[CLOSED] the ghost of what we used to be.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae flipped the rest of the pancakes off onto the plate, watching Paislee tug on Ryan's pants leg. "I get my bag." She told him, nudging the tiny book sack into his lap. Clae picked her up, sitting her at the bar next to Ryan.

"How about you eat first and then we can pack." He suggested, putting a plate in front of her. She took the fork he offered, poking at her pancake.

"You hungry?" He asked Ryan.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled. "Yeah you sure did." That smile, voice. It was the same one he used with his own students, it hid what went on in his head, how broken he really was. He glanced towards Clae. "Ah, a little, yeah." The hangover was for the most part killing his appetite.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"Yeah, well, Paislee made them and I don't think she would like it if her new favorite person decided not to eat her pancakes." He said with a smile, sliding him a plate.

"A daddy, cut it please." She told Clae, and he leaned over the island, cutting it into small bits. She smiled up at him, her green eyes bright and happy. She put a piece into her mouth, smiling over at Ryan. Clae made his way to his room, and came back out in a pair of blue sweat pants and a grey t-shirt with 'MARINES' printed on the front.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smirked faintly, cutting himself a mouthful and smiling gently at her. "Mm," He rubbed at a muscle-tight stomach playfully, glancing up as Clae returned. He wouldn't deny he was cute. Ryan had slept with guys and girls, but he had never had much interest in anyone, considering his preference to just die. He'd always been a bit sexually confused.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae glanced over at him, but the thought that crossed Ryan's mind was the furthest thing from Clae's. He smiled over at him, revealing a row of perfectly straight teeth. He grabbed one of the pancakes, taking a bite out of it as he leaned against the counter, watching Paislee. He smiled as she ate another bite of her pancakes, reaching up to mess with the bow in her hair.

"Daddy." She complained, and he walked over, fixing it for her. She smiled at him, then got back to work on her pancake.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled faintly back, watching Paisley curiously before rubbing at his scarred and tattooed arm again. He gazed down at the background of him and his sister a moment before setting his phone down by his plate, cutting himself another mouthful of food.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae rummaged through the fridge, singing something to himself. Once Paislee heard, she clamped her hands over her ears with a grown.

"Daddy! Stop singing!" She complained, and he looked back at her from over her shoulder.

"Whoever made you were two complaining people." He said, pulling out a bottle of water. He slid it across the counter, then rummaged through the cabinet, grabbing a couple granola bars. He reached around the island, nonchalantly taking the bag from Ryan's lap. He put the granola bars in the bag, then the bottle of water, and a couple apples from the fruit bowl.

"Anything else, sassy pants?" He asked, and she pushed away her empty plate with a shake of the head.

"No. I wanna go. We can go now? I wanna play." She rambled, and Clae helped her down.

"She refuses to go on the swings unless you sit on it with her." He told Ryan, taking her hand.

"Ryan can paint my nails later?" She asked Clae, and he wrinkled his nose.

"Boys don't paint nails, Paislee. Besides, he's gotta go home. We can't keep him. He isn't a puppy."

"Why? I like him. You don't like him?" She asked, looking up curiously at him.

"I like him fine, sassy pants. We just can't keep a grown man in our house. That's weird."

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled at him sheepishly, wiping at his lips some before getting up and setting his plate in the sink. He smiled gently down at Paisley. "Ready to go little rascal?" He teased gently.

He nodded at Clae's words about the swing, swiping his phone from the bar counter.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Paislee giggled, attaching herself to Ryan's leg. Clae just grabbed his keys from the counter, throwing her booksack over his shoulder. He made his way out to his car, setting the bag in the back where her feet would go.

"Paislee. Come on." He called, and she ran outside, her black curls bouncing. He scooped her up, kissing her forehead before he sat her in her seat, buckling her in.

"WE'S GOIN TO THE PARK!" She sang, wiggling in her seat. Clae slid into the driver's seat, shaking his head as he looked back at her.

"You're crazy." He said and she just smiled.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan chuckled, following after them and sliding into the passengers side. He shifted his weight, realizing he had left his keys in his office at the school. He cleared his throat, scratching at his jaw for a moment before looking quietly out the window, feeling somewhat out of place with the duo.