Chapter 2 Truth

"I want to be so many things, mommy! I want to be a teacher like you!" her son exclaims, which brings mirth to Allen as well.

"Yeah? You want to be like me?"

Alexander grins, a fascinating mix of his alpha father and Allen's, and says, "Yeah, I want to teach others to."

"You really want it, heartbeat. But when?" Allen asks, now getting as excited as her son.

"Uh huh... when I'm an adult!"

Allen fakes a frown and says, "Didn't you just say you were growing up already?" Allen hums in fake confusion. "Or was I just hearing things?"

The way Alexander's already wide eyes widen even more is truly a comical experience, and Allen has to hold herself back from bursting out in laughter. He sputters when he tries to defend himself. I've grown up; I'm now an adult, mommy. I am no longer a baby!"

This time, Allen finally lets out an endeared laughter that has her throwing her head back for a couple of seconds. God. Her son is so precious that whenever he wants to correct his statement, he messes up his speech instead.

"You can be a grownup, yet you will always be mommy's baby," She explains as soon as she calms down from her laughter. "There's nothing wrong with that!"

"But I never help you with teaching! Only the big kids do, mommy! I don't like being a baby!"

Another bout of happy laughter flows freely from Allen's lips. She kisses her son on the forehead with all the love she has for him, saying, "Oh, my heart, all you have to do is ask."

As Alexander practically bounced himself off of Allen's arms like the ball of joy that he is, Allen hoped that no matter how pitiful it started, today was going to be a good day for both of them.

Allen likes the way her life is going without blood or guns, and Alvin is the main reason why she is happy today with her baby. He not only stopped Allen from putting a period after the phrase of her life story, but he also showed Allen how to keep on going.

Allen learned to care for herself because Alvin cared when she couldn't.

"I'm so glad I met you, Alvin," Allen would say every time she got reminded of her past, and at first, Alvin would just grunt and hide his progressively reddening face, complaining about how cheesy she sounded. As time went by, he would just chuckle and say, "I know."

Today, however, Alvin's reply changed into something else.

"And I you."

Big, brown eyes stalk after the blue treat sticking out of the stranger's pocket like a warm sun warming its sight on a defenseless baby elk in the wild.

His small tongue licking over his lips, the boy starts on his pursuit and leaves from his spot near the shopping cart.

He watches the sway of the treat as the stranger walks.

It's his only target. The owner of said treat might as well be a dull, gray background. Like in the storybooks his mother reads him at bedtime,

He gains on his 'prey', licking at the corner of his mouth, his small feet tracking after it smoothly. Precisely.

His mother always complains about how fast he is.

One minute, he's there. The next thing, he's gone.

Even so, he's very proud of his speed. No matter how much his mother complains about it.

The stranger suddenly stops, glancing at something on their cell phone, and for the boy, it seems like his lucky day.

He smiles big and goes for it.

He prowls up beside the stranger, 'sinks his claws into' his 'prey, and swiftly snags it.

The stranger almost immediately realizes what happened and looks down at the boy, grinning wide and already trying to open what he's stolen out of his pocket.

"That's my chocolate bar!" The stranger whines in a tone that oddly fits their deep voice.

The boy freezes at that and finally raises his eyes to take a look at the person, and a large pair of eyes stare down at him from beneath the hat the man's wearing. The man doesn't appear threatening.

"O-Oh, .." The boy stammers, realizing what he's done and knowing right off the bat that he's wrong. He pouts a little, glancing at the candy bar and then back up at the man. "Um, if I apologize, can I still have it?"

The man opens his mouth to speak again but feels himself almost melt on the spot, especially when the green cat shirt the child is wearing puts his adorableness into full effect. The kid's presence is one he feels like he knows somehow, with very full lips and a bop-able nose.

"Unfortunately, that's not how it actually works, squirt." He pockets his phone and lowers himself to the child's level, squatting to his knees. "I know you may not understand this, but I really need that candy bar, and I used the last bit of change I had on me to get it. You see, I'm in the middle of my important work and needed a bit of sugar to get me through the rest of the evening, so,

The boy nods, lips parted like he understands, and he looks back down at the candy bar in his hand. He still wants it.

The man sighs, since the kid clearly still doesn't want to return it.

"How old are you?" He decides to ask lightheartedly.

The boy's stare is back on the man. "I'm..." He takes an innocent moment to count on his other hand before he answers, "Three!" and holds up three fingers in addition to his answer.

"Ah..," The man nods, understanding the boy's impulsiveness a bit better now.

"And your mom."

"I'm here with Uncle Alvin; mom sent me."

The man freezes when he hears the particular name. He was about to ask something, but the little boy was already gone.

Alvin?

Six-year-old?

His mom sends him... shit.

The man instantly dials someone's number; he is trying hard to control his shaking hand.

"Boss, it's her. She had a child, and Alvin, he... hello boss? Hello?"

"Fuck, we are all dead."