009 The Perfect Smile

[kinships]

[A: Mayfield Elementary School: OPEN!]

[It was important to get back to normal, Cain knew that deep down. Now that he had a new future to obtain, a new goal, he could be patient once more. He couldn't make waves, and he refused to let those who run this place see how much they had hurt him. So he was smiling once more, calm and collected, just as

Comments

E

[kryptonsson]

[Clark just presses his lips together for a moment, thinking of an answer. His nervous breathing makes it obvious he's still there, though.]

...You should only ask forgiveness for things you truly regret, not only because it's what you're supposed to do.

But if it makes you feel better, there is nothing to forgive as far as I'm concerned, and I'm glad you and your brother can be together again.

E

[kinships]

[He was taken aback a moment, that Clark should be so perceptive, but the silence lasts a heartbeat at best.]

I do regret it, I regret... all of it.

...I understand if you don't want to be my friend any longer, though. I... behaved disgustingly to you.

[kryptonsson]

You say you regret it. Does that mean you won't do the same if a similar situation arises?

Because if Abel asks me to take care of you again, to keep you alive... I will.

[kinships]

[It won't happen again.

The denial is on his lips almost at once, before he forces himself to swallow it down. If this town hurt his brother again... killed him... would he be able to control himself?

The probable answer is no.]

...I didn't realise he would... come back. It would be different, if it...

[withavividheart]

There you are!

[ Vivio will hurry over the moment she sees him. It's strange for him to be smiling after what happened but then again, she's adopting a similar attitude. ]

Hm? Peanut butter? I guess so. Do you not like it?

[kinships]

Miss Vivio!

[His smile for her is warm, normal. Nothing at all happened the other weekend, not at all.]

It's not my favourite, that's for sure. You're welcome to it, if you like?

[withavividheart]

Sure! If you wanna trade for Fate-mama's bento, that is. I don't want you to starve.

[ Vivio holds out the plastic container, which has bunnies drawn all over it with a marker. It's her fake bento box. ]

It's Japanese food. Probably a rice and omelet and stuff.

[kinships]

I've not had much Japanese food before, I'd love to try it.

[Ohh savoury with spices and... he is in heaven.]

C;

[custodismundi]

[Abel is just heading in himself from work-- haha, work, this is the LAMEST THING TO EVER LAME but he doesn't want to be droned, especially after last week-- and spots the eager little bundle of blonde-haired energy tearing toward the front door, flagging him down from the side-walk.]

--Hey! Slow down, speedy! Where's the fire?

C;

[kinships]

Abel!

[He skids to a stop and turns to throw his arms around Abel's waist, bemoaning internally that his brother was so TALL yet again.]

[custodismundi]

[there there; he'll gladly compensate for that by bending down and plucking Cain up, squeezing him in a tight hug.]

Did you have a good day at school?

[kinships]

[He's just happy to see Abel, whole and in one piece, not that he's been worried all day or anything.]

It was... school.

B

[shapechanger]

Hey!

[A green-skinned teenaged boy with a perhaps familiar voice reaches down to give him a hand.]

You OK, dude?

B

[kinships]

[He is quite smooth about it, despite his shock. He takes that hand immediately, and it's only a moment before he replies.]

Beast Boy, right?

[You look different, is unspoken.]

[shapechanger]

Yeah, that's right.

[Up you go. Beast Boy doesn't seem particularly self-conscious about his appearance even despite noticing the brief flicker of surprise.]

The codename makes a little more sense now, huh?

[kinships]

[He grins, rubbing the back of his head a little awkwardly.]

I would have said 'Green Boy', maybe? But I don't see what beasts have to do with it.

D

[notalwystrthful]

As well as one can be in Mayfield, I suppose.

You?

D

[kinships]

[Oh. He just recalls that they had left Diana in the bunker, though he had been asleep at the time and had no say in his handing off to Clark.]

Fine, thank you. It's... good to have things back the way they were.

D

[notalwystrthful]

It... is.

How did you and Abel fair after you two left?

D

[kinships]

[Abel died. Cain went temporarily insane.]

Fine, we're both... fine.