Cagaster of an Insect Cage one shots

Different

3rd pov

No one necessarily wants to be different. There are certainly people who prefer to be different and some who just want to be different, but for the most part people want to fit into whatever others see as normal. Kidow had never understood that, and honestly neither had Ms.Mario. They understand, in theory, why people want to be seen as normal, but they don't understand why people try so hard to be normal.

Sure, normal is a comfort that they can hide behind and try to ignore reality with, but it only lasts for so long and honestly it just hurts them more than helps in the long run. Everyone they ask offers some vague explanation or one that hardly makes sense. Ms.Mario has at this point decided it's better to let them be, and even Kidow is about at that point. They're both different in ways people don't want to understand, so they don't try to.

Jin is considered different as well, for working alongside Kidow and for the job he has, as well as for how often he heads deep into Cagaster territory, even with an Exterminator. Hadi is almost normal, except that he holds a different view to Exterminators then the rest of the army so he's different, as is Aisha who's a woman in the military that just wants to fire the tank, damnit. Qasim is aware and proud of his difference, for the fact he'll pick a fight with Exterminators or even just his general need to protect the kids of the wreckage. The kids, even Illie, all know they aren't entirely normal either, since most of them grew up in wreckage and have to support themselves somehow, while Illie knows her life with her father was different.

Kidow is the most different Exterminator there is, his techniques and style different because he's from the Far East, while Ms.Mario is a trans woman, something not common but not entirely uncommon either. They all own their differences and are protective of each other, since they're different enough some people say things without thinking and end up hurting one of them. They're all subtle about the protection they offer, Qasim making sure the kids can find jobs or get money, Kidow casually putting a hand on his sword when someone looks at Illie oddly, the way Illie sets her arms when someone approaches Kidow with a certain air, the way Jin will lean on the counter by Ms.Mario when rougher customers come in, the way Ms.Mario will hover behind Hadi or Aisha when someone gets too close. It's all simple little things, but they do it just because they can.

However, none of them have specifically been picked on because they are different. Sure, they've been targeted for being an Exterminator or the military or a dangerous explorer or even a trans woman, but never just because they are different. They're not targeting anything in specific, just the fact they are different from everyone else.

The group is a mix, though it's obvious from the tension it's a tense alliance, a few military and some Exterminators, all gathered in front of Ms.Mario's shop early in the morning. It takes a moment for the group - the kids aren't here thankfully, off playing in the wreckage or maybe even getting more sleep - so it's mainly the adults. Kidow technically counts, even if he is 17, simply because the Exterminators are considered adults once they get their license and are allowed to solo Cagasters. They're all sitting at a table, two dragged close so they can talk, except for Ms.Mario who's sweeping the floor and happens to spot the group outside as she passes.

They seem to realize that, because they pull themselves together and start for the door. Ms.Mario frowns but turns and signals the group, who maintain their chatter but change it to more lighthearted stuff rather than the personal stuff they'd been talking about, because they refuse to give anyone an advantage by letting them overheard a weakness, a fear, a secret they shouldn't know. They enter the store and attempt to surround the group, but it's hard to intimidate a group of people who mostly chose to go out and face Cagasters of their own choice and not because they have to. Ms.Mario may not choose to face them, but she isn't exactly scared of them.