Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“Except for my pride.” He grumbled. The transfer into the isle seat hadn’t been so bad but due to the muscle damage Raoul couldn’t support any of his weight or help with it. 

“Sorry.” He sighed. “It’s… I just don’t like this.” And by ‘this’ he meant being weak. So his frustration was aimed mostly at himself, even though it leaked out through little grumpy phrases.

“Hey, I don’t blame you,” she told him. “It’s gotta be frustrating as hell. I know I’ve been saying this a lot, but let me know if I can do something, okay? Really, don’t hesitate.”

She gave him what she hoped was a comforting, hopeful smile. It wasn’t an expression Violet had worn often in her life, and it needed practice. “And hey, at least you know it won’t be forever. You’re already recovering a lot faster than most people. You’re gonna get better, and soon.”

“I hope so.” Raoul sighed and reached over for her hand. While they were leaning on one another the rest of the passengers boarded and eventually the plane began to taxi. This time Raoul had made sure to book the flight during the day time so that Violet could fully enjoy the scenery on the trip home.

And enjoy it she did. This time, she was prepared for when her ears popped as the pressure changed, and she had a beautiful view of Turucui, and the river and jungle beyond. As they climbed in altitude, she caught a brief glimpse of the hydroelectric dam, way off in the distance on one of the river branches.

Eventually, though, they were above the clouds, and the view became rather dull. Violet dug some books out of her bag, and offered one to Raoul. “Here, I know you can handle this …”

~

By the time they reached Metro City, it was late in the afternoon. The sky was clear, and they descended just in time to watch the sun setting over the lake.

Violet smiled, still looking out the window. “Well, here we are. Home again at last.”

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“I promise I’ll save my attempts at walking for physical therapy.” He promised with a smirk and made the boy scout sign. In an airport there are always crappy seats, no matter what country it is in. It was probably the only perk to being in a wheelchair. Well, besides being pushed through the massive terminal instead of having to walk through it. Raoul was parked next to Violet and the pair were waiting by the gate. Their goodbyes had been said at the villa and thier luggage was already on its way to the white 747 parked outside.

“And I’m sure they’ll be able to accommodate me.” He assured.

And he was right.

There was one other perk to traveling in a wheelchair (or traveling with someone who was) - they let you board the plane first. Violet had a little trouble maneuvering the chair down the walkway, but one of the attendants, a veteran at dealing with such things, quickly stepped in and helped her. Soon enough, they had Raoul comfortably transferred to one of the aisle seats in first class.

“You okay?” Violet asked as she buckled herself in next to him.

“Except for my pride.” He grumbled. The transfer into the isle seat hadn’t been so bad but due to the muscle damage Raoul couldn’t support any of his weight or help with it. 

“Sorry.” He sighed. “It’s… I just don’t like this.” And by ‘this’ he meant being weak. So his frustration was aimed mostly at himself, even though it leaked out through little grumpy phrases.

“Hey, I don’t blame you,” she told him. “It’s gotta be frustrating as hell. I know I’ve been saying this a lot, but let me know if I can do something, okay? Really, don’t hesitate.”

She gave him what she hoped was a comforting, hopeful smile. It wasn’t an expression Violet had worn often in her life, and it needed practice. “And hey, at least you know it won’t be forever. You’re already recovering a lot faster than most people. You’re gonna get better, and soon.”

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“I guess.” Raoul pouted but despite his reluctance he started to yawn. The front door opened and Julia waddled. Her expression softened when she spotted the pair and you didn’t need mind reading abilities to know that she thought they were cute together.

“Hey you two.” she smiled, “Our favorite doctor sent me out here to remind you that its our patient’s bedtime.”

Raoul rolled his eyes.

Over the next few days Raoul continued to improve. As he was allowed to eat more he started gaining more weight and the once hollow bags and shadows in his features and limbs started to fill out again. There was a little hitch on day two when Raoul decided that he’d ought to at least try to walk, only to land face first on the hard linoleum floor right next to his bed. He’d earned not only a few bruises from the fall but several scoldings from Thantos to Julia and of course Nibbles. Violet’s reaction hadn’t been all to pleasant either and Raoul spent the rest of the evening pouting in his bed like a kicked puppy.

So by day three Raoul stopped complaining about the wheelchair, though in his mind he still hated it. However the plane tickets were booked and the appointment schedule for his new Metro City physical therapist were made. Despite the incident,  Raoul was recovering quickly. As expected, Raoul looked ready for travel on day four and on day five the bags were packed. Their flight was scheduled to leave that afternoon.

“Are you sure they’re gonna be okay with handling the wheelchair on the plane?” Violet asked, for the second or third time. Since this was only her second time flying commercial, she really had no idea what to expect in terms of help for handicapped passengers.

“And you be good and stay in your seat, okay?” she warned her boyfriend. “If you fall over again, you’re too heavy for me to haul up. Even with the weight you’ve lost,” she added jokingly, feeling a little bad about worrying so much.

“I promise I’ll save my attempts at walking for physical therapy.” He promised with a smirk and made the boy scout sign. In an airport there are always crappy seats, no matter what country it is in. It was probably the only perk to being in a wheelchair. Well, besides being pushed through the massive terminal instead of having to walk through it. Raoul was parked next to Violet and the pair were waiting by the gate. Their goodbyes had been said at the villa and thier luggage was already on its way to the white 747 parked outside.

“And I’m sure they’ll be able to accommodate me.” He assured.

And he was right.

There was one other perk to traveling in a wheelchair (or traveling with someone who was) - they let you board the plane first. Violet had a little trouble maneuvering the chair down the walkway, but one of the attendants, a veteran at dealing with such things, quickly stepped in and helped her. Soon enough, they had Raoul comfortably transferred to one of the aisle seats in first class.

“You okay?” Violet asked as she buckled herself in next to him.

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“Well Nibs probably won’t let me fly with an IV bag.” Raoul taps the fluid bag hanging from the IV stand. “So I won’t have to worry about heavy equipment, but I don’t think I’ll be able to handle the stairs. Thank god, I listened to Val and bought a hide-a-bed sofa when I moved in. So the living room will be warped into a bedroom for a while.”

“You’re always welcome to join me,” He added with a silly eyebrow wiggle. “but you can take the upstairs bed if you’d prefer.”

Violet giggled softly, and shook her head. “No, I’m gonna stay down with you. If it gets crowded, I’ll just pull up a sleeping bag.”

Feeling much better about the situation now, she nodded back toward the house. “Speaking of bed, I think it’s getting kinda late.” 

“I guess.” Raoul pouted but despite his reluctance he started to yawn. The front door opened and Julia waddled. Her expression softened when she spotted the pair and you didn’t need mind reading abilities to know that she thought they were cute together.

“Hey you two.” she smiled, “Our favorite doctor sent me out here to remind you that its our patient’s bedtime.”

Raoul rolled his eyes.

Over the next few days Raoul continued to improve. As he was allowed to eat more he started gaining more weight and the once hollow bags and shadows in his features and limbs started to fill out again. There was a little hitch on day two when Raoul decided that he’d ought to at least try to walk, only to land face first on the hard linoleum floor right next to his bed. He’d earned not only a few bruises from the fall but several scoldings from Thantos to Julia and of course Nibbles. Violet’s reaction hadn’t been all to pleasant either and Raoul spent the rest of the evening pouting in his bed like a kicked puppy.

So by day three Raoul stopped complaining about the wheelchair, though in his mind he still hated it. However the plane tickets were booked and the appointment schedule for his new Metro City physical therapist were made. Despite the incident,  Raoul was recovering quickly. As expected, Raoul looked ready for travel on day four and on day five the bags were packed. Their flight was scheduled to leave that afternoon.

“Are you sure they’re gonna be okay with handling the wheelchair on the plane?” Violet asked, for the second or third time. Since this was only her second time flying commercial, she really had no idea what to expect in terms of help for handicapped passengers.

“And you be good and stay in your seat, okay?” she warned her boyfriend. “If you fall over again, you’re too heavy for me to haul up. Even with the weight you’ve lost,” she added jokingly, feeling a little bad about worrying so much.

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

Raoul slid his arm around her to return and hold the semi-awkward position hug.

“Of course.” He said quietly, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

They cuddled awkwardly like that for some time longer. In the days he’d been unconscious, Violet hadn’t dared to touch him very much - partly for fear of messing up his treatment somehow, but also because when she had touched him, that dark, sleepy silence had been so disturbing. To have him back now, whole, if not entirely healthy yet, was such a relief.

“… So how are sleeping arrangements gonna work?” she finally asked. “Will you need one of those hospital beds, or is it safe for you to be in the regular one?”

“Well Nibs probably won’t let me fly with an IV bag.” Raoul taps the fluid bag hanging from the IV stand. “So I won’t have to worry about heavy equipment, but I don’t think I’ll be handle the stairs. Thank god, I listened to Val and bought a hide-a-bed sofa when I moved in. So the living room will be warped into a bedroom for a while.”

“You’re always welcome to join me,” He added with a silly eyebrow wiggle. “but you can take the upstairs bed if you’d prefer.”

Violet giggled softly, and shook her head. “No, I’m gonna stay down with you. If it gets crowded, I’ll just pull up a sleeping bag.”

Feeling much better about the situation now, she nodded back toward the house. “Speaking of bed, I think it’s getting kinda late.” 

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

Raoul’s look softened.

“Violeta… They’re your family. Adoptive or not, they’ll always need you. A real parent’s heart only grows.”

I think, he didn’t add. Raoul ran away from home when he was seven and didn’t really know what home or family was really like. In its own messed up way, being in Fuller’s Freaks had given him a type of family but he was only guessing from what he’d read or tried to be for younger members of the group. Even though in reality he was probably one of the younger ones there.

Still, it seemed that this was something Violet needed to hear.

It was.

Violet didn’t say anything in reply. Instead, she slid her arms carefully around Raoul as best she could with him in the wheelchair. She hugged him gently, her face pressed against his shoulder.

“… So, you’ll come see them with me?”

Raoul slid his arm around her to return and hold the semi-awkward position hug.

“Of course.” He said quietly, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

They cuddled awkwardly like that for some time longer. In the days he’d been unconscious, Violet hadn’t dared to touch him very much - partly for fear of messing up his treatment somehow, but also because when she had touched him, that dark, sleepy silence had been so disturbing. To have him back now, whole, if not entirely healthy yet, was such a relief.

“… So how are sleeping arrangements gonna work?” she finally asked. “Will you need one of those hospital beds, or is it safe for you to be in the regular one?”

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“Oh?” Raoul noticed her discomfort but didn’t understand why. His hand was still over hers so he squeezed it gently and traced her knuckles with the side of his thumb, “Can I ask why?”

She swallowed. “… Well, I’ve been away at school. And it’s not like I know much about babies. They’ve got three parents, and the rest of my sibs - they don’t need me there.”

Raoul’s look softened.

“Violeta… They’re your family. Adoptive or not, they’ll always need you. A really parent’s heart only grows.”

I think, he didn’t add. Raoul ran away from home when he was seven and didn’t really know what home or family was really like. In its own messed up way, being in Fuller’s Freaks had given him a type of family but he was only guessing from what he’d read or tried to be for younger members of the group. Even though in reality he was probably one of the younger ones here.

Still, it seemed that this was something Violet needed to hear.

It was.

Violet didn’t say anything in reply. Instead, she slid her arms carefully around Raoul as best she could with him in the wheelchair. She hugged him gently, her face pressed against his shoulder.

“… So, you’ll come see them with me?”

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“Oh that has to be fun.” Raoul grinned. His eyes were drawn to how the breeze plucked at Violet’s small curls. “I bet that makes christmas and birthdays fun too. I imagine tinker toys ain’t going to cut it with geniuses.”

Violet looked a little uncomfortable as he brought that up. “I wouldn’t know. I … I haven’t really been involved in caring for them that much.” The twins had been born just after she started her first year at college. Even before she’d crossed over into this dimension, she hadn’t spent much time with them. She didn’t like to admit it to herself, but she knew on some level that she’d removed herself from the Lair partly so she wouldn’t run the risk of seeing herself replaced in her adoptive parents’ eyes. A premptive strike, you might say.

“Oh?” Raoul noticed her discomfort but didn’t understand why. His hand was still over hers so he squeezed it gently and traced her knuckles with the side of his thumb, “Can I ask why?”

She swallowed. “… Well, I’ve been away at school. And it’s not like I know much about babies. They’ve got three parents, and the rest of my sibs - they don’t need me there.”

Shallow Roots

rainforestnut:

nightmare-in-violet:

rainforestnut:

“All babies are adorable.” Raoul replied like he was stating a well based and common fact, “From the blue to the pink to Jame’s baby boy that has his daddy’s teeth already, ellos son los ángeles que componen por nuestras malas acciones. They are the angles that make up for our misdeeds. But they’re Megaminds? Wow. That has to be a house full.”

“If you say so,” Violet said weakly. She really had no strong feelings about babies either way; their minds were so blank and new that they left no real impression on her powers, and since that was the main way she connected with people, it was a bit unsettling. The line about the angels was nice, though.

“Well, half-Megaminds. They take after him pretty strongly, though.” She grinned. “You think babyproofing for normal kids is a lot of work? You should see what we to come up with for these two.” True, the twins had only just been learning to walk when she last saw them, but after all the stories of what their father had been capable of at their age, no one was taking any chances.

“Oh that has to be fun.” Raoul grinned. His eyes were drawn to how the breeze plucked at Violet’s small curls. “I bet that makes christmas and birthdays fun too. I imagine tinker toys ain’t going to cut it with geniuses.”

Violet looked a little uncomfortable as he brought that up. “I wouldn’t know. I … I haven’t really been involved in caring for them that much.” The twins had been born just after she started her first year at college. Even before she’d crossed over into this dimension, she hadn’t spent much time with them. She didn’t like to admit it to herself, but she knew on some level that she’d removed herself from the Lair partly so she wouldn’t run the risk of seeing herself replaced in her adoptive parents’ eyes. A premptive strike, you might say.