tolaywaste | 10. » private/video

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10. » private/video

for ben

[His posture says it all: concerned, tense, but not afraid for his own safety. Not afraid at all. He's leaning towards the camera, though, like he can express worry just by being closer.]

Hey, Ben? I'm worried about you. Can you check in with me?

filter: bruce + rorschach + barbara

I'd like to help with Ben. I'm not as good at this as you all are, but point me where you need me and I'm there.

just bruce

Which means you're helping. He's my friend.

for oliver

I need your help with something, if you're willing to give it.

for charles

Check in. Did you hear about Ben?

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[Aw Alex. :c Charles just looks at him a little incredulously, smiling, hoping to God he's going to say the right thing because man he did not have good role models when it comes to being a parent.]

Why would I be surprised? Of course we're family.

[For a second Alex looks surprised, like maybe he was expecting the statement to get laughed at, shot down. But no, Charles has never been like that. Charles has always been kind to him, and Erik too, in his way. Kinder than anyone else.]

[The smile grows slowly, uncertain at first, and then wider. It's the best gift he's ever gotten.]

Yeah. I guess we are.

Of course we are. [And he still kind of can't believe that happened, because it's not like he'd planned on it, even if there had always been a desperately lonely part of himself that often went unacknowledged that wanted a family. He'd had Raven, and he'd been beyond grateful for that, but having the kids and Erik and Moira around too had felt good in a way nothing else really had before.] God knows I've told enough people here that I've got three kids at home.

[He's kidding, because you're not kids, he knows, he knows. (He has actually told lots of people he has kids tho.)]

Seriously, Alex, you've been a part of my family for quite a long time at this point, you certainly don't have to apologize for implying it to anyone, or just saying it flat out.

Wait, do you seriously say that?

[He looks about as far as insulted as anybody could possibly be, this is so awesome.]

I just - I never -

[But Charles knows, and he can't really handle saying it right now, so. He lets it lie.]

That's awesome.

Well, I'm glad you think so, otherwise this might have gotten a bit awkward. [Not that it was something he'd necessarily been concerned about, but. It's also not just something you casually insert into conversation with people you sprung from prison and effectively adopted.] But yes, I do seriously say that.

Cool.

[He considers saying thanks, but he doesn't because that's weird.]

It just, um. It was weird saying it out loud to him and not to you. And it reminded me of - Bargewell.

So I thought I'd tell you. You know.

I'm glad you did.

[He hesitates, not really sure if this is okay or not, but. While we're on the subject.]

To be honest, I'd already considered you my son long before that breach ever happened.

[Oh.]

[Guess who has never looked more surprised or more touched in his life. This kid.]

Yeah?

Yes.

[He feels like he should say something else, like how proud he is of him and how much he appreciates everything he's done for him, but. He smiles a little instead.] I hope that's not weird or anything.

No. No, it's not weird.

[He thinks of what Zane said - he remembers every word he said about his father, will remember every word until the day he dies - and a wave of sorrow runs through him, right alongside the gratitude.]

[He is so lucky. He knows it now more than ever.]

I'm - really proud to be your son.

[And that's the moment when words fail him completely, because even though he's thought this for a while, he still feels hideously unprepared for actually making it at all official and that... that was definitely not something you could brush off as a joke.

Alex didn't think it was weird, or uncomfortable or silly for them to say they were family, to say that Alex was his son, and that's pretty incredible.

So there's a knock on your door very shortly after your last message.]

[In a way, Alex was expecting it. Because there's a point where words just don't work anymore, and they'd pretty much reached it. Surpassed it, even. He's surprised he was able to get out as much as he did.]

[So when the knock comes and he opens the door to see Charles outside, he doesn't even hesitate: he pulls Charles in for a tight hug, burying his face in his shoulder. It reminds him of Bargewell, only this time there's no fear, none. He's happy, maybe happier than he's ever been in his life.]

[Family.]

[Charles hugs him back just as tightly without missing a beat, just taking a long moment to appreciate this. Alex didn't mind- Alex beyond didn't mind, and he's definitely maybe going to have to blame any overbrightness in his eyes on some dust or something, because having confirmation and acceptance and love made everything else seem insignificant.

He's totally overwhelmed, but in the best possible way because for the first time in a while, he feels like maybe things are going to be okay.

And how strange was it that Erik of all people had been the one to tell him that?]

[He should probably say thanks, say something, but he's all out of words and he's pretty sure Charles is too. So he just doesn't let go for a little while, lets things just be as they are. He's not crying, okay, but he's pretty damn choked up - another good reason not to say a word.]

[It's the best thing in the world, feeling like he belongs somewhere. He thinks it's probably the best thing in the world for both of them.]

[It is, unquestionably, and Charles isn't really sure how it happened, because it really wasn't that long ago that it was just him and Raven, and the most important thing had been finishing assignments in a timely enough fashion to ensure he could get drunk and flirt with girls over the weekend. Now he had a family, a real purpose in life, and after everything that had happened, he just... needed this.]

For the record, I still think I should be the one thanking you. [It's rueful and unquestionably fond, but it's true. The kids and Moira had been what saved him after what had happened in Cuba, and he didn't know if he could ever thank them enough for it.]

[This just makes him laugh, pulling away reluctantly and clapping Charles on the shoulder because come on, man.]

Shut up, come on. Nobody needs to thank anybody. I think that's kind of the point.

[That's what family's for. To be there, right, no matter what.]

I suppose so. [He's beyond grateful anyway, and he still thinks it's worth saying because they didn't have to stay with a seriously injured man they'd known for a only few weeks, but they had and they'd helped even when he didn't want them to.]

I'm glad you said something, Alex.

Me too. It's not like it's - new, you know?

[It's just that he doesn't ever talk about this shit. Ever.]

We just aren't very good at discussing this sort of thing.

[He claps a hand on Alex's shoulder.] Is there anything you need me to do to help Ben?

No. No, just keep doing what you're doing.

Well, you know I'm more than happy to do just that.

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