Clarice was difficult to figure out. Moira had seen many children come into the Institute, their eyes wide with uncertainty or fear. So many of them had come from homes that feared them, homes where the best their parents could offer them was secrecy. There were others with worse lives. She had never forgotten Rahne clinging to her, her eyes pleading with her to love her.
Clarice was different. The girl was cold, unreachable. She wasn't aloof or arrogant: she just didn't seem to care. Scott had offered her his friendship and Clarice had walked away, uninterested. She had simply stared at Ororo when she'd done the same thing.
Moira had thought that the girl wanted some space, so she had tried to give it to her. Rahne hadn't understood. She was Clarice's cheerful shadow, peppering her with questions and trying to get her to play outside. Although Rahne was quiet on the matter, Moira knew that it hurt that Clarice was ignoring her.
They still didn't know what it was that had happened to her in the labs, although Hank's physical had revealed that, whatever had happened, it wasn't extensive. All of her limbs were intact and she was suffering only mild nerve damage. There wasn't a mark on her.
She had, in no uncertain terms, let them no that there was no one looking for her. Her voice had been matter-of-fact and bored when she told them that her parents were dead. Moira had expressed her sympathy, and Clarice had shrugged.
It wasn't as though she were angry or resentful of them. Clarice wasn't grateful either, didn't want to talk to them, didn't want to know more about the people who had rescued her. She wasn't disobedient or defensive. She went to her classes and listened to lectures. Clarice did well in her school work. She didn't shut herself up in her room or avoid company. Clarice just wasn't interested in it.
The girl's overall apathy frightened Moira. There were no emotions there, almost as though she didn't dare show any. She wasn't afraid, didn't see anything as interesting or amazing. It was almost as though she were merely going through the motions of life.
She'd discussed the problem with Charles. While he kept himself busy for most of the day, he'd make time for her. Broaching the subject had been easier than she'd expected. He'd been worried about Clarice too, although he urged delicacy. He cited her youth, although Moira noted that she was only a year younger than Scott.
"I don't claim to know everything about mutants, or people for that matter Moira," Charles said, "And I won't go into her mind uninvited. That would just do more harm then good, since I doubt she really trusts us yet. But...I think that she doesn't quite understand that she's safe."
"Why not?" Moira said.
"From what I've seen of her, she's still very defensive," Charles said, "Horrible things have happened to her, and whatever walls she had to build to survive them are still up. Her experiences have left her confused. I'm not sure she knows what safe is, and part of me worries that she thinks that this is the abnormal thing, this peace."
Moira closed her eyes.
"If that's true, then it's terrible," she said, "If she doesn't know what safety and peace are, then how are we supposed to help her?"
"She just...I think that she's waiting for some sort of sign."
"What sign?" Moira asked, "We've never run into this before."
"I wouldn't say that. Rahne didn't think it was safe for a while."
"That's not the same thing," Moira said, "She didn't think it was safe to be apart from me. She at least...she knew that there was such a thing as safety."
"Yes, you. You were the one she went to Moira."
"That doesn't-"
She felt his hand on hers. She opened her eyes as he brought it to her lips.
"Moira, Clarice needs time, just as Rahne needed time," he said.
"I know," Moira said quietly, "I just wish I could help her."
"I know," Charles said.
His eyes met hers. Moira found herself sighing and he drew circles on the back of her hand. Sometimes she wondered how, despite everything, she had been so fortunate. The man she loved understood and listened to her, and there was a beautiful child who called her mother. Moira had often wondered how she had made it so far without them.
It was funny in a way. Charles had once told her that he wondered how he'd made it so far without her. She found herself lacing her fingers with his more, a small sign that she wasn't going to let him go.
There was a knock on the door. Charles released Moira's hand. Public displays of affection weren't appropriate around children.
"Come in!" he said.
Rahne peeped around the door. She saw Moira and grinned.
"I thought I smelt you mama!" she said, "I was just looking for you."
"Why?" Moira asked.
"I wanted to show you something," Rahne said.
Moira exchanged a glance with Charles. He smiled at her and she inclined her head. Rahne always wanted to show her something.
"Alright," she said.
She waved to Charles and Rahne took her other hand. She all but pulled Moira downstairs into the library. Scott and his friends were conspicuously absent, but Rahne pulled her over to the sofa where her backpack was resting.
She let go of Moira's hand and began rummaging through it. Rahne pulled out a piece of paper in triumph.
"Got it!" she said.
She handed the paper to Moira, her eyes glowing as she hopped from foot to foot. Moira saw neat cursive writing filling the page. In the corner an 'A' had been written in in red marker. She smiled and Rahne smiled back.
"This is amazing Rahne," Moira said, "You're doing so well."
"Thank you," Rahne said, her voice shy, "I wanted to do well so I could show you."
Moira leaned over and kissed Rahne on the forehead.
"You always do well," she said.
Rahne smiled up at her and the door opened. Clarice walked in. She glanced at them for a moment before pulling a book from the shelves.
"Hey Clarice!" Rahne said.
Clarice didn't say anything. She turned and walked out of the room. Rahne watched her go.
"She doesn't like me," Rahne said.
"No, honey, that's not it," Moira said.
Rahne looked at Moira, her eyes wide.
"If she doesn't like me, then why doesn't she say hi?" Rahne said, "There are some mean kids that don't like me, but they look at me sometimes, and they say hi."
"Who's mean?" Moira said, her voice sharp.
Rahne blinked.
"No one really," she said, "Not after Scott told 'em he'd pummel 'em if they were. And then Alex came and he said that he'd help and-"
"Uh huh," Moira said.
Rahne swallowed, looking nervous.
"But she won't say hi to me," Rahne said.
Moira filed away her daughter's comment for another time. She didn't approve of fighting, but she was going to find out just who had irritated Scott enough that he'd threatened to call in Alex. He didn't do that lightly.
"Rahne," Moira said, "You're a very kind girl. But you know that there are some people in this world that aren't kind."
Rahne nodded, her eyes still wide.
"So you know that there are people out there who hurt others," Moira said, "Clarice was hurt. We still don't know how much."
Her daughter looked at the floor.
"Like me?" Rahne asked.
A lump formed in Moira's throat.
"I'm not sure," she said, "People took her and locked her away for a long time. I think that Clarice is a little scared right now. She needs time to figure everything out before she puts down too many ties. She just doesn't want to talk to people right now."
Rahne nodded, still looking at the floor. Suddenly, her face lit up.
"Thanks mama," she said.
There was a glint in Rahne's eye that Moira didn't trust. It reminded her too much of Scott when he'd figured out another way to get into the garage.
"What are you thinking?" Moira asked.
"How to help Clarice!" Rahne said.
Moira reached out, wondering about how she could explain so that Rahne would understand that Clarice needed to be left alone. Instead of standing still, Rahne took off. Moira's heart leapt into her mouth. Surely she wasn't going to go after her now?
Appearances suggested that she was though. Moira hurried after her. Rahne was fast though, and a class had just let out. Moira struggled through the crowds, looking for a hint of her daughter.
She didn't know what Clarice would do if Rahne continued to annoy her. Moira didn't think that Clarice would hurt her, but she would most likely say something. Rahne was sensitive, and Moira could see her bursting into tears if Clarice was cruel.
Moira thought she saw the purple of her daughter's dress near the study. The halls had cleared, and Moira was able to get closer. She arrived in the doorway and saw that Clarice and Rahne were on the far side of the room.
"What do you want?" Clarice asked.
Rahne looked at her for a minute. Moira was about to call out to her, but Rahne flung her arms around Clarice. Clarice stared straight ahead, shocked. Moira stared too, uncertain about what was happening.
"I know it hurts," Rahne whispered, "People hurt me too."
Moira felt her heart beat faster.
"Every day," Rahne said, "I asked God if he'd help. If he'd do something. And then I was running, and all these people wanted to kill me. And I thought that they were going to."
Rahne's words seemed to trail together.
"And I told myself that it wouldn't hurt anymore when I was gone, but I didn't want to go," she said, "And I kept asking him to take me somewhere safe, and he took me here."
Rahne hugged Clarice tighter.
"So don't give up," she murmured, "And it's okay if you don't want to talk or be friends right now, if you're not ready. When you're ready, just tell me."
Moira felt the world slow. Her daughter's words had been heartfelt, but not pained. She had known that Rahne was deeply religious, almost to the point where it was strange. She was still so young. However, it was obvious that God had been the only friend that Rahne had been able to count on in her life.
She hadn't known that Rahne was willing to share her story with a complete stranger. Her heart swelled with pride at her daughter's actions. Time was passing though, and it appeared that Clarice wasn't going to do anything. Rahne was still holding onto Clarice, and Clarice was still staring ahead.
Moira began to inch forward when it happened. Clarice took in a harsh breath and her face scrunched up. A moment later she let out a wail and threw her arms around Rahne. Moira watched in shock as the impassive girl of the past month melted into a scared, weeping child.
Clarice sank to her knees. Rahne did the same, her own eyes dry. She looked over at Moira and smiled a little. Moira nodded to her.
"You always do well," she whispered.
Despite Clarice's tears, the look on Rahne's face told Moira that she'd heard.