So what if the circumstances suck? He's not lying. He can't lie to Beth anyway. "I'm doing good. See?" He directs her hand to his midsection: he's all lean and wiry and muscle. If he knew for sure they had any time at all to themselves he'd invite her to explore his body a little differently, but they can't risk that. Hell, at this point Hero would be really pissed off to find out he's been here all along, he thinks, and how the fuck would they explain him to Ciba and Natalya? Beth's right, keeping him secret the way she has, even if he doesn't always like it.
He happens to think he'd be fine with this group if they all knew he was here, but it's okay. Whether or not that's true, it's Beth's call and he loves her and he'll do things her way because this is her world. And yeah, it's hot under the cloak and he's really, really hungry, and he'd love a smoke, but... he's still good. He's holding up because he can look into her eyes, even if she can't see him doing it.
"I tell you, ma'am: I've been in some strange situations before but nothing like this. Good thing I know how to be stealthy, like ninja." He laughs, reaching over to take little Beth into his arms for a few precious minutes. He misses things: he misses swinging her around and changing her diapers -- of all the fucking things to miss -- and giving her baths and damn, she's just starting to eat little bits of solid food and the expressions she makes with them are priceless, like she doesn't know what to do with the food, and he'd give almost anything to be able to coach her through it a little. But he can't.
At least she gets to know he's here. At least he's not missing it all. Lifting up the baby's shirt, he blows a loud kiss onto her stomach. It makes them both laugh.
(Click.)
He looks over at his Beth with soft mismatched brown eyes. "It's times like this, Slim. Moments just like this one that remind me no matter how hard it gets other times, this is where I'm supposed to be. Where I need to be, with you and Junior. I can't imagine being anywhere else."
He'd like to fall right into her arms. Take her to the stars with him.
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So what if the circumstances suck? He's not lying. He can't lie to Beth anyway. "I'm doing good. See?" He directs her hand to his midsection: he's all lean and wiry and muscle. If he knew for sure they had any time at all to themselves he'd invite her to explore his body a little differently, but they can't risk that. Hell, at this point Hero would be really pissed off to find out he's been here all along, he thinks, and how the fuck would they explain him to Ciba and Natalya? Beth's right, keeping him secret the way she has, even if he doesn't always like it.
He happens to think he'd be fine with this group if they all knew he was here, but it's okay. Whether or not that's true, it's Beth's call and he loves her and he'll do things her way because this is her world. And yeah, it's hot under the cloak and he's really, really hungry, and he'd love a smoke, but... he's still good. He's holding up because he can look into her eyes, even if she can't see him doing it.
"I tell you, ma'am: I've been in some strange situations before but nothing like this. Good thing I know how to be stealthy, like ninja." He laughs, reaching over to take little Beth into his arms for a few precious minutes. He misses things: he misses swinging her around and changing her diapers -- of all the fucking things to miss -- and giving her baths and damn, she's just starting to eat little bits of solid food and the expressions she makes with them are priceless, like she doesn't know what to do with the food, and he'd give almost anything to be able to coach her through it a little. But he can't.
At least she gets to know he's here. At least he's not missing it all. Lifting up the baby's shirt, he blows a loud kiss onto her stomach. It makes them both laugh.
(Click.)
He looks over at his Beth with soft mismatched brown eyes. "It's times like this, Slim. Moments just like this one that remind me no matter how hard it gets other times, this is where I'm supposed to be. Where I need to be, with you and Junior. I can't imagine being anywhere else."
He'd like to fall right into her arms. Take her to the stars with him.
Maybe they will again, some day.