Chapter Text
Ernesto punched out and was walking down the hallway to the family rooms. He liked Thursdays. He'd drop Jethro at therapy and then drop Raymond at practice. He's pick Jethro up and take him to watch the rest of Raymond's practice. Then they would spend some bonding time together, today it was taking Raymond for fabric shopping, another day was buying Jethro tap shoes behind their fathers back. Every time they would spend so much time having fun they would miss dinner [not on accident] and get burgers, shakes, and ice cream instead.
He didn't particularly enjoy Jethro and Raymond more than Darrell and Shannon but spending time with two siblings on a weekly basis had made Thursdays an event. Darrell ate up his Tuesday evenings and Shannon always got his Monday nights. He loves the little ones. Fink was still a bit angry that he had taken over taking her to her recorder lessons. He was still smoothing over her temper and his Wednesdays nights where now full of her anger as they shopped for videos game and ate, he liked it.
He saw Venomous down the hallway; HE was pushing Jethro.
“What's going on here?” Ernesto called as the pair got closer, he smiled at Jethro.
“I was just-”
“I am Jethro!” Jethro cut over Venomous.
“Is that so!” Ernesto leaned down and ruffled Jethro's hair, being very weary of his horns.
“I was just taking Jethro to Therapy. And Raymond to-”
“Oh don't worry yourself with that, I'm a little late but I can still get them there on time. Extra few forms on a close out of an order today, you know how it goes.” Ernesto chirped, he forced a smile to Venomous.
“No I- uh-”
“Ernesto!” Boxman skipped along the hallway towards the group.
“Yes Father-”
“Ernesto, I need your hand on some paperwork. A new client wants to use our bots for food prep and I'm not sure if I can loophole it.” Boxman called.
“I have to-”
“I can take them. That's what I was going to do.” Venomous cut over.
Ernesto snapped his glare to Venomous and adjusted his glasses.
“This is a matter that can be solved when I'm on the clock again tomorrow at 7 am sharp. It's simply a matter of two forms and some signatures.” Ernesto said bluntly.
“I already sent the shipment out and now I need to fax the paperwork asap. Professor Venomous has it handled.” Boxman grabbed Ernesto's arm and pulled him away. Jethro waved as Ernesto was pulled away. He felt his hands tingle and Boxman very clearly swore under his breath but kept it down.
Soon enough Boxman was in Ernesto's cubicle, watching Ernesto print and prep a small pamphlet of paperwork. Ernesto pulled out a pen and a high lighter, he flipped through the pages at the speed of light, making marks and putting in hand written notes. He motioned for Boxman to come closer.
“I need you to sign here... here... initals... here... here... and here.”
Ernesto looked at the clock, it had taken 5 minutes.
“I'll leave you to fax it off.” Ernesto stood and sighed. He felt bad for ditching Raymond and Jethro. He'd make it up to them with a weekend adventure. He'd loose his Friday personal night but he didn't need that. He hadn't made plans with anyone.
“I still love this picture.” Boxman commented, Ernesto looked at the prom portrait that had been stuck in his cubical. He smiled, it was a rather ridiculous picture that Boxman would have enjoyed, the man had it made himself. Ernesto liked it too. He shook his head as he tried to shake away the screams of 'you're becoming your dad' in his head.
“You can't have it back.” Ernesto sighed, Boxman laughed a bit.
“I know, what would a Villain be without their self plastered on the wall.” Boxman looked at the other things littered on the cubicle wall. He smiled as he saw a drawing. “Jethro's starting to draw again I see.”
“Yeah, he wants to be twice as strong as me.” Ernesto sighed.
“He can do it, and he probably will.” Boxman sighed. He dragged a finger over the edge of a Polaroid. “Raymond loves that old camera.”
“He likes the colours it makes the pictures.” Ernesto sighed. “It makes his clothes pop too.”
“He really does love the fashion stuff. Me and Ray talked about him starting a brand. Me and PV are still talking through if we should let him.” Boxman sighed, he looked at a picture of Darrell as he thought.
“Father, with all due respect. It's probably the only thing he's going to want to do. So I'd say let him do it.” Ernesto said, he smiled at Boxman.
“I liked the idea of him starting his own business. PV says we should try and get him a apprenticeship with a real designer first. He might be right.” Boxman sighed.
“You know, Ray isn't in need of learning how to design or produce clothes. What he needs is business training. You could teaching him how to CEO, heck I could teach him how to CEO and-” Ernesto called.
“Ernie, you don't have to worry about these decisions. Me and PV have it handled.” Boxman said quickly. Ernesto felt his hands tighten a bit.
“I just wanted to share an opinion.” Ernesto said quickly. He could feel his hands start to feel sparky. He shook his head as he heard a little whisper.
'He's going to take your siblings away.'
“Ernie I appreciate it, and I'll take it to heart. We just want to make sure Ray has what he needs to succeed.” Boxman walked over and took the pile of slightly scorched paperwork from Ernesto. “After I fax this, do you want to make dinner with me?”
Ernesto took a deep breath. He calmed his nerves and his hands stopped buzzing with the pin pricks of pain. “Sure.” Ernesto pushed his glasses onto his face more securely. He watched his father walk off to make the fax.
Ernesto sighed and sat for a second, he pulled up a solitaire game and started to click away at the cards. Watching the cards calmed him down for bit as he shuffled through several boards.
He finally stood and closed down his card game.
He started walking through the office with his hands in his pockets. He looked at the NEST-0's around the office. Two where yammering and drinking the green stuff Boxman said he shouldn't touch. It was nice when he was able to have relatable small talk with his co-works, unfortunately the topics where quite limited. He could only handle so many discussions on the same five songs and the latest pen. Was he that boring? He couldn't have been, he shouldn't find himself boring. Unless he really was that boring. At least NEST-0's where relatively sane. ShAn's liked to stab things. Was his sister that violent? Yeah. Jethro's where just cute, and named personally by his little brother. He still didn't know what they where for but people bought them so there had to be something to them. RaMod's were just loud, so accurate. M-K-La's just liked swiping at people, he'd lost a pair of pants or two to the cat so it made sense.
Ernesto chuckled, he felt a bit better about being boring. 'If I'm the most like dad, that means he's boring too.' He thought to himself. That comforted him at the least. He knew it was beeswax but it still felt nice. Ernesto was whistling by the time he made it to the kitchen. It was a long slow stroll and he could just smell the disaster waiting for him. Was it Alfredo? He'd been sure to avoid that one the most. Ever since it had made him throw up he'd been weary of it. Great, now he had to help cook for it. He stepped in and saw Boxman flushing something down the sink. He hoped it was the sauce. He looked at the stove and saw a vat of churning white and yellow. Damn.