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 Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:45 pm
Having given up on anyone venturing so high in the mansion to find her, Cal had escaped into the city in hopes of finding a constructive occupation. Not that she expected to find it. If anything, she expected to be taunted about her exoskeletal plates or living at the Institute. It would even be an improvement if she ran into the Brotherhood and had a good ol' fashion brawl.
She settled on the park.
It reminded her of home, sitting on a picnic table in the thick of things but completely invisible. For once, she was glad she'd forgone her headphones, sketchpad, or book; for now, she'd observed, take it all in.
Her ears pricked up. Someone was watching her. "I'm not armed," she said, "and I'm in no mood for a fight. C'mon out."
"Hard t' trick, aren't ya, shelia?"
"I have a name, Pyro. Use it or nothing at all." Cal still didn't straighten on the table even as Pyro sat beside her. The shoulder closest to him immediately burned in the heat he gave off. "I told you all I knew last time you showed up."
He shook his head. "No' why I'm 'ea," he said. He went quiet for a moment, and she was about to tell him to speed it up when -- "'ow are ya doin'? Afta Nadia, I mean."
She blew a sigh out between her teeth and tapped her lighter on the palm of her hand. "Don't make me want a cigarette, Pyro. I haven't smoked in three days."
He reached a hand out to rest on her opposite shoulder. "I wanna know."
She sighed heavily again. "I don't know. I'm just numb."
He stared at her for a few moments before pulling her into a one-armed hug. "Woz wrong, Cal?" he asked, her name feeling strange on his tongue. "Th' X-men not 'elpin' ya wit' tha'?" Concerned, he looked down at the top of her head.
Cal shuddered and put her head down even further. "I don't think anyone even notices I'm there," she croaked. "No one cares where I go or what I do. I'm a ghost to them. No one takes the slightest notice of me." By then she was crying, almost sobbing into her hands. "I may just leave and see if anyone notices."
Pyro hugged her closer. "Aw, dun cry. C'mon, 'snot tha' bad, is it?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:44 pm
After a while of crying, Cal finally made herself stop. She dried her eyes on the wristcuffs of her sweater and sat up. "I probably should get home now," she said lamely, her voice ragged with the sobs she still suppressed. "Th-there's a Halloween thing I sh-should get to." She moved to release herself from his embrace, but he held her hands tightly. This time, it didn't burn.
"I'll walk ya back," he said, and Pyro stood and pulled her to her feet. Carefully, he lifted her face. "Jus' c'uz we'a on opposin' sides doesn' mean we gotta be enemies." He led her back across the park on back toward the Institute.
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:09 pm
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