Cooking By The Book [c]

She kept her frown in place.

Though she really wanted to giggle. He did't even know how not to frown! Poor Dick.

Her frown only broke when the front door opened and in walked someone she hadn't seen in months. "Uncle Leo!" Theresa jumped up and threw herself to her uncle.

The tall man dropped down enough to wrap an arm around her and hoist her up. "Look at you, girl! Growing bigger every day. Soon you'll be as big as a hous- oof! Hello to you, too."

He hugged Gabriele tightly when the boy jumped at him.

"Sorry I came back so su- Uh, hi?" Leo had been speaking without looking up, then paused when he realised he didn't know the person he was talking to.

Leo looked quite similar to his half-brother. Big and broad, with the same bone structure, though his own hair was buzzed short.

Dick turned to look up when he heard to door open, expecting to see Fleck or one of his family members. Only it was someone he didn't recognise.

Well, it wasn't a stranger, that was for certain. He was unmistakenly part of the family. Something anyone would recognise, even if Theresa didn't give anything away by yelling "Uncle Leo."

He silently watched the sweet interaction between Leo and the kids. The way he spoke to them reminded him of Fleck.

When the man turned his attention to him he stood, suddenly feeling very awkward in this house he was beginning to call home.

"Hi." Dick's fingers found his ring. "I'm Dick, Fleck's boyfriend."

He tilted his head into the direction of the kitchen.

"Right! He's told me about you. Nice to finally meet you. I would shake your hand, but."

He gestured down to the two kids currently taking up either arm. He wasn't getting them free any time soon.

"Where is he? I can't believe he'd be cruel enough to make you deal with Theresa all by yourself."

The corners of his lips lifted a little at the mention that Fleck had been talking about him.

"No, no, it's fine. And it is nice to meet you too."

He felt relieved when he heard that comment about Theresa. At least he isn't the only one who found her difficult. Even others who were experienced with children found her difficult.

"Kitchen. I can get him for you if you want."

He was already heading out of the living room towards the kitchen before Leo could refuse.

He knocked lightly on the wooden kitchen door before he opened it, popping his head inside.

"Fleck?"

Leo smiled and nodded as he watched Dick sweep from the room. Poor kid was an awkward person.

When Dick pushed into the kitchen, Fleck was scrubbing at a pot he had used. The meat was in the oven, and everything else needed was either set out on the counter or in a pot on the hob.

"Kids treating you okay?" Fleck asked when Dick appeared, smiling at his boyfriend over his shoulder. "I heard yelling. They're not arguing, are they?"

He didn't want Dick to have to deal with the twins arguing. When they got going, they liked to try and knock seven bells out of each other. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Dick smiled at his boyfriend, then opened his mouth to tell him the reason why he wanted him. He paused. Then shut it, thinking.

He didn't want to ruin this surprise for Fleck and Leo. As far as Dick was aware, they hadn't seen each other since himself and Fleck met.

"No, they are fine. They are behaving pretty well, I guess?"

The exchange was pretty awkward and uncomfortable at times with Theresa, and it was suffering having to go through every game he knew with Gabriel before his sister finally intervened. But they didn't argue, at least.

"There is a surprise for you."

He held his hand out to lead him into the living room.

Fleck gave a laugh.

"They're wreaking havoc on you, aren't they? How badly has she been terrorising you?" he asked, reaching for a towel to wipe his hands.

He knew it would be Theresa giving Dick flak. The girl had a habit of pushing people she found interesting and it was very clear that she found Dick quite interesting, poor boy.

He took Dick's hand, leaning down to steal a kiss.

"A surprise? Should I be worried?"

He laughed, further relief settled in. So both Leo and Fleck knew she was difficult. That made him feel much, much better and less of a failure.

"Quite terribly. I think she is going to be quite an intimidating woman when she grows up... not that she is already for an eight year old."

He leaned up into the kiss and stole it back.

"Maybe?"

He grinned mischievously and tugged him to the living room door, encouraging him to go in first.

"Oh yeah, she'll be the sort of woman no one wants to cross."

She already was now, really. For being so young, she had a far reach, and many people within the family unit were wary of her when she showed a certain smile, or said a certain thing.

It wouldn't be long now until other people began to pick up on it and be worried about crossing her.

"That doesn't instil me with confidence," Fleck noted as Dick herded him forwards.

His jaw dropped almost to the floor when he stepped into the livingroom and saw his brother. "Leo!"

Leo extricated himself from the twins quickly, and the brothers, almost twins in their own rights, hugged tightly.

They began a conversation in Italian, and their own personal lexicon, so quick that no one would be able to keep up with them if they wanted to.

Their unintelligible babble continued for many minutes, before Leo had to pause for breath. Both were panting a little, and grinning like fools.

"I can't believe it! You're an asshole for not warning me." Fleck slugged his brother, and Leo just laughed it off.

Dick hovered at the door as the brothers were reunited. He could feel the warmth radiating from the two and it was contagious. He smiled. There was nothing sweeter than seeing family reunited.

He leaned on the frame, keeping out of the way so he didn't interrupt them. Only after a few minutes of them talking rapidly to each other did her start to feel awkward. He wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself.

Did he join them? That felt wrong, and he didn't want to intrude. Should he leave and take the twins with him to let them catch up? But maybe they wanted the twins there. Maybe he should just slink out by himself? But that may be rude.

In the end, he just stayed put, watching Fleck swing at his brother.

Leo jabbed his brother in the ribs, and Fleck yelped, pretty quickly finding refuge behind Dick.

Small as he was, Dick didn't offer much protection, but it was enough. Fleck wrapped his arms around Dick's waist from behind, chin resting on his shoulder.

"Big brothers are so mean."

Leo's brows shot up. "And little brothers are always a pain in the ass."

Dick instantly relaxed into Fleck as he wrapped his arms around him and he laughed lightly at the banter.

From the little he remembered, Fleck was right; big brothers were mean. But in all fairness to Leo, he also remembered being a pain in the ass in hindsight.

He gently patted Fleck on the cheek in silent assurance; he will protect him.

Fleck stuck his tongue out. 

"That's what we were made for," he defended to his brother. Little brothers were supposed to be pains in the ass to their big brothers. It was just natural law.

"And now I can be an even bigger pain in the ass 'cause my scary boyfriend is going to protect me."

Leo looked over Dick with appraising eyes, then arched his brows at Fleck. Really? That was going to protect him? Leo had to be almost twice his size.

Dick hummed at Fleck's statement.

He recognised that look from Leo. The much larger man was underestimating him.

Not that he was surprised, he was very used to being underestimated. Especially by those unaware of the supernatural. It had come in pretty useful way back in the past. It was also very annoying.

The number of times he was a mark was ridiculous.

With the security of Fleck wrapped abound him, his confidence swelled. He arched his own brow.

"Have you gone soft in the past two years, brother?"

Fleck just grinned, and shifted, ducking down to sweep Dick up into his arms bridal-style. He hoisted the Vampire up and peppered kisses to his cheek.

"He's scarier than he looks," Fleck insisted.

Leo didn't look convinced.

Little Theresa gripped her uncle's hand, looking up at Leo. "You should have an arm wrestling competition. That's how the boys at school try to see who's strongest. I beat them all," she sniffed.

Pale skin turned an incredibly red as Dick was scooped up. He turned his head away, unable to help his laughter as little kisses were peppered on his cheek.

Normally, he loved this little show of affection that Fleck would shower him in. He still did, then. However, it was just incredibly embarrassing when Fleck's family was right in front of them. Especially when it consisted of someone he had only just met.

Dick turned his attention to the small child as she spoke up. It didn't sound like a terrible idea. Like that, he suddenly felt the urge to prove something.

"Good idea, kiddo. C'mon, lets move this party to the kitchen," Leo suggested, ruffling Theresa's hair.

She flinched away glaring up at her uncle as she fixed her hair.

Gabriele piped up. "I wanna join in, too!"

"Guess it's a family match," Fleck chuckled, manoeuvring Dick through the door without bumping him and padding towards the table.

"Me and Uncle Leo first!" Gabriele insisted, sliding onto the padded bench and holding his arm out on the table, all ready for his uncle to take.

Dick fidgeted, ready to move out of Fleck's arms and have his feet back on the floor, only he wasn't given the chance. He not so begrudgingly hooked his arms around Fleck's neck as they made their way into the kitchen.

"You're going to tire your arms out before you even start," he murmured, eyes on the table as Gabrielle and Leo readied their arms on the table.

He had to wonder: Would Leo let Gabrielle win the match? From what he observed, this wasn't a family where you got an easy win unless you earned it or cheated. Did kids get that treatment too?

"As long as I'm not going against you, Mr. Cullen, I'll be fine." After a pause, Fleck snorted. "Wait, would you be Rosalie?"

He did let Dick down to the floor though, when Leo sat down and went through the motions of stretching his arms and flexing to show off his considerably larger muscles.

Then the two locked hands and Theresa played referee.

Gabriele strained hard to bring down his uncle, and Leo kept their hands even for a good ten seconds before he started making a fuss about how strong Gabriele had gotten, and how he couldn't hold on, all the while letting Gabriele push his arm towards the table in increments.

Gabriele was giggling hard when Leo gave a big huff and let Gabriele win.

Dick frowned at Fleck.

"Mr Cullen? Whose Rosalie?"

When will Fleck stop start making pop culture references he didn't understand, he will never know.

His attention was brought back to Leo and Gabrielle as the readied themselves, with Leo showing off for the twins amusement.

It quickly became very apparent that the kids were treated differently when it came to games as Leo dramatically struggled to win against Gabrielle, much to eight year olds delight.

"You are so much alike," he said softly to Fleck, leaning into him.

"We're the closest.," Fleck murmured back, smiling as Gabriele and Theresa changed places and it was her turn to challenge her uncle.

Unlike Gabriele, Theresa didn't get any special treatment. There was a little moment of Leo holding their arms straight, but soon he had her hand pressed against the wood.

It'd be more dangerous for Leo to give Theresa special treatment, than to just go easy on her.

"My turn." Fleck kissed Dick's cheek, and ruffled his hair, pulling some of it from its ponytail, then taking Theresa's place.

The brothers squared up and gripped each other's hands firmly.

"You ready, baby brother?" Leo asked, grinning fiercely.

"Should be asking you that." Theresa called out their start, and they both threw their weight into it. Their arms twitched back and forth a little in the first minute or so, neither one giving in.

"You've gotten stronger," Fleck admired, grunting as he pushed Leo's hand half way towards the table. It levelled out pretty quickly, but then returned to that position.

It was clear Fleck had that little edge on Leo.

He whooped when Leo's hand hit the wood.

"All right, all right, you're still stronger." Leo stuck his tongue out. "Let's see if blondie has what it takes."

"Good luck," he said, hands running through his hair to rearrange his ponytail that Fleck had messed up.

His interest in the matches spiked as the brothers squared off. He had to wonder: Who would win?

He watched with keen interest when the match commenced, holding his breath for the minute as they struggled against each other. It quickly became clear who was the stronger as Fleck started to overpower his brother.

Dick's smile grew into a very proud, and very pleased, beam as Leo's hand hit the table.

"Well done."

Pink dusted over his face as he gave Fleck a quick peck on the cheek as they swapped places.

It was comical how they looked as he readied his arm against Leo's. His wrists were slender, his hands nowhere near as calloused, and his biceps? Almost non-existent compared to the military man.

Dick knew that he should let Leo win. He didn't want to raise too much suspicion. It wasn't every day a man of his stature beats a man of Leo's size. But at the same time, he couldn't help himself. That niggling feeling that he had to prove something didn't leave.

"Want to make a bet of sorts? Like... the loser has to do a challenge of the twins choosing?"

"Should I wish you luck or just give you a congratulatory kiss now?" Fleck asked as they switched places.

Dick's suggestion had Leo looking at Gabriele, then Theresa.

Getting Dick to do a dare that Theresa had thought up...? No, even he wasn't that cruel. "Not on your life. How about Fleck?" Fleck would be nice to Dick when he lost, at least.

He didn't want to subject anyone to Theresa's traumatic dares.

Dick turned his eyes up to Fleck and gave him a secretive smile.

"Sure."

He turned his attention to the match between him and Leo.

Acting wasn't one of his strengths, and he wasn't a particularly good liar. But he had to put some effort into seeming like he was putting up a struggle against Leo, or that would raise a little too much suspicion.

At Theresa's call to start, he frowned and pulled on his lip in a mock struggle. He couldn't help but tease a little and let Leo Push his hand down half way. He held it for a moment before he slowly pushed back up to the centre and then forced Leo's hand to smack against the table with controlled strength.

He grinned up to Fleck triumphantly.

Leo's brows shot up when Dick actually took a stand against him.

Dick was like a toothpick. How did he have this much strength? Dammit.

His frustration only mounted when Dick actually won.

Theresa gave a little titter of a giggle. "Uncle Leo's a weakling."

"Oh, is he, kid?" Leo lunged for Theresa, grabbing her by her waist and flipping her upside down, holding her upside down in the air as she wriggled and giggled and shrieked.