Free from the constraints of the cloak, he takes advantage: stretches, runs his hands through his hair, rolls his neck from side to side until he hears that telltale satisfying pop. It's such a relief to be out from under there every single time. Some day he won't have to wear it but until then... he'll cherish every moment he's got, both covered and uncovered.
He smooths down the creases on Beth Junior's forehead and presses a kiss of his own to the top of her head, just because he can... and then he turns his attention to Hero, who looks like she's giving the cloak the third degree. He can't blame her in the least.
But he also can't let her take all the time she wants with it: he knows from long months of experience that when Natalya and Ciba go off, they don't usually stay away for very long.
"One of these days, Hero, you can play with that cloak all you want. But right now you need to give it back. I think I hear someone." He's not just making that up out of some misguided sense of insecurity, either; he definitely hears distant soft voices. It might not be Ciba and Natalya but it doesn't matter; he needs to be covered up. Reaching down, he grabs his backpack, kisses Beth quickly on the lips, and holds his hand out for the cloak.
He almost feels like he ought to apologize for everything, but the only thing he's actually sorry about is not being able to have just that much more time with Beth.
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He smooths down the creases on Beth Junior's forehead and presses a kiss of his own to the top of her head, just because he can... and then he turns his attention to Hero, who looks like she's giving the cloak the third degree. He can't blame her in the least.
But he also can't let her take all the time she wants with it: he knows from long months of experience that when Natalya and Ciba go off, they don't usually stay away for very long.
"One of these days, Hero, you can play with that cloak all you want. But right now you need to give it back. I think I hear someone." He's not just making that up out of some misguided sense of insecurity, either; he definitely hears distant soft voices. It might not be Ciba and Natalya but it doesn't matter; he needs to be covered up. Reaching down, he grabs his backpack, kisses Beth quickly on the lips, and holds his hand out for the cloak.
He almost feels like he ought to apologize for everything, but the only thing he's actually sorry about is not being able to have just that much more time with Beth.