I12DT: The Old-Fashioned Way

[John Hino]

John trotted faster. Something in the parking lot car park caught his attention. He missed a turn in the path and...

WHAM!

... collided with a lamp post. It clearly lost that fight, but it knocked him down nonetheless.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear stopped, and ran back, checking on him.

"John?" She asked, checking him over. He should be okay... She hoped...

[John Hino]

"I'm... okay... it's... just..." he stammered, staring at something.

"... my dad's... here..."

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear covered her mouth, glancing towards the car park.

"So.. Want to play dead?" She asked, teasing. Just a little.

[John Hino]

"It's tempting..." John said.

A tall Japanese man in an expensive suit was moving quickly towards them, obviously concerned over John's embarrassing collision.

"Are you alright, John?" Kazuhiro Hino asked.

"It... takes more than a lamppost to hurt me, Dad," John answered, still bewildered by his father's sudden presence.

[Byrna Cooper]

"Mister Hino, Sir. It's an honor."

[John Hino]

"A pleasure to meet you as well Miss...?" Mr. Hino responded.

John groaned quietly. He hadn't told his dad about Bear yet. Though, he assumed his dad somehow knew anyway as was being coy.

Kill me now.

[Byrna Cooper]

"Byrna Cooper, sir. But my friends call me Bear."

[John Hino]

"My son is lucky to have someone as lovely as you," Mr. Hino smiled.

"And there it is," John muttered quietly as he finally stood back up.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear smiled, as she held Johns hand as he stood up.

"Thank you, sir. I'm lucky to have him, as well." She was beaming.

[John Hino]

Any judgement of John's silence on the matter of having a girlfriend remained unsaid. John hated that.

"So... now that introductions are taken care of," John said, "Why... are you... here?"

"Can a father not visit his son?" Mr. Hino asked with a smirk. "I had a meeting with the owners of a British tech company I'm trying to acquire. Normally I'd teleconference it, but I saw a good opportunity to... drop in and surprise you."

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear held off the hug. For now.

[John Hino]

"You... really should have called first," John started, but backpedaled, "For your own safety, I mean, you know... X-Men stuff."

He gave Bear a pleading bump.

[Byrna Cooper]

"We are a bit occupied, with the cleanup and the training that is ongoing.."

[John Hino]

"Cleanup?" Mr. Hino asked.

[Byrna Cooper]

"We had a bit of a..scrum. Out by the lighthouse."

[John Hino]

"Norse trickster god, evil sorceress... giant squirrel... that kind of thing."

[Byrna Cooper]

"It was very serious, with a lot of damage to the grounds." Bear added, unsure how Mr. Hino would take it.

[John Hino]

"And you wonder why I worry," Mr. Hino teased his son,

"Was anyone hurt?"

[Byrna Cooper]

"A few.. But our infirmary is very, very good." She said, smiling.

[John Hino]

"Incredibly good," John nodded, "Not that I've been in there much."

Mr. Hino gave Bear a look that asked if John was being honest.

[Byrna Cooper]

"He's tough to crack, that's for sure!"

[John Hino]

"It's hard to believe such a fragile boy became so strong," Mr. Hino said, deep emotion creeping into his voice.

John raised a brow, "Are you okay Dad?"

Mr. Hino composed himself, "I'm just proud of you John. That's all."

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear's smile grew.

[John Hino]

John was floored. "You... but I... thought... you were still... mad I..."

"Disobeyed me and put yourself in harm's way?" Mr. Hino asked, "Seeing the results of the work you do here has given me reason to reevaluate a few things. I came to realize that you... you are your own man now." This was clearly difficult for the stoic, protective man to say, but there was also joy in it.

"Dad... I... don't even know what to say to that..."

God... please don't let him have cancer or something.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear, of course, hugged John.

[John Hino]

"You need say nothing," Mr. Hino smiled. "Now. Care to be my tour guides? I'm curious to see this most interesting place."

[Byrna Cooper]

"I think we can spare some time.."

[John Hino]

"Excellent!" Mr. Hino grinned delightedly.

John sighed quietly. This was going to be really weird day.