Leaving

Aaron was happy that everything was still going in his favor as far as his remission was concerned but he was even more glad to be leaving All Souls Memorial. Like most people he understood the necessity of these check-ups but he just didn't like Hospitals to say nothing of how draining his visits to All Souls were. (HeHe.... Joke! Draining... Get It?)

"Almost Home Free.," Aaron thought as he and his Mother made their way across The Hospital Lobby to the exit. Aaron felt relief wash over him as stepped over the threshold to the outside but at the last second he felt a hand on his shoulder and he heard a familiar voice...

"I trust everything went well Young Master?"

Without thinking Aaron turned as he spoke., "Everything went well for the most part Seb...," Aaron was unable to finish what he was saying because after turning he realized that there was no one there. He looked down at his shoulder and though there was obviously nothing there he could will the hand of the Man that had brought him to The Hospital.

"Get A Hold of Yourself Aaron, It Was A Dream... An Intense and Disturbing Dream But A Dream No The Less.," Aaron thought as he picked up his pace to catch up with his Mother before she realized that he'd stopped.

"Pick Up The Pace Aaron... She Has Enough On Her Plate... She Doesn't Need To Worry That You're Loosing Your Mind As Well."

Within a matter of seconds, Aaron had caught up to his Mother and was opening her door for her.

"My, My So Gallant...," Cyndi lightly pinched her son's cheek., "... What a handsome, well-manner Boy I've raised." She embraced Aaron in a hug and and rubbed his back as she spoke., "Such a Gentlemen. Your Father would be proud."

Aaron felt like she was twisting a knife in his heart. It always hurt being compared to The Father that abandoned him and his Sisters but it hurt even worse, hearing the pain and regret in his Mother's voice when she spoke of Marsellus.

"Damn You You Bastard!... For Doing This To My Mother and Sisters!," Aaron thought as he tightened his grip on his Mother who nuzzled into his chest. They just stood there for several minutes, neither of them moving or saying anything before Cyndi looked up at her Son., "Thank You Son... I needed that now lets get you home and changed. If we don't hurry you'll be late for work."

"Right. After You.," Aaron held open her door and waited for her to get in before closing the door and walking around to get in.

15 Minutes Later...

Aaron was glad to be leaving All Souls Memorial. It was nothing he could put his finger on but whenever he was there he felt as though every shadow in The Hospital had eyes and was somehow watching him.

"Are you okay Sweetie?," Aaron's Mother asked in a slightly concerned tone having noticed her Son staring absentmindedly out his window.

Aaron jumped when Cyndi placed her hand high on his thigh and gave it a squeeze.

"Um What?," Turning Aaron was greeted by his Mother's Happy, Smiling Face, "I Said... Are you okay Honey?"

"Fine, I Guess Mom. Just alot going on today and I haven't been able to get a hold of Zoey. I've tried several times and I can't reach her."

"Oh Sweetie, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. She's probably still in class and you know that during class The Student's Phones are automatically disabled to prevent distractions."

Aaron looked at his Mother thoughtfully and smiled, "You're probably right... I'll try her tonight at home."

Cyndi smiled back at her Son and patted his leg., "So how are things with you and Zoey anyway?"

"She's been a little distant recently but I think things are going good."

"Have you met her parents yet?"

"Not yet. We've been trying to pick the right time."

"The right time? What's that supposed to mean? You're dating their Daughter, They should meet you and see just how lucky their little girl is.," Cyndi gushed, pinching her Son's cheek.

"Mom please...," Aaron brushed her hand away., "... I'm your Son so you may be a little bit bias. I mean stop and think about it for a moment... if some one like me knocked on your door and said "Hey I'm Here To Date Your Daughter!" can you really say that you would be okay with it?"

"Someone like you?," Cyndi wrinkled her nose., "What's that supposed to mean?"

Aaron slammed his fist into the dash, causing Cyndi to jump., "Oh Come On! Look At Me! I Look Like A Goth Reject! Kabuki Theater Actresses don't even look this pale after they put the white makeup on."

"Aaron honey please don't get upset it's not your fault. Your Father was the same way and he couldn't tan either. Your altered skin pigmentation gives you increased protection from radiation but leaves you anemically pale... It's just a genetic quirk... Nothing to be worried about and certainly nothing to be ashamed of."

"That's easy for you to say... You and my Sisters are perfect while I look like a freak.," Aaron sighed.

"Alright That's Enough!," Cyndi growled as she tuned off the road.

Taking off her seat belt, Cyndi turned toward her troubled Son., "Alright out with it, What's Wrong?!"

Aaron didn't turn to face his Mother instead all he did was stare down at his Pale Skinned Hands., "If it was just me then I could live with it but there's also You and my Sisters..."

"I don't understand sweetie."

"... I'm different. I've seen how people look at me and I've heard the whispering behind my back..."

"Oh Honey..." Cyndi reached out, unfastening her Son's seat belt and pulling him close., "You shouldn't listen to what others say about you. They don't know you."

"That's just it I don't care what they say or what they think..."

"Then What?"

"It's been proven time and time again that Humanity will take any opportunity to hate what is different. It's hard enough being White but I'm so white I might as well be a different color altogether. I don't mind the scorn or the hate but if it were to spill over to You or any of my Sisters I just don't know if I could handle that. I'd rather have The Cancer back."

Cyndi grabbed her Son by the shoulders and shook him., "Don't EVER SAY THAT!"

"I'm sorry Mom.," Aaron said in a pained voice as he wiped a tear from the corner of his Mother's eye with his thumb.

"It's just that we almost lost you so many times...," His Mother spoke, her voice cracking with emotion., "... It's a parent's worst nightmare. My Baby was in trouble and I couldn't do a thing to help... I don't ever want to go through that again."

"I'm sorry Mom... I guess I didn't think. Its just that with all the crackdowns on Superhumans and the new types of Superhumans emerging everyday I fear that they may come for me one day and I've heard that they even sometimes take entire families for testing even if they haven't shown any signs of extra-human abilities and that these families are never heard from again."

"That's nothing for you to worry about honey... All of your tests have come back consistently negative. Besides I'm sure all those horror stories are just exaggerated rumors anyway and what about all the heroes we hear about on the news and in the paper?"

"Sure there are a number of Government sanctioned Heroes but one little mistake and any of them could wind up in a state run concentration camp where all of their basic human rights no longer apply and they spend their days as experimental lab rats for military weapons designed to fight Superhumans or mutilated in an attempt to "Cure" what the government calls Deviant Genetics."

"Honey please lets not talk about this. You're not a Deviant... That has been proven and that is the end of it now let's get home so you can change and get to work."

Aaron could have said more but he didn't have the heart. He knew through his work at Omen that new Superhuman-related Genes were being discovered all the time so it was a real concern that he might someday be outed as a Superhuman at some point in the future even if he didn't have any powers. Just carrying any of the so-called "Deviant Genes" would be enough to brand him a criminal and potentially see him locked up for the rest of his life or worse and even if that didn't come to pass he could be denied his right to pass on his genes.

So much uncertainty but still Aaron had to be strong if not for himself than for his Family.