voice

[glassbox]

Hey.

Hey.

[ The bang of a door slamming open, then traffic, people. ]

Y'know what? A girl gets sick an' tired a'being hauled around like garbage t'do the dirty work of a stupid machine. I ain't answerin' t'that scrap heap a'metal, and there's nothin' anybody can do t'change my mind.

I'm Diamond Lil. Mechanical cow can kiss my diamond --

[ A taxi horn blares. There's a clattering sound, like something metal -- a trashcan, maybe, or a bench -- just got kicked over. Surprised murmurs in the background. ]

At least you coulda teleported me t'the right damn country!

Comments

[glassbox]

[ she doesn't reply right away. ]

If I were still a naive twenty somethin', I might expect to be happy. Right now, I'd settle for bein' less miserable an' less lonely.

[ex_engineers208]

I can guarentee anythin' on the former, but I think I can help with the latter. Maybe.

[ he gives a nudge. ]

When I say I'm not gonna leave you, I mean it.

[ he said the exact same thing to danger. self-loathing flicks across his features, gone in an instant. ]

[glassbox]

[ she catches that look, but doesn't understand it. not really. ]

Well, it's marriage, Maddie, not a prison sentence. Try not to look so grim about it, or you're gonna hurt my feelin's.

[ex_engineers208]

[ he gives a weak smile. ]

Last thing I wanna do, Lil.

[ and passes a look-over at her from the corner of his eye. ]

We gotta get y'some street clothes that fit you. Y'can't just walk around in spandex 24/7.

[glassbox]

With this figure? I could, but it's such a pain to clean the damn thing.

[ in a tone that's more wry than angry: ]

But don't think I'm lettin' you off the hook just 'cause you're volunteerin' to take me shopping. That might work on other people's wives, but it won't work with yours.

[ex_engineers208]

[ feigning shock: ]

Aw, really? Hell, I didn't even think of a plan B. How about buyin' you a nice dinner?

[glassbox]

[ pausing to glance at him. without quite dropping the dryness from her tone, but with a little something softer too: ]

You really are pullin' out all the stops this time, Mr. Jeffries. You don't gotta try all that hard, y'know, hon. I'm already married to you.

[ex_engineers208]

I don't wanna risk fallin' short for you. Seems like the nearest thing to gentlemanliness I can get.

[ he gives a little chuckle. ]

Y'rather me not smother you in attention this go?

[glassbox]

[ she could say something catty about expectations. she almost does. but the sound of that little chuckle stops the retort on the tip of her tongue.

it isn't fair, really. him having that effect still. after all these years. after everything.

so, instead: ]

I s'pose I could forgive a little smotherin'. Since you got so much catchin' up to do.

[ex_engineers208]

I really do got a lot a' catchin' up to do.

[ restating the obvious, of course. but god, if he hadn't completely missed every second she was gone.

it's not enough. ]

Whatever y'want, I'm your guy. Okay?

[glassbox]

[ it's nice. it's nice that he's trying -- 'course, what wife doesn't like to see her husband trying? but there's a little tightness in her chest, resentment or doubt or something, and it's hard to ignore, even when she's not being outright belligerent. ]

Sure, okay, hon.

[ beat. well, she has to ask: ]

You still doin' the hero thing?

[ex_engineers208]

[ the question honestly startles him a little, lips quirking as his head whips toward her. his time as box seems only like a distant memory. ]

Me? Aah, naw, just stickin' with doin' research and tech-stuff with X-Club in the Institute. Jus' me, McCoy―y'know Beast, right? Doc Nemesis―guy's curmudgeonly―Bruce freakin' Banner a-and...

[ no, he's not going to think about her, much less mention her.

this isn't the time. ]

...Yeah? I'm gettin' a bit too old t'fight on the front lines much, Lil. Ain't our salad years anymore.

[glassbox]

[ it's strange, how much his surprise at her question makes her realize how little time they've actually spent together since they got married. they're so much -- older. ]

Maybe you are. I'm still about as invulnerable as I was twenty years ago.

[ but that's just the pride talking. she was never particularly committed to heroics. not really. almost absently, like an afterthought: ]

Wouldn't mind havin' another go a quieter life though. If y'think we could manage it, this time.

[ex_engineers208]

[ he blurts out: ]

Can only be so quiet with the both of us.

[ of course, he was the one who ruined any semblance of normality back when their marriage still seemed like it had a sapling of hope. he was the one disappearing, he was the one who wasn't around, he was the one doing what he was told not to do. it's all very clear to him.

it's almost as if history repeats itself. ]

This time? I'll try not to run off into nowhere and it's surroundin' area without givin' you a heads up.

[glassbox]

Yeah, well, tryin's a good a place t'start as any.

[ she looks at him. really looks at him. ]

But I won't go through the same shit again, Maddie. I mean it. So if you're gonna try, y'might as well try hard.

[ex_engineers208]

[ he falls silent for a little moment, then looks back up at her.

somewhat hopelessly: ]

Or else?

[glassbox]

[ in a way that's maybe surprisingly lacking aggression, just plain and simple: ]

Or else that's it for us, hon. I ain't young anymore, I haven't got the whole rest of my life t'feel angry and abandoned.

[ex_engineers208]

Right. Fair's fair, kid―I'm gonna still love y'however it ends.

[ moving in, he leaves a quick peck on her cheek. ]

Y'deserve to be the one in control of all this. Outta the both a' us.

[glassbox]

[ and maybe that's an empty threat on her end. she isn't sure really, not when he leans to kiss her. maybe it's stupid to love a man that much. to the point where you're not even sure you can draw a line.

with a little exhale: ]

I love you too, y'big jerk. S'why I'm still your wife.

[ex_engineers208]

[ and it really isn't that bad, at this living second. where he thought the world would be ending it's been settling down comfortably instead.

he feels content, for once in a long while. ]

Honestly? Sometimes, I'm surprised y'didn't file a divorce. Grateful, 'course―still.

[glassbox]

After all I went through t'marry you in the first place?

[ she makes a little noise. ]

Wasn't gonna let you off the hook that easy. Not at least until I'd yelled at you face t'face first.

[ex_engineers208]

Does that mean y'reached your yellin' quota?

[ he gives her a look. ]

For the day, y'figger?

[glassbox]

[ she pauses, at that look. ]

For the day, I s'pose. But no promises.

[ex_engineers208]

Mmhmm.

[ quietly: ] And y'ain't gonna kill me.

[glassbox]

[ perhaps wryly: ]

Were y'really worried I was gonna?