visiting, too. Who knows?”
Francis hummed noncommittally. Deputy Mark Forrest was a weird fucking dichotomy, and Francis, despite knowing better, suddenly wanted another go at him. While Francis had always known he had a dominant streak with certain partners, he hadn’t considered himself a Dominant by any means. He had friends in the D/s lifestyle, and he knew enough to know that Mark Forrest was submissive. Not necessarilya submissive, but submissive, nonetheless.
They said goodbye to Padraig and took Hestia with them as they headed back home. Thinking of Padraig’s house as “home” didn’t feel weird at all. It seemed like a testament to something, but what, Francis wasn’t so sure of.
* * * *
Thanksgiving at Padraig and Kaos’s was the best one since Francis’s mother had passed. They started a tradition, like they’d planned, and the only traditional thing they had were the pies.
“No, Padraig, it’s not excessive to have three pies. You like pumpkin, I like pecan, and Kaos—”
Kaos interrupted Francis by dancing around the kitchen singing “Ch-ch-ch-cherry pie!”
“I think that’s cherrybomb, sweetheart,” Padraig murmured as he watched Kaos appreciatively.
“I’m just impressed he knows Joan Jett,” Francis quipped.
“Who’s Joan Jett?” Kaos deadpanned, making them groan.
He was joking, of course. It turned out Kaos’s grandma had had an eclectic taste in music and he’d grown up listening to a varied selection of genres and artists.
Francis made himself a plate of their non-typical Thanksgiving feast, and went to take a seat, leaving the others in the kitchen. They were so well suited, so happy together, that Francis wanted to give them space, stay outside their bubble.
His thoughts went to Mark, as he waited for Padraig and Kaos to join him at the table. He wondered if the deputy had family in town, or if he was invited anywhere. Maybe he worked through the holidays?
Despite the good food and better company, Francis couldn’t get Mark out of his mind. He ended up having a couple too many glasses of wine and falling asleep on the couch with Hestia at his feet.
* * * *
The next morning, he woke up early with a headache, so he took Hestia for a walk. She was such a bundle of energy and joy that she—along with the ibuprofen he’d taken—seemed to lessen the pounding in his head.
As they walked along Padraig’s driveway, Hestia sniffing and bouncing within the limitations of her leash, Francis decided he wanted to get lunch at the diner. He tried to tell himself it was just because he knew Leah and Stuart, the owners of the place, from before and he hadn’t really talked to either in ages. If he happened to bump into certain deputy while there, well….
He left Hestia with her daddies and drove to town, using the excuse of wanting to do something to combat the hangover and giving the others space to make “cow eyes” at each other. He got swatted by Kaos and an eye-roll from Padraig, which meant success.
