Pup

Thanksgiving?

Hank finished off his morning coffee just as the sun-filled his kitchen through a window over the sink which cast his shadow onto the floor and wall across from him. He rinsed out the mug for extra measure and headed for the stairs as he looked at his watch which read 11:23. Pretty late in the day for Hank but Oliver needed the sleep and it was thanksgiving vacation so there was no harm done in sleeping in especially before the busy day ahead. Hank climbed the stairs and began drawing a bath before going to Oliver's room and walking in. When the door opened Hank scanned the floor for how much wasn't on Oliver's bed because the more things on the floor, the worse nights sleep he got and the harder the day that lied ahead. But from the angle, he was walking everything was in a large mass of tangled blankets on his bed which he somehow managed to get himself into, so much so, that even his bright red hair was hidden amongst it all. Hank approached the bed quietly and looked between layers of blankets to figure out which way he was facing but he couldn't tell so he just gently shook the mass to stir the one inside it. After a few shakes, small squeaks could be heard as the ball unraveled, revealing a sleepy sloth stretching his arms up from around his stuffed dinosaur. Oliver sat up and wiped his eyes as he wobbled on his bed trying to sit on his legs to be somewhat level with Hank to greet him albeit half asleep and his hair shooting out in every direction some even leaning over and tickling his nose. Hank chuckled and did his best to brush the wisps out of his face so he could see clearly but they still persisted on tickling his little nose with tiny red fingers. Oliver shook his head like a puppy and tried shoving the curls back until his hair finally stood and leaned back at an angle that would keep them out of his face as long as he kept his head up straight which was easy, considering Hank standing above him with a smile on his face.

"I guess I'm going to have fun trying to make all that nice and neat huh?" Hank asked.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, today's..Thanksgiving right?" he asked gloomily tilting his head back down in defeate and completely covering his face in a fluffy red curtain.

"Hey look at me," Hank said using his hand to lift his chin. "I know you're worried but remember what Dr. Charles said about your buddy bag. We'll put him in a different room and you can go to him whenever you feel scared and it's going to be the same as if we were eating at home. Just with a couple more people, that's it." Oliver's head got a little lighter on Hank's finger that was still holding his head up to ensure eye contact and focus. Oliver looked down from Hank's eyes as to replay the words in his head wishing he could change them. Oliver was about to be insnared by the prison that was his racing and damaged mind. That is until he looked back up at Hank on his own, holding his gaze like a mirror and lifting his head from his hand.

"Pappa? Can I help like I last night when we go?" he asked looking down at his feet as he grasped them and began to rock slightly. "With food and plates?"

Hank put a gentle hand on his head to stop his rocking and replied, "I'm sure we could work something out. But we have to get ready first so go on and get into the bath for me and wash up then let me know when you're done so we can try and do something about this" he motioned to the puff that was Oliver's bedhead.

Oliver's brow quirked up in an arch, "what do you mean thiiiiiiiiss? Thiiiiiiss is okay look at my horns!" He pointed to two strands of hair which were sticking out on thier own then continuing to headbut Hank in the stomach. Hank chuckled fondly as he gently pushed Oliver by one shoulder in which Oliver willingly fell backwards back onto his bed with a light "ooof."

"Alright little man lets get going we don't want to be late" Hank said turning to go to Oliver's closet door as he plucked a dinosaur towel from one of the hooks. Oliver sat up from his bed and shuffled across to the floor to Hank as he lead the way to the tub which just finished filling up by the time they enterted. Hank turned off the water and left Oliver to soak and wash up so Hank could then wash and tame Oliver's hair which would prove to be just as difficult as Hank remembered it to be. Even after washing de-tangling shampoo through every hair his curls still managed to intertwine like vines and get stuck in the brush, making things a little more difficult and longer of a process. Hank had given up halfway through trying to make it out of this dry his shirt was already collecting the droplets of water coming from Oliver's hair when it was brushed including the puddles of water around the top of the tub. After fighting with Oliver's hair he got dry and Hank helped him into his outfit for the day which was a maroon buttondown shirt, brown pants and black shoes shined to perfection. With a little finishing touch being a festive fall bowtie which somehow made him look a little bit older than he actually was. Hank got down on one knee to fold Oliver's collar back over the tie and straighten out his shirt before getting back up on both feet to walk to his own room to get ready himself but not before turning to the small shadow looming behind him.