Boy, you're gonna know it all, you'll think you're ten feet tall and run like you're bulletproof, and total a car or two.

Octavius sat out back, lounging in a yellow plastic lawn chair meant for the beach with its recline. The scarred man watched Tonto and Baldrick run around along the edges of the pool and laughed softly. They were shouting weak insults at one another, but Octavius did not care enough to fuss at them. He smiled, and let his eyes slowly rise to the sky as the sun began setting.

A splash, and Octavius looked down at the pool, Baldrick had shoved Tonto in. He might as well watch and ensure nothing happens. Both six year olds giggled.

Boy, you're gonna hate this town, wish you could burn it down. That fire in your eyes is 20 counties wide, but boy, you're gonna love 17, and boy, you'll do some stupid things.

In the midst of his supervision, he began to feel a bit.. nostalgic but not in a good way. No. He felt like he was back in Perth, arguing with Maria for leaving when she just had a baby boy, this baby boy being Clark.

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Maria spoke sharply, not a single tone was gentle, it was almost as if she were driving the point home that this was common sense. “I stayed longer than I should have. You know that.” Octavius could only leave himself to mutter. “You stayed until it got inconvenient. That’s not the same.” “Don’t you dare.” She snapped. “I gave up everything for this, for him. For you. And all I got was a house full of secrets and a man who thinks silence is love.” Octavius took a step forward, his left arm reaching towards her shoulder. “You think I don’t love him? You think I don’t care for him every time he wants his mother to come and take care of him? Every time he wants to be fed, every time he wants someone to play with. You’re never home. Maria. Please understand me when I say this, I think that this was more of a one night stand between us, but you extended your stay because you had to have Clark. I’m sorry that he’s such an inconvenience to you. I’m sorry, okay?” Maria’s voice only rose, not really taking in all of the words that Octavius had just said. “I think you love control. I think you love being the martyr. You never let me in, Octavius. Not really. You built that wall, that world where I was always an outsider.” Octavius cut her off, not letting her finish. “You’re telling me you’re going to walk out and leave me alone with him! With OUR son! We made him and you want to abandon him? You’re the one that’s making up stories and coming home every night with perfume on your collar. Please! Maria! I know you’re sleeping with other men. But why do you have to punish our son for this?” Octavius definitely did not care about being betrayed as much as he cared about his son losing a mother. “And you were the one who forgave me just enough to punish me for it every day after.” Octavius intervened, quickly hijacking Maria’s statement. “Then stop sleeping with other guys.” He sighed, rubbing his fingers against his temple. “He’s going to ask where you went. What do I tell him?” A little pause between Maria and Octavius, and finally she followed up with. “Tell him I loved him. I wasn’t strong enough to stay.” Maria began turning towards the door, when Octavius finally spoke. “He’ll hate you.” “Better he hate me than become me, Octavius. You know this.” Maria said softly and walked out of the door.

He grimaced his teeth at the memory. She didn’t stick around. He did. He paid for the clothes that he wears, for the food he eats, for everything. And she never once spent a dime. She never sent an owl, never said happy birthday. Never cared to meet Clark as he got older.

You're gonna drive and kiss and throw a punch and grow up way too fast. You're gonna drop the ball, hit the wall and break some hearts like glass. I know you will, 'cause you're a part of me, and a part of you will always be a boy.

He listened to the splashing again, his grin growing larger as he watched Tonto and Baldrick. Granted, he still couldn’t speak as he had a mandrake’s leaf on his tongue, but he could gesture. He stood up and walked towards the edge of the pool, waving his hands towards him as if he were telling them to come on, or come here. He watched them come out and gave them a little hug each, then turned them towards the house and pushed them slightly. He pointed to his shirt and his pants and then pointed towards the setting sun. He hoped they understood what he said, by that being to put on dry clothes.

Doing the gestures though, he watched the boys walk towards the doors and another flashback hit him.

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Clark again. Clark turned 7 that year, it was on Christmas. Octavius thought it’d be a fun surprise to take him to the park with some friends he met down the street in Perth, and how wrong Octavius was. The part goblin ran towards another boy, one of their neighbors and screamed bloody murder, and Octavius could’ve sworn he saw hate in his eyes. Octavius watched his son begin beating up that boy, and while Octavius did not want to do anything, he instantly got up and ran towards the situation, yelling. “CLARK! STOP!” But the cry came to deaf ears. Octavius threw both of his palms onto Clark’s shoulders and jerked back. Hard. Octavius ended up on the ground, feeling a sharp jolt up his back from the impact and clark on his stomach. He shoved Clark off and sat up, sighing. “What the hell is wrong-” But he couldn’t finish that statement. Clark was only 7, how could he fuss at him. He had to call the playing off and apologize to all the parents later via owls. He felt the cool breeze of the ocean air hit him and it helped to move the memory along. With a solemn breath, he listened to the backdoor slam and he began walking towards the house. Another memory was triggered, immediately following the situation on Clark’s birthday. He watched Clark storm off to his room, Simon and Ben leaving theirs. “What’s wrong with Clark?” Simon asked. Octavius hesitated, not sure what to say. “He punched a boy at the park, it was meant to be a surprise for him, so he’d have some sort of playdate and fun, but I had to take him home because he kept beating him. Can you guys go talk to him, please? I’ll ground him later but it’s still Christmas.” He sighed. Was grounding necessary? Should.. should he consider corporal punishment.. No. He couldn’t do that, not to his own kids at least. He loved them and didn’t want them hurt. He grabbed a whiskey glass and poured himself some whiskey, taking a sip as he stared off at the wall on the other side of the room, his legs crossed as he leaned back and relaxed against the countertops. His free hand’s arm crossed his chest and he put his drinking hand’s arm across the other. He heard yelling and screaming from Clark and then a loud noise that resembled slapping and he had to go. Octavius put down his drink on the counter and quickly stormed towards Clark’s room, flinging the door open. “What did I just hear?” He asked the question.. not addressed as one. Simon turned towards Octavius, his right hand covering the right side of his face. “Who did this to you?” Octavius’s eyes lingered on Clark. Simon whispered. “Ben.” And just like that, Octavius’s mouth dropped. Ben did something other than be sweet? That was definitely a trick. It had to be. Octavius let the silence go on for a minute longer, then turned back towards Clark. “For your stunt today, I’m grounding you starting tomorrow for three months. No fun for three months.” He said, but before he could listen to any form of resistance, he walked out of the room.

And the memory was cut off there. Octavius had reached the back door and smiled. He was once like that. Aggressive but weak, confused yet understanding. Clark was a bit like him, and he knew that. He entered the house and the lovely smell of bacon hit his nose. It was almost dinner and Octavius wondered if Ronnie was making some Jalapeno poppers. He couldn’t wait to figure out how to tell Ronnie how yummy his food would be without voicing it.

You're gonna be so stubborn, you get that from your mother. I already see it now, you weren't built for backing down, and boy, there'll be a small town night and you'll fall for her sky-blue eyes and when she's in your hands, you'll think you're a man and not a boy. She'll make you lose your mind, boy. She'll be every reason why

You're gonna drive and kiss and throw a punch and grow up way too fast. You're gonna drop the ball, hit the wall and break some hearts like glass. I know you will, 'cause you're a part of me, and a part of you will always be... my boy.

It's 3am and I'd do anything to get you back to sleep and that face will be the same one in the rearview.. the day I watch you leave.

But boy, you're gonna come back home, you're gonna settle down but you won't feel the way I'm feelin' now. Til you have a boy, he's gonna know it all. He'll think he's ten feet tall and run like he's bulletproof and total a car or two.