15th metal . private messages

[godsays]

[ Private to Chris ]

Do I have to kill him?

[ Guess who just woke up and saw the kerfuffle. Zero to rage in thirty-one seconds. ]

[ Private to Cassel ]

Are you well enough to make metals? Because if so, I'm going to ask for pewter, iron and steel.

If not...

[ He doesn't finish that. ]

Comments

spam!!

[godsays]

[ He breathes long and smooth, a rhythm that Cassel can match. Doesn't stop stroking his back, holding him steady, holding him close. ]

I'm sorry I wasn't there.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

[He takes his cues from Zane, leans his head on his shoulder, wipes his eyes.]

It's okay. You're here now.

spam!!

[godsays]

[ He's here, but he's not here. He's somewhere else, a place where Harvey's life is leaking out around his fingers. It's harder than ever to wrestle down the urge to kill - not because it's stronger, but because he doesn't want to.

But he will stay. Here. Physically. He won't let himself move. ]

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

Thank you. For listening to me.

[A few more heartbeats of quiet.]

I love you.

spam!!

[godsays]

I love you.

I'll listen to you. I promise.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

Thanks.

I just don't want to have to fall apart anymore.

spam!!

[godsays]

Where is Chris?

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

[He opens his mouth to answer, thinking it's another question, any other question.]

[Then he closes it, lips tight.]

spam!!

[godsays]

...the coward.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

No.

[Almost inaudible. Pleading. Don't.]

spam!!

[godsays]

No what?

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

No, he's not. He'll be back.

[He's clinging to this certainty fiercely. If he lets go, he has to let go of everything.]

spam!!

[godsays]

He'd better.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

He will. He's just being too much like me right now.

spam!!

[godsays]

That's my job.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

[He laughs. It's not actually that funny.]

He's being the part of me that - pities himself. And I don't like that part very much.

spam!!

[godsays]

No one likes pity.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

No. I understand it, but I don't like it.

spam!!

[godsays]

I don't pity you.

I'm angry.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

I know. I know you are, I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened. I couldn't fight him.

But - Kon's going to help, I think. He said he'd ask the Admiral for some of my work back.

spam!!

[godsays]

Your powers.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

Yeah.

[He chews his lip nervously.]

Is - that not a good thing?

spam!!

[godsays]

No. It's good. I'm glad.

spam!!

[patheticvillain]

[Oh. He sighs a little, pleased.]

Yeah. I think I am too.

[Which is surprising, really.]

spam!!

[godsays]

Will it... hurt again?