Failure to Launch (Andy/Moreaus)

[Matthew Moreau]

Matthew set a box of tissues on the heavy, worn coffee table, then sat in the loveseat. "Wizards are a huge group," he said. "It's just like muggles, from what Rhys has said. There are groups and cliques, and you won't get along with all of them. I know I didn't get along with everyone in school." He was silent for a heartbeat or two before he continued. "What happened with this someone?" He leaned back and crossed one ankle over the opposite knee in what he hoped was a relaxed, inviting pose.

[Andy Moreau]

"Um..." Andy paused to pick at a partially-uncovered cherry half. "I kind of like... kissed someone, and like... I thought it was going okay and... um, this someone was like, I can't. And maybe it was a guy someone, and he kept saying how weird everything was, and I was just stupid! I don't know, maybe he only liked me because I look all girly." Because when he'd pressed forward, when things had touched just a little, that had been the end of it.

[Matthew Moreau]

Although Matthew's first thought was that Rhys would be better for this, he decided he would at least attempt to help. "Did he kiss you back? Did he seem into it? There are plenty of guys who are into feminine guys. There are even a lot of guys who are into feminine guys who don't even like girls at all. And a lot of guys aren't used to it. Sexuality is really complicated, especially at your age. "

[Andy Moreau]

Andy glanced up at Matthew, but quickly turned his gaze back toward his ice cream. "I guess, yeah, he seemed into it. But then like... I really leaned against him and... and like that's when he stopped." He flicked another very brief glance at Matthew, hoping he got it. He really didn't want to have to say that He'd had a huge stiffy at the time and that was what had stopped things. He took a big bite of ice cream to busy his mouth.

[Matthew Moreau]

"If he kept saying how weird everything was, then maybe he just got overwhelmed. That happens sometimes, for everyone. You didn't do anything wrong," Matthew assured. "What happened after? Did you talk to him about it?" He got the distinct impression there hadn't been any conversation afterward, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

[Andy Moreau]

You didn't do anything wrong. "But... I leaned against him. We weren't even like, kissing kissing, just kissing, you know? I feel like a sl~ or something..." He'd wanted to keep going. But Matthew had asked what happened after. What had happened?

"He said that you aren't supposed push girls or something." But he wasn't a girl, and he was all confused.

[Matthew Moreau]

"You're not a sl~, and you really can't control what your body does," Matthew said. At least it sounded like Andy hadn't had his hand on his wand this time. "Maybe he was just confused. Not, I don't mean about you in particular, just about the situation in general. Just because he had to stop doesn't mean you did something wrong. Kissing, any kind of kissing, can be very ah..." He wasn't sure where he was going with the comment, but he'd already committed.

"You do what feels right, and sometimes it's not what your partner expects. Sometimes it's a move in the wrong direction, but not something bad. Bear with me, I've never had to have this kind of conversation before." He was trying, though, and that was what counted.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy gave Matthew a long look, then nodded and turned back to his ice cream as he thought things over. "So like... do you think he hates me? 'Cause I ran off?" His gaze was focused on the diminishing treat in his hand. He flicked a quick glance up, then looked back down. "Am I... like, going to get kicked out of school because I left?" Tam had seemed perfectly happy, and he'd looked healthy too. Going back to Hogwarts didn't seem so terrifying at the moment.

[Matthew Moreau]

"You definitely won't get kicked out of school. Students go in and out of Hogwarts all the time," Matthew said. He mentally filed away Andy's constant worry about being kicked out to think about later. It was something that needed to be worked on, though he didn't have the faintest idea what to do about it aside from what he'd already been doing. "I doubt he hates you. Actually, he's probably more worried that he did something wrong."

[Andy Moreau]

Andy looked up at Matthew. "Do you really think so?" he asked. He looked down to gingerly pick out a cherry and put it in his mouth. "He did say he was sorry, but I thought he was like, trying to let me down nice or something. He's some fancy prep school guy, and I'm like... me." Andy James, who didn't even know who his father was.

[Matthew Moreau]

"Don't say that like you're something lesser, because you're not," Matthew said, concern creasing his forehead briefly. "You're great, Andy. Maybe he's had a charmed life, but within hours of meeting us, you had a legion of people working to help you get what you want. Not everyone gets a personal appeal to the Ministry, you know."

[Andy Moreau]

"That's because of Tam, though," Andy said. "I mean, you guys are great, but you don't have to make stuff up. No one wants teenagers." Not to mention, of course, that the first thing he'd done was explode their bathroom. He wouldn't try to fool himself into thinking he was special. He'd gotten lucky. Once. That was probably all the luck he'd get for the rest of his life.

[Matthew Moreau]

Matthew tried to pick his words carefully when he spoke. He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to encourage Andy's negative thoughts, either. "Just because we didn't seek out a teenager doesn't mean we don't want you, Andy," Matthew said. "If we didn't want you, if we didn't want to help, then we wouldn't have, even with Tam. This wasn't at all what we planned, but we're very glad to have you both. This isn't a we want Tam so we'll tolerate the older one situation."

[Andy Moreau]

Andy's brows drew together as he looked at Matthew. Then why did you send me off to school? He looked back down at his ice cream and resolved to finish it as quickly as possible. Gavin knew a lot more about magic, and even Hogwarts, than Andy did, and he was only at Hogwarts because he wanted to be there. He'd had tutors and probably got to spend plenty of time with his brother and sister. Except for his boarding school...

[Matthew Moreau]

"What is it?" Matthew asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. He was missing something, but he didn't know what it was. Whatever it was, he was going to need a bloody drink after this conversation. It was almost like getting to know a new sub and learning where the boundaries and lines were drawn. Except teenagers didn't come with a neat list of dos and don'ts.