|
  |
*
It's been two days since Jean had left for Sacremento; she came back and immediately fell asleep in the cabin. Right now, she sits outside in the early morning hours, unable to sleep any longer, blanket wrapped around her as she sits upon a fallen and created stump with a cup of hot cocoa in her hand. She was shivering just a little, fresh from the shower, her slippers already misted from the morning dew that coats the grass beneath.
*
The two days had been interesting for Gabriel. No one was really around to watch over him or offer him suggestions on what to do with himself. So he had wandered. First through the forests then eventually making his way into town where he was able to work at the local grocery store for a couple of hours unloading a truck. He got money. Then he decided to spend the money. However when he had come to bring what he'd acquired he was a bit shocked to find that Jean was gone, without having said anything to him.
He could have been pissed, or lashed out, perhaps pouted . But he isn't a child and he doesn't really function that way. It wasn't quite a shrug off but with the assumption that there was good reason, he had headed back to town and continued to work around it doing odd jobs. He had worked at the grocery again late into the night to unload trucks then slept there before starting to make his way back towards the Cabin, thus he was walking through the forest in the early morning carrying a backpack over his shoulders.
*
Jean takes a quiet little sip, her eyes lifting to glance around.. finally turning herself upon the stump towards the forest. She waits until he comes into view, a little smile warming her features as she lifts a hand to wave in his direction. "Gabriel!" She calls out, though.. she does wonder, where did he get that backpack from?
*
The sound of the voice surprises him, and Gabriel's eyes lift up to sight the source. He is almost unbelieving that she is there before he begins to walk towards her, offering a matching small wave. "Hello." The greeting is wary, tentative.
*
His wariness surprises her. A little frown crosses her features as she slowly stands, her shoulders bunching as she ties the blanket around her tightly. "What's wrong?" She asks, finally approaching his space, her hand reaching out to try to touch his jacket. "Are you okay? Have you been hurt?"
*
"I… you left." Gabriel says quietly. "I thought I had done something to upset you. So I am uncertain how to treat you." Well, at least he is blunt and his head tilts some. "I was hurt. I am not anymore."
*
Ouch.
The look upon Jean's face was almost priceless. It wasn't because of what he felt in those small moments, he was an open book that she couldn't read. "Gabrie.. I.. I'm sorry.." She stammers out. "There were.." She frowns just a touch. "There were a lot of people hurt in another city. I went with Scott and Erik to go help. But I'm back now. I'm sorry I didn't say anything." She reaches out to try to hold his hand. "Will you forgive me?"
*
Gabriel blinks a bit, surprise on his features and he looks down when she reaches for his hand, not pulling it away but letting her take it. "I understand. I was just… I thought that with everything about me, you had decided to leave. But part of me knew better, so I decided to listen to that part." It takes a small moment but he does smile at Jean, not a forced one but genuine.
*
Jean shakes her head completely, her hand squeezing his as she gives him a slight tug forward. "I promised you I wouldnt leave you." She says, "And Im glad you listened to that part. That part of you is a great man.".
Still, she leans into him for a comforting hug. "Youre a sight for sore eyes."
*
"Well. I have been working." Gabriel explains as he looks down at Jean, letting his own arms slide around her in the comforting hug, turning it into a hold. "I wandered into town and was able to help out at the food store there. So I've been doing that to keep myself busy while trying to figure out what to do next."
*
Jean couldnt really believe what she was hearing! As she leans into the hug, her grin was wide as ever, but she remained mindful of the glass that she held. "A job?".
She didnt want to interrupt, but there was such pride building within that she could barely contain! "What else did you do? Meet anyone new?"
*
"A couple of people in the town." Gabriel responds. "They mostly give me food and a little money. I didn't know what to do with it so.." He pulls back from Jean some and takes his backpack off, crouching down to open it for her.
*
"A couple of people in the town." Gabriel responds. "They mostly give me food and a little money. I didn't know what to do with it so.." He pulls back from Jean some and takes his backpack off, crouching down to open it for her. From within he pulls out a box of those assorted chocolates. "I've been getting candy because you said you liked it."
*
This was a good thing. At least she knew that Gabriel had a sort of work ethic that she didn't have to teach. And.. he was out on his own! He came back whole! No need to worry!
Her cheeks were puffed and tight, even as she looks down once he kneels and reveals the candy. It.. it was such a sweet gesture, that she couldn't say anything more but press her hands to her lips and.. well, cry.
She was such a girl! But no one has ever given her candy before! A burger, yes. But not candy!
*
Gabriel's head tilts, he doesn't know the difference between happy cry and sad cry so he just stares at her. "Did I do something wrong or something right?" At least he knows the crying could be for either one. Even as he asks it though he opens the lid of the candies. Some are missing. "I ate some."
*
Jean slowly kneels upon the ground right with him, allowing the blanket to fall off, the mug of hot chocolate put down upon the ground so that she could reach out to grip his cheeks. She plants two kisses upon them, sniffling slightly, even wiping her eyes upon her sleeve. "You did something right. Oh, you're a very sweet person, Gabriel." And he was thoughtful! You couldn't really unprogram that from a person.
"Oh, we can share. I don't care if you ate any. I'm just.. really, thank you Gabriel."
*
He sits down on the moist grass with her, not really concerned about the fact that it will get his pants wet, because that is not a problem in his life. Instead he blushes a bit, looks away momentarily then manages a smile and to question, "So tell me about your trip?"
*
There was almost a little look of sadness as he asks, her shoulders lifting and falling as she speaks quietly. But.. not before she takes a piece of chocolate to pop into her mouth and chew. "I really needed this.." She says quietly.
But the trip! So many things went wrong.. "Gabriel, I'm a mutant." She says point blank. "We're everywhere. There are some people out there like me who can't hide as easily. I know that there is a man who's blue, with a tail. There is also a girl who has an eye in her neck. And a man with really huge hands. Or.." She laughs faintly. "..a girl with wings." She frowns then, "There was a community in Sacremento. After our President was murdered, they burned the place down and almost everyone in it. We got there afterwards to try to help by bringing food, water.. clothes.."
*
Gabriel sits and listens, eyes very alert despite the morning hours and his walk he took home. When Jean pauses he interjects quietly, questions naturally to help him understand. "Mutants are different then, either in looks or… other things. Like how you talk to me here." He touches his head, "Or the Professor, or I am assuming everyone here. Or like me." Getting a title in place, an understanding, he goes on with his questions. "So bringing help to others is good. How did that go wrong?"
*
"Yes. Some of our mutations are obvious. We've had a man here, who was purely grey. He looked like one of those aliens you'd see on the picture shows." But she does nod, a little smile drawn out, another piece of chocolate taken as she settles upon the blanket. "Want to come inside here?" She asks, holding the blanket out.
But she continues. "Yes. Like you too." She frowns. "Do you know what you are?"
But then, how did it go wrong? She doesn't say, she just keeps her gaze fallen upon the chocolates, and picks out another to pop into her mouth.
*
He ponders only a moment before crawling into the blanket with Jean. It is an awkward fit initially until Gabe shifts around some so that he is sitting more behind Jean, arms on either side of her and chest at her back. "I don't know what I am. I look like you, so human? Mutant? I know you think I'm Alien and I suppose that's possible." He trails then and with a gentle squeeze to her, asks again quietly. "What happened?"
*
It was a good fit, and with him behind her, the blanket was wrapped around them both and tugged forward, the box of chocolate upon her knees for the both of them to quietly eat. The cup of hot chocolate? Probably spilled in the grass.
"Maybe. I know the Professor knows. We'll ask him later." She gives him a reassuring pat, then takes another piece, peeling it apart to sniff the insides. Raspberry, great!
"We found a boy. Human boy." She states quietly. "Buried beneath the rubble, so close to dying. We got him out, but.." She shakes her head. "I think we knew what we were going into when we went there. One hundred people died. And yet, you can tell that the police just didn't care. We didn't matter.. it was.." She shrugs her shoulders. "..I.." She doesn't say anymore. She just stares off into the distance.
*
The tension in her voice reverberates into his chest, Gabriel feels it and emphasizes. His arms reach out to wrap around her from behind, providing a solid hug and a safe net. It really was the closest he had been to her for an extended time, cradling Jean with the blanket shielding the world away. For a long time he is quiet and doesn't know what to say before finally he manages to whisper gently. "You're here now. I'm here. So what happened, that isn't going to change. But this is now."
*
She leans a little to the side as he provides a bit of comfort to her, her eyes unable to close, still staring out into the grass. That little shift causes the box of chocolates to spill, which were soon caught and hung in mid-air, never having a chance to touch the ground itself. Soon, they float to the box, the box itself laying upon the ground as she grips his arm. "I know.."
Her words were quiet, and soft. "Thank you for not running away."
*
"Why would I run away?" Gabriel asks quietly. "You are hurting. You have done nothing but help me. I cannot help beyond being here, so I will be here." The tone never changes, it is supportive and kind. Still wrapped around her as he sighs softly. "I do not know what I can do to help."
*
"Probably for the same reasons you thought I would.." She grins faintly, then looks up towards him. But she was hurting. And sad. But still, the longer she remained upon the ground, she felt a little better. "I know.." She says quietly. "How about we go out there and try to help people too?"
She nods at this, sitting up just enough to contemplate it. "We have codenames when we go out there. I go by the name of Phoenix, so no one will know who I am, or come here to try to hurt me and the kids who live here." She shifts so that she could see part of him. "And I wear a weird uniform. Well it's not weird, it's actually cool. All black, I have an X in the middle.." She points at her chest. "And a hood." She grins then.. "But.. I suppose if you're an alien or a mutant.. we'd have to test you."
*
When she turns just enough to look up at him, his hand reaches out to brush her cheek and a small nod comes. "Even if I cannot help, the way you help. I can do something. I am very good at lifting boxes of food. And I can sweep floors very quickly as well, that is useful I am certain." He sounds so genuine with that intent before he grins, sheepishly. "Do I get a code name? I don't have any good ones, maybe we can find one in a book for me."
*
She turns her head just a little, briefly kissing upon his palm as she thinks for a slight moment. He could really do a lot, even if he was a human, just showing that he was by their side was good enough for her. But she does laugh, leaning in to give him a slight hug.
"Yes, you'll get a codename! And a nice little battle suit. But, we should go look at that later. Now, we need breakfast. And I need another shower. My butt is wet."
*