Scribbles and Drabbles

Notebook Drabble 13 - B roll

A/N: So in the same world of 13 but a good way down the timeline. Secondborn children are treated as second citizens and are the property of their families. In a space opera-type world, Mateo, a secondborn, has his 'mod' uncapped and his mind awakened by an interdimensional traveller. This turns a submissive husband into an assassin/spy, and adventure ensues to protect the King. After, he starts to work for the Hour, the King's spy service and falls in love with one of their members, John. In the meantime, the family he left is struggling. Eventually, his wife remarries, but his children are quick to abandon her and her traditional ways to join him and, in turn, the Hour. The Hour allows this because each of the children has useful mods. Amelia then dies of cancer. 

Louis shivered as Marley looked him up and down, feeling wholly inadequate for the inspection. As sudden as it was, Amelia's death had left him at the mercy of her eldest son. A man barely passed eighteen who had left his mother to remain with his father. As per the laws of their country, Amelia had been the dominant partner. Louis was the submissive partner and, in the eyes of the law, property. The house and all Amelia's possessions went to Marley, including the custody of the children born between Louis and Amelia and Louis himself. Louis doubted a man as young as Marley was interested in marrying his mother's thirty-year-old widow.

"Mother had a type, didn't she?" Marley said, lips smirking as he leaned back. "Raven hair, green eye, slim build, cross your eyes, and it would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between you and Dad."

Pictures of Mateo had made Louis think the same. The man had darker skin than him; his eyes gleamed brighter, and his lips looked softer, but the comparison was unavoidable. Submissives weren't supposed to leave their partner's side. Mateo did, with flare and drama and a twist of fate that people outside of the events didn't believe. Louis didn't believe all of the stories, but No one could deny the fact that Mateo had left the marriage with the blessing of the King himself, nor the fact the man went from being a housewife to a spy-master in the space of months.

Mateo was dangerous. Losing him had broken Amelia; losing her children to him had shattered her. The second-born, the one destined to be submissive, Henry, had fled first before Amelia could block his mod. Eva had basically walked into the heart of the palace and demanded her father. Marley followed soon after, in a mix of teenage rebellion and desire not to follow traditions.

And now, Louis was at his mercy.

"My family was rather keen to have me married," Louis tried to smile. A second marriage, his first having ended in a similarly unpredictable fashion. His family wouldn't take him back this time. If Marley decided to abandon him, he would alone.

"A rather fortunate circumstance for you at the time," Marley nodded. "As per my mother's beliefs, I have received ownership of all of her assets and custody of the children. This is rather inconvenient for me. The Hour is about to begin training me in undercover work now that I am of age. I have no intention of being saddled down with my mother's responsibilities."

"I won't ask for much. The children are young. We won't get in the way of your duties," Louis said. His heart ached, and the fear running down his spine grew colder.

"Um," Marley shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Dad and John have kindly agreed to take on most of the burden."

"Sir?" Louis met Marley's eyes, hoping his worst fears were about to come true. The babies were going to be given away, and him left on the street to starve. Marley's eyes were neutral. Not cool or unfeeling, but not warm and reassuring either. If anything, the man seemed unconcerned with the fact Louis was on the edge of falling to pieces in front of him.

"A third marriage as a first partner is not possible for you at this age. As a second partner, it is viable. John will happily welcome you and your children into his house. He loves children and has far more time for you than I do."