Feel the Wedge solo

Dad.

Of course it was dad. That damned trash picker decided it was a great idea to go ahead and pull Vladislav out at near the end of the school year. What a horrible person. And not too long nor too far from the day his cousin died.



He had a deep tone of resentment in his voice as he addressed his father. "I don't want to be around you right now. Leave me alone before I pretend that I'm being kidnapped." He huffed, the boy holding a grudge now walking away from the train, as it grew smaller and smaller in the distance as he exited the station.

His hands were used to lug the heavy suitcases he had from attending Hogwarts and Koldovstoretz. His dad, on the other hand, was not offering to help. Instead, all he had to say was.. "Son, I'm sorry but it's a family emergency. We need to go back to where you're from. Where we're from. We were taught that it is important to be there for our loved ones and not to ditch them in their time of need. Do you want me to grab you a soda, son?" He asked, but Vladislav only grumbled.



"Yeah? And who in the fuck taught you that? Because you sure as hell didn't teach that to me." His eyes practically glowed as if you could see flames flickering out of his annoyance, his hate.

"And wow. A soda. Color me impressed. Great parenting, maybe you can pat me on the head and tell me I'm your special little boy." He spat out, watching his father's face contort violently but with extreme confusion.

He wanted to hurt his father's feelings, so that the two could share their emotions and he'd understand why Vladislav was so mad. But truth be told, even Vladislav didn't really know why he was mad.

"Back to Tennessee, because nothing screams family emergency like dragging me back to the middle of nowhere where you can dig through people's garbage for a living. Trash panda." He muttered under his breath, but had made the tone loud enough so his father could hear every word clearly. His father had a clear sting across his face, like he was wounded.



"You know, most people," He turned around and stopped abruptly, slamming one of the suitcases against his leg. "pull their kids out of school because they love them. You do it because you need someone to hold the damn trash bags open."

Vlad growled as his father tried to speak. "Vlad..."

"Don't Vlad me. My cousin dies and your first thought is what? Hey let me ruin my son's life. Real fucking thoughtful. Real fatherly too."

"Son, I really just want us to be together right now. It's been hard on everyone." His father gulped, trying to remain as good as he could look in this situation in public, hoping not to be judged or hated.



"Oh please, you didn't even like him! You barely talked to him unless you needed help moving a couch, or maybe to yell at him to tell him to stop snipping your sister's hair off while she's napping."

His father murmered, "That's not fair Vlad." He grabbed Vlad's shoulder to try and direct him to move. And move Vlad did. He started jogging, forcing his father to jog a little to keep up. "Neither is yanking me out of school because you're so lonely. You're just sad. A pathetic little man. And stop offering me goddamn soda I'm not five."



He had such a sour look on his face, the author potentially thought Vlad was more spoiled than he intended Vlad to be in the first place. "If you want me to feel better, just start acting like a parent for once instead of a damn landfill."

"I'm doing my best Vlad. Really."

Vlad only laughed, intentionally with an ugly and sharp tone. "Your best is why you live in a house that smells like old beer cans, cigarettes and wet cardboard." Vlad felt good insulting his father.

But maybe his father did have enough.

His dad stopped walking, and Vlad turned around to see a look on his face that said that he was done. Done with his horrible attitude. Done with him entirely.



"Alright." His father's voice was low and menacing. "That's enough. You listen to me." He clamped Vlad's shoulder a little rougher than he was previously and leaned down so he was eye to eye with him. "I have put up with your mouth, your attitude and your smartass comments since you have got to the station. I get that you're hurting and I get that you're mad, but you do not talk to me like that."

Vlad tried to yank his arm back, yet his father's grip stayed strong. "Vlad, it isn't my fault that your cousin didn't see a car coming and died. It's not my fault that your aunt can't stand up without shaking. We're heading down to Tennessee because your grandmother is about to die soon, she hasn't eaten in two days and was told by the doctor, that whatever she has, she is going to die within the week." He jabbed Vlad's chest. "And you are worried about school? You're worried about what? I heard about what you did to that poor first year a few weeks back. I'm disappointed in you. And if you want to call me a trash picker, that's fine. I pick up trash and I work hard. I do what I need to do to ensure that you have a goddamn roof over your fucking head. But I'll be damned if I let my own son talk to me like I'm dog shit under his boots."



He released his hold on Vlad, yet Vlad and his father's feelings towards each other didn't shift.

"We're going home, to Memphis, and you don't have to like it, nor do you have to talk to me but you will act right and you will show up for your family." He walked with Vlad towards the alleyway behind one of the shops where a battered bottle cap was tied to a string laid on the ground besides a dumpster.

He and Vlad both grabbed the portkey and were taken back home.