Theredheadbehindthelens - Tumblr Posts
"There's certainly no prior studies in something like this," Bruce commented. "I'm the only one who survived like this. By extension, she's presently the only child who can even be considered to hold radiation in her body like I can, never mind the X-Gene factor."
Bruce adjusted his grip on Rebecca, laughing at her lecture. "Good. It's good to hear she's learning all the right things."
Rebecca made a stern face that looked much like Andie’s as she looked up at him. “Bad word Da. No say bad word.”
"That’s part of why we think she hasn’t been effected other than accelerated development. We still don’t know what her mutation is going to be, especially with the radiation. She could take after me, she could have something completely different." Andie said, chuckling as Rebecca shook her little index finger at her father, still lecturing him about bad words.
"She picked that up from my always lecturing Logan about watching his words around tiny ears."
"So, she's ahead mentally, but behind physically," Bruce commented, looking down at Rebecca. The moment she started squirming, he grinned at her, then set her down on the ground. He knelt down beside her.
"Yes, sure, I'll play now," he agreed.
"Our baby girl is certainly unique. Sharp as a tack, and quick too." Andie grinned. "She’s also started pulling herself up and is probably going to start walking soon."
Rebecca waved her arms around, squirming in Bruce’s arms. “Da play now?” She asked, her big brown eyes inquisitive and bright.
Bruce followed after Rebecca to the tree, pressing his ear against it and humming thoughtfully. "Hmm. Sounds like... oak?" He grinned playfully down at Rebecca, then winked at Andie.
"Oh I’m sure she could have been walking by now, she just doesn’t want to. Before you ask how I know, I asked her." Andie said, running her fingers through her hair.
Rebecca squealed with excitement, clapping her hands. She got up on all fours and started crawling to one of the trees. “Expore!”
Bruce crouched down when Rebecca took a couple more hesitant steps, then reached out and took her hands, helping her walk along.
"Guess so," Bruce commented, standing up and bending to help her walk. He smiled down at her. "God, she's beautiful, isn't she?"
Andie smiled, watching the two explore together. Rebecca babbled about leaves and grass before using the tree to pull herself up into a standing position. Andie gasped softly as Rebecca took a few steps toward Bruce before falling on her behind.
"Guess someone was just waiting for Daddy." She chuckled, watching Rebecca try again with a determined look on her little face.
Bruce smiled down at Rebecca, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. He glanced at his watches - his heart rate was steady, but the hour was getting later.
"Should we get something to eat?"
"She really is." Andie smiled, pulling her phone out again so she could take pictures of them. "That’s our big girl, you can do it baby!"
Rebecca grinned up at Bruce as he helped her walk, a look of absolute triumph on her face having started to master a new skill.
Bruce laughed to himself as he saved the voicemail, shut off his phone, and shoved it into his pocket. He looked around the subway train, trying not to feel itchy and uncomfortable with all the people. He felt as though he might not have done a great job, since he basically ran off the thing when it stopped. He hailed himself a cab, and found himself back at the school in record time.
Even though he had been living at the school for almost a week now, he still felt uncomfortable just walking right in. He hesitated on the doorstep, then pushed it open, making his way inside.
♤
"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"
Bruce took the stairs two at a time up to his and Andie's rooms, entering the rooms as quietly as he could, just in case Rebecca or Andie - or Rebecca and Andie - was asleep. When he saw Andie awake, he smiled at her, shutting the door softly behind him.
"I think I found a place for us."
♤
"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"
"I am," Bruce laughed, catching Rebecca when she ran and jumped at him. He swung her up onto his shoulders and straightened up.
"It's in the city," Bruce told Andie. "A brownstone."
♤
"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"
Bruce reached up to hold onto Rebecca's ankles, tipping his head back at a severe angle to look at her. "Would you like that? Do you want to go see the house after Mommy's classes tomorrow?"
♤
"Hey Bruce, our little genius is asking for you." "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad! The ‘sperment is waiting! Come home soon!" "Come home soon sweetie, we miss you! Love you!"
Bruce laughed. "Obviously. I am the very definition of calm, cool, and collected."
"They take after you with that temper."
"You really think so?"
"You know, I don't think I appreciate your sarcastic tone," Bruce teased. He turned, catching her hip as she bumped into him, pulling her around to his front.
"They take after you with that temper."
"You really think so?"
"Maybe I'll just quiet you down a little bit," he said, grinning, as he pressed his lips to hers. He laughed when small hands began pushing at his legs, and he let go of Andie to look down at Rebecca.
"Damn it, Beck," Bruce joked, leaning down to pick Rebecca up.
"They take after you with that temper."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah, yeah, my bad," Bruce apologized, lifting Rebecca up higher to settle her on his shoulders. "I'll put a dollar in the swear jar later, I promise."
Bruce turned to raise an eyebrow at Andie. "You're zoning out again. You alright?"
"They take after you with that temper."
"You really think so?"
Bruce's smile fell away for a moment before he forced it back on. He craned his neck to look up at Rebecca.
"You're a very big girl," he said, squeezing her ankles. "Almost an adult, my goodness."
"They take after you with that temper."
"You really think so?"
"Maybe one of us can come back limping anyways," Bruce teased suggestively, grinning at Andie.
"This isn’t an office. It’s Hell with fluorescent lighting."
"I know, I know but we have to be here, otherwise I’m gonna get in trouble with the Professor for not doing my job."
"I miss you" (because payback's a bitch and so am I)
One Year:
"I don’t know why I keep coming back here so often. At first, I told myself it was for Rebecca, but she doesn’t recognize a headstone as you. Which is… That’s good. I’d rather she remember you as you were, instead of… I just worry she won’t remember. And I still… I blame myself. Obviously, I do. Why wouldn’t I? It was my… There’s no excuse. It was me. That’s me, and I’m the reason you’re… I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself. If I didn’t know that a bullet wouldn’t… Einstein once said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I’m a lot of things, but I like to think I’m not insane, so I don’t think I’m going to try again. But, if I could… But I have Rebecca. I can’t. I can’t leave her. But, Andie… I don’t know how to do this without you. Please.”
Five Years:
"Rebecca says hi. Sorry, I didn’t bring her today, she’s in the city with Steve. I thought that would be best, since today… Today’s not a good day for me. I’m having… less bad days, than I used to, I guess. But… not a day goes by that I don’t think about you, and then I just kind of… It’s rough. I won’t lie. It’s rough. And I remember you so clearly, the way you felt with me, and the way you’d feel when you got inside my head, and I miss that. It’s weird, but… I miss that. Rebecca misses you. I wish, sometimes, that she looked more like you, because I miss your face. She acts like you, though. And, sometimes, she makes these faces… And it’s like you’re home again. I’m still… Andie, I’m so sorry.”
Ten Years:
"Hi, Andie. It’s been… Wow. Ten years. Really? That’s… Wow. I know I was just here last week, but Rebecca worked some more on control this week. She still loses it sometime, but she’s already better than me. She’s everything you thought I could be, and everything you were, and more. She’s better than both of us. I’m so proud of her, Andie. I know you would be, too, if you were here. We visited the school on Wednesday and Thursday, and I taught a couple of classes. Everybody misses you. They still ask about you, every time, and I’m not surprised by how much it hurts me. I still… I still feel guilty, and I wish more people would blame me. I’m so sorry. I miss you so much, and it’s all my fault, and I miss you. I love you, and I miss you, Andie, so much. But I think I’ve finally… figured out how to live day-to-day without you, even if I still think about you every day. I love you."
((HOT DAMN THAT'S PAINFUL BUT AT THE SAME TIME SO SWEET))
[[HE SURVIVED, BUT ONLY JUST]]
"Fine, fine," Bruce allowed, stepping back from her. "I suppose we don't." Bruce followed Andie back to the young girl. "I still don't think I'm the best choice to be here."
"This isn’t an office. It’s Hell with fluorescent lighting."
"I know, I know but we have to be here, otherwise I’m gonna get in trouble with the Professor for not doing my job."