losthunter | Reconnecting with an Estraged Father ((Jim))

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Reconnecting with an Estraged Father ((Jim))

Hunter had concentrated on taking care of himself during the last two days, ever since he had gotten into that fight during his search for Austin. And after feeling healed, and in a better mental state, Hunter felt ready for the next step in his plans.

He needed to talk to his father. And get a message to the FBI agents that were assigned as Secret Service to Rob Kingson's Senate candidacy.

Hunter had sent his father an email to arrange a meeting, and had actually gotten a reply back. So he hoped that was a good sign. All that was left to send an text to Jim, since the Starfleet captain had offered to come with Hunter during this meeting.

Hey handsome. Time to meet my father. Feel ready?

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It certainly doesn't seem to take much for friction to start between these two. While Jim came along as support, he can't help but get involved, even if some of it isn't his business. He won't sit by and let this play out without trying to make a difference.

He doesn't stand, nor turn his attention away from Rob. Hunter's reaction is a totally reasonable one, and he has a right to be angry. Hell, Jim is angry for him too, this whole interaction bitterly reminiscent of his own childhood. "Magic is only as dangerous as the person using it," he says instead, keeping his gaze firmly on the man sitting on the other side of the desk. "It's a tool that can be used for a hell of a lot more than hurting people. You might as well warn the FBI about people with hammers or kitchen knives, because it's the same thing."

Hunter is very glad that Jim is here. The captain has that presence that calms him down, even after getting upset for a second time.

"I am more than willing to tell them about Austin's powers, so they know what to be prepared for. The most important thing is that Austin is stopped, before he gets the chance to hurt someone else."

"Okay. Let me make a call and see if someone is available to take your statement." Rob stands, then leaves the room so he can make that call.

Hunter frowned. "If he tells them that I have abilities too... we better be prepared for them reacting to that information."

"You mean disbelief," Jim says, frowning. He'd certainly understand the skepticism. It was a hell of a thing to get his head around at first.

Hunter sits back down, since his knees feel a little weak from worrying about what could happen. A few minutes later, Rob returns to the room, accompanied by five men dressed in well-tailored suits. Jim might be able to tell that each one of them are carrying a weapon right now.

"Good afternoon gentlemen. I am Morgan Rogal with the Secret Service. You have information about the City Hall suspect that might be helpful?" The oldest of the men speaks first. The rest take up a position against the wall.

"Yes. About Austin. He is hiding out in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a very dangerous individual." Hunter takes a breath.

Jim doesn't visibly tense, but he does take note of the angular lumps underneath their suit coats that tell him they're packing heat. Projectile weapons are pretty rare in his century, but in some ways, they're more dangerous than phasers. No stun setting, for one. And much harder to heal that kind of trauma. So he makes sure not to make any sudden moves, seeking refuge in his command training, regarding them with the same calm, confident determination that he's cultivated for use in the captain's chair, no matter how wary he actually is.

"We're pretty sure he's intending to try again at some point. Maybe not against Mister Kingson specifically, but he's still a threat."

"And what was your relationship with Austin?" Morgan asked Hunter.

"I didn't have any." Hunter paused for a moment. "I had met him at a hospital a few months back. At the time, I was seeking out associates of a friend of mine, who had recently passed, so I could tell them about her death. The encounter didn't end well, with Austin attacking me."

"I didn't see him again, until I found out that he was trying to attack City Hall. And at that time, Jim was available to help prevent Austin from attacking Mister Kingson at City Hall."

"So you didn't have a romantic involvement with him?" Morgan asked sternly.

Hunter tensed up. He shoots his father a slight angry glare. "No. I have been in a relationship with someone else for the last several months."

"Why would that matter?" It doesn't make any sense to Jim why these agents would care. And if he's letting a little bit of his twenty-third century attitudes peek through, well, he can't really help it.

"Motive. If Austin felt rejected by the younger Mr. Kingson, it would make sense why he would target his father." Morgan explains.

"I don't even use the Kingson name!" Hunter points out. "I only interacted with Austin for minutes. Not long enough for him to know anything about me."

"I don't know why my father was targeted." Hunter explains. "All I know is that Austin is dangerous. And needs to be stopped. Can we concentrate on that?"

"We are just trying to look at all angles of this case."

"I got the impression his problem was more political than personal," Jim adds, unsure if he should mention anything specific about his interactions with Austin. Hunter had left it vague before, and there must be a reason why he doesn't want Rob knowing who exactly had been hurt at the City Hall.

"What do you mean?" The statement makes Morgan's attention go to Jim. Hunter gives Jim a slight nod, a gesture of support behind anything Jim wants to say, or not say to these men.

With the nod from Hunter, Jim feels more confident about giving a few more details. "I spoke to him briefly at the protest. He wasn't a fan of your policies," he adds, looking past the agents at Rob, his expression somewhat chillier than it has been so far. "He said he was tired of protests not changing anything and wanted to make a difference himself."

"He was visiting another associate of my former friend, when Austin saw the news reports on some specific policies that you want to implement. That associate said that Austin basically got angry after hearing the news. And that associate barely survived an attack himself." Hunter adds sternly.

"My policies..." Rob started to say.

"Don't matter." Hunter stops him. "The point is it was why Austin made you his target. And why he might do it again, to someone else."

"He has to be stopped." Hunter adds again.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Hunter's interruption almost makes Jim smile a little, approving of him standing up to his dad without getting angry, or letting his dad derail the conversation. It's not an easy thing to do, when you're so emotionally close to a situation.

"He was confident enough in his own ability to get past the guards, and get to Mister Kingson. He didn't act like he was afraid of getting caught."

Morgan takes out his notebook to make some notes. Then he checks something, that he had written on the pad of paper. "Tell us about this magic ability, that you claim that Austin possesses."

Hunter takes a breath, knowing that there is disbelief from the FBI agent. "I know it sounds impossible. But Austin has special abilities, and it is why he was so confident. He felt unstoppable."

"Those abilities allowed Austin to have emotional and mental control of another person's mind." Hunter spoke cautiously. "Right now, those powers are suppressed by a watch that he can't take off his wrist. It was something that Jim was able to get on Austin's wrist to prevent him from attacking last time."

Though he'd known there was only a slim chance, Jim had hoped that Rob wouldn't have said anything about it. But now that it's out in the open, he jumps in with his own testimony. "He started to use his power on me before I got it on him," he says, raising his chin slightly in defiance. If he has to draw their metaphorical fire to help keep Hunter out of their sights, then so be it. And while he is absolutely not going to tell them any details of the aftereffects, two voices making an incredible claim is more credible than one, especially with no solid evidence to present. "Knocked me for a loop pretty badly, so I couldn't stop him from getting away. You can ask the guards who found me to identify me if you want."

Hunter gets this soft look in his eyes, of admiration, when Jim jumps in with his own testimony. In a way, Hunter knows that he is helping to keep the focus off him. And so far... it doesn't sound like Rob told these agents about the fact his own son has special abilities.

"We have the reports of our guards on file." Morgan confirms. "So your mental state was not due to any illegal substances?"

They thought he was on drugs? He supposes that without a tox screen, they wouldn't have had any real way to know, but still. "No," he answers firmly. "Absolutely not."

Hunter draws the attention back to him for a moment. "There should be no mistake, that when a person is affected by Austin's abilities... that it can be very disconcerting for the affected victim."

"Right now is the best time to go after him. He is on the run. He doesn't have access to his abilities. And he is running out of resources." Hunter explained.

"Got it." Morgan nods to the rest of the agents. "We will get right on that."

Hunter watches them leave, until he and Jim are left alone in the room with Rob again. He feels a little better, knowing that the agents are on the case now.

After a tense moment of silence, Hunter has to ask. "Why did you imply to them that I might have been dating Austin?"

"Who am I to know who you are dating?" Rob raised an eyebrow.

"Do you really care?" Hunter asked. He tilts his head slightly. "Do you really want to know about my life, now?"

"I have to admit that I had wondered if Austin had tried to attack you first... before coming after me." Rob paused.

With the FBI agents out of the picture, they're treading back somewhat into 'not his business' territory, but Jim is hardly going to let Hunter deal with this alone either. "He didn't."

"And if you want me in your life again, you have to take me as I am, the full package. I am not going to hide my face. Or the tattoos."

"I am not going to date people you think I should date. Or take business classes you think I need."

"I run my own art studio now. I have a thriving business..." Hunter pointed out. "And most importantly, I have people who accept me, for who I am."

"Can you do that? Do you think you will ever be able to do that?"

Hunter felt his heart pound in his chest as he waited for an answer.

Rob slumped in his chair slightly. "I want to try..."

"If you want to try, then let's try to put the past behind us. Can we just start with that?" Hunter tilted his head again. He knew that it was difficult for his dad to get to this point.

"Yeah... we can." Rob nodded.

Jim can't tell whether Rob is being sincere, or whether he'll be able to get past their rocky history together, but at least he's taking the first step. It's certainly better than nothing. And who knows... maybe he'll come around, in time.

He smiles slightly at Hunter, proud of him for standing his ground and still reaching out a reconciliatory hand.

Hunter is not sure if Rob is being sincere either. So he is not going to 'officially introduce' Jim to his father right now.

He ends the meeting by shaking Rob's hand. And they promise each other to call.

Heading out of the office, Hunter feels a weight off his shoulders. He is just glad that the FBI knows about Austin.

"Hey... want to get a coffee, before we head back?" He smiles softly at Jim.

Jim's glad they're not doing introductions either. As unlikely as it is that this will be any kind of happily-ever-after ending, he'd hate to give Rob more ammunition to use against Hunter in the future.

"Sure," he agrees, smiling back. He doesn't mind spending a little more time away from his duties right now.

And now that he is away from the negative influence of his dad, Hunter feels comfortable to take Jim's hand in his, as they head towards a coffee place that is just a few blocks away.

"Thanks for being here today. You really helped me keep my anger in check."

"Hey, you're welcome. I know how it is when somebody knows what buttons to push because they don't like what you're saying."

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