week 6, post trial

[robitussin]

[Their numbers keep falling. Three people have died already this week, with two more on the way tomorrow. With the outburst the townspeople gave them once the results came through... If anyone were feeling downhearted, it's to be expected at this point. Things continuing at their current pace is a frightening thought, after all. Like last week, the offer to spend time together or meet in a central location doesn't come.

Hawks and Dabi wait for the morning in their cells, but the rest of the tourists are free to wander about the town as they please; free to rest, to talk with each other, and to try to gather strength wherever they can. So, where does the evening find you, Cartesio?]

Comments

[robitussin]

...I'm guessing she wouldn't really approve, then.

[amburere]

Probably not. [ He seems proud of this, though. ]

She was always trying to be the mature one even though I'm the oldest.

[robitussin]

[There's a small pause, as she shifts slightly where she seats to face him easier.]

You ever miss her?

[amburere]

[ His voice is quieter, and he looks down at his hands as he answers. ]

Out of the rest of 'em, guess so.

[robitussin]

[It’s hard to tell whether it’s concern or sympathy in her expression, but there’s definitely something present.]

The rest of them?

[amburere]

Told you, 'm the oldest.

[ He looks up at her just then, and then holds up three fingers. This isn't something he wants to say aloud and she might be able to guess why considering he's glancing at the cell next door again. ]

[robitussin]

[She pauses once more, nodding when she realizes why he's staying silent.]

And... Are they the ones you said you wouldn't be able to help without your quirk?

[amburere]

Yeah. If you wanna call it that.

[robitussin]

What would you call it?

[amburere]

Vengeance.

[robitussin]

[That's not too far from what she expected, so she doesn't sound surprised, but the concern moves to the forefront of her voice.]

For what?

[amburere]

[ He stares at her unblinking, then leans forward. This is something he's only going to say once, and it's barely a whisper. ]

For what he did to us. [ She'll recognize it, it's the same he from all those weeks ago at the graveyard. ]

[robitussin]

[She leans forward in turn, breathing in when she hears him. Part of her is surprised she managed to get that much, but while she doesn't expect him to answer the next question...]

...Your scars?

[amburere]

The original ones. [ Somewhere on this battered body of his, there's scars not of his own making. But they're long buried now—he couldn't stand to look at them. ]

[robitussin]

[She suspects there are a fair few details she's missing in this equation, but even that is enough to prompt the following:]

He can get fucked.

[amburere]

[ He laughs and then smiles. Actually smiles for once, even if it's all wrong on his face. ]

And then some.

[robitussin]

[After a moment:]

You didn't deserve to end up like this.

[Whether she means who he is as a person or whether she's referring to his current position isn't clear, but she doesn't specify.]

[amburere]

That's just the way society is. [ And that's why he hates it and wants to burn it all down. ]

[robitussin]

...Maybe he is, but not all of it is.

[She sighs.]

I wish you could have grown up somewhere better.

[amburere]

...most of it. [ As much as he wishes he could be direct here, it's probably for his own good that he can't. So, moving on. ]

Why? Told you, I don't have any regrets.

[robitussin]

I know you don't.

[She takes another breath, crossing her arms over her torso before she continues.]

...But I don't want you to die. That's all.

[amburere]

[ ...ah. He wants to push back? But as much as it's instinctual, he can't manage that after everything that's happened. And not while she's looking at him like that. ]

Too late. Been on that road for a while.

[robitussin]

...It's too late this time, maybe. But I'm going to bring you back.

[But that means she's still worried about what the bigger picture means for him, when and if he returns home.]

[amburere]

Already died once. Twice is pushin' it. [ A pause before he realizes he needs to clarify. ] Not that way. Dabi isn't my real name.

[robitussin]

[A little firmer:]

I'm bringing you back.