A/N- So I took two scenes featuring Richard and made a drabble based on those two scenes…and only based on Nestor Carbonell's expression in both scenes (what a fine actor that man is!).
They are: the scene where he takes Ben to the Temple to be healed, and takes a moment to look at him before he enters, and the scene where Ben is pushing little Alex on the swing, and Richard's eyes keep flicking back to her. I always felt he looked sort of…I don't know, wistful?
Pure
After so long, it felt almost foreign—this strange weight of someone so young in his arms, the slowly dying boy's head resting so trustingly against his shoulder.
All of his years on the Island, he had shied away from much personal contact with the children that lived here—even the children during the selection process. He had distanced himself, never really opening his heart to these small, innocent people, because he knew they wouldn't last. Nothing remained untouched in this place.
"Papi! Rafi es malo a mí!"
But it had been so long since he held a child in these arms, and he could only stare at the young, naïve face, but that was all he could allow. He looked up and drew in a breath, leaning his back against the stone opening so he could enter the place in which this child's life could be saved.
It was only with some regret that they had to eradicate the boy's innocence, his purity. But if it prevented another child from dying…
And fifteen years later, he would be standing by the swing set at the Barracks and watch another innocent being pushed on the swing by the same boy that had been dying in his arms, and he couldn't look away. There was something about her joyful laughter that kept drawing his eyes to her, the way she said, "Higher, Daddy, higher!" in such delight.
"Mirada! Me mira, Papi!"
There was no unhappiness in this girl's life.
It triggered something inside of him, her ringing laughter; something in him ached for another small hand held lovingly in his own, the innocent laughter over the simplest of things that made them happy, the utter trust they put into those they loved.
"Papi! Papi! Cójame Papi!"
Their faces came to his mind as clear as if he had just seen them yesterday—three small round faces, with gaps in their smiles; bringing with them countless hugs around his knees and naps against his shoulder, and small fingers clutching his own. Three smiles cut prematurely.
Richard forced his mind blank. No point in living forever if he let the memories of his distant past plague him.
He had left nothing behind, after all.
For those of you who speak Spanish, please correct the sentences if they are wrong. Despite taking four years of Spanish in high school, I could not translate these sentences on my own and so used an online translator. If they are wrong, I will correct them right away.
Translations:
Papi! Rafi es malo a mí! - Daddy! Rafi is being mean to me!
Mirada! Me mira, Papi! - Look! Look at me, daddy!
Papi! Papi! Cójame Papi! - Daddy! Daddy! Catch me, Daddy!