[h2][color=gray]The Stepfather[/color][/h2] [sub]A collab of [@lexisheeps] and [@Estylwen][/sub] [hr] The rain finally stopped. But the repetitive dripping kept giving the pleasant sound of water to focus on. Something to dull the mental sensation that accompanied the physical tingling. Nick sighed a bit, happy that Thierry had finally fallen asleep. Happy that Cosette seemed just as passed out as well. But he laid there now, sandwiched between his husband and daughter, trying to focus less on his sore arm and more on the water. [i]Damn[/i], Nick thought, as he realized just how tight Cosette's grip really was, but the human-sized teddy bear finally freed himself. He moved his fingers cautiously, looking past her hair that partially blocked his vision. It was odd. The feeling. No, not the sensation of blood rushing back to his fingertips. The feeling that washed over him. The realization that the fight to find Thierry's daughters had finally come to an end. It had been over a week, true, but the silent moment to himself just now occurred. A time to think. A time to let everything sink in. A chance to breathe. Seven long years. Nick had known Thierry for only six of them. And all six of those years Thierry had been hellbent on finding this tiny frame that at least seemed asleep at the moment. He sighed. Would his marriage be affected now that the girls were back? No, Sabrina's words at the coffee shop rattled around in his head, [i]He loves you, Nick. Don't ever doubt that[/i]. If he got up now, would Cosette wake up?! At least he knew Thierry wouldn't. The prescription ensured that. He wiggled himself out of the uncomfortable position, being a bit more careful with Cosette. Made his way down the liminal space of a hallway. Brushing past silly thoughts that came to him as he caught his own shadow, who was not actually staring him down. The splash of water felt nice, cool against his warmed skin. Was he having a panic attack? He hadn't had one in years, but with this new augmentation, possibly? He wasn't sure. A second splash of water and then rubbing of his eyes. He sighed, drying only his hands on the towel. Stopped dead as the shadow crossed his mind. But once more, it was just normal night lighting. Why was he so spooked tonight? Instead of heading back to the bedroom, he headed down the hall. Stopping again as he pushed the door to his left, a little further opened. The spare bedroom he'd set up for Cosette. Stuffed animals galore. Each hand picked at a local shop. But she'd refused the room as if a monster hid in the closet or under the bed. Even after showing her nothing was there. The Hollow? "I'm going insane." Nick mumbled ever so slightly with an eye roll. The wood was cold under his feet and the blast of cold air made his toes wiggle under his flowing sweatpants. The Gatorade from earlier was good enough. Took a sip as he headed back through the living room. He started for the bedroom, but stopped at the foot of the stairs. Took another sip. Turned on his heels and plopped on the couch. Hobbies. Nick has them. The next set of magazines to go through were monster trucks, monster movies, and music. Scrapbooking. The images from the magazines helped reinforce the imagery of some of the journal entries. It wasn't one of his original hobbies. It was inherited when he'd married Thierry. But it wasn't too far off, as he'd already kept regular journals. So it was a no-brainer to sit there and cut out little squares of this and that. It was an interesting way to pass the- "Jesus, it's 2am." Nick blinked at the clock on the muted tv. A politically geared news channel, but repeat gossip about The Louvre's upcoming Gala played. Thierry's unhinged departure really did have an impact on Paris. At least for the art world. "Oh," Nick found himself smirking at the tv's captions along with the following headline, "If only you knew." Some of the recent events had been damn well covered, Nick realized, raising an eyebrow. He'd caused an accident on the freeway, hadn't he? But as a Louvre employee, it was nice to see that at least his ass was still being covered by the higher ups. A quick glance over to the foot of the stairs caught him wondering [i]for just how long[/i] exactly? A sudden shuffle, a rustle of movement. Subject #3 - Cosette - hovered at the doorway, anxious and out of place. [b]“N-nick?”[/b] She called softly, her tired eyes curiously passing over the the cut squares and shredded magazines. Before she bit her lip, her eyes staring at Nick before crossing to the floor. [b]“I… I had a nightmare.”[/b] She had woken abruptly on the bed, and had found her father unresponsive to her light pats. Her side was cold - Nick had gotten up and was no where to be seen. So, naturally, her anxiety and need of comfort caused her to worm her way off the bed and shuffle down the hallway. Which led Subject #3 to the only lights on in the apartment, and where Nick was resting. She shivered a bit, staring at him anxiously. The building was old. This meant that Nick could hear the creaking of the stairs once Cosette had stirred awake. He wasn't really surprised that she'd come down. Her shivering. He wasn't sure if it was because she was cold, or just upset. Once she mentioned the nightmare though, he felt he had a pretty good idea and gathered the clippings. They weren't appropriate for right now, considering the scary imagery some had. With the little bin back in place under the coffee table, he pulled the couch blanket next to him. The tv stayed muted, but Nick tuned to something bright and cheery. Not pictures of The Louvre, co-workers, and her father. Or the upcoming Gala. He looked to her, "I get those too sometimes." He smiled softly and patted at the blanket indicating to come sit with him awhile. It might of been a long shot, but maybe Cosette's memory augmentation could be loosened, if she had the chance to think beyond just her current physical surroundings. Nick pondered the idea and would mention it to Thierry for shits and giggles tomorrow, "You wanna tell me about it?" His tone was quiet, soft in nature. Subject #3 hesitated for a moment before she wordlessly nodded, and climbed up onto the couch beside Nick. She wrapped the blanket around her, staring up at Nick briefly before her gaze dropped to her lap. [b]“I… dreamt of dust, and dirt. I was in the darkness, and it was suffocating. All these rocks came down on top of me, and I couldn't breathe. I tried to move, but I ended up making it worse. I…”[/b] She paused, her arms moving to hug herself tightly, her shivering increased. [b]“I cried for help. I cried until my voice was hoarse. I cried for what felt like hours. But… no one came.”[/b] Her eyes closed, trying to hide frightened tears that wanted to pool at her waterline. [i]But no one came.[/i] Mental gymnastics... Her words burned. He knew that feeling. Knew it well. A little too well for Thierry's liking. And even though things were completely different now from what they used to be, things still roamed freely around the back of his mind... were at play as Nick's demeanor remained calm. He crossed his ankle over his knee and leaned back casually, "I'm here now..." Patted softly at her back before adjusting the blanket over her shoulder, "Because I heard you." A soft smile crept at the corner of his lips, "And I know you're not wolf food." Subject #3 blinked for a moment, before staring up incredulously at Nick. No, not Nick… He wasn’t ‘Nick’ anymore. He was ‘step-dad’, or ‘step-father’, and he had already saved her life once. She matched his soft smile. [b]“Did I… [i]step-dad[/i], did I ever thank you for making sure I didn't end up being wolf food?”[/b] She lifted her arm briefly, displaying the pink lines of a scar that had smoothly healed. The bite marks of the wolf. [b]“I really thought I was gonna… You know, not make it.”[/b] Her smile was rueful as she glanced up at her step-dad. [b]“I'm glad you were there.”[/b] The soft smile widened as it continued creeping across Nick's lips. [color=gray]This is who I am. I will not idly sit by.[/color] [hr] [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En8JdFUvKZk[/youtube][/center] [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Son[/color][/h2] [sub]A collab of [@lexisheeps] and [@Days][/sub][hr] ”...I’ll be on my best behaviour.” The words, that voice. Thierry stopped dead in his tracks, letting the words repeat in his mind. He'd heard that voice say that exact phrase with that intent, what felt like many times before. The words weighed heavily on his mind. It wasn't the first time he'd stalled that day and probably wouldn't be the last. But the simple act of his boy saying he'd be on his best behavior, really hit him hard. The realization of his son no longer being a child, but a young responsible man, is what caused his heart to flutter. This idea caused him to stand there, to hesitate. Did Theo even need him, let alone want him? How could he? He was once a prominent figure within these hallowed museum walls. But now? After the egregious act of signing 27 years worth of his life's work over to Von Galloes... how? How could he face Theodore now? His only son, who once idolized him so dearly. Wanted to be nothing less than just like him. Theodore de Villiers was, in fact, his own man, not just a son. But that hadn't stopped Thierry from wishing desperately. To see that special sparkle in Theo's eyes, upon entering the room. To know that he was still wanted as his father. That he wasn't as worthless as his signature had recently become. A lump had settled high in his throat while his bottom lip trembled. When exactly had he started failing as a father? He wasn't entirely sure. But was sure he knew exactly when he'd thrown his work life aside. After a minute or so of his hardened emotional whirlwind, Thierry pulled his cuff back over his watch after confirming the time, or more specifically... the date. Surely he was running out of time to piddle around like this. The sounds of shuffling could be heard in the next room. Along with the chatter of some aides. With one last quick glance at the clock on the adjacent wall, his feet hit the ground until he found himself standing directly in front of Theo, his only son. However, upon making eye contact, the valor he'd found had plummeted. Thierry had been reduced to little more than a deer in headlights. Theo's smart green suit was the safety of the forest, but his eyes held a mirror to what was surely, the oncoming pain. The tightness in his chest increased as his heart furthered it's race. His face felt warm despite the slight chill in the air. Could Theo hear it? The thumping of his broken father's heart? There was only one other time in his life, that Thierry truly remembered feeling this level of vulnerability... the day he'd asked for his husband's hand in marriage. Albeit for a completely different set of reasons, well maybe some were a little different. But the sensations he felt now, the anxiety, the flushed face, were exact replicas. Did Theo still accept him as his father? Despite everything? He swallowed hard and spoke softly, "Je suis fière de toi, mon fils." As a single tear attempted to put out his burning cheek. Unsure of Theo's acceptance of his behavior, he did not pull his son in for a tight hold. That didn't stop him from raising his hands to do so, but Thierry panicked half way through the motion. His arms dropped to his sides as his emotions fumbled around. He bit his bottom lip and swallowed hard, waiting for a much deserved judgement and possible punishment. Would Theo be as angry with him as Sabrina had been at the harbor? He certainly felt as though he deserved nothing less. As his gaze diverted from direct eye contact, he noticed that Theo's tie was a little off centered. He managed to bring his hands up steadily, just long enough to adjust the knot. It felt like the air was being sucked out of the room, inhaled by small, barely audible gasps from the aides around him as the [i]actual[/i] monsieur de Villiers strode into the makeshift dressing room. Scattering was the only word acceptable enough for how the girls grabbed their make-up bags, hairspray and other belongings and quickly left the room in their high heels. Céline was the only one to give the two a glance over, her eyes inquisitive. Theo gave her the smallest of nods that he was fine, before shifting his eyes back to his father. His dad was here. And not only did he attend the gala, he'd come here to seek out his son. Why? Swallowing in an attempt to regain some composure, Theo felt his back straightening ever so slightly. As if he couldn't be found slumping around the reputable man. It was nothing short of off-centring to see Thierry now, the man he had, until a week ago, put on a pedestal and admired, chased after every bit of acknowledgement and mutual interest. Father and son bonding. He'd always idolised his father. Heroized him, even. That image had already started tumbling down after the divorce, where Theo held his mom in his arms while waiting for an ambulance. Now, the man who fathered him lay crumpled and whimpering at the bottom of the podium. Yet Theo felt no pity. Nor his previous anger of the day. Only guilt, for having put him so high up in the first place. Numbness. [color=steelblue]"Dad.."[/color] Maybe now, at the bottom, they were one and the same. Two men looking for acceptance, and love. One way or another. As they stood eye to eye, Theo found himself to simply be...over his anger. Anger hadn’t gotten him anywhere with his mother, and he knew he’d forgive his father just like he did with Sabrina. Maybe he already had, due to his talk with his sister. Her words played back to him. [i][color=rosybrown]Theo, you can’t stay mad at dad forever. He loves you. You love him. You shouldn’t push him away.[/color][/i] Even when her own life was entirely uprooted, her relationship with Thierry more shattered than ever, she had still attempted to mend that of him and their father. And she was right. Everyone else was disconnected. Just islands adrift in the sea, bridges snapped off, burning. So why should theirs, too? The man with whom he'd laughed at inaccuracies in a newly released Indiana Jones knockoff so bad it hurt, only a couple of weeks ago. He refused to sow the seeds of hurt and loneliness with his anger and bitterness. There was some ground to cover still, more truths to be said. But for now, Theo was just- a kid who needed his parents. As his father spoke the words so genuinely, so softly spoken yet hitting so hard, Theo had to blink away traitorous tears that would give away his gentle soul. His father was proud of him, and Theo could feel it. It wasn’t the first time Thierry had said it. He said it often enough. When he graduated high school, did well in university, and when he graduated that, too, and got his job. Yet it never felt more genuine than it did right now. Theo had genuinely made him proud. Surely his voice would betray him, too, so Theo gave him a curt nod before angling away his chin while his father’s hands fixed his tie. Oddly enough, he'd dreamed of a moment like this. Theo, accomplished, his father, decorated high on his platform, fixing his son's tie before Theo finally got the recognition he'd be looking for. Both from his dad and those in their field. He couldn’t help but flash a grin to that. He put one hand on Thierry’s shoulder and squeezed, a small nudge making his father look him back into the identical set of eyes. [color=steelblue]”Thank you for being here, dad. It means a lot. Especially after… well.”[/color] [i]everthing[/i]. The Louvre wasn’t his home anymore, signed away by a simple scribble. His eyes flashed to the clock, seeing he still had a little time before looking back at his father. Once he lowered his hands again, he rested his hands in the pockets of his suit pants. At this very moment in time, Theo just wanted his dad here for support, and there he was. [color=steelblue]"I'm kinda nervous, actually."[/color] He told his father with a grin, though his eyes betrayed the truth behind his confession. The words that came forth from Theo were not of anger, as Thierry had rightfully expected. But were unfeigned, even with everything that had happened. And despite admitting to his trepidation, Theo's tone remained ardent in nature. The gentle way in which Theo had spoken back, coerced his self-contempt aside. A sense of ease pushed back at the ache in his chest. A soft smile started across the corner of his mouth. It started off subtle, but grew into genuine charm. A charming smile that was cherished by those who knew him. A certain level of charm that his son had rightfully inherited and shared just moments ago. There was a moment to pull his handkerchief out, a quiet moment to regain his composure. Wipe the tear away to pretend he was nothing but rigid. His exhale was audible as he put the cloth back in his pocket, "I wouldn't miss this for the world." Which was nothing less than true, of course. Despite his paternal flaws for regular activities, Thierry had always pushed work aside to be around for the more special occasions. Both of Theo's schooling graduations and then when he'd got the job offer from The Louvre. His tone was one of guilt, "Though I almost didn't make it back here to be with you. You see, there's a new guard monitoring the staff area and he didn't recognize me. If Mr. Cress hadn't walked by, I..." There was an exhale while he hesitated. His rambling was something Theo probably didn't care about, but he finished his train of thought, "Would still be here, but out there." He pointed to the closed curtain. Thierry placed his hand on Theo's shoulder, returning the gesture his son had given him. And spoke with a sense of restored dignity, "I want things to be different between us. I want to be there and not just for things like this." Theo's slanted smile was sympathetic. Understanding. He knew his father wouldn't want to miss this for the world, neither did his mother. Nor his sisters, for that matter. Aurélie was probably close to a nervous breakdown somewhere out there, but she had pulled herself together to come. Theo's own pulse skittered all over, both with nerves and the close confinement with his dad who seemed to ramble, a thing he did often when he wasn't sure what to do with the feelings crowding his chest. The son knew his dad well, though his eyes met the ground when he mentioned Mr. Cress, to hide his flash of anger. The only son couldn't let his emotions take over now. Because his father seemed fully, if not mostly, focused on his son, and it was a rare find. And now that he had his father's full attention, Theo didn't quite know what to say anymore. Or well, there was a lot he wanted to say. [i]'How could you[/i]' was the one that kept playing over and over in his mind. [i]'Lie to me, keep things from me, leave mom, hold me down'[/i]. But now it was all background noise. There was a bigger picture to look at. A hand on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts, and Theo raised his head to lock eyes with his father again. His facial features showed more certainty and Theo knew his father's words were true. But he also knew his father had always [i]wanted[/i] things to be different, to be there. But wanting had never been enough. Would it be different, this time? While appreciating the sentiment, Theo was careful with his hope. His Adam's apple moved with his swallow as he nodded, once more avoiding his father's gaze. He just hoped Thierry would have the same sentiment with his big sister, and not just with him and Cosy. Frankly, the biggest reason Theo was letting his father in at all was because that is what Aurélie wanted. For him not to fight her battles. She'd done a lot for Theo, fighting [i]his[/i] battles so Theo could remain the good son. He didn't want to brush away her effort by pushing away his father. If that was what he could do for her, he would. His eyes flicked up back to his, slightly misted over by the promise of a hopeful future. [color=steelblue]"I want that too."[/color] he said, pressing his lips together in a smile while his eyes showed a careful yearning for their relationship to heal. A charming smile formed as his eyes sparkled with joy. A sense of regained freedom danced around his aura. The ability to make up for lost time. Time to laugh together and love one another.... To bond as a father and son should, "I'm nervous as well," Thierry started honestly enough, "I've been worried that my departure from The Louvre would cause you to not want..." His voice trailed with a slight whimper, as he looked down. Ashamed of himself once more... He looked up and locked eyes with a nervous smile, "I should probably go find my husband and your sisters. I trust you'll do magnificently with your reveal." He glanced over to the covered artifact, genuinely curious as to what it could be. Thierry stood silently a moment, a father in awe of his son's accomplishments. Then blurted out with a slight chuckle, "Nick is just as curious about this as I am!" As his father said he was nervous too, Theo let out a breathy laugh and nodded. It felt good, this talk. Honest, too. Because frankly, it felt entirely uprooting to suddenly be on lesser terms with the man he'd been on relatively good terms with up until a bit ago. Perhaps if they were okay, everyone else could slowly be okay, as well. Start to talk and start to heal. There were things that needed to be accepted. His parents were divorced and would not get back together. His father had a husband. His sisters were back and needed support. A support that only their family could really give. So they needed to find a way to coexist. Or next Christmas was going to be awkward as hell. Yet it seemed there was still a way to go as Thierry trailed off mid-sentence, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly as if he wanted to crawl back into himself. It wasn’t a demeanour Theo was used to from his dad, and it was every bit as unsettling as it was disarming. Cause him to not what [i]what[/i]? Want him? Need him? Admire him? His father’s job was both a blessing and a curse. It made Theo shove his father on a pedestal so high it could only tumble, but Theo’s real adoration came from the moments spent together aside from work. At some point, the Louvre, work and his dad all became one identity. There had been a tumultuous time in Theo’s life where he had questioned himself if he [i]actually[/i] liked archaeology, history and restoration, or if he just wanted to impress his dad. He found that both of them were true, but that the second wasn’t the cause of the first. His interest, no, infatuation with the subject was genuine. Almost hereditary. Yet Theo couldn’t deny that his pursuit of the topic was partially due to the need to bond with his father. In the end, it worked out for him. It was great to combine true passion with a paternal bond, even though Thierry’s work was far more exciting than Theo’s. The young man nodded once more when Thierry stated he’d go find Nick, a familiar swirl of anticipation at the mention of his sisters. God, he wanted to see Cosy badly. This whole half-week thing was wrecking him, but he knew his parents were just trying to figure out how all of this would work. There was no blame there, just the missing of what his family once was. At the mention of Nick’s curiosity, Theo couldn’t help but chuckle back in a similar timber. Surely, Theo’s digging and restoring of this long-lost artefact, while historically valuable, would be incredibly boring in Nick’s eyes. It was nothing compared to what those two had done and achieved. Something Theo hoped to become, but likely never would. [color=steelblue]”I’m glad he’s here too, but you know the Louvre doesn’t turn down any reason for a party.”[/color] There was a wry smile on his face in an attempt to temper his father’s expectations. Theo turned to the door where a soft knock sounded. Céline, no doubt. He blinked back at his father, and without really thinking Theo raised his arm over Thierry's shoulder and pulled his father in for a half hug. [color=steelblue]”Talk to you later. Tell Nick I said hi, Cosy too.”[/color] With a clap on his father's back, Theo took a step back and cleared his throat as Céline opened the door to the room, a questioning look on his face to see if Theo was ready. [hr] [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzExWz7KP5M[/youtube][/center] [hr] [h2][color=gray]Homecoming[/color][/h2] [sub]Interactions with [@Days], [@Estylwen], and [@WhiteAngel25][/sub] [hr] The refection he'd caught a glimpse of, Nick didn't recognize himself. But Thierry had told him he still cleaned up pretty well. Nick figured he'd just have to take his husband's word for it, but he'd much prefer his combat boots or sneakers any day. He didn't really like the subtle intrusive thoughts of running around the Louvre chasing after HiveMind agents... in a suit. He wasn't James Bond. Nope, that was his husband, [i]Monsieur Thierry Claude James de Villiers[/i]. Cosette's grip was firm as she spoke, “Do you see them yet?” Nick was taller than Cosette, but not by that much more. He still found himself standing on his tip toes, a good three inches shorter or so, in his loafers, "Nope," He started, "But let's keep checking." The guard at the counter was new. [i]Shit[/i]. Nick sighed, wondering if Thierry had made it back to see Theo or not, as he pulled his own staff card out. After the HiveMind attack, extra guard posts were put in place. Then some extras for tonight specifically. And this guy hadn't even recognized him, despite him being a regular attendee. It was a little odd as he anxiously pulled the card out and handed it to the man. Is this how Thierry had felt? But entirely more defeated? "Go ahead." Nick nodded and hurried Cosette along. He didn't want her out on the floor to be gawked at. Were the rumors true? Was this one of the missing de Villiers girls? Nick felt it his duty to keep Cosette close to him, even if he hadn't been married to Thierry. To protect her against the prying eyes of the broken Power Family's coworkers. He realized his own social anxieties were kicking in and was entirely relieved when he caught a glimpse of Sabrina near the main lobby, "There they are." Nick pointed through a set of antique mirrors to show Cosette he'd spotted them. It seemed that they'd just missed them in the main lobby by mere minutes. They'd have to double back, but that was fine. Back at the main hall, he called out, "Sabrina!" Hopefully she'd heard with the noise level of the chatter being rather high tonight. He glanced his husband's ex-wife over with a raised eyebrow as they'd finally reached a certain level of earshot, "Are you wearing a [i]revenge [/i]dress?" He smiled, but in a playful [i]he's mine[/i] expression, "It's pretty." Nick smiled softly at Aurélie, "Your dress is pretty too. I hope you're feeling a bit better." "There you are!" Thierry's voice suddenly behind him, caused Nick to jump a little. But pushed his social awkwardness aside with a smile. The de Villiers family was all here. Exchanging pleasantries, starting the healing process. Finally together again. Properly, under the watchful eye of The Louvre. Everything was just as it should. What Thierry said next caused Nick's heart to skip a beat, "I was just talking to your brother and I do believe Nova and Mr. Stoick are coming as well." Shit. [i]Stella[/i]! Nick went silent, despite the chatter that sounded him. Realizing how deep this well went. It was far from over... [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Former[/color][/h2] [sub]Juicy Background Noise[/sub] [hr] The aged paper pusher had finally found his way to his office after attending an emergency meeting with Mr. Augustus. But more surprisingly, certain members of The Council had attended as well. His involvement with HiveMind and Thierry's fall from grace had been the subject of the conversation, naturally. He'd stumbled by Thierry who'd been left dumbfounded at the guard's post. Thierry's plea with the guard rattled around in his head, as he swirled his brandy. Then his own words he as he approached the sticky situation he'd had a hand in... [i]This is Monsieur de Villiers and he's with me. Put him on my approved visitors list.[/i] [i]Yes sir.[/i] It was nice to have all of the de Villiers under The Louvre's roof again. Mr. Cress leaned back in his armchair as he gazed absentmindedly out to the glass pyramid, "I'm so sorry, Thierry." Assuring Mr. Augustus that his loyalties lied with The Louvre and [i]not [/i]HiveMind, had been particularly difficult this time around. But for now, it seemed as if he'd talked his way out of certain financial ruin. "But you are increasingly becoming a thorn in my side." [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OcrbWS9.png[/img][/center]