Work Text:
Killian's grip on the spoon was tightening by the second. The fight he had with his father earlier replayed in his mind.
He was having dinner in the Kings Mansion. Jonathan's estate, to be specific. Everyone was present, including Jeremy, Nikolai, and Annika. It was Christmas Eve, and his father was mad at him for not attending dinner with his parents.
As if he actually wanted him there.
New year's dinner is to be spent with the Bratva, anyway. He didn't understand why his father was so angry. A fight had broken out in call, and his mom had intervened as usual. She told him to forget that and have fun, and she cut the call.
Even if the Kings were hostile to him, he preferred them over the disapproving looks his own father gave him. At least, he didn't grow up that way with the Kings.
His girlfriend, Glyn, noticed his discomfort and took hold of his left hand, caressing it with her thumb. His grip on the spoon momentarily loosened, and he gave her a small smile. She smiled back at him and leaned in.
"Are you okay?" She asked in a quiet tone. Jonathan was speeching about their company's sales and whatnot. She'd hate to interrupt her Granddad, unlike him.
"Perfect," he replied, pressing a kiss to her head. Her smile widened. But, a cough caught their attention, and both of them turned to see everyone staring at them. Glyndon gulped while Killian rolled his eyes.
"I was foolish to think that you'd keep some manners, at least during dinner." Levi King's disapproving voice cut in.
"Dad," Glyndon whispered. Next to Levi, Astrid was glaring at her husband, while Landon was stifling a laugh. Killian took in a deep breath, calming himself.
"Perhaps you were, Mr. King." He said, offering a fake smile. He was already angry. He didn't need this. Everyone's eyes comically widened at his reply.
He glanced at Jeremy, Landon's devoted boyfriend and his best friend, who was warning him with his eyes. His cousin, Nikolai, on the other hand, looked as smug as ever.
Right, him and his imaginary competition to be the favourite son-in-law.
"I beg your finest pardon?" Levi's voice was calm, despite the anger boiling inside him. Killian simply smirked, and before he could throw another snarky comment, Brandon King interrupted.
"Dad, stop." Brandon said. Him and Eli were the only people Kill liked in this posh household. Oh, and his mother-in-law. She is an absolute sweetheart. "Grandpa was saying something," he gestured to Jonathan King, whose face was as stoic as ever.
"I was." He nodded before sending a glare to Killian, who smirked at him. "Anyway, where did I stop?" He looked over at Aiden King, who rolled his eyes.
"The conference meeting." He replied bluntly as Creighton next to him gobbled up his food. Annika was stifling her giggles staring at her boyfriend. Eli, like the devoted perfect grandson he is, waited for Jonathan to speak again.
"Ah, yes, so -" Killian tuned him out immediately, looking back down to his food. Why they were talking business in a family dinner, he didn't know. He glanced up to meet Landon's eyes, and the psycho was assessing him. He glared at him, and Landon smirked before leaning into Jeremy's ear to whisper something to him. Killian rolled his eyes and forced his gaze away.
A minute later, he got a text message. His phone beeped, and again, attention was on him. He resisted a groan and gripped Glyn's hand.
"See, Jonathan," Aurora King's voice cut in. "The kids are getting bored. It's Christmas Eve! Don't talk about business." She sighed. Next to her, Elsa King nodded.
"Yeah, Grandpa, don't be a bore." Landon teased, smirking. Jonathan's jaw twitched, yet a fond glint sparkled in his eyes.
"I suppose," he murmered. "Go ahead, Lan, tell us what you've been up to." Jonathan challanged with the smallest of smirks.
"What else, swooning over Volkov." Eli snorted. Landon glared at him for a second before giving him the sweetest smile ever.
"At least I have someone to swoon over, unlike you who is so pathetically -" Landon was cut off when Eli reached over to stuff a breadstick into his mouth. "Hmp!"
The table erupted with laughs and giggles. Killian tried to join in and not be jealous. They were both exactly like him. Diagnosed at young ages, yet they were loved.
As snobbish as the Kings were, they loved each other and never made any of them feel like outcasts.
Unlike his family.
All of them accepted Landon and Eli for who they are and even supported them, especially Aiden King. His father was Aiden's friend, and he wondered why his father couldn't accept him like Aiden accepted his son and nephew.
"Oh, you two." Elsa King said, smiling. Landon chewed on his breadstick angrily while Eli glared at him.
The dinner wasn't so boring after that. They made jokes and light talk while eating, and Killian somewhat enjoyed himself since his people were also there.
But underneath it all, his form was still quite tense, and he couldn't forget the fight.
...
Kill and Glyn walked into Glyndon's room in the mansion after dinner. She closed the door and turned to him.
"I'm gonna take a shower," she informed. Killian smirked and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Can I join?" He murmered. Glyndon laughed, blushing.
"No," she said, making him pout. "I told you, we must behave in Granddad's house."
"Right, house." Killian snorted. As if this could be called anything close to that. Glyn giggled before stepping into the bathroom.
Killian plopped down on the plush bed and pulled out his phone. He decided to check the text he received earlier.
Overlord
Are you okay?
Oh, it was from Jeremy. That little shit Landon probably noticed his tense form and whispered to Jeremy about that.
Why though?
Did he also ask him to check up on him?
Killian nearly jumped when his ringtone blasted. He really needed to learn to put his phone on silent.
All thoughts went out of his head when he saw the caller ID. His father was calling him. Killian thought to decline, but because he was a pathetic loser, he answered.
"Hello?" Asher Carson's steady voice spoke through the phone. Killian's jaw clenched.
"Hi, Dad." He said. "Did anyone die?" He asked. He heard a sigh from the other line.
"No."
"Oh? That's news. I thought you'd only call me for that." He said.
"Killian.." Asher spoke. "I called to apologise for what happened earlier."
Killian scoffed. "Compared to all that you've said in the past, this is nothing."
"What?" Asher said, confused.
"Don't play dumb, Dad." He said, a bitter chuckle leaving him. His anger got the best of him, and he said, "I heard you that night. With mom."
There was silence on the other line for a second before Asher spoke again. "What did you hear?"
Killian didn't want to say it, but he decided he had suffered enough, so he said. "You said that you should've only had Gaz. You said that I was defective."
The following silence was loud. Killian's body was still while his heart was hammering. This was the first time he had confronted his father on this matter.
"Killian..." Asher's voice was small. "I didn't -" Killian cut him off.
"Didn't mean to have me?" He scoffed. "I don't want to talk to you right now." He said. Before Asher could say anything, he hung up. Killian tossed his phone on the bed and stared at the floor blankly.
He felt his lungs closing in. He felt stares on him. He felt so judged. He shouldn't have answered the call. He shouldn't -
A knock jerked him out of his mental battle. Killian abruptly stood up and walked towards the door. He shoved one of his hands into his pocket and opened the door with the other.
A distraught looking Levi King stood on the other side. Killian stared at him, blinking and confused.
"Do you need something, Mr. King?" He asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Levi stared at him for another moment.
"I'm sorry I eavesdropped." That's all he said before pulling Killian into a bone crushing hug. Killian stilled, unsure of himself. His to be father-in-law was hugging him. Because he had heard his call with his father. Killian didn't know what to do. There was a slight tremor in his body.
"I don't know if you like physical affection, but after what I heard, I have to, so you will tolerate it." Levi's calm voice spoke to him. The man was too fatherly for his own good. Killian felt his body shaking.
"You can't believe what he said, Killian. You are not defective. You are extraordinary, better than those ordinary people. You should be proud of who you are, and if anyone says otherwise, they can shove their opinion up their arse." Killian didn't realise when his tears began to fall. He clutched onto Levi and sobbed, while Levi rubbed his back.
"Nobody gets to tell you who you are, except yourself. You are perfect the way you are. So, you should hold your head high while you walk, not out of pretence, but out of the acknowledgement that you are different, but that doesn't make you any less of an extraordinary person that you are. And especially, not defective." Levi spoke to him so softly that Killian had to resist himself from wailing like a baby.
For once in his life, he felt seen by an elder. And that person was his grump of a father-in-law. It was laughable how moments ago, Levi was plotting Killian's murder. Now he was comforting him.
"Do you understand me, Kill?" He asked. Killian nodded into his shoulder, his heart swelling.
"Thank you," he murmered. Levi chuckled and pressed the side of his head against Killian's head.
"The only thing you should be thanking me for is letting you date my daughter." He said, patting Killian's back. Killian managed a snort.
"You don't understand," he began. "I've never been -" he cut himself off, not knowing what to say.
"I understand just fine, Killian." Levi said as Killian pulled away. "What you need right now is rest and to forget that call."
Killian nodded. Then, he raised his eyebrows as Levi pulled out his phone and called someone.
"Aiden?" He called into his phone. Killian wiped his tears and stared confused. Aiden was just down the hall. Why was he calling him?
"The next time you see your little friend Asher Carson, punch him in the gut. Or else, I'll do it." He said and hung up. A small laugh broke out of Killian at the proud smile on Levi's face.
"Go to sleep, Kill. You need it." Levi said, patting his cheek. Killian nodded, stepping back into the room. Then he remembered something.
"Oh, Mr. King -"
"Levi." Killian smiled at the interruption.
"Levi," he said. "You are an amazing father."
The elder man's smile widened, and he reached up to squeeze Killian's shoulder. "Thank you." He said.
Killian kept his smile, and Levi closed the door, wishing him a good night. He let out a deep breath, and he felt his heart swell and mind clear.
The bathroom door opened, and Glyn stepped out, wearing her night clothes. "Ready for bed?" She asked, smiling.
Kill returned it and pulled her onto the bed, eliciting a surprised laugh out of her. He was feeling warm and happy. Then, he whispered to her,
"Don't tell your brother, but," He began. "I think I love your family." He smiled as he said so.