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Re: Forgiveness (Cassidy/Mina) Part II
The young boy they've been sent to find is only eleven, but he's already hurt so many people, including his best friend. James Donson didn't know he was a mutant, or that he could absorb the oxygen from a room, suffocating everyone inside except himself, like he'd done to his classmates. He was terrified of being near people and all he wanted to do was find a place where he couldn't hurt anyone again.

Cassidy and Mina find him less than an hour after they arrive in Wilmington, South Carolina.

When they find James, he reiterates his desire to be left alone. Mina tries to talk him down, but it only upsets him more. He screams at them that they don't understand what it's like and how he hurts people no matter what he does.

"I know what that's like, James. It...happened to me, too. But you have to understand that those people you hurt...they're going to get better. They don't hate you for what you did because you didn't do it on purpose. You were scared because you're going through a lot of changes, man. No one will hold that against you, James. They'll forgive you." he says.

"But there's a place for people like and me, people who can't control what they can do. You can come and learn how from the people who helped me. Everyone there is a mutant, just like us, man." Cassidy says, hoping that he's not freaking this poor kid out.

James eventually agrees to return to the school with them, sticking close to Cassidy and Mina the whole time. He likes being around the two of them, which forces them to spend more time together trying to help him.

One evening, two months later, Cassidy sits out on a bench on the lawn, looking up at the sky.

"You're really good with James, Cassidy." Mina says, once again appearing almost from nowhere.

"He's a good kid. He just had a bad run of luck. He'll get better." Cassidy says, still looking up at the sky.

"You'll believe the best about a complete stranger, but not about yourself. What is it with you?" she asks, moving around the bench to look him in the eyes.

"I'm pretty sure he wasn't made by a madman to be used against his family."

"What was Jake doing the day he died?" she asks.

Cassidy looks at her as if she just slapped him. Why would she bring that up? He's not going to have any part of it.

"This conversation is over." Cassidy says, getting up to leave again. This time, Mina reaches out and grabs his arm.

"No. I'm tired of you walking away from me, avoiding me and treating me like I don't exist just because it's hard for /you/." Mina yells.

"Jake told me that you were the loneliest person he'd ever seen, which was saying something coming from him. He died trying to be your friend and how do you repay him? You avoid everyone who cares about you and then tell him and God that you're 'trying to be a better man'!

Tina was your friend until you stopped talking to her. Ana and Rachel tried to bond with you as family and you pushed them both away. You barely speak to your mother and father and you treat Uncle Scott like he's your boss!

You avoid Andrew's calls and you let Izzy leave rather than ask her to stay." she asks.

"I would give /anything/ to spend another minute with my brother. You have one and you don't even /care/!"

Cassidy simply glares at her, trying to keep his anger in check. The last thing he needed was to hurt someone, even Mina, by losing control of his power.

"You don't know anything about me, Mina, so keep your opinions to yourself." Cassidy says through gritted teeth.

"I know you're the most ungrateful person I've ever met." she says. This time, it's her turn to walk away.

The following morning, Cassidy Summers packs his things and leaves Xavier's.