Cable shouldered the last bag in his apartment, looking around to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. He hadn’t brought a lot, so there wasn’t much to take. Some guns, some clothes, other odds and ends….Tightening his grip on his bag, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number of a newspaper office.
“…Irene, its Nathan…I know, I know. Listen, I’ve got some work to do, and I’m going to need your help.” He waited a moment, letting her talk, letting her get it out of her system. He hadn’t called her in a while, after all. “Right, anyway. I need you to get some information for me…Not now, but soon. I’ll call you.”
And with that, he hung up, pocketing the phone. He took one last look around, frowning a little. Part of him wanted to say to hell with it and stay, to throw his bag down and go to Wade’s place immediately. But…no. There were things more important than his happiness, things that, if left unchecked, would cause major problems along the way.
Sighing, he shook his head, hefting his bag a little before closing his eyes.
“Body slide by one.”
Redd
Jean returned the sad smile as she felt the warmth in her heart grow as he wiped away her tear, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead.
She couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at what he had to say about their family and simply nodded in response to it.
Seeing him stand up and offer his hand, Jean placed hers in his and was back on her feet also hearing what he had to say next.
“You do that,” she said looking up into his eyes. “And it will be hard, but you’ll always be in my thoughts and in my heart. I understand you’ll be busy and I know you don’t want me to worry, but I’m a worrier and how can’t I? After all, you’re my son and I…”
Jean stopped herself from saying anything else at that exact second. There was an urge inside of her to say what she wanted to say, but at the same time she feared whether it would be too soon to mention. Then again, she didn’t know when she would ever get to see him again.
“I know,” he said softly. She didn’t need to say it. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in her touch. Telepaths really couldn’t hide things from each other. He hugged her again, his hold firm but gentle at the same time. When he had the time…when he had done what he needed to, he would come back. And he would be a good son.
“I’ll miss you,” he whispered, loosening his hold on her and stepping away. “Take care of yourself. Please.” With one last sad smile, he turned and headed for the door.
(Source: thatcableguy)
Redd
Jean quietly listened to Nathan again and felt a small pain in her chest from having to hear he would be leaving. She felt a bit selfish for feeling that, but instinctively she could tell that whatever it was that required his presence, it was important and that she would give him her full support.
“I see,” she said calmly looking down at their hands and feeling another tear roll down her cheek. “You are a very important man. I can tell. I’m proud of you in knowing that you’re willing to do whatever you can to make a difference. There’s a fire and a passion in you. It’s admirable and may you never lose that. Just know that you will be greatly missed and that I’ll be here and here you’ll always have a home.”
A large but gentle hand moved to brush the tear from her cheek, and he offered her a sad smile. Pulling her to him again, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, lightly nuzzling her hair.
“…Passion runs in the family, I think,” he said. if he were going to be honest, he would say that he took after her a great deal. She seemed so much stronger than Scott, and so much more resolute and fearless. Getting to his feet, he offered her a hand, smiling at her a little.
“I’ll try my best to keep in touch,” he said. “It might be hard, and I might go silent for a while. But I don’t want you to worry about me.”
(Source: thatcableguy)
Redd
“It’s okay, Nathan. I understand,” she replied back hugging him tighter. “And of course. I won’t tell him anything. You tell him in your own time. I will respect that. I promise you that I will.”
As he pulled away to smile at her, Jean did the same. The happiness she felt was unlike any she had ever known. Before her was her child and what a man he had become. Although she was sure there were plenty of other things she hadn’t known about him yet, it pleased her to know that despite his secret, he had always been a dear friend of hers, and in her eyes and heart, he was also a good person.
“So,” she began to say as she reached one hand over to his and wiped her tears with her other, “Now that I know and all, where do we go from here?”
He grasped her hand tight, swallowing hard. He hadn’t realized how emotional he would get after telling her this. And now, he had to tell her the rest. This was what he hadn’t been looking forward to in the first place.
“Well…that’s really the other thing I came to tell you,” he said. “I’m…going to be going away for a while. There are some things that need my attention, important things that I can’t trust to anyone else.” He sighed a little, shaking his head as he rubbed his thumb over her hand. “I know it’s terrible of me to tell you this and then leave, but…I have no choice. And I wanted you to know before I left.”
(Source: thatcableguy)
Packing
Nodding a little, he followed Wade to the door to see him out. Everything in him screamed to grab Wade and hold him, kiss him, to not let him walk out that door. But he knew he had to. If he acted on those urges right now, he’d never leave…Or worse, wade would react poorly to it. So instead, he nodded and smiled a bit more genuinely. Wade never changed.
“Take care of yourself,” he said.
As Wade closed the door, he sighed and exhaled through his nose. He pulled his mask on as he punched the button for the elevator, almost putting the shitty little metal box through the plasterboard wall.
You’re an idiot.
Wait it was you’re idea to let him go!
You still listened to me. Go back there for fuck’s sake!
“No.”
The elevator down to the bottom floor took forever. So long he was almost tempted to cut the cord and hit the ground at express speed, but he wasnt bothered.
“Fuck. This. Shit.” He groaned as the elevator doors opened onto the dingy foyer. He hated that Cable leaving this time was different to every other time. That’s what was getting him. He wanted to not care, or at least know when Cable returned or when they met up again, they’d still be as close as they ever were, but that was impossible now.
Absence makes the heart grow stronger?
“That’s bullshit and you know it ‘cause I know it.”
The boxes fell silent for a couple of seconds as Wade walked down the street, trying to decide whether or not to go back to Cable.
“I need a drink.”
I need a drink.
I need a drink.
Closing the door behind Wade, he sighed and leaned heavily against it. He wanted Wade to come back…but he knew he wouldn’t. His pride wouldn’t let him, or something else stupid like that. Something would keep him from it, the same thing that would keep Cable here instead of chasing after him.
He went into his room and collapsed on his bed, draping an arm over his eyes. He should have told him…he should have had the courage to tell him when he was AWAKE instead of while he was sleeping. How could he, though? Wade would just throw it back in his face and get angry at him. He didn’t want that. This was hard enough without bringing love into it.
He was going to miss Wade…but hopefully he would be busy enough not to get too distracted by it.
Packing
Letting go of Wade was the hardest thing he’d done in a very long time. He looked at the other man a long time, then smiled a bit and nodded. As though he could NOT ask Wade for help…even he knew when he was in over his head. Still, he felt he might have to get the merc’s help in a more covert way from time to time. Being out in the open wasn’t always good.
“I will. You do the same. You’re probably the only one who knows how to reliably reach me.” And he would come running if Wade needed him. Swallowing hard, he bit back the urge to grab Wade and just hold him, knowing that wouldn’t help things. “…Take care of yourself, Wade. Don’t get in too much trouble without me.” He smiled a little, though it looked somewhat forced.
Wade laughed quietly. “This is me you’re talking to. Trouble finds me easier than I can sniff out a chimichanga at a hundred paces. But yeah, I will…” Wade downed the now cold coffee in one go and made for the door. “Let’s not make this any more painful and soppy than it has to be ‘kay?” Wade grinned at Nate as he reached for the door handle.
Nodding a little, he followed Wade to the door to see him out. Everything in him screamed to grab Wade and hold him, kiss him, to not let him walk out that door. But he knew he had to. If he acted on those urges right now, he’d never leave…Or worse, wade would react poorly to it. So instead, he nodded and smiled a bit more genuinely. Wade never changed.
“Take care of yourself,” he said.
Packing
That was a relief. He smiled, wrapping his arms around the other man tightly a moment. He held him close, nuzzling the top of his head. For a long moment, he said nothing, just standing there and holding him. Words couldn’t express how he felt at that moment, not in a way that wouldn’t make Wade freak out…or make him want to stay more than he already did.
After a moment, he loosened his hold, taking Wade’s chin in his hand and raising his head. He smiled at him, then leaned down and kissed him tenderly. He sighed against his lips, trying to etch the feeling of them into his memory.
“I will,” he said finally. “I promise. I swear to you, I will.”
The kiss didnt last early long enough, but Wade couldnt bring himself to continue it. It felt like it would be for nothing, so why bother? He was going to leave anyway.
Looks like that other bastard got to you eh?
“Yeah…” Wade mumbled as he stepped back. He closed his eyes, then made himself look Nate in the eyes, pointing at his nose threateningly.
“If you get in any trouble, anything, call me. No fucking excuses. Got it?”
Letting go of Wade was the hardest thing he’d done in a very long time. He looked at the other man a long time, then smiled a bit and nodded. As though he could NOT ask Wade for help…even he knew when he was in over his head. Still, he felt he might have to get the merc’s help in a more covert way from time to time. Being out in the open wasn’t always good.
“I will. You do the same. You’re probably the only one who knows how to reliably reach me.” And he would come running if Wade needed him. Swallowing hard, he bit back the urge to grab Wade and just hold him, knowing that wouldn’t help things. “…Take care of yourself, Wade. Don’t get in too much trouble without me.” He smiled a little, though it looked somewhat forced.
Redd
“Rachel?” she mumbled through her tears. “Rachel Grey?”
Suddenly, Jean remembered a talk she had with Scott long ago, before they were ever even a couple. One afternoon they were both seated on the bench in the mansion’s garden, during their last week of classes for that school year, and were talking about the future. Somehow, Jean remembered confessing to him how she had hoped for a family eventually and that she wanted both a son and a daughter. He had grinned at her and asked whether she had any names picked out. She had smiled back and replied without any hesitations, “Nathaniel and Rachel.”
Returning to the present moment, Jean shook her head in disbelief on how she had forgotten about that memory until now. Still, despite the overwhelming emotions she felt at that second, she smiled back at Nathan as she heard about how Scott and her had raised him and soon felt the warmth of his arms around her.
“Nathan… My son… You’re my son,” she said as she broke down, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and returned the kind and meaningful embrace.
It was rare that he smiled in actual happiness, and this was one of those times. Hugging Jean against him, he nodded, happy that she was taking it so well. Of course she was…where else would he have gotten his coping skills and the ability to take things in stride? Not from Scott certainly.
“Yes,” he said quietly, holding her closer to him. “I…I am your son.” He lightly nuzzled into her shoulder, remembering the times he’d done so as a child. The world had seemed so big and frightening then, but she and ‘Slym” had always made it bearable for him.
“I sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” he said. “And…don’t tell Scott. I want the chance to tell him myself, someday.” Leaning back, he smiled at her, elated that he could finally act on the emotions he’d been feeling since he first saw her. The heart and soul knew, he was sure of it. He could have passed her on the street and he would have known.
(Source: thatcableguy)
Redd
Jean continued to stare at him while feeling tears starting to form in her eyes as she heard him say who she was to him.
The need to protect him, the immense care she had for him, the hope for him to be happy, and so much more all suddenly made sense.
He was her son. She had a son. She was his mother. She was a mother.
For years, Jean had hoped to have a family of her own one day, but as time had been going by and things had begun to change in her life, she had wondered and had even doubted whether that would ever be a possibility for her. Perhaps it was Madelyne that had given birth to him, but somewhere and somehow, he was still hers and they both knew it.
Seeing Nathan look away from her, the warmth in her heart grew as she recognized his gesture. At times, when she had admitted to something in the past, she would also have the tendency of looking away while waiting for a reply. In a way, she still couldn’t believe it, but then again, she realized, how could it not be true? And he looked so much like Scott…
Finally finding the strength to communicate with him again, she allowed a small smile to form as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“You knew all along, didn’t you?” she asked. “All this while… Through everything that has ever happened to us. All the moments and memories we shared, you knew.”
Nathan nodded slowly, licking his lips and trying to find words. He hoped she wasn’t angry. Surely she understood the need for a bit of secrecy when you were dealing with time travel and the like. But she was part of the reason he’d come back. His mother had give up so much..and in some small way, he was trying to give back to her.
“I knew,” he said softly. “I was afraid to tell you…I didn’t want to frighten you. After the other night, though..” He shook his head. “When I called you Redd…that was how I knew you.” He sighed. “This is where it gets complex…I was infected with the T-O virus when I was a year old. If I had stayed in my time, I would have died. So, Rachel Grey, my sort of half sister from another reality, sent me forward in time…and she sent you and Scott to look after me. I’ve wondered if maybe you had some connection to the Jean of my world, the one who raised me…” He smiled, reaching out to lightly touch her face. “I look at you…and I see her. The woman I loved like a mother, who raised me, taught me…”
He shifted on the bed, moving close enough to wrap his arms around her. “Even if you aren’t her, your spirit is the same. I feel it, I can SENSE it in you…you’re her.”
(Source: thatcableguy)
About me
Call me Cable, it's easier that way. Long and short, I'm a soldier from the future. That's where things get confusing. ((Cable is obviously comic verse, and I've taken him from the early part of the Cable & Deadpool run))
