Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

"So how did it go?" Hale asked from the driver seat.

Reed looked over before replying, "She's a fast learner, and a good student. I can make you an official report but that would have to wait until I get some rest."

Hale nodded, like that was to be expected. Reed watched the road for a moment, then leaned back, debating. Finally, he spoke.

"Why are you so hard on her?"

Hale's grip tightened slightly on the wheel. "I was hard on you too."

"Yeah,"He allowed "You were hard on me and it worked but do you think everyone is the same?"

Hale looked at him with a fierce glance. "You spend what, an hour or two with her and suddenly you have a PHD in all things Mia Hale?"

"I didn't even need an hour or two to be honest, just five minutes with her told me she responded to a more….softer approach."

"Well thank you for your advice, but I think I know my daughter"

"Okay since you know your daughter so well, then tell me why she tried to turn into a Jaguar?" Reed asked patiently, this wasn't his first argument with the old man, he was set in his ways until you showed him forcefully another way.

Hale's released a sigh of frustration. "I don't know okay, I specifically told her that she couldn't do it at least not so quickly, I told her not everyone can be like you and-"

"That" Reed interrupted "That right there is the reason she still tried, you might think she was putting on that show for me but she wasn't, it was for you who kept telling her she couldn't do it, she wasn't ready enough"

Hale stared at him. "I can see the logic in your-"

Reed interrupted again. "Do you know what I told her to cheer up."

Hale was annoyed by his constant interruption but he still answered. "What?"

"I had to tell her about the times I messed up," Reed looked him in his eyes. "The times you tore me a new one whenever I did something wrong, so that she could understand her dumb ass father didn't hate her."

Hale glanced at him, then back at the road. There was a heaviness in his voice now. "She thinks I hate her?"

Reed shook his head. "She thinks you don't believe in her enough, You can't keep measuring her against me, using me as some goal she needs to get to. She is her own hunter and she needs to learn how to hunt herself."

Hale's shoulders dropped a little, as if the words hit harder than he expected. "Maybe I've been too hard on her."

"You think?" Reed muttered, then added softer, "You are her rock, and she's got talent, real talent but she won't grow if she's always chasing my ghost. Let her be her."

The commander gave a long exhale that sounded like years of weight leaving. "You might be right."

Reed leaned back again, arms crossed. "I am always right and you know it."

The car slowed to a stop outside the villa gates. Hale put it in park, eyes still on the road.

"Well, this is you. I'd have loved to catch up longer, but you've given me plenty to think about."

Reed nodded, pulling the door open. "Don't stay up too late thinking, old man. You'll hurt something."

Hale gave a small grunt at that, but said nothing more. Reed shut the door and started up the drive.

As the car rolled away, Hale's mouth tugged into a smile. Not the weary kind, but something quieter. Triumphant, maybe. Or simply proud. Hard to tell.