Stone Cold

S e v e n

"Here babes," lance set a plate at the counter during dinner rush as she was coloring from a coloring book she stole from a bank. He stopped at home to grab some things before the rush.

"How you holding up?" He smiled hopeful at her.

"I stole some crayons from a fat white boy down the street then a weird looking white haired man gave me five bucks to get real crayons, he said he knows you, I got ice cream instead," Chloe beamed happily holding up the money.

"Good for making fat boys cry... going to have to kick lotors ass, and I swear to god your going to be our breadwinner if you keep up making money like today... never sell your shoes again my precious angel," he kissed her head walking away grabbing two plates of food to serve.

"Here's the double bacon burger with fries and extra pickles, and chicken tenders also with fries and ranch," lance set the plates down to two women.

"Hey you were here earlier?" He smirked at the red head girl.

"Yep! Ezor," she stuck her hand out. "Lotors assistant,"

"Oh, good to know your not his girlfriend," lance joked as she popped a fry in her mouth.

"Nope, she's my girlfriend," a more buff woman with short hair spiked back with large hoop earrings.

"Hm, cute," lance smiled at them unfazed. "Well I'll be back in a little to check on you two, refills?"

"Nah," zethrid waved him off. Lance nodded and walked away, but he turned back to them thinking for a moment.

"Your his assistant," lance stated looking at ezor as she raised an eye brow nodding.

"Tell Lotor we're even," he put the golden watch on the table and walked away irritated the fact Lotor was near Chloe in the first place.

"I knew you stole his watch," ezor giggled putting the watch in her purse smirking.

"Yea well it's not worth it anymore," lance smirked back rolling his eyes. "Tell him to stay away from my family,"

——

At the end of the night Milo and Dani came in earlier and stayed as the three siblings hung at a booth as Milo was falling asleep against Dani as Chloe was curled up in a ball on the other side as she had lances sweater as a blanket.

Lance was cleaning the tables as Matt was counting the money for end of the day closing while it was one other waitress that was sweeping.

"Hey lance if you want to take the kids home you can clock out, thanks for helping tonight," Matt told the teenager as lance looked up.

"Cool, I'll see you Tuesday morning," lance nodded as he went to punch out, throwing his apron in a bag with others to be washed.

He walked over to Dani who was reading and she looked up at him with relief.

"Hey, ready to go home?" Lance smiled st her.

"Yea, you going to carry Chloe?" Dani asked and he nodded kneeling down to wake up Milo.

"Hey bud, lets go home," lance brushed his little brothers hair back as Milo groaned but opened his eyes.

"Will you carry me?" He asked with a small whimpering whine. Lance looked at Dani but she pursed her lips shrugging.

"Yea, I'll give you a piggy back ride," lance kissed his forehead.

"I'm going to go to Nina's," Dani stood up as Milo got up rubbing his eyes.

"Dani," lance said sternly.

"What? Not like I'm going to become Rachel and go become a prostitute," she snorted shaking her head and walked out the door now awake more and lance pursed his lips feeling his chest tighten. Milo looked up at his brother sadly.

"I can walk lance," he said with a small smile holding his brothers hand.

"Thanks, I think Chloe's going to need to be carried," lance smiled back and went to pick up Chloe without waking her up, her arms slumped against his shoulders as she laid her cheek on his shoulders as well.

"Bye Matt," Milo waved as he pushed the door open for lance to get through.

Lance grabbed milos hand as they walked down the more empty streets as a few cars in the city passed by late in the night.

"Is dani going to leave too?"

Lance closed his eyes squeezing milos hand tighter.

"Your smart miles, your getting older and..." lance wanted to say something to convince his brother or even himself enough.

"I'm getting older and I'm understanding these kinds of things, I know," Milo squeezed his hand back.

"But I won't leave lance, I'm old enough to know what's important, setting fires to the kids bikes at school and family, as long as you don't leave either," he nodded with a small gulp looking up at him as lance let out a small breath.

"There's a few McClain's that know that code, seems to skip every other kids," lance winked.

"Hey lance?"

"What's up,"

"Thank you," Milo stopped and wrapped his arms around his waist catching him by surprise but held his little brother softly and rubbed his back with one hand.

"I don't remember what mom really looks like, or what she's like, and dad is dad... Thank you for being my parent big brother," he whispered.

"Is this what happens when boys go through puberty?" Lance whispered to himself surprised at him. He doesn't remember Rachel, Veronica or even Dani being like this, they were mean and violent, maybe Milo is opposite?

"What's up with the sudden cuddles my man?" Lance laughed a little as Milo pulled away.

"I just don't like how Dani is leaving us and treating you like shit... could we go live with Keith instead?" Milo asked softly and lance caught his breath suddenly.

"Keith's in Texas for college Milo," he swallowed a lump in his throat.

"I know," the eleven year old mumbled and lance looked ahead as they had three miles to reach home.

Milo I silent for the rest of the time until they got back home with John passed out on the front lawn. Milo closed the gate behind them so a dog wouldn't try eating their father again. Lance held the door open for him to go inside and felt exhaustion pulling him to the bed after he put Chloe to bed. He trudged to his room and saw Milo already snoring on his bed and let out a soft sigh. Lance dragged his feet as it was practically 1 a.m. already and dropped his body against the first room that didn't have a child in it. He didn't care who's, he was sleeping here tonight.