WHO Bob & Jack Zimmermann WHERE On Jack’s run around Vallo City WHEN Morning, 11/11 WHAT Ghostly!Dad shows up to give some dad!support. STATUS Complete! WARNINGS Mentions of anxiety, but I kept his substance abuse issues at a minimum.
Jack didn’t always go running alone. Sometimes he ended up with Nursey or Shitty at his side, giving him someone to talk to while they ran, rather than putting in earbuds and losing himself to the beauty of the world.
But losing himself wasn’t always a bad thing. He let himself listen to music that reminded him of Bitty, he reflected on a dozen different topics, he appreciated the world view around, just getting to gaze at the scenery Vallo had to offer. It was a far cry from Providence, and had the bonus of fewer hills.
It was lacking a few things, though, a sting that all of them felt deeply. He had Bitty, and that sting was dulled on his end for it and Jack kept any remaining hurt close to his chest, as he did with most things.
He was lost in that hurt, thinking of his parents and his friends back home. His career was there, but he couldn’t let himself miss the NHL. That had to stay buried for now, a dream that had been realized but paused for just a moment. But that hurt that lingered, the thoughts of his family, the smooth singing of Florence and the Machine in his ear, he missed the words being spoken to his left.
It wasn’t until Jack caught a glimpse in his side vision that Jack tripped and stumbled, going down on a thigh hard against the pavement. “Papa?” He slipped into Quebecoise so easily, a language he didn’t speak much here without his father or Marty around to understand him.
“Bad” Bob Zimmermann smiled down at his son, in that gentle and accepting way that Bob was good for, especially as he got older. Jack struggled to stand, and Bob extended a hand out to him, but as Jack reached out for it, his own hand went straight through Bob’s.
Well. Jack made a noise of frustration, and pulled himself to his feet and yanked the earbuds out of his ears. His father’s voice finally hit him, as he spoke up again. “<Slacking on your checking practice, eh?>” Jack immediately bristled, taking the chirp personally when it was meant just as that - a tease.
It wasn’t long-standing, as a wave of homesickness washed over him and he wanted so desperately to hug his father, chirping and all. He moved a little closer, and Bob only grinned and shook his head. He spoke in English now, even if Jack was certain people couldn’t see or hear him. “You look good. I don’t think I’m here for long, but I just wanted to check on you.”
Jack made another noise, before he finally found his voice. “Papa-- Hi. What--” He gulped. “People have been seeing others, I guess. I heard about it. But I-- You’re okay, right? Back home?” That was important, to make sure the ghost he was seeing wasn’t really a ghost. Bob nodded and waved a hand dismissively, without hesitation, knowing Jack’s anxiety.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Just thought you could use a talk or two. Hey- Set a date yet?” It was just like Bob to know exactly one of Jack’s worries, and hone in on it. They’d had more than a few fights in Jack’s teenage years when the anxiety and rebellion came out in full force.
This one didn’t start a fight, but it did bring a blush from his neck to his cheeks and he laughed. “Sort of,” he sheepishly admitted. “We’ve been having trouble figuring out if we should do it here without having everyone and--” He ended it with a shrug, and found himself frowning when Bob tried to reach out and touch his shoulder but couldn’t make contact.
His father didn’t seem disturbed by it, and his ghostly hand just hovered there as he leaned in. “You’ve got a lifetime, maybe two with this place. Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been. Don’t hold yourself back on our account, we’ll be fine.”
That took a lot of the wind out of Jack’s sails, and almost magically made his anxiety seep away. It made him want to rush home to Bitty and kiss him but also to not waste the time he was given with his father. He finally let go of the smile he started holding back, and nodded firmly. “Okay. Okay yeah-- I- Do you want to finish my run with me?”
Bob started ahead, before Jack even finished speaking, his ghostly form jogging ahead despite not being able to touch the ground. He looked back at his son and grinned. “It’s like having new knees, see if you can catch up!”