Work Text:
“They have her eyes.” Bentley sighed as he clutched his teacup tighter. “Every day they remind me how Penelope used to be - they’re just like when I met Penelope back in the Netherlands all that time ago. But Penelope isn’t that woman I met there anymore. She’s twisted and it’s like someone brainwashed her.”
You laid a comforting hand on Bentley’s arm. “I understand. And Jackie needs a parent who can be there for them… Penelope won’t be able to be there if she’s in jail.”
Bentley nodded and took a sip from his tea. “And I’m a criminal too - even when Carmelita made Interpol release me and Murray from all charges, I still have a criminal record. They say that Jackie would be better be off in foster care - but that would mean I wouldn’t see them and who would even want to take a child of two criminals?”
You took up some notes and listened to Bentley, who stared at the corner of your work room and steadily took sips from his tea. “I would be able to be there - to raise them. Unlike Penelope.” he was quiet for a couple of seconds, and then he choked out, “and now when… Sly… is wherever he is… and we don’t have a clue where to find him, taking care of Jackie would mean so much to me. If I lost them too, I don’t know if I…”
Bentley’s voice had broken in the middle and you sighed as you looked at your friend, once strong and happy - now he was desperate. All this what had been going on lately, Bentley surely didn’t need another disappointment. His criminal record made matters difficult, but fortunately not impossible. After Carmelita had released Bentley from charges, he definitely wasn’t last in the list.
“Bentley, listen. I’d suggest that you’ll prove that you’d make a great father to them. Jackie loves you - they don’t even recognize their mother and you have said Penelope kinda scares them and they want to go to jail to meet her, and Penelope doesn’t seem to care? Ask Carmelita and Murray to speak up for you - the judge will surely see that Jackie grows to be a great and intelligent person, and that you’ll love them and care for them better than Penelope ever would.” you smiled at him. Bentley’s lips quirked to a small smile as well as he raised his gaze to look into your eyes.
“I… I think you’re right. Thank you, for speaking sense to me and helping me with this.”