Should he laugh, or should he cry? Gabriel wasn't sure as he eyed Misha, who was now stuttering, trying to salvage the situation. It was a bit too late for that, though.
"B-but you know!" Still, he tried. "I do plan to also—"
At lightning speed, Gabriel pressed a hand to Misha's mouth before he could spout any more nonsense. His smile cracked slightly as he completed the unsaid words in his mind. After all these years, Gabriel had thought his partner had learned to think twice before speaking, but whenever he got flustered, he apparently couldn't be bothered. In a way, it was a miracle he hadn't yet spilled the beans about his time-traveling to his parents.
Meanwhile, Masha was wheezing, her laughter having transformed into some sort of coughing fit as she held onto her girlfriend's arm to not fall onto the floor. Someone was having fun, at least.
"Misha," Gabriel smiled without actually smiling, shifting his attention back to his partner, "I think you should let me do the talking, hm?"
His partner slowly nodded his head, his bright red cheeks and ears letting Gabriel know that his brain had caught on to what he was just about to say to his parents. Now assured Misha wouldn't spout something outrageous again, Gabriel gently ruffled his hair before turning his attention to his in-laws.
Their shocked faces were an interesting sight, if anything.
"I'm well aware that our age gap can be disturbing to others, especially since Misha is so young." Even he had a bit of difficulty accepting it despite being aware of Misha's real mental age. "I've told Misha, time and again, to think about it carefully, and that if he ever found someone of his age he'd rather be with, I would understand."
"That's not going to happen, though…" Misha mumbled before glaring at his sister, who had just nudged his ribs with her elbow. Gabriel tried not to pay their antics any heed.
"But as you know, your son is stubborn." To that, Mrs. Brown pinched her lips and nodded, and so did her husband. "He relentlessly, well…" Gabriel paused to scratch his cheek, showing an embarrassed face. It earned him a snorty laugh from Misha, which he pretended not to hear. "Let's just say that he asked we date once he was of age quite a few times."
"Also." Masha raised a hand, her breathing finally regularizing. "I can attest that nothing happened between them until Misha reached adulthood. I'd have ripped Gabriel's balls off otherwise. And it's not like Misha made it easy for him to keep his hands to himself, too…"
"What the hell does that mean?" Misha glared at his sister.
"Exactly what I said, you goddamn octopus."
Turning a deaf ear to the siblings' squabbling, Gabriel offered a kind smile to his in-laws. It was a lot to process, and he decided to let a few seconds pass to allow the words to sink in. Then, he added for good measure, "Things won't change. We've known each other for over eight years now, and I believe you have a good idea of my temperament."
"Right." Alexis was the first to regain his wits. "We do know it. You are a good man, and most likely, a good match. I'd just like not to know what my son is up to in his bedroom, thank you."
"It's Mom who started it!" Misha defended himself, still bickering with his sister on the side. For some reason, they were trying to poke each other's ribs. Gabriel didn't ask questions.
"And I shouldn't have. Lesson learned."
Mrs. Brown's exasperated sigh had the merit of eliciting a bout of laughter in her children. Even Gabriel surprised himself with a genuine smile. He had been so swamped with work lately that he had forgotten how warm this family felt.
"So, what's for dessert?" Masha chuckled, jumping off her chair to lock her brother's arm behind his back and prop her chin on his head. "I'm still hungry."
"Get off me, frigging glutton! Gabriel, help!"
"No. I won't meddle in your siblings' squabbles." Gabriel returned to his plate, as he hadn't finished it yet, unlike these two. "You don't help me with mine, so why should I help you with yours?"
A disgruntled face was his answer.
***
The door squeaked, and Gabriel pulled a drowsy Misha by the wrist inside Vanessa's apartment. Even though his partner seemed to have made peace with his parents earlier, he still wanted to sleep over at his friend's. Just to put my thoughts in order, he had said.
"So, how did it go?" Jake asked without even lifting his eye from his report, with Stephan being his usual leech self, and Tristan sleeping on the other side. He was framed by the two on the sofa.
"Quite well, I'll say." Gabriel nodded before helping Misha remove his coat, scarf, tuque, and boots. "And on your side? Did you get news from the funeral home or the landlord?"
"Yes. I've settled things with both of them."
Of course, you did. His brother was overly efficient, even more than him at times. Well, he had two lifetimes' worth of experience, too.
"It's getting late," Gabriel said, holding onto Misha, who had decided to collapse onto him and sleep. "You should go to bed. You too, Stephan. I need to open the futon, anyway."
"Let me just finish reading through that bit—"
"No." Gabriel's voice was firm. "Last time I agreed, it took you an hour to finish reading that 'bit', if you have forgotten."
Jake clicked his tongue, and Gabriel responded with an arched eyebrow. He might not squabble with his brothers as Misha did with his sister, but it didn't mean they didn't bicker in other ways. Most often, it involved Jake and his workaholic tendency.
"It didn't take that long…"
"Stephan, just haul him onto your shoulder and drag him to his room." Gabriel ultimately smiled when his brother didn't move from his spot, his eye still locked onto the file.
"At your service!" Stephan laughed before smoothly snatching the report from Jake's hands. "You heard your brother. Time to sleep. And yes, I'm staying over tonight. Vanessa said it was alright, so no all-nighter today."
"But I have things to—"
"I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow morning." Gabriel watched as Stephan yanked his brother up, and Jake followed along, not without carefully laying Tristan on the sofa first. "You took care of the more important bits this afternoon!"
"I only took care of a few minor things. It's hardly…"
His brother's voice turned softer as Stephan dragged him to their assigned room. Gabriel could still hear their muffled conversation as he helped Misha to sit on the floor and pulled his little brother in his arms before also sitting him beside Misha. Opening the old futon was a bit of a hassle, and the deafening creaking sound of the rusty springs made him wince, but Gabriel quickly got it done. Vanessa had washed the bedsheet today, and when he unfolded them to make the bed, a soft, floral scent wafted to his nose.
A smile tugged at his lips.
It had been a relatively peaceful day today. Work had been busy, but it hadn't been overwhelming. The dinner at the Lesskov's also went relatively well. It would take time for Mrs. Brown to fully accept the situation, of course. Still, she was making an effort, and Alexis seemed to be on his children's side, building a bridge between them and his wife.
"Brother," a tired voice drew his attention to his left, "you're back?"
"Yes." Gabriel threw the pillows over the mattress. "I'm almost done with the futon. Stay still."
"Hmm, I had a dream."
Frozen mid-movement, Gabriel felt his throat clench. He dropped the blankets on the futon and tiptoed his way to Tristan, crouching in front of him. His little brother hadn't dreamed of Pierrot's life these past few weeks, but it wouldn't last. As long as that man was in this world, Tristan would be plagued by his memories. It was a fact that Gabriel had come to accept, regardless of how unpleasant it was.
"What dream?"
"A weird one!" Tristan chuckled as he stretched his arms, silently asking for a hug as Gabriel picked him up. "I dreamed that the family had grown bigger, and that I had become an uncle. Funny, isn't it?"
His whole body stiffened, and Gabriel stood immobile, with the boy cradled in his arms. Luki's proposition flashed in his mind. His mouth turned dry as he forced the words out, "And who were the parents?"
"Hmm, Masha and you had a kid," Tristan leaned his head against his brother's shoulder, "and Misha and Yuki had twins. Oh, but no one cheated! It was done by insemination, I think. Anyway, the babies and the toddler were so cute! Your kid had your eyes, too!"
Tristan hasn't been told about Yuki's proposal yet. Gabriel's grip on his brother tightened, his heart beating fast against his rib cage. Time wasn't linear. It included the past, the present, and the future. What if… No, he didn't want to think about it.
But… what if his brother just peeked at the future without knowing it? That was a hard thought to swallow, so absurd that Gabriel was left dumbstruck.
Only, he knew far too well that it wasn't impossible, not when he had gone back in time himself. Oh, God, no. Gabriel buried his face in the crook of his brother's neck, holding onto the back of his head. Don't add another burden on this child's shoulders, I beg of you…!