Shatterverse

[han_solo]

Dean has the baby at the moment, and he's sitting out by the lake in front of the farmhouse - well, the apartment building that the farmhouse has become.

(Spots is in the lake, wallowing happily, occasionally waving a tentacle. )

Dean is doing his level best to coax another smile out of a baby who has been grumpy and sulky all morning. This involves shameless baby-talk.

Comments

[beliefovermisery]

It's times like this where Steph gets mad at him for not inventing cameras yet.

Sokka has grease-stained fingertips and has sent some grease-stained girls back to their mother after a lesson of If You Can Show Uncle Sokka How To Change A Tire, You Can Ride on the Back of the Motorcycle to Metropolis.

Now he's playing a far more interesting game of smirking at Dean and beaming happily at his tiny nephew.

[han_solo]

"Whosa goodboy den? Who is? Oooh yes you a--"

Dean pauses.

"... you're taping this, aren't you."

[beliefovermisery]

"I've only got the voice recording part down now," Sokka admits, apologetic as he gives Dean the most innocent eyes possible. He waves a little metal recorder about the size of his palm in front of Dean - but out of reach, of course. "But eventually I'll have the video thing working and then when John's older and dating I can embarrass him instead of just you."

This is an Excellent Thing!

[han_solo]

Sokka is Dean's favourite because he calls John John.

"It's cute how you still think I have shame when it comes to my son," Dean says happily, and blows another bubble on John's belly. John squeals and wriggles happily but does not produce the required smile. "Besides, I can blackmail that off you."

[beliefovermisery]

"I would need to have any shame at all for that to work," Sokka points out happily, reaching over to tickle John's chin. "And his sisters knocked that out of me a long time ago."

[han_solo]

John chuckles happily and gives Sokka a wide gummy grin without any further prompting. Dean frowns down at the kid in his arms.

"Now that's just not fair."

[beliefovermisery]

"It's just because I'm better than you," Sokka assures him happily, rubbing John's cheek with a knuckle. "Don't worry, he'll get better about lying and telling you you're his favorite."

[han_solo]

"Jerk," Dean grumbles.

John probably will love Sokka best. Dean's going to have to leave again, that's the thing, not just yet, but eventually. And Sokka's not.

Dean scowls a bit, but he lifts John up towards Sokka. "Hey, kiddo. You wanna be held by this inferior grownup? You don't, do you, you wanna stay with me, right?"

John giggles again and clutches Dean's finger.

[beliefovermisery]

Sokka snorts and leans back on his hands, absolutely refusing to hold out his hands for the baby. "You need to stop believing the things I tell you," he tells Dean firmly. "I'm not used to it, I might have to actually tell the truth and that's going to really mess up my relationship with my sister."

[han_solo]

"Who said I believed you?" Dean asks, eyes narrowed.

"Gaa," John contributes.

"I'm just sleep-deprived."

[beliefovermisery]

"Oh wow, that's awful, if only you had a bunch of relatives around willing to take him off your hands so you could rest, jesu, wouldn't that be nice?"

[han_solo]

"Shut your mouth," Dean grumbles, but he's grinning, especially when John continues to clutch his finger tight and gurgle. "You're the worst."

Worst whatever. Not brother-in-law, because, no, but Dean's son is Sokka's nephew, so that makes them, you know, something. Besides, Dean likes the kid.

"John, Sokka's the worst, isn't he?"

"Aaa."

[beliefovermisery]

"This is why you don't get to teach him to talk," Sokka points out, reaching in to ruffle John's sparse hair. "You confuse all your words. Worst when you mean best, replace my broken tools when you mean fill the trunk with lake water."

[han_solo]

"The lake water was totally not my fault," Dean protests, the most innocent "Spots was helping. But in fact, it was totally John's fault. Totally."

[beliefovermisery]

"Blaming your kid for your mistakes. See? You're totally a real dad."

[han_solo]

That gives Dean a moment's pause. Then he shrugs and grins. "John, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Aaa," John repeats, and gives Sokka another happy gummy smile.

"See? Totally did it."

[beliefovermisery]

"Eh, he's supposed to lead a life of crime anyway," Sokka replies, beaming happily at the baby, reaching out to beep his nose. "It's the family way, huh, Johnny?"

[han_solo]

John blinks up at Sokka uncertainly, and grabs for his finger.

"It's John," Dean insists, sighing. "We're going to have this fight for a long time, aren't we?"

[beliefovermisery]

"He can't have nicknames?" Sokka asks, grinning and offering his finger. "All the kids have nicknames. He's going to feel left out and it'll be your fault."

[han_solo]

"Can't he have a nickname like ... Brute? Or .. tough guy? We could call you tough guy, huh, tough guy?"

John tugs Sokka's finger towards his mouth.

[beliefovermisery]

Sokka's nieces have done so many worse things. He's happy to let John think his finger is a pacifier.

"Johnny," Sokka insists happily. "Little Johnny. He can't be Tiny, that's for Hana. Wee Johnny. Miki Johnny. Johnny John."

[han_solo]

"I really hate you," Dean says tolerantly. John does his best to gum off Sokka's finger.

It's a happy family scene.

"Hey," Dean says, slightly awkward. "You, uh, you know I'm not sticking around forever, right?"

[beliefovermisery]

"I've been paying attention to the last four years, yeah."

[han_solo]

"It's not that I don't want to be around for John," Dean says, relaxing now that he's got that confirmed. "I just - I'm not the homey type, you know? It's not - that wouldn't work out for us. Mel wouldn't even want it to."

Right?

[beliefovermisery]

"Mel doesn't want to get married and make babies and cook for everyone," Sokka clarifies gently, smile fading as he looks at Dean. "But you're not talking about Mel, you're talking about John."