Big Poppa

12.

Poppa had to wake him up again. Delwyn murmured something, rolling over, tugging on something that seemed to hold him in place. “Gotta leave, huh?” he mumbled.

“Darling, we’re already there… Wake up, pretty. You’ve slept all the way…”

The world presented itself to Delwyn, and far too cheerful to his taste. He blinked against the sunlight. “Huh?”

“We’re here,” said Poppa patiently. He opened their safety buckles, and patted Delwyn’s thigh. “You showered, you dressed, I put you in the car… Remember?”

Barely. But it was coming back to him now. Delwyn sat up, rubbing his eyes, and nodded. “Yeah. Damn. Can you help me out of here?”

“Sure, love… Give me a kiss first. They can’t see us.” Pulling Delwyn close, he gave him a passionate kiss, as if it was the last one he would ever give. “Now let’s go. We’re late already.”

“How do I look?”

Poppa chuckled softly, and got out first. As he opened the door for Delwyn and reached out to help him, he looked at him for a moment. “You look like you had a wild weekend,” he said. “More or less.”

“Thank you,” yawned Delwyn. “Go easy on me today, please? I would fall asleep behind my mask if I have to weld…”

Delwyn’s bicycle was still locked against the wall. The blonde realized it could raise some questions on why Poppa would’ve brought him with his car, but he would make up excuses when the time was right. His mind was a blur. He couldn’t really give a damn about what they would say or think. Stepping inside first, he pulled his shoulders back and head up, to try and look ready for a good week of work. “Good morning,” he said as cheerful as possible. Poppa boomed the same.

There were one or two ‘good mornings’ back, but most of the mechanics just looked at them. Chapman came out of his office, and folded his arms in front of him, glowering at Delwyn. “You’re late!”

Delwyn looked around, but realized it was addressed to him. “Only just,” he said. “I’m sorry Mr. Chapman. I—”

“Your bike was there but you weren’t! What have you been up to?”

“Well, I—” Delwyn pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, but Chapman interrupted him again.

“Get to work! Poppa, in my office!”

Of course Chapman wouldn’t scold Big Poppa in public. Delwyn shook his head, quite untroubled, to his own amazement, and walked to the car he had been working on. He was dying for a coffee, but maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.
He was sitting on his stool, idly sanding a part that had been filled, when Poppa emerged. “You alright?” he asked.

“Of course I am,” shrugged the bear. “Mark had complained, that’s all. I had to tell what happened.”

“What did you say?”

“The truth.” Poppa sat down, and looked around. “Where’s my coffee?”

Smiling, Delwyn got up to get the coffee. “You actually told Chapman Mark has called me a numnuts, and that you flipped because of that?”

“Pretty much, yes.”

“Nice.” Delwyn was glad he could be in the canteen for a minute or two, and took the opportunity to splash some water in his face. He came back with two mugs, and sat down again.

“Mm lovely.” Poppa sipped, smacked his lips thoughtfully, and sipped again. “Hm. New brand. Not bad.”

Actually, Delwyn had put sweetener in it, instead of sugar. He didn’t say it, of course. Not yet. “What can I do for you today?” he asked with a soft sigh, putting his cup down at a safe spot. “The body is pretty much done, isn’t it?”

“Yes… Only sanding a bit more until it’s perfectly smooth, and then it can go to the painter. After that we have to put everything on it, of course. Can you wire?”

“Yeah. When I’m awake…” Sanding sounded good. Not much concentration needed for that, only patience. He had lots of patience, today.
Sitting at the other side of the car, Delwyn began to work, slowly and painstakingly preparing the metal and filler.

“Delwyn! My office! Right now!”

Now what? With a groan, Delwyn got up, stretched his sore muscles, and walked leisurely to the office of his boss. The door was slammed shut behind him, making him wince. “Yes, Mr. Chapman?”

“Mr. Llew, do you like it here, I wonder?” Chapman legged to his desk, and sat down, ruffling with some papers without looking up.

Delwyn didn’t sit down. “Yes,” he started.

“Then why are you late, why have you been drinking and partying all weekend, come in here with a hangover and expect Big Poppa to give you easy assignments because you can barely keep your eyes open? Eh?”

“I’m—” Now that was unfair!

“I’m this close, young man, this close! To send you home for the day, without pay, so you can think about how you will improve your attitude in the near future! One more chance, and if you screw up again, you’re out of here! Do you understand?’

“But I—”

“Out! Go home! I’m sick of your excuses and lies!” Chapman pointed at the door, red in his face and trembling, little flocks of foam forming at the corners of his mouth. “If you have an alcohol problem, deal with it! Don’t bring your problems here; I have a business to run! Get out!”

Delwyn was too stunned to respond. And he was tired of being interrupted all the time. Looking quite upset, he yanked the door open, leaving it open as he practically ran to Poppa, who was sitting behind the car.

“Baby! What’s going on?” Big Poppa looked at him with wide eyes, pulling him down next to him. “What happened in there?”

“I’m sent home for today! He said I was a drunk and he didn’t let me speak up for myself and he accused me of partying all weekend and having no heart for the job and… and…”

“Easy, easy…” Poppa pulled him against his shoulder, kissing his hair. “Shh… Calm down, pretty. Just calm down. Take a deep breath. No one is sending you home, or it will be me.”

Delwyn couldn’t give a damn if they would be seen like that, and pressed against his lover as he sobbed quietly. “He didn’t let me speak. At all. I couldn’t even start to defend myself.” Normally, it wouldn’t even upset him that much, but Delwyn was too tired to keep his mind straight. It took a few minutes to calm down, even with those strong arms around him. “I don’t want to go home,” he concluded, sighing with a tremble.

“You’re not going home,” assured Poppa. “I’ll have a word with our Mr. Chapman. Stay here. Here’s a clean hanky, don’t let the others see you’ve been crying, okay?”

“Okay…” Delwyn hiccupped, taking the handkerchief to wipe his tears. He didn’t notice it was very quiet in the garage.

Poppa went to the office and closed the door behind him, and for a few minutes there was only the sound of a rumbling, deep voice. Then there were a few crashes, silence, and Poppa opened the door again. “Get back to work!” he barked to the spectators. Instantly, all machines were started again, and everyone seemed focused on what they’d been doing. Poppa looked quite pleased when he sat next to Delwyn again. “I could do with another coffee…”

Delwyn didn’t ask him what happened in the office. He darted into the canteen to wash his face again and have a glass of water, and to get Poppa his coffee. When he came back, no one was looking at him, and Poppa was sanding. He could see Chapman on the phone in the office, through the blinds, and for a moment he wondered if the police would show up in a few minutes.

There was no police. But a new desk was delivered a few hours later, and the old one taken away in splinters. Delwyn didn’t mention it. Neither did anyone else. No one spoke to him, not exactly ignoring him, but more like avoiding any contact if possible. Delwyn enjoyed the peace very much, that day.

Chapman didn’t apologize to Delwyn. He didn’t come out of his office all day, and it was Poppa giving the orders. At the end of the day, when everything was cleaned up and ready, the boss was still in his office and Poppa the last one to leave.

“Can you cycle, or shall I bring you?”

Hard choice to make. “I’ll take my bike,” said Delwyn eventually. “I need the fresh air.”

“Be careful then. Go to bed early, hm? Set two alarm clocks. I want you to be in time, tomorrow.”

“I will.” Delwyn longed for a kiss for the night, but he wasn’t getting it. Only a pat on his butt outside, when Poppa walked to his car. Sighing, he unlocked his bike, watching the big car driving away. He was too tired, but felt just a little lonely nevertheless.

“Llew…”

Delwyn turned around, and saw Chapman in the doorway, ready to lock up. “Yes, Mr. Chapman?”

“I want to apologize,” said the man. He wasn’t looking at him, fiddling with the keys and the lock. “I was wrong, accusing you of… partying and drinking. And I should’ve listened to you.”

“Uh… Okay…” Delwyn was stunned for a moment, but tried not to show it. “Apologies accepted,” he said. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No, no.” Finally, the door was locked, and Chapman looked at him. “You never listened to my warning, did you?” he asked quietly. “About Poppa?”

“No,” shrugged Delwyn. He couldn’t repress a smile. “I was distracted by all the photos in your office, when you warned me. I just… were myself, when I met him.”

Chapman nodded. He took another key from his pocket, and looked at it as if he saw it for the first time. “You’re blessed,” he said. “Goodnight, Delwyn.”

“That’s what I keep hearing,” mumbled Delwyn, but the man had walked away already. He felt blessed, by now. Everybody was scared of the big man, and he could do whatever he wanted. He’d never felt so safe in his whole life.

Picking up a pizza on his way, Delwyn drove home. He would’ve missed Poppa if his bed hadn’t looked so enticing. He didn’t even undress when he lay down. When he blinked, he realized he’d been sleeping for hours. Finally undressing, he crawled under the blankets, to take that well-deserved rest.

...