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[a1enzo]

Enzo leads the way in through the closet.

He is not looking forward to this. At all.

What's the worst they could react?

That might be a more comforting thought if he didn't immediately start imagining the answer.

Comments

[a1enzo]

Enzo's smile grows with pure, overwhelming relief. "Really?"

[command_dot_com]

"Yes, you've learned how to handle stress..and troubling problems very well." Some small part wishes he had asked her about dealing with stress..and a larger part is glad he didn't.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"But if you ever need help dealing with it in the future, don't hesitate to ask, okay?"

[a1enzo]

"O-okay," says Enzo, with a little laugh. "Arnold already taught me to meditate. I'm not too good at it, but it helps some."

Yes. Enzo Matrix, meditating. No, it's not the Apocalypse.

[command_dot_com]

...Are you SURE it's not a sign of the Apocalypse?

Because Dot is really having trouble seeing Enzo being able to sit still long enough to do that.

[a1enzo]

He did say he wasn't too good at it.

He laughs at her expression, because frankly, he doesn't blame her.

[ami_imperfect]

Dani sputters a laugh. "Meditation?" she echoes. "This I gotta see."

[a1enzo]

"What? You don't think I can do it?"

Enzo immediately closes his eyes, slows his breathing, and adopts an expression of near-terminal serenity.

It's pretty good until the laugh bursts out, seven picoseconds later.

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob smirks. "Now I've really seen everything."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal just looks on, smiling. He'd assured Enzo from the start that things would work out all right with this meeting, that it would be okay in the end, but this is far better than he'd hoped. He'd expected more tension and trouble at first, more difficulty to navigate.

(Cal knows, in theory, how a healthy, supportive family behaves, but he finds it harder to believe in in practice than he realizes.)

[a1enzo]

Enzo knows in practice how such a family behaves, it's one of the things he counts on in life, and this is still far better than he'd feared. They're not mad, or ashamed of him. They're proud of him. He's so relieved, it's hard to stop laughing.

"Thanks, guys," he tells his family. "And thanks for helping," he tells his... unofficial family.

[isaysimplewords]

"Any time, Enzo," Cal says, sincere.

He does not say I told you it'd be all right because that is a conversation for another time.

[command_dot_com]

"Don't be afraid to ask questions in the future, okay?"

Really, she'd be happy to answer them. After all, she had to give Enzo the talk once.

...That reminds her, she does still owe Foxtrot one for that.

[a1enzo]

"Okay. ...can I go visit Dani for a while?"

It's a question!

[command_dot_com]

"Get permission first from Jack and Maddie and bring back some of those cookies of hers as confirmation and we'll see."

Old game, Enzo, a very old game.

[a1enzo]

Oh-ho. We see what you did there with the cookies, Dot. What a sly and cunning plan, indeed.

"Okay, Sis."