xp_logs | Sooraya and Angelo

Sooraya has finally sorted out some things and comes to Angelo to talk

With a deep breath Sooraya raised her hand, hesitantly knocking on the door of Angelo's office, her other hand clutching the papers nervously. "Angelo, do you have a moment?"

"Yes, come on in", he called back, tone not unfriendly but perhaps a little more formal than it would have been before.

Another deep breath and Sooraya pushed open the door and smiled a little hesitantly "I was hoping to get your signature on a few documents for Malala's Rose. John said they needed your signature as well." She put the documents on the desk and pushed them over to Angelo.

"Yeah, I like to countersign everything so I know who's doing what", he agreed, and picked the documents up to read. It didn't take long and when he was done, he signed them quickly. "There you go."

"Thanks. Time for my next step." Sooraya gathered up the documents, tucking them safely back in the file. "Do you... do you have a moment to talk?"

That got her a slightly wary look, but he nodded. "Sure. Want to sit down?"

"Thanks." Sooraya took a seat across the desk and stared at her hands in her lap, not quite sure where to start. "It's been some time since we talked...

""It has", he agreed. "I was sorta waiting for you to come to me."

"I figured as much." Sooraya finally raised her head, quickly wiping away tear that escaped from the corner of her eye. "I am sorry..."

"And what does that mean?" he asked. "That you want us to be okay, or you're sorry we can't be?"

"I want us to start working towards being okay." Sooraya clarified. "I am still not quite there yet with sorting everything out, but I miss you. I realized some important things."

"All right." He nodded. "That's a start, but that's one thing you've got to understand. I'm not going to change who I am or what I do for anyone. Even you."

"I know. I cannot expect you to that..." Sooraya hesitated, then reached into the folder she had brought. "I found this article a little while ago. Reading it made me realize that I had forgotten what I had always tried to guide my actions with. Namely that Allah did create us all equally. I have always believed this about humans and mutants, but who knows... the same might be true of people with different sexual orientations."

Angelo nodded, holding out a hand to take her article. "That's a good way to look at it. You know I actually had some crazy fundamentalist tell me to repent being a mutant once?"

Sooraya frowned at that idea, looking up from her hands for a moment. "How is one supposed to do that? You are born a mutant. It's in your genes..."

"Not use your powers and pray they go away, I guess?" he said with a shrug. "Or do what Warren used to and hide what's different under clothes, and those wing straps could not have been comfortable... but the point is, you can't. You can only make yourself miserable trying."

"Would you..." Sooraya paused for a moment, trying to figure out how she would formulate her question. "Would it hurt you in the same way if you were forced to hide the fact you were..." She gestured with her hands, hoping that would fill in the rest of her question.

"Me, personally? Not as much as some people, because I do like girls too, I could be with a girl, if she was the right girl, and be happy. But being forced to hide it completely, I'd still be denying part of me. Amanda and Alejandra both knew, but they also knew I was with them and I never once cheated. What's worse is when people actually force themselves to be with the opposite sex, and try to convince themselves they want to be, just 'cause society or their religion says they should . That's no way to live."

Sooraya nodded thoughtfully. "That does not sound very fair to them indeed. I read that some people feel they should be celibate if they cannot manage marriage, but that also seems cruel, to be denied human companionship in that way." She lowered her gaze to her hands once more. "I am still not sure if it Allah even accepts the... act. I still don't know if it's wrong or right... But I have come to realize I should not have locked you of my life because of who you are... You are my brother and I still love you..."

"It's not very fair on the other person in the marriage, either", Angelo added. "If they're going to be married, it should be a real marriage on both sides. And celibacy... probably works for a few people, but just look how many priests have failed to live up to it, even if you leave out the child abuse there's quite a number did what they shouldn't with the grown women around them. I love you too, if you can work out a way to be OK with this, I'll be happy."

"I am working on it, but I am not quite there yet..." She admitted honestly. "But I don't want you out of my life any longer. I want my brother back..." There she had finally admitted the full truth and she let out small sob, not quite sure of his reaction.

"We can work on that", he agreed. "You can't change what you believe overnight, either, and I've got no right to ask you to. But one thing... try to be nice to Jean-Phillipe? Remember I'm your boss as well as your brother."

A wince stole over Sooraya's face as she thought back to that day. "I am not very proud of how I behaved, especially that day... I might need to apologize to him for that." Another wince stole over her face at the thought.

"It couldn't hurt. I promise he'll take it in good grace, and I can be there if you want." He stood up abruptly from his chair. "Now come here and give your big brother a hug."

Sooraya quickly rose from her chair, wrapping her arms around she Angelo. She didn't say anything, but had to stifle another small sob of relief.