"How about trying to enjoy getting to the goals? Like enjoying the process itself? Life itself even?" Isaac suggests to Cole. They both sit in the kitchen as they discuss.
Cole's head tilts, "So make the process as efficient as possible so you don't have to think about it?"
Isaac shakes his head "No not really. more like enjoying the process of making it efficient. Really enjoying the idea that you're doing something and being proud of it. Like taking a calm walk and taking it all in rather than taking a sprint through a shortcut"
Cole pauses as he’s thinking about it. Isaac patiently waits.
"but efficiency is good, it makes things go faster..." Cole mutters.
"It's good for things you don't want to enjoy."
"But I've done it for everything...it just makes sense for everything to be efficient, quick done and that's it."
"What if you treated hanging out with me as efficiently as you could? You would barely get to speak to me, we wouldn't be able to enjoy just being together and de-stressing."
"...I don't want that," Cole looks down at the table.
"See what I mean?"
"but...if I don't make things efficient then how will they ever get done?"
"Can you quit with the efficiency crap? That's for machines, not you"
Cole sighs as Isaac leaves. Later that day Isaac returns to the kitchen. Cole had fallen asleep at the table. Isaac pulls up a chair and sits by Cole.
Cole jolts awake and looks around, "Oh thank god I had a dream you turned human."
"What?...what was I like?" Isaac asks curiously.
"You were really nice and we cuddled a lot but god it was weird," Cole chuckles.
"As weird as it sounds it's technically possible…"
"what...."
"We-" Isaac pauses as he sniffs the air "...oh no."
"What? What are you smelling?"
"...barbecue…" Isaac gets up and runs to the window as he ducks his head down, "Oh god how is he here???"
"Oh?” Cole walks over to the window and instantly ducks with Isaac, “...oh god why is he here-"
"I don't know. Maybe if we can stay low long enough."
"but he's making a barbecue and I kinda want some..."
"Cole, you don't need to eat"
"But it smells goooood," Cole pouts.
"I d-" Isaac is cut off by a booming voice from the backyard, "LITTLE GECKO SOUP IS UP!"
"...do you think he saw us..." Cole whispers.
"I don't think so?" Isaac whispers back. The backdoor bursts open as an absolute unit of a nonferal crocodile steps in. "GECKO!" he looks directly at them.
Cole's eyes go wide as he looks up at Isaac's dad, "Hi..."
"H-how did you get here?!?!" Isaac stutters. Isaac's dad picks up Isaac and brings him into a life shattering hug, "Your little friend Dren knew the way!"
"...my god you would crush my ribs..." Cole mutters as he watches, still crouched down.
Isaac is put down as he coughs.
"Hmm, maybe that one was a bit rough...anyways I thought I'd stop by and visit, maybe have a bbq with my son's new friends," Isaac's dad smiles.
"I mean I'm more than Isaac's friend…but uh I don't mind bbq..." Cole stands up as he clears his throat.
"..oh boy," Isaac sighs.
"Well Ill be cookin up food all day for you and your friends. Just send the hungry ones my way," Isaac's dad chuckles "Just know I might bite." Isaac's dad heads back outside.
"What does he mean by bite???" Cole turns to Isaac with a worried look.
"Just a joke," Isaac reassures.
"God that bbq smells good..." Cole looks at the door, tempted.
"Just grab some and leave. God I don't want him talking your ear off," Isaac sighs.
"Why do you want to hang out with me or something? gay boy?" Cole snickers.
"He has a few issues he hasnt worked out himself," Isaac grumbles.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Cole smiles at Isaac and steps outside.
Isaac grumbles.
Later Cole walks back inside with a plate of bbq, "I'm back, and I have bbq," Cole sits down at the table. Isaac was leaning on the counter while he waited.
Isaac looks at Cole, "He didn't berate you with comments?"
"hmm? No, he just asked me to look out for people in their 40s. Why do you ask?"
"Really? I thought he was still with you know who?"
"Probably not, he said no more snakes so I'm assuming they broke up."
"Since when?!?"
Cole shrugs. Isaac looks miserably confused. Cole starts eating his bbq. Isaac heads outside.
Luna walks in to grab a snack when she notices the bbq outside, "Would his father mind if I grabbed some food? Looks good."
Cole shakes his head while eating his bbq. Luna nods and walks outside. Cole walks back out to get more bbq and not snoop on Isaac and his dad.
Sometime later Cole and Isaac are in the kitchen again with Chris.
Cole's body is slightly warm as he leans into Chris’s hug. They had been chatting as Isaac had gone silent. Isaac stares into nothing for awhile before they notice.
"Don't worry, dear. You are my husband, and always will be." Chris smiles at Cole.
Cole lifts his head from Chris’s shoulder and looks over at Isaac, "What are you staring at Isaac?"
Isaac doesn’t respond. Cole gets up and walks over to Isaac. Cole pokes him roughly but nothing happens.
Cole grabs Isaac by the shoulders and shakes him, "Isaaaaaaaccccccccc."
Isaac goes limp but is still staring forward.
Cole sighs and sits him down at the table. Cole then walks over to Chris, "Do you like my boots, dear?"
Chris nods, "I like it. I like white laces, though."
Cole snaps as the laces swap out for white ones, "So you like this better? cutie?"
Chris blushes slightly and nods. Isaac takes a sharp breath and raises his head as he glances at them.
"Good," Cole ruffles Chris's hair and looks over at Isaac, "Welcome back."
"Waesrdtgyuhiwertdyguhijwerdtvygubhinj-" Isaac mumbles nonsense.
Cole giggles, "I see someone's still flustered at the sight at this outfit?"
Isaac fumbles again but its different from normal, "Ysgoiufgoaiugsocuaoiusbec"
"you alright?" Cole's head tilts slightly.
Isaac gets up and briskly walks to the hall.
"Isaac, dearie, you good?" Chris calls out after him.
"I'm sure he's fine," Cole waves his hand dismissively and wraps his arms around Chris's neck. Chris nuzzles him.
Cole mechanically purrs and leans into it as he smiles at Chris, "you're adorable..."
"You are, dear."
"no i'm not!" Cole giggles, "you are!"
"You are, dear."
"Should I go check on Isaac? it's been a little bit and i'm concerned..." Cole looks slightly worried.
"I think we should."
Cole nods and heads to the hallway. Chris follows.
Cole steps in view of the bathroom door and sees Isaac. He’s facing them and sitting with his back to the tub. Isaac holds a pistol with both hands aimed at the opening of the door. Chris peeks in from behind Cole.
"Isaac, can you put the gun down for me?" Cole signals for Chris to go to the living room. Chris steps back, confused.
Isaac stays still and sounds a hint off, "I see her again and I'm doing it."
"See who? Who is she, Isaac?" Cole asks.
"You fucking know who, you've seen her. I'm fucking tired of it, every fucking time."
"Isaac, I need you to put the gun down for me."
Chris bolts towards the living room.
Isaac shakes his head, "The moment I set this thing down she'll show up I know it."
"She's not gonna show up Isaac just put the gun down."
Luna quickly slinks in from the living room and into a nearby room.
"LIKE HELL SHE WON'T," Isaac’s fingers move to the trigger.
"Isaac calm down, take some deep breaths for me, 4 in 4 out."
"SHUT UP- I DONT GIVE A DAMN HOW IM BREATHING."
Luna walks out and hands Cole a tear gas grenade, "Here you go. Do you need further assistance with Isaac?"
Cole stops peeking his head into the bathroom and takes the grenade, "Just stay in the living room." Cole snaps as a gasmask appears in his hands and puts it on.
Luna nods and walks back to the living room, her hearing focused on the chaos brewing.
Cole pulls the pin on the grenade and holds it in his hand as he shouts to Isaac, "Isaac I'm giving you 5 seconds to drop the gun."
"I’M KILLING HER AND YOU CANT FUCKING STOP ME."
Cole lets go of the spoon of the grenade, waits a second, then throws it in the bathroom. Before Isaac can react to the grenade the room is filled with tear gas. There’s a long moment of silence
"DROP THE GUN Isaac," Cole draws his glock and runs into the bathroom. Isaac still has the gun up and aimed. He's squinting and his eyes are watering. Fun fact, crocodiles can hold their breath for up to 2 hours.
Cole aims a kick at the gun as his eyes glow purple, visible through the gasmask, "DROP THE FUCKING GUN."
The kick knocks the gun out of Isaac’s hands as he springs up and tackles Cole.
Cole is tackled as he groans, "FUCKIN STOP IT." Cole aims a pistol whip at the side of Isaac's head. Isaac is hit as he tries to rip the gas mask off Cole’s face. Cole punches Isaac's hand away as Cole throws a jab at Isaac's chest, aiming to knock the air out of him. He knocks some wind out of Isaac. Isaac tries to head but Cole in the face. The gasmask blocks most of the attack as Cole groans and aims another jab at the same spot. Isaac barely keeps himself from losing more air as he gets off Cole and sprints out into the hall. Cole scrambles to his feet and sprints after. Isaac sprints through the livingroom and out the front door. Cole is close behind as he rips off his gas mask.
Cole runs out and tackles Isaac in the yard, "Stop fucking running!"
Isaac instantly starts thrashing to get free "SHE’S RIGHT FUCKING THERE LET GO OF ME!"
Luna walks out and watches the chaos from the porch.
Cole holsters his glock as he snaps. A pair of cuffs appear into Cole’s hands and he tries to cuff Isaac as he yells, "Isaac SHE ISN'T THERE."
Isaac keeps trying to fight it but he gets cuffed. Isaac yanks on his prosthetic hand as it falls off. Isaac struggles trying to hit Cole with the arm that has no hand. Cole groans as he's hit with the arm then aims to pin it against his back. Cole’s jacket rips and metal strips float next to him. The metal strips restrain both of Isaac’s arms as Cole groans in annoyance, "Fucking christ."
Isaacs voice cracks as he yells, "GET OFF OF ME!!!"
Cole's voice booms as he yells back, "SHUT THE FUCK UP, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOUR ACTING THIS WAY TOWARDS YOUR FUCKING BOYFRIEND-" Cole stands up as he yanks Isaac into a standing position. Isaac stumbles some on being pulled up and starts trying to break free of the metal. Cole forces Isaac to move forward as they walk back into the house. Isaac continues trying to fight it but is moved forward. Cole throws Isaac into a chair as the metal strips bind him to the chair. Cole grabs a pot and starts filling with it with water
Isaac struggles, "FUCKING LET ME GO ALREADY!"
"Are you done having your fucking fit?" Cole places the pot on his own hand as he glares at Isaac.
Isaac still keeps fighting, "ARRGGGHHHH."
"i just wanted a calm night, Chris was finally up and then you do this." The water in the pot starts boiling as Cole grabs a mug.
"I WAS GOING TO FINALLY GET RID OF HER but no. youuuu YOUUU you had to TAKE THAT AWAY-"
"WHO IS SHE Isaac, WHO IS SHE?!?" Cole's eyes flicker to pink then back to glowing purple as he scoops the boiling water out of the pot and makes a mug of hot chocolate.
Isaac goes to speak and suddenly stops fighting as he snaps to staring ahead at nothing like before.
"Isaac, you are having a fucking episode no one is standing there," Cole finishes making hot chocolate and sets it just out of Isaac's reach on the table. Isaac continues to stare. Cole stands where Isaac is staring and puts his hands on his hips.
"Isaac there's no one here!" Cole groans as he glances in the direction Isaac is staring.
Isaac suddenly stops staring as he lowers his head and begins sobbing.
Cole sighs, "Isaac what's wrong?" he walks over to Isaac.
"I-I can't, please j-just let me go."
"Do you need to run?" Cole whispers as he crouches down.
Isaac nods while the tears run down his face. The metal strips reattach from Isaac's hands as they release him. Isaac sprints into the hall.
Cole takes the hot chocolate and walks out to the backyar- Cole drops the mug and sprints to the hallway as he hears gunshots. Cole peeks into the bathroom. Isaac is shooting the same spot on the wall over and over.
Cole stops peeking his head in as he groans as a black smoke orb forms in Cole's hand, "Isaac STOP!!!"
Cole throws the orb into the bathroom as black smoke engulfs the room, blocking Isaac's vision and hurting to breathe in. Isaac forgets to hold his breath this time as the gunfire stops. Isaac turns and aims the gun blindly as Cole slams the door shut. Cole covers the door in frost to seal it shut.
Isaac is having issues breathing as he yells, "COLE!"
"Are you done?" Cole leans next to the door. There's muffled cackling mixed with coughing from inside the bathroom.
"...clearly not" Cole checks his nails as he waits.
It slowly turns into just weezing before Isaac sounds weak, sore, and tired.
The frost melts as Cole swings the door open. Isaac is laying on the floor.
The black smoke swirls around Cole's body and dissipates, "I hope you know that I am never letting you near a gun ever again," Cole takes the gun from Isaac’s hand and ejects the magazine. He racks the slide as he walks towards the kitchen, "You can meet me in the backyard when you're done."
Cole walks outside and sits down at the picnic table.
"More bbq on the way!" Isaac's dad smiles from beside an outdoor grill. After an hour or so, Isaac walks out and sits down nearby. He looks exhausted. Cole doesn't look happy in the slightest as he crosses his arms.
"Heard some nice firecrackers in there. Are you guys having fun?" Isaac's dad smiles, unaware of the gun shots.
"Sure," Cole nods as he glares at Isaac. Isaac is looking down at the table with a tired look.
Isaac's dad looks between them "You two didn't fight did ya?"
Cole sighs, "Well the one day I get all dressed up is the day that one decides to go full fuckin metal jacket and scream about seeing-" Cole does air quotes, "her."
Isaac's dad looks over at Isaac and makes a big sigh, "Might have been my bad for bringing that up earlier. I'm sorry Isaac...and you too Cole, both of you"
"What did you even say to make him act like that?" Cole looks confused as he looks at Isaac's dad.
"Discussed his mother," Isaac's dad says a bit more quietly. Isaac seems too tired right now to care.
"Ah, I see," Cole nods.
"Never went well doing that...I don't know what I expected," Isaac’s dad shakes his head.
"Wait, you've tried to talk about this with him before and it didn't work?"
He nods, "Never did."
"Then why would you do it again?" Cole looks more confused.
"I don't know, I've tried everything else I could...hope I guess."
Cole sighs, "It's fine, I tired him out so hopefully I can just hug him and make sure he doesn't have a nightmare."
"He should be fine tomorrow if we dont bring it up again."
"That's good....so do you know what Isaac meant by 'He didn't berate you with comments?' would you like to elaborate on said-'' Cole does air quotes "Comments" Cole crosses his legs and stares at Isaac's dad.
"...I get a little flirty when I'm having a good day."
"...were you not having a good day today or did you know not to flirt with your son's boyfriend..." Cole mutters.
Isaac’s dad grumbles, "I’m Isaac’s dad, not a creep."
"Good. Anyways I think I'm gonna take this loveable idiot inside and get him some rest," Cole stands up and puts an arm around Isaac. Isaac gets up.
"Ok well sleep tight. I'll probably be gone by the morning. I'll be sure to visit again some time though if Dren be willing," Isaac’s dad gives a smile. Dren is sitting nearby with her head stuck in a pickle jar "Cucumber Dren."
Cole nods and guides Isaac inside with a heavy sigh.
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