'Cause I can't fucking stand it when you're around Who: Simon, his daughter Tabitha, his ex-wife Jolene, and his familiar Charmander (all NPCs) Where: Cosmic Comics When: Early evening
Simon was always looking forward to today. Not because it was the full moon, something he used to take note of and then forget again, only to now remember because of Lux. One of the last things Simon ever thought he’d be doing was building a cage for his best friend, so she didn’t hurt anyone, or herself, when she shifted tonight. The good news - if there was to be any - was that he was sure the cage was sturdy, and it would hold up to whatever hybrid!Lux could throw at it. He worried, he’d always worry, and he’d be there for Lux if she asked him to be. Simon had already done all he could, though, and he knew it. It wouldn’t stop him from calling in the morning to check in, like best friends should do.
No, today was also Friday, and it was a Friday in which he got to bring Tabitha home. Tabitha, his nine-year-old daughter, the light of his life, and the fact that he had to share joint custody of her with Jolene killed him every time he thought about it. It wasn’t like he thought Jolene was being a bad mother, per se - Tabitha was well taken care of, always with food on the table and clothes on her back, and she seemed generally happy. It was just that Simon knew Jolene was a bitch, at least to him, and that his daughter’s psychic abilities would never grow while she stayed with her mom. No, he wasn’t going to turn into his mother and insist Tabitha work on her empathy everysingleday like Lucinda had with him, but still. At least he knew about being a psychic, whereas Jolene did not.
At least he got to see Tabitha at all, and that was the important part. It didn’t make the hours at Cosmic Comics tick by any faster, and while he would have liked to take the day off so he could spend the whole day with Tabitha, he knew Jolene wouldn’t bring her by any sooner than 5, and there was plenty still to do at the store. Seeing as he was taking the weekend off, he wanted to make sure everything was set - and no, he wasn’t using any of his herbal remedies to make sure he was staying calm, thank you very much. Not around his daughter. Tabitha was pretty much the only reason why he wouldn’t smoke up, truth be told. It was evidence to the fact that Simon did have his head on straighter than most people gave him credit for.
He kept watching the window, waiting for Jolene’s car to pull up outside the shop. Charmander hung around on the desk, playing underneath Simon’s papers and crawling into the potted plant on the end when he wanted to sleep. Is she here yet?
“No.”
What about now?
“Still no.”
Is this woman ever on time?
That much had Simon chuckling. Charmander had only seen Jolene a handful of times, but it was obvious his familiar wasn’t all that keen on her either. Good, Simon was of the opinion that it was hard to like someone who was consistently self-centered and nasty when she didn’t get her way. “When it comes to me, usually not.” A white Jeep Grand Cherokee stopped in front of the building, killing the engine. “That’s them. Wait here.”
Charmander straightened, as if standing to his full height - and considering he was a salamander, he just looked silly and still really tiny. You want me to give her hell? I’ll give her hell. I’ll give her hell right to her face!
Waving off his familiar, Simon headed outside the shop, and no sooner had he set foot out the door was he pounced by a girl with brunette pigtails. “Daddy! You’re okay!”
Tabitha was getting too big for Simon to pick up properly, but he did it anyway, balancing her on his hip. After the week he’d had, between the bombing and everything, getting to see his daughter worked wonders for him, better than even the pot he relied on so much. He would have gone to see her sooner, in a heartbeat, but he knew Jolene would have never allowed it. And that was why his ex had a stick up her ass to the point where she couldn’t even understand common sense. “Of course I’m okay, kiddo, what did you think, that I’d be curled up in bed for the rest of my life? Trust me, I’m fine.” Simon tilted his head down, so she could look at the now-healing wound on the top of his head. “See? Almost like it never even happened.”
She reached up as if to touch it, hands hovering just above. If he was lucky, it wouldn’t scar too badly, and even still, his crazy hair would probably cover it. “It looks like it hurt, though.”
“It doesn’t anymore.” And it didn’t, not really. Simon just didn’t want Tabitha to worry, but he did know better than to lie to her. She was an empath, and while she wasn’t mastered with her powers by any means, she definitely knew bullshit when she saw it. Simon loved that about her. “Like I said, you don’t have anything to worry about-”
Over Tabitha’s shoulder, Jolene cleared her throat, and Simon stopped mid-sentence, jaw locking together. Even now, Jolene couldn’t even begrudge him the time to properly say hi to his own daughter. Seriously, and you wonder why we got divorced? Setting Tabitha down, Simon brushed his daughter’s hair out of her eyes. “Why don’t you go inside while I talk to Mom? Charmander’s waiting for you.” Tabitha let out a little giggle as she let him go, rushing into the comic store.
“You’re sure it’s safe to leave her alone with that thing?” Even now, Jolene’s voice was dry, like she’d rather get her teeth drilled than be here right now. To be fair, it wasn’t like Simon was particularly enjoying this either. At least, with Tabitha inside, she wouldn’t be quite as close to their emotions and hopefully they wouldn’t affect her as much.
“He,” why yes, Simon put a lot of emphasis on that word, because Charmander had feelings just like any other sentient being thank you very much, “is a salamander. What’s he going to do, lick her? Jesus.” He rubbed at his eyes and then shot his ex a look, waiting for whatever was going to come out of her mouth next. “So, same time next week, then?”
She scoffed. “Five o’clock. You better be on time this week.”
Simon flicked his eyes down to his watch. “It’s 5:20. Maybe you should learn to take your own advice, Jo.” If she was so insistent on him being on time, then she had to be as well. It wasn’t like he was going to skip town with Tabitha in tow... but mostly because he knew he couldn’t get away with it. The thought had crossed his mind once or twice, more so during the divorce itself. Simon knew he was a good father, his own vices aside, and there was no way he could have continued on with the life Jolene had wanted them to leave. Tabitha didn’t need to pay the price for Simon’s freedom.
“You know I don’t get out of work until almost five, so-”
“And I’m not listening to your bullshit excuses.” Simon rolled his eyes. “Fuck it, Jolene, I don’t care. I’m going to go and spend time with my daughter.” Yes, he said “my,” not wanting acknowledge the fact that Tabitha was Jolene’s daughter too. Not right now. “See you next week.” Only because I have to. When next Friday came around, and it was his turn to say goodbye, then it would be different. Right now he was the happiest guy in the world.
He was only vaguely aware of Jolene calling after him, something to the extent of, “Tell her to call me when she needs something!,” before the door to Cosmic Comics closed behind him. Tabitha was curled up in his office chair, Charmander perched on her shoulder, reading through the hardcover copy of Marvel 1602 he’d just gotten in that morning. “Dad, look what I found!” Tabitha held up the book to show him. “You didn’t have this last time I was here.”
“Just came in. You want to take it home?” The way Tabitha’s eyes lit up said that was a yes. “Tell you what, give me just a few minutes to wrap everything up here and then we can head home, get some dinner. Pizza sound good to you?”
“Well, duh, it’s the best dinner ever.” Leave it to the kid to tell it just how it was. “I’m glad to see you, Dad.”
Simon’s smile was genuine as he leaned in the office doorway, watching his daughter and his familiar curled up together. “Glad to have you back, kiddo.”