Fanfic: Keeping House by Neva
May. 17th, 2011 01:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mutatismutandisSummary: Karen Stryker is left alone to deal with with her son, the great illusionist.
Out of the corner of one eye, Karen can see the heel of a dirty sneaker and one swinging arm disappearing from the top of the staircase into the second-floor hallway. This is the third time Jason’s hit her with the drowning nightmare. It’s not his worst, not as terrible as the ones that made her afraid for a while to look at or touch the man she still thinks she loves (despite everything, yes?) or to face her own reflection in the mirror. But with each try, this one has been a little different, a little more convincing, a little more real. He’s getting stronger, and how the hell is she supposed to make him stop? Ground him? Keeping him inside isn’t a punishment, it’s a necessity. Take away his privileges? Hah. His mind -- and his parents -- are the only toys he needs.
Dealing with a mutant child isn't easy at the best of times, and when your child is willing - eager, even - to turn his power against you it's even worse. This really made me feel for Karen Stryker, a character we only hear mentioned in passing in X2, and understand her husband's later actions a little better.
Keeping House
Out of the corner of one eye, Karen can see the heel of a dirty sneaker and one swinging arm disappearing from the top of the staircase into the second-floor hallway. This is the third time Jason’s hit her with the drowning nightmare. It’s not his worst, not as terrible as the ones that made her afraid for a while to look at or touch the man she still thinks she loves (despite everything, yes?) or to face her own reflection in the mirror. But with each try, this one has been a little different, a little more convincing, a little more real. He’s getting stronger, and how the hell is she supposed to make him stop? Ground him? Keeping him inside isn’t a punishment, it’s a necessity. Take away his privileges? Hah. His mind -- and his parents -- are the only toys he needs.
Dealing with a mutant child isn't easy at the best of times, and when your child is willing - eager, even - to turn his power against you it's even worse. This really made me feel for Karen Stryker, a character we only hear mentioned in passing in X2, and understand her husband's later actions a little better.
Keeping House
