Cody learns to love

The one chapter where Wolffe talks

  It's been a while since the last time Wolffe sought out master Plo for no other purpose than to vent. In fact, he hasn't done so in years. He shouldn't have to, he wasn't a child anymore. And there he was, knocking at the door of master Plo's office.

  Master Plo opened the door in no time. "Ah, Wolffe. Do you need something?"

  "Can I talk to you, master Plo?"

  "Of course, come in."

  Wolffe followed the Kel Dor inside. He always liked master Plo's office. It was cozy but not in the overstuffed way with tons of carpets and pillows that Wolffe hated. The room was a simple office, with a desk, a few chairs, a kettle an a fridge and some shelves. What made it feel so cozy and welcoming were the small things, like the plate of cookies on the table, or the mismatched mugs on one of the shelves. Wolffe sat on one of the chairs. 

  "What brings you here?" master Plo asked. He always spoke with this type of kindness that made Wolffe want to tell him everything. When he saw master Plo on his first day of school, the big Kel Dor scared him, just as he scared all the other kids. And then master Plo introduced himself, gave them all candy and Wolffe decided that he actually liked his new teacher. After that, it didn't take much and Wolffe started viewing master Plo more as a spare parent he could go to when Cody was occupied than a teacher.

  "I just... need to talk?"

  "Alright." Master Plo pushed the plate of cookies that was always on his table closer to Wolffe. "We have the entire lunch break. Take a cookie. Tell me all you need to tell me. I will give you something to drink. Do you want soda or hot chocolate?"

  "Soda, please." That was another thing about master Plo. He liked feeding students. Wolffe knew for a fact that Plo always had one of those supermarket sandwiches in his fridge just in case someone forgot their lunch.

  "Here you go." Master Plo poured some coke into a mug and handed it to Wolffe. "Now talk, my dear boy. I'm listening."

  "I think Cody has depression." Probably not the best start but how was Wolffe supposed to start about the shit that was happening in their family? "I mean, he is always kinda depressed but not like this."

  "And why do you think he isn't doing great?"

  "It started a few days ago. The twins told him that he was gross and refused to talk to him."

  "Why would they say that?"

  "Cody told them he was gay. And some teacher in daycare told the kids there that it was gross," Wolffe explained.

  "And what did Cody tell them about it?"

  "Just the typical stuff. That the teacher was lying to them, that being gay was fine and stuff. The twins refused to talk to him. They talk to him now but only because Rex managed to convince them that it didn't happen and that they just had some special kind of dream."

  "And how is Cody planning on telling them now?"

  "Cody doesn't know this. He thinks that they just forgot about it overnight or something. He didn't talk about it with them, though. I think he is mostly happy that they aren't avoiding him anymore. But he's afraid that they will start. At least they fired the teacher."

  "You feel guilty about this, don't you?" How did master Plo always know what was Wolffe thinking?

  "Kind of?"

  "Why?"

  "I started the discussion. The one where Cody told them he was gay. It was a joke. I didn't want to start anything, I swear. I just joked about Cody having a boyfriend and the twins started talking about how wrong that would be. I didn't want any of this to happen."

  "Oh, Wolffe..." The Kel Dor sighed. "It's not your fault."

  "And what should I do now?"

  "One thing you definitely should do is tell Cody the truth about why the twins seemingly forgot about all of this. He will have to talk about it with them sooner or later and he can't do that if he doesn't know this."

  "Alright. And what then?"

  "This isn't your battle, Wolffe. The only thing you can do is make Cody's life a little easier. You could start with doing your chores. We both know you often forget about that."

  Right. All the chores that Wolffe forgot about or simply didn't care to do. He supposed he was going to have to start. "I will try."

  "I know you will. You are a good boy, Wolffe." Master Plo looked at him kindly, or as kindly as his face mast allowed him to. He opened his arms. "Come here, Wolffe."

  And Wolffe did. He let the Kel Dor embrace him. It was pathetic just how much that hug meant to him. But it was so comforting!

  "And remember, Wolffe, that you can always come to me."

  "Always?"

  "Always. Even if it's four in the morning."

  "Thanks."

  "It's alright, Wolffe. You needed someone to talk to and I'm happy I could help. Now what do you say you try to eat something? Maybe it will make you feel better."

  "Okay."

  Wolffe let go of the Kel Dor. He missed the clawed arms around him. But it was okay. He was going to be okay. He finally took a sip of the drink master Plo poured for him.

  "Wolffe? You know, I actually wanted to talk to you too. And to Cody."

  "But I'm not failing any classes." At least Wolffe hoped so.

  "No, no. It's not about that. It's personal, actually. Do you remember how I told you that I was going to meet my future adoptive sons?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well, I met them. And... I think it's going to be for the best if I show you." Master Plo put a picture in front of Wolffe. "These are Boost and Sinker."

  "But they're..." They were obviously brothers. A few years younger copies of Wolffe. They looked almost identical to Fox. "They're Fetts."

  "Technically they are. But they don't know who their father is and the social services don't know it either. I only know because they look like you and the rest of your family. I wanted to talk to Cody. From what you said, he's been adopting all your siblings in need of home and I don't want it to look like I'm stealing them from him."

  "I don't think Cody will mind." In fact, Cody was probably going to be glad that these two, Boost and Sinker, were in the capable hands of someone else. "But I can talk to him."

  "I understand that he is very busy. But if it would be possible, I would like to talk to him. We don't have to meet up here, I can meet him wherever it's convenient for him."

  "I will tell Cody you want to speak with him," Wolffe promised.

  "Thank you, Wolffe."

  Wolffe decided he loved master Plo. The man was always there for him when he needed it, always offered some advice or just to listen. And now he was going to take care of Wolffe's brothers too. It meant a lot.