Chapter Text
“Another D? Ivar!“ Aslaug snapped at her youngest, but the 18 year old seemed unimpressed. “I can't believe that! You are so smart and if you'd just try harder your grades would be much better, so why don't you do it?“
Ivar shrugged just and turned back to his sandwich.
Aslaug shook her head. “I really don't get you sometimes. But I promise you, we're not done yet. I will tell your father about this tonight and we'll think about some consequences.“
When Ragnar arrived later that evening, Aslaug was not the only one who wanted to talk about one of their boys' behaviour.
“Get in now,“ Ragnar grunted and shoved Sigurd roughly through the door.
Sigurd tripped and landed on his knees, but his giggle told Ragnar that his son wasn't hurt and didn't deserve compassion.
“What is happening there?“ Aslaug called from the living room.
With an elonged sigh, Ragnar climbed over Sigurd who still kneeled on the floor and made his way towards the living room.
Aslaug sat on the couch with Hvitserk's head in her lap that she softly stroked. Ubbe sat on the other side of the couch and was scrolling through his phone while the room was filled with the sounds of one of the many Lego shows Hvitserk always watched.
“What happened?“ Aslaug asked again as Ragnar dropped down next to Ubbe.
Ragnar closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with index and thumb. “Sig happened.“
Ubbe now looked up from his phone with a smug grin. “What did he do this time?“
“Nothing of your interest,“ Ragnar teased and poked his son's forehead. “You can take your brother and let me talk to your mother.“ Ragnar said in a voice that left no room for discussion and he nodded in Hvitserk's direction, so that Ubbe knew which brother he was supposed to take with him.
Ubbe chuckled softly, then he got up from the couch with a grunt. “Come on, Hvitty, let's go upstairs.“
Hvitserk turned to face his brother with a frown. “But my show is playing. And you all have to be quiet now, so I can hear it.“ He said the last part with more annoyance in his voice.
Ragnar then just turned the TV off.
“Hey!“ Hvitserk complained and suddenly sat up straight. “I was watching that!“
“You've seen that a million times,“ Ragnar said with a strict voice: “Now you leave me and your mother alone, so we can talk privately. You have a TV in your room, so you can watch your show there. Or better: read a book or do something productive. Have you studied for your exams yet?“
Hvitserk just scrunched his nose at his father before he got up from the couch and angrily stomped away.
Ragnar rolled his eyes and nudged his head in Hvitserk's direction. “Follow him and make sure he doesn't destroy anything.“
Ubbe obeyed without hesitation, hurrying after his brother.
For a moment, the parents could hear the two brothers fighting, with Hvitserk yelling at Ubbe that he is not a baby and Ubbe promising his brother in a much calmer voice to build Lego with him if he behaves now. Another fight with Ivar in the shared bedroom of Hvitserk and Ivar sounded through the house, and then suddenly everything and everyone was quite. Ragnar suspected that Ivar had just accepted his faith and now sat on the floor with both his older brothers and build Lego cars.
“What did Sig do?“ Aslaug's voice pulled Ragnar out of his thoughts.
Ragnar grunted annoyed and let his head fall against the back rest of the couch. “Our beloved neighbour called me earlier and told me that if Sig ever brings weed or his- as he said- horrific guitar noises in his basement or anywhere near his daughters again, he will call the police on our son.“
Aslaug couldn't help, but scoff. “As if it wasn't his oldest daughter who introduced our son to these substances at first.“
“Aslaug that is not a joke,“ Ragnar grunted towards the ceiling and then moved his head to look at his wife. “I know we said that we rather allow them to make some small mistakes now instead of big mistakes later in life, but Sig really takes it too far lately.“
“Ivar, too,“ Aslaug sighed. “Another D, “ she then explained as Ragnar looked at her confused. “In history this time. That was always his favorite subject and he usually scores close to 100% on his tests. I really don't know what is wrong with him, his grades dropped so much lately.“
“Maybe he's a little addict, too,“ Ragnar joked.
“Ivar? Never,“ Aslaug laughed. “He's far too uptight. But I think Hvitty is trying his boundaries in this area lately.“
Ragnar's eyes grew wide. “Hvitty? Our Hvitserk?“
Aslaug sighed. “I didn't know if I should tell you about this... you're relationship to Sigurd is so strained lately...“
“Aslaug...“ Ragnar said with vigor. “I thought we talk about everything...“
“Yes, yes, you're right.“
“So?“
She hesitated. “Promise me you won't freak out at Sigurd, first. I already told him to never do this again, and I think he won't, so-“
“Aslaug!“
“Alright!“ She snapped, then she suddenly turned calm again. “Last Friday when we had dinner with Floki and Helga... You remember, we asked Sigurd to stay home with Hvitty, but he really wanted to go his friend's party.“
“Yes, we told him it was his punishment for the scratched car, but we really just needed a babysitter because Hvits said he'd call CPS if we leave him alone after he watched that horror movie with Ivar. Ridiculous... CPS... he's 22.“
Aslaug chuckled slightly. “Yes, well... Sigurd, he didn't stay home that night...“
“So he left Hvitty alone after he promised he'd stay?“ Ragnar asked shocked.
“No, no!“ Aslaug said hastily. “But he... he took Hvitty with him. Promised him a new Lego set if he keeps quiet.“
“And of course he didn't,“ Ragnar scoffed with an eye roll. “I hope he got his Lego, still. It's not fair of Sig to drag his brother along like this.“
“Sig borrowed him his expensive headphones, downloaded him a full season of his show on his iPad and got him all the candy he could possibly want. I think Hvitty was fine. And he got his Lego because he's a little snake and only told me about this after he had already built his new Lego cruise ship.“
“But? Where is the drug part?“
Aslaug sighed. “Well, Hvitty got bored with his show after a while, and he wanted to go home. Sigurd could make him stay with him by letting Hvitty play a game with him and his friends. Unfortunately that game included all from alcohol to weed and different pills that the kids find in their parents' cabinets. Let's just say that Hvitty does not keep losing his pills.“
Ragnar gritted his teeth. “I can't believe Sigurd is not only doing this shit alone, but also pulls Hvitserk with him now, and even steals his pills.“
“I think the worst part is that Hvitty had fun and told me he would have come, even if Sigurd didn't promise him Lego.“
Ragnar sighed. “I hope you told him to forget that already. I don't want another kid with a drug issue. And Hvitty really has enough issues already.“
“Don't worry, I did.“
“What will we do about this now?“ Ragnar asked and let his head fall back against the backrest again.
Aslaug thought for a moment. “I think it's been a really long and exhausting year for all of us. Your job transition took a toll on all of us, and it's not helping that I started working again.“
“Do you think it was a mistake?“ Ragnar's head shot up.
“No, no,“ Aslaug assured him immediately: “but we've had much time with our children the last 24 years, and now we suddenly work much more and spend less time at home and expect them to take over much more responsibility. We thought it would only be a problem for Hvitty, but to be honest, he probably took it the most chill out of the four.“
“What is your suggestion to do about that then?“
Aslaug scrunched her nose. “We definitely have to spend more time with our boys. Especially you. Your working hours are really long at the moment and the boys barely get to see you anymore.“
“Yeah, well, they are adults,“ Ragnar sighed.
“Only legally. They still need their father and his attention.“
“When does this parenting thing finally stops?“ He groaned which made her chuckle, then he thought about this for a moment with his eyes fixed on the ground. “I could go on a trip with Sigurd and Ivar,“ he then said as he looked up at his wife again.