#rrl01d34

Gen One, Day Thirty-Four

Things happened quickly after that. Johnny’s phone line went dead and they both looked at Toph for assurance, which he readily gave, still on the comms with his own crew. 

Five minutes. Five minutes from the time Johnny had received the call to the time a man in a black hoodie with ripped jeans and looking like any other punk in the area, walked onto the pier holding Eris in her hands. Robyn and Johnny went running to them when they first caught sight of her, Robyn unable to keep herself from crying at the sight of Eris, healthy and unharmed, in the arms of this stranger; one of Toph’s “guys.” 

“Mommy!” Eris squealed, reaching out to be picked up and Robyn obliged readily, squeezing Eris to her chest and sobbing as she finally had her arms back around her daughter. She turned, so Johnny could pull them both in and they could hug her together. “Where were you? You left and you didn’t say goodbye,” Eris demanded. 

“I’m sorry,” Robyn cried, smoothing down Eris’ errant stray hair that had gotten ruffled in all the hugs and love she was receiving. “I’m so sorry, honey.” 

“Alien disguise,” the dark clad man explained. “Make themselves look like anyone. Mommy,” he did air quotes, “Brought her here to play hide and seek and then left.” It was his way of explaining to Robyn and Johnny what had happened, so when Eris was old enough to understand, they could help her through it, should the need arise.

Johnny accepted a hug from Eris as well and then turned to look at the Toph and his guy. “Thank you,” he told them in earnest. 

The dark clad man nodded, giving a smirk before giving Toph a farewell pat on the shoulder and hurrying back along the pier to help the others. It left Toph to watch over the family as they welcomed Eris back into their lives.

Gen One, Day Thirty-Four

A slow smile spread across herself and just his calm demeanor had her own body relaxing from a stiffness she hadn’t known had been there. They watched other for a minute. This whole thing had been an ordeal. A rather extreme one and no matter how their relationship had been tested thus far, this had been the most vigorous one. They’d bent until they almost snapped and she’d never been so furious with him as she was the previous night.

But they’d bounced back strong. Had figured out how to get the money for the contingency plan. Had both been there when Eris was brought out of the warehouse and now Robyn had a clear and better understanding of why Johnny hadn’t ever brought up his time in Sixam. She watched him for a while before he caught her staring. 

“We make a good team, Bug,” he whispered sleepily to her. 

She could read between the lines. She understood what he was trying to say. She didn’t need the words to know this was an apology. Didn’t need to hear I’m sorry or need another explanation as to why he felt he couldn’t share the darkest parts of himself with her. This was enough, even if it was tender, these bruises would heal. 

“We do,” she agreed. 

“I won’t forget that again.” 

“I know,” she told him and he gave a small smile, leaning his head back against the headboard of the rocker, continuing to just rock. She really thought he was falling asleep for a second before his head turned, like he could feel her staring at him. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked. 

She hesitated for a moment, because there were things she wanted to say to him. Lectures she could give, but it would all be picking at the wounds at this point. She knew what he meant, what he was promising, when he pointed out they made a good team. Knew that he understood he couldn’t shoulder these burdens alone anymore. That being a martyr to keep her safe or not trusting her with his heart wasn’t going to fly in this relationship. 

Standing up, she walked over to him, gently climbing onto his lap, her arms around his shoulders as she swung her legs to dangle off the edge over on of his. She rested her head on his shoulder and for all the things he wasn’t saying to her, she needed to make sure he understood something back. “Because I see you.” 

It had him pause in his rocking for a moment to look at her. She knew he understood, because she could feel an old wound start to scar over. Feel it in his gaze that those were the words he needed to hear. That he hadn’t shared his secrets with her because he’d been afraid she’d look at him different. Like a monster. His own words echoing in her mind when she’d caught him talking to Eris over a year ago. It all made sense now, and she needed him to know. She saw him. And she loved him, not despite of it all, but because everything she saw. Every part of him, good and bad. They would heal and they would do it together.