Aime fell asleep on the way home from the legal offices

“A Visit to the Legal Offices”

Aime fell asleep on the way home from the legal offices. Kain didn’t blame him, seeing as how they had just spent four hours sitting in the lobby of Stuart Grayson of Childcare Services while Jack and Henry spoke to the official about gaining custody of Aime.

Halfway through the interview, Mr. Grayson had called Aime in to ask him a few questions, which ended with Aime being pushed out of the office by a nervous-sounding Jack. The angry teen had ranted for a good hour afterwards and obviously tired himself out.

Henry poked his head around the office’s door and waved Aime over from the small lounge area he was sitting in with Kain, “Aime, please come in. Mr. Grayson here wants to ask you a few questions.”

After a quick, nervous glance at Kain, Aime made his way into the office.

The short man at the desk smoothed his hand across his greasy comb over once before addressing Aime. He gifted the teen a quick, thin smile and motioned to a straight-backed chair settled next to Jack’s seat. Aime gave him a lopsided smile in return and hurried to his seat, scooting a few inches closer to Jack.

“Now… Aime, was it?” Mr. Grayson started. “I am Stuart Grayson. These two nice men say you’ve lost your memory, is that correct?”

Aime nodded slowly in reply.

The man raised an eyebrow and looked Aime over once before continuing. “I see. And have either of you brought him to the hospital for examination?” Mr. Grayson addressed the two adults sitting across from him.

“Both of us are doctors, and have checked him over and he seems to be in perfect health now,” Jack answered quickly, desperate to end the interview. “However, when I first came across him, he had pneumonia and was too sickly to transport anywhere other than a warm bed. After his health improved, I tried to take him to the hospital, but he refused. Worried, I called Henry, and he examined Aime.”

“So…he’s never been to a hospital before?”

“No,” Jack lied. Knowing that if he admitted to bringing Aime to a hospital and not having him examined would reflect badly on him.

“I see. And, you were the first to find him?”

“No, my neighbor found him, but brought him to me when he saw he was very ill.”

“And Aime remained with you until you contacted Dr. Bellamont for assistance?”

“Yes,” Jack replied. When Stuart began scribbling on the notepad in front of him again, Jack patted Aime’s knee quickly, a silent reminder to go along with the story.

Stuart continued to scribble away, noting that the famed Doctor Henry Bellamont cleared Aime’s health. He looked up at the trio in front of him through his thin eyelashes and cleared his throat, straightening, and forced a small, condescending smile towards Aime.

“Now, Aime, you need to listen to the doctors and go to the hospital. We’ll need a health clearance from a State physician ‘fore Dr. Bellamont here can claim you.”

Aime wrinkled his nose at the man’s thick accent. He had heard it on the television before, but Kain didn’t speak that way. When he had asked about it before, he had shrugged and said he had never been taught to speak that way. Meanwhile, this idiot man who spoke to him as if he were a child sounded like he had come straight out of that old movie Aime had watched on TV last week where the girl sold flowers and then sang about dancing all night.

“I don’t like hospitals,” Aime ground out in French.

“French?” Mr. Grayson said. “Does he know English? What did he say?”

“He speaks English,” Jack quickly assured. “He just needs a bit more practice, that’s all.” He turned to Aime, plastering a forced smile onto his face while addressing the teenager. “Aime. Do not mess this up. If you don’t behave, you can’t stay with Kain. Now, in your best English, tell this idiot here that you’ll listen to us in the future and be polite. Am I understood, young man?”

Aime nodded and Dr. Guerissez widened his fake smile. “Good boy, Aime. Now, answer Mr. Grayson.”

“I will…will listen,” Aime paused, struggling slightly over the words. “I will listen to the doctors next time, sir.”

Mr. Grayson smiled. “What a good little boy,” he praised.

Aime clenched his fists angrily.

“I have a question, Mr. Grayson,” Henry cut in, quick to divert the official’s attention. “This State health check… If Aime does not pass, will I be denied guardianship?”

“Oh, no, no, Dr. Bellamont! Its simply procedure to make sure that if the boy is at all sick, you are aware of it and know how to assure he becomes healthy.”

Henry relaxed a bit. “I see. You had me worried for a minute there.”

Mr. Grayson smiled toothily. “If you have any questions, you’re welcome to come and ask, Dr. Bellamont. Now, as for the language barrier… Seeing as he can speak the common tongue, I don’t have too many worries, but seeing how much he struggled, I would suggest keeping him out of school until winter holidays are over. The holidays haven’t started yet, and schools differ in their schedules, but the closest school to your address starts again the second Monday of January.”

“Yes, I realize we need to work on his speaking a bit more. He’s been doing very well, though, so I think he’ll be ready by the time school starts again.”

“Of course, Doctor, of course. But, if the boy takes to being slow… Keeping him out of school until next year would be a good idea.”

“Slow?” Aime snapped.

“Aime, hush,” Jack scolded.

Mr. Grayson ignored the outburst and continued. “Now, we’ll need you to go over the basics with him before we place him in school. You say you guess his age is sixteen? So he’ll be placed in tenth year if he manages to be able to keep up with the rest of the classes. If not, he’ll be placed in the extended-help classes.”

“Can’t keep up?” Aime repeated, angrily, managing to spit out the English words.

“Aime! Stop!” Jack snapped, grabbing the teen’s arm.

“Aime, he didn’t mean to insult you,” Henry assured, standing up to go to the boy.

He stood up to point angrily at Stuart. “He’s calling me stupid,” Aime screamed, slipping back into French.

Jack stood up beside him, forcing his arm back at his side. “I’m sorry, Mr. Grayson. He’s been so sick, he hasn’t visited anyone before. He’s frightened, really, and acting out,” Jack apologized frantically while pushing Aime towards the door. “I think he’s had enough for today. He’s tired, that’s all.”

“He’s not usually like this,” Henry sighed as Jack managed to push Aime out into the lobby. “We should’ve made sure he was in better health before bringing him.”

Stuart huffed angrily as Jack disappeared around the door with Aime. “Well, that attitude problem will definitely need to be solved before he is put into school.”

“Of course. He’s honestly a nice boy, he’s just been nervous about the adoption, that’s all. He hasn’t been sleeping well, and we had to get up early to drive from the flat to your office.”

Still scowling, Mr. Grayson grudgingly accepted the apology while Jack hurried back into the room.

Outside, Aime was crying angrily to Kain while the older boy tried to comfort him.

Jack was still muttering angrily during the car ride home. Although Henry had been able to smooth-talk their way out of it, Aime had risked a lot with his outburst.

“He’s going straight to bed when we get back,” Jack declared, turning to glare at the teen slumped against the car door.

“Well, of course he is!” Henry jerked his back towards the sleeping boy in the backseat, “He’s already passed out now; he needs more sleep. He’s been nervous lately.”

“No, that little monster is going to his room and staying there! He almost ruined everything!”

“I don’t understand what happened,” Kain said. “Why was he yelling? What did he do?”

“He started screaming in the middle of the interview! Grayson was talking about school and that brat started shrieking!” Jack nearly shouted back.

Henry looked quickly in the rear-view mirror to make sure Aime was still sleeping before he replied. “I understand you’re angry, Jack, but were you listening to what that man said? He was insulting the poor boy. Talking about extended classes and so on as if Aime were slow in the head. Just because he had a bit of trouble saying something in English.”

“That’s no excuse for how he reacted! I warned him to behave, and he completely ignored me. He needs to learn to control himself.”

“I don’t want to put him in his room,” Kain complained. He spent most of last week there.”

“Well, that’s his fault. If you don’t want to punish him, then teach him to behave better,” Jack chided.

Kain frowned but said nothing, smiling when he noticed Henry rolling his eyes.

--

“Perhaps if I had had children, I would think the same as Jack,” Henry mused. “Well…soon, I just might have someone to claim as my child, but Jack has raised his three children the same way and they’re all lovely people.”

Kain nodded. He had met Doc’s two daughters and his son before and they were all very polite, going so far as to invite Kain to dinner with them when they found out he lived alone.

“So, I’ll see you around often? To visit Aime?”

“Oh yes. Even though I’m doing this to allow Aime to stay with you, it would be wrong to simply adopt him and leave. I’m afraid I’ll be bothering you often to see how he’s doing.”

“It’s no bother,” Kain laughed. “I’ll give you my number so you can call and check up on him anytime you like.”

Henry smiled, “Thank you, Kain. I had very much wanted a child.”

“Maybe you can adopt another kid. You know, Aime only has you for family. Maybe he’d want a brother or sister.”

The older man’s smile grew. “I would very much like that one day. Not now, while I’m working so far away, but I plan to set up shop soon. I was thinking of returning to France originally, but I think I’ll change my plans to England for Aime.”

Kain nodded and looked down the hallway towards Aime’s room. He glanced at the clock and sighed.

“It’s been long enough,” he decided. “He’s been in there for hours now!”

Earlier on the drive home, Aime had only woken up long enough to eat the fast food Kain offered him before falling back asleep. He was still sleeping when they reached the flats and Henry helped him inside and put him to bed. When Aime woke and hour later, he was greeted in the living room by Jack’s angry yelling before being escorted back to his room by a fuming Dr. Guerissez gripping his arm.

“Jack wanted him in there until he came back,” Henry reminded him.

“Well, this is my house. I say he’s been in there long enough.”

As Kain walked down the hallway, he knew he’d never even try this if Jack were there. If the strict doctor hadn’t been out to pick up their orders for dinner, Aime would still be stuck in his room until Jack returned. Luckily for him, Jack wasn’t there, and Aime had been quiet during his punishment, only calling pleadingly to Kain a few times the first half hour of his time in his room.

“Aime?”

Kain opened the door to find Aime laying face down on his bed, his two pillows thrown angrily across the room.

Aime sat up slowly, wiping the back of his hand across his face before launching himself at Kain.

“Kain! That nasty doctor locked me in here! I hate room!”

Kain laughed softly. “What did I say about calling Doc names? And I know you hate staying in your room, but you shouldn’t have started yelling at the Child Services guy. Now, come on out, Jack’s on his way back with dinner. Maybe afterwards we’ll work on your speech.”

Aime pouted but held onto Kain’s arm as they walked back to the living room, telling him what Mr. Grayson had said and how Jack hadn’t defended him at all.

“Hello, Aime. Escaped from your prison, I see,” Henry greeted, smiling brightly.

Aime nodded and went to sit beside the nice doctor, deciding that getting to know him would be a good idea.

“Dr. Guerissez is very mean,” Aime informed him. “Did you know?”

Kain was trying to choke back his laughter while Henry chuckled kindly. “I’ve known Jack for many years, Aime. He isn't mean; just very strict.”

“For good reason,” Jack said as he struggled through the door with the bags of food.

“Doc! Oh, here! I’ll help you.” Kain rushed to his side and grabbed the bulk of Jack’s load. He put the food containers on the kitchen table before hurrying back to Aime.

“I thought I said Aime was to stay in his room until I came back?” Jack asked, turning a suspicious eye to Henry.

“It wasn’t me,” he assured, laughing. “The knight who saved this poor soul is standing behind you.”

Jack sighed and shook his head. “I knew he would be out when I came back. Now, Aime, you understand why you were punished?”

For a minute, Kain was afraid Aime would be dumb enough to say no, but was relieved when Aime nodded his head and scooted closer to Henry, only glaring at the older doctor a little bit.

Rolling his eyes, Jack began to set up the food while Henry and Aime slid off the couch and went to the table.

--

Yay! I haven’t updated this for a while. A few things to address:

Kain’s nonexistent accent: I hate writing accents. They’re so annoying! Seriously, it’s the most annoying thing in the world to do because when I do, the computer keeps yelling at me for my bad spelling. So, he doesn’t have one. I sort of hinted at it in this chapter. Er, wait… He has an accent, he just doesn’t shorten words and that stuff.

The French: If you remember, my first chapter was filled with my disgusting attempt at French. I found a translator and got carried away. Sorry about that. I thought I had gotten all of it, but I didn’t, so I’ll fix that. (Someone who knows French pointed it out to me, lulz.)

I hope you liked the chapter. I’m actually already working on the next chapter! I had a few ideas for the story, but they didn’t end up fitting in this chapter because by the time I took a break (OH YEAH, I WROTE THIS ALL IN ONE NIGHT!), I noticed it was already seven pages and decided that was enough.

Beta’d by the lovely HurtMe. ( Best beta ever.)