Family Kind Of Sucks [open!]

[Scout Castien]

Scout knew she really should have never agreed to meet with her parents, especially not in a public place. The library had seemed safe enough, presumably holding enough calm, relaxed emotions from those within to cancel the ever-growing negativity from her parents. What she should have done is told them to come to her apartment. Then she could have clung to Roxie and Asche, focused on their emotions, rather than her parents'. Of course, it wasn't really fair that she had to do all of this, because their growing disappointment in her wasn't truly her fault. She was trying after all.

Not that it mattered. Her mother had seemed so supportive at first, comforting, but it was always clear to Scout that she harbored negativity about her daughter being a meta-human. At one point, Scout was on her way to being an extremely talented cheerleader, her GPA one of the highest in the school. Popular, loved, always going out with friends but sparing time for her studies on the weekends and a few hours each night. She had been their golden child- probably why they never had another. She was all they'd ever wanted in their child, after all.

Of course, now that she was isolating herself, had been for six years now...now that she'd dropped cheerleading, rarely spoke to anyone outside of classes, and barely even confided in them- they weren't exactly happy. Family dinners were rare now. Filled with questions about her lessons, about her social life, interrogation of the cruelest sort, disguised by smiles and false laughter. As though she didn't know how angry they were. Disgusted. Disappointed. They would've rather she died when she'd attempted to kill herself. She was no mind reader, but as much was obvious to her.

Their emotions hurt her, horribly.

So now, she was behind the library, leaning against the wall beside the drop box for movies and books, her head in her hands. She was taking deep, shaking breaths, a sob sneaking through every now and again, even as she fought to quell the tears. The emotions had turned on her, confusing her, filling her with a strange self-loathing that only brought her mood crashing to the ground. "I don't understand why you won't try, Scout. You're going nowhere in life. Do you understand how stressed we are over this?" Her father's words had cut deeply- he was a man of very few words. It stressed them? What about her?! Did they really think she wanted to be stuck at Hammel forever? She was twenty- she should be at college already! She felt like a complete failure, and it showed.

[Cody Branson]

Coffee.

That single word was the giver of life, the ambrosia of the heavens, energy and seduction and caffeine…everything that he needed in this one moment. Trudging down the stairs, with hair disheveled and face all scruffy from not shaving, he walked barefoot into his kitchen in nothing more than boxers and opened his cabinet.

No…coffee.

A loud, almost pained groan came from the man. Why, on this morning of all mornings, did he not have coffee? Why didn’t he remember to get some last night? Grumbling, and perhaps shedding a tear, Cody went back up to his room and pulled on a pair of jeans and a simple white shirt, along with his jacket and boots, and headed out to his truck. Jackie, his ever loyal Australian Shepherd, was already by the truck door.

The dynamic duo drove into town, and any logical person would have gone into the store to buy more coffee. Did Cody? Nope, the tall blonde cowboy went to the café to get his coffee fix. Once settled with coffee in hand, he took Jackie out of the truck and decided to go on a walk.

He and Jackie were enjoying the scenery when his dog stopped and froze, her nose pointed towards the library. Cody noticed and followed when his Aussie bounded away, and noticed the small figure when Jackie stopped to lick the girl’s face. “Scout?” he asked, noticing the sobbing and the tears. “What happened?” He had met this girl over a cup of coffee at the café, and they had bonded over their love of dogs and horses.

He crouched down in front of her. “Tell me, sweetheart.”

[Scout Castien]

When she'd first met Cody around two years ago, Scout had been in a bit of a rush to just grab her coffee and go. She'd actually ran straight into him, and the two had hit it off surprisingly well- well enough that she was willing to sit in the coffee shop with him to keep talking. Even as people milled around, and she had a headache after, she'd gained a new friend, and she was glad for that. He was cute, laid-back, and extremely easy to get along with.

She never would have guessed he'd be anywhere near the library- the coffee shop was nearby, but really, what were the chances of him passing the library at that moment? She had honestly figured she would cry until she was too tired to cry anymore, and then make her way home to curl up with her dogs. But as she slid down against the stone wall, something furry was pushing against her, a wet tongue washing the salty tears from her face, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Jackie? Where did you.." The dog's worry was thick and strong, making her feel guilty for causing it, and she began running her fingers through the dog's fur. Her bloodshot gaze only lifted when she felt a new wave of worry, this one stronger- and it was Cody, of all people. Without thinking, she was wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder, breathing in deeply. He was one of the extremely few friends she had, and probably the closest. Being around him was a comfort, and she clung to him like a life preserver. "Meeting with my p-parents," she finally managed, fighting a new bout of tears from all the negative emotion within her. He knew how those always went. He knew it left her depressed and feeling like a failure. He knew, because she'd gone to him about it before.

[Cody Branson]

The young girl had been such a delight to talk to all those years ago, and she was still wonderful to talk to. She had bumped into him, almost making him spill his coffee, and one thing had led to another, and before he had known it, they had been talking at a table, sipping coffee and laughing over their stories of each other’s animals. She loved dogs and horses, but she had never been to the ranch, and that made his heart twinge a little.

She would love the horses.

Jackie sat there, comforting the girl, as Cody crouched in front of her, and suddenly his arms were filled with soft, warmly crying female. He set his coffee down gently and held the young girl close, stroking her back. Her stuttered words made him feel only worse, with an added thread of anger at her parents for upsetting her so. Scout wasn’t a girl, in his mind, who should be upset; she should be smiles and laughter and kindness, which she was, but tainted by such sadness…it was horrible.

“They do this every time, don’t they?” he asked, remembering the last time this had happened. His fingers threaded in her dark red hair as he pulled back, looking into those pretty green eyes he oftentimes found himself thinking about. Settling on his backside, he offered his coffee.

“Here, drink some of this,” he offered, smiling at her. “It’ll make you feel better…I would know, it’s your favorite.”

[Scout Castien]

He smelled comforting. It was weird, really, but he worked with the horses so often, that maybe it was her imagination. To her, he carried the scent of the open air, the musk of horses, and it was soothing for her. This wasn't the first time she'd come to him crying, it wasn't the first time he'd been a sort of safe haven for the woman. She nodded at his question. "I...i-it's not their fault I-I can't graduate...I...they're right...I'm a failure..." Residual emotion from her parents. Extreme disappointment in her- confused with her own emotions because of their strength, it caused her to experience strange self-loathing.

He was emanating calm, though worry was threaded through it, and a small bit of anger. She latched to the first as he pulled back, focusing on the first emotion most, trying to breathe evenly. She crossed her legs, sitting in front of him, reaching for his hand. Her left hand went to retrieve the offered coffee, and she closed her eyes for a moment before taking a sip. Well, he was right. It was her favorite. "Th-thank you..." Her voice was still shaking, although the tears had finally stopped, for now. His naturally calm aura was helping her cling to some sort of balance. She just needed to focus.

[Cody Branson]

She smelled sweet, like sun-ripened raspberries and sunshine, like sweetness that he could taste on his tongue from the lemonade his mother would make sometimes. “You’re not a failure, Scout,” he said firmly, looking at her with blue eyes blazing under his lashes. Cody was a laidback person, sure, but he was a very passionate person, whether it be sensual or protective.

“You’re not a failure,” he repeated, wiping her tears with his thumbs. “You just have an unique gift that takes more practice and time than others.” Knowing that gift, and knowing that she could feel it, he shut down the anger, wanting her calm and collected. Her tears nearly killed him every time he saw them.

When she said thank you, he smiled, and it lit his entire face. “You’re welcome, darling,” he said, sitting beside her as Jackie laid on Scout’s lap, her head laying on Cody’s leg. “Just focus on me and you’ll be feeling better in no time,” he continued, petting Jackie’s head. “Though, now, you owe me a coffee, since I forgot to get some last night and woke up feeling like the Grinch this morning.”

[Scout Castien]

Calm, protectiveness, determination to make her believe his words. It was helping, it really was. Maybe it was the fact that his emotions had a familiar feel to them- it was strange, but she was familiar with feeling his emotions. They'd spent a lot of time together, and so his emotions almost felt like home. Scout closed her eyes, breathing in deeply, doing her best to focus. She could do that. She could cling to his emotions, breathe them in, let them wash over her. She'd be left with a hell of a headache, for forcing herself to take them in so fully, but it would help. It always did.

She sighed shakily as he brushed her tears away, reaching up to grasp his hand in hers, squeezing lightly. She wouldn't agree with him, couldn't, at the moment, but it was unbelievably good to hear those words. "Thank you," she managed, opening her eyes to offer a ghost of a smile. How often was she going to be thanking him in this one conversation? At the very least, it brought him happiness, and completely lit up his handsome features.

Another deep breath, and finally, the smile was real, if more than a bit weak. She set the coffee down to run her free hand through Jackie's fur, relishing the softness and the comfort it brought her. He and Jackie were amazing at calming her down. It was no wonder she was so close to him. A shaky laugh when he said he'd woken up feeling like the Grinch, and she shook her head. "You're not grumpy now, or I'd feel even worse." She leaned her head against their hands, still holding his, sighing softly. "You always have perfect timing. I'm sorry. I'm glad to see you, I am, I promise." She just couldn't quite show it yet.

[Cody Branson]

To his friends, Cody was the rock, the tree that stood through every storm. He was always helpful, the person they called on when they needed help, or a ride, or someone to look for something. To his mother, he was her baby boy, her bundle of joy that could never disappoint her. To his woman…well, Cody wouldn’t know, since he’s had the worst luck with girls.

Except her.

“I told you I woke up feeling like the Grinch,” he elaborated with a smile. “I’ve had coffee now, so I feel tons better.” Speaking of coffee, he took his drink back and started sipping it again. Her forehead pressed against their hands and he looked at her, blue eyes shaded by his golden lashes. Cody listened to her words, and then smiled fondly; she reminded him of a girl he had known back in school, a shy little thing that went on to become a very spectacular woman.

“I know you are,” he said softly, leaning over to kiss her temple. His nose nuzzled her hair, and the scent of those fiery strands made something catch inside his chest. She always managed to smell so good…He pulled back before he continued thinking, looking away from her. “I’m glad to see you, Scout. I was beginning to miss you.”

[Scout Castien]

"Coffee fixes everything," Scout said, her smile brightening a bit. Strange that caffeine could be a grounding object for her. It usually made people jittery. But, right now, the combination of her best friend and the hot liquid was bringing her down, helping her sort her mind out. She squeezed his hand once more as he kissed her temple, releasing a soft, shaky sigh as she finally began to truly relax.

There was something about him- something she couldn't put her finger on. She couldn't stay sad very long around him. Most people would avoid her, she was an emotional trainwreck, even if it wasn't her fault. But he stayed by her side. She trusted him more than she even trusted her parents. If things ever got horrible again, horrible like they had when she'd first discovered her powers, she knew she could go to him. Day or night, he'd always been there for her. There had been nights when it had been two, three in the morning, but he'd come to see her when things got too bad. He didn't even know about the suicide attempt, but he never faltered.

Her smile turned shy as he told her he was beginning to miss her. "And I've missed you. I've just been so....bleh lately. Work, lessons, going to see the Doc...I've been meaning to come to the ranch, honestly." She'd just been too shy to do as much. Ever since the Christmas party, she'd almost avoided him- almost. She didn't go out of her way to do it, but she still felt a bit...awkward. He'd laughed about the kiss under the mistletoe, but despite it being on his cheek, it had twisted her stomach into knots. Avoiding his gaze, she instead focused on Jackie, leaning down to press a kiss atop of the dog's head. "Roxie and Asche miss Jackie, too."

[Cody Branson]

He knew the moment when the tension left her shoulders and she relaxed against him; it made him happy that he could help her relax. Laid back, calm and collected, Cody wasn’t a rash person, and he tended to be all smiles and charm even when confrontation decided to visit. The only time he had truly blown up was with Jalen, and he had loved her. That was in the past now, and he would wonder if he would ever feel that way again.

Around Scout, even though he emitted an aura of calm and serenity…deep inside, he was troubled. She was his friend, someone he trusted and someone that she trusted in, and whenever she was in trouble, he would be the only person she would call. Was it because she grounded on his emotions? Or was it something more? At the Christmas party that he had thrown at the ranch, they had been caught under the mistletoe, and she had kissed him on the cheek.

Ever since then, he could still feel her lips on his skin, and it made his gut clench.

“I know how that is,” he said with a smile, glancing over at her. “I’ve gotten some new horses to work with, and I’m trying to see which mares I want to breed in the spring.” His horses, though he loved them dearly, drove him crazy sometimes. “They’ve been asking to see the girl that I’ll drive off in the middle of the night for,” he teased her softly, lifting his free hand to rub her neck under her fiery tresses.

When Scout kissed Jackie, the dog lifted her head with ears perked and licked the girl’s nose, returning the kiss, and Cody smiled. “Jackie misses your girls,” he told her. “She doesn’t like that there isn’t enough female power in the house.” He chuckled and shook his head, looking out as he removed his hand from her neck and finished his coffee. “If my mother heard me say that, she would be on me again, telling me that I needed to find a nice, sensible girl to marry.”