Post by dragonelf on Apr 22, 2010 21:01:53 GMT -5
A/N: This one-shot is part of the 100 Theme Challenge I'm doing over on FF.net though I'm going to title it differently over there (purely because I like this name better than the theme I wrote for though I've got a habit to title them as the themes over on FF.net). If anyone wants to see the rest of the one-shots, you can find them here: www.fanfiction.net/s/4742726/1/100_Moments_in_Time
----
“In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.”
- Robert Ingersoll
Broken Promise (or Sorrow)
“Daddy, where are you going?” The boy stood in front of the front door, his small body blocking the doorway.
“I’m just going to take care of a little Plumber business. I’ll be back in a few days.” Devin kneeled down, so that he was at his son’s level. Kevin was frowning, not at all satisfied by his dad’s answer. “Be a good boy while I’m gone, okay?”
Kevin smiled at him innocently. “I’m always good. But I’ll be very good if you promise to take me to the park and tell me about your trip when you get back.” Devin chuckled at his son, ruffling the boy’s hair affectionately.
“Alright, I promise I’ll take you to the park.”
“And tell me all about your trip?”
Devin stood up, nodding his head. “Of course. Once I’m back, I’ll tell you everything over some ice-cream.”
Kevin smiled; the promise of ice-cream and his dad’s stories bright in his mind. “Ok, then you can go now.” He stepped aside to allow his father an unobstructed way towards the door.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” Devin kissed his son’s forehead, gave the boy’s hair a final ruffle, and walked out the door.
It was the last image of his dad that Kevin had; back facing him as Devin got into the car along with Kevin’s mother to drive off.
--
A few days had passed and today was the much anticipated homecoming of his father. Kevin had woken up early although he knew his dad wouldn’t come until much later. Still, excitement did not sit well with sleep and Kevin couldn’t have slept anymore if he had wanted to.
He spent the day with impatience for the evening to come. His mom was cooking a nice dinner like she always did when his dad had been away for several days and was now coming home. Because of this, Kevin figured that he wouldn’t have time to go to the park today like his dad had promised, but it didn’t trouble him. They could go the next day and spend the entire day out.
6 o’clock, 7 o’clock, 8 o’clock all came and went. At 9, his mother called him down for dinner.
“We have to wait for Daddy.” Kevin announced adamantly.
“It’s getting past your bedtime, Kevin. You need to eat and go to bed.”
“But Daddy – “
“-would want you to get to bed on time.” His mother looked sternly at him before beckoning him over. She must have seen the complaint rising in Kevin’s throat because she added, “Daddy’s going to be late and he wouldn’t want you to break any rules just for him, would he?”
Kevin was about to complain that it wouldn’t matter before stopping himself. He had promised his dad that he would be good. If he wasn’t good, his dad wouldn’t be proud of him and disappointing his dad was the last thing Kevin wanted to do. Plus, he was afraid if he was bad that his dad wouldn’t take him to the park.
“Fine.” Kevin’s shoulders drooped as he walked over and sat down.
His mother sighed. “Don’t worry Kevin. You can see Daddy in the morning. Just think of how proud he’ll be when I tell him how good you’ve been.”
It was enough to make the boy smile even if he was still downcast about his dad’s tardiness. “I have been very good, haven’t I?”
His mother nodded in agreement and the two continued their conversation on Devin until the end of dinner. “Now go upstairs and get ready for bed. I’ll come up to tuck you in.”
Kevin wanted to stay up and wait for his dad, but arguing with his mom would run the risk of her telling his dad about him being a bad boy. So instead he scampered upstairs and quickly got himself ready for bed. Once done, he called out to his mom and slid under his covers.
When his mother got upstairs, she tucked the blankets around him. “Now, Kevin, I want you to go to sleep right now. I know you want to see you dad, but it’s very late.”
“Can I have a story?”
His mother sighed and shook her head. “It’s very late.”
“But stories always make it easier to fall asleep.” Kevin begged. His dad would come home while she was telling the story and then he would be able to greet him. He just needed to stay up a little more. At least that’s what he thought.
“Not tonight.” His mother smiled as she walked towards the door. “Now go to bed. You don’t want to sleep in tomorrow, do you?”
“No.” Kevin admitted, disappointed that he had lost the chance at a story. “I guess I’ll just go to sleep.”
“Good night, Kevin.” His mom kissed him softly before turning off the lights and going back downstairs.
Kevin did not go to sleep. Instead he kept his ears peeled for the sound of a car pulling up in front of the house, knowing that his dad would be there. Every time an engine did come roaring past, Kevin rose up and stared out the window. However, the car never stopped and he would always lie back down.
Finally a car did stop and park. Kevin grinned in excitement as he stared out the window before a frown settled over his features. The man who came out of the car did not look like his dad. He was much older. But if this wasn’t his father, who was it?
Too curious to stop himself, Kevin opened the door to his bedroom. Whoever the stranger was, he was already in the house, the front door having been opened by his mother. Kevin guessed he wasn’t a complete stranger since his mother had opened the door for him, but there was an edge of concern in his mother’s voice that Kevin didn’t like.
“Is your son here?” He heard the stranger say, glancing towards the staircase. Kevin edged backwards. He knew he couldn’t be seen from this particular spot, but it was still unnerving to have a man he’d never met know about him.
“He’s sleeping upstairs." She paused and despite the strain in her voice, she remembered to be polite. "Would you like something to drink?”
“Some tea would be nice.” The stranger glanced up once again before following his mother into the kitchen. Their voices lessened until Kevin could no longer hear what they were saying.
At this point, there were two things Kevin could do. The good boy thing was to go back to bed and wait until morning to hear what the man had told his mother. And then there was the curious cat type of thing to do; go down there and spy on the conversation. It didn’t take long for Kevin to decide that whatever was going on was important enough that he couldn’t wait for morning.
Quickly he snuck downstairs and hid by the door to the kitchen. By pressing his ear against the door, he could hear the two adults talking.
“-happened to Devin.” Kevin only caught the end of his mother’s statement, but her tone made his spine shiver with dread. The way she said it, with such conviction and fear, was a sure sign that something was wrong.
“Yes.” The man stopped. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your husband’s dead. He died defending Earth.”
As his mother broke into sobs, Kevin stared blankly at the door. This was impossible. His dad couldn’t be dead. He had promised to come back and take Kevin to the park to regale him with stories and ice-cream. He had promised. His dad was not the type of person to break promises. It was why Kevin stuck so steadfastly to his own promises.
Kevin charged into the kitchen, preparing to defend his dad. “You’re lying!”
Both his mother and the man looked surprised to see him standing there. Instantly his mother wiped away her tears, but it was the stranger who spoke first.
“Kevin, I’m not lying.” He placed a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “Your father sacrificed himself to save the world.”
“No.” Kevin shook his head in disbelief, shaking the hand off his shoulder. “You don’t understand. My dad promised me that he’d take me to the park. He promised and he never goes back on his promises!” He clenched his fists, tears leaking from his eyes.
The man frowned at him. Obviously he hadn’t expected opposition when he had arrived here. “He was a hero Kevin. He saved countless lives.”
“He promised…” Kevin insisted, not wanting to believe the horrible truth.
“Kevin…” The man stretched out a hand to comfort Kevin, but the boy had backed away. For the moment, all logic fled his young mind.
“He can’t be dead. You must’ve seen something wrong. He’ll be here soon.”
The man opened his mouth to say something more, but his mom interrupted. “Max, I’ll take it from here. Thank you for coming to tell us.”
The man, Max, nodded his head. “Well then I’ll be leaving.” He headed towards the door, pausing before Kevin. “Always remember that your father loved you. He’d want you to be happy.” Then Max headed towards the front door and walked out with a sorrowful glance back at his friend’s family.
Kevin watched him go, staring at the door long after it shut. He felt a hand fall on his shoulder, causing him to look up at his mother with teary eyes.
“Daddy’s really gone.” He didn’t want to admit it, but the grief on his mother’s face, as much as she was trying to conceal it, was apparent. More tears flooded into his eyes. “How could he leave us?”
“Oh sweetie.” His mom scooped Kevin up into her arms. He buried his head into her shoulder, drawing comfort that his mom was still there. But his dad… There would be no going to the park, no ice-cream, no stories, no love. His father was out of his life forever.
“He promised.” Kevin whimpered as his mother climbed the steps.
“Kevin, I want you to understand something.” She paused. When he didn’t say anything, she continued, “Daddy loved you very much. If he hadn’t done what he did, bad things would’ve happened.”
“What’s worse than Daddy dying?” Kevin asked. He partly understood his mother was saying that his dad had been a hero by sacrificing himself. He had gleaned that information from Max, but it felt better coming from his mom even if she hadn’t been there.
His mother paused, trying to think of a way to answer the question delicately. But there was no way. “The rest of the world dying. You know he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if the world was destroyed.”
“…I guess.” He sniffed.
“Good boy.” His mom murmured. She put him down on his bed and tucked him in for the second time that night. Sitting by his side, she gently wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Now try and get some sleep.”
Kevin closed his eyes, lying quietly as his mother stopped wiping his tears and began stroking his hair. “I can’t sleep.” He announced after a few minutes had passed.
“What if I make you a promise?”
Kevin opened his eyes to look at his mom, waiting silently for her to continue. Since the news of his father’s death, the word promise sounded hollow. It was supposed to be a declaration that could not be changed, something that would stand no matter what. And yet his dad, however unintentional, had broken his promise to come home.
“I promise I’ll take you to the park tomorrow.” She smiled at him.
“And ice-cream?” He asked cautiously.
She nodded her head. “I’ll tell you stories over ice-cream. Stories about your dad and the first time I met him. How does that sound?”
Kevin didn’t take long to consider it before replying, “Good. But can you tell me a story right now to help me get to bed?”
“Sure.” His mother smiled and even though their grieving would continue, things didn’t look quite so dark anymore.
----
“In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.”
- Robert Ingersoll
Broken Promise (or Sorrow)
“Daddy, where are you going?” The boy stood in front of the front door, his small body blocking the doorway.
“I’m just going to take care of a little Plumber business. I’ll be back in a few days.” Devin kneeled down, so that he was at his son’s level. Kevin was frowning, not at all satisfied by his dad’s answer. “Be a good boy while I’m gone, okay?”
Kevin smiled at him innocently. “I’m always good. But I’ll be very good if you promise to take me to the park and tell me about your trip when you get back.” Devin chuckled at his son, ruffling the boy’s hair affectionately.
“Alright, I promise I’ll take you to the park.”
“And tell me all about your trip?”
Devin stood up, nodding his head. “Of course. Once I’m back, I’ll tell you everything over some ice-cream.”
Kevin smiled; the promise of ice-cream and his dad’s stories bright in his mind. “Ok, then you can go now.” He stepped aside to allow his father an unobstructed way towards the door.
“I’ll see you in a few days.” Devin kissed his son’s forehead, gave the boy’s hair a final ruffle, and walked out the door.
It was the last image of his dad that Kevin had; back facing him as Devin got into the car along with Kevin’s mother to drive off.
--
A few days had passed and today was the much anticipated homecoming of his father. Kevin had woken up early although he knew his dad wouldn’t come until much later. Still, excitement did not sit well with sleep and Kevin couldn’t have slept anymore if he had wanted to.
He spent the day with impatience for the evening to come. His mom was cooking a nice dinner like she always did when his dad had been away for several days and was now coming home. Because of this, Kevin figured that he wouldn’t have time to go to the park today like his dad had promised, but it didn’t trouble him. They could go the next day and spend the entire day out.
6 o’clock, 7 o’clock, 8 o’clock all came and went. At 9, his mother called him down for dinner.
“We have to wait for Daddy.” Kevin announced adamantly.
“It’s getting past your bedtime, Kevin. You need to eat and go to bed.”
“But Daddy – “
“-would want you to get to bed on time.” His mother looked sternly at him before beckoning him over. She must have seen the complaint rising in Kevin’s throat because she added, “Daddy’s going to be late and he wouldn’t want you to break any rules just for him, would he?”
Kevin was about to complain that it wouldn’t matter before stopping himself. He had promised his dad that he would be good. If he wasn’t good, his dad wouldn’t be proud of him and disappointing his dad was the last thing Kevin wanted to do. Plus, he was afraid if he was bad that his dad wouldn’t take him to the park.
“Fine.” Kevin’s shoulders drooped as he walked over and sat down.
His mother sighed. “Don’t worry Kevin. You can see Daddy in the morning. Just think of how proud he’ll be when I tell him how good you’ve been.”
It was enough to make the boy smile even if he was still downcast about his dad’s tardiness. “I have been very good, haven’t I?”
His mother nodded in agreement and the two continued their conversation on Devin until the end of dinner. “Now go upstairs and get ready for bed. I’ll come up to tuck you in.”
Kevin wanted to stay up and wait for his dad, but arguing with his mom would run the risk of her telling his dad about him being a bad boy. So instead he scampered upstairs and quickly got himself ready for bed. Once done, he called out to his mom and slid under his covers.
When his mother got upstairs, she tucked the blankets around him. “Now, Kevin, I want you to go to sleep right now. I know you want to see you dad, but it’s very late.”
“Can I have a story?”
His mother sighed and shook her head. “It’s very late.”
“But stories always make it easier to fall asleep.” Kevin begged. His dad would come home while she was telling the story and then he would be able to greet him. He just needed to stay up a little more. At least that’s what he thought.
“Not tonight.” His mother smiled as she walked towards the door. “Now go to bed. You don’t want to sleep in tomorrow, do you?”
“No.” Kevin admitted, disappointed that he had lost the chance at a story. “I guess I’ll just go to sleep.”
“Good night, Kevin.” His mom kissed him softly before turning off the lights and going back downstairs.
Kevin did not go to sleep. Instead he kept his ears peeled for the sound of a car pulling up in front of the house, knowing that his dad would be there. Every time an engine did come roaring past, Kevin rose up and stared out the window. However, the car never stopped and he would always lie back down.
Finally a car did stop and park. Kevin grinned in excitement as he stared out the window before a frown settled over his features. The man who came out of the car did not look like his dad. He was much older. But if this wasn’t his father, who was it?
Too curious to stop himself, Kevin opened the door to his bedroom. Whoever the stranger was, he was already in the house, the front door having been opened by his mother. Kevin guessed he wasn’t a complete stranger since his mother had opened the door for him, but there was an edge of concern in his mother’s voice that Kevin didn’t like.
“Is your son here?” He heard the stranger say, glancing towards the staircase. Kevin edged backwards. He knew he couldn’t be seen from this particular spot, but it was still unnerving to have a man he’d never met know about him.
“He’s sleeping upstairs." She paused and despite the strain in her voice, she remembered to be polite. "Would you like something to drink?”
“Some tea would be nice.” The stranger glanced up once again before following his mother into the kitchen. Their voices lessened until Kevin could no longer hear what they were saying.
At this point, there were two things Kevin could do. The good boy thing was to go back to bed and wait until morning to hear what the man had told his mother. And then there was the curious cat type of thing to do; go down there and spy on the conversation. It didn’t take long for Kevin to decide that whatever was going on was important enough that he couldn’t wait for morning.
Quickly he snuck downstairs and hid by the door to the kitchen. By pressing his ear against the door, he could hear the two adults talking.
“-happened to Devin.” Kevin only caught the end of his mother’s statement, but her tone made his spine shiver with dread. The way she said it, with such conviction and fear, was a sure sign that something was wrong.
“Yes.” The man stopped. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your husband’s dead. He died defending Earth.”
As his mother broke into sobs, Kevin stared blankly at the door. This was impossible. His dad couldn’t be dead. He had promised to come back and take Kevin to the park to regale him with stories and ice-cream. He had promised. His dad was not the type of person to break promises. It was why Kevin stuck so steadfastly to his own promises.
Kevin charged into the kitchen, preparing to defend his dad. “You’re lying!”
Both his mother and the man looked surprised to see him standing there. Instantly his mother wiped away her tears, but it was the stranger who spoke first.
“Kevin, I’m not lying.” He placed a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “Your father sacrificed himself to save the world.”
“No.” Kevin shook his head in disbelief, shaking the hand off his shoulder. “You don’t understand. My dad promised me that he’d take me to the park. He promised and he never goes back on his promises!” He clenched his fists, tears leaking from his eyes.
The man frowned at him. Obviously he hadn’t expected opposition when he had arrived here. “He was a hero Kevin. He saved countless lives.”
“He promised…” Kevin insisted, not wanting to believe the horrible truth.
“Kevin…” The man stretched out a hand to comfort Kevin, but the boy had backed away. For the moment, all logic fled his young mind.
“He can’t be dead. You must’ve seen something wrong. He’ll be here soon.”
The man opened his mouth to say something more, but his mom interrupted. “Max, I’ll take it from here. Thank you for coming to tell us.”
The man, Max, nodded his head. “Well then I’ll be leaving.” He headed towards the door, pausing before Kevin. “Always remember that your father loved you. He’d want you to be happy.” Then Max headed towards the front door and walked out with a sorrowful glance back at his friend’s family.
Kevin watched him go, staring at the door long after it shut. He felt a hand fall on his shoulder, causing him to look up at his mother with teary eyes.
“Daddy’s really gone.” He didn’t want to admit it, but the grief on his mother’s face, as much as she was trying to conceal it, was apparent. More tears flooded into his eyes. “How could he leave us?”
“Oh sweetie.” His mom scooped Kevin up into her arms. He buried his head into her shoulder, drawing comfort that his mom was still there. But his dad… There would be no going to the park, no ice-cream, no stories, no love. His father was out of his life forever.
“He promised.” Kevin whimpered as his mother climbed the steps.
“Kevin, I want you to understand something.” She paused. When he didn’t say anything, she continued, “Daddy loved you very much. If he hadn’t done what he did, bad things would’ve happened.”
“What’s worse than Daddy dying?” Kevin asked. He partly understood his mother was saying that his dad had been a hero by sacrificing himself. He had gleaned that information from Max, but it felt better coming from his mom even if she hadn’t been there.
His mother paused, trying to think of a way to answer the question delicately. But there was no way. “The rest of the world dying. You know he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if the world was destroyed.”
“…I guess.” He sniffed.
“Good boy.” His mom murmured. She put him down on his bed and tucked him in for the second time that night. Sitting by his side, she gently wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Now try and get some sleep.”
Kevin closed his eyes, lying quietly as his mother stopped wiping his tears and began stroking his hair. “I can’t sleep.” He announced after a few minutes had passed.
“What if I make you a promise?”
Kevin opened his eyes to look at his mom, waiting silently for her to continue. Since the news of his father’s death, the word promise sounded hollow. It was supposed to be a declaration that could not be changed, something that would stand no matter what. And yet his dad, however unintentional, had broken his promise to come home.
“I promise I’ll take you to the park tomorrow.” She smiled at him.
“And ice-cream?” He asked cautiously.
She nodded her head. “I’ll tell you stories over ice-cream. Stories about your dad and the first time I met him. How does that sound?”
Kevin didn’t take long to consider it before replying, “Good. But can you tell me a story right now to help me get to bed?”
“Sure.” His mother smiled and even though their grieving would continue, things didn’t look quite so dark anymore.
I'm glad you two liked it.