The Redemption Clause (7/?)
Title: The Redemption Clause (7/?)
Author: Kijikun
Rating: PG-13 (this part)
Characters/pairings: Violet Parr, Buddy Pine (Syndrome)
A/N: Thanks for all the kind comments. Also check out Crispy-gypsy's picture of Syndrome and Robin.
Summary: redemption - 1. an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed. 2. deliverance; rescue. 3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation. 4. atonement for guilt.
When Violet woke mid-morning, she was half convinced that she'd dreamed it all. The weapon designs, Buddy's arm, her kissing him on the cheek…all of it some sort of nightmare. By the time she was full awake, though, she knew it hadn't been a dream. She could still feel the cold metal of his arm beneath her fingertips, a ghost sensation reminding her.
Why had she kissed him?
She didn't want to think about it, and she certainly didn't want to stick around and find out how he'd react in the cold light of day. She climbed out of bed and started packing up her bag. She'd walk across the island if she had to, in order to find a way off it. He might have said he'd make sure there was a boat to take her back, but she didn't want him knowing she was leaving.
It didn't take long and soon she found herself sitting on the bed holding the laptop, debating if she should take it. He hadn't said she had to give it back, but…
"Violet?” Robin's voice came from the doorway.
Violet looked over, and saw the little girl peering at the packed bags then back at her.
"Morning, Robin. Sleep well?" she asked, keeping her voice light.
"Are you leavin'?” Robin asked quietly.
"I--"
"Daddy said you were, an' that I shouldn't get upset," Robin told her, walking up to Violet. "Why you going? Did I do something'?"
Violet had a moment of surprise that Buddy knew she was leaving. She knelt down and hugged Robin. "You didn't do anything wrong," she assured the little girl. "I just think it would be better if I go. Me and your daddy don’t get along very well."
"I want you to stay," Robin told her, hugging her back. "Daddy wants you to stay too. I know he does. We'd miss you."
Violet looked up and out the window at the overcast sky. "I'll miss you too," Violet told her, her heart aching. When had this child become so important to her?
"Then don't go," Robin whispered.
Violet hesitated. She had to go eventually and staying longer wasn't going to make leaving any easier. Violet would still miss Robin. Robin would still miss her. And Buddy…
"I'll stay a few more days, Robin, but I can't stay here forever," she explained gently.
"Why?" Robin asked.
"I have a job, school, and my family…" Violet started to explain.
Robin looked up at her puzzled. "Can't you stay here and have all that? Your family could come visit!"
Violet swallowed and got to her feet. "Why don't you go play and let me get dressed? I'll come play with you as soon as I do. And by playing, I don't expect to find your easy bake oven taken apart again."
That made Robin giggle. "But I've almost got it working better."
"You'll start a fire, is what you'll do. If you really want to bake something, we'll make cookies in the kitchen later. With the real oven." Violet sighed and shooed her out of the room.
***
The overcast morning turned into a rainy day. Violet kept Robin busy for most of the day, though she managed to work on her paper when the girl was taking her nap.
Violet hadn't seen Buddy all day, though obviously he'd spent time with Robin before she'd gotten up that morning. Was he avoiding her? Robin didn't seem worried about her father’s absence, apparently used to him disappearing into his office for hours at a time.
Robin colored at the kitchen island, while Violet started dinner. She wasn't sure when Buddy would put in an appearance, plus she was hungry and she was sure Robin was as well. She didn't want to deal with the type of confrontation that could happen if she went to check on him in his office. It wasn't that she was afraid of him, but she didn't want to deal with what had happened the night before.
"You're still here," Buddy sounded rather shocked.
Violet turned her head slightly and gave him a dirty look. "Brilliant deduction, genius."
He scowled back at her. "I thought you were leaving today?"
"It's pouring down with rain," she pointed out.
He crossed his arms."What are you going to do? Melt?"
"And I told you I didn't think it was a good idea to leave until my powers were back to full strength," Violet said as if he hadn't spoken. "What? Are you throwing me out?"
Buddy opened his mouth then closed it, then opened it again.
"She's making chicken an' dumplings," Robin spoke up.
Both adults jumped as if they'd forgotten she was there.
"It smells good," he said after a moment.
"Thank you," Violet said quietly, aware that Robin was still watching them both carefully.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him shift on his feet. She could see his right arm, but it looked normal again. She'd have to ask about that, later.
"My mom used to make it all the time. It was one of my favorite meals," Buddy told her suddenly.
Violet felt herself smile slightly. "Well, I hope mine turns out as good as hers."
"I'm sure it will," the tone of his voice made her feel warm. "What are you drawing, Robin?"
"It's a pancake maker!" Robin declared. "Does it all by itself."
Violet listened to the little girl ramble on about how it worked to her father, and with a start realized how domestic this was. If someone looked in now, they would think…they would think…
She glanced over at Buddy and Robin and swallowed hard.
***
Robin woke with a whimper as a large boom of thunder echoed outside. She hated thunderstorms. They were too loud and too scary.
Lightning flashed across her room, making scary shadows. She started to cry as the sound of thunder rolled across the island again.
Grabbing her teddy bear, she climbed from her bed and half ran down the hall. Everything looked scary during storms, like there were things lurking just outside her field of vision.
She pushed open the door to her father's room, but no one was there. Robin sobbed, and then almost screamed as thunder shook the house. She was suddenly convinced that the whole place was going to blow apart, and took off running to Violet's room.
She reached Violet’s room and pushed the door open. "Violet?" she called sniffling.
There was silence, then she could see Violet sitting up in the darkness. Another boom of thunder made Robin clutch her teddy tighter and whimper.
"Robin, what's wrong?"
Robin scurried across the room and climbed up into the bed. "I'm scared," she half wailed. "And I can't find Daddy."
Violet wrapped her arms around Robin, and the girl snuggled into the embrace. "It's just thunder, Robin. It can't hurt you."
"It's loud," Robin whimpered.
A gentle hand stroked her hair, calming her. "It's okay."
Robin sniffed again. "Can I sleep here?"
"Of course you can," Violet’s voice was gentle as she pulled the covers around them both. "I won't let anything hurt you."
Robin curled into the safety of Violet's arms. "Is the house gonna blow up?"
"Thunder can't blow up houses, Robin. I promise," Violet whispered to her, still stroking her hair. "And even if it could, my shield could protect us."
A soft purple glow suddenly surrounded the bed. Robin's eyes grew wide.
"See?" Violet murmured. "I'll protect you."
Robin nodded and tucked her teddy under her chin. The purple glow still surrounded them and she felt her eyes drift shut.
***
Violet let the force field drop when Robin was asleep, and pressed a kiss to the little girl’s forehead. Poor little thing, but where on earth was Buddy? Robin had seemed half-hysterical over not being able to find him.
But as upset as Robin was, she might have not really looked too hard.
Lightning lit up the room and movement caught Violet's eye. Buddy was moving away from the open door way. She'd barely had a chance to see his expression, but…
Violet gently pulled away from Robin and tucked the coveres around her. Then quietly she padded down the hall to catch up to Buddy. He finally stopped but didn't look back at her.
"Buddy," she reached out and put a hand on his back.
"What?" he growled sharply and she pulled back.
"The thunder frightened her," Violet said unnecessarily.
Buddy snorted. "I think I know that," he snapped. "I was going to check on her, but I see she's perfectly fine with you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Violet demanded, stalking around him to look at his face.
"You know perfectly well, what I mean," Buddy pointed a finger in her face. "Is that why you've been staying? Planning on 'saving' her from me? And don't give me the bullshit about your powers, your force field was working very nicely back there."
Violet smacked him across the face, hard. "What the hell is wrong with you? You're jealous! Because she came to me when she was scared?" Violet ragged at him. "She couldn't find you, you idiot. She was terrified, and who else was she going to go to in this house? Would you rather have had her crying, alone and scared?"
"No!" Buddy said horrified, rubbing his face where she'd struck him.
"I'm not going to steal your daughter away! Yes, I adore her, but I wouldn't do that, I’m not…" she broke off.
He glared down at her. "You're not me. Is that what you were going to say?" he hissed.
She refused to answer. "Why are you being so irrational about this?"
"Why did you lie to me about your powers?" he shot back, advancing on her.
Violet took a step back. "I -- I don't know. It was a good excuse to stay."
He looked at her as if she was some puzzle or device he just couldn’t figure out. "Why do you want to stay?" he demanded harshly, continuing forward until her back hit the wall. "Why--why did you kiss me last night?"
"I don’t know," Violet whispered, looking up at him. He put a hand on either side of her head.
"Yes, you do," Buddy told her. "I want to know what game you're playing, super. Because it has to stop. I refuse to let you do this to Robin, to…" he stopped abruptly. He pushed himself away from the wall and her.
Violet put a hand on his left arm. "I wanted to. That's why I did it."
"I hate you," Buddy hissed.
Violet could feel his arm, his left arm shaking slightly under her touch. "I hate you too," she told him, lifting her chin. Then she stood up on her toes and kissed him on the mouth. Lightly, briefly. Her heart was going wild and she couldn't look away from his eyes. She opened her mouth, maybe to speak, maybe to take a deeper breath…
Then his mouth descended over hers. And she wanted it.
She ran her hand up to his shoulder as she kissed him back. The moment she did, his tongue slid into her mouth, running over hers, almost a caress. Violet returned the favor as he pressed her back against the wall, his right hand braced beside her head.
"This is insane," she whispered when they broke for air.
Buddy kissed her again, nipping at her bottom lip. "You started it," he told her in a ragged tone. He cupped her cheek, and then ran his fingers down the long line of her throat.
Violet moaned softly, clutching at his shoulder. Their size difference was such that he was half bending over her, but she didn’t' care as he kissed her deeply again. His chest was bare, she realized, as she ran her hands down the broad expanse, then over his ribs and around his ribs to his back. She could feel scar tissue catching against her fingers tips.
He took a shaky breath against her lips, their bodies pressing together instinctively.
"Daddy? Violet?" Robin's voice called down the hall. The little girl sounded scared, but the storm hadn't calmed down yet.
Both adults pulled away from each other. Violet could feel her face coloring and an answering blush spread across Buddy's face.
"What's wrong, Ro'?” Buddy said, and Violet didn't know how he managed to make his voice steady.
Robin didn't answer, but hurried to her father and held her arms up to be picked up. Buddy did so and she threw her arms around her daddy's neck. "Had bad dream."
Violet reached out and rubbed the little girl's back, feeling guilty that she'd left her alone in the bed.
"Nothing can hurt you here," Buddy told her softly, stroking her hair. "Violet and I wouldn’t let anything hurt you."
"That's right," Violet assured her.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Robin asked.
Buddy nodded. "If it will help you sleep."
Robin shook her head. "Mean both of you. Want you both. Daddy and Vi."
Violet swallowed and glanced at Buddy's face. "If that's what you want."
Buddy looked at her, eyes wide. "Violet, you don't have to…" he said softly.
She returned his gaze with a calmness she didn't feel. Her stomach was doing flips and her heart wouldn't slow down. "I'm sure your bed is big enough for three?"
He nodded carefully, and then kissed Robin's head. "Let's get you to bed then," he murmured to the tiny girl.
Violet had been right, the bed was big enough for two adults and a tiny child. Buddy settled Robin in the middle of the bed and after a moment both of them climbed under the covers.
"Goodnight, Robin," Violet told the little girl.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Buddy murmured, leaning down to kiss his daughter’s forehead. Violet's heart clenched.
"'Night Daddy, night Vi," Robin whispered sleepily.
She found herself watching Buddy across the bed as she idly stroked Robin's back. His eyes held hers and her heart sped up again.
As Robin's breathing settled into sleep, Buddy's hand covered hers on Robin's back.
Suddenly Violet remembered something her mother had said to her when she'd been about sixteen. She'd been dating Tony at the time and her mother had wanted to have another 'talk' with her about sex.
Violet had blown her off, rolling her eyes and saying 'Yeah, I know sex is the most imitate thing you can do with another person. I know, I know.' Her mother hand cupped her cheek and shook her head. 'Vi, honey, when you get older, you'll understand that there are things two people can do that are so much more imitate than sex.'
Violet hadn't understood then.
She understood what her mother meant now.
Buddy’s thumb stroked the back of her hand, and she didn't think he knew he was doing it.
Violet understood and it was breaking her heart.
Author: Kijikun
Rating: PG-13 (this part)
Characters/pairings: Violet Parr, Buddy Pine (Syndrome)
A/N: Thanks for all the kind comments. Also check out Crispy-gypsy's picture of Syndrome and Robin.
Summary: redemption - 1. an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed. 2. deliverance; rescue. 3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation. 4. atonement for guilt.
When Violet woke mid-morning, she was half convinced that she'd dreamed it all. The weapon designs, Buddy's arm, her kissing him on the cheek…all of it some sort of nightmare. By the time she was full awake, though, she knew it hadn't been a dream. She could still feel the cold metal of his arm beneath her fingertips, a ghost sensation reminding her.
Why had she kissed him?
She didn't want to think about it, and she certainly didn't want to stick around and find out how he'd react in the cold light of day. She climbed out of bed and started packing up her bag. She'd walk across the island if she had to, in order to find a way off it. He might have said he'd make sure there was a boat to take her back, but she didn't want him knowing she was leaving.
It didn't take long and soon she found herself sitting on the bed holding the laptop, debating if she should take it. He hadn't said she had to give it back, but…
"Violet?” Robin's voice came from the doorway.
Violet looked over, and saw the little girl peering at the packed bags then back at her.
"Morning, Robin. Sleep well?" she asked, keeping her voice light.
"Are you leavin'?” Robin asked quietly.
"I--"
"Daddy said you were, an' that I shouldn't get upset," Robin told her, walking up to Violet. "Why you going? Did I do something'?"
Violet had a moment of surprise that Buddy knew she was leaving. She knelt down and hugged Robin. "You didn't do anything wrong," she assured the little girl. "I just think it would be better if I go. Me and your daddy don’t get along very well."
"I want you to stay," Robin told her, hugging her back. "Daddy wants you to stay too. I know he does. We'd miss you."
Violet looked up and out the window at the overcast sky. "I'll miss you too," Violet told her, her heart aching. When had this child become so important to her?
"Then don't go," Robin whispered.
Violet hesitated. She had to go eventually and staying longer wasn't going to make leaving any easier. Violet would still miss Robin. Robin would still miss her. And Buddy…
"I'll stay a few more days, Robin, but I can't stay here forever," she explained gently.
"Why?" Robin asked.
"I have a job, school, and my family…" Violet started to explain.
Robin looked up at her puzzled. "Can't you stay here and have all that? Your family could come visit!"
Violet swallowed and got to her feet. "Why don't you go play and let me get dressed? I'll come play with you as soon as I do. And by playing, I don't expect to find your easy bake oven taken apart again."
That made Robin giggle. "But I've almost got it working better."
"You'll start a fire, is what you'll do. If you really want to bake something, we'll make cookies in the kitchen later. With the real oven." Violet sighed and shooed her out of the room.
***
The overcast morning turned into a rainy day. Violet kept Robin busy for most of the day, though she managed to work on her paper when the girl was taking her nap.
Violet hadn't seen Buddy all day, though obviously he'd spent time with Robin before she'd gotten up that morning. Was he avoiding her? Robin didn't seem worried about her father’s absence, apparently used to him disappearing into his office for hours at a time.
Robin colored at the kitchen island, while Violet started dinner. She wasn't sure when Buddy would put in an appearance, plus she was hungry and she was sure Robin was as well. She didn't want to deal with the type of confrontation that could happen if she went to check on him in his office. It wasn't that she was afraid of him, but she didn't want to deal with what had happened the night before.
"You're still here," Buddy sounded rather shocked.
Violet turned her head slightly and gave him a dirty look. "Brilliant deduction, genius."
He scowled back at her. "I thought you were leaving today?"
"It's pouring down with rain," she pointed out.
He crossed his arms."What are you going to do? Melt?"
"And I told you I didn't think it was a good idea to leave until my powers were back to full strength," Violet said as if he hadn't spoken. "What? Are you throwing me out?"
Buddy opened his mouth then closed it, then opened it again.
"She's making chicken an' dumplings," Robin spoke up.
Both adults jumped as if they'd forgotten she was there.
"It smells good," he said after a moment.
"Thank you," Violet said quietly, aware that Robin was still watching them both carefully.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him shift on his feet. She could see his right arm, but it looked normal again. She'd have to ask about that, later.
"My mom used to make it all the time. It was one of my favorite meals," Buddy told her suddenly.
Violet felt herself smile slightly. "Well, I hope mine turns out as good as hers."
"I'm sure it will," the tone of his voice made her feel warm. "What are you drawing, Robin?"
"It's a pancake maker!" Robin declared. "Does it all by itself."
Violet listened to the little girl ramble on about how it worked to her father, and with a start realized how domestic this was. If someone looked in now, they would think…they would think…
She glanced over at Buddy and Robin and swallowed hard.
***
Robin woke with a whimper as a large boom of thunder echoed outside. She hated thunderstorms. They were too loud and too scary.
Lightning flashed across her room, making scary shadows. She started to cry as the sound of thunder rolled across the island again.
Grabbing her teddy bear, she climbed from her bed and half ran down the hall. Everything looked scary during storms, like there were things lurking just outside her field of vision.
She pushed open the door to her father's room, but no one was there. Robin sobbed, and then almost screamed as thunder shook the house. She was suddenly convinced that the whole place was going to blow apart, and took off running to Violet's room.
She reached Violet’s room and pushed the door open. "Violet?" she called sniffling.
There was silence, then she could see Violet sitting up in the darkness. Another boom of thunder made Robin clutch her teddy tighter and whimper.
"Robin, what's wrong?"
Robin scurried across the room and climbed up into the bed. "I'm scared," she half wailed. "And I can't find Daddy."
Violet wrapped her arms around Robin, and the girl snuggled into the embrace. "It's just thunder, Robin. It can't hurt you."
"It's loud," Robin whimpered.
A gentle hand stroked her hair, calming her. "It's okay."
Robin sniffed again. "Can I sleep here?"
"Of course you can," Violet’s voice was gentle as she pulled the covers around them both. "I won't let anything hurt you."
Robin curled into the safety of Violet's arms. "Is the house gonna blow up?"
"Thunder can't blow up houses, Robin. I promise," Violet whispered to her, still stroking her hair. "And even if it could, my shield could protect us."
A soft purple glow suddenly surrounded the bed. Robin's eyes grew wide.
"See?" Violet murmured. "I'll protect you."
Robin nodded and tucked her teddy under her chin. The purple glow still surrounded them and she felt her eyes drift shut.
***
Violet let the force field drop when Robin was asleep, and pressed a kiss to the little girl’s forehead. Poor little thing, but where on earth was Buddy? Robin had seemed half-hysterical over not being able to find him.
But as upset as Robin was, she might have not really looked too hard.
Lightning lit up the room and movement caught Violet's eye. Buddy was moving away from the open door way. She'd barely had a chance to see his expression, but…
Violet gently pulled away from Robin and tucked the coveres around her. Then quietly she padded down the hall to catch up to Buddy. He finally stopped but didn't look back at her.
"Buddy," she reached out and put a hand on his back.
"What?" he growled sharply and she pulled back.
"The thunder frightened her," Violet said unnecessarily.
Buddy snorted. "I think I know that," he snapped. "I was going to check on her, but I see she's perfectly fine with you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Violet demanded, stalking around him to look at his face.
"You know perfectly well, what I mean," Buddy pointed a finger in her face. "Is that why you've been staying? Planning on 'saving' her from me? And don't give me the bullshit about your powers, your force field was working very nicely back there."
Violet smacked him across the face, hard. "What the hell is wrong with you? You're jealous! Because she came to me when she was scared?" Violet ragged at him. "She couldn't find you, you idiot. She was terrified, and who else was she going to go to in this house? Would you rather have had her crying, alone and scared?"
"No!" Buddy said horrified, rubbing his face where she'd struck him.
"I'm not going to steal your daughter away! Yes, I adore her, but I wouldn't do that, I’m not…" she broke off.
He glared down at her. "You're not me. Is that what you were going to say?" he hissed.
She refused to answer. "Why are you being so irrational about this?"
"Why did you lie to me about your powers?" he shot back, advancing on her.
Violet took a step back. "I -- I don't know. It was a good excuse to stay."
He looked at her as if she was some puzzle or device he just couldn’t figure out. "Why do you want to stay?" he demanded harshly, continuing forward until her back hit the wall. "Why--why did you kiss me last night?"
"I don’t know," Violet whispered, looking up at him. He put a hand on either side of her head.
"Yes, you do," Buddy told her. "I want to know what game you're playing, super. Because it has to stop. I refuse to let you do this to Robin, to…" he stopped abruptly. He pushed himself away from the wall and her.
Violet put a hand on his left arm. "I wanted to. That's why I did it."
"I hate you," Buddy hissed.
Violet could feel his arm, his left arm shaking slightly under her touch. "I hate you too," she told him, lifting her chin. Then she stood up on her toes and kissed him on the mouth. Lightly, briefly. Her heart was going wild and she couldn't look away from his eyes. She opened her mouth, maybe to speak, maybe to take a deeper breath…
Then his mouth descended over hers. And she wanted it.
She ran her hand up to his shoulder as she kissed him back. The moment she did, his tongue slid into her mouth, running over hers, almost a caress. Violet returned the favor as he pressed her back against the wall, his right hand braced beside her head.
"This is insane," she whispered when they broke for air.
Buddy kissed her again, nipping at her bottom lip. "You started it," he told her in a ragged tone. He cupped her cheek, and then ran his fingers down the long line of her throat.
Violet moaned softly, clutching at his shoulder. Their size difference was such that he was half bending over her, but she didn’t' care as he kissed her deeply again. His chest was bare, she realized, as she ran her hands down the broad expanse, then over his ribs and around his ribs to his back. She could feel scar tissue catching against her fingers tips.
He took a shaky breath against her lips, their bodies pressing together instinctively.
"Daddy? Violet?" Robin's voice called down the hall. The little girl sounded scared, but the storm hadn't calmed down yet.
Both adults pulled away from each other. Violet could feel her face coloring and an answering blush spread across Buddy's face.
"What's wrong, Ro'?” Buddy said, and Violet didn't know how he managed to make his voice steady.
Robin didn't answer, but hurried to her father and held her arms up to be picked up. Buddy did so and she threw her arms around her daddy's neck. "Had bad dream."
Violet reached out and rubbed the little girl's back, feeling guilty that she'd left her alone in the bed.
"Nothing can hurt you here," Buddy told her softly, stroking her hair. "Violet and I wouldn’t let anything hurt you."
"That's right," Violet assured her.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Robin asked.
Buddy nodded. "If it will help you sleep."
Robin shook her head. "Mean both of you. Want you both. Daddy and Vi."
Violet swallowed and glanced at Buddy's face. "If that's what you want."
Buddy looked at her, eyes wide. "Violet, you don't have to…" he said softly.
She returned his gaze with a calmness she didn't feel. Her stomach was doing flips and her heart wouldn't slow down. "I'm sure your bed is big enough for three?"
He nodded carefully, and then kissed Robin's head. "Let's get you to bed then," he murmured to the tiny girl.
Violet had been right, the bed was big enough for two adults and a tiny child. Buddy settled Robin in the middle of the bed and after a moment both of them climbed under the covers.
"Goodnight, Robin," Violet told the little girl.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Buddy murmured, leaning down to kiss his daughter’s forehead. Violet's heart clenched.
"'Night Daddy, night Vi," Robin whispered sleepily.
She found herself watching Buddy across the bed as she idly stroked Robin's back. His eyes held hers and her heart sped up again.
As Robin's breathing settled into sleep, Buddy's hand covered hers on Robin's back.
Suddenly Violet remembered something her mother had said to her when she'd been about sixteen. She'd been dating Tony at the time and her mother had wanted to have another 'talk' with her about sex.
Violet had blown her off, rolling her eyes and saying 'Yeah, I know sex is the most imitate thing you can do with another person. I know, I know.' Her mother hand cupped her cheek and shook her head. 'Vi, honey, when you get older, you'll understand that there are things two people can do that are so much more imitate than sex.'
Violet hadn't understood then.
She understood what her mother meant now.
Buddy’s thumb stroked the back of her hand, and she didn't think he knew he was doing it.
Violet understood and it was breaking her heart.