You're Always You

Chapter Three

David Minett

"Ffff...." David hissed, watching the screen for another moment, before getting up and heading to take care of the issue. He wasn't normally one to hold back a curse, but given he was trying to bring a small child into the world, he felt it necessary to start practicing. Even if he was alone at work.

Considering the disturbance wasn't far from the security office, he didn't need to go a long way, thankfully.

That...didn't mean he wanted to deal with a couple of kids' beef.

"Hey," he called to the teenagers, who were squaring up as teenage boys do, chests out and arms stretched. David had never been one for "squaring up" when he was their age, and he didn't really get the ritual, but having been on the football team in high school, he'd seen it all too often. "Break it up, fellas."

One of the boys snorted. "Oh yeah, whatcha gonna do, mall cop?"

....

"Alright, listen here, you little shit," David said, pulling his baton off his belt.

Seemingly at the notion of being whacked around by a—sort of—cop, they wisely decided to scram. Dave would never actually smack anybody if he didn't need to, but it was a good way to scare people into behaving.

Let 'em go have their beef in somebody else's watch radius.

Rolling his eyes, Dave returned to the security office, and made a mental note to drop a quarter in the swear jar at home. Lydia had set that up when they started trying to get pregnant last year, in their efforts to clean their mouths a bit before there was an impressionable baby around. And, being the honest man he was, Davie always dropped the quarters he owed, even if nobody had been around to enforce it, like just now.

That was something Lydia thought was hilarious, apparently, especially since he waited until she was able to bear witness to him dropping a quarter in the jar. He easily could've just...went along as if he hadn't cursed at all, since it wasn't like Lydie heard it, but....

Nope. Davie didn't have secrets.

He swore.

He owed the jar.

And that was about the only remotely exciting thing all day. Which was ultimately fine, because it meant David didn't need to worry about being hurt, but still bored out of his wits, so. It was the price he paid for supporting his family.

At least when he clocked out, he had something to look forward to.

Having a wife that worked on Broadway was definitely interesting. Dave didn't always visit her at work, even if he did support her wholeheartedly, except for when she was starting in a new show. In that case, he tried to make it to her debut after work. It usually worked out, given shows tended to be more of an evening thing anyway, and that family privilege was great. So when Dave got home, he didn't spare much time for a breath, changing out of his uniform and into something more appropriate for attending a show.

Of course, in the process, a scrap of paper fell out of his shirt as he tossed it towards the hamper, and the man chuckled softly as he went to pick it up. Lydia liked to leave notes for him all over the place, including and especially somewhere on his body. David sometimes put notes on her too, but she was far more dedicated to the practice than he was.

'If you were a potato, you'd be a sweet one.'

David shook his head with a smile, setting the note on his nightstand before slipping on a different shirt, one that screamed mall cop a little less. After all, he was going somewhere a little more highbrow.

That done, he was set to head out again, and started heading towards his wife's occupation. Given she worked in an obviously very busy area, it was honestly better for him to walk there, and he didn't mind. It would take a bit of time, but he had time, and it wouldn't take much more than it would've if he drove, either. At least walking, he'd always be moving, instead of being stopped every minute.

Upon arriving, David kinda felt bad about his VIP pass, considering a bunch of other people waited for hours for these shows, but he'd be a damn dirty liar if he said he would give that very same pass up. He definitely appreciated his expeditious entry, as well as a bit more choice as to seating.

Though this wasn't Lydie's first show, it was her first in a leading role. She'd clawed her way up to this moment in her life, and Dave couldn't be more proud of her. God knows what she'd be doing right now if he hadn't encouraged her to follow her dreams. He was compelled to visit her that moment, to sneak backstage and offer his support, but he would behave and stay where he was...for now. He didn't want to disturb the workflow back there, not until the show was over at least.

He did text his wife where he was seated though, just in case she was curious.

He wasn't necessarily surprised that his phone started buzzing in his pocket not long after, though not because Lydia was calling. No, she was far too busy for phone calls, it was his brother Brett. Given it'd be a little bit before the show started anyway, David decided it couldn't hurt to take the call.

"Hey, kid," the man said into the phone. "What's up?"

Brett sighed, which wasn't good sign. "I picked up Isaiah today. Again."

At that, David exhaled. Isaiah was their sister's boyfriend. A terrible person, if you asked Dave, but Monica was infatuated. She'd get over it, hopefully before she let herself make some kind of mistake like...well, anything involving that guy. "Drunk, I take it," Dave replied, leaning on his other hand and rubbing his temple.

"High this time," Brett responded. "But close enough. I'm worried about Monica, Dave. Picking up her boyfriend is one thing, but I don't want our sister in the back of my squad car. You know she won't listen to me."

She should. Brett was the cop. The actual cop. If there was anyone in the family she should listen to, it was the cop. But, Monica was just going to be huffy that Brett arrested Isaiah, because she was petty like that.

So naturally, it fell on David to keep everybody straight. He'd been doing it all their lives, and he would continue to do it all their lives. He didn't mind, because he loved his brother and sister and he would pick them up no matter what pushed them down, but....

Well, he did feel a bit like the maid.

"I'll talk to her," he promised.

"Thanks, Davie. Hey, how's Lydia doing? Been a little while."

Ah, something he could smile about. "She's good," David responded. "Debuting her first lead role tonight, so I'm sitting in the theater right now."

"Oh shit, I forgot about that. We'll all have to see her later. Y'know, when people care less and the lines are shorter."

"Ass," Dave snorted, allowing himself another quarter to the jar.

"Hey, you know I'm all about efficiency."

He hummed patronizingly. "Anyway. We'll talk later, bud. I don't want granny in back to scold me for being on my phone."

"You right," Brett laughed. "Tell Lydie I said she'll do great, I know it. And make me an uncle already, asshole."

David chuckled and shook his head. "Not for lack of trying."

"I know, I know. Talk to y'later, man."

With that, Dave hung up the phone, just in time for the theater to be just about filled, and for the show to be almost ready to start.