Scott and Jean, Thursday, the Galapagos

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

A moment from the honeymoon...


"They don't really remind me all that much of Horatio," Scott said with some fascination as he and Jean paused to take a closer look at one of the giant tortoises, careful to keep the requisite distance. They'd been to the research station in the morning and seen the hatchery up close; after a quick picnic lunch, the guide had taken their group to one of the closest repatriation sites where the tortoises bred at the station were released into the wild. "I mean, I love the little guy, but these look at you and you think they're about to say something." The tortoise was giving them a long, almost thoughtful look.

"Mmm," Jean agreed, cocking her head at the tortoise. "But then, I occasionally get the feeling that Horatio, even if he could, wouldn't deign to speak to me. But maybe that's just me."

Scott opened his mouth and then closed it again, smiling a bit disbelievingly. "You don't think my turtle likes you." He pulled out the digital camera and snapped a picture as the tortoise continued to stare at them. "That is entirely your imagination," he said firmly, sliding his arm through hers as they turned to follow the rest of the group. "My turtle adores you. He is a turtle of taste."

"He is a turtle of taste, discriminating taste. I still don't think he likes me. I bet if we ever find someone who's mutation is to speak with animals, the first thing he'll tell them will be a diatribe on your strange living partner. He occasionally will accept lettuce from me, but I can tell he's only taking it because it's too tasty to give it up, even if it is me feeding it to him."

"Well, I didn't say he wasn't uptight. He's my turtle, after all," Scott pointed out with a perfectly straight face, his gaze flickering to follow the land iguana that ran across the path in front of them. "I am amazed by the wildlife. You wouldn't think that this much could live on these islands."

"Exactly," Jean said, eyes fixed on some birds fluttering above the trees in the distance. "Exactly. I mean, that's really what got Darwin started - so much life in such a small place, and it's so... vibrant."

Scott gave her a thoughtful sideways look, then smiled. There was definitely something to be said for re-centering one's self via immersion in something you loved. He still had yet to find out whether his saxophone would do that for him, but the Galapagos certainly seemed to be helping Jean. There'd been whole stretches of time over the last few days when there hadn't been any shadows in her eyes at all. It was good to see.

"Should be required visiting for anyone who needs some perspective," he said, shifting his arm to put it around her shoulders instead. "About the world and the impact we have on it..."

"Heh. The number of people who would have to come, then, would destroy what balance there is here. Or is that too cynical of me?"

"Isn't that always the way, though?" Scott asked a bit wryly. She had a point. "It's all this sun. Reviving my inner idealist. I still think some of the kids would do well to see a place like this."

Jean glanced around, smiling. "Oh, yes, most definitely. But are you willing to rescind the no more field trips rule?"

Scott opened his mouth - then closed it again, making a thoughtful noise. "I... don't know," he said dubiously, although his lips were twitching suspiciously. "Have to weigh pros and cons. And keep Nathan entirely away from any school trip here."

"From any school trips anywhere." The smile dimmed for a second. "Actually, if you do want to do it, I'd probably bow out, too."

Scott glanced sideways at her, not missing the slight change in her tone. "This is me, not blaming you in the slightest," he said lightly. "I should come up with an idea for a field trip and then stick 'Ro with it. It's been too long since she chased me around flinging lightning bolts at sensitive parts of my anatomy, after all. Life's gotten kind of dull."

"Heh." Jean smiled wryly, both at the image and at the knowledge that he was trying to cheer her up. "That would certainly be fair. We've both had more than our share of eventful trips."

Scott didn't say anything more for a few minutes as they walked, half-listening to their guide's occasional comments from up ahead. "You okay?" he asked after a moment, not quite as lightly. Maybe he shouldn't have brought up the school at all. They'd been doing such a good job at avoiding Other Concerns so far.

Jean smiled at him, leaning into him slightly. "Yeah, I'm okay. Can't avoid everything all the time."

"True." He turned his head, his lips brushing her cheek just briefly. "I love you, you know," he said more softly, and it didn't even strike him to remember what he'd wished weeks ago, about not sounding so hopeless when he said that - or to realize that he'd gotten his wish. "Avoidance or no avoidance, I'm glad we're here."

"Me too," Jean said. "Me too."