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theatrical_muse] 316 - What were you doing ten years ago?
Jan. 2nd, 2010 06:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoicslim316 - What were you doing ten years ago?
OOC Note: follows this post.
Ten years ago, I was letting someone down.
When I had told Madelyne that I was going to leave the X-Men so that we could build a life for ourselves, a real life with no giant killer robots and no alien invaders and no supervillains-- a life for a man, his wife and the baby they had on the way-- I had meant it. It's only recently that I've learned how to lie and dissemble and obfuscate, not that it's been entirely willingly. Back then, when I said something, you could bet cold hard cash that I meant it.
Of course, other things came up. The world needed saving, friends needed help and I never for a moment hesitated in putting the visor back on and jumping into the fray. Ten years ago, the Norse god of mischief Loki kidnapped Ororo and spirited her away to Asgard. Because of certain previous encounters with the Asgardians, the X-Men had the means to follow and mount a rescue. There was no second thought in my head that I would lead the mission.
No second thought, that was, until Maddy pointed out that I would be leaving behind a very pregnant wife and due-any-day baby. I know she was furious with me, with plenty of reason. I know she understood, in a way, but that she still resented me. At every turn, I was choosing other things before them.
And ten years ago was on my mind because ten seconds ago, I got the answer to why Emma had seemed so clearly agitated and nervous when she walked into my office.
Memories of ten years past flashed through my mind.
The look on Maddy's face, full of disappointment and anger and fear as the team and I were enveloped by the Asgardian magic that would transport us to another realm.
The empty cabin in Alaska as I searched through it for a wife and newborn son who weren't there.
The hope and sadness in Rachel's eyes when she told me the story of her life, letting me know that I was her father and wasn't, and the pain in her voice when I told her the story of Jean's life, who was her mother and wasn't.
Raising baby Nathan in the cold metal corridors of Ship.
Letting my infant son go a thousand years into the future to ensure he would live, even if I would never see him again.
Traveling to that future to raise Nathan and not being able to tell him who I really was.
Learning that Cable was my son, and watching him as he watched me sacrifice myself against his greatest enemy.
Watching Nathan and Rachel deal with the loss of Jean.
Watching Emma deal with the loss of Sophie, and Esme. Being there at the revelation of their origins, and when she had to watch them be locked away inside themselves to contain the Phoenix Force.
I stood up from behind my desk and took a knee beside where Emma was sitting. I reached up and took both of her hands into mine and kissed them. With everything I had, I poured confidence and contentment through the psychic link we shared.
"Tell me what you want to do. Anything you decide, I'm with you."
Yes, I've learned how to lie and lie well. But I wasn't lying now. Not even a little. If I got the chance, I'd do it all as right as I could.
(579)
OOC Note: This is an RP and canon-based prompt. The only character mentioned still in TM is![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
queenemma who is used with permission. See disclaimer.
OOC Note: follows this post.
Ten years ago, I was letting someone down.
When I had told Madelyne that I was going to leave the X-Men so that we could build a life for ourselves, a real life with no giant killer robots and no alien invaders and no supervillains-- a life for a man, his wife and the baby they had on the way-- I had meant it. It's only recently that I've learned how to lie and dissemble and obfuscate, not that it's been entirely willingly. Back then, when I said something, you could bet cold hard cash that I meant it.
Of course, other things came up. The world needed saving, friends needed help and I never for a moment hesitated in putting the visor back on and jumping into the fray. Ten years ago, the Norse god of mischief Loki kidnapped Ororo and spirited her away to Asgard. Because of certain previous encounters with the Asgardians, the X-Men had the means to follow and mount a rescue. There was no second thought in my head that I would lead the mission.
No second thought, that was, until Maddy pointed out that I would be leaving behind a very pregnant wife and due-any-day baby. I know she was furious with me, with plenty of reason. I know she understood, in a way, but that she still resented me. At every turn, I was choosing other things before them.
And ten years ago was on my mind because ten seconds ago, I got the answer to why Emma had seemed so clearly agitated and nervous when she walked into my office.
Memories of ten years past flashed through my mind.
The look on Maddy's face, full of disappointment and anger and fear as the team and I were enveloped by the Asgardian magic that would transport us to another realm.
The empty cabin in Alaska as I searched through it for a wife and newborn son who weren't there.
The hope and sadness in Rachel's eyes when she told me the story of her life, letting me know that I was her father and wasn't, and the pain in her voice when I told her the story of Jean's life, who was her mother and wasn't.
Raising baby Nathan in the cold metal corridors of Ship.
Letting my infant son go a thousand years into the future to ensure he would live, even if I would never see him again.
Traveling to that future to raise Nathan and not being able to tell him who I really was.
Learning that Cable was my son, and watching him as he watched me sacrifice myself against his greatest enemy.
Watching Nathan and Rachel deal with the loss of Jean.
Watching Emma deal with the loss of Sophie, and Esme. Being there at the revelation of their origins, and when she had to watch them be locked away inside themselves to contain the Phoenix Force.
I stood up from behind my desk and took a knee beside where Emma was sitting. I reached up and took both of her hands into mine and kissed them. With everything I had, I poured confidence and contentment through the psychic link we shared.
"Tell me what you want to do. Anything you decide, I'm with you."
Yes, I've learned how to lie and lie well. But I wasn't lying now. Not even a little. If I got the chance, I'd do it all as right as I could.
(579)
OOC Note: This is an RP and canon-based prompt. The only character mentioned still in TM is
queenemma who is used with permission. See disclaimer.
