nextgenerationmarvel | Picking Up The Pieces

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Picking Up The Pieces

So... that was it. He wasn't an Avenger anymore. Vincent felt very uncertain, about almost everything. He'd already spoken to Bruce, and consulted with his academic advisor about temporarily scaling back his course-load. He had an appointment with Stark at the end of the week to discuss his position there. Audhild was going to be well-educated and provided for. He'd even worked out a grocery list for the next few weeks and fully cleaned the apartment.

He'd done everything he could think of, he'd been so intent on putting this off.

He picks up the phone and dials a number that he'd resolved not to for some time.

"Hello... Roxanne."

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Vincent himself orders something a bit simpler. Just orange marmalade and some chocolate on the side. He stands as she seats herself, but doesn't go so far as getting her chair for her, then sits again. He reaches out to touch her arm gently, not bold enough to initiate a hug, as they both settle in.

"She's well... her education is progressing. I think being able to stay in the same apartment as when--" he falters momentarily "--as when we took her in helped a lot.." He swallows hard, a finger drumming on the edge of his teacup.

"I've... been dealing with some stuff." His voice gets smaller. "You already know about the Avengers."

Roxie nodded gently. That had been partially why she'd left the apartment to Vincent and Audhild. Considering that she was the one who was breaking up with Vincent, it would have been cruel and rude of her to expect that he and his little sister be the ones to vacate the home. Besides, given what Roxie had been through, she'd needed a fresh start more than anything else, and even if that hadn't been the case, it was against her nature to throw people out.

She smiled appreciatively at the waiter as he brought her a cafe noisette and turned her attention back to Vincent. "It was a little difficult to miss that with the Asgardian thing," she admitted. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Vincent. My mom was removed from the Avengers as well for awhile." Granted, it had been because Carol was teetering on the edge of alcoholism and was having some personality issues because of the fact. "Though I'm certain it's not easy to find things that will keep you preoccupied."

Vincent's done his homework. He's aware of Carol Danvers' past, and the parallels to his own recent events were more than a little ~~frightening~~ unsettling.

"No... not especially. School is necessary, but painfully boring. I'm hoping something will actually challenge me once I start work on my first doctorate. I'm just taking classes two, maybe three nights a week at most now. Kristoff watches Audhild then.

And there's been my work for Stark... but I think that needs to get scaled back somewhat as well. I've got an appointment with him later this week to talk about telecommuting, and coming in for the 'hard' science work on a set schedule. I want to give Audhild a more stable home life." He pauses for a bit as his own crepe arrives, and takes a few bites, dabbing corners gently into the cup of chocolate before biting into them.

"I've... I tried to do too much for too long, and went down a self-destructive path because of it. There's no excuse for my behavior. No one else to blame.

But I think I'm getting better. I've been putting my life back together."

He lifts his head and finally meets her eyes, like he's been trying not to do, beyond what courtesy dictated for greeting her. There was something back in them. Something that hadn't been there when... when she'd left. Maybe this wasn't doomed to fail. Even if it was, he was still going to say it.

"Roxanne... I miss you. I miss making you smile. I miss you being there to listen to things I wouldn't tell anyone else. I miss arguing with you about stupid little things and laughing about it afterwards. I miss all of it.

I said I'm putting my life back together... I'd like you to be a part of it again." He raises a hand quickly. "I'm not asking you to move back in, or to rush anything, but... I'm asking-- if you still--" Damn it you stupid foot-dragging emotionally imbalanced child! Spit it out.

"Roxanne, would you like to go out on a date?"

Anything Roxie might have said was cut short by Vincent asking her out. On the bright side, she mused, this confirms that there's at least one person in the city who doesn't read the Loose Lips column.

She drew in a deep breath and let out a shaky sigh. On some level, she'd known that this was exactly why Vincent had called her not a half hour ago. Still, part of her had wished that it had been to ask her about Joe or something.

How, though? How did one tell their ex-boyfriend - who had once been such a huge part of their life - that one had moved on?

"Vincent...I'm...there's someone else in my life now." Uncertain pause. "I'm sorry."

Edited 2013-01-10 01:26 (UTC)

The words hurt. Like a wound being opened up with a serrated edge. She had that beautiful joy for life back in her again; she looked like the goddess he'd fallen in love with again. He'd hoped against all odds that if that ever came back... that there was a chance. Even if things had to go slow, even if they had to just 'date' first.

But no. Instead, there was 'someone else'.

He swallows hard, trying not to look away from her.

"How long?"

"Long, and yet not all that long at all," Roxie stated. It was, if anything, a complicated answer. "It's Joe Rogers," she added. "Cap's son." She'd never really ever spoken to Vincent about Joe, so this would be like a bomb being dropped on him, she was sure.

"We're...there's always...since we were kids, there was always this affection between us, and then he showed up one day at the Mansion and, I don't know. That affection - that connection - it was still there. It was something that I feel the two of us were not trying to act on, but sometimes it's difficult to deny what's there." Yes, this was all likely something that Vincent didn't want to hear, but if anything, Roxie owed him the truth.

A Rogers. Ohhhh, now that is going to fester. First Sarah, now this one? How many times was he going to have his hopes dashed by that line? All that was left to complete the picture was Father sitting in the corner, ready to whisk him away for his punishment for failing.

More than that... he'd been too late. If 'Joe' had only come around recently, maybe if he'd been ready sooner, if he could have spoken to Roxanne sooner-- But no. Of course not. Why should it go that way? One of his fists, kept carefully out of sight beneath the table, started to clench, but the tension carried all the way up to his shoulders. Pain mixed with anger and frustration. Not at Roxanne; never at her. At himself, mostly, since it was childish and futile to hold contempt for someone one had never met, someone who had not technically wronged oneself.

"I see." Is all the words that his swirling emotions manage to forge themselves into. He's quiet for a long minute. He will not cry. He will not scream. Such things are beneath him. Really.

"I still love you, Roxanne. When you ended it, you told me you still loved me... when did that stop?" He says it, not thinking it will change anything, but wanting to say it nonetheless. He needs to know.

Oh please... are you sure you didn't just say it in the hopes that it will make her change her mind? Feel some pangs of guilt and come running back to you and cradle you to her bosom? You're using your words like a weapon.
Well done. It's what he would do. It's what Mother would do.

Shut up! It's not like that!

It's not... it can't be.

"I have enough lingering pride--" he starts again, dragging his eyes back to hers, since he's not sure when he'll get to see her again. "--not to outright swear that I'll 'wait for you', but... if things run their course, and I'm still single... well... yes."

Oh, of course, because that sounded so much more dignified.

This would so not be the time to point out that Joe was living with her, would it?

This wasn't an easy conversation for her to have, partially because this was the first such conversation that Roxie had ever had in her life, and secondly, because she was all-too-aware of how Vincent was in a fragile place right now. She didn't want to make that worse or, and here was a terrible thought, send him teetering over the edge. This was, after all, the child of Victor von Doom and Amora the Enchantress.

"Vincent," Roxie said, finally, deeming that maybe an explanation of her current love life wasn't exactly in order. "I expected better of you than this. Trying to guilt me this way. That's not fair."

If Vincent could hear that line of reasoning, and if not for Audhild, he would be quite certain there is nothing left for him in this world.

His mouth hangs open slightly as the words hit him like a slap in the face. "No..." He says quietly. "That's not what I was trying to do. I just wanted to know... I'm sorry if... if that was rude to ask." He lowers his head in apology.

Could... could she be right? Was he really just trying to play her because he desired to have her back? No. He refused to believe it. He was better than that. Now, at least. He had not fallen that far.

He swallows again and searches for words. "I think... I think this is the part where one of us is supposed to say 'Let's still be friends', but I don't think I can do that right now. It... seeing you is..." He clears his throat and just gestures with one hand. "If you ever need my help with anything, you know you can ask, but I think it may still be a while before we can just hang out casually.

I don't begrudge you anything... you're just giving me the truth, so that's all I can give you. It hurts, incredibly so, yes, but... but if he makes you happy, I'm glad for you." That's the point at which he can't meet her eyes anymore. Not after the accusation of a moment ago. His wounded pride won't let him go so far as to say out loud that maybe Rogers can offer her something he can't, that maybe people simply can't be solved for 'x', but it's something.

"After the Kreenapping, all I had was regret and darkness," Roxie said. "I didn't think I'd ever smile or be happy again. Joe is changing that. He's bringing that light back into my life again. Things aren't so heavy when he's around and - I'm sorry, I know you really don't want to hear this," she said, cutting herself off. "I appreciate that offer Vincent, but at the same time, I don't think it's fair for you to sit around and wait for me. I don't know where life is going to go, and I'd hate for you to miss out on something amazing when you're waiting for me. I mean, you know. As long as you don't decide that something amazing is Lena."

His jaw tightens again. "I said I wouldn't just wait around; just that if we're ever both single, I'd still be willing to give things a chance." Pain starts to give way to annoyance, just a little. He wears it like a comfortable old blanket.

However, the annoyance cuts off quickly as he's surprised by her next comment. "Lena?" He blinks. "I... I haven't seen her in months. It might make me sound like a bad friend, but she's hardly even crossed my mind... What makes you think of her? I told you, what was going on with her before we got together was just... casual. Benefits, I believe is the prevailing term."

"I just wanted to be clear and make sure we were on the same page," Roxie calmly replied. "I apologize if I misunderstood." She shook her head and took a sip of her drink. "Well, considering she was the last person you were with practically right before we got together..." Roxie said. "Besides, that was really meant to be more of an off-handed comment, not something serious." Although Roxie really didn't like Lena. Still. It was Vincent's life now, and he could do whatever - and whomever - he pleased.

He's quiet for a long moment, and manages to work on his crepe a bit more. The break in the conversation's pace had cast off some of the absolutely brutal pain, for the moment. He gathers his thoughts while he finishes eating, and eventually gently pushes his plate away from him.

He opens and shuts his mouth once, then again. Finally, he just shakes his head and reaches for his wallet, leaving cash and a generous tip for the food. "No... I don't have anything else." That statement in itself rings through his head like a tower's bell. "Goodbye Roxanne. I sincerely hope he makes you happy." He gets up, bowing his head gently, and starts walking out.

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Picking Up The Pieces

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