Nox Alekos (in_his_shadow) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2009-07-12 23:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | katie, nox |
Saturday: 12/8/07
Who: Nox and Katie
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: Nox's off campus apartment
What: Nox is a daddy!
Nox had survived his first full week as the new acting director of TJS. In some ways, it was a much bigger challenge than he'd expected, what with the death of a staff member coinciding with Nox's first day in the position. But other duties were really just an extension of what he'd already been doing. He liked it. When your personal life was proving to be difficult, it was nice to throw yourself completely into your work and forget everything else. Nox missed Olivia dearly, so he worked as hard as possible. If he was busy, he would have less time to think about how lonely it was without her.
But when the weekend arrived, and he realized there wasn't much for him to do at the school, he decided he should return to his off campus apartment to clean and maybe even relax. It was a daunting thought. How could he possibly relax? The past several months, he had company when he returned home. Now his apartment was empty. He would have given anything for a visit from his crazy twin. Yes, Hesper drove him insane, but at least he wouldn't be alone with his thoughts!
Having finished scrubbing the entire apartment and meticulously organizing everything, Nox took a seat on the sofa. Now what? Read? Watch television? Ooh, or.. answer the door!
The knock was quite unexpected, as Nox never had visitors to his off campus apartment unless he invited them. It was for this reason, he answered the door with some caution. It could be someone with ill intentions. Nox checked the peep hole first, and he caught sight of the distorted image of a red headed woman. She didn't look to be a threat, but that didn't mean that she wasn't. He didn't have his gun on him, but it wasn't too far away. Nox decided he could chance opening the door without a weapon. "May I help you?" he asked politely as he opened the door.
---
Katie was exhausted after driving so much in the last two days. It had been a coast to coast trip. She had done the responsible thing and rented a hotel room when she got to tired to focus on the road anymore. When she woke up that morning she felt like she had not gotten much sleep at all. She was nervous as all hell about this meeting. She had selected her clothes carefully, because she wanted to make a good first impression on this man who was supposedly her father. She knew he wouldn't be expecting her, as she had asked Hale not to tell him that she had been inquiring. Now that she was here parked near the small apartment complex, the butterflies started up again. It took her three tries to get up the courage to get out of her car and find his apartment.
She checked and double checked the address Hale had written down for her. His apartment was a few floors up. As she climbed the stairs she worried what he would think of her. Maybe her mother had been telling the truth and he had left because he didn't want a family. She shook her head as she finally reached his floor. She'd never know if she didn't try and the worst he could do was turn her away.
Walking a little slower now she approached his apartment. Once there she stood for a few moments to give herself courage. She quickly smoothed her hair and fixed her light blue dress, before finally knocking on the door. She stood for a few moments waiting, and had almost convinced herself that he wasn't home and that she should just leave when she heard the doorknob turning. As it opened she heard a voice say "May I help you." but it was the eyes of the man who now stood in the doorway that caught her attention. She had his eyes. She had always wondered where the ice blue color had come from, since her mother had green eyes. She swallowed Nervously and asked, " Are you Nox Alekos?" After he nodded she managed to mumble, " I am very sorry to disturb you sir, my name is Katie Hayes and I believe you are my father."
---
Nox felt strange having the woman stand their silently for a few moments. She was staring at him. But while she gave off a strange aura, one of nervousness, he didn't detect anything nefarious. He was very good at reading people. It was a talent he'd had since day one, but it had been developed over the years through his job as a homicide detective.
Finally, the woman spoke up. He nodded in response to her initial question, "I am." It seemed she was going somewhere with her line of questioning, and it made Nox slightly suspicious. His eyes, which were much like hers, narrowed. Then those same eyes went wide with surprise. Nox wasn't easily shaken. It took a great deal to unnerve him. This rattled him so strongly, that he found it difficult to speak.
His voice cracked slightly when he finally found it. "What?" Not the most brilliant reply, but he was more than a little off balance. It wasn't everyday a grown woman knocked on your door and announced she was your daughter. His mind flashed back twenty some odd years. The hair was the biggest clue (after the last name). "Maureen.." he said softly before taking a deep breath to try and calm himself. "Please... come in," he offered, stepping back and opening the door wider.
---
Katie took a deep breath and nodded before steeping inside the apartment. While trying to get her thoughts together she looked around. She liked what she saw. Her mother kept their home so cluttered there was hardly room to breath in it. In fact one of her worst nightmares was being trapped underneath everything after an earthquake. So the open tidy room relaxed her some.
She turned slightly to look at Nox, still unsure of her welcome. "Yes my mother's name is Maureen. When I told her I was going to try and find you she tried to talk me out of it. I am very sorry if you still don't want anything to do with me but I figured it was time I knew who you were." The words just spilled out of her mouth without her really thinking. She really didn't want to take up his time if he didn't want to know her. She was just relieved to have finally met him.
She stood silently near the door as he looked at her. It felt like hours had passed within seconds and time was dragging slower and slower. Finally she decided yes her mother was right and he didn't want her. She pulled her chin up and willed herself not to cry. Feeling rejected she finally said," I apologize for disturbing you on your weekend. I know you probably don't want me here, so I won't take up anymore of your time. I just wanted to meet you once and know that you were really out there." She started to turn towards the still open door. before she moved towards it to leave she looked at him once more and said,"Thank you for opening the door, it was nice to finally meet you."
---
Nox was still struggling to grasp the scope of what was happening. He thought about Maureen and the last time he'd saw her. She took off just minutes after he revealed his secret to her. The wings had terrified the woman, just as he feared they would, but he loved her and couldn't keep something like that from her any longer. It was the end of their relationship, but clearly not the end of their connection to one another. Maureen had a child. Nox had a child. A daughter, and she was standing in his apartment. It was almost more than he could process.
Normally he was very attentive when listening to someone, but he was slower today considering the circumstances. It wasn't until she started walking toward the door that he got up to speed and quickly said, "What do you mean... still don't want anything to do with you?" There was actually a note of panic in his voice, something that rarely happened with Nox.
He rushed over to the door and gently placed his hand on it. "Please don't leave," he requested with some urgency. "You aren't disturbing me."
---
Katie stopped suddenly as Nox rushed at the door. She was a little alarmed at the slight sound of panic in his voice as he asked her what she meant by him still not wanting anything to do with her. He then stated that she wasn't disturbing him. Katie had always had a keen sense on when someone was lying to her and she could tell now that he defiantly not lying now. That made her look at him again. She could at least tell him this much, and if afterward he wanted her to leave she would.
"My mother told me that when you found out she was pregnant with me you panicked and left her. She said you told her you didn't want a family. I have been hearing it all my life. I don't think she ever wanted me to try and find you, but for some reason her words didn't ring completely true to me. I had to know what she was keeping from me about you. I needed to know if you could help me understand what I am." Katie hadn't intended to make such a little speech. Her mother always told her that she was too honest, but she couldn't bring herself to leave anything out of open conversation. She figured it was just because she had to keep whatever she was secret from everyone else, that she couldn't bear to keep other secrets.
Could this man have the answers she was looking for? And if he did would he be willing to share them with her?
---
Nox felt somewhat sick to his stomach upon hearing such lies about himself. Gossip and rumors, they were evil to him. He placed a great deal of value in the truth, and Katie clearly hadn't heard it. He rubbed his face, feeling even more overwhelmed than moments before. Not only had Maureen kept this enormous secret from him, but she had lied to her own flesh and blood. Flat out lied.
He shook his head, "No, I didn't leave her. She left me. And she left before telling me anything about you." He felt deflated then and a little unsteady on his feet. "Will you please stay... hear me out?" he asked as he moved into the apartment and took a seat on the sofa. Standing wasn't such a good idea right now.
"Your mother and I were together for... well on six months. I loved her very much. I loved her so much that I couldn't continue to hide who I was... who I still am. When I told her, showed her... she ran." It pained Nox to relive this memory. He could still see the horror on Maureen's face, her eyes wide as she gazed upon his massive, bat-like wings. They retracted quickly as he made an effort to run after her, but she screamed at him to leave her alone. "I should have gone after her. I'm sorry."
---
Katie moved towards the couch with Nox. She knew he was telling the truth right away, and so she nodded that yes she would hear him out. She sat perched on the edge of her seat, still uncertain what to expect from this man. It pained her to hear these truths to know that her mother had lied to her for her whole life. "I'm sure you couldn't have known to go after her," Katie murmured. "What did you show her that made her run? She told me as little about you as she could, but anytime I'd do something... strange she'd blame it on you." Katie felt fatigued, she couldn't figure out what would make her mother run from this man, and then lie about it to her own daughter.
"I am sorry my mother lied to me about you. I really am. I abhor lying and she knows it, so that only makes it worse for me." Katie looked over at Nox. He looked like he felt ill. Maybe she shouldn't have come. Maybe it would have been better to have written him. But no she had to see him for herself and get a feel for the man that he was. After all he was her father and so she was a part of him and he a part of her. She shook her head slightly.
"I just want to know who... what I am. It's been so hard growing up not knowing anything, to have things happen to me that I have no explanation for. I really don't want to mess up whatever life you have here, I'm not looking for anything from you except the answer to the one question that has plagued my whole life... What am I?
---
Nox shook his head dismissively, disagreeing with her. "No, I should have gone after her. I loved her, and I should have fought for that love. I let her go." He regretted it then, and now he regretted it so much more.
Hearing that Katie did things that were 'strange', made Nox realize she must have inherited something from him. She was half demon, of course she had some of his abilities. He sighed and pulled up the back of his shirt, hoping she didn't run for the door like her mother had. "Please don't run," he begged as his wings appeared. They sprouted from his flesh within seconds, billowing slightly behind him as they unfurled. "I showed her my wings. It's no surprise she lied to you. She was scared of me, and you're... half of me. Perhaps she was just trying to lie to herself. I look like a villain, so she turned me into one through her stories. I'm a shadow demon, which means you're one too... or, half at least."
He pulled the wings back, retracting them. Nox only let them out from time to time for a stretch. He hated them, so keeping them hidden was as much for his sake as it was for others. "Please don't be mad at your mother or me. She probably did what she thought was best, and I never would have let her go had I known about you."
---
Katie paled slightly as Nox raised his shirt and wings appeared from his back. There was no mistaking it now this was definately her father. She also knew that keeping her own wings a secret from her mom had been the right thing to do. If she had run from this man what would she have done to her? An overwhelming burst of emotion swept over her and tears welled up in her eyes. She knew now what she was. Of course she still didn't know what it all meant but she had a starting point. She tried to speak, stopped cleared her throat slightly, and tried again. "Oh how differently things may have gone if you had been there when I was growing up. Don't get me wrong, it's not your fault. It just would have been nice to have known how to deal with things."
She took off the deeper blue cardigan that she had over her dress. The dress was a scooped neck cut, with the back lower than the front. Before she did anything more she pointed and the jagged scar on her left arm. "For example maybe I wouldn't have gotten this scar. I just didn't know what they did and wanted to find out. I was only 14 and I was curious. Mom wasn't home and I climbed the big tree in the backyard, just to see." She knew by the slightly puzzled look on Nox's face that she wasn't making much sense. She nodded slightly to him. "I know you expected me to run like mom did, but I wouldn't, because you've just proven to me that you really are my father." As she said that she unfurled her wings. "I woke up one day with these, and I tried to see if they worked by jumping out of the tree. I broke my arm pretty bad when I fell. I never told mom about them though."
Katie quickly retracted her wings and sat waiting for his reaction. As she waited she felt a small sense of peace fill her. She knew what she was and she knew now that there was someone out there that understood her now, and who could probably help her understand as well. It was good to have someone she didn't have to keep secrets from.
---
Nox felt terrible when he saw tears in her eyes. He quickly pulled open a drawer in the coffee table and handed her a box of tissues, "Here." At first he thought she was crying because his wings upset her. They did look disgusting. He hated them and probably would have cut them off long ago if not for the fact that it would bring shame to his family. Though, Nox was already a disappointment to his family, so it may not have changed their opinion. "I'm very sorry." Apologies were going to come fast and often it seemed. He felt tremendous guilt in not having been there for her. It didn't matter who was at fault. She was his daughter, and he hadn't been there for her. He'd known for years that he wanted a family of his own one day, and now it seemed he already had one that he was neglecting.
It was Katie's turn in the surprise department, something they seemed to be trading back and forth. He looked at the scar first, confusion painted across his face, but the picture became clearer as her own wings were revealed. They looked just like his. He glanced back to the scar. "It didn't heal completely." That meant she had not inherited his quick healing and immunities.
The wings vanished, and Nox and Katie were left seated in silence for a few moments. He didn't know what to do next. Should he hug her? Should he ask her to stay? Should he just say something, anything, because the silence was stretching on for too long? "Pictures... you'd probably like to see pictures," he offered suddenly as he got up from the sofa and rounded up some framed photos of his family. "My mother, Delphina. My father, Hector. And this is my twin sister, Hesper. They're your family." He looked from the photos to her, quiet again for a moment, before blurting out, "How did you find me?"
---
"No it didn't heal completely," Katie said looking at her scar, "but it did heal quicker than normal. You should have seen the look on the doctor's face when he examined me for my follow up." She stopped talking, unsure of what to do. She looked curiously at the pictures Nox showed her, trying to take in the new information. "Your parents? Are they still alive? Grams and Gramps died in a car accident when I was really young." Her voice trailed off again. She had family? This was as new to her as the man sitting next to her.
Suddenly he asked her how she found him. That made her pause for a moment. Would Hale get in trouble for telling her where to go? Reluctant to cause trouble between friends she answered. "Mom told me that you had been a detective when she knew you. So I called down to the precinct you use to work at. A man named Hale returned my phone call. He gave me your location." She looked down not knowing what kind of trouble she had just caused. She hated causing problems, it was one of the reasons she had been so reluctant on actually coming here, why it had taken her so long to do it. "I'm sorry again if I am causing problems by being here."
She looked around the living room trying to take everything in. "I know everything has happened so suddenly, and I really don't want to interfere with your weekend. If you'd like I can go now, and get a hotel room or something."
---
Nox had only seen human doctors under orders from the police department, and it always made him nervous. He was worried they'd discover the truth about him. It was Nox's biggest fear. It was a relief to know that Katie hadn't been found out while being treated for her injury. Not even her mother knew about her wings.
"Yes, they're still alive. They live..." he stopped himself. He wasn't quite sure how to tell Katie that her grandparents lived in Hell. It wouldn't make sense to her. "Well, they don't live here. It's complicated." He felt he was already making a mess of this situation. He didn't want to lie to Katie, but seeing as how she just realized her demon ancestry, he felt it might be best to ease her into some other aspects of demon races. "I'm sorry to hear about your grandparents," he offered honestly. Maureen was close to them, and he felt sympathy for her.
"You talked to Hale!" Nox brightened upon hearing that it was his best friend who had sent Katie here. "I hope he didn't drill you like some sort of suspect. He's a good man. I take you asked him to keep your visit a secret. He's good with secrets." Nox was convinced there were quite a few secrets involving Hesper that Hale was keeping under wraps.
Nox smiled at Katie and shook his head, "You're not causing problems. I'm glad you're here." He felt awkward. Nox struggled with showing his emotions sometimes, and he didn't like that he came off as 'cold'. Reluctantly, he reached out and put his hand on hers. "You can stay here... if you'd like. I'd like it very much if you did."
---
Katie turned her hand under his so that she could hold his hand. She felt a little awkward doing so but she needed the reassurance. The last two days felt like they had finally caught up with her and she was exhausted. "If it won't be to much of an imposition I'd like that," she replied. "I have been driving for the past two days to get here. I stopped when I got tired but, I've been so nervous about meeting you that I didn't get much rest. Hale was quite kind to me. He understood why I was looking for you and why I didn't want him to tell you I was coming." She remembered Hale's reaction to her inquiry about Nox. He had seemed sympathetic, and understanding.
Katie desperately needed rest, so that she could finish processing everything she had learned. She didn't relish the idea of driving around to find a hotel and so was grateful Nox asked her to stay. It also proved to her more than anything else that he did want her around. She was incredibly relieved at that fact. In a overwhelming burst of emotion she suddenly threw her arms around Nox, hugging him. " I am so glad I came now. I am so grateful to know you now." She pulled back from the hug. "Thank you for being here, and for wanting me." She smiled at him in relief.
---
It felt very strange to be holding hands with a woman who was not Olivia, and definitely not someone he was dating. Katie was his daughter. He imagined what her hands must have looked and felt like when she was still little, and how they probably would have looked so small resting in his palm. It made Nox tremendously sad all of a sudden. He could feel that vaguely familiar burning in his eyes, but Nox didn't cry. It was very rare for him to shed tears. Still, this was as close as he'd felt in a long time. Instead, he cleared his throat, trying to push through the emotion.
"You're not an imposition... you're... you're my daughter. My home is your home." He smiled at her, hoping she'd be able to stay long enough for them to at least attempt to catch up. He hoped she'd also be able to get some rest. Driving across country was extremely draining on the body and mind.
Suddenly, Katie jumped on Nox, hugging him tightly. He froze for just a second before embracing her in return. It was the most bizarre sensation he'd ever experienced. The tears he'd managed to hold back earlier appeared as tiny drops in the corners of his eyes. When Katie released him, he sniffed lightly and nodded with an awkward smile. "I just wish... well... I wish you had come sooner." He sniffed again and stood up. His chest was tight from the emotions overwhelming him, and standing would help him breathe easier. "So... um... let me show you the guest room," he offered along with his hand to help her up from the sofa.
Nox walked through the apartment, past his own bedroom, to one that his sister regularly stayed in when visiting. "Do you have any bags or anything in your car? I could get them for you. Or, are you hungry? I can cook something, order take out... do you want a beer?" He wasn't sure what to do, he just felt that he needed to do something.
---
Katie watched Nox walk around the apartment. He seemed, much like her, to not know what to do next. She followed him to the guest bedroom and glanced in. It was a very peaceful room and she smiled, knowing that Nox's preference matched hers when it came to decorating. When he started throwing questions at her she began to feel a little overwhelmed again. "Nox...Nox," she said trying to get his attention," DAD!" Well that certainly made him stop and she flushed a little. "One thing at a time please?" She asked. "Yes I have some stuff in the car, Not a whole lot just some clothes, and my art supplies. I can get them. Food would be welcome, thank you, as would the beer. I'm sure you could probably use one too." She may have been mistaken, but when she said she'd get her stuff, she thought she had seen a flash of panic in his eyes. "Don't worry I will be right back, I promise."
She opened the door and headed for the stairs. Taking the stairs two at a time, she felt like she could fly. This had gone better than she could have ever expected. A since of finally belonging filled her. Wiping away a couple tears, she rushed over to her little Cobalt and unlocked the doors. Opening the back door she grabbed her bag of clothes and slung it onto her back. She took more care with her art supplies. She had always loved art, it came from her mother working in an art museum her whole life. After she had gathered all of her things, Katie relocked the doors and rushed back upstairs. Once she reached Nox's apartment, she knocked once before opening the door again and slipping through. Closing the door gently behind her, she walked in a little and set her art stuff on a small table. Then she walked toward the kitchen. "Um where would you prefer I put my stuff? I don't want it to be in the way out here."
---
If Nox had been drinking a beer already, he would have done some classic TV spit take at hearing her shout 'dad'. Just like everything else that had happened today, being called 'dad' was an overwhelming experience. He couldn't even muster a verbal reaction right away. Then he just sorta chuckled. "It... uh... it might take me time to get used to that." He quickly added, "Don't get me wrong, I like it... it's just very different. And new."
He shrugged with an embarrassed sort of smile. "Ok, then you get your stuff, and I'll... order something to eat. Do you like Thai?" he asked, hoping she did. It was his favorite, and he was curious to know if she liked it as well. He wanted to know all about her preferences. What was her favorite color? Favorite flavor of ice cream? Did she prefer summer over winter or vice versa? What about music? He had so many questions! But they would have to wait. Nox just hoped he'd have enough time to ask them all. He hoped she stayed long enough for them to really get to know one another.
While Katie was fetching her belongings, Nox took a few moments to take a few deep breaths. He was tempted to send an emergency text to his sister, but this was a conversation that required much more than texting. He'd be on the phone for hours with a multitude of people. He had so many people he needed to tell! That's when he thought about Olivia and how he would explain this to her. His next thought was about how his girlfriend was only one year older than his daughter. And then Nox thought about how disgusting that made him.
The door opened again. "Just now ordering the food, but I got you a beer." He set two bottles on the kitchen countertop and began dialing the number for delivery. "And you can put your stuff in the guest room... just make yourself at home," he offered as someone on the other end of the phone picked up, and Nox finally placed their order.
---
Katie smiled at Nox, " I love Thai food. Would you see if they have and Tom Yum soup please? I have some cash in my purse, since you are ordering out." Her voice faded a little as she headed to the spare room. She set her bag down near the foot of the bed. She then grabbed a hair tie out of her purse, and tied her hair into a loose ponytail. She left her sketch book and art supplies on the little table she had set them on. She walked back out of the room and into the kitchen area. She picked up one of the beers and took a quick drink. "Thank you for this," she said gesturing towards the spare room. "I really didn't come here expecting you to be so welcoming, and I am incredibly grateful for the place to stay... even temporarily." Katie sat down at the table as she said this.
She sipped her beer slowly while letting the last hour or so slowly sink in. When the food arrived, Nox brushed off her offers to pay for part of it. They ate in comfortable silence for a little while. Nox asked her a couple of questions about herself, which she answered as best she could. " My Birthday is November 3rd. My favorite color is blue. My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip if I get it at the store. If I go to the ice cream shop I like the banana ice cream with raspberries mixed in. I like the winter because everything always looks more peaceful then, however I like the spring the most because I can plant new seeds and bulbs in my garden, and I get to see which plants survived the winter."
Katie yawned briefly as they finished up eating. The combonation of the drive, the beer, the food, and the emotional afternoon had taken it's toll on her. Her eyelids began to droop slightly and she had a hard time concentraiting on the last few questions Nox had asked her. Finally she asked if she could excuse herself and take a nap. Giving Nox a sleepy smile she walked into the spare room and closed the door lightly. She then changed into the long pair of pajama bottoms and light tank top that she typically wore to lounge around the house. Katie lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. She could hardly believe that she had not only found her father, but that she was now sleeping under his roof. A soft smile brushed her lips as she drifted off to sleep. The last thought she had was, "I wonder what his family will think of me." Then sleep took her.