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Jason's earliest memory was of warm arms.
He doesn't know or remember who's, but those arms were safe, but feminine. All he's really known were his dad's arms, and those were definitely not feminine.
Adjusting his clothes, he looks at himself in the mirror one more time.
Dark cherry brown hair, a constant furrow in his brow, and brown eyes speckled with green.
He's tall for a middle schooler, but that's fine. Pa says he'll grow his weight into it when the time's right.
Clothes freshly pressed, and books already in his backpack. The smell of breakfast wafts from his cracked open door.
"You're gonna be late." his father calls. Blunt and monotone, yet the words are always wrapped in warmth.
"Relax old-timer, the bus gets here at seven, just as the other days before!"
He looks away and grabs his jacket and bag. Heading down the hall, he's greeted with a feast at the dinner table.
"Pa, this is..."
"Hush, half of it's goin' in your lunch. I needed to get rid of the flour."
Liar. The twitch at the man's lips shows off that joking smile.
He sits in his seat and grabs for his plate of pancakes. Fluffed with melted butter and powdered sugar.
His plate is nearly finished, and lunch fully packed by the time his father speaks up again,
"Oh yeah, that neighbor kid, Litre, is waitin' for you outside. Out at six fifteen and everythin'. I should start shooin' him away with a broom."
He drops his fork and looks up at him, "Pa!"
"Just thought I'd let you know. He keeps scaring away Alpine."
He sighs and finishes his bowl of fruit before hopping out of his seat.
Opening the front door, he slips on his outer shoes and looks down at the boy sitting at his steps.
"Pa's gonna shoo at you with a broom if you keep scarin' away Alpine."
Bright browns find his and he doesn't look away from their gaze. Eyes that he's known ever since moving here some time ago.
The boy scoffs and rifles through his own backpack.
"Here, I read your book. No dog ears but it definitely took years off my life."
He quirks his lips,
"Scared? It's practically GooseBumps level horror."
"Scarred more like. When I said give me something with bugs, I meant something like The Metamorphasis."
"Bloodchild has centipede aliens, what part of that was there not to like?"
The boy, squints his eyes at him, and Jason can't help the smile slowly spreading across his cheeks.
His father's voice calls to him then, hooking both of their attention,
"Jay, the food's packed. Come and grab it."
He looks back at the boy before taking the offered book and heading back inside,
"Stay still, Parker, you're gonna love this one."
The boy groans and he tries to hide his laugh.
He passes the kitchen and heads back into his room. His father's voice still finding him as he places back the book and scans his collection.
"You still terrorizin' that boy?"
His face warms, "No more'n you."
He hears the man hum, amusedly, and picks out William Meikle's Infestation.
He walks back up to his Pa, lips sealed but still infuriatingly amused. He has that air of him knowing or catching something that he didn't, and he frowns at him.
The man scoots the offered lunch across the now cleaned table, and he takes it. Slipping on his coat and backpack, suspiciously much heavier than before, he looks back up at his father.
Unchanged by time, the man's hair is held away with a bun. His metal arm glistens in the warm overhead light, as those strong arms stay folded over a well maintained chest. A soft belly lays upon that toned stomach, and the cat pun shirt is stained with years of wear and time.
His eyes are steely and cool in color, but hold so much warmth. So much love, while his actions tell of tender care.
He's falling into those arms and feels a hand rest on his backpack while the other combs through his hair.
"Y'know I'm prouda you, right? Ain't nothin' that'd make me disappointed or angry atcha."
He feels so warm, soaking in the undeniable, tangible proof of it. He believes him, and has no reason not to.
"I know. I love you too."
He feels the man lean down, and there's a press of lips to his hair.
"Have a good first day, мой сынок"
"See you soon, Папочка."
He shuts the door behind him and offers the boy the newer book.
"This one should actually be up your alley."
The boy pouts as he takes it in hand,
"Does that mean you were giving me those previous stories just to fuck with me?"
"Golly, if we don't head for the bus we'll be late for our first day! C'mon, Parker, I'll race ya!"
The boy shakes his head with a laugh. It's infectious, as they sprint as hard as they can down the side walks. Heavy backpacks jumping and jostled with the movement of excited preteens ready for the day ahead.
The sun rises higher as the world wakes up minute by minute, and the chilly air is warmed with the delights of the spring season.