Mercy (MxM) (COMPLETED)

Chapter Seven- Troublemakers

Chapter Seven-

Sawyer

"What? What happened? Are they okay?" I sit up in alarm, causing Teagan to look at me curiously.

He mouths 'what's wrong?' but I just hold a finger up to tell him to wait.

"They're okay. Frankie is a bit shaken up and William has been suspended for a week." The woman informs me, making me lightly let out the breath I was holding and gesture for Teagan to come with him to his car.

"That's fine, Ma'am. I'll come pick them up now."

"Wait, Sir. You are a legal guardian, correct? You can't pick them up unless you're a parent or legal guardian." She reminds me, making me as Teagan starts driving towards their school.

"I am. Thanks." I grumble, hanging up on her.

Yeah, maybe it was childish, but if their f*****g parents can't be there then I'm going to pick them up whether I'm a guardian or whatever. I'm more of a parent to those kids than our mom and dad are. I bet the school doesn't even know their phone numbers.

Noel got hurt pretty bad about 5 years ago, and had to get rushed to the hospital. They wouldn't let me see him because I wasn't a parent or guardian. My parents took two days to finally come back home, and by that time I had the forms waiting for them. I'd be f*****g damned if I had to deal with that s**t again.

Noel pisses me off beyond belief but I had to sit in that f*****g waiting room for two days without knowing if he was okay or not. I couldn't see him or talk to him. I'm their legal guardian because they're my kids. Our parents have been absent in our lives since I turned 16. Now it feels like they only come back when they need to pop out more babies for me to take care of.

"What happened, baby?"

"William is suspended for a week. They didn't tell me exactly what happened but whatever it was scared Frankie. Sorry to drag you into all this." I mumble as he starts driving us towards the school.

Luckily his car is big enough in the back seat to fit both the kids. I feel bad because it's not even close to the first time he's done something like this for them.

I remember a time where Carson had a fever at daycare, and Teagan went to pick her up and took care of her until I got off work. William got left at a house party by his friends once and Teagan drove me to pick him up. All the kids with cell phones have his number too just in case I don't answer.

"Don't apologize, Sawyer. I don't mind doing this stuff. You mean a lot to me and they mean a lot to you." He reaches over to take my hand and pull it up to kiss the back.

"I know. I really appreciate you, ya know? You do so much for me and for them. You don't have to do all of that, but you do. My parents don't even care enough to do all this."

"You're parents suck." He reminds me, making me laugh and roll my eyes.

The rest of the way, we sit in comfortable silence. Eventually we pull up outside of the school, and both climb out, walking inside to greet the secretary.

"Can I help you?" She asks with far too much attitude in her tone.

"I'm Sawyer Grayson. I'm here to pick up Frankie and William." I answer, looking around to see if I can spot them anywhere.

"Right. I'll go get them for you."

She walks back into the office area and soon enough Frankie comes running out. Before I can process anything, he wraps his arms around me and starts crying into my chest.

"Shh. It's okay, bud. What's wrong?" I ask, practically prying him off of me to look at him. When I notice his bruised face and busted lip, my worry turns to anger. "Who the f**k hit you, Frankie?"

"It's not a big deal! W-Will-"

"I kicked his ass. I don't care if you have a damn crush on him, Frankie. Nobody is going to get away with hitting you for no reason." William grumbles, walking out as well.

His face is a bit bruised, but his knuckles are split open and a little bloody. At least he actually defended Frankie. It sounds like Frankie isn't defending himself.

"Someone just tell me what the f**k happened." I groan.

Frankie is beat up and crying and Will is pissed and he's clearly been fighting. "This asshole Mason, in my grade, cornered Frankie in the locker room after gym. Luckily I'm early to every class or he'd probably be even more beat up than he is now. The prick was hurting Frankie so I punched him and we got into a fight and Frankie kept telling me to stop even though the guy tried to hurt him."

"It had nothing to do with you! I didn't need your help, and I don't want it either." Frankie sneers, glaring at our brother.

I sigh and roll my eyes at the two of them. "We're going home. You two f*****g delinquents ruined my date, so you're both in trouble. Will, since you're suspended for a week, you can take care of Carson. Frankie, no phone, no computer, no video games for the week that Will is suspended. Stop letting that guy hit you just because he's cute. Grow a pair and defend yourself."

The two of them groan and begin complaining while we walk outside, but I ignore them and follow Teagan to the car. He didn't say anything while we were inside, but I didn't expect him to.

"Hey, Teagan. Sorry that we interrupted your sexy time with Sawyer." Will comments once we get into the car.

I reach into the back seat and smack the back of his head. "I told you it was a date. Not sex."

"You're sexy even if we aren't having s*x, baby." Teagan hums, reaching over to hold my hand like he always does when he drives.

I blush and roll my eyes at him. He squeezes my hand and lets his eyes narrow into a glare as he glances at me. Rolling my eyes at him is a 'no no'.

"Oh! Teagan, we were playing soccer during lunch and I totally kicked ass. You would've been impressed." William mentions before Frankie starts talking too.

"I started reading this new book. It's about this guy whose parents die in a car crash but then he finds out that a lot of things just didn't add up so now he's being a detective and trying to solve stuff. It reminded me of that mystery book you got me last month."

"That's great, boys. Maybe if you make the team I could come to a few games, Will." Teagan suggests before stopping at a red light and turning to look at Frankie. "And I'm glad you found a book you like. I have a friend who could teach you some self defense moves if you want. Nothing offensive. Just defense and how to get out of a bad situation if you're interested."

"Uh... yeah. Okay." Frankie mutters in agreement, making me smile.

Sometimes I think they like Teagan more than me. If I had suggested something like that, Frankie would've been pissed. Teagan does it and it's a great idea.

"When, bud. Not if. So when I make the team you're invited to all my games."

Teagan laughs along with him as I just watch and listen to them all interacting. The tension in the car melts away almost instantly when Teagan is here.

I used to think that they only liked him because he buys them gifts, but it's more than that. He just makes people happy. Frankie is never this talkative with anyone but Teagan.

"We're here, kids. Go inside now and go do whatever homework you brought home." I tell them. They both agree and head inside, leaving Teagan and I alone again.

"I'm sorry about all this. Breakfast was really good though. Thanks." I mutter.

He reaches over to fist his hand in my hair before yanking me closer to kiss me deeply. I moan softly and let my eyes flutter shut as I kiss him back.

Eventually he pulls away and pecks my lips again. "Stop apologizing, Pet. Let's go in and we can all watch a movie or something. I can cook lunch in a few hours too."

I smile and nod, waiting for him to park the car before getting out. We walk inside to see Frankie sitting at the coffee table, writing on what looks like a math worksheet while William sits next to him tapping away on his laptop. The TV is turned on and playing some cartoon about dogs that rescue people. Carson seems to be very interested in it.

Noel is laying on the larger couch, typing away on his phone. He doesn't seem to care that we're home, but Carson jumps up when she sees us.

"Daddy!" She screams, running over to hug my legs.

I frown and pick her up, shaking my head at her. "How many times have I told you not to call me that? You know better." I scold her.

She pouts and wraps her arms around my neck to hug me tighter. "Sorry, Buba."

"It's okay. Look. Teagan's here." I tell her, bouncing her on my hip which makes her giggle.

She looks over at Teagan and reaches her arms out to make grabby hands at him. "Teagan! Make me fly?"

He gives her a huge goofy smile and takes her from my arms. He puts his hands at the crook of her armpits and tosses her in the air before catching her again. She squeals and giggles as he laughs along with her.

He tosses her up a few more times before her face turns red from all of the laughing. He puts her on his hip and bounces her a bit as she calms down. "You make one great airplane, kiddo."

"Teagan? Are you and Buba going to be husband and wife?"

"Mind your own business, Carson. That's not something you're supposed to ask." Noel grumbles, making her glare at him.

"Sawyer told me that I can ask whatever I want." She whines, but Teagan just shakes his head.

"Ignore him, kiddo. You can ask me questions if you want." Teagan tells her before smiling. "Your Buba and I love each other a lot, but we like how things are now. Maybe later we'll talk about getting married. Only when we're both ready."

"And then you'll be like our mommy and daddy?"

"You already have a mommy and daddy, angel. I can't take you away from them." Teagan explains, but she shakes her head at him.

"My mommy and daddy don't come home a lot or love us very much. Sawyer is better at being a daddy than they are. When you and Sawyer get married then you can be my new mommy."

I squeeze her cheek and fake glare at her. I can tell that Teagan doesn't know what to say, so I decide to change the subject.

"Why don't you go pick a movie to watch. Whatever you want, okay?"

Teagan puts her down so she can run up the stairs. I just stare at him for a moment, and he stares back. Our eyes have a way of communicating better than our words do.

He feels bad for making her think that we're going to get married soon, and I don't blame him for it at all. I feel bad that she sees him as a parental figure and he think I'm being stupid. He loves the kids. I know he does, but they're not his responsibility. They act like they are though which isn't good.

"She's right, you know? You're better parents to us than our egg and sperm donors could ever imagine being." Will admits, looking up from his laptop with a little smile. "And we really like you, Teagan. You don't have to do anything for us, but you choose to and that just proves that you're a good guy."

"I don't do it to be a good guy. I do it because I like to." He tells them, plopping down on the couch between Frankie and William. He gestures me over, and I obey, sitting in his lap.

"Teagan and I are going out tonight. Candace and Noel won't be here, so Will is in charge. Make sure Carson, Cameron, and Carter get baths. Lottie should take one too and someone needs to braid her hair when she gets out so it doesn't get tangled while she sleeps. Lottie and younger need to be in bed by 8. Julian by 9 and make sure he takes his meds. You two can go to sleep whenever, but don't b***h at me when I wake you up in the morning." I tell them, and they nod.

"Maybe then I could help you release all this stress." Teagan whispers in my ear, using his hands to press against my shoulders gently. I kiss his cheek and nod.

That sounds fantastic.