La Cinemafaire
Posted on Thu Mar 7th, 2024 @ 5:05pm by Jade Farwynd & Cameron Hood
7,036 words; about a 35 minute read
Mission:
Episode 0: X Lang Syne
Location: various
Timeline: August 19th, 1990 - following 'In Vino Veritas'
Jade tried to push the annoyance she felt at the ginger drongo out of her mind and refocus on what awaited her. Well she wasn't quite sure what awaited her, but the company would be good. A bit of familiarity and friendly rivalry spiked up by some alcohol and greasy food would do the trick just nice.
So by the time Jade was out of the underground level and walking towards the door she had calmed down and was ready to enjoy her evening. She caught Cam's silhouette through the door.
Cameron glanced at his watch, for the third time. Ask any veteran in any military ever, and they'll tell you that hurry up and wait is a painful part of reality. It's even more painful that it becomes part of your personal routine as well. They had agreed to leave at 1900. He had been posted at the door since 1845. It was now 1915.
He had donned a pair of black jeans, under which he was wearing some black boots. His t-shirt was a clean white, over which he was wearing a light red flannel button down, opened up. His sunglasses were currently sitting on top of his head, a set of aviators.
The doors opened mere seconds later. "Hi, I am so sorry, wanted to have a quick word with Scott and time slipped away. I'll make it up to you, I promise. Now let's go before we're even more late!" Jade rattled off as she snuck in a quick look at Cam.
He cleaned up well. Not that other times he didn't look good, mind you. Not that she looked at him that way then...but then again, now that a look had been had. Who knew what would happen.
"Let's move out then." Cameron said, his grin wide enough to show some teeth. He allowed her to take the lead to the car. This gave him a chance of his own to give her a quiet admiring glance.
The car was nothing particularly luxurious. In his position as part custodian, part security, part instructor, part caretaker Cameron had taken custody of a very recent black on black Ford Explorer. It was nothing particularly fancy, but it was comfortable. And it was kept scrupulously clean and well maintained. He had even clashed with Scott once or twice about it, with Cameron making it very clear Cameron would be doing all the work on it.
In the last few steps Cameron used his longer stride to not only catch up to Jade, but overtake her. With over the top gallantry he opened the door for her and bowed. "Your carriage, my lady."
Jade chuckled and did a small, awkward bow in return. "Why thank you, my lord." She said and slipped into the shotgun seat. "Nice rig, by the way. Very Outback and all, so..yeah" She said as he got into the car himself.
Suddenly she felt nervous. The air was slightly different around them this time, even though neither have really said anything to make it so. It was just another mate date, right? Except both of them have dressed up, rather than gone full casual. Well not fully dressed up, but not casual either, not like last time, at the very least.
"Come on, grow up. You agreed, you dressed up, deal with it, girl." Jade thought to herself. "So...where are we going?"
"I'd have preferred a Land Rover, all things being equal. But the Professor said I should be driving American." Cameron agreed in her appraisal of the car. "And to be fair, it does drive quite nice." Years of soldiering allowed him to be calm under stress. There were no sweaty hands gripping the steering wheel!
"I was thinking we'd grab a beer and a burger. Then a movie? I'm down almost anything as long as it doesn't show the military. They've playing Robocop 2 or Back To The Future 3." The engine of the Ford rumbled to live. "I wonder when they'll stop making so many sequels, and make more original stories again."
"Oh Back to The Future, hands down. Eighty eight miles an hour!" Jade chuckled, "and yes to beer and burger. Besides, who doesn't love a good wild west story? Speaking of which, Young Guns II just came out as well, but there will be a crowd for that, what with that Bon Jovi singer making the soundtrack for 'em." She said as she leaned back in the seat. "But we can do Young Guns another time, when we're off baby-sitting duty again."
"Haven't liked much of Bon Jovi's music, so I'm in no rush to see that one." Cameron pulled the car out of the drive and through the automatic gate. "I think Ghost is still playing, if you're into Swayze." The Explorer happily rumbled up to speed. "You pick the movie. I'm just glad I'm out of the Hormone House for the night. There is way too much fraternising going on."
A deep chuckle errupted from Jade. "Sure, we can do Ghost." She said looking over at him briefly. "I am so glad I got these noise cancelling ear plugs from Moira, hormonal blood streams are loud. Now I just have to focus to tune out other markers. But yeah, I don't think these could handle what's undoubtedly going on back there. But...tell me, what's been happening with you in these long six days I haven't seen you, mate?"
"I think we'll need to set up an air filter for your room. Teenage romance and lust has filled this house. If I didn't know better, I would've assumed we've picked up a stray mutant that is a walking love potion." The road was nice and empty for a Sunday evening. "We've been busy. Tried breaking a kid out of jail, got teleported to and from Hawaii. Missed seeing an American Battleship being thrown at Baltimore. Scott might have telepathically talked to Jean, picked up some more strays, Iris scared the bloody life out of me at least two times. And my parents are in INTERPOL custody for safe keeping."
Jade blinked, looking over at him. That was a LOT for six days. "I'm sure there will be more Battleships in a close port, can always go next time." She said, "I'm afraid to ask about your folks...or why INTERPOL would be having to step in..."
She was curious, undoubtedly, but she knew there were certain lines military people couldn't cross so she knew not to ask. But at the same time, she wanted to be a friend, at least and offer support.
So, awkwardly, she placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze before pulling her hand away.
His eyes darted to the physical touch they shared for a moment, then up at her eyes. His smile was more genuine, kind. "My parents are in danger. Some particularly dangerous people, formally of the British Army, disagreed with me about killing the person we were charged with protecting. That's why I ended up with Xavier, because they're after me." Cameron's explanation halted for a moment as he navigated a busy crossroad safely. "INTERPOL and the British Government are keeping my parents safe from these people, until they can arrest them."
Jade nodded, "was this person a bad one or a good one? The one you lot disagreed over? If you can't tell me that's fine, I won't prod. I know there's NDA's involved on anything military or government."
"Stop poking, woman." Jade chided herself, but it didn't stop her from asking.
"I'm bound by the Official Secrets Act. But harsher than any NDA." Cameron said with a chuckle. "All I can really say is that we were ordered to take our target out of the area safely. Instead my section shot them, and extracted a criminal they had 'subcontracted' to. When I objected they explained to me it was a shut up or you and your family die situation." The joviality hadn't left Cameron's voice or attitude, but there was a raxor's edge to it. Humour serving as the acceptable surface level substitute for a deep anger.
Jade nodded, "say no more. If you ever need assistance in that subject, I'll happily divorce them of their blood." She said darkly, her fists clenching and knuckles cracking as she did so. Then she caught herself and decided to change tact. "You and your folks get along? What are they like?"
Cameron allowed himself to relax a little at the change of topic. "My parents... My pa is an old fashioned Bahamian patriarch. Stern, unflappable, and quiet. My mother is the opposite. She's expressive, kind to everyone, forgiving to a fault. They are one of those odd duck couples that balance each other out." The memories those words and their associated memories warmed his soul a little.
"That sounds lovely." Jade smiled as she rolled the window down for some fresh air, a brick coloured lock dancing wispily as a result. "Do they know about you? I mean what you can do?"
"Yeah, they do. It was kind of hard to hide when my bedframe turned into marbles. I was fourteen when my mutation kicked in." There was a phantom pain in his back as he remembered falling a foot onto wood and steel balls. "They were less than amused by the loss of a bedframe. The power they just kind of shrugged off. I think they have a gift too, that's why they weren't really shocked, but they never let on."
Jade nodded, "mine refused to believe for a long time after I started showing. Like they knew I had weird skills, but they refused to acknowledge it, even though they knew about the existence of Mutants. We moved a few times before they finally came to terms with it and then we came over state-side in '84. They died two years later when a plane crashed into the Cerritos neighborhood in LA, where my folks went on holiday. They were two of 15 people killed on the ground." She added with a sigh. "Sorry...not a nice story to share, I swear I'm not trying to ruin the mood."
"I remember hearing of that crash on the news." Cameron replied, "I'm sorry that that happened." Now it was Cameron turn to put his hand over hers, on her leg. He gave her a squeeze and a smile, before quickly pulling his eyes back on the road. "We are just a pair of tragic backstories, aren't we?"
Jade looked down at his hand on hers, on her leg and felt her cheeks flush a little. Hand on shoulder was one thing, but hand on hand on thigh was something different. Not a bad different though, she decided.
"Well, isn't every mutant a tragic backstory in their own right? So, does that make us normal?" She couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous thought.
Oh how she longed to be...normal.
"We're far from being normal." Cameron chuckled, bringing his hand back to the wheel. The town came into view. In the distance a ferris wheel loomed, the tallest structure in the area. "So, burgers right?"
"Yes! And chips, and a pint! But let's be adventurous, let's go american. I mean I'd kill for a burger with The Lot, but I haven't found a good one since I came to the States. So...tonight feels like adventure. Let's try a combo we haven't done before." Jade grinned as they neared the town, her eyes on the ferris wheel. "You ever been on one of those? The wheel I mean?"
"Alright, I'm frankly open to anything that contains greasy meat at this time." Cameron agreed happily. "Though I'd love some battered cod if the Americans managed to make some decent ones." The big Ford found its way into a parking spot, and Cameron climbed out. "You know, I haven't. Every time I look at them, I just get the worst rush of vertigo you can imagine."
Jade chuckled as she took her bag and slung it over her shoulder and slipped out as well. "Alright, no going up high with you. Do you do alright on the roof of the Mansion or are you totally a ground bloke?" She stepped over to him, glancing around their surroundings for a moment. There was a few options around them. A classic diner, a burger shack with a few free standing tables, a hole-in-the-wall.
"It's not heights I have a problem with." Cameron stated confidently. "I've jumped out of perfectly functional airplanes at 10 kilometers altitude. It's ferris wheels I have an issue with. Wobbly platform, rusty steel exposed to the elements, run by some guy living out of a caravan. I don't trust it." Clicking the fob to lock the doors, he stepped up next to her. "You wanted American. I'm thinking the diner? They're busy, that must be a good sign right?" Gesturing to the faux railcar restaurant sitting a bit away.
"Easy done!" Jade nodded and looked left and right before strutting across the road ahead of him, putting a little sway into her hips as she did so. She wasn't just feeling adventurous about food and movies tonight and if his physical reactions were any indication, they were on the same page on the kind of adventure they were both open for. Blood never lied and when it pooled in certain areas of the body, you could tell what was what without words or overt actions.
Hell, worst that could happen was that he said no, that he wasn't interested. She trusted him enough to know he would be respectful about it. He had that classic british reservedness about him that was both appealing across the world as it was vexing to extroverted individuals who thrived on reaction. It was certainly appealing to her.
The sway of hips so fine was distracting enough that Cameron didn't realise that there was a car approaching until he heard the honk of the horn. A few quick steps closed the distance between him and Jade. He considered putting an arm around her waist. He was pretty sure she wouldn't exsanguite him for that. But it would also be quite bold, perhaps a bit too for now.
"How about you? Any particularly surprising phobias I can tease you with?" Cameron asked as he opened the door to the busy diner.
Jade gave him a mock hurt look. "You are a naughty bloke, Cam Hood!" She chided him as she stepped through and stopped for a moment, looking at the menu, the seats, the counter. "Bloody norah, are we in a movie? Feels like we are. Been in the States for six years and I've never been to a diner. Come on." She said as she grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the left, to one of the booths in the corner, "'scue us..." she said to a few people as they passed by.
Cameron flashed an apologetic smile to a group of three people that looked like they were just about to slide in the booth before them. "I've been to the US a few times before, but those were all training exercises on military posts. Haven't ever gotten to really relax and mingled with the yanks until now." He glanced across the busy bar, and allowed The wash of noise to run over him before returning. "So why did your folks leave the Prison Colony to come to the Traitor Colony?"
Jade set her bag between herself and the wall. She pushed her ginger locks behind her ears a little bit, revealing a pair of small silver stud earrings with a tiny jade stone in the middle of each stud. "The traitors seemed more welcoming towards what I was...am. To answer your previous question, I am not a fan of robots. Movie, real, any kind of moving machinery without a human element. Seeing something alive and not being to feel them is...disconcerting at best. Down right terrifying at worst. That and...well if push comes to shove, I am pretty useless against one." She said with a shrug as she took a quick browse of the menu before she set it down. She knew what she wanted, she decided as she looked over at Cam. "Now you be nice with that piece of information, you hear me?"
"So how about instead of Back to the Future, we go watch Robocop?" Cameron said with a grin and a wink. "I'll promise to keep you safe. Turn the next robot into a big shield for you." He glanced at the menu, already finding the most greasy burger and fries combo he could find. His eyes lingered on the milkshakes, the expression almost longing before moving on. Cameron did not want to have gastro-intestonal issues.
"Would you want to go back to Australia now that you're all grown up?" Cameron asked.
The waitress appeared from the crowd as a steel haired angel. A kind, but tired smile formed on her lips as she pulled the pencil out of from behind her ear. "What can I get you dears?"
"Cheese burger and fries, please and tomato s...I mean ketchup. And surprise me with a lager. I'm feeling adventurous tonight." Jade said.
"And you, sugah?" The steel haired angel called Donna Sue asked of Cam.
"The double bacon burger no cheese please. And some chips too." Cameron replied.
"I'm sorry, we don't have any chips here..." Donna Sue said, a little confused as to why this man wanted potato chips with his hamburger.
Jade chuckled and leaned closer over the table, "Cam, they call it fries here. Our crisps are their chips and our chips are their fries."
"How illogical." Cameron said with a shake of his head. "I suppose I'll want some fries?" He glanced at her.
Donna Sue's confusion melted back into her professional smile. "Right away, and might I say you two look like a cute couple."
The comment struck Cameron as so surprising he hadn't the time to react before Donna Sue disappeared.
It struck Jade too as she kept staring after Donna Sue for a moment before she managed to scramble back towards a conversation.
"Yeah," she said finally as she settled back in, looking over at Cam.
It might not be so bad...Stop it, you hardly know him. Get to know him first! THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT!" Jade argued with herself momentarily. "Yeah no, we're watching Back to the Future. I need to know what happened to Doc Brown." She said decidedly, but with a smirk. "And as for Straya...maybe some day, but not to live. This is home now. What about you? Plans to go back to ol' Blighty when your problems are sorted?"
"Huh?" Cameron said smoothly. "What?" Cameron was miles away, deep in his imagination. He was thrust there by the innocent remark, his mind working through the potential of actually developing something with Jade.
"If I want to go back home? I mean, definitely. My whole life is basically there. Career, family, friends." Cameron looked away as he realised something else. "I put so much work into becoming what I've become, career wise, that I couldn't leave that behind willingly."
Jade nodded, "That's understandable. I hope it works out the way you want. You do know that that means I'm hopping over for a visit - frequently." She said with a smirk, "a) never been to Blighty, so tourist, and b) you can't just live me alone with all the yanks and the kids. I will need some good company to keep me from going insane." As she spoke her lips formed into a wider and wider, if exaggerated grin.
"Knowing the company we keep, I wouldn't be surprised if they would follow you over." Cameron said. "The kids enjoy driving anyone up the wall. You seem like as good a target as any, better even than me." Cameron fell quiet for only two seconds before asking, "Are you planning on staying with Xavier for the long stretch then?"
"There you go, my sweeties." Donna Sue emerged then with their orders and placed them on the table. "Y'all enjoy now" She said before returning to the rest of the customers.
Jade chuckled, "so this is the southern hospitality, eh?" She took a chip and bit into it. "God, so nice." She murmured more to herself than anything else. "I don't know yet. I might...stay with Xavier, I mean. He's got a good gig going," Jade said and took another chip. "Not like I have another place to go. I was in the process of getting fired from the Cancer Center in Austin when I met the Prof and he hired me. You? Plan to go back when your situation is sorted or stay a bit?"
She'd be sad if he left, she realized.
"Cheers." Cameron said with a smile to Donna Sue. The burger looked gorgeous. Crisp lettuce, juicy onions, no pickles, and three fatty strips of bacon upon a beef patty. Before he could answer Jade he needed to partake. He moved the skewer further back upon the bun, took this beauty in his hands bit down. The sound he made as the assault of taste washed over him was almost inappropriate, and definitely gratuitous.
"Fuck." Cameron muttered under his breath a few long moments later. It took another moment for him to focus again, and he made eye contact with Jade, a wide grin on his face. "When my situation gets sorted I'll not have much choice. The Army does frown upon not showing up when expected." That consideration paused Cameron in his tracks, something felt off about that future. "Though I might know a way that allows me to stick around for a while longer." Yes, that felt right.
The expression on Jade's face was that of pure bliss as her senses were assaulted by flavor. She heard Cam speak in the background. "Yeah? I mean, would be rad if you did stay. Although I get why you'd have to go home pretty quick." She said, wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
"It would, yeah." Cameron agreed, taking another big bite of the burger. "Hell, this burger presents a strong argument in favour. I know of a few other arguments in favour." And his eyes darted up to meet hers, giving her another grin. A grin marred slightly by some sauce on his teeth. "You got some stuff on your... well your whole mouth actually."
Jade grinned at him further, "flavor, it's called flavor." Although she did give her mouth a thorough wipe. "So, what way would allow you to stay?"
"That's one name for it. I'd have called it gratuitous amounts of ketchup." Cameron joked, stealing a few of Jade's fries even though he had a full basket of his own. "If I were to be formally seconded to the X-Men. If the Army made it my duty to serve here I can stay. And I think I can make a strong case for that. If they listen is the question."
"I'm sure The Prof will be happy to help you with that." Jade suggested as she polished off her burger and dug into the chips and took a sip of the beer. "Oh yeh, this is life...well, as close to it."
"Are you as voracious with everything?" Cameron asked with something that could be interpreted as a cocky smirk. He had finished his own burger, slowly enjoying his chips.
Jade chuckled, "mate, I'm aussie." She said as if that explained everything and proceeded to finish off her chips and beer. "Also, I haven't eaten since early morning and food at the Island wasn't the best." She said with a shameless smirk and a shrug that echoed a challenge to come and find out.
With last of his chips disappearing, Cameron's body betrayed him. He was just a moment to last to entirely stifle the loud burp that tried escaping his lips. He slapped his hand before his mouth. He was grateful that the blush he felt in his cheeks wasn't readily visible.
Jade chuckled, "in China, that's a compliment to the Chef. Now, shall we go see what happened to Doc in 1888?" She winked at Cam.
Cameron stood up, taking the chance to stretch out his back. It produced a very satisfying grunt. "We could that." Cameron agreed. He had pulled out a couple bills to pay for the food and drink. "Or we could go check out the fair? It's way too nice of an evening to sit inside."
Jade thought of it for a moment, then noded resolutely, "why not? The movie will be there another time. But, we are doing cotton candy, doughnuts and all the tropes, all the tropey rides." She said with a smirk, "up to the challenge, Cam of ol' Blighty?" She extended her hand to him as they stepped outside.
For a moment Cameron imagined his stomach ejecting the meal he just ate, this in an act of protest. "How about we first do a ride or two before we eat more greasy food." He took her hand, trying to project the confidence he felt he needed. His fingers intertwined with hers, and he gave her a light squeeze. "I'm up for any challenge." And when he glanced up at the amusement park. "Except for the Big Wheel. Not doing that."
Jade grinned, "alright you old chook." Jade chuckled. "What do you want to do first?"
The amusement park was close, so they wouldn't need to walk, so their stroll over to the loud, brightly lit place full of fun and games was leisurely.
"I'm no chicken." Cameron said, his face a mask of deep insult. "How dare you, young lady. For that, I challenge you to a duel! Rifles, at the shooting gallery!" And he dragged her towards the games section, using his moderately larger stride to pull her off balance for a moment.
Jade almost pulled out of his grip on instinct, but decided to let herself be tugged away in stead. She did after all initate the challenge by calling him a chook. She had to get as good as she gave.
"No fair! I can't compete against you!" She complained out of principle alone, but still laughed as she did so.
Cameron pulled at the shooting booth. He let go of her hand to search for his cash in his pocket. "Best of three games. You picked the next."
The grizzled carny behind the counter gave the two of them a crooked-teeth smile. "Evening kids. The guy here going to try and impress you?" He asked Jade.
Jade chuckled, "nah he's just showing off." She said as she elbowed Cam in the ribs gently. "Now I've never shot a rifle of any kind, you'll need to show me."
Cameron slid over a few bucks to pay for the two rifles, and a dozen rounds each. "This really isn't like shooting a real rifle. But I'm happy to show you what to do."
The proprietor placed the two BB-rifles loaded, with the barrel broken open. He then gave them a wide grin, "Good luck kids." before disappearing to a young child and his mother.
Cameron took the rifle in front of Jade and closed the action. Then he handed it to her and stepped behind her. "Point the rifle at that target." He said, his lips close to hear ear. His arm gestured to a little steel man in a box. Cameron's hands rested on Jade's arm as she raised the rifle.
The perk of the ear plugs was the fact that she perceived outside sounds differently as well, hence her body reacted differently as well. Though truth be told, the way they were standing, she realized she wouldn't mind more of it, sans more guns, of course, fake or otherwise, and better looping of said arms.
Jade frowned, adjusting her aim a little. "So kind of like a hunting rifle we use down under." She fired her first shot and she missed by a clear margin. Jade then swore under breath, and readjusted her stance and aim. "I need to compensate for weight, don't I?"
"Not by much." Cameron said. His voice was a little quieter as he was next to her ear. His head looked over her shoulder, at the sight picture. He gently moved her arms ever so slightly, "Push your cheek a little more over the stock."
She did as instructed, albeit it distracted her, him hovering about as he did, not in a bad way though. Jade took another shot, though it missed, it was closer to the outer edge of the target than the other, yet still didn't even graze the target.
"Wow, I suck." She chuckled at the second miss.
Cameron couldn't suppress the chuckle in his voice, "Yeah, but at least you're trying." He adjusted her again a little, but now kept his hands on her arms to prevent her from shifting. "Try it one more time." He half-whispered in her ears.
A pleasant shiver ran down Jade's spine as his breath grazed her ear. She bit back a protest and took aim again and fired. It hit the target then, just.
Jade inclined her head a little, not enough to fully move away. "You know if I was any other person I could argue that you were distracting me." She said with a cheeky smirk.
"It's not a distracting you from hitting the target." Cameron said with a cocky grin and a eyebrow bob. "Now do it again. You've got two shots left." He then slowly stepped back from Jade, his hands grazing down to her elbows to maintain the contact for a heartbeat longer.
Jade stared after him for a moment, maintaining the smirk before she turned back and took the stance again. She took the two shots in quick succession, each hitting the target, yet each still very far out with not even an indication of hope of getting close to the target.
"Aaargh!" Jade groused as she handed him the rifle, her posture that of a mock sulk. "Fine, go show off, you show off!" She couldn't keep the laughter out of her tone though.
She was actually enjoying herself. Cam was good company, and she didn't mind at all how distracted he made her feel.
"Yes ma'am." Cameron said, as he sidled back up next to her. He even threw her the laziest salute he had ever rendered. Cameron snapped the action closed and brought the rifle up. In seconds five plinks were heard, five little metal men had fallen, and Cameron gave Jade a rather smug and satisfied smile.
The proprietor looked just a bit confused. "Christ boy, that was some shooting!" He then looked at the bigger stuffed animals hanging off his booth. "Which one you want?"
Cameron gave Jade a questioning look. "Which one you want Jade?"
Jade was grinning ear-to-ear, like a cheshire cat, "the bunny, of course." She said with a challenging, amused tone. "Thank you though, I think this is the first tome someone's ever won something for me." Her expression fell a little at that, though she tried to maintain the smile.
To be undone by such a small gesture. Fight it, Jade, fight it! She told herself.
Cameron took the bunny from the carny. It had big, white, floppy ears, a hard pink plastic nose, and of course ridiculously big black eyes. Cameron's arms barely reached around as he held it up. "First time I've won one too."
Jade grinned from ear to ear, and stepped over to Cam, and rose on her tippy toes for a moment, pressing her lips to his cheek. "Thank you." She said and extended her arms, hands doing the inviting gesture, for the bunny handover.
It's a good thing Cameron's skin was the dark tone it was. The heat he felt to his cheeks maybe would've shown in winter, but it was dark outside, it was summer, and he quickly gave her the bunny to block her view of him. "You're welcome." He answered, his tone sheepishly.
"What game you want to do next?" Cameron asked as he stepped away from the shooting gallery. "Whack-a-mole, a basketball shooting game, there's a bean can game too! Or..." Cameron glanced around, his stomach aching just a little at seeing the ferriswheel. "Or the rollercoaster?"
"What's a bean can game?" She asked, her voice slightly muffled behind the bunny.
"You know?" Cameron said, gesturing to a stand a ways away. "You throw beanbag at a stack of empty cans. The idea is you knock all the cans off, but they're rigged so you shouldn't be able to." There might have been a cheeky flash of teeth as Cameron said that. "I mean, you're not supposed to. But maybe you and I can get some prizes?"
Jade nodded, her eyes lingering on his lips for a touch too long than appropriate. "Deal, but I choose your prize, you choose mine, just to keep it interesting. Deal?"
"Oh, I have something in mind for you." Cameron said, his mouth curled into a cocky grin and it was followed with a cheeky wink.
She waddled over to the bean can stand and set the bunny down next to her. "Right, mate, how much for a round each?" Jade asked of the stall holder.
"For the lovely lady? Two bucks gets you five shots. Five bucks get you fifteen." The man in the booth was missing two teeth, but it didn't seem to affect his speech. "If you take the fifteen I'll let you work together with your boyfriend here." He nodded to Cameron.
Jade blinked for a moment, not having expected the question. But really, why wouldn't she? She recovered quickly and turned to Cam, "babe, team up or contest?" She asked with a smile, though her heart was beating a mile a minute at the bold inferrence. She wasn't even sure if she wanted him to play along or correct them. It was exciting this not knowing.
"Babe?" Cameron asked, his cheeks feeling a little warm. Taking it as a hint of some sort he stepped closer. His hand slid around Jade's waist, the hand resting with surprising comfort there. "We're a team, let's not mess that up." He used that hand to gently pull their hips against each other, just a little more intimacy.
Jade's heart thundered in her chest, hoping that this wasn't just pretense. It felt, right. And exciting, and full of potential. She snuggled further into him for a moment, enjoying the closeness. "Or at least let's mess up together, eh?" She looked up at him, her cheeks somewhat flushed, her eyes shining. At least he could hide his blush, but she could not.
"I think what she's trying to say is that we'll take the fifteen and work together." Cameron said, his voice a little hoarse from the excitement.
The booth attendant gave them a knowing grin, showcasing his missing teeth perfectly. From below the counter he pulled up a big basket of softballs. "You two have fun. If you get all ten stacks down, you'll both get a price."
Jade chuckled and shook her head, "let's do this." She pulled away from Cam and went over to the counter, and pulled out a ball. She widened her stance a little and rolled the ball in her hand for a moment before she took a shot, hitting the side of the stack, but it decided to fall favorably, bringing the entire one stack down.
"Yes!" She did the air-fist pump. "Your turn!" She looked over at Cam with a grin.
"That's one hell of a throw." Cameron said, grinning as he stretched out his right shoulder. He took up a nice firm pall. A few bounces in his hand let him test the balance of it. And if he were in the MLB, the red ball shot against a can, bottom left center. It ricocheted satisfyingly against its neighbor. And down came a stack again. "That's the way to do it." Cameron said with a satisfied grin, "Come on, let's do the next together."
Jade grinned, feeling her cheeks heat up a little. She took another ball, and waited for Cam to take his. Part of her really liked that he was so calm, the other part was exasperated by it, as only an Australian could be with a bloody Brit. "On three?"
"One, two, three." Cameron counted out. His ball flew out towards an entirely different target. The shared racket of two stacks tumbling down made him grin wider. "One more, and we can get you another big stuffy." Cameron said, pointing at a big penguin.
Jade chuckled and readied another ball. "Ready?"
"Three, two, three!" The two released their shots again, whilst Jade's missed, Cam's hit the target full on, sending the stack to the ground in a satisfying racket. "Hah! We need to do this team thing more often!" Giddy excitement coursed through the Aussie as she looked over at Cam. You pick this time."
It felt strange to her to be this happy and care free. She was usually a reclusive grumpet, utterly unimpressed with the fact that she was hired to take care of children. Yet somehow this bloody Pom made her feel alive. She liked it, craved more.
Cameron felt infected with her cheer. His grin was wide as he stepped over to her and grabbed her shoulders. With enthusiastic care he pulled her into him for a hug, squeezing her tightly. But a moment later he let her go already, placed his hands on her cheeks, and leaned in to kiss her.
Jade's brain took a moment to catch up with what just happened as his lips met hers. But a moment only, before her arms snuck under his and around his torso and she closed the gap between them fully. The thing that struck her the most was how soft his lips were.
Cameron's mind went blank, all attention going to his sense of touch. Her lips were soft, she was warm and strong against him. No thoughts intruded into the moment. It was a kiss that went on for longer than he thought he possible. It only ended when the sound of the carny laughing broke through Cameron's reverie.
Jade looked over at the carny before she looked back up at Cam, her arms still under his. "I should go away and come back more often, she said with a chuckle. "Especially if this will be the welcome."
Cameron gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Let's not start leaving just yet." He planted another peck on her, pulling back before she could answer it. "We might have more welcoming to do later."
Jade chuckled, stepping away from Cam, her fingers gently brushing against his. "Do you want to try more games, or a ride or a walk down by the river?"
"Let's take a walk?" He suggested, already stepping that way. His hand reached out for hers, trying to entangle his fingers around hers.
Jade intertwined her hand with his, the big fluffy forgotten as her mind focused on this new sensation, this new situation. What were they now? What did she want them to be? What did he want them to be? Boyfriends were far and few between for her, considering who she was.
She wasn't totally inexperienced, but she wasn't very experienced either. So it was going to be scary, and new and interesting. But then again wasn't everything in their lives like that all the time? They were mutants, their lives would never be ordinary.
"Do I scare you?" She asked, a little bit of anxiety seeping into her.
Cameron took a moment to consider the question. Did she? He cracked a smile, white teeth seeming to shine brightly. "You don't scare me. But you can be a little intimidating at times. My mother would call that having a healthy respect of what a woman can do to you." The memory of his mother allowed a chuckle in his voice.
The air around the river felt more refreshing than the higher up fairground. The river ran deep and fast, a weir had been placed in, creating a pleasant splashing sound. The walkway along the water reminded Cameron of the towpaths next to the canals back home. "What about me? Do I scare you?"
Jade shook her head, "no. But not because I think less of you or anything, you feel safe. Don't get me wrong, you're deadly as fuck and I respect the hell out of you. But you make me fell safe, not scared." She said with a sigh, "my powers make me feel...insecure when it comes to people...I care about." She said, catching his eyes for a moment. "I don't want to scare those people away. My powers can be gruesome, and scary...I can be gruesome and scary too."
"You're not your powers Jade." Cameron said, his voice filling with compassion. He gave her hand a strong squeeze. "We are mutants, but we aren't defined by our mutation. To me, you've been a wonderful friend, someone I've entrusted my life to." He stopped his pace, pulling her to a halt with him. His other hand came up to her shoulder so that they were face to face, "I see you. Green eyes, red hair, and that silly Aussie accent that peeks out occasionally."
"Oi!" Jade protested with a grin, "I see you too, all dark and handsome, even if you are a bloody Pom. But I'll forgive ya for it." She stepped closer to him. "But only because I really like your accent. No other reason what-so-ever."
The two continued walking down the riverbank for a little longer before returning to the Mansion later that night.
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