Playing With Titles

People think being a kid is easy at the age of nine. Because they can think back before work and relationships. For John Renczi it's a whole new kind of nightmare. After five years of torture an sickening torture too great to even be on the same level of what anyone could truly even believe or understand , being thrown into fourth grade was horrifying in its own way.

His Guardian, Jack Petrov, had kept him at home. Mostly because, well, he had to recover from almost being killed after being beaten to death. Needless to say, two broken legs, arm, wrist, every rib, and internal bleeding collar bones sticking out of his skin. So much was wrong but Jack paid for everything, every surgery that his personal doctor couldn't handle privet physical therapy in his gym. Helping him improve his English, learning to walk without a limp. Most of all training him as his apprentice, his partner; Black Bird.

Despite the fact his sibling are all dead he is happy.  Though he would have much prefer Miranda or Jack stay at the manor and home school him, but Jack does his work (John isn't quite sure what that is) and Miranda has not Jack and John people to help, so he goes to school. A very nice, expensive private school that required a nine year old to write a seven page essay to get in. Jack could have just bought his way in, but John likes to do think on his own. He even got mad at Jack when he made him use a cane at school.

John sits in the back of his class room with his cane on his lap. He doesn't really have friend. It's probably because his only interaction in the past year has been adults. Still he tries but most of the time he ends up missing Irene and Thomas, even the twins. Most of all he misses Carter, even though he's been gone the longest.

"Alright class," Miss Marks says drawing John's attention. "This Wednesday is parent's night! So don't forget to tell your guardian to come." John hates it when she says 'guardians' because it's directed only at him. Why couldn't Jack just have said he was his dad? Okay John knows why. Because a man Jack's age (or said age because he's over six-hundred years) having a nine year old son leads to a lot of awkward questions. So he's John's uncle, even if John sometimes calls him Dad when their alone.

Miss Marks calls for recess and John approaches her feeling strangely timid.

"Miss Marks," he says. "I don't think Jack can come."

"Why is that," the woman asks clearly annoyed which makes John want to telepathically throw her across the room. Oops the globe is shaking, bad thought.

"He's really busy," John says.

"If he's so busy he shouldn't have taken in a child," Marks says. Now John is really getting mad.

"Maybe if people didn't say bad things about him every time he comes here," John growls.  

"John if he cares about you he'll come," and she walks away leaving John very upset. Why do people have to say that stuff?  Jack was the first adult to ever show him kindness. He let him into his world. He even fought with Miranda who didn't think he should keep John. She now knows it's good though. John looks at his shoes and sighs. He really wants Jack right now.

***
Jack is sitting on the couch in his study reading. Suddenly John walks in, throws his backpack and cane before sitting next to Jack. John flops his head on Jack's lap. Jack frowns.  John is a cuddly kid but normally it's just because, clearly something is wrong. Jack waits five minutes before realizing John isn't doing to talk so he addresses, his son.

"Something wrong," Jack asks very causally. John snuggles his head against Jack's thigh.

"Will you come to parent's night," John asks. He feels horrible; Jack does so much for him he shouldn't ask for anything.

"What brought this up," Jack asks clearly nervous. School function and multi-billionaires with bad reputations.

"Miss Marks was saying bad things about you," John mutters. "It made me mad." Jack smiles in a way that only John can make him. His son is so protective. Of course jack is the one who nearly killed a criminal for touching John. Maybe he's a bad influence.

"Do you really want me to go," Jack asks running his callused fingers threw John's black hair lightly touching the over the scars on his face.

"No," John says. "I just want them to not say bad things about you." Jack smiles again.

"Okay," he says and John sits up.

"What," John looks confused.

"I'll go," Jack says. "You work hard you shouldn't have to put up with that shit." John smiles widely and hugs jack around the waist.

***
"Jack pulls at his tie and misses the days where he could wear tunics (sometime in the 1300s). John is slight behind him, trying hard not to be notice. Jack can already hear the mummers.

"How can they let a man like that have a child?"

"Boy's a cripple. I'll bet he's abused."

More and more things that make him want to kills something and he know John is holding back a telepathic rage, poor kids gonna have the headache from hell later.

"Relax Jack sooths.  "Your brains gonna explode." John lets out a long breath and nods.

"Hey," a kid's voice says. "How come Jack is here? He's not John's dad! He's just his uncle!"  Jack sees John's go wide than narrow before clench his fist.  Jack actually snarls before walking up to the boy's father.

"I suggest you shut your kid up," Jack growls. "I don't give a shit about titles, John is my son." Jack turns around and puts his hand on John's shoulder leading him out. Once in the car John buries himself in Jack's chest.

"Thank you," he says into the suit fabric.

"I love you kid," Jack says.

"Love you too," John sighs. Screw titles, Jack are the best dad ever.

A/N: My dad is such an ass, I want Jack.