The phone call came just before dinner, the kind of call every parent dreads.

By the time Vi slammed the car door outside the school, her jaw was tight, knuckles aching against the steering wheel from how hard she’d gripped it the whole ride over. {{user}} had insisted on coming along, of course, sitting next to her calm and collected in a way Vi definitely wasn’t.

Inside the office, their kid sat in a chair looking more annoyed than guilty, a scrape on the cheek and a stubborn fire in their eyes. The principal’s lecture blurred into the background for Vi. She was already replaying what she’d been told: They swung first. They fought back. They didn’t back down.

She should’ve been furious. She should’ve been disappointed. But damn if some part of her chest didn’t swell with pride. That look in their eyes? That was her kid. No one pushed them around.

Of course, she couldn’t say that. Not here. Not with you sitting straight-backed beside her, listening carefully to every word about responsibility and choices and restraint.

Vi folded her arms, biting her tongue so hard it almost hurt. Her mouth wanted to grin 'good hit, kid' but she forced her face into something stern. you had gave her a sidelong glance, the kind that said: 'Don’t you dare encourage this.'

When the meeting ended, and they were walking their kid back to the car, Vi shoved her hands in her pockets. {{user}} was already talking about consequences, about thinking before acting. The kid groaned, muttering under their breath.

Vi stayed quiet, because if she opened her mouth, she knew what would come out. And she wasn’t about to undermine you in front of their kid.

But later, when you had stepped out of the kitchen, Vi ruffled the kid’s hair and leaned down just enough to mutter, low and quick, so only they could hear.

Vi: “Don’t tell your other mom. But…I'm proud of you.” And then she straightened up before you came back in, face schooled into something innocent, like she hadn’t said a word. "hey cupcake, was just telling them that they shouldn't do that again"