Picking Up The Pieces

[vincent_amora]

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."

Comments

[ngm_adults]

Kristoff pours the tea for both of them.

"Did you apologize for being inappropriate?"

[vincent_amora]

Vincent thinks over his exact words, then shakes his head in the negative. "No. I explained the reason I was asking. The reason I'm almost sure I was asking." He takes the teacup between his hands, focusing on the warmth of it.

"I had to think very hard about Audhild afterwards. Remind myself that she still needs me to keep things together. To not make any more mistakes." Absinthe being foremost among some of his recent mistakes.

[ngm_adults]

"Why are you almost sure?"

[vincent_amora]

He sips his tea. "Because even before she replied, the thought had already crossed my mind of how the same words could be used as manipulation. There's a chance I was doing it unconsciously.

I wasn't expecting us to become lovers again. I just wanted to see her... maybe take in dinner and a movie together."

[ngm_adults]

Kristoff sips his tea in silence.

[vincent_amora]

"I was prepared for her to say no... really I was. I just.. I thought she'd gotten better on her own." His grip on the cup starts to tighten. "I didn't realize there was... that there was someone who was able to do what she didn't think I could."

[ngm_adults]

"You think the fact that she's reached the point where someone else can make her happy means she was inaccurate in saying she needed time alone?"

[vincent_amora]

"It means I am not sufficient to the tasks I've set before myself. I can't let that happen again."

And oh dear but being bitter over someone else solving a problem they couldn't has a certain hereditary bent, doesn't it?

[ngm_adults]

"Why did you kill your father?" Kristoff asks him abruptly. "Yes, I know, unsuccessfully, but in your mind, you did."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent lifts his head, surprised by that question, but he finds no reason not to answer. He largely considers all that far behind him.

"I had decided that he was wrong. He kept talking about 'when' we would return to Earth. I decided the planet was similar enough to Earth, for my purposes anyway."

He pauses, and gives a flat gaze. "And yes, I realize now how foolish thoughts of ruling the world are.

He'd grown old. I thought he had let the planet domesticate him. I had decided to be true to my nature, such as it was, and I knew he'd be the biggest obstruction to that.

So he had to die.

I had simply... done the math."

[ngm_adults]

"Interesting." More tea. "Being true to one's nature is an... interesting topic."

[vincent_amora]

More tea is good.

"I don't even know what my nature is anymore."

[ngm_adults]

"So you've said," Kristoff says, and something in his voice is ... off. Not his usual even-ness, but not showing what most people would call emotion either.

[vincent_amora]

"I'm sorry to put this on you. I'm not your responsibility. I just... I didn't think anything good would come of me being left to my own devices after that meeting.

I won't tie up your time for too long."

[ngm_adults]

"Time is not the issue which concerns me."

[vincent_amora]

He looks up. "Audhild is perfectly safe with me."

[ngm_adults]

"Audhild's safety is the highest priority, not the only priority."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent drinks his tea, the gears in his head slowly turning, until they click into place.

"...why do you worry about me?"

[ngm_adults]

Kristoff raises an eyebrow slightly. "Where to begin?"

[vincent_amora]

Vincent slouches and rolls his eyes. "Well, yes, I suppose I did walk right into that one.

But I think you know what I meant. It can't be easy for you to deal with me. My opinions on your master alone I imagine are enough source of conflict."

[ngm_adults]

"Oh, most certainly. It helps, of course, that I assure myself you don't know the first thing about him. Different facets of reality and all. But on the whole: Audhild is my sister. This I declare. You are her brother. Some transitive property applies."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent mumbles something regarding transitive properties and some anthropological content, but more of his attention falls on the 'different facets of reality' part.

"...So tell me about him." He says simply. "Has he ever hurt you?"

He's not trying to be combative with his first question, he just knows that his version of Victor von Doom had a... complicated relationship with his ward.

[ngm_adults]

"It has happened," he admits calmly, being an honest man. "But it was never his intention."

[vincent_amora]

"I mainly remember him always being angry... Over Richards being killed in the crossfire between Galactus andd the Beyonder, over being kept from Earth, over... Mother, and Mr Odinson. He rarely struck me; I suppose he felt he didn't need to. Doom's disapproval over failures should be torment enough, I suppose was his logic.

He would occasionally recognize that gaps in Klaw or Ultron's knowledge bases were the reason for failures in my lessons. He'd adjust them

He never showed his face... and disliked if I showed mine. Severely disliked." For a brief moment, Vincent's lips curl into a tight frown, his brow furrowing.

"How would you describe him to Audhild? I know it's not my right to keep her from him fully, but you can understand my cause for concern." He steels himself, preparing for the olive branch he's about to extend. He doesn't want to, but Kristoff has been there for him, without him asking, and against all logic

"If he wishes to meet her... and she wills it... I will not impede it. I will be present, however."

[ngm_adults]

He looks up at the never-showed-his-face. "...Never?" The man was quite different. Or at least it was a very different relationship.

He'll get to the rest momentarily.