Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Hey, Wolf.” Tom greets tiredly. 

 

Wolf’s head snaps up from where he was working behind his laptop, working on getting Cub an alive status again with Smithers.

 

“Hey, kid.” He greets back, trying to hide his worry and slight excitement.

 

Because Cub is still sleeping in his bed right now and Tom has no idea that not only is the teen not dead but also that he’s home.

 

It had been a struggle this morning, Wolf hadn’t wanted to get out of bed and now that Cub is allowed to sleep in his own bed again there wasn’t a teen to push him out.

 

His limbs were heavy and there was this ache in his chest. Once again he just wanted to lay down.

 

And he feels a little guilty about it now. His son is back, why is he still so sad? Why is everything so hard?

 

Yes, realistically Wolf knows the depressive symptoms he was experiencing don’t just disappear over night. And the fact that Fox.. well that Fox was the one not coming home didn’t help either.

 

But still.

 

The only reason he’d managed to was because Jack had texted him, asking him to get a start on everything with Smithers.

 

Having other people that expect you to show up, despite never pressuring, makes it easier for Wolf to get out of bed.

 

When it feels like he’s doing it for someone else instead of himself.

 

“How was school?” Wolf asks.

 

Tom scoffs, “Fuck if I know.”

 

Wolf sighs and rubs his forehead, “Tom, you have been going to school. Right?” He asks.

 

It hits him like a punch to the guts when he realises he should’ve been paying more attention to Tom.

 

Fuck the kid was already unstable with Cub there.

 

Tom side-eyes him, “It’s summer.” He states.

 

Oh. Right.

 

Tom’s mom had won custody of Tom. Jerry, Tom’s older brother, is already an adult and lives in Italy.

 

He’d been there at the court house during the divorce, silently supporting Tom while the kid looked utterly defeated. 

That loud and bright Tom had already disappeared and Wolf had been so caught up in his own grief that he hadn’t spared it a second thought.

 

Still they’d gone home together that day.

 

Now that his parents were split it seemed they finally noticed their son and were both very put out by the fact Tom wouldn’t be going with his mother.

 

Tom had shouted so hard he’d attracted police attention. 

 

In the end he’d gotten into Wolf’s car while flipping his crying mother off.

 

Which Wolf found a little far but he kept his mouth shut about it.

 

“No, I haven’t.” He clarifies when Wolf just keeps staring at him.

“When’s Fox coming home?” 

 

Wolf freezes.

 

“We need to talk about that.” He blurts out.

 

Tom freezes.

 

His head snaps to Wolf’s and all blood seems to have drained from the teen’s face. His hands start shaking, “No.” Tom states.

 

“Tom.. Fox was kil-”

 

Tom slams his hand on the table, “No!” He shouts before storming away, “Fuck off!”

 

The ache returns to Wolf’s chest and he puts his face in his hand and groans.

Just as he’s rubbing his eyes he remembers what he’d been so excited about only minutes before.

 

“Wait! Tom!” He suddenly shouts as he gets up from his chair.

 

Wolf rushes up the stairs but it’s too late.

 

Tom’s already stood over Cub, who’s still in the bed.

 

Slowly, like he’s approaching a damn bomb, Wolf puts his hands up.

 

“Tom.” Wolf whispers as softly as he can. “Take a few steps back.” He warns as he takes a step forward.

 

“That’s Alex.” Tom whispers back, his eyes don’t move from the sleeping teen’s face. 

 

“Yes, it’s Alex. Now step back.” Slowly Wolf keeps inching forward, one of his hands stretching for Tom.

 

But the boy still doesn’t listen. “How can it be Alex?” Tom says louder.

 

Alex twitches in his sleep, a frown appearing on his face. Either Cub is exhausted or this is just how safe he feels in this house but it’s a wonder he hasn’t woken up yet.

 

He glances between the two. 

 

“Tom.” He hisses.

 

That makes the teen look up.

 

Wolf beckons him with his hand, his heart is practically beating in his throat.

 

For once Tom listens and Wolf leads them out of Cub’s room. 

Gently he closes the door, still not wanting to wake up Cub.

 

He lets out a sigh of relief. Then Tom punches him in the gut, making Wolf groan. 

“What was that for?!” He whisper yells.

 

Tom just glares at him, “You know exactly what that was for you arsehole.” Tom snarls.

 

“Why won’t you let me wake him?” Tom asks next, making Wolf sighs.

 

“Kid, he’s just spend the last seven months constantly being in what is considered enemy territory.” He explains gently, wiping a tear off Tom’s face gently.

“The Cub that’s sleeping in there won’t hug you if you shake him awake, he’ll pull you into a damn choke hold.”

 

Tom sniffles and thinks about it for a few seconds, glancing at the door to Cub’s room like it has personally offended him.

 

Eventually he nods in understanding. “So, what do we do?” Tom asks next.

 

“We wait for him-”

 

The door opens and a disgrunteled Cub stands in the door opening, wearing only an old t-shirt and boxers. 

 

“You two are so lo-” But Cub doesn’t get to finish his sentence either because Tom throws his bag at the teen at full force.

 

It hits Cub sqaure in the nose and then drops to the floor.

 

Cub looks down at it. “Great.” He mutters. “Now I’m being attacked in my own home.”

 

Next Tom tackles him to the ground.

 

Wolf has half the mind to pull the two away from each other but he also figures this might be needed. 

 

The two teens lay fighting on the ground.

 

Or well, Cub is wincing and apologising while Tom hits his chest until his arms go weak.

 

“You suck!” Tom yells as he wraps his arms around Alex next. “You suck so much, it’s unbelievable how much you fucking suck! Fuck mate! Fucking hell!”

 

Gently, with another wince, Cub wraps his  arms around his best mate.

 

Tom looks like he still wants to choke the absolute daylights out of Cub but it seems he doesn’t really have the energy to as his hands travel all over Cub’s upper body.

 

Which isn’t entirely appreciated by the injured teen, but it is welcomed.

 

And so they sit on Cub’s floor together, reassuring Tom together that Cub’s back and alive.

 

Wolf watches them until Cub looks at him from over Tom’s shoulder and grins softly despite the extra pain he must be in because of his best friend.

 

“Tea?” He mouths at Cub who nods.

 

So Wolf makes his way downstairs and gets the tea started.

 

The kettle is on and Wolf is gathering all the cookies he can find when Tom and Cub make their way downstairs.

 

Tom sniffles, “Is this why you’re up in the morning?” He asks, rubbing at his now red eyes.

 

Their arms are thrown around each other, Tom doesn’t look like he’s ready to let go any time soon.

 

Wolf nods, “I’m working on getting Cub back to school.” He tells the boy.

 

Cub sighs, “I’ve fucked up my whole education, haven’t I?” He asks, obviously in slight distress about it but hiding it well.

 

With a small smile Wolf ruffles both of their hair. “We’ll threaten anyone we have to.” He promises.

 

At that Cub chuckles while he leads Tom to the kitchen island. They take a seat and watch Wolf for a few seconds until Cub frowns.

 

“Wait, what did you mean with up in the morning?” He asks, confused beyond measure. “Wolf is a morning person.”

 

Tom and Wolf stare at each other. Neither says a thing. 

 

How could they explain it to Cub? That his absence, his presumed death, put a strain on their lives. That it had made it hard for them to do anything.

 

Even now.. with Fox gone. It feels like Wolf traded one life for another. 

 

Wolf knows the guilt eats at Cub. He can see it in the way the boy has barely eaten since he got home. 

 

Yes, Cub had been struggling with food for a long time now. Wolf first noticed it during their refresher course at Brecon Beacons last year. 

 

How Cub had looked away from his food despite of how obviously hungry the boy had been and had to gather the courage and shove down the nausea just to eat his food.

 

And today it seems that issue has only worsened.

 

So Wolf really doesn’t want to tell him. He’s scared of the day Cub will ask him why he isn’t on any missions. 

 

“Staying Up with the Fowls is coming to London.” Tom says suddenly, immediately successfully distracting Cub.

 

“I’m so glad I’m not actually dead.”

 

“I’m calling the rest of the unit so they can come kick your ass.” Wolf threatens at the joke.

 

“But I want to meet Artemis Sr! For personal reasons.” Cub complains as he takes his tea when Wolf offers it.

 

“Too bad. We’re throwing a ‘Not dead!’ Party tomorrow.” Wolf states.

 

“A FUN-eral, if you will.” Tom says with a big grin. Cub groans, “You beat me by one second.”

 

Cookies get eaten, tea gets drank, and the party gets thrown out the window as Snake and Eagle show up unannounced.

 

They open the front door, causing the people in the kitchen to perk up.

 

Snake is the first to enter the room. He stares straight at Cub, “I should sleep.” He says suddenly. And to be fair, the man looks utterly exhausted.

 

“Eagle, I’m hallucinating Cub.. again.” Snake calls back before he walks further into the kitchen and leans heavily against the fridge.

“Hey Tom.”

 

Tom waves back at the exhausted soldier before taking a sip of his tea, a small grin on his lips.

 

“I’m getting the pull out couch ready!” Eagle calls back.

 

“Wolf, I got my arse beat on a mission.” Snake pouts, snatching a cookie from the kitchen counter before leaning back against the fridge.

 

“Is that why you’re sleeping at my place?” Wolf asks, trying to sound like he’s joking but he’s looking the man over in concern.

 

“He misses Cub.” Eagle pipes up.

 

Cub looks at Wolf with dead, guilty eyes.

 

“I told him we could sleep on the couch and watch movies like we used to with Cub,” Eagle explains as he walks towards the kitchen.

 

As he walks through he spots Tom. “Maybe Tom wants to jo- HOLY FUCK-” Eagle flinches back so hard he slams into the wall.

 

Snake turns to look at Eagle and makes a half assed jerky movement to catch him to no avail.

 

Eagle sinks down the wall and stares at Cub, the man is unable to take his eyes away. His mouth is hanging open.

 

If you gave him a pilgrim outfit he’d look like he was about to start yelling; witch.

 

But instead Eagle starts to cry. 

 

Snake finally looks at Cub again, squinting his eyes real hard. The teen sits perfectly still as the soldier circles the kitchen island and hesitantly grabs onto Cub’s face.

 

“You little shit.” Snake whispers as he stares Cub in the eyes hard.

 

Eagle jumps up from his position on the floor and rushes over, shaking Cub aggressively. “You little shit!” Eagle repeats.

 

With an amused smile Wolf lets the two freak out and smother Cub for a little bit. Even Tom seems entertained enough that he can briefly stop holding onto Cub’s hand.

 

By the time they’re done there’s two full grown men, a teenager and a cat attached to Cub.

 

Warmth spreads through Wolf. Cub is back, his family is back together.

 

Maybe he’ll be able to go back on missions soon, to stop acting like such a suicidal bastard. 

 

Then it hits him. Fox’s absence.

 

The joy drains from his face, his jaw clenches  his jaw.

 

He takes a sip of his own tea. His hands shake slightly and Cub is the only one who seems to notice.

 

But there’s barely any emotion in the boy’s eyes.

 

He’ll tell the two about it tomorrow, they’ve been going through enough emotions already. For now it’s better if they all just gather on the pull out couch and watch the episodes of Staying Up with the Fowls that Cub missed.

 

They end up falling asleep halfway through and it’s the best Wolf has slept in months.