ex!husband rafe x fem!reader
as previously mentioned, my headcanon about what led to the divorce was rafe slowly going back to old habits (this was supposed to be a small drabble but here i am giving the full backstory to their split.)
it had been another one of those nights where he hadn't come home for dinner, and their daughter had gone to bed without getting to say goodnight to dad.
She was drinking her glass of wine while cleaning up the kitchen when she heard the front door unlock. instantly she knew it was him and prepared herself for what tonight's excuse was going to be.
He knew he was in for it the moment he walked into the kitchen. The way she half heartedly kissed him back and the way she went back to doing the dishes while he tried to explain what happened to make him late for dinner this time.
In the end he resigned himself to the usual apology, "i'm sorry I didn't make it in time for dinner okay. I can still do bedtime-" It was like a balloon being filled with too much air, she knew eventually the situation was going to blow up, but she was tired of the bullshit. "She's already in bed Rafe. She has school tomorrow." He nodded, "well there's always tomorrow-" Mumbling under her breath she replied, "yeah for you I'm sure there is." His anger didn't take long to unleash, "you wanna say some shit. Say it, don't fuckin mumble it under your fuckin breath."
If looks could kill, she would have slit his throat already. Her tone was unnerving, unchanged. "You always do what you want Rafe and its always your way. It's like you're forgetting what you promised me when we decided to have her." The pact was that family would be his priority always, clearly not so much now.
He rolled his eyes, "she's turning ten this year! At her age Ward wasn't really stopping by to read me a bed time story-" "and you want to continue that type of neglect?!" It was like a punch to the gut. "I don't neglect my daughter. You don't get to push that shit on me." She let out a breathy laugh, "really? This is the third night this week you don't have dinner with us. I had to remind you last month about her piano recital, in fact lately I've been having to remind you about every other event she has mentioned to you."
Deflect, deny, and forget that's what he usually did, "fuck this. I'm done with this stupid argument. I'm a great dad and provide for the both of you. I make shit happen-" this was a bullshit tactic and she knew it, "oh fuck off Rafe. I love you, but you're so far up your own ass. You think money is what she or I care about? I married you because you promised me I wouldn't be alone and yet I wake up and you're not here. I told you when we got married I didn't care what it took or if we ended up broke as long as I knew you were going to be here. But the last couple of years it's been like watching you fade away."
Neither of them said anything, and in all honesty, she had thought about this more than she'd like to admit. This was the final straw, "you know what you're right. This was a stupid argument, we both know where we're headed." His heart was racing out of his chest, "no." She nodded, "I love you, and I have tried to keep pushing on like this is okay, but coming home every night feeling like me and her are fighting for your attention isn't right." His heart was being broken, but he knew she was right, he'd been fucking up, putting his greed and ego over his girls.
He wanted to keep the fight going, to say anything to keep her from going upstairs, but he could see it in her eyes, she was tired. All he could muster up was raspy, "i'm sorry. I swear I am." She nodded, her head lowering to hide whatever tears wanted to shed, he reacted without thinking taking a hold of her knowing it was probably going to be one of the last times he would have the privilege.
The divorce came quietly, they didn't want their daughter to piece things together too quickly. They never sold the house, he simply moved out...sort of. Everything stayed in its place, he was basically living in hotels and planes anyways. She knew she should have suggested he take his things, but she couldn't deny how she clung to the idea of him.
On paper, they were free to see other people, but for her and Rafe there was no one else. Even when she tried, it seemed like all roads led back to him. She didn't understand how or why, she didn't question it either. Besides, they had a child together, that was reason enough to not add strangers into the picture. He started showing up a bit more after the divorce. To prove at least to himself that he wasn't Ward, that he was a good dad, who wouldn't forget or use his kids.
Rafe was as flawed as they came, yet if anyone questioned whether he had a soul or not, there was his wife and daughter to quiet that question. The two most important people in his life, who he would make sure would never go without or suffer any which way.
