ArchivedLogs:Eternity

Eternity
Dramatis Personae Akihiro, Anette, Baby Howlett
In Absentia	2017-09-01 "Are we selfish?"
Location <BOM> Infirmary - Main Lodge - Ascension Island
It is a small space, but a crisply clean one. It lacks the rustic charm of many of the other buildings -- in here it is steel and concrete, thick metal door and cold metal tables. Cool white walls. Stark-bright fluorescent lighting. Against the walls there are cabinets low and cabinets high, space between them broken up by steel counters and a pair of sinks, one larger than its sibling on the opposite wall. There is a desk tucked into a corner, home to computer and a pair of filing cabinets to either side. This room holds beds, too, a pair of cots near the back. Centrally there is a segmented examination table, steel as well though its metal is softened by a covering of padding. Occasionally stored against the walls or occasionally brought over near beds and tables as needed, a smattering of monitors and medical equipment give this room clear purpose. An adjoining bathroom has a small shower along with sink and toilet. It felt like an eternity that Akihiro had been kept away from Anette. So when she makes it back to the Island he practically sprints over to the infirmary to check on her. He doesn't look any different, the same long haired assassin that settled down on the island all those months ago. "Anette!" he calls out, sticking his head in the door. Anette looks awfully cozy in her cot. She's gotten cleaned up a little since she arrived, her hair tamed a bit and she's been changed out of her prison garb and into a hospital gown. There is a nursery set up a few feet away from her bed but it's currently empty. Instead, the child is in Anette's arms, sleeping quietly. Anette is sitting up in bed, content to merely hold her child. When Akihiro makes his presence known, Anette looks up. "Thank god," she says, though quietly, as not to disturb Harley. "Are you ready to meet your daughter?" "Of course." Akihiro quietly steps over and plants a kiss directly on Anette's forehead before dropping to a knee so he can get a good look at Harley. "Hey there." From the smile on his face it's obvious that he's been waiting and worrying this entire time and it's finally faded away, replaced with joy. "Which one of us do you figure she'll take after?" Anette smiles as Akihiro kisses her forehead and as his attention moves to the baby, she gently positions the child so he can get a better view. The child's eyes flutter open and she stares at Akihiro with big brown eyes. One hand stretches out to him, her fingers awkwardly flexing at his face. "She's screwed either way," Anette says with a slight grin. She glances over to Akihiro again, taking in his appearance for a moment. "I missed you so much." "About half as much as I missed you, I'd wager." Akihiro teases, reaching out to let his daughter grab ahold of his finger. "I'm sure it won't be too bad. Between the two of us she won't be able to get anything over on us. Been there and done it all." "Don't be so sure," Anette says, smiling gently as Harley wraps her fingers around Akihiro's. "If we don't fuck up raising her too bad, I'll be happy." She watches Akihiro bond with his daughter for a moment longer before adding, "Do you want to hold her?" "You're gonna be a good mother." Akihiro assures Anette before nodding slightly. "I'd like that." He reaches out to take Harley, holding his daughter against his chest. "Wish I could've been there. But they kept your location a secret. Apparently there was a risk I'd run in and kill everyone and myself in the process." "I'm going to pretend I believe that," Anette says, lifting Harley up to Akihiro. The newborn makes some whimper-noises at being moved but ultimately seems fine with the idea of switching arms. She squirms a bit, having woken up fully from her nap, hands reaching out to touch and grab everything within reach. "Good. Don't lie, that's exactly what you would have done. Still...it would have been nice if they could have snuck you in." "Yesh, prahbly." Akihiro allows, words coming out muffled thanks to a tiny fist pushing against his lips. His free hand comes up to intercept the little hand, distracting her long enough he can talk. "It would have been good to see you. Or if they'd of warned me in advance I could've written a letter." "Well, I'm here now," is all Anette says, watching her child play with her father's face with amusement. Her smile slowly drops the more she watches and her face takes on a more...melancholic expression. "Do you...are we selfish? For wanting to keep her? Raise her?" "What?" Akihiro looks back over at Anette now. "She's our daughter. Once we figure out how to get ourselves out of the country we won't have to worry about this stuff. As long as we make sure she has everything she needs we're doing our job." He lowers his hand so he can take Anette's in a gentle squeeze. "We'll figure out the best thing to do. Don't worry." Anette shakes her head, looking down at the blanket covering her as Akihiro takes her hand. "Just...been thinking. In prison and out. Some things that I-...someone said. I wanted to kill them at the time but....maybe they have a point." She looks back up to her child, now just staring mesmerized by literally everything in the room. "What kind of life can we give her here? We'll be lucky to survive long enough to watch her grow up." "Who said we have to leave the island? I grow vegetables, raise meat birds, and we have a cabin. If we ever get raided I'll hold them off while you two escape." Akihiro simply shrugs a bit. "This doesn't have to be permanent. I can get you a new identity and we can go live in Europe or even go back to Japan. But really, as long as we stay away from New York we shouldn't have too many issues for a while." He leans down to kiss Anette properly before pulling up a chair so he can sit by her. Anette shakes her head. "I'm pretty sure the Brotherhood would consider that desertion and we'd be dead in a week. Besides, they're as much family as you or Harley. And we're not going to just...sit around and knit while the rest of them put their lives on the line for a cause." She kisses Akihiro back but is obviously distracted. "I guess we'll...figure things out. Maybe." As Akihiro sits down, Anette reaches over to take Harley's hand, gently rubbing the top of it with her thumb. "She is beautiful. And so....human looking." "Probably end up with a healing factor. May want to get an x-ray to check for claws." Akihiro suggests, his attention being stolen by the little person he helped make once again. "And I know. But I can head out on more missions to take the burden off of you. Government is keeping an eye out after all. They don't have me on file as a terrorist just yet." "So we're going to raise her on an island of terrorists so all she'll grow up knowing is violence and terrorism?" Anette asks, sounding unconvinced. "Christ, I couldn't...I couldn't even protect her when she was /inside/ of me. How the hell am I supposed to keep her safe now?" Tear begin to drip down her face, though she quickly reaches up and wipes them away. "Sorry. Fucking hormones." "Anette. Think about it." Akihiro gives her hand another squeeze as she starts to cry. "We could have way worse terrorists. With these guys she'll grow up knowing cupcakes and board games. But she's our daughter, she'll end up a fighter regardless. I mean, I've been fighting since I was a teenager." "You fighting since you were a teenager really isn't the best argument," Anette says, finally getting her tears under control. "We're both fucked up, the last thing we should do is raise our kid to be like us." "But I'm not as fucked up as I was. Some doubt is normal, but I've got faith in us if nothing else." Akihiro offers Harley back over to Anette. "Besides, I can make sure Romulus won't try and kidnap her like he did me if I'm the one taking care of her. I'd hate for something to happen to say.. your parents. I'm not gonna let anybody else get hurt. That means you, her, and everybody else on the island." Anette takes back Harley who immediately begins to reach for stray locks of Anette's hair. "I don't know. This is all just...confusing as hell. I feel like every choice I make is wrong." She looks down at her child again, staring into her eyes and smiling once again. "Just have to hope for the best." "That's the spirit." Akihiro bends at the waist, resting his head on Anette's bed so he can look at both of them. "I love you. No matter what comes our way we'll take care of it. Believe it."