Always When You Least Expect It...

[aqua_gambit]

Remi deNamor was trying to look inconspicuous as he moved toward Pier 4. He was in a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up. He was trying to look like a jogger. The only thing that would throw people off is if they looked at his feet and noticed he was barefoot and moving an inch above the ground.

He just needed to get inside Pier 4 and figure out a way to hide the pummeling he had gotten today. He went out to underground fight clubs still. He went in knowing he would get as good as he gave, and today he'd gotten whumped. He hoped he could maybe get in his tank for a little bit, give his body some quality soaking to heal.

Particularly before Alexa got out of the lab. The Atlantean moved down the street, no thinking he would run into anyone he would sort of know.

Comments

[ngm_ff]

"It's tempting, isn't it? I know Ben's nearly gone a few things in his lifetime, notably so when we all had our change. It's something one has to deal with and adopt to. And there were a lot of times I was frustrated with my powers and as they began to grow." Oh, how different it was. But right now she wasn't there to mend bridges between her children and her... alternate reality child. The painful thing is she sees so much of Namor and Johnny in Remi, that could almost believe it was her son. He also reminds her a bit of Franklin, he being more Storm than Richards.

Sue doesn't mind, it's an awkward situation all around. Her smile is light and geunine though, even if years in the spot light has taught her to smile. "More food, more money for everyone. When I was in Hollywood for a little while, I would always hate the people who didn't tip." She looks puzzled for a moment, hearing the story but she nods. Very, very early on. Before their powers changed everything and everyone began to pop from the woodwork. No avengers to save the meteors. No X-Men. No Avengers. "I'm sorry, at the least, you didn't get to meet your Uncle."

[aqua_gambit]

"Not so much a temptation as a byproduct of my anger. I... have a hard time thinking when my emotions go to extremes." See also: how Alexa ended up pregnant. Which he was not going to bring up. The woman across from him had her own family to worry about. He had doubts she wanted to be a grandmother to someone else's kid.

"Most of my money goes to feeding myself," he admitted a little ruefully. "I can't cook and go out to eat a lot."

He shrugged and fiddled with the corner of his place mat with his thumb. "Mo mama says my little brother acts just like her little brother. Except more aquatic being Atlantean and everything. His name is Johnny, too."

[ngm_ff]

One day she's going to see Alexa, and she's going to remember the conversation with Remi. She can add, thank you very much, Mr. Son of Namor. She's no Reed, but she's sharp. "I'll blame your uncle for you. I know half of that is from him.

Is that due to your up bringing, then? Believe me, that would be ... 'our' fault. If I could have a dependable cook cook for us, I would. I don't frust Reed's robots anymore."

There's a warm grin, and she can see this. "A lot like Mary, then? But less aquatic and more Skrull?"

[aqua_gambit]

It would become more patently obvious once Sue got more information about what happened between Remi and her daughter how Alexa got pregnant. He was just going to avoid the topic for as long as he could. "I... guess that could be. I've never known him, so I don't know what traits we have in common. Outside of what traits I may share with Mary."

Which he did not think were many, but there were one or two. He looked down to see he was still fiddling with the placemat and stopped himself. "Not much need to cook for myself under the sea and being the crown prince. When we were away from the kingdom, mama had Valeria Fen or Ari help her cook."

He squinted a bit to figure out the comparison. "Yes, but with a pet tiger shark and no need to sell stories to tabloids."

[ngm_ff]

If she got anything out of Valeria besides a 'I'm fine', she would love it. Simply love it. "You get along with your cousins, then? I know they're 'removed' in some ways, but I've found that the Fantastic Four -- and I suspect the Foundation -- that family has to be involved. Comradeship."

And Sue couldn't help but smile, if sadly. "Two sisters with the name Valeria, then." Perhaps... well, Valeria wasn't getting out of her funk as easily as Franklin hoped.

A blank look and then a frown, "Tabloids."

[aqua_gambit]

Oh, crap. He let his mouth get away from him. He went a little wide-eyed as he tried to think how to backtrack. Outside of turning back time, which he couldn't do, his mind was giving him nothing. He spoke carefully.

"I get along well enough with Mary, Jacob, and Ryan. I lead the Imaginaut field team." Which he found to be he got it because no one wanted it or didn't want someone in particular to have it. He shifted a little in his seat.

"I... don't think your daughter considers me a brother." That was the politest way he could put it. It's what he felt since they... since the time he smashed a phone and got Alexa pregnant.

Though the tabloids was a topic change. He could go for talking about that. "Yes, I don't have a way to prove it, but a lot of insider tips about Alexa and my personal life end up in the tabloids. I'm positive it's not Jacob or Ryan. It would seem like a prankish sort of thing to do when you aren't the one having your personal life twisted and put out for public consumption."

[ngm_ff]

"Well, to be terribly honest, I don't see any of those kids being a field leader. I once thought Franklin would-" There's a terse sigh, and she knows her loss is the reason why Franklin didn't become a field leader "-But things changed. I think it's good that you are." Though she also wouldn't be shocked to hear the reasons why it happened.

"Why do you think that, Remi? What happened?" Valeria, or the Valeria she knew, could be very arrogant. The child she knew wasn't the woman that Valeria became. While Franklin and Remi clearly were related to Johnny, Valeria was much more of Reed's child. And Reed could become terribly obsessed or depressed in his darkest times. And she barely had his optimism, it seemed. Or at the least, lately.

"No, Jacob wouldn't dare and Ryan knows his father would be furious. They both lived too much under hearing the pressures of their father and mother in the tabloids."

[aqua_gambit]

Remi let out a breath slowly and scratched the back of his neck. As he was still completely unfamiliar with Franklin and continuing to avoid him, the Atlantean had no idea if Franklin would eventually want to go to the Imaginauts and want the field team leader.

He was trying to be very careful on the words he picked. "When I informed Valeria that her father was back, she was condescending and dismissive of my ability to make sure it truly was Dr. Richards. So, I sent her cousins to bring her back, and she believed them."

He shrugged. "And then on the rescue mission for you, I didn't exist. So..."

He didn't finish that thought. He picked up a glass of water to take a drink. He would drink the whole glass and the ice cubes if he needed to.

[ngm_ff]

From what Sue could see, that plan wasn't in motion for Franklin. He wasn't often at home, but sometimes dragged Valeria from her funk along.

"I still don't think she believes Reed is her father in a sense. I don't think she truly believes I'm her mother." Sue's words are also careful, not to offend someone who might be obviously hurt. "She lost us at a very young age and I'm sure there were false alarms." She closes her eyes to consider her words. "At times, I don't think she believes Franklin, either. She lost him too."

She looks curiously at him. "What happened just before?" This was not to defend Valeria, but it seemed Remi was hurt. She didn't want him to believe people here didn't care. "Before the mission."

[aqua_gambit]

Remi gave a half-hearted shrug. "I wouldn't know a thing to make her believe or come out of her world of denial. Despite my job on the Exiles, I'm not good at giving hope to those who don't want it. Her Uncle Ben would be the better choice."

He set his half-full glass on the table. He nervously rotated it with his thumb and forefinger. "Nothing. She had made her displeasure known about me even trying to be her brother, so I avoided her. I felt I would rather not bother her than get figuratively spit on again."

[ngm_ff]

"No, I'm not asking for that, Remi. I'm only informing you that I don't think anyone can get her out of the idea Reed and I should be dead but for time itself. And even then, I'm not sure." Her tone is gentle, and quiet. "I think it would be good for you."

She sips her own water, studying him. "I don't think things between Storm siblings are ever simple, Remi. I hear rumors about you and I know what I'm seeing with my daughter and heard from Ben. I'd like you to see if this is true or not."

[aqua_gambit]

He tried to keep his expression bland. Like he was dealing with the Lord Chamberlain. If he'd ever admit it, he was hurt by the loss. He was realizing there was no way home from here. He had thought of Valeria as the only family he had here. He had struggled with moving on from that, but Alexa had sped that up. Or he had, really. Of all the times for forget to use a condom.

He quirked an eyebrow. "Rumors?"

He was almost horrified about what a mother would hear about a not-quite-son. That question was also a weak dodge away from the point she was trying to make.

[ngm_ff]

"Ben told me Valeria was very fond of you, is all." She sighs quietly then gives a slight smile, "She's been depressed lately. It... wasn't right of me to not tell you. Not right off the bat."

Oh, she was aware of those other rumors but right now it wasn't something she should bring up. But Sue had a faint feeling next week she might drop by with a basket of goodies for the baby and Alexa.

[aqua_gambit]

Remi nearly choked on a sip of water. It was quite a feat being that he's semi-aquatic. He patted his bruised chest to make sure the water went down the right pipe. Then he winced from hitting a sore part of his body.

"She i-uhm. Was. Possibly." He rubbed his forehead. "So, you'd want me to visit her?"

Couldn't hurt her, he would imagine. It might even make her feel better to see someone worse off than her. Before she put him in an invisible hamster ball and sent him rolling into the Atlantic.

[ngm_ff]

Well, being semi-aquatic didn't mean one couldn't choke on water. It wasn't too hard at all. But she reached over to gently touch his arm until he began to talk.

"Perhaps later, if you could. It might help. I think you both need it."

She smiles, then. "So tell me of your adventures so far."

[aqua_gambit]

"I..." Maudit. Why did she have to look exactly like his mother? Why couldn't she be like pasty King McKenzie? "I'll try."

It was all he could promise.

He finished up the water in his glass. "Well, I dropped into this reality in the big reservoir in Central Park..."

He skimmed through his history in this world. He skipped right over all the sex. Also, he abbreviated his first encounter with Alexa Stark to the beach party and talking in her house the next morning. He purposefully left out the part that got them into the tabloids. He did have to pause for the waitress to take their orders and then he finished his tale up to Mrs. Richards' rescue.