Ian Lynn Malcolm (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
malcolmeffect) wrote2019-08-04 10:16 am
malcolmeffect) wrote2019-08-04 10:16 am
Entry tags:
Nexus: "Okay wait, I'm lost, calm down. Say it again in plain terms this time."
Ian was exhausted from work. The start of the university semester, several projects, and preparing his daughter for school had stretched him thin. He needed a break. His eyes fell on the desk calendar filled to bursting with times and deadlines. He couldn't work anymore, not today.
“Kelly.” Ian called to his daughter as he got up from the desk. She was already bursting into the room wondering what he wanted. “Pack a day bag.”
She watched her father, his expression, then got excited. “We're going to see Sarah?”
His daughter was observant but he always wondered how other people didn't know. He still couldn't wrap his head around how long it had taken Sarah herself to realize his affection for her. People, academics, had simultaneously accused him of being with multiple women and overlooked the flagrant way he expressed his love for Sarah.
Ian nodded to his daughter who squealed and ran off to her room. Packing was easy for Ian. He wore all black. It was classic and he never had to waste time or mental energy thinking about what to wear. He hated the thought of wasting time on something as inconsequential as fashion. They were both packed and out the door in 20 minutes.
That had been 5 hours ago. Since then they had arrived at the University of Texas and watched their graduation ceremony. Kelly had fallen asleep sometime after Sarah had been on stage to receive her degree. It had been a struggle for his daughter to stay awake that long.
The after graduation party had just started when she woke up. Thankfully, she was walking now. Carrying her had put a burden on Ian's leg and he was in pain but he would never show it. This was Gregory's university. Ian had seen him and his ex wife in the crowd. Maya had cast him a curious and angry look. They didn't matter now, Ian had other motivations for being here. Even so, the idea that he was a party crasher at a rival's graduation did have its subtle satisfaction.
It took him some time to find Sarah in the crowd. She was speaking to some of her friends and a couple of their professors. It was perfect. It was time to set things right, and perhaps save Dr. Grant's blood pressure. The rumors about Ian and Ellie had caused Grant to fight with him more than once. For all his obstinance Ian appreciated Grant's down-to-Earth, no nonsense nature.
Ian spoke as he came up behind Sarah and placed a hand on the small of her back. “Congratulation honey.”
She spun around ready to fight but instantly froze when he started to laugh. Her eyes were wide with surprise. He was supposed to be in Massachusetts still, working. The startle passed and she hugged him. “I thought..”
“..I wouldn't be here.” He finished her sentence. He remembered how much it upset her that he wasn't coming. Ian held her tighter, a little closer. When she pulled back he started tucking all the stray red hair back behind her ear.
“What about the rumors?” Sarah was protesting. Ian was used to hearing rumors about himself, he had always been a target of the gossip. Sarah wasn't as used to it. Rumors be damned.
Ian silenced her with a kiss, bold, passionate, and in front of dozens of colleagues. They disproved and he didn't care. It wasn't a long kiss, just enough to prove his point to the masses.
“Ian.” Sarah was worried, blushed, and looking at the people she had just been speaking to. One of the professors was showing open disgust. Malcolm just smirked at him. His insufferable arrogance in plain defiance of the older professor's expression. The older sect of academics were horrified that a tenured professor in his late 30s was involved with a graduate student. They were probably jealous.
He shook her worry off. “They're going to talk. They always do. We.. uh.. should make sure they get it right for once.”
Sarah giggled at his boldness but he was right, always. The rumors had been flying around since it came to light that he hadn't died in Costa Rica. Sarah gave Kelly a hug too as the girl climbed into her arms.
The rest of the world could be damned, Ian was arrogant enough to make that statement and stand by it. “We should celebrate.” Ian hugged her again hoping this wasn't another mistake in his long line of relationship mistakes.
“Kelly.” Ian called to his daughter as he got up from the desk. She was already bursting into the room wondering what he wanted. “Pack a day bag.”
She watched her father, his expression, then got excited. “We're going to see Sarah?”
His daughter was observant but he always wondered how other people didn't know. He still couldn't wrap his head around how long it had taken Sarah herself to realize his affection for her. People, academics, had simultaneously accused him of being with multiple women and overlooked the flagrant way he expressed his love for Sarah.
Ian nodded to his daughter who squealed and ran off to her room. Packing was easy for Ian. He wore all black. It was classic and he never had to waste time or mental energy thinking about what to wear. He hated the thought of wasting time on something as inconsequential as fashion. They were both packed and out the door in 20 minutes.
That had been 5 hours ago. Since then they had arrived at the University of Texas and watched their graduation ceremony. Kelly had fallen asleep sometime after Sarah had been on stage to receive her degree. It had been a struggle for his daughter to stay awake that long.
The after graduation party had just started when she woke up. Thankfully, she was walking now. Carrying her had put a burden on Ian's leg and he was in pain but he would never show it. This was Gregory's university. Ian had seen him and his ex wife in the crowd. Maya had cast him a curious and angry look. They didn't matter now, Ian had other motivations for being here. Even so, the idea that he was a party crasher at a rival's graduation did have its subtle satisfaction.
It took him some time to find Sarah in the crowd. She was speaking to some of her friends and a couple of their professors. It was perfect. It was time to set things right, and perhaps save Dr. Grant's blood pressure. The rumors about Ian and Ellie had caused Grant to fight with him more than once. For all his obstinance Ian appreciated Grant's down-to-Earth, no nonsense nature.
Ian spoke as he came up behind Sarah and placed a hand on the small of her back. “Congratulation honey.”
She spun around ready to fight but instantly froze when he started to laugh. Her eyes were wide with surprise. He was supposed to be in Massachusetts still, working. The startle passed and she hugged him. “I thought..”
“..I wouldn't be here.” He finished her sentence. He remembered how much it upset her that he wasn't coming. Ian held her tighter, a little closer. When she pulled back he started tucking all the stray red hair back behind her ear.
“What about the rumors?” Sarah was protesting. Ian was used to hearing rumors about himself, he had always been a target of the gossip. Sarah wasn't as used to it. Rumors be damned.
Ian silenced her with a kiss, bold, passionate, and in front of dozens of colleagues. They disproved and he didn't care. It wasn't a long kiss, just enough to prove his point to the masses.
“Ian.” Sarah was worried, blushed, and looking at the people she had just been speaking to. One of the professors was showing open disgust. Malcolm just smirked at him. His insufferable arrogance in plain defiance of the older professor's expression. The older sect of academics were horrified that a tenured professor in his late 30s was involved with a graduate student. They were probably jealous.
He shook her worry off. “They're going to talk. They always do. We.. uh.. should make sure they get it right for once.”
Sarah giggled at his boldness but he was right, always. The rumors had been flying around since it came to light that he hadn't died in Costa Rica. Sarah gave Kelly a hug too as the girl climbed into her arms.
The rest of the world could be damned, Ian was arrogant enough to make that statement and stand by it. “We should celebrate.” Ian hugged her again hoping this wasn't another mistake in his long line of relationship mistakes.