[reverse darkest timeline AU: cellthread #2]

[stilljustandrew]

[Previously: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

What's worried Baby the most, over the past few days --

Well. What's upset her the most is Andrew's consistent refusal to speak to her mind-to-mind, or out loud beyond the few necessary words she might exchange with any other inmate, such as requests for food, fresh clothes, an extra blanket.

But what's worried her is that he hasn't asked for anything to pass the time. No tablet with games or videos on it, no pencil and paper, no baseball to bounce off the opposite wall.

No books.



In the cell, Andrew finishes his breakfast (cornflakes, with sliced banana), sets aside the bowl, and settles down leaning against the wall.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

His eyes well up and spill over again, and he lowers his face back into his arms.

He's holding on to both cuff-rings now, in a close-drawn gesture like gripping his own wrists.

[gothamsheiress]

"I'm truly sorry. Andrew, I am. It must seem as though the officers here are doing just what he did, and that -- and it must seem as though you're being punished not only for what you did but what was done to you.

"But they don't wish to hurt you, or punish you. Nor do I. I can see that you've been hurt and I would see you healed. And if I sent you back--" A breath, in, out, steady and smooth as a sword's blade. "I would be no better than the angels who turned a blind eye to my parents' deaths."

[stilljustandrew]

He doesn't respond, except with a higher hunch of his shoulders.

[gothamsheiress]

Eventually, quietly: "Would you like to be alone for a little while?"

[stilljustandrew]

The movement of his head is barely visible, but if you're watching closely it's a nod.

[gothamsheiress]

"All right."

She rises, smooths her skirts, and turns to walk through the cell wall again.

[stilljustandrew]

Just as she reaches the wall, Andrew lifts his head a fraction.

"Wait," he half-whispers.

[gothamsheiress]

She turns, eyebrows lifting.

"Yes?"

[stilljustandrew]

He swallows, then raises his head from his arms and looks up at her pleadingly.

"If, if you won't tell them to let me go back ... could you at least ask them to let me sleep somewhere else? I, I can't sleep well in here."

[gothamsheiress]

She blinks.

"What's the matter?"

[stilljustandrew]

"I have bad dreams."

He leans toward her, just a little.

"I just, even if they lock me in, wherever, I don't care, just not here."

[gothamsheiress]

"I'll ask."

She hesitates, thinking.

"I know some breathing methods that could help you to center yourself, when the dreams come. And some tisanes that could help them from coming at all. I won't say they're perfect, but they're better than nothing when it's dark."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew shakes his head as she's speaking, his face creasing miserably.

"I don't --" He presses his lips together. "I, I'll try them, but -- I just need to be out of here. To sleep. Even, even just for one night, I promise I'll come back quietly in the morning."

[gothamsheiress]

"Would you let someone stay with you?"

[stilljustandrew]

He nods, immediately.

"They could be armed, even. Whatever."

[gothamsheiress]

"All right. I'll ask. And I'll be back -- soon, if not immediately. And, Andrew . . ."

[stilljustandrew]

He looks up at her with wary hope.

[gothamsheiress]

"Thank you for talking with me. And for listening to me."

[stilljustandrew]

He swallows again, visibly.

"Thanks. F-for coming. And for asking."

[gothamsheiress]

She nods. "I'll leave you alone, now."

The wall offers no more resistance going out than it did going in. Brix's gait is measured and graceful as she goes down the hall.

When she's sure she's out of sight of Andrew's cell, she stops, closes her eyes, presses her hands to her mouth. This work leaves her heartsick, not to mention drained. She'd expected--

It hardly matters what she expected. Naamah came to the King of Persis out of compassion, not out of expectation. Listen to the patron before you, not the one you wish was there.

After a minute or so to compose herself, she returns to the front office to look for Ava.

[hadyougoing]

Ava's in the same spot she left her, working industriously on her papers.

(However, curiously enough for someone so intent, she doesn't seem to have gotten any farther on than she was when Brix left.)

She looks up, cautious.

"How'd it go?"

[gothamsheiress]

"It's difficult to say." She comes to sit across from Ava. "There were moments where I thought we might be getting somewhere. But it was not . . . easy. Not for him."

[hadyougoing]

Ava's expression is tough to read.

"But you thought he was listening to you?"

[gothamsheiress]

"Most of the time."

[hadyougoing]

Her lips quirk.

"That's more than I got."