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"Cody Asher Burns," they could all hear Kade yell from downstairs, and they froze in place, where they were teaching Cody how to play poker at the dinner table. "I swear on Christ's name,"
It went silent, and they could hear the elevator operating, clearly bringing him upstairs. It only took a minute before he was up with them.
He stepped out, took one look, and looked at Cody dead on.
"Your room. Now." He said with a seriousness that not even their Charlie's scoldings could dream of matching.
"But we're playing–"
"Did I fucking stutter?" He asked, with a single raised brow, the harshness to his gaze coming down even worse, and they all shrunk a bit.
"No." Cody said in a quiet, meek voice.
"Then get your sorry little ass to your room, right now."
Cody didn't leave his place at the table, just staring back at him.
"Ten." Kade said, and that seemed to do the trick.
Cody's cards clattered to the table with little grace, and he was just about running up the stairs. Kade watched him, then turned to them and looked at the situation at hand.
"Why the fuck are you all teaching him poker? And with actual chips?" He said, and they looked and remembered that in front of them, they were the actual chips on the table, not a snack like they usually did.
"Just felt like using them." Dani tried to excuse. "I mean, there's not a law against it."
"You know the rules, we don't use the chips, we use snacks." Kade said, turning his ire onto them. "We don't fucking gamble in this house."
Dani and Graham both quickly nodded.
"We'll remember that, and we won't do it again." Dani said, nervously grinning at him.
"Those things had better be put back the fuck away from wherever they came from, by the time he's back down here. And I'm going to check."
Dani and Graham again vigorously nodded in agreement.
"There's a bag of those seasoned pretzels he likes in the cupboard, use those." He told them, and they both nodded, but not so vigorously.
He watched them for a moment longer, and then headed upstairs after Cody.
Then he stopped on one of the steps.
"Cody Asher Burns." He said sternly, "If you aren't up in your room before I am–" was as far as he got before they all heard the noise of feet going up a flight of stairs as fast as they could make them, and Kade just watched.
He stayed there for a moment, and then slowly ascended up the stairs, with a sigh. Looking at Dani and Graham, Charlie could tell they were wishing the best of luck for their baby brother.
"Danielle Robin Burns." Kade called.
Dani shrunk down, and started to try to slide away, but Kade pulled her back up right as soon as he got into the room.
"What were you thinking? Did you lose your common goddamn sense?!" He demanded, and she didn't respond.
"Did your sudden hotshot fame make you forget you're not invincible? Did you suddenly think with your magical scoop claw you put on Blades, you were invulnerable?" He asked. "That just because now your copter is alive, you're safe from the danger that comes with our jobs?"
"No, I jus–"
"Then why the fuck didn't you follow any sort of protocol?" He demanded, getting into her face. "You didn't check the weather to see if it was safe, you didn't let anyone know where you were going, you didn't check in at any point until you were actively in trouble– you didn't do anything you were supposed to do, before and during patrol."
“It slipped my mind, I just didn’t think about it.” Dani said. “And literally five minutes before I’d just been in an argument with you and Graham.”
“That doesn’t mean you don’t follow protocol. Even after I get in bad fights with dad, I still follow protocol.” Kade said.
“It just slipped my mind, this time.” She said.
“Not ‘this time’, you haven’t been following patrol protocols for the past week you’ve had that damned scoop claw on Blades.”
“Okay, I’ve just been focused on rescues is all,” she said. “It’s not a big deal–”
“It is a big deal.” He told her, cutting her off. “The protocol is there to keep us safe, Dani.”
“I know that.”
“Do you? Do you actually know that? Because you certainly haven’t been acting like it.” He said. “And you know what, I don’t even think it was being focused on rescues: it’s that suddenly you were in the center spotlight, and you got to have fun doing your job, at the same time, and it all went to your head.”
“I–”
“Huxley got you and Blades every rescue, you had the full focus, and you came boasting proudly before you went flying off to your potential death, going ‘oh, doing rescues is so fun!’ It’s that you got all of that, it went to your head, and you forgot about the danger, and protocol.”
“Maybe I did, but I haven’t lost any common sense.” She insisted.
“Did you not hear any of what I’ve told you?” He asked. “And if you have, and you still think that you haven’t lost your fucking mind, when you completely disregarded all the safety precautions in place, then you’re downright delusional.”
“Kade.” Charlie stepped in now, his voice stern.
Unfortunately for him, it didn’t seem to do anything, except make him angrier, as he whirled his attention onto him.
“You, stay out of it.” Kade told him.
“Don’t call your sister–”
“Stay out of it.” He repeated. “You wanted us to deal with it ourselves, like adults do. This is us dealing with it ourselves, like adults, after you’ve decided to fuck off because you don’t want to deal with it.” Kade said. “Now, shut it, Charles. Whether you like it or not, this is what Dani needs to hear right now, to have the sense kicked back into her.”
It was silent, as he was left speechless, and Kade glared at him a moment longer, then turned back to Dani.
“Okay, okay maybe I did make a few errors in my judgment.”
“A few?”
“Okay, a lot.” She relented. “But I can still do rescues.”
“Bullshit, not with that conduct you can’t.”
“I just slip–”
"No," Kade cut her off with finality. "Until you recover the cognizance and common sense you lost over the past two weeks, you're grounded."
"But Kade–"
"No. No 'but's about it. You're grounded, confined to desk duty until you prove to me you know what you're doing, and won't try to hotshot into emergencies because you want the spotlight on you, and think being in the middle of danger is fun."
"I don't–" she tried to protest, with tears in her eyes.
"Then fucking prove it to me."
It was silent for a moment.
"Am I clear?" He asked.
Dani just silently nodded in response, not looking at him.
"Good." He said, backing off a bit. "I'm going to head back to the firehouse, and tell the bots and shift the schedule around. When Olivia clears you back home, I expect a full summary to be handed to me as soon as you find me."
She nodded with a hum.
It was silent, and he stared at her, something like guilt creeping into his expression and his eyes filling with remorse and regret, possibly some self-reproach as well, but he steeled himself, and brushed it aside.
"Good." He said in a quieter voice - not by very much, but noticeable. "I'll see you at home."
He turned and left, closing the door behind him, as he went, not another word.
“Graham Oliver Burns.” Came Kade’s voice, suddenly when he was talking to him.
Graham immediately turned to find Kade stood in the doorway with a stern expression.
“Yeah?” He nervously asked.
“You’ve been guilting Dani to take your patrol shifts so you can do your schoolwork full weeks in advance.”
“Some of my classes are rigorous, is all, Kade.”
“And?” He said expectantly, with a raised eyebrow. “You didn’t catch me guilting anyone to helping me or taking responsibilities that were mine, when I was sixteen.”
“But it was different, you weren’t in anything rigorous like I am!”
“Oh yeah?” He asked. “Taking care of Cody every damned night, making sure you and Dani were safe from Rachel’s wrath, and also that neither her or dad were taking their anger with each other out on you guys, being you two’s emotional support, doing high school homework, and taking college courses, while hiding my own support network of friends from everyone, isn't rigorous, at all?"
"I– I mean– I meant an intensive college–"
"You miss the 'taking college courses' part of what I said?" Kade asked.
"No, I just–"
"Give me your schedule." He told Graham, holding his hand out.
"Which one?" The younger asked. "Work or college?"
"Both."
"But–"
"Give them to me. You'll get them back tomorrow morning."
Graham swallowed, and nodded, before he fetched them quickly, and handed them to Kade. The eldest looked them over, before looking at Graham again.
"Every day you had Dani take your night shift, you're going to make up for." He told Graham firmly. "Is that clear?"
"But Kade, my classes–"
"Is that clear?" Kade repeated, more forcefully.
"Yes." Graham conceded quietly.
"Good." He said, and paused before he began again. "Considering, from what I see on the calendar, your next test isn't until next week, your make-up starts tomorrow. You got that?"
"Yes." Graham nodded, his tone meek, and it was very much like if he were a dog his tail would be tucked between his legs, and ears folded in submission.
"Good." Kade said, and promptly left.
Graham just stared, and sighed.
“I’ll fix whatever he messes with, just focus on your homework, son.” He said, putting a hand on Graham’s shoulder.
“No, it’s fine, dad.” Graham dismissed. “I had it coming. I pushed my luck, and Kade is reminding me rarely does anything ever come for free, and I have to work to get what I want, because we have to earn our way in life, rather than hoping for an easy ride.”
Charlie just looked at him confused, but didn’t say anything, and made a mental note to redo the schedule later that night, and try to figure out exactly what made Graham give in so easily.
"Charles Thomas Burns!" Came the yell from all the way down the street. Charlie looked to find Kade storming down the street, and he wasn't even looking at the traffic, as he crossed, and started approaching on his side of the sidewalk.
"What in God almighty's motherfucking name are you doing?" He demanded, yelling as he stormed over.
"Don't try to use my full name on me, I am your father." He said sternly.
"And you're a goddamned idiot." Kade retorted. "You have specific instructions from Olivia that you are to be resting that arm, or you could fuck it up."
"Kade, it will be–"
"Don't you "it will be fine, you're over exaggerating it" me." Kade interrupted. "You get your ass back inside, and rest your arm like you're under doctor's orders to."
"Kade–"
"Right. Now." Kade ordered.
He was by now stood with his hands on his hips, and looming over him, a stern, angry expression on his face.
"Kade, you do realize you can't–"
"Yes the fuck I can." Kade interrupted again. "I'm in the prime of my life, and in incredible shape and condition. You're in your fifties, and you have a recovering arm and shoulder." He said. "If what it takes to make sure you don't fuck up your shoulder, is to drag your ass inside and put both your arms in slings, then I will."
"Kade–"
"Ah." He stopped him. "Inside. Now."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Technically yes." He confirmed. "You get your ass inside and stop exerting stress on it, and you can keep your arm out of a sling, or I will drive you back to the hospital, and have Olivia scold you, and then I'll put your arm back in the sling, and keep it in the sling until your next appointment with her."
It was silent between them for a moment.
"What'll it be, dad?" He asked, his arms crossed over his chest, and his right foot beginning to tap.
Charlie stood up and stared back, trying to intimidate Kade down.
"Try me." He said. "Being older happens to give me more experience."
"Alright, fine then. Be stubborn." Kade said before he turned to the firehouse. "Chase!" He yelled, and then suddenly footsteps were heard, and he poked his head out.
"Yes?" He asked with a tilt of head to his left.
"Need to take dad for an impromptu check with McSwain, make sure he didn't dislocate his shoulder again."
Chase looked between them, back and forth, and then eventually nodded. "Alright. I will put a bookmark in my book, and put it in my subspace."
"Alright."
Chase disappeared to do that, and Kade turned to him. He went to speak, and Kade cut him to it.
"Don't. You did this to yourself." He said.
Charlie sighed with annoyance at his eldest.
Later, he discovered exactly how terrifying it was for his siblings for Kade to call them by their full names, as he heard the fury in his voice as Kade started into an intense scolding, after hearing what Dr.McSwain had to say.
"Charles Thomas Burns, I swear to god–"
[Yo, Chase, where are you?]
[At the hospital.]
[Hospital?]
[Did something happen, Chase?]
[Kade asked me to take him and Chief Burns, for an impromptu check of his shoulder.]
[Oh.]
[Oh.]
[Oh, is that what the yelling out front was about?]
[I assume so.]
[It seems like Chief was disobeying the doctor's instructions, and being stubborn.]
[Well, that explains where they went.]
[Yeah.]
[Also, am I the only one who heard Kade call Chief two names that aren't his?]
[No, I heard them.]
[I have a strong feeling that's his full addressment, the same way mine is Younger Baron Chase Monokuro; House Petrex, of Praxus.]
[Primus.]
[That's longer and more elaborate than mine.]
[I'm just now realizing we've never actually heard your full title.]
[How many times has Barricade called you by your full title when you were in trouble, that you remember it off hand like that?]
[Less than a handful.]
[I remember more because that's typically how I was introduced to people when he brought me with him, as I got older.]
[Oh, wow.]
[I’m surprised.]
[I thought he would have after that incident back in the academy, when you rode spike so hard you crashed, and were in a coma for a full day. And you could have died.]
[Especially after you essentially went “glory, glory, what a hell of a way to die” about it.]
[HAHAHA]
[I love that we’re collectively never going to let him live that down.]
[I don’t mind.]
[I’m not embarrassed.]
[Being embarrassed about that is for chumps.]
[HAHAHAHAHAGSIBEHDBSKDVDIBD]
[CHASE]
[Chase of Praxus, the shameless carrier-fragger who nearly went out at ninety miles a breem with his helm on fire, via spike.]
[fantastic.]
[fits right into team sigma-17, lol]
[God, how did Barricade put up with you.]
[I wasn’t a twat, like a very particular brother of his.]
[HAHAHA]
[it truly is universal:]
[dont be a twat and your creator/guardians will love you]
[Ah, it appears that Kade and Chief are coming back.]
[I’ll talk with you guys more when I get back.]
[Tell us what happens.]
[yeah, lol]
[we’re nosy mfs.]
[I think Chase is trying to pretend he’s just a car, right now.]
[lmao]
[do you actually think they’re gonna forget?]
[Maybe.]
[Kade does sometimes. Or he pretends to really well.]
[Probably just because he’s trying to maintain cover.]
[Eh.]
[Chief Burns is not allowed to do any gardening until he is cleared by the doctor.]
[omp they actually did forget he’s the car]
[lol]
[rip chase]
[chase: the most car to ever car.]
[He is also being confined to the couch, and must have someone with him making sure he’s not “doing something stupid”, or going against the doctor’s orders.]
[wait,]
[are you saying that chief is grounded??]
[not the ‘no flying’ kind]
[Yes, essentially.]
[LMAO]
[🤣(rolling on the floor emoji)]
[😂(laughing crying emoji)]