"I'm pretty sure you're not even paying attention."
Cain's eyes snapped to the young girl sitting in front of him. His faded blue eyes locked onto her brighter, clearer blue eyes. He sets a smile on his face at her pouting features and places one hand on top of the other, ignoring the nearly-silent sound of metal scratching on metal as his hands settle into a comfortable spot.
"My apologies, my thoughts escaped me for a moment."
Iris scrunches up her nose in a pouting sort of distaste before she sighs, rolling her eyes and looking away in true nearly-teenager fashion.
"Yeah, okay," she mutters under her breath, then goes silent. She doesn't turn back to look back at the older man across the table they sat at, instead looking down at the concrete ground with dim eyes. The silence stretches on for just a moment longer, neither of them willing to be the first to break it.
Cain opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted before he can utter a word.
"Iris," a male voice spoke to the left of them, causing both heads to turn towards the speaker. There they saw a tall, fit man walking towards them in heavy mission gear. His short ginger hair was tousled and shot with streaks of gray, one of the many signs of his older age. He offered up a smile as he approached, but his stance was tense and the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He stopped a foot away from their table and glanced at Cain. Cain offered a polite smile, but the older looking man didn't return the gesture again. The smile hadn't been for him.
"Sorry for interrupting your little tea party, but we've got a mission to get ready for," He gestured at the small set up they had on the table, plates of food and cups half-full of varying drinks - although nothing even remotely related to plants.
"I understand, Agent Squire," Cain nods shortly to the man, then turns to address the young girl, now tense in her seat and looking at him with almost pleading eyes. He knew she didn't want to go, knew she would rather be anywhere else than go on another mission with the team she'd been assigned to.
"Good luck, Iris."
She flinched slightly, as if she'd been physically struck. Nodding mutely, she stands from her seat and begins following the Agent, who places a reassuring hand on her shoulder and leads her away. To her credit, she doesn't even look over her shoulder as she's lead away.
Cain watches them go, but doesn't say anything. He feels pity for the young girl, knowing she's far too young to be subjected to the kind of violence she lived in every day now. Seeing the innocence of a child being torn away day by day was not a kind site to see, nor was it something he would ever hope onto a child so young.
He let the smile drop from his face and stood from his seat, beginning the job of clearing the table.
She could handle it. She was strong. Stronger than he was when he'd been forced into that kind of life.