Confined discussion

Aidan had reported to his commanding officer, he was sent out front to watch for anything suspicious. Apparently Julian was running from everyone, and no one knew why exactly. Aidan leaned against the railing on the porch and looked out at the lush landscape before him. Why would anyone want to leave all this behind? It's gorgeous, the kid has all kinds of money, his father gives him plenty of stuff to work with. Aidan just didn't get it. Of course he'd worked for everything he needed or wanted his entire life, and he didn't know everything about Julian.

Aidan rubbed his chin, he was growing out a goatee and mustache. He liked the look of it, it made him look older, more commanding in his own opinion. He wasn't sure how his sister liked it though, she always had an opinion of what he did. Not that he minded, Aidan loved that she cared enough to put her two cents in. Most of their other siblings were too wrapped up in their own lives to care about anyone else. Aidan sighed loudly, this was boring. He wanted to be doing something, anything. His eyes wandered over the porch, it was something to be had, he could see himself sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair watching his children play at his feet. Aidan shook his head, he chuckled softly at himself. Most men in his line of work, hell in his family, wouldn't be day dreaming of having a family let alone children.

http://m.weheartit.com/entry/54398466...

Libby tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and straightened her hat. It was a little bit too chilly outside to go without a jacket, so shed made an outfit out of the coat her mother had gotten her last week. She opened up the door to the porch and sent a watery glare to the guard that was trying to follow her. She knew it was probably his orders, but she wasn't in the mood to be monitored by any of the guards right now. She felt so guilty now that Julian was gone. What if the other variants hurt him??? What if they didnt accept him because he's the presidents son? She sniffled as she walked down the steps, just to take a walk. She needed some time to get her stories straight before people started to ask her real hard core questions.

Aidan was about to light a cigarette when the door to the main house opened, he quickly tucked the cigarette pack back into his jacket and glanced at the door to see who was coming out. It was Mr. Grave's daughter, she looked like she was upset about something, her eyes were red and her cheeks smudged by tears. Aidan frowned deeply, no one was following her out, why was that? She should be escorted with her brother AWOL. Aidan pushed himself away from the wall and went to walk after her, he jogged a little to catch up. He liked Libby, she always had a kind word for him and never treated him like he was part of the help. Most of the other guards she seemed to always shove off, not Aidan though. "Libby!" He called out and caught up to her finally, "Hello Lib- er Ms. Libby." He corrected himself, he wasn't supposed to be so formal with her. "Can I walk with you?" He asked with a polite smile, concern touched his gaze as he saw her stricken face up close.

Libby heard her name and turned towards the speaker, walking backwards a little bit. It was Aidan, the only guard that she actually liked. He was actually really nice to look at, she loved that little beard thing he has going on now. And he was nice, he never looked at her like she was a stupi little kid like the others did. She guessed it was because he had a little sister, Libby might've looked in his file to find out. She wasn't obsessed, she just had a crush, and elevated access to files.... As soon as she noticed it was him, she wiped her eyes and tried to look less upset, willing they red around her eyes to go away with sheer thought. She tried to smile "oh hi Aidan, yeah that's fine" she said, knowig it was probably because of orders

Aidan let a real grin spread across his face, "I haven't seen you around in weeks! How have you been? Your mother and father keeping you busy during this summer?" He pushed his hands into the pockets of his BDU's and fell into pace beside her. "I just... I saw you walking by yourself and thought you might like the company. You looked a bit upset." he wouldn't push her to talk but he was curious as to why she had been crying. He liked Libby... well maybe more than liked but he couldn't tell anyone or act on his feelings. She was way out of his reach, he was nowhere near her range of suitable men to be with. Aidan wasn't upset over it, it was just fact. Her mother would never approve of her dating a soldier, let alone her father. Not that her father paid the girl any attention really. Aidan noticed that a fog was settling around them, he wondered if he should suggest returning to the main house. Then he thought better of it, she didn't look like she was in the mood to be cooped up, he would just have to make sure he paid attention to where their feet were taking them so they didn't get lost.

Liberty almost laughed "no, not really. Daddy just leaves me alone and only pays attention when I'm at some dinner party and needs me to be perfect. Mom tries, but it's always something I really don't care about, like planning a party or something like that. It's just boring" she looked out into the fog, squinting a bit to see through it "yeah I kind of death glared the guard that was following me" she said, her tone guilty "but I just need to think, with Julian gone now I don't even know what to do, he was my bestfriend and now no one knows where he is...." She looked down at the ground by then, feeling the tears coming back. She blinked rapidly, to keep them at bay

Aidan walked in silence, letting her talk and get some of the things on her mind out, sometimes people just needed to voice everything that was weighing them down and it helped. He heard a catch in her voice and stopped, screw protocol, he thought to himself and wrapped the slim girl in his arms. "Shhhh just let it out," He cooed to her, holding her safely, and tightly in her arms. Liberty's parents didn't even see the turmoil that their daughter was going through. He knew Julian was her best friend without even talking to her, they used to be inseparable, twins some people called them. Aidan rubbed her back and spoke soft, soothing words to her much like he did to his sister when she was upset or mad about something.

Libby took his invitation and let herself fall against Aidan. She let her tears out in silent sobs, her face pressed softly against his chest. Aside from the fact that Julian ran away, she had helped him!! And if he got hurt at all, it would be all her fault. She couldn't help but feel responsible already. "I'm sorry" she said after shed cried for a good amount of time, pulling away from him. She felt seriously awkward now, shed just cried all over Aidan, the guy she liked, and made herself look just like all the guards thought, a little spoiled baby that couldn't handle herself. She wiped her coat sleeves against her eyes, expelling the tears from her face.

Aidan held her there, warm and soft in his arms, he tried to think of other things, puppies, kittens, flowers, anything. Then she pulled away, he helped wipe some of the tears away. "Don't be sorry, tears are something that need to be shed sometimes. Never be ashamed of them," He told her, Aidan offered her an encouraging smile. "Better?" He asked, Aidan wished she would stay in his arms a while longer, but he knew that was inappropriate. She probably hadn't even liked being there. Aidan's cheeks flushed slightly, what if she thought he was being too intimate? Or stupid? Or too soft? Aidan chewed on the inside of his cheek as he tried not to freak out too much.

Libby smiled softly back at him and felt her cheeks heat up when he helped her wipe her tears. She nodded a bit "yeah, thank you..." She said in a quiet tone of voice. She noticed the color on his cheeks and she decided to just drop the whole crying thing, and started to walk again, expecting him to follow her. "Have you heard what they're saying about him though? It seems impossible..." She said, thinking that he would've been briefed or something on the whole situation. She would surely tell him about it if he didnt know, even if he was 'just a guard', Aidan was like a friend to her.

Aidan fell back into step with her and rubbed the back of his neck, "Not really, I mean I heard he left. But not the why's or anything." Aidan noticed another guard coming their way so he moved to walk behind Libby instead of beside her. The guard walked past them without a second glance, when he was out of sight Aidan returned to walking beside Libby. It would look suspicious if he was beside her by themselves. "Sorry bout that," He muttered and then waited for her to talk next.

Libby followed his lead, walking ahead of him and not even giving the other guard one glance. When he fel back in step with her she nodded "it's fine. See, this morning, he came downstairs and went straight to the bar. I know, that's weird as it is, but he's Jules, he's never been normal or PG in the least. But anyway, he got a drink and was drinking while mom and I had breakfast. We went into moms study, and didnt hear from Julian for a little while, so I went to see what he was doing. I got to the parlor and he was-" she paused to swallow down some tears, she was done crying now "-he was on the floor. I went to him and he just groaned and told me to get mom. We got him up to his room and called a doctor. The quack took some tests, and you know what he told us? That Julian wasn't human anymore. He basically said he was a variant, Aidan. That's impossible though!! I mean it has to be, right?" She said, looking over at Aidan, a certain scared look in her eyes

( Hah. "Never been PG in the least." I just died.)

Aidan looked at her with shock on his face, a variant? Was that even possible? Both his parents were human, weren't they? His father hated Variants, Aidan would know, he'd killed enough of them for Libby's father. "It has to be a mistake, the guy must have been off his rocker or not all there when he examined him or something Libby. Your parents are both humans, theres no way," Aidan reassured her, then he thought about the experiments that Julian had been rumored to be doing. Aidan never was around that, or the labs. He was one of the 'outside' guards for the most part, or he tailed the family on outings or events. "I don't know what the hell is going on Libby."

"That's just it," Libby said, looking frazzled as she walked alongside Aidan "no one knows what's going on! The doctor was shocked and pale when he told us, mom is confused and even more depressed than she was before, daddy... Well... He probably does know what's going on, but he's the only one and he's not telling the rest of us!" She half-whined, then stopped herself and sighed "but then just a few hours ago, we were sitting down for dinner, Jules too, but daddy didnt know what the doctor had said. Jules was acting funny, being weird, so I thought he was drunk or high or something like that. Dad left to go get mom to the dining room, and Jules said he was feeling sick. So I thought, fresh air, right? That was supposed to help him. He was happy to go for a walk, and kept on mumbling things to me about how he loved me and he'd miss me, but I thought he was just out of it, he's said weirder things to me before... But then when we were walking, I went to pull a weed in my petunias and then I heard the perimeter guys yelling and things!!! And then everything happened so fast..." She trailed off, biting her lip

"Your dad didn't know what was going on? Strange..." Aidan thought about the situation, her dad was probably livid by now. "It sounds like everything happened quite fast, none of its your fault Liberty. You know that right? I don't want you feeling guilty for anything, your brother is a grown man and makes his own decisions, whatever happens you need to remember that. I'm sure he's fine, maybe he just got scared because of what the doctor said and didn't want to wait around to see what your dad would say... or do," Aidan wouldn't want to be in Julian's shoes honestly. He knew for a fact that Mr. Grave was a heartless prick, and he didn't have much sympathy for anyone, besides maybe his wife. That was the only person he'd seen him soften for, Mrs. Grave seemed like she didn't know of her husbands activities. Which was probably for the best. "Well what are your plans now? What are your parents doing?" he asked without even considering it was none of his business. He was just concerned for Liberty.

Libby shook her head "no, it is my fault. I should've known not to take out in the gardens, especially when she was saying goodbye. I was a dumbass. And then on the other hand, I'm pissed off that Jules used me to get outside, he must've known how guilty I would feel" she said, all the time knowing that it was her idea. But she had to play it the right way, or everyone would hate her, and she couldn't have that "daddy was up in the strategy room last time I knew anything. I don't know what he's doing, no one tells me anything, Aidan. They'd more likely tell you" she said, then cringed at her own words "sorry... I didnt mean it like that...."

"Its not your fault," he repeated, a bit annoyed with Julian for making his sister feel this way. It wasn't fair, and he should've considered how he was going to make his family feel before taking off and leaving them to deal with everything, to worry about him. "Its okay, I understand, I'll try to find out what I can, but I don't know if they will tell me much. I'm not one of the up close and personal guards. Your father doesn't trust me with confidential stuff really, not like he did my father..." Aidan tried not to compare himself to his dad, but sometimes he felt inadequate. "Hey one of my older brothers might know something though, I'll let you know if I learn of anything." He bumped her shoulder gently, playfully. "C'mon cheer up, you can't be sad forever, if you are then who's going to make me smile?" He was teasing her, trying to coax a smile onto her beautiful face.

Libby nodded to him "thanks Aidan, that would be great if you did. My first impulse when I heard the guards shouting was to go run after him..." She muttered softly, that wasnt a lie at all, she really had wanted to follow her big brother, pretend it was some game, like the ones they used to play as kids. Hide from the guards, get to the safe zone before they saw you, things like that. But this wasnt a game, this was life or death for Jules, and that's what terrified liberty. She looked over at Aidan when he bumped his shoulder into hers and let out a short laugh, doing her best to smile for him "I know, but if you want to be cheery, don't go near the front door, it's like a funeral in there. The whole energy is just tense. It's much better out here" she said, trying her best to notice how nice and crisp the air was, getting the spring back in her step.

Aidan felt bad, he wished he could make everything better for but he couldn't. Thats just the way it was, everything was far too complicated. "Hmmm well if its such a sad song in there maybe you'd like to have dinner with my sister and I tonight?" He asked the question before he lost his nerve. Sure it wouldn't be anything fancy, but it would be warm and there wouldn't be all kinds of tension spoiling ones appetite, he was fairly certain his sister wouldn't mind him inviting Libby. Or at least he hoped. He didn't need her all mad at him, the only sibling he had any connection to at all. Aidan wondered if she would be interested in having dinner with them, since they were below her station and everything.

Liberty looked up over at him, a bit of surprise on her face "really?" She asked, a real smile forming on her face. But then she rose a brow at him "I mean would your family be alright with that? I don't want to bother anyone..." She said, looking back ahead if her into the fog "oh and don't feel like you have to, I know how to deal with that house" she added. She wanted to make sure Aidan really wanted her around, she wasn't really a fan of pity. She came across one of her flower beds and bent down, pulling up a few weeds that have surfaced

"My family will be fine with it, and I want you to be there," Aidan replied, it was all true. He really wanted her to be there and if his family had a problem with it they could leave. He didn't have to worry about any of his brothers showing up and lecturing him about having the bosses daughter in his house. They never stopped by, if they wanted him to go out with them they just called or sent a message by carrier to him. "So what do you say?" he asked her with a hopeful grin, maybe they could cheer her up and give her a break from all the worry, pressure, and drama that seemed to always be happening in her home.

Liberty nodded, a smile spreading into her features "yeah, that sounds like fun. I'll just leave a note in my moms office, they probably won't even notice me gone" she said honestly, walking farther into the fog "when do you get out if work? I can meet you at the gate" she added. She planned on changing into something more casual before she left, anyway. She was coaching herself into thinking it as dinner with friends, not a date. Because it wasn't a date, and Aidan would never want to go on a date with her anyway. He was just a friend. Liberty reappeared that saying in her head, getting used to it

Aidan looked at his military styles watch, "An hour? Wow time passed quickly. Yeah the gate sounds like a good idea, ill take you to my place. Uh you're not allergic to any foods are you?" He wanted to be sure before he started of things they could make to eat. Of course his sister would probably do most of it, but he planned on helping out. It was unfair to ask her to make extra for a guest he invited. "I just don't want to make you blow up like a balloon is all," he explained quickly so she didn't think he was strange or something.

"Nope, the only thing that's ever made me blow up is eating too many pastries at Christmas time" Liberty said, pursing her lips teasingly, like she had just told him some huge secret. She was already thinking of what's she could wear, what outfit would make the most sense for a casual dinner at Aidan's house.