( closed )

[imaginate]

Characters: Kyle & various.
Date: Catch-all log for July.
Location: All around.
Situation: Various.
Warnings/Rating: War horrors, child abuse, mention of torture, physical and psychological.
Notes: [Action] or prose are all good. Ping me if you'd like a specific setup/threadstarter.

Comments

[imaginate]

Kyle is probably the only person on the turtle, or in the world in general, who can, without irony or mockery, say that Damian's words and presence were soothing to him.

'No, I'm not alone.' Whether he intends this as a statement referring to the incident, or in general, he doesn't specify. Instead, he lowers them both to the roof.

'Thanks for coming.'

[demon_brat]

Kyle is one of the few people who can tell what Damian means when even Damian's not aware that he means it. Just demonstrated.

The boy holds his breath for a moment, then manages a shrug. "It seemed more appropriate than dealing with--" the anger that he saw "-- this over the console."

This - any of this they talk about or do - is not for others to see. Nor is the acknowledgment of the anger. It simply is not.

"Do you want to resume some part of the practices in the mornings?" Not yet the actual sword work. But some of it might assist the rest of the recovery... and the working-out of some of the anger.

[imaginate]

'You are the son of the World's Greatest Detective.' Yes, I feel better when you're here, rather than across a screen.

A lot of things now can go completely unspoken between them, but still perfectly understood. It's comfortable.

A pause, as he considers. 'Yes. I've found someone who can match me for strength: she's called Miria. It's time I matched her speed as much as I could. More training would help.'

[demon_brat]

"... I am." Of course you do, though Damian is torn between almost tempted to do something idiotic, like stick his tongue out, and dragged back by memories of people referring to his Father as the Detective.

But his eyebrows rise at the last part.

"How fast?"

[imaginate]

'Uh - really fast. Like.. speedster fast.'

[demon_brat]

Damian considers that.

"That may take a while."

And it is not about the physical shape and reaction time, though that takes work, too. It is shifting one's mindset, dealing with speedsters. You have to ignore where they are and react to where they will be, instead.

[imaginate]

'Well, it's not like we don't have time.'

The statement is wry, a little bitter. He's managed (or so he hopes) to establish some sort of balance between working and resting, but the lack of the Corps, and the unclear definition of duty (Salaak was always better at interpreting, Kyle had only to decide whether to obey or rebel) was another weight on his shoulders.

'Is it bad I occasionally wish for a squid monster just so I have something large enough to punch?'

He yearns to cut loose, when he can. This, he knows Damian understands.

[demon_brat]

... Damian tries to come up with an appropriate response to the first words... and fails. Because it tosses his mind right back towards thinking of how people can disappear with no warning, overnight. And so maybe they don't have time, and he - he opts to not answer, instead.

"I fought a squid monster. With Brown and several others. Well, a kedan in the shape of a squid monster, but there nonetheless."

What. He did.

But he also does understand, way too well, about needing to cut loose. Maybe one of these days they'll have something else to do that against.

[imaginate]

He gives Damian a curious, questioning look. Was he about to say something in response to an innocuous statement? Well, Kyle won't press. When it's important and relevant, it'll be said, and not before. That's the way things are.

The other statement catches him off-guard. He frowns.

'When was this?'

[demon_brat]

Yeah, it's not something you want to be reminded about, Kyle. Though the other topic will hardly be any better.

"Shortly before Jackson made his announcement about the cloning facility. I suspect that is what the kedan was - were, I assume, though we only encountered one - protecting."

[imaginate]

'You were there?' Anxiety, concern, disgust, and curiosity all flash across his face in quick succession. 'Are you-- did you manage to get a good look?'

[demon_brat]

"No." Immediate, certain. "From what I gathered, the cloning facility was deeper than could have been reached without - underwater advantages."

Atlanteans. Children of Poseidon. That kind of thing.

Do you think he would have held back if he'd been at the cloning facility himself, Kyle?

[imaginate]

'So you didn't actually enter the facility yourself? What happened?'

[demon_brat]

"No. We fought the squid, then we needed to recover to the land again. I... had taken way too much of the ink it spewed."

Stephanie had brought him out. No matter how unpleasant he had been before that, no matter how little he thought he deserved to be anything at the time, she had gotten him out of the water.

(He missed her.)

[imaginate]

Someone'd caught him when he fell. That was all Kyle could ask - because it was what Damian needed most and somebody had given it to him.

'Next time, call me before all the excitement, yeah?'

I want to look out for you too.

[demon_brat]

"There were suspicious loads leaving Keeliai and heading out towards the edge. We noticed one as it was leaving and followed it, did not expect such a situation."

I will.

[imaginate]

'Almost everything here is suspicious.' He heaves a sigh, runs a hand through his hair. 'Anyway, you're out safe and that place has been destroyed.'

You're safe, that's all that matters.

[demon_brat]

"Well, so it is, but that was before the rationing and the problems it came alongside, some things were more conspicuous. And, yes, I am fine, now."

'You are safe' might be a little bit beyond Damian's comprehension at this point, but he still. Accepts the statement of fact, if not necessarily the reassurance.

And accepts the importance, too. Which is more than he would be able to, with many others.

[imaginate]

'I'm fine, too.'

He's not, not truly, but it's the best they've got in these circumstances. Looking down, at the wreck of the clinic, he sighs.

'If I'm not, I'll get there soon anyway.' You're on my side.

[demon_brat]

I am. Steady, confident, maybe shifting a little closer to Kyle, even if not touching.

"This will get repaired. And it will not occur again."

[imaginate]

Never is a surprisingly short time.

'Yeah, a few people are on their way. I'd better go meet them.'

He looks at Damian questioningly, slightly worried. 'Good luck.. with diplomacy.' Not out of lack of confidence for the kid's talents, but just general worry that Korra might see fit to blast him or something. One never knew, with the volatile types.

[demon_brat]

... there are lessons that Damian has yet to learn (but it is).

"Thank you. Let me know of the estimate they give you."

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