It was strange to think that anyone would willingly run into danger, Haven thought as she listened to the puffy eyed boy. As he listed countless other dangers he had faced, weapons Haven wouldn't dream of putting herself up against, she began to realize just how strange Wes was.
Her head tilted imperceptibly to the side as she studied him closer. He stood to remove his hoodie, and upon removing it Haven noticed hidden strength beneath the baggy clothing. His arms were unassumingly small, but she could see lean muscle beneath the skin as he stretched them. His shirt was a size too small, with a shade that wasn't as brightly white as anyone with normal sight would see. It didn't do much to hide the toned body underneath it.
"I see." Haven murmured, her eyes returning to his as he sat again.
A chess game was about to begin between the blonde girl and the boy with the white streak. The other blonde was talking at Bulk, and Haven worried that the quiet brute talked with his fists instead of his mouth. She couldn't hear the conversation between the redhead and Billy thanks to the videogame the long haired boy dove right into. She could remove the earplugs to try and catch it, but the room was already buzzing too much. She'd have to rely on their body language to listen in. Which, at the moment, didn't look friendly from either party. Finger, on the other hand, stood sheepishly by. He wasn't thrilled to be a part of their heist.
"Did those fights get you put in here?" Haven continued with Wes, although she regretted the question as soon as it left her lips. It was none of her business why he was in here. Although she had to admit she was curious. What ability did the metahuman gene activate within him?
Confusion flashed across Wes's features, and Haven felt a moment of worry until he responded with...
"No one put me in here. I asked to join the program. And I wouldn't call them fights, really. I was just helping people. You know," he started an extremely casual tone, "stopping muggings, preventing shootings, busting up some gang drug deals. Nothing extreme."
Haven reflected his confusion, her brows twitching towards each other. He asked to come here? She thought of the freedom she once had, and then of the description that the Aegis Agents had given her of this place. Why would anyone come here voluntarily?
"I figured this place could prepare me to start helping more people. Stop even worse threats." The auburn haired boy turned to take in the entire recreation room as he said this.
Haven watched Wes's head come to a stop with Billy in his sights on the last word. It was all starting to click for her, now. The weapons he had faced, muggings, shootings, drug deals- he used his powers for good before coming here. When he signed up, he was hoping for the title of a hero when he left.
Haven couldn't grasp it. She'd never considered using her wings so freely. It was just too much of a risk to show them off. Knowing this about Wes... how he had been able to use his powers to help others and keep his own life separate... Haven felt jealous.
She couldn't let it get to her. It wasn't his fault that she had to hide her nature. The way he explained it, Haven wondered if he thought that she also volunteered to be here. She also began to wonder how many others were here with the same goal in mind, or if he was in for a rude awakening.
"That's..." she couldn't think of the word, "noble of you." She finished, although that still didn't feel right. She was certainly confused by his motives. "How long have you been doing that for? Before you decided to come here, I mean."
"I—" Wes faltered. His eyes met hers, and Haven could tell that he was mulling over the question. "Uh, I don't know exactly. Over two years. Maybe closer to three. Time's been a blur for me for awhile."
The boy's eyes never left hers as he continued. "It's just... I do what I can. I don't think that's anything... special."
Haven nodded once, even if she didn't agree with him. The contrast between herself and Wes was growing much more apparent. Special didn't even cover half of what he'd been doing. Over two years of using his ability for others? During the last two years, Haven lived thinking only of her own survival.
"I think it is." She said, before shifting her weight on the stool to rest her elbows on the table. "I've only met a few people willing to stand up for others like that, and... I've only stood up for one other person in my life." She pressed her lips together for a moment and glanced about the room. Just to make sure no one's attention was turned towards them. "I didn't volunteer to be here. I was on my own for a long time. The years blurred for me, too."
Wes leaned forward as well, and Haven immediately began to look for any sign that he had changed his mind about her.
The way I see it, it doesn't matter how many people you stand up for or how many times you make that stand. What matters is that you were willing to stand for something and someone. So, I hope you realize that that makes you special, too."
He paused. It gave Haven enough time to guess that his mind hadn't changed. "I don't know why you've been on your own, Haven, and maybe you didn't come here willingly, but... I know from experience that it's better to have someone watching your back."
After being on her own for so long, Haven had grown a strong backbone. She was confident that she could stand up for herself. If things went south, she always had a way out. She literally had a fight or flight reaction. Unfortunately that wasn't going to be an option here. She wasn't sure what trouble a bunch of kids with abilities could cause in a place like this. Maybe it would be a good change if she had someone like Isabel, again.
She'd met Wes only an hour or so ago. It hadn't been under friendly circumstances, either. Despite the initial impression he presented, he was the exact opposite of what she had assumed so quickly. So, she decided that the little trust she now had in him was enough to say, "I'm going to guess that it's been a while since someone watched your back, too." She then added a bit humorously. "Since you've already been at it, why not agree to do that for each other?"
"If another person goes for the wings, you'll let me know. As I will with you."
"I'd like that." He offered her a hand. Haven looked at it, still so unfamiliar with shaking hands with anyone, and gave it a gentle squeeze before pulling her arm back to her. "I'm starting to figure out that this place might not be all that friendly." As he said this, Wes turned toward Billy and the red-haired girl again. He then, speaking mostly to himself, added, "And, truth be told... I'm not very good at turning a blind eye."
Haven decided not to look directly at the three on the other side of the room. Wes was drawing too much attention to himself by staring at them. Billy seemed preoccupied, but she had no doubt that he was still cataloging every interaction that took place in this room. She instead chose to look behind him, where she could see one of the other newbies addressing the free spirit. His approach was rather blunt, but Haven could admire how easily he had done it. Seobin. She made sure to remember his name. Whatever Libby had to say in return would be useful information. Haven was glad to be sitting so close to her, now.
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," Haven quoted the director in an attempt to make the situation a little lighter. "That boy will come for all of ours at some point, even if he offers up his own eye in exchange." She murmured softly to Wes, before she turned her head to look out of the window. Even with the planes crowding the sky above the city, the openness of it made her forget about the crowded rec room for a moment.
There was a long pause before Wes finally responded. "He can come for me all he wants, I won't mind." Haven pressed her lips together in response.
From the corner of her vision, Haven could see that Wes's gaze shifted from the redhead and landed on the girl in green whose coughing had lessened. Then it drifted along to look at each of the others before finally settling back on herself. The auburn-haired boy opened his mouth, his lips beginning to form another word, before he stopped himself. Haven wondered what he was about to say. He slowly rose from the table, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
Don't worry, as long as we're in here, I've got your back."
Haven glanced his way. He gave a small wave before walking off towards the way they came in, his hoodie balled in his hand. She was aware how little she could smell compared to normal humans, but she still picked up a small trace of the pepper spray lingering where he sat. Even if he was planning to do something about his hoodie, she noticed how his attention remained on the deal between Billy and the girl.
Haven, however, decided to turn her gaze back to the skies. At this point, she yearned for a good nap and a chance to stretch her wings. Until she could do that she would remain in her spot, listening to the others chat, bicker, and play their games. If she was lucky, she'd hear about Libby's escape from the island... and maybe figure out a way to disappear from Aegis's radar for good.
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