Work Text:
“Stephen. Hello.”
“...Eugene. How did you get this number?”
“The Avengers hotline. It’s been far too long, boy, how have you been?”
“I’m better without you in my life, and my personal number is not registered in the Avengers hotline, so I’ll ask again: how did you get this number?”
“You don’t have to be so cold, Stephen. I know how to use the internet and look someone up. All I wanted was to talk to my son.”
“Hm. Your 'son', who you called a murderer when Donna died? The son that you kicked out at sixteen when he said he wanted to be a doctor instead of taking over the family farm like Victor? The son who begged to come back, because the farm excuse made no sense, but it was the only cover you could think of instead of admitting that you kicked your own child out because he was gay–”
“I did that to protect you, Stephen, you know the town–”
“The son who you hit and screamed at for anything less than perfect grades and behavior fit for an angel? The son who broke his arm and you did nothing about it but stared into a bottle until his screams caught the attention of passing neighbors that took him to the closest urgent care an hour away while you drove to the nearest liquor store? The son with a pollen allergy who you would lock in the farmhouse in the spring when he tried to protect his siblings from your drunken fits of rage? That son?”
“I… yes... I’m sorry, Stephen.”
“Keep it. Apologies won’t fix anything. Now I’m going to hang up, and you’re not calling this number again.”
“Stephen–”
“You kicked me out after abusing me every damn day after Donna died. I made my own way in the world and am happy in the life I’ve made for myself that doesn’t involve you and I’ve never once looked back. Is that what you want to hear? I have a family. I’m successful, I love my career. I’m happy. I promised myself twenty years ago, sitting on your doorstep in the freezing cold the night you kicked me out, that if I ever became a parent, I wanted to be nothing like you. Now please, Eugene, don’t call this number again. Goodbye.”