Hounds of Orion

There was a one sided tension that filled the train car as Logan and Cameron made their way back to the capital. The car was empty save for the two of them and they used the ample to room to stretch out and relax, each taking a separate side of the car. Well, Logan was relaxed anyway, lounging back against the seat, arms stretched out, smirking at Cameron as the boy glared daggers at him across the way.

“What’s wrong?” Logan asked with a chuckle.

“You’re a fucking sadist, that’s what's wrong.” Cameron shot back in an angry growl.

Logan couldn’t hold his amusement in any longer, clutching his stomach as he laughed heartily. “Oh come on kid. You gotta admit it was at least a little funny.”

“You kicked me off a mountain!” Cameron bellowed.

“First of all,” Logan began, holding up one finger and flashing a smarmy grin. “It was a plateau, a mesa at best. Second of all, you’re alive ain’t you?”

Logan watched as the Cameron eyed him hard, studying him for a moment, before wincing and sitting back, relaxing in his own seat. “I think I’m starting to miss the time when you couldn’t stand me.”

“Who said I can stand you now?”

Cameron’s eye twitched, and Logan knew that was enough jokes for the time being. As much shit he’d given the boy in weeks past, Logan was happy that Cameron had come to enjoy and look forward to their training sessions. It made his job easier of prepping the kid before his ascension to Seneschal at least. He may as well cut him some slack.

He cleared his throat, his smile morphing into one of sincerity instead of amusement, as he looked at Cameron. “All jokes aside, you did good today kid, really.”

This seemed to catch Cameron off guard. He looked up at Logan, meeting his eyes with his own, and raised an eyebrow. “Oh… thanks. I’m really just doing what you tell me to, though.”

“You’d be surprised how hard that can be for some people.” Logan shot back, looking at the window as spoke. “Being able to take orders is just as important as being able to give them.”

“Yeah well… I’ve never been too good at either of those things.” Cameron said, bringing Logan’s attention back to him.

“So I’ve heard,” Logan said. “Any particular reason as to why? Or do you just enjoy making your father’s life a living hell?”

Though he meant it as a joke, Logan felt a pang of regret as he watched Cameron’s face fall into an introspective grimace. He was quiet for a long time, not responding to Logan who was silently cursing himself for ruining the mood. He chewed his lip for a moment trying to think of what to say.

“Kid… I didn’t mean-,” He began, before Cameron cut him off.

“It’s whatever man,” Cameron said, eyes cast down, not meeting Logan’s gaze. “I’ve heard it all before. I just… I wish things were different y’know? I mean, no one wants to be the family fuck up. It’s not fun to be surrounded by people, not because they want to be around you, but because they feel like they need to babysit you.”

A feeling of pity accompanied the regret Logan was feeling as he listened to Cameron vent and he realized that in the time he’d been here, never once did he bother to understand why the kid was the way he was. He looked back out the window and saw that they still had a ways to go before pulling into the station, before turning back to Cameron, who looked like the human equivalent of a kicked puppy.

“And I’m not an idiot,” Cameron continued, his head going up to look at the ceiling, seemingly willing to look anywhere but in Logan’s direction. “I know that this is only a problem of the privileged. ‘Oh I have to be in charge of the military and get to hang out in the royal palace while driving around in a giant mech, woe is me.’ It’s not lost on me that I’m just a brat whining about a job most people would kill to have.”

“Then why are you whining about it?” Logan asked, egging the boy on. He didn’t mean for it to sound harsh or antagonistic, merely wanting Cameron to let it all out.

“Because it’s the lack of a choice, Logan.” Cameron replied, his voice coming out as a growl. Logan could see that he was grinding his teeth, a vein pulsing on his temple as he continued. “That’s everyone else’s privilege. Not mine. It’s not about whether I want to be Seneschal. But what I want, is a choice. I want to set my path and not have it based on some policy written hundreds of years ago. It’s not fair. Because now I have to be the man for the job. They can’t find someone better than me. I’m it. Full stop. But did anyone stop and think about the fact that maybe leading an army isn’t right for me? No. Because I’m going to lead it whether I want to or not.”

The rest of the journey passed in silence, the only sound being the gentle rumble of the high-speed train on its track. Finally, as the train pulled into the station, the hiss of it’s hydraulics sounding out through the relatively quiet morning, Logan spoke up.

“I’m sorry Cameron.” He said, his voice soft and warm, carrying a tone of deep sincerity.

Cameron simply shrugged, shaking his head, eyes looking out the window as he replied. “It is what it is man I’ll be -”

“No.” Logan cut him off, the word coming out as a defiant order that caused Cameron to finally meet the man’s eyes. Logan was staring at him, a look of sympathy on his face, eyes shining with a something akin to a shared understanding.

“I’m sorry for not taking the time. I’m sorry for not trying to understand until now just what you were going through. From everything I’d heard, I thought you were just some spoiled rich kid throwing a tantrum because daddy was making you doing something you didn’t want to do.”

As Logan spoke, he could see Cameron’s head lowering again, going back into a sadness that had probably been affecting the kid long before he’d come around. Cameron needed someone to cut him some slack, and in that moment, Logan was going to fill that need.

“But I was wrong.” He began, his voice keeping in line with a firm authority, causing Camerons forehead to wrinkle in confusion as he looked back up. Logan sighed, looking at him. “You got heart kid, a drive I haven’t seen in a long time. You were just lacking passion I guess. You were lacking a choice, and more than anything, I’m sorry you didn’t get one.”

Logan could see Cameron’s eyes go misty for the briefest moments. He looked visibly more relaxed. Like a heavy weight had been taken off his shoulders. He watched as Cameron chewed the inside of his cheek, trying to think of a reply, but Logan simply held up a hand, cracking a smile in an attempt to cut the emotional atmosphere that had filled the compartment.

“You don’t need to say anything back. Just seemed like it need to be said is all. Besides, I’m paid to be your trainer, not your therapist.”

Cameron chuckled, causing Logan to do the same. Then the kid stood and crossed over to where Logan was sitting, holding out a hand as the doors to the compartment opened.

“Thanks Logan. I appreciate it. Really.”

Logan’s smile grew, and he gave a nod, reaching out to take Cameron’s hand, standing up and turning to look out to the streets of the capital as they filled with commuters on their way to work.

“You’re welcome kid. Now, more importantly, are you hungry?” He asked looking over at Cameron with a raised eyebrow.

Cameron laughed, his grin going ear to ear as he nodded. “Yeah, I could eat.”