Closed An Overdue Apology

Derrick Elliott

divorced + father + thunderers coach
 
Messages
16
OOC First Name
Charlie
Blood Status
Mixed Blood
Relationship Status
Divorced
Wand
Curly 15 1/2 Inch Sturdy Yew Wand with Chimera Scale Fragment Core
Age
8/2022 (37)
For the most part, Derrick had been doing an alright job of avoiding his Ex. He'd even been keeping his distance from his kids, just watching from afar and not getting too close. But he found that the longer he was in the same city, the harder he actually found it just to watch. And really, he quite hated himself for it. He shouldn't care this much. He had made his decision not to be a father years ago and had walked out on his wife and his children. And he'd been fine with doing that at the time. He'd slept soundly every night happy with his decision and knowing it was for the best. For his career. But now? Now he had retired from Professional play, things were different. Here he was years later crawling back to do what exactly? Try and make up for lost time? Own up to his mistakes?

Derrick knew full well that he shouldn't be doing this and yet, he really couldn't help himself. Admittedly, he hadn't even been planning to speak to them. He just wanted to watch, to know they were okay. Maybe that would help him feel less guilty. He'd been walking home, head down, eyes staring at his own feet that he didn't even notice the dark-haired boy coming in the opposite direction. He didn't notice until he had to come to a quick stop to avoid colliding right into the kid. And before he knew it, Derrick was staring into the face of his eldest son, the words catching in his throat as he awkwardly tried to clear them away. "Conan?"
 
The school days were dwindling down and Conan was just ready for it to be over. Soon it would be the holidays and he wouldn't have to worry about school for a little while. And then, come September, he would be shipping off to Hogwarts and wouldn't have to worry about boring English or maths lessons anymore. Honestly, he was still a little worried about it. He didn't want to leave his Mama on her own, or leave his siblings for the school year. Just coming back for the holidays wasn't going to be the same and seeing them all year round.

He was walking home from school, one hand wrapped around the strap of his bag and the other flicking through his phone. He had been so engrossed in a group conversation with his football mates that he hadn't seen the man coming the other way, not until he had almost walked into him, very nearly causing him to drop his phone. His Mama would not be happy if he broke his phone. Again. Looking up, he had already opened his mouth to apologize, but faltered when the man seemed to know him. Conan blinked, studying the face for a moment. And, as he did, old memories of his much younger childhood he long thought he had forgotten about started filtering back into his brain. First there was surprise, but then there was just anger. Instantly, he stiffed his shoulders, shoving his phone into the pocket of his blazer. "What are you doing here?"
 
Last edited:
Derrick supposed he probably should have been expecting a frosty greeting. It was not like Conan had any reason to be happy to see his old man, especially after he had walked out on them when he was still little. But there still had to be some happy memories, right? The time they used to spend together when he was little, Derrick getting Conan his first kiddie broom and happily teaching him how to fly. Those short memories had to make up for something, didn't they?

"That any way to greet your father?" He joked lightly, folding his arms across his chest as he got the chance to properly look at the kid. He certainly had grown over the years, though those large ears of his still looked too big for his head. And the thicker eyebrows were certainly quite reminiscent of his own. Maybe some things didn't change too much over the years. "How've you been, kid? How's your mum doing?"
 
Conan almost instantly bristled the second he heard the word 'father', stiffening his shoulders and scrunching his hands into fists in his pocket. "You're not my father," he huffed back, averting his gaze to stare at his shoes. "Father's don't just walk off for quidditch." Of all the things to make someone leave, it was a stupid sport. There was a reason Conan hadn't listened to a quidditch match or sat on his broom since his father had left them. It was too hard a reminder that someone cared more about their career than they did their kids.

"Why do you care?" He snapped back as he started probing questions about his mum. He didn't care, obviously. He was probably just trying to make stupid conversation or something like that. Then, Conan sighed, lifting his gaze off the floor again. "What are you doing here?" There had to be a reason he back, and it probably wasn't just to catch up.
 
Maybe he should have expected the response. Maybe. But even if he had, he didn't think it would hurt so much to hear his offspring saying that he wasn't his father. "Well, sorry to say kid, I am your father, whether you happen to like that fact or not." And maybe Conan did have a point, fathers weren't supposed to abandon their kids and their families. But this was his career. He knew he had to take a bigger step, to focus completely on his career so he could really go places. Sacrifices just had to be made. But of course, a child wasn't going to understand that. And he doubted that his ex-wife understood that very much, either.

More questions. Expected questions and Derrick had answers for them. "I care because I did love your mother, for a time." And maybe those feelings were still there, even if they undoubtedly weren't shared after all this time. "As for why I'm here, I've taken up employment as a coach. Bumping into you was just a coincidence." It absolutely wasn't, but Conan didn't have to know that.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top