Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Blake was woken up by a noise coming from one of the rooms of his small flat. He vanquished all the sleepness out of his head looking at the phone clock which was showing 2 a.m. Yawning, the 6'5 tall man got up and wandered towards the sole place with the lights on - his petite kitchen. Blake stopped in the doorway, and his heart skipped a beat. Right there, over the table, there was a mini version of Adam Levine. Their 6-year-old son was deep in his thoughts, so he didn’t even notice Blake’s approach right away. The freckle-faced boy kept ruffling his own dark hair, wearing the exact same expression that Adam had when he was upset or confused. For God’s sake, the kid even frowned in the same manner with those identical bushy eyebrows of his. Blake’s heart started to ache even stronger at that observation.

‘‘Hey, little buddy.’’ The Okie smiled softly at his child, approaching the fridge in order to get some milk for his baby nightbird. ‘‘Shouldn't someone be deep in his sleep? Come on, talk to me, scout.’’

His son just sighed copying his favorite rocker so awfully well, and that depressed Blake even more. But Shelton kept his warm dimply smile and winked at the kid, pouring the milk in his cup with that yellow-purple Lakers logo. Another micro-detail that reminded Blake of the strong bond that Adam shared with their son.

‘‘Dad, don’t you love daddy anymore?’’ The boy asked him all of a sudden, swinging his little legs from the hight of the chair he was sitting on. Blake almost choked on that question.

‘’Of course, I love him, bud. I love you both more than anything in my life.’’

‘’Then why don’t you live with us anymore? Cause daddy misses you, doesn’t he?’’

‘’He told you something?’’ Blake’s pulse quickened with hope right away.

‘’He doesn’t talk much about you. But I saw him crying over your picture a couple of days ago. He thought I wouldn’t notice, but I saw him,’’ the kid mumbled, ‘’I don’t want daddy to cry anymore. Can’t you just come back?’’ And then he looked up at him with his big blue eyes - the sole thing that he’s got from Blake. This child was indeed a pure miracle and the sole existence of their boy never ceases to amaze Blake.

His son looked at him expectedly, and now it was Blake’s turn to sigh.

‘‘It’s not that easy, little man. You know, sometimes people who love each other dearly can’t be together. I know it sucks, but once you’re grown up...’’

‘‘But I don’t want Elias to be my new dad!’’ The boy suddenly exclaimed

‘‘And then... wait a minute. What did you just say? Who’s Elias??’’

‘’Umm, I don’t know him well. Daddy says he’s a friend from work. Last week this Elias helped him with the ride home when daddy’s car had broken and the next day that mister sent flowers to our house. I think daddy don’t like him for real. He’s just polite with Elias, that’s all. I don’t like him though. He’s mean.’’

‘‘Why’d you say that? Did he do something to you or daddy?’’

Blake’s blood boiled immediately. He understood that he has no right to be angry with his ex-husband for not telling Blake about troubles with his car, or that he started to see someone, for that matter. But the countryman couldn’t help letting his jealousy eating his entire being. He was totally not over Adam, and he wanted to know what’s going on in his ex-husband’s life, even if they’ve chosen to go in separate ways. But if that Elias guy did something or even looked at Adam or their son in the wrong way, it was even worse. For the douche, of course. And what kind of name is Elias anyway?

‘‘Well, not quite. But he’s been saying bad things about you, and I don’t like it. He doesn’t say it when daddy is near, but he tried to talk to me the other day. Daddy took me to his work and while he was busy with his yoga group, I was waiting in his office when Elias approached me. He asked me how often you'd visit us and tried to convince me that you’d forget me with time. He said all fathers who leave tend to forget their kids one day.

Blake clenched his fists under the table, doing his best to calm himself.
So, the jackass had the nerve to say crap about him to the innocent child. He’d surely have a word with a mouthy bastard later.

‘‘Listen to me, little buddy. You trust me, right?’’

‘‘I do’’

‘‘There’s no such force in the entire Universe that would make me stop loving or caring about you. You and your daddy are the best things I’ve ever had in my whole life, so don’t you ever let that bullcrap to stuck in your wise head, deal? Promise it to your old man?’’

The boy’s pale face brightened and he nodded. After finishing his milk he suddenly started to giggle and Blake will be darned if it wasn't the most precious sound that he’d ever heard.
‘‘Ha! You said bullcrap, papa!’’

‘‘Dang it, just don’t tell your daddy that, okay?’’

The boy gave him a high five and Blake scooped him in a tight embrace, lifting his petite kid with his strong arms.

‘‘Now, our personal Queen Jet is ready to take you to our secret base location, what do ya say, agent?’’

‘’Ay-ay, captain, let’s fly!’’

Giving the boy a piggy-back Blake ran towards the boy’s room, spreading his arms in imitation of a plane, causing happy laugh coming out of his son’s mouth. The country singer caught himself on a thought that he’ll make sure that he does his best to continue be the reason of that precious sound.