I am a sucker for Daddyward's in all shapes and forms, in case that hasn't come across… and this is just yet another one of my versions of him.


Penname: kyla713
Creative Original or Derivative Fiction: Derivative

Rating/Warning(s): T

Disclaimer: All copyrighted, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Phrase Catch: Repeat the following phrase to yourself five times, open a blank document and begin: "The jury is still out."

I watched him walk in every single morning. Sunglasses and leather jacket on, coffee in hand, and a scowl to match his bad boy exterior. He sat through every class with a painfully bored expression on his face, never taking a single not. Yet he never passed a test with less than a perfect score.

What the hell was he doing in advanced Calculus here at UW and not working for NASA or something like that? My first thought was that they wouldn't have someone of his demeanor.

Then one day, as I was enjoying one of our rare sunny days, laying on my stomach in the grass doing my homework, a child's squeal broke my concentration. Looking up, I was instinctually annoyed that someone had brought a child to campus, until my eyes met the source.

A little girl of about three years of age, if I had to guess, with blonde curly pigtails on bouncing on either side of her head, running toward a tall man whose back was to me.

"Daddy!" the child called out as she held her arms out as she came closer, allowing him to easily sweep her up into his arms.

A small smile appeared on my lips until my eyes widened as he spun her around, hugging her tightly. Under the beanie he now sported, covering his bronze locks, were the familiar pair of sunglasses, and the practically unrecognizable feature of his face I'd never seen; a wide smile.

I sat and watched them discreetly from my spot on the grass, as he chased her around while she squealed with delight, or falling purposefully to the ground so she could pounce on his chest in their game of tag.

This was a complete paradox from the man I had observed silently from the far end of the classroom. Everything about him today contrasted every opinion I'd formed of him. With this little girl, he wasn't cold and distant, devoid of emotion.

An hour later, just as I was collecting my things to head for my next class, I glanced at him once more to find his features abruptly changed. The little girl had begun to cry with her little arms clinging around his neck. I followed his tightened gaze to find a statuesque blonde woman walking toward the two, holding out her arms for the child as she reached them. I watched him speak softly to the child, kissing her hair gently before turning his gaze coldly back to the woman.

He held his daughter securely as they got into a heated argument with lowered voices, occasionally turning his head to kiss her tiny cheek.

"You're upsetting her!" I heard clearly across the green and I tried to avert my eyes but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the venomous look on the woman's face as she spoke.

He shook his head as she pulled the little girl out of his arms and began storming away, with the screaming child reaching her arms back for her father. "Five more minutes would have just wrecked your whole day, huh? Yet you have no problem doing this for five minutes. She's my daughter too!"

Still unable to tear my eyes away from the scene, I swallowed hard at the heavy emotion in his voice and the sneer over her shoulder that she shot at him, never stopping. His tightened jaw slowly slackened as the cries dwindled and finally disappeared. A pained look contorted his features as his hand rose to pull off his hat while the other ran through his hair. Then after pinching the bridge of his nose and taking a deep breath, the stoic appearance returned and he walked over to the nearby tree, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. As he walked away, my attention was so focused on him that I didn't hear my friend approach me from behind and land gracefully on the grass beside me.

"So what's the deal with him?" she asked, nodding toward his retreating figure.

I shook my head slowly, never taking my eyes off him. "I have no idea, I'm still deciding."