An hour after the conversation, Snow found himself bent over a trash can, vomiting. It wasn't because the cereal was bad. No, he simply couldn't keep it in. With all the trauma going on with his head, there were bound to be some other physical complications. When he rose from the trash can, Roderick handed him a wet paper towel. He wiped his mouth and chin, then threw it away and took the trash can outside. Roderick followed him out and put his hands in his pockets. While Snow was throwing out the bag, he looked at the albino and was so caught off guard by how different he was. More calm, relaxed, quiet... Tame. He was looking down at the trampled and dead plants that had once lined the walkway to the house. His eyes were glazed over and his face was devoid of emotion. The dumpster lid fell and Roderick blinked and looked over at Snow.
"Do you want to go for a walk?"
Roderick asked.
"Uh... Sure. Maybe the fresh air will do me some good..."
Roderick and Snow headed into the forest and Snow was reminded of his first training session there... He remembered the way Narcolepse had glared at him and the words he had spoken...
——
"You're never going to save anyone at this rate. Whoever decided you were the perfect candidate for saving our world was an idiot. An absolute fuck up. Tch, they just want us to die off... We're all doomed."
——
He smirked, but there was no real humor in it.
"What?"
Roderick asked. Snow shook his head.
"Nothing, just... He was right. Narcolepse said once that the one who chose me was an idiot. And the mutant world was doomed. It sure seems that way..."
"Chin up. You can't think like that."
Snow rubbed his brow.
"Yeah..."
Roderick came to stand beside Snow.
"I know it's no easy task to just leave the darkness where it belongs, but if it creeps out of place, which it always will, you need to learn to put it in line. Put that darkness back in its place. Combat it with your light and anger. I like to be stern with it like it's a dog or cat that is being bad. When the darkness creeps into my mind, I tell it 'No, bad. Be nice.'"
"Does that actually work?"
"For me, it does. Maybe you'll find a different way."
"Maybe..."
Roderick crouched down and his fingers, long and pale, brushed the dying petals of a sapling. Snow watched the yellow get eaten up by the green that began stretching out from the stem of the plant until it was healthy again and sprouting two more leaves.
"There's a difference between you and me, Snow."
Roderick said as he stood upright again.
"I couldn't save anyone I loved. I didn't have the power. But you, Snow. You have that ability. You just need to believe it. You can save us. It's the reason for your existence, you know?"
Snow hugged Roderick tight and buried his face in the albino's shoulder. Roderick's eyes went a bit large, then he huffed a breath and hugged back, rubbing Snow's back.
"I believe in you, Snow. You're a lot stronger than you're aware of."
"Thanks..."
"You're ok."
"Yeah."
Snow slowly broke away from the hug. He was a little surprised at how warm Roderick's hug was. It was comforting. He needed it. Roderick ruffled Snow's white hair and smiled at him.
