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Vegas didn't know how to feel. It wasn't the first time, sure, but it frustrated him all the same.
The two months in the hospital went by agonizingly slow. Treatments, tubes, machine, physio, it all blurred into the same painful routine. After the first weeks, when he could finally stay awake for longer periods of time while being coherent enough to take in information, he finally understood the weight of what was happening. Firstly, he wasn't dead, which was a surprise -positive or not, he hadn't decided yet-. Secondly his father was dead and he was stripped of his title. Granted, Porsche claimed he would give it back once he could, but they all knew Korn wouldn't let that happen that easily. Third, Pete was there.
He stayed beside him when he woke up feverish, scared, angry, not aware of what was happening to him. Pete stayed for the gruelling process of him recovering. He would pet Vegas' hair while he fell asleep, bring food to him and take care of Macau, making sure his little brother went to school, came back safe, was overall healthy.
And Vegas is grateful. He really is. Funny what love can do to someone. Huh. Love. How had it come to this?
The door to his room opened, distracting him from his spiralling thoughts. Pete pokes his head inside, and, seeing he is awake, comes over to sit beside him. They are at a safehouse now. Everything is still very tense between the families. Even though he had been offered to go back, Vegas didn't think he could face his father's manor again. Least of all now with it being occupied by someone else.
Pete easily reads the thoughts in his eyes and decides to simply hug him and scratch his head in an effort to ground him. But the comfortable silence doesn't last for long. It never does.
A knock on the door, a quiet "come in" after straightening up, and then a guard opening the door, looking down.
"Khun Vegas.... We have some news..." He stumbles over his words, clearly nervous.
"Well? What is it? " Vegas is on the verge if getting angry again, but Pete's hand on his calms him down somewhat. Not enough, if this continues.
"They called.... Venice was born just yesterday. What would you like us to do?"
Vegas feels his hand crushing the sheets underneath it. He takes a breath - God what has Pete done to him- opens his eyes looking at the guard standing at the door.
"I'll deal with it on my own, you're dismissed."
The door clicks closed again. For a few minutes there is silence. Venice.
It was no secret around the second family that Vegas' father was going to replace his sons. He certainly didn't attempt to hide it. Vegas had heard the whispers whenever he went around the past few months. And now it's happening. Venice is here but his father isn't. So it falls on his shoulders to make a decision. He has to decide. Does he want to give the child away, to keep it, to have it taken care of...
Pete's voice brings him back to the present.
"Who's Venice?" Right. Pete doesn't know. To be honest, Vegas was afraid to tell him. He didn't know why. Perhaps he really was afraid of being replaced. By a baby no less. Ridiculous.
Vegas looks away.
" Venice is my half brother. My father had him simply to replace me. Guess neither me nor Macau were good enough so... But now that father's dead, I have to deal with a newborn." He grumbles, bitterness lacing every word.
Pete is obviously shocked, a dark look settling over his usually bright eyes at the mention of his father.
"What do you plan to do? Are you gonna raise him or..." Pete isn't stupid. He knows what happens in rivalries between sons in this business. He tries to get hold of Vegas' gaze but is unsuccessful. Vegas gets up and starts pacing around the room, a new feat he had managed just about about a week ago. His hands find his hair and start tugging.
"I-.. I don't know! Why don't I know?! It should be obvious, I should be able to just get rid if it! I didn't ask for it, I shouldn't have to deal with it!" He ends his little rant by looking at Pete for answers. Desperate for someone to give him a solution to his problems.
Pete shakes the shock from his shoulders, gets up from the bed and goes over to his lover. Gently, he pries his hands from his hair and looks into his eyes.
"Ι understand this is a lot to take in. But this is not your father's choice anymore. It is yours. You make decisions for yourself. This child has done nothing wrong, it was your father who did. Venice needs a family, one that will take care of him, love him. It is your choice to make, but I believe you shouldn't let your father's choices and wrongs interfere with another child's life. You can finally draw the line." Pete takes to caressing Vegas' face, who is still looking at him with eyes full of desperation and fear.
After a few seconds he finally comes back to himself.
"Okay. Okay, we'll have to go and get him then. Oh god. Pete? How am I supposed to help raise a child? Fuck!" He punctuates by dropping his head ok Pete's shoulder. It has taken a lot of effort for him to not become violent whenever he is upset, to not mess up the room or the people in it.
"You are not going to do anything. We are. You're not alone in this. You have me, Macau, and all the help you can get. It's going to be ok. Now, let's go to sleep, and tomorrow we can go to the hospital to meet your brother." A gentle smile crosses his features, one a person would offer to a cornered animal.
Vegas can't do anything but follow as Pete slowly takes him to the bed and lies down with him. A little later, after they've made themselves comfortable, after Pete has asked him multiple times if he's hurting him at all, Vegas stares at the ceiling, begging sleep to overtake him, if only to quiet his thoughts.
The morning sun finds them at the entrance of the hospital, after a rushed but quiet breakfast and a ride in an overpriced car. Vegas squeezes Pete's hand. His palm is getting sweaty. Pete is kind enough to wait for him to make the first step. He's looking at him with those sincere eyes again. Vegas finally takes the first step forward, then another, and another and another.... And soon they're greeted by a nurse who leads them into a room, where another nurse?? holding a baby turns to them. Vegas' thoughts become static, his brain only producing white noise.
Pete takes the initiative, moving to take the baby into his hands. God it looks so small, fragile. The nurse starts listing information about what they should do, how they're supposed to take care of the baby and who to call if they have any trouble with it. Vegas doesn't hear any of it. His eyes are trained on the little human currently sleeping in Pete's arms. It barely looks human to be completely honest.
About two hours and a lot of paperwork later they can finally head home. And if Vegas doesn't drive quite as fast as usual, or as ruthlessly, noone else has to know.
As soon as they're home, Macau is buzzing with excitement around them, holding the baby, smiling along with Pete and cooing over him. Vegas walks past them trying not to overthink. Macau looks very happy with the new family addition, that's good. Pete looks very happy as well. Since they're happy, Vegas should be too, right? Then why is he so nervous?
Pete walks into the room with a soft smile on his face and hugs him. His heart feels a little lighter.
"Why don't you come hold him for a bit? I can hear your thinking from the next room. Maybe it'll help" Vegas obliges and follows him into the living room. There, Macau is holding little Venice, making funny faces at him, even though the baby was clearly too young to understand his surroundings. He looks up once he hears Pete and Vegas enter the room. With a nod from Pete, he gently passes the baby to Vegas' arms, who now looks pale as a sheet. After being helped with the correct way of holding Venice, Vegas traces his face with his fingers and Venice catches one of them with his little hand.
Tears gather in his eyes. Is he supposed to dislike this kid? It was born to replace him after all. But he can't. Just like he couldn't dislike any of the pets thrown at him just to show him how useless he was.
Pete never leaves his side. He stays there until Venice starts fussing, which prompts him to get formula for him, if only to avoid crying.
Vegas looked around him. He sees his brother excitedly listing things they would have to get. He lookes at Pete smiling down at the baby while feeding him- Vegas couldn't trust himself with that, not yet. He then looks at the baby. Just like Vegas, he didn't get the choice to be born into this family.
It is then that vegas decides. Venice is going to stay here. He will give life to this house, and Vegas is going to be there every step of the way, doing everything his father never did.
~•~•~
Extra scene
Pete wakes up for some reason. The clock next to him reads 3:47 am. A soft breeze from the window chills him, making him notice the absence of his lover beside him. He slowly gets up, even though he doesn't worry. Walking through the door, he can hear soft singing coming through Venice's door. He peeks through the half open door, a smile landing on his face.
Vegas is standing over the crib a soft look on his face, his sleepshirt loose over his shoulders. His finger is held by Venice who is making small noises, trying to settle his small limbs. He doesn't hold him in his arms, still afraid of doing something wrong if noone is there to help him. Pete will have to work with him on that one. Vegas' face is peaceful, he's singing a foreign melody Pete has never heard before. The domesticity of the moment settles something inside Pete. Maybe it'll be fine. They will be fine. Their future has only just begun.
Their future
What a feeble word.