Kurt and Kyle: Questions of Scary

[x-wildchild.livejournal.com]

Backdated to April 20th, because I suck. (One in a series of, uh... two) After the circus, and because in part of the events of Savage Land, Kyle has some questions of Kurt.



It wasn't until after the drive home that Kyle got up the nerve to ask the question that had been eating at him all day. The circus was neat - not like it had been when he was a small child, but watching the acrobats and trapeze artists was still cool. And no matter how old he got, elephants were still awesome. But he hadn't missed the glances from people and the people who pulled away or stared when he'd gone to use the bathroom and to clear his head a bit from the almost overwhelming noises and smells.

"Can... uh, I grab your ear for a second, Mr. Sefton?" Kyle said, catching up to Kurt after Angel and Julio had disappeared off to... whereever they went and he was -so- not thinking about that. Showering with the bandages on his hand was a pain and he didn't need to have to go take a cold shower today. Again.

Kurt turned, a little surprised but not unwelcoming. "Of course, Kyle. Is everything all right?"

"Um. Yes, and no?" Kyle said, shrugging. "The, you know, dinosaur thing.. I freaked out and got all, grr argh, when the allosaur ate my fingers. And Garrison had to knock me out." He leaned against the outside wall to the mansion to take off his sandals. "And .. I dunno, I'm not ... I mean.. " He looked at Kurt directly, and asked. "How do you deal with it? I mean, when everyone looks at you like you're scary?"

Ah. He turned back fully, taking a step towards the boy. "I am not sure I know how to put this and have it be useful to you. Because the only thing I can offer is that... you get used to it, with time. It may help that not everyone looks at you so. It did for me."

"Meh." Kyle muttered. "I am so not good at this 'learn to get used to it' thing. It took like, how long for me to even be okay with the feet, or the ears, and..." He waved an arm towards the mansion itself. "You know, I can almost deal with people I don't know giving me the hairy eyeball. But... I'm pretty sure I scared the crap out of Angel, and God only knows what anyone else thinks."

"And yet Angel invited you to come with us tonight", Kurt pointed out gently. "So it seems even if she was scared at the time, she is not holding it against you. As for the others...the circumstances at the time might have caused anyone to go 'grr argh', but especially a feral, and they know what was happening."

Kyle straightened up, and rolled his feet, one at a time, making his ankles pop. "I swear, shoes are evil..." he said absently. "Yeah, Laurie said something about knowing I wouldn't ever do anything to my friends. But, I ... dunno, it bugs me that -she-'s sure about it, and I'm not."

"I do not know that I can tell you anything to make you sure of that, Kyle", Kurt told him. "If it will not help that I do not believe you would either.. perhaps it will that you did not, even while you were freaking out. Or that you do not want to, now, while you are yourself. Would it help to talk to other ferals about it? Anika, perhaps?"

Kyle grinned sheepishly. "She's gonna get an email about it. And I've already got the appointment with Doc Samson booked." His sleep was restless enough normally, any more new nightmares needed to end before they really started. "I... it just bugs me, you know? I don't wanna be the guy that everyone is scared of, even out there. I dunno how you guys deal with it."

"All I can say, Kyle, is that it will not be everyone", Kurt repeated. "And those who know you, know that in normal circumstances, you really would never hurt them. As for those who do not know you... the only thing to be done is to move past and let them do the same."

"I do not get how you guys do this." Kyle said, shaking his head. "I mean, you make it look so easy to just not be bugged by it." He picked up the sandals from where he'd dropped them and spun one around on a finger. "Just a get used to it sort of thing, I guess?"

"That is the best I can offer", Kurt said, genuinely regretful that he couldn't come up with the magic advice that would help Kyle deal with it. "Remember, I have had all my life to become accustomed to it. You have only had a few years... you will get there."

Kyle gave Kurt a grin, and a shrug. "I was afraid you were gonna say that." He said."I suppose that applies for the feet thing too? Because seriously? Shoes? Evil. Pure evil."

"Shoes, on the other hand", Kurt said more lightly, "are something I have no intention of getting used to in the near future. And I do not think there is often a need, in both our cases."