And, not to add to the pressure, but you may be the one best suited to convince him to change the Institute's course. Zetta and I aren't well positioned to claim any moral high ground.
[Riley leans into his touch, a little too desperately. He can feel his focus narrowing to a single point: his family. His family.
... this is bad. Ferran's right. He needs to keep himself... open. He exhales shakily.] Alright. [He hesitates, then finally lets go of them -- but it's so he can reach to wrap his arms around their necks, pull them close for a tight, needy hug.
He needs to shut everything out for a minute. He needs to let himself focus on them, only them.]
[Ferran presses light kisses to Riley's cheek and neck and rubs his hand up and down Riley's back.
As hard as this has been on all of them, he thinks maybe it's hardest of all on Riley. It was Riley who was holding Shaun, trying to keep Shaun safe when he was ripped away. It was Riley who last held him as an infant and who gave his life to try to keep the Institute from getting him.]
[Zetta curls her fingers into the back of Riley's shirt for a good long moment, but... Eventually, she gets restless. She starts to shift and pull away. Riley holds on to her tighter, and she sighs.]
Come on. You can sit down while we wait. He'll come up here eventually now that he's seen us.
... yeah.
[Riley lets her pull away this time. She pulls him along to one of the chairs.]
And he's almost certainly realized who you are, so I anticipate he'll have questions.
[Ferran keeps his arm around Riley's waist until he's ready to sit, lending his body as support. It's no hardship to stay pressed against Riley in any event.]
[That Vault-Tec moved Riley into another vault, replaced him with a lookalike. They found the vault records and tracked the vault down to the coast. It was flooding, but they got there in time to find Riley's cryopod.]
I don't like lying to him, [Riley says softly.]
We don't have much choice. It's not like he'd believe us if we told him the truth.
And it isn't a lie in all the things that matter. You're his father; you're alive, against all odds. That's what's important and we aren't lying about that. The rest is merely minor details.
[Riley runs a hand over his face.] I guess so. [But he still doesn't like it. It's not like it's the only thing they're going to be lying about, but... At least that's for the safety of other people. What purpose does this serve?
... no. They're right. It doesn't matter. As long as Shaun believes he is who he is, that's all that matters.] Yeah. You're right. [He reaches up for Ferran's hand so he can press a kiss against his knuckles.
Zetta is back at the balcony, watching the crowd slowly disperse. Shaun is talking to a scientist she doesn't remember the name of. Her eyes end up wandering, trying to see if Nathan turned out for it. She wonders how much they can trust him. That's probably a fucking stupid thought; they shouldn't trust anyone here. But how much does he report what they say back to Shaun? How much allegiance to the Institute does he really have?
After a moment, Zetta turns back around to face them.] He's on his way, I think. [She saw him break away from the conversation he was having to head this direction, at least.]
You are, too, [Riley says softly, kissing his knuckles again. It's not what Ferran meant, he knows, but... still. Riley can't help himself. He wanted this so badly. Wanted this family. He always considered Ferran just as much Shaun's father...]
[That little smile makes Riley's heart soar. He turns slightly to intercept the kiss straight on, and reaches with his free hand to gently cup Ferran's neck to hold him there for a perfect little moment.
And, of course, not a second later, Shaun arrives.
Zetta stops pacing, her entire posture going stiff, the way it always does when she sees him for the first time of the day. She doesn't miss the way Shaun's eyes are immediately on Riley, but barely for a moment before he's looking to Ferran, then Zetta.] And here I had been wondering if you'd come today, [he jokes with a slight smile.
Zetta, however, scowls.] As if we wouldn't. [Even so, she sounds almost angry. It's so her that Riley can feel him returning to himself a little bit. Leave it to Zetta to say something like that as if it's a bad thing, somehow.
But Shaun's questioning eyes are on Riley again, and Riley is having trouble breathing again. Zetta intercepts, finally moving into the room proper, arms folded across her chest.] Yeah. We need to talk about this.
Indeed, [Shaun agrees, voice level but a notch quieter and almost stern. Riley thinks he has Zetta's eyes, her jawline.]
But Zetta steps up to Riley's other side before he can say anything.] Before you start, yes, it's him. The man Kellogg killed was a lookalike. Some shadowy group swapped him out, took him to the coast for some genetic bullshit.
We found hints of what happened in a terminal that Zetta hacked and we had to follow up on it. Any chance he might be alive...well, you can imagine the dedication with which we pursued this. That's why we haven't been back lately. I hope this makes up for our absence, however.
And what purpose would it serve? What rational motive could we have for such a deception? I, in particular, stand only to lose. If you accept that he's your biological father, I run the risk of you rejecting me as your father.
[Ferran will try to throw logic and self-interest at Shaun and see if it works. If Shaun will accept that this really is Riley, he'll likely accept the rest of it, too. As Zetta said, there aren't any better explanations to account for Riley returning from the dead.]
[That does seem to give Shaun pause. He looks at the way Zetta is hovering protectively over Riley, and the way Riley and Ferran are holding hands. At the tense mix of worry and hope on Riley's face. Thinks about the last moment of the kiss he saw, the looks on their faces. About Zetta's agitation, Ferran's exposed insecurity.
... in the end, he inclines his head in acceptance.] Yes... Yes, of course. It may be difficult to believe, but then, it was difficult to believe your child is now an old man.
We may have to do at least that much. You'll have to forgive me.
No, it's okay, [Riley says quietly, speaking for the first time.] I understand. I do. This is... This isn't easy. [Part of him wants to leap from the chair and rush forward to touch Shaun, to convince himself that he really is right there. Part of him doesn't want to move at all, doesn't want to let go of Ferran, is petrified, afraid of moving in case he scares Shaun away.
Could we go somewhere more private and talk for a while before you start poking Riley with needles? Zetta may start blowing things up if you don't attempt to bond soon.
Also, it's making Riley sad, which is just unacceptable. [He squeezes Riley's knee.]
Somewhere more private than my private quarters? [Shaun sounds amused.]
That's not the point, [Zetta finally loses her temper, and she snaps.] This is your fucking father --
[Riley reaches up for her, and ends up snagging the elbow of her sleeve.] Hey. It's okay, I mean it. And it can wait until we have the test done. I know it'd feel weird to try to make a connection with someone you can't entirely believe.
[Shaun bows his head in appreciation. His voice is gentle and patient.] I believe that you believe it's him. But you have to admit there is always the possibility you were tricked.
[Ferran decides not to mention that for the private quarters of the Director the Institute, they're remarkably insecure. Anyone could waltz right in. But the whole Institute is like that. Hardly a locked door in the place. It's a society that trusts each other as much as it distrusts the outside world. Finding a place that's Ferran's idea of private--hidden, locked up, secret--isn't going to happen here.
He decides instead to focus on Shaun's theory that they might have been tricked.]
Possible, but unlikely. Zetta and I are deeply suspicious by nature. We did consider the potential for trickery, and dismissed it based on the evidence we had.
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[He brushes his fingers over Riley's cheek.]
And, not to add to the pressure, but you may be the one best suited to convince him to change the Institute's course. Zetta and I aren't well positioned to claim any moral high ground.
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... this is bad. Ferran's right. He needs to keep himself... open. He exhales shakily.] Alright. [He hesitates, then finally lets go of them -- but it's so he can reach to wrap his arms around their necks, pull them close for a tight, needy hug.
He needs to shut everything out for a minute. He needs to let himself focus on them, only them.]
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As hard as this has been on all of them, he thinks maybe it's hardest of all on Riley. It was Riley who was holding Shaun, trying to keep Shaun safe when he was ripped away. It was Riley who last held him as an infant and who gave his life to try to keep the Institute from getting him.]
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Come on. You can sit down while we wait. He'll come up here eventually now that he's seen us.
... yeah.
[Riley lets her pull away this time. She pulls him along to one of the chairs.]
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[Ferran keeps his arm around Riley's waist until he's ready to sit, lending his body as support. It's no hardship to stay pressed against Riley in any event.]
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[That Vault-Tec moved Riley into another vault, replaced him with a lookalike. They found the vault records and tracked the vault down to the coast. It was flooding, but they got there in time to find Riley's cryopod.]
I don't like lying to him, [Riley says softly.]
We don't have much choice. It's not like he'd believe us if we told him the truth.
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[Time travel counts as "minor," yes?]
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... no. They're right. It doesn't matter. As long as Shaun believes he is who he is, that's all that matters.] Yeah. You're right. [He reaches up for Ferran's hand so he can press a kiss against his knuckles.
Zetta is back at the balcony, watching the crowd slowly disperse. Shaun is talking to a scientist she doesn't remember the name of. Her eyes end up wandering, trying to see if Nathan turned out for it. She wonders how much they can trust him. That's probably a fucking stupid thought; they shouldn't trust anyone here. But how much does he report what they say back to Shaun? How much allegiance to the Institute does he really have?
After a moment, Zetta turns back around to face them.] He's on his way, I think. [She saw him break away from the conversation he was having to head this direction, at least.]
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You'll like him. He's a lot like Zetta. And a lot like you as well.
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Oh, it'll be weird, [Zetta snorts. She's pacing slowly -- prowling the balcony, Riley wants to call it.] But he'll get over it.
I just hope he believes us. That I'm really... me.
You're not a synth, he'll know that much. He won't have much else to believe.
[But will he really accept me? Riley wants to ask, but can't bring himself to.]
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Worst case scenario, we offer to let him do a paternity test. That will prove beyond a doubt that you're his real father.
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Bloody hell, how are you real.
[He leans forward to press a gentle kiss on the corner of Riley's mouth.]
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And, of course, not a second later, Shaun arrives.
Zetta stops pacing, her entire posture going stiff, the way it always does when she sees him for the first time of the day. She doesn't miss the way Shaun's eyes are immediately on Riley, but barely for a moment before he's looking to Ferran, then Zetta.] And here I had been wondering if you'd come today, [he jokes with a slight smile.
Zetta, however, scowls.] As if we wouldn't. [Even so, she sounds almost angry. It's so her that Riley can feel him returning to himself a little bit. Leave it to Zetta to say something like that as if it's a bad thing, somehow.
But Shaun's questioning eyes are on Riley again, and Riley is having trouble breathing again. Zetta intercepts, finally moving into the room proper, arms folded across her chest.] Yeah. We need to talk about this.
Indeed, [Shaun agrees, voice level but a notch quieter and almost stern. Riley thinks he has Zetta's eyes, her jawline.]
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Shaun, this is your father.
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But Zetta steps up to Riley's other side before he can say anything.] Before you start, yes, it's him. The man Kellogg killed was a lookalike. Some shadowy group swapped him out, took him to the coast for some genetic bullshit.
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Riley reaches for Ferran's hand on his knee to grip it tight.
Zetta scowls.] What the fuck else do you think this could be? Do you think we snuck in and made a synth behind your back?
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[Ferran will try to throw logic and self-interest at Shaun and see if it works. If Shaun will accept that this really is Riley, he'll likely accept the rest of it, too. As Zetta said, there aren't any better explanations to account for Riley returning from the dead.]
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... in the end, he inclines his head in acceptance.] Yes... Yes, of course. It may be difficult to believe, but then, it was difficult to believe your child is now an old man.
[Riley's heart leaps up into his throat.]
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[He raises an eyebrow slightly.]
If you want to run any tests to dispel remaining doubts, I'm sure we could oblige. But this is Riley. Zetta and I have no doubts about that.
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No, it's okay, [Riley says quietly, speaking for the first time.] I understand. I do. This is... This isn't easy. [Part of him wants to leap from the chair and rush forward to touch Shaun, to convince himself that he really is right there. Part of him doesn't want to move at all, doesn't want to let go of Ferran, is petrified, afraid of moving in case he scares Shaun away.
Zetta, though, is making an exasperated noise.]
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Also, it's making Riley sad, which is just unacceptable. [He squeezes Riley's knee.]
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That's not the point, [Zetta finally loses her temper, and she snaps.] This is your fucking father --
[Riley reaches up for her, and ends up snagging the elbow of her sleeve.] Hey. It's okay, I mean it. And it can wait until we have the test done. I know it'd feel weird to try to make a connection with someone you can't entirely believe.
[Shaun bows his head in appreciation. His voice is gentle and patient.] I believe that you believe it's him. But you have to admit there is always the possibility you were tricked.
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He decides instead to focus on Shaun's theory that they might have been tricked.]
Possible, but unlikely. Zetta and I are deeply suspicious by nature. We did consider the potential for trickery, and dismissed it based on the evidence we had.
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