Ben's not really sure what to expect after that blunt revelation. Klaus had told some people - boyfriends, rehab group therapies, etcetera - about their father, but the reaction there was always colored by those people's knowledge of the Umbrella Academy, their preconceived notions about Hargreeves, and by their opinion towards Klaus and his reliability. Cho is approaching this without any of that.
"Of course you had no idea. How could you have?"
He can understand how she feels guilty for accidentally stepping on what must seem to her like a land mine, but Ben gives a rolling shrug and reassures, "I promise, no offense taken."
And in his voice and expression, he really doesn't seem offended, or hurt. His amusement is wry and sarcastic, and yeah it's a coping mechanism, but it's working for him just great thanks. He had called his dad an abusive monster because that is what he was, but simply relating the fact of it isn't necessarily always painful.
All that changes when Cho keeps talking, starts earnestly theorizing on why his birth family might have sold him and what his mother might have been going through at the time. Trying to see it from their perspective, sympathize with why they would make such a choice. As soon as she starts down that path, Ben's gaze slides away from Cho, his expression falling into something decidedly closed-off, a quiet stillness settling over him. The thing is, she doesn't even have all the facts. It's obvious to him why his family wouldn't have wanted him, considering the circumstances of his birth. Him even more than his siblings, considering his mother had definitely died giving birth to him. But even though he could explain to her that it's very simple and understandable why they'd done it, and probably had nothing to do with wanting a better future for him... he is definitely not going to do that.
"I wouldn't know."
He realizes how curt that answer must sound, and relents, slightly. Cho is trying to make him feel better about being given up. He can tell that at least. Her intentions are good. She deserves more than a shutdown like that. Even if her speculation had made him feel like garbage and the apology didn't do anything to undo that.
"The only thing I know is he got me from Korea, and my mother died giving birth to me, so it wasn't really her call."
He'd only found out that tidbit of information by accident, snooping through Reginald's notes about his training and his powers. Ben had managed to sneak a look into one of his father's journals, and had seen a note that mentioned his mother dying in labor, speculating about the connection it might have to his powers. That had certainly been an unpleasant surprise.
no subject
"Of course you had no idea. How could you have?"
He can understand how she feels guilty for accidentally stepping on what must seem to her like a land mine, but Ben gives a rolling shrug and reassures, "I promise, no offense taken."
And in his voice and expression, he really doesn't seem offended, or hurt. His amusement is wry and sarcastic, and yeah it's a coping mechanism, but it's working for him just great thanks. He had called his dad an abusive monster because that is what he was, but simply relating the fact of it isn't necessarily always painful.
All that changes when Cho keeps talking, starts earnestly theorizing on why his birth family might have sold him and what his mother might have been going through at the time. Trying to see it from their perspective, sympathize with why they would make such a choice. As soon as she starts down that path, Ben's gaze slides away from Cho, his expression falling into something decidedly closed-off, a quiet stillness settling over him. The thing is, she doesn't even have all the facts. It's obvious to him why his family wouldn't have wanted him, considering the circumstances of his birth. Him even more than his siblings, considering his mother had definitely died giving birth to him. But even though he could explain to her that it's very simple and understandable why they'd done it, and probably had nothing to do with wanting a better future for him... he is definitely not going to do that.
"I wouldn't know."
He realizes how curt that answer must sound, and relents, slightly. Cho is trying to make him feel better about being given up. He can tell that at least. Her intentions are good. She deserves more than a shutdown like that. Even if her speculation had made him feel like garbage and the apology didn't do anything to undo that.
"The only thing I know is he got me from Korea, and my mother died giving birth to me, so it wasn't really her call."
He'd only found out that tidbit of information by accident, snooping through Reginald's notes about his training and his powers. Ben had managed to sneak a look into one of his father's journals, and had seen a note that mentioned his mother dying in labor, speculating about the connection it might have to his powers. That had certainly been an unpleasant surprise.