[OPEN] out of nothing at all.

[aerin "ace" camden emerson]

Ace carried his tray to the table in the corner. The cafeteria usually wasn't this busy, and he usually didn't eat. He sat his tray down, putting his napkin in his lap as he sat down. He was still in his scrubs, a black pair with his name sewn into the bottom corner of the shirt. Hospital regulations made everyone put their names on their belongings. He looked down at his ID and didn't bother taking it off. He had just gotten back from a long shift of sorting records and didn't care much about others tormenting him about his clothes.

He took a bite of whatever the food was supposed to be, keeping his head down.

[cala kisten grant]

Cala sighed softly. Seth had been stubborn and had been walking around despite warning from her, Adele or Jayden. And now he was sitting at the apartment icing his shin.

She hoped desperately he got better fast, it was miserable having him sit around moping since they couldn't do anything. She wiped carefully at an eye, jaw trembling a bit as she stared down at the picture of her mom and step dad on her phone, finally locked the screen and pocketed it.

Skimming through the mythical books, she tugged one out based on Zeus. She enjoyed reading up on her father, knew so much more. Something itched at the back of her mind and she eyed a boy warily.

Something about him.... She tried shaking it away, the feeling an odd sort of resentment. And yet he seemed lonely. She sauntered to the table and sat down on the opposite side, setting the book down in front of her.

[aerin "ace" camden emerson]

He looked up at the girl, his blue eyes bright. He opened his bottle of water, taking a sip out of it before setting it on the table. He accidentally left the cap off, and water slowly creeped out of the bottle, towards his hand. He couldn't will water, but water seemed to have an attraction to him. It crept up his arm, and across his chest, healing the bruises and cuts there. Another abusive house he had been put in, but that didn't surprise him.

He poked at the food again, glad he had decided to eat in the library. Because he was sure someone would have picked at him about his water. He put the cap back on, looking up at the girl again. But he didn't say anything.

[cala kisten grant]

Cala watched the display from the corner of her eye. Something in her head screamed 'hate him' but she only smiled faintly, finally raised her eyes.

"Demigod," She murmured softly, for his ears only. She reached over, hesitant, then brushed at a visible bruise on his other arm, watching it gradually fade away at her touch.

She smiled again, then lowered her gaze sheepishly, skimming the pages of the book, wondering whose son he was.

[aerin "ace" camden emerson]

Ace wanted to snap and say 'merpeople can do the same thing!' but he kept quiet. He had never felt so much hate towards someone. Especially someone who hadn't even glanced his way before. The idea of a girl looking at him turned his stomach though. He didn't think he would ever want to be with anyone. Boys were hurtful and girls could have babies.

He poked at his food some more, the water in his bottle slowly swirling around and around and around. He clamped his hand down over it, the water finally settling down. 'How about you don't make a fool of me, dad?!' He screamed in his head, but as always, he never got an answer. His blue eyes just wandered back to his food.

[cala kisten grant]

Cala watched the water in the bottle, smirked faintly. She sighed, skimming through the book a moment longer, wondered if Seth was doing alright with those two siblings back at the apartment.

She knew she shouldn't worry about her older brother, but after what had happened, she couldn't help it.

"You know, I've never felt such...hate..towards a person I've never met." And yet she didn't want to feel hate towards him. She studied him a moment, the way he held himself. He had been hurt by people it seemed, was still being hurt.

[aerin "ace" camden emerson]

Ace just shrugged. The boy was a hard nut to crack; refusing to talk unless he had to. But in his head, he was screaming at her. 'GOOD BECAUSE I HATE YOU TOO! YOURE NOTHING BUT A SICK GIRL!' He kept his gaze on his food, his bright blue eyes only growing more and more blue. He had no appetite anymore. Not since she showed up. He grabbed his water, taking a sip before looking down at it for a long while.

He wondered what the woman would do when he got home, if she would tell her husband he had magically healed and they would beat him again, or if someone would finally have mercy on him. He chewed on his lip, looking down into his lap.

[cala kisten grant]

Cala huffed, shaking her head in agitation before shutting the book about her father. She stared at his image on the front for a moment, then opened it again, flipping to his brothers, and crowned after a moment.

"That explains it," She muttered bitterly under her breath, eying the boy. It wasn't like she was checking him out, she wasn't one to do that, not until she knew a little about them, and he seemed almost repulsed by her presence. She just knew he was hurting. And now she had an idea that he might very well be her cousin, too.

[aerin "ace" camden emerson]

Ace heard her, and figured he may as well leave before she started asking questions. He put his water into his bag, throwing it over his shoulder opposite the side with the ID pinned to it. He grabbed the tray and made his way out of the library, tossing it in the trash outside. He walked over to the benches under the stairs, sitting down there. He untucked his shirt from his pants, and raised it a bit, examining the almost fatal gash. The water was working hard to heal it, but it was taking much longer than any bruise, considering it went from one hip to the other, and was a half an inch deep. It had just missed his stomach, as he could tell. He dropped his shirt, bending over to put his elbows on his knees. He looked down, feeling the cold water move back an forth over his skin.

[cala kisten grant]

Cala watched him go and just shook her head in agitation, not sure where the annoyance came from. She was friendly towards everybody. But something in her head, deep in her soul, made her put the book away and move after him. She knew he was outside but didn't know where. His ID had said his name, but she didn't bother use it.

"If your father is who I think, we're cousins you know. You don't have to be such a-" She spotted him as he pulled his shirt up and winced, watching the water try and work hard to heal it. She stared down at her own hands, but doubted he wanted her touching him.

She bit at her lip, grew a little gentler as she fought back her father's urging to yell at him. Didn't he of all gods believe in justice. "Hey..who's hurting you?" It was none of her business, she knew. "Look, I'm being an idiot. If you want me to leave you alone, fine. I probably should anyway.. At least let me help with that cut. It'll heal far faster with the both of us." Just because he could heal didn't mean he deserved being hurt.