Look, my parents were mad scientists who pumped me full of spider-juice just to see what would happen. I went to Hail Hydra high school and Nick Fury university. I've been extraordinary my entire life. After all these years of insanity... a little ordinary sounds pretty #$%^ great. You have your normal... and I have mine.
“I’ve never been so thankful for opposable thumbs.”
“And I’ve never been so thankful for you.” Jessica knew she had checked out before he had been kidnapped. She had been inattentive and preoccupied. She had always expected Roger to be there, and when he wasn’t she had no idea what to do. All she knew was that she had been scared. Carefully holding out his mug of coffee, Jess kissed him on the cheek before settling down next to him. “And I’m also thankful I don’t remember my short tenure as a literal arachnid.”
Roger waited patiently as Jessica ventured down the hall. He could hear the water in the shower start running and took that as his cue to throw the kettle onto the stove and retrieve one of Jessica’s favorite mugs from the cabinet above.
His life before had been nothing but making deals with shady individuals, running from the cops, constantly looking over his shoulder – not knowing exactly where he’d be sleeping that night – it was not the kind of life to be proud of. But now, practically a stay at home dad, Roger had found his purpose in life.
Just as Roger was getting lost in his continued train of absentminded thoughts, Jessica returned from her shower. Her comment about the uniform prompted Roger to retrieve the different components and transfer them to a laundry hamper nearby, “Sounds fair to me. You definitely deserve it.”
Her hair was dripping on the floor, leaving a little wet trail of water droplets behind her. Like always the floor was too cold but she ignored that and instead wandered over to kiss her husband on the cheek. “You’re my favorite person. Did you know that? God, I love you.”
And she did. It had been a weird journey to get there. When Olivia had lost her shit that day and told Jess that Roger loved her she hadn’t believed it. He was big and ambling. Kindhearted, but her work friend. it wasn’t until she thought she had lost him that Jess admitted to herself that she had feelings. Getting her friends to accept it had been something else entirely.
“Thanks.” She nodded to the laundry he was moving. “We can burn it. I have a spare.” She did still have a spare, right? Hopefully. Jessica needed to work on not burning through uniforms. Finding what looked like blissfully comfortable clothes Jess tugged on the top before ringing out her hair. “I’m thinking something more black. You didn’t know me when I wore the red and yellow, but I’m sure you’ve seen the google pictures.” Here came years of residual saltiness. “Anyway, I’ll go talk to Big Ronnie but knowing her we’re going to be too cash strapped.”
“Hey– hey- don’t say that,” Roger dismissed Jessica’s hypothetical suggestion with a sympathetic smile, chest warm at the compliment that followed. The Roger of years ago never would have guessed this is where his life could have ended up. He was hopeless. A petty criminal, with a pending divorce and an estranged daughter. But somehow, things got better. Infinitely better. And he knew just exactly what – or who – to attribute this all to.
She was standing right in front of him.
“Hey, there’s a hot shower with your name on it–” Roger grinned, gesturing down the hall toward the bathroom.
“Hey,” Jess shot one back at him with her hands thrown up in surrender. “I’m a realist and therefore obligated to make those statements. Also, shut up. That was a morbid compliment. Be flattered.” Her boots came off next and were tossed one on top of the other into the corner. The gross white shirt joined them before Jessica gave Roger a thumbs up and ambled down the hall.
She loved him.
It hadn’t been the plan, but somewhere along the line Jessica had fallen in love with Roger. Before he had been a joke ( unfortunately ) a punny one of kinda crook you put behind bars while warming up for the real show. He was, of course, so much more than that. He was kind and considerate and had become a better person because that was the man Kali needed. By doing so, he became a man that Jessica wanted in her life.
The water was blissfully warm on aching bones and bruised skin, but Jess knew she had to get out eventually or she would die in there. Wrapping herself in a clean towel she moved back out to where her husband was. “Maybe this is a good time to get a new costume.” She kicked at the discarded one. “A little I didn’t die again gift for myself.”
“Anything for you two,” Roger smiled, taking one of Jessica’s hands gently in his own, “–you need me to be your rock? I’m there.”
“Thank god you’re sturdy.” Even though Jessica let out an airy laugh she felt - just for a second - like she was going to fall apart. “When he starts getting older it’s going to be harder to explain why I vanish sometimes, and god forbid if I don’t come back at all… I’m glad he has a dad. I’m glad you’re his dad.” Jessica hadn’t been looking for paternal influence. She had Roger on her own because she didn’t need a man, but now she had found one worth wanting.” After all rescued hostages had been evacuated to the New Avengers Compound they had been given the opportunity to go to Citrusville if they felt up for the fight or stay there to heal. Jessica had left her offered sweats and cot to go straight home, still in her shredded costume. “I need out of this thing.” She peeled the jacket off, white shirt underneath a sorry sight. “Turns out hell is really dirty.”
Roger held up both glasses for Jessica to distribute the wine into before handing her one as soon as the bottle was returned to the coffee table. “Wow, guess being in the hero business means you’re never short on lawyers,” he chuckled, relief flooding his system. Maybe things would be a-okay. It was wishful thinking perhaps, but a little optimism never killed anyone. And sure, the idea of losing Kalie hurt like hell, but the prospective void wasn’t as large as Roger had thought it’d be, thanks to the presence of a sleeping infant in the next room. Speaking of–
“Should we go check on—?” He gestured wordlessly down the hall, despite the peaceful silence from the baby monitor sitting a few feet away.
“One would think, but the government has a lot more and they tend to make up in quantity what they lack in quality. Thank god some of the few that we have are the best out there.” Even a perfect lawyer couldn’t mitigate some issues though. Sometimes they just were Fucked with a capital F and that was how it was.
Following his gaze, Jessica couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the monitor. “Honestly, I don’t think that we really need it anymore. As much as I’d like to pretend he’s not a baby. The kid can crawl on ceilings and his hands glow.”
Roger let out a tired sigh when Jessica took hold of his face, “I hope that’s enough.” The words left his lips before he had a chance to think any further about them, “I mean— god, that would be wonderful. I love you so much— it just- it feels like us versus the world right now, and I don’t know if I can handle that.” An introspective pause, “—and wine, yes. Absolutely.” Getting up from the couch, Roger jogged to the kitchen before retrieving a bottle from the fridge as well as two glasses and returning to his seat on the couch.
“It’ll have to be for now, yeah? Until something else comes up. I know lawyers. There’s Murdock and Walters. I could probably get Jen to represent you as a favor to our friendship.” She would probably agree to it. Roger was a former con but that was just a small factor in the overall scheme of things. He was changed and Jessica would swear on her life that was true. “I love you too. You know that. As someone whose had the world against them, this is doable even if it’s not hard. We can do this because you and I? We’re a team, Rog. If you can’t handle it I’ll carry you over my shoulder, which we both know I am very capable of doing. You love Kalie. You’re a good dad. Olivia may hate me and not like you but she loves Kalie too. She needs to be the one who gets put first.” Jessica crossed a leg underneath her as she waited for Roger to return. Extending her hand she took the bottle and tugged the cork out. Thank you, superhero strength. “Wine compliments a brainstorming session wonderfully.”
“She had sole custody before the snap, Jess.” As much as he wanted her to be right, his confidence in the matter was at an all-time low. “Kalie’s not eighteen yet and I– I don’t think the court’s going to rule in my favor this time. I just– don’t know what to do.”
“And you were a criminal with no proof that you’d be a good parent. Like I said, things change. People change. You’ve changed. Besides, if you want I’ll vouch for you. A character witness from an Avenger.” Scooting closer to him then, Jessica took her husbands scruffy face between her hands so that he had no choice but to make eye contact with her. “You’re going to sit down with Kalie and talk with her about what she wants. You’re going to put your daughter first no matter what that means. You’re going to show her you love her. And,” she smiled slightly. “You’re going to pour me a glass of wine.”
“Roger, you’re not going to lose her.” Jessica’s voice was firm. “These five years have proven that you’re nothing like you used to be. Olivia will make some kind of agreement, I’m sure. And besides, Kalie is old enough now to have a say for herself.”
Roger’s heart ached for Jessica. He knew her upbringing was rough - to say the least - but his minor slip up felt like a careless dagger of a mistake. However, judging by her casually intertwining their fingers together before Roger had a chance to notice, she didn’t appear to have taken it to heart.
Reaching up to brush a strand of hair from Jessica’s face, Roger was suddenly overcome with emotion, “You think we can be even happier?” he near-whispered, before breaking character with a weak chuckle, “–I think I’ve been in full dad mode for far too long.”
It had been long enough that Jessica no longer wanted pity. She never had, actually, but at this point she was tired of it so the fact that Roger said nothing was a relief. He knew her past and he loved her anyway. That meant enough. Talking about it was easy. Watching people respond to it was the hard part. Wrapping her fingers through his, Jessica sighed.
“Happier?” She paused. That was a tricky concept to try and wrap her head around. “I’m happier now than I was when everything happened. I’m happier every day, so yes. I suppose we can be happier.” Straightening up, Jessica ran a hand down his bearded face with a smile. “It suits you way more than costumed D-list criminal ever did.”
