Page 28 of Infected By Virus

VIRUS

When Virus arrived at Hook’s place, Adam and June were playing video games. He’d gone by his place and grabbed a change of clothes.

“She’s not here yet,” Nova answered his unasked question.

“I didn’t ask.”

“Your mouth didn’t, but your body did.”

“Whatever.” He dropped his bag in June’s room before heading back out to the living room. Hook had already pushed the couch back against the wall and set up a tent for the kids.

It was downright weird how quickly Nova had domesticated him.

“Beer?” Hook offered, but Virus declined. Rae had already seen him at his worst, so he wanted to put his best foot forward. Not just for her, but for Adam. He wanted to get to know him and remember every second of it. One beer wouldn’t be enough. It would be six or more with the nerves that were plaguing him, so he wouldn’t take that chance.

Virgin on prom night level jitters, and alcohol wouldn’t help. He needed to be sharp, especially since he would be sharing a bed with Rae. Sharing a bed and not touching her. Hell, he needed a whole truckload of beer to keep his dick down, and one or two would just make him hornier.

No. He was not going to blow his chances with either one of them. They both deserved the best version of him he could give them.

Adam turned, noticing him for the first time since he walked in. “Dad,” he squealed and dropped the controller.

Adam ran into his arms like he’d known him his whole life. Then, he plopped up on the couch between Virus and Hook and started chattering away.

Virus was floored. He never expected Adam to just take to him. He made a mental note to ask Rae about it. Virus had no love whatsoever for Celeste, but she’d apparently done one good thing in her life, and he had to acknowledge that. His son seemed like a well-adjusted kid.

Adam was telling him all about June and his plans for the night. Virus didn’t have the heart to tell him there weren’t enough hours to fit all those things in. Why crush his dream?

“Adam, come on, it’s time to make puppets,” June called from the kitchen table. Nova was setting out all kinds of colored paper, markers, brown sacks, and a whole host of glitter.

Adam catapulted off the couch and bolted for the table.

“Dude, you need to get your ol’ lady under control. Glitter? That shit’s like lice, we’ll all be infested with it. The Bastards will be sparkling like fucking strippers,” Virus whispered to Hook.

Before Hook could answer, Nova came around the table, hands on her hips. “I heard that. One, little ears, mind the language. Two, big ears,”—she pointed to hers—“will not be controlled.” She stuck her tongue out at him like a child and returned to her glitter.

“Fudge, if I ain’t the luckiest man alive,” Hook proclaimed.

“Dad, come make a puppet with me,” June called to Hook. No sooner than she said it and he was standing to obey.

“You bet, Flower.”

Virus chuckled. “Pussy,” he whispered, but way lower this time so as not to trigger Nova’s bat hearing.

“Nah, just so in love with those two that nothing else matters but making them happy. You’ll see. You’ll do anything to see them smile.”

Them?

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Hook there was no them, just him. Rae wasn’t his and he wouldn’t blame her if she never was his again, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try.

Hook was already seated at the table, gluing googly eyes on a brown paper bag when Adam called out.

“Yeah, Dad. Come make a puppet with me.”

He was striding toward the table before he knew it.

Fuck if Hook wasn’t right. He didn’t even hesitate when Adam summoned.

Virus had just finished taping on pipe cleaner arms and legs when Adam was waving his sack puppet in his face. Virus shoved his hand into his puppet and gave its mouth a try.

---