Yumiko had been his entire world. While he knew deep down inside that what he was putting her through was wrong, Dion couldn't help but want that closeness they shared to last forever. It took someone younger than him to make him realise just what it was he was missing and what he was putting his best friend through. Sure, there had been some arguing when he first came out to his wife; mainly about what he was intending to do in order to keep their reputation as teachers and as a family intact. Yumi wouldn't hear none of it though. If Dion was going to be in a relationship with a man he was going to come out with more than just the woman who would soon to be his ex-wife. It was one of the reasons why she had opted to staying with Tayler and Jung for a while until Dion got himself completely settled.
He now had a little place of his own. It was a cosy little two bedroom apartment. Poppy had her own room and there were no crazy visitors such as Death Ponies or crazy pregnant women. Mainly though, it was just Dion on his own, although Collin came and visited often. Some weeks he barely went back to his dorm except for essential things. While they didn't publicly display their relationship around campus, it wasn't really much of a secret that they were a couple. Just like the fact the town accepted people who were gifted, cursed or other such supernatural creatures, they didn't really seem too bothered by the relationship between Dion and his student. That may have been because Dion had the town's resident handy man on his side...and a crazy Death Pony.
What they did seem interested in though, was his ex-wife and the dentist.
Yumi kept no secrets from him, even though they were no longer married. Dion kept his wedding ring on a chain around his neck, while Yumi had her's fitted as a link on a charm bracelet. It was their way of remembering what they had together. They were still a family, despite now being a little disjointed. When the topic of Alex Lyall came up, she shared with Dion her interest in him, and even though most of the town thought him to be some creepy drunkard she knew there was much more to him. He was like an ogre. He had layers.
Dion rarely ever interacted with the man. Being the type who loathed dental visits, it took a mass amount of persuading to get Dion to make an appointment with Alex whenever he had toothache.
It was his weekened to look after Poppy, which meat Yumi was free to do whatever it was she did. After entering the house and calling out to inform everyone he was here for his daughter, Dion made his way into the lounge and spotted the older man seated on the couch lazilly flipping through the TV channels.
"Uhm...Hi..."
Alex glanced over, raising a brow in silent question before replying with a "Hi..."
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Dion rocked back and fourth on his heels. "Did you...uhm...stay last night?" Alex was rarely ever visiting Yumi whenever he popped over, and whenever he was in the same room as the dentist, Yumi was usually around to help keep the conversation running smoothly. It felt odd and rather awkward to be in a room with his ex-wife's new love interest. How Yumi managed to by best friends with Collin was beyond Dion's knowledge. "Its okay if you did, I'm not going to be angry or anything. Yumi's my best friend and I want her to be happy."
Alex didn't say anything in reply, just kept watching Dion.
Walking closer to the sofa, Dion lowered himself onto the arm. "You are making her happy, right?"
"She's always happy."
"That's not what I meant; I know she's always happy, its one of the things I love about her. I just don't want you to ever make her not happy." Alex apparently didn't have a very good track record when it came to things like relationships. While they were both men whom had left their families, Dion had never completely abandoned his in the same way Alex had. "I don't want to be another person warning you not to break her heart otherwise I'll break your face, but you know I'm just looking out for her, right?"
Alex nodded. "I know," he said, and gave a chuckle as if laughing to some private joke. "I really don't see what she sees in me though."
"You are somewhat attractive, although I didn't know Yumi liked older guys."
"You...You think I'm attractive? I'm not gay"
Quick as a flash, Dion held up his hands defensively. "I'm not hitting on you, Alex, I'm just saying that you're not pig ugly, thats all. Yumi obviously sees something in you that she likes, and from how she talks about you, I think you'll maker her happy...er..happier."
Just as Dion was wondering what was taking the two girls, he heard his daughter call out "DADDY!" and she came rushing towards him, both arms outstretched, Rising from his perch, Dion knelt down and enveloped Poppy in a great big hug.
"How's my little princess?" he asked as he pulled back to take a good look at her. "Ready to come spend the weekend with me?"
"And Collin?"
Dion chuckled, nodding. "And Collin."
"Great! Lets go!" Pulling out of his grip, Poppy grabbed hold of her father's hand and began tugging him towards the door. With her other hand she waved to her mother who was standing in the middle of the lounge, smoothing down her floral patterned skirt. "Bye Mommy!"
"You be good for Daddy, Poppy," Yumi said, waving back. "And I'll see you on Sunday."
As Dion was making his way to the door, Poppy slid her hand out of his and rushed back into the living room, leaping onto the couch and giving Alex a big hug too. "Bye Alex, I'll see you soon!"
The older man was clearly shocked by the little girl's display of affection, but eventually he returned the gesture by patting Poppy on the back and chuckling. "Don't keep your Dad waiting."
Smiling as bright as her mother, Poppy nodded several times before sliding down from the sofa. She gave her mother one last hug before following after her father. It was his turn to pause before leaving, and he looked over the pair in the room that was once his living room. He used to snuggle with Yumi on that sofa while they watched films together. It was no longer his world, as much as he wanted to keep hold of it. Dion knew he'd always be Yumi's best friend and Poppy's father, but this family home didn't belong to him anymore. Looking over at Alex once more, he gave him a nod - silently telling him that he had no complaint about him being with Yumi, and then left, taking his daughter with him.
Yumi frowned at the exchange between the two most important men in her life. "What...?"
Alex just laughed and reached out to hold her hand, tugging him onto his lap where she instantly moulded her body against his. "Man code for 'Its okay for you to date my ex-wife'."
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