Just Thought You Should Know... [for iselldrugstothecommunity]

[first_in_time]

It was a bleak day. Dark clouds had rolled in and threatened to break open at any moment. Ian stared out the window, sipping at tea and wondered whether Howard would beat it home or not. He'd have to asked him to have a hot shower before they left or Barbara would give Ian a stern telling off. At least she didn't live terribly far away, so if it rained he wouldn't have to put up with driving on the busy roads for a long time.

Ian sighed and turned away to find the day's paper. Howard had promised to be back in time and he did trust his foster son. Howard had saved Ian's life more times than he could care to count, surely he'd arrive on time.

It was when Ian was reading through letters to the editor that he heard the front door open and Howard stomp through the house.

"Everything alright?" Ian asked curiously, lowering the newspaper enough to see Howard approach the kitchen.

Comments

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard pulls his coat off and stands on the welcome mat, dripping water. Unfortunately, he isn't a fast enough biker to have beaten that storm. His tiny frame is shivering slightly and he's breathing heavy.

"Yeah, it's just real windy out there." He wipes water from his forehead. "You have a good day?"

[first_in_time]

"Good enough, I suppose," Ian replied and eyed the water, the shivering and Howard's jacket. "I think it might be wise if you had a hot shower before we visited Barbara. You know what she's like."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I can just put on dry clothes. The rain washed me down enough already, right?" Not that he doesn't love showers, but he abhors being late more. Part of helping him overcome his fear of abandonment meant that Barbara and Ian had to be wherever they were supposed to meet him on time whenever they agreed to something, and he's trying to return the favor.

[first_in_time]

"That's not the point," Ian sighed, "she'll want you warm. Dry clothes are nt going to necessarily make you warm."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"We can always turn the heater on in the car. Or shove a cat down my shirt." But Howard's already heading up to take a shower, and he does so as quickly as he can manage. He appears again looking harried but clean.

[first_in_time]

Ian made sure that when Howard returned, they could go straight away. He picked up his wallet, keys, put on his cardigan, and waited on a chair near the door.

"Let's get going, shall we?" he asked and opened the front door for Howard with one hand, and quickly thrusted an umbrella at him with the other hand. "You know what she's like," was all he said.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"What's that supposed to mean?" Howard opens the umbrella the instant he's out the door, but the water bouncing up off the cement around them has already soaked their shoes and ankles. "Let's go, it's freezing."

[first_in_time]

"It means that Barbara will fuss if you're wet," Ian said quietly, not really caring whether Howard heard him or not. Clearly he was in some kind of mood, probably because they were running a little late.

Ian quickly locked up and ran through the rain to the car since he'd given Howard his only umbrella. Truth be told, he'd probably had forgone the umbrella if Howard wasn't coming. Aside from only being in the rain for two short bursts, Barbara's fussing sometimes turned into something entirely different and rather a lot more fun.

Still. At least he got to see her. Hopefully he could cheer up Howard before they got there so he'd actually be in the mood to celebrate his birthday.

"So. Your last marks were quite good, weren't they?" Ian tried.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Best I've had so far. Eventually I'll actually be able to tell Ireland from England on a map." He flashes a grin at Ian and wraps up his arms in his jacket.

"So. What's with the secrecy? You're acting like something's up."

[first_in_time]

Ian laughed. "I had no idea that it was so difficult," but when Howard mentioned secrecy, Ian tried his absolute best to will the gentle blush from his cheeks.

"I don't know what you mean. We're going to Barbara's flat for lunch. Like we do most weekends."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I'm American. We suck at geography. It's a rule." Howard folds his arms as if he's a king giving a decree.

"You're acting all hurried and stuff."

[first_in_time]

"No I'm not," Ian argued. "What makes you think that I am?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard gives Ian a look Ian's doubtlessly seen many times before. It's the 'really, dude?' look that Ian gets whenever he's upset Barbara.

[first_in_time]

Ian saw that look but only spared it a moment's glance. "We're having lunch with Barbara. That's all."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"'Kay." Howard wrings his hands, looking a bit nervous. "If you say so."

He doesn't talk for the rest of the ride.

[first_in_time]

Ian was happy enough to drive in silence. He knew how disappointed Barbara would be if he ruined the surprise. However, the silence hung which between them was heavy and by the time they reached Barbara's flat, Ian had started to feel guilty. It didn't matter how many times he told himself that it was for the benefit of Howard, he couldn't shake the guilt.

"Here we are," he tried and turned off the engine to quickly get out of the car and up to the building. The sooner Howard got the surprise, the sooner Ian could stop feeling guilty.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard gives Ian a suspicious look, but quickly follows, holding his jacket over his head to avoid the rain as much as possible. It doesn't fix the problem, but it at least alleviates some of the wetness.

He stays behind Ian as if avoiding eyesight, though.

[first_in_time]

Ian buzzes the buzzer to Barbara's flat and they're promptly let in. Barbara meets them both on the landing and, once she has laud a chaste kiss on Ian's lips, turns to see Howard.

"Is everything alright?' she asked curiously with that hint of compassion that always leaked through when she thought something or someone was hurting Howard. Strangely, Barbara had a strong hold of her door, keeping it closed for the most part but slivers of colour seep through the cram she leaves with her fingers.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Now Howard's gone into full paranoia mode. He knows, logically, that Barbara's probably just not fully dressed or has a messy kitchen or for whatever reason doesn't want him to see what's inside, but his mind conjures up horrors.

"We're fine," he says, but it's a snap. "Except that Ian thinks I'm retarded."

[first_in_time]

Barbara looked at Ian who stared at Howard.

"I don't understand," she said eventually, slowly. "What happened?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"He's hiding something from me - you both are - and you think I'm dumb enough not to notice."

[first_in_time]

Barbara and Ian exchanged looks as they often did. Entire conversations were exchanged in those looks.

"I think you had best come inside," she said to Howard and let the door swing inward.

Streamers of many colours hung down in a long line between the kitchen and the lounge. Balloons littered the floor and the little coffee table in her lounge had a small array of fruits, pastries and biscuits. A jug of lemonade sat upon the counter top next to a tall chocolate cake decorated with candles, fondant stars and the words: "happy birthday Haward!"

Barbara stood aside to let him pass.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

He does so, almost rebelliously, and then he stops as the full force of the tiny party, of all the good will kept therein, hits him.

He doesn't know how to respond. He wants to cry. He feels shame, this deep well of anger at himself and guilt, just trickling down all his insides, and all he can do is stare at the floor because he had been so ready to accuse them of a trick, of something malicious, when all they wanted to do was make him feel like a normal kid.

He jams his hands in his pockets. He swallows. He wishes to burst into flame. He tries to apologize and what comes out is "it isn't my birthday".

[first_in_time]

"Can we celebrate you anyway?" Barbara asked softly from the doorway, not daring to take a step closer until Howard calmed down a little. Ian had warned her that Howard would possibly react angrily or accuse them both of hiding something from him.

"You've been working so hard lately, I just wanted to do something nice for you."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I don't deserve anything nice," he says, but his heart isn't in it to protest. He only feels guilt for having accused her of anything.

He quietly takes a seat at the table, eyes down.