#and just let me sprinkle in some leogarrett crumbs please-

[surviveds]

you'd think he'd be able to recall the first time leo became dad - in name, at least - but felix truly can't remember when he'd first said it. it'd just seemed to happen, an immutable truth that he'd denied himself time and time again, a dozen excuses offered over the years, none of which he can even really remember anymore. there's still the occasional leo, of course, because it's not so easy to completely rid himself of a decade of habit, but even that sounds different; felix has always spoken to him with an unshakeable affection, even in those early months of getting to know one another, when leo took a risk and saved him - but that warmth seems to have grown, overflowing in him.

he melts so easily into his father's embrace. no scouting trip can ever compare to the distance and years that had separated them when leo had first agreed to the exchange, but the overwhelming relief when he and his husband come home feels almost equal to when he'd finally seen leo again at the base. he no longer cries at these miniature reunions, but he still feels the threat of tears stinging at his eyes, and felix has to rapid-blink it away, exhaling a half-laugh as he squeezes leo fondly.

"don't say you doubted us," felix teases, a grin growing as their eyes meet. "we really planned on coming back sooner, i promise, but..." he heaves a sigh, and the smile suddenly falters; the corner of felix's mouth twitches as he glances downward, scuffing his boot against the floor. "i thought i'd seen signs that people had been around, so we checked it out." fresh paths cut through patches of tall grass that had been undisturbed when they'd first passed by the fields; entirely possible the tracks were made by empties, but there was a precision that spoke to intelligence, and will had agreed. it hadn't taken long to follow the trail, to find those responsible for it - ripped apart by empties in a clearing.

it never gets easier, felix thinks, and once, he despised that - but he's become grateful for it. he doesn't want to become numb to it.

"-everything all right here?" it's hardly a subtle topic transition, but it says enough: he doesn't want to talk about it; not yet, at least. all he wants right now is to check in with his family. "garrett was on guard duty when we came into the perimeter. he said it's been quiet the past few days."

leo learned a long time ago that he was going to have to trust his kids to be able to take care of themselves.    leaving hope and iris to felix wasn’t just about having someone to watch over them,  though;    it was about making sure felix was taken care of,  too.    he and will are reunited now,   managing their scouting missions efficiently,   though leo never had reason to doubt them.   iris is still off ready to save the world — just as he always knew shew was capable of doing, in her own way —  and maybe her absence is what makes it a little easier to trust that felix will always return home eventually,  because he still believes he’ll see his youngest again,   someday soon.     still,  when felix and will do return,   it brings leo more relief than he realized he needed,  because he’d been paying too close attention to each day that passed,  waiting impatiently for his family to return — felix and will both.   

his hand rubs over his back in a soothing pattern, just as it always does,  and there’s a proud look on his features even as his face is hidden against felix’s shoulder.   the word ‘dad’ is something he never tires of hearing—   but especially from him,  because while he spent two years without his kids by his side,   he spent even longer waiting for felix to allow himself that privilege,  despite how persistent leo had been about giving him that permission.   he’d always seen himself as felix’s father,   since the moment he brought him in—   he was just waiting for felix to feel comfortable enough to say it,  too.    ❝  glad to have you back,  son,  ❞     he says,   giving his back a couple pats before he finally pulls back to look at him,  hands sliding to his shoulders and eyes examining felix’s feature,  as if to find all the answers from his trip in them.   ❝  we were starting to wonder when we’d see you again,  ❞    he admits,  careful not to say the word ‘worried.’  ❝  it all went well,   i hope?  ❞