It's Almost Like I Live Here

He could feel his father judging him and swallowed silently, trying to dismiss the feeling. He was an adult. He had fared long enough without his father. He was doing well for the most part. He had a pirate gang! He hadn't been murdered or kidnapped or whatever else could happen. Why did he need this man's approval, he wondered.

"Things haven't been all downhill," he protested. "Just one part was a nice sharp cliff and maybe the rest was an uphill battle."

He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to relate to his father- never did. He didn't feel like going to him with his feelings or troubles, and any fun he had he was sure his father would roll his eyes at.

Suddenly, he was the troublesome pup again and his father had caught him out of the den late at night.

"Sparrow's dead," he said dryly. "But apparently Rhyme's there- in case you didn't know."

He didn't expect his father to sympathize with him, which is why he changed the topic in the same sentence.

"I'm sure whenever I get back to the band, Rhys will be glad to know her brother's still kickin'... Although I didn't make time to talk to him yet."

He rotated between topics, not really leaving time to settle on one. Whichever one Valentine wanted to talk about would suffice.