Cain and Angelica, out camping

[x-juggernaut.livejournal.com]

After the marshmallow experiment with Amara and Haller, Angel has some questions that she decides to go to the other adult chaperone to get answers to.



Okay, Angel was confused and being confused meant you asked questions. But this was a rather...sensitive question. And she didn't want to ask the person that it was about but she didn't want to ask someone who would just not tell her the truth. So, she decided to ask Mr. Marko because, well, she heard he was upfront with people, even the kids.

Clearning her throat, she shuffled her feet slightly, the neon green of the shoes showing up even in the firelight. "Um, Mr. Marko?" she asked, pleased that she hadn't squeaked. "I have a question..."

Cain looked over his shoulder, seeing Angel backlit by the campfire. He'd found a comfortable stump to lean against, a small distance from the circle of campers. A little peace and quiet was a good thing, he'd decided. It was also looking to be a very rare thing, but it wouldn't do to snap at the kids. Not tonight, anyway.

"What's on your mind, kid?" he asked, hunching his shoulders briefly, then standing up straight. "Forget to bring something from the house, pillow, blankie, stuffed bear...?"

"No, I'm good on all that, I used Kyle as a packmule," she said, grinning. "I just have a question about Mr. Haller." Angel took a deep breath, trying to keep the babbling down to a minimum and leaned forward, whispering, "Is Mr. Haller gay?"

If Cain had been taking a drink at that exact moment, Angel would have been covered in it. As it was, he attempted to cough, laugh, and clear his throat at the same time, with rather hilarious results. "Is he...? Oh, jesus. Um, Dave's not... I mean, there's..."

For God's sake, don't tell her THAT! he reminded himself, thinking of Haller's accidental revelation in the bar.

"Mr. Haller likes girls, yeah. I know he had a girlfriend at one point, anyway. I think it might be kinda a touchy issue with him, though," Cain explained cautiously.

Well, that was a better reaction than she'd been afraid of getting and Angel relaxed, linking her arms behind her. "Oh, okay," she said, slowly. "Then I guess Mr. Haller is just...special, right? I didn't want to ask him directly, you know, because I was afraid he'd fall over into the fire. And that? Would be bad."

Cain gave a half-chuckle, then paused. "Okay, this isn't one of those 'oh, the teacher's soooo dreamy' teenage girl things, is it? Because don't take this wrong, I'm sure you're a sweet kid, but you might be a little young and all..."

Angel's face screwed up like she'd swallowed a lemon. A whole one. "Oh ew ew ewwww," she protested. "Boys are groady! And Mr. Haller is old and that's probably illegal in most states and just ew!" She stomped her foot, just a bit. "I think I'm going to plan on being asexual the rest of my life and then splitting in two sometime down the road. Boys as friends are cool, boyfriends are groady."

That got a chuckle out of Cain. "Safe bet there. So why the concern about Haller, huh? Folks aren't, uh, talking, are they?"

Oh good lord, if the kids find out about Betsy, his life is over...

"What? Oh, no!" She shook her head. "Mr. Haller was "working" with Amara and myself on our powers and he was just...different." Screwing up her nose, she continued, "Actually, he seemed kinda butcher than before and oh God, don't tell him I said that! But I just wanted to see so I didn't make an idiot of myself down the line. I, uh, do that now and than and don't want to hurt his feelings."

Cain smacked his forehead. Of course, it made sense. Haller's "personalities" each seemed to control part of his powers. If the pyro was a girl... well, maybe he'd have to re-evaluate his answer to Angel.

"Nothing you kids need to worry about," he said cheerfully. "I think Mr. Haller's just... complicated. But that's really his business, don't you think?"

And different at the school always fit in and that made her grin. "Yes, sir," she responded, beaming. "Thanks for listening and I hope I didn't interrupt anything. I think I'm going to go back to blowing up marshmellows."

Cain gave a small wave and turned back to watching the stars. He did, however, look back to make sure Angel had rejoined the other kids before sitting down roughly on the ground and quietly laughing himself silly.