[reverse darkest timeline AU: cellthread #3]

[stilljustandrew]

It's been about two days.

Nobody's come for him.



Andrew's lying down, staring at the far wall.

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[gothamsheiress]

Brix hesitates -- considers -- changes her mind about what she was going to say.

"And you did agree to follow his orders, so that he would not give you to Meg."

[stilljustandrew]

"Some of His orders," he half-whispers. "I didn't take oath to Him until later."

[gothamsheiress]

She nods.

"Andrew -- I do understand why you agreed to follow some of his orders." Her voice is low, but earnest. "You had no other choice. In your place I think I would do the same." She shakes her head again. "I did do much the same."

[stilljustandrew]

He blinks up at her, the question in his eyes -- and focuses on her face for the first time.

And, slowly, develops a deep line between his brows.

"... When?" he asks, low.

[gothamsheiress]

She's quiet, for a long moment.




"A lover of mine was kidnapped," she says, finally, "a year or so ago, by men who sought to secure my inheritance for their own use. And I would have given anything to keep him safe and whole. I would have agreed to anything."

There is an undercurrent of chagrin in her tone, something just short of shame. She looks down at her hands in her lap. "I said I would be willing to wed his kidnapper. And if circumstances had not been what they were" -- a deep breath -- "I would have kept to that agreement. I would have looked for a way out, yes, but . . ."

She shakes her head, still not looking at him. "And Grue de Agen had not the tenth of the power of your Lucifer. He could have harmed my body, my mind, my friend, but if I had taken my life, that would have been the end of it. And yet--"

[stilljustandrew]

Soft, and strangely numb: "You had to save him."

[gothamsheiress]

"Whatever the cost. Yes."

[stilljustandrew]

His turn to look down, in a mix of something like shame and something like envy.

"I get it."

[gothamsheiress]

"I know you do," she murmurs.

"I think you might understand as few others would."

[stilljustandrew]

"But that was ..." He looks up, that deep furrow between his eyebrows returning, puzzlement or worry. "You said that was a year ago. Not ..."

[gothamsheiress]

She glances up at him, eyebrows raised.

[stilljustandrew]

"Did ..."




He gestures, half unconsciously, to his own throat.

"Did someone hurt you?"

[gothamsheiress]

"--Oh."

She lifts a hand to the bruises on her throat.

"Not in any ways I didn't wish."

That, at least, she isn't self-conscious about.

[stilljustandrew]

"..."


"Oh." Almost soundlessly.

[gothamsheiress]

She probably should have seen that coming. Even D'Angelines get weird about the idea that anyone outside Valerian might have a taste for sharper pleasures. And as much as she enjoys scandalizing the City's high society on occasion, this is not the time.

"I'm sorry. Does that make you uncomfortable? I can get something to cover them."

[stilljustandrew]

"No," he mumbles, "it's okay, I just thought --"

He shakes his head, drawing in on himself again. "Stupid of me."

[gothamsheiress]

"It isn't."

She half smiles.

"I didn't think you'd be so concerned for me. But I thank you for it."

[stilljustandrew]

He blinks, hard, and rubs his eyes.

"You were for me." Muffled. "You still are. Or, or at least ..."

[gothamsheiress]

She tips her head to the side.

"I am here for you. As best I can be."

[stilljustandrew]

He bites his lips together, as though to keep himself silent.

It doesn't work for very long.

"Why?"

[gothamsheiress]

"You need help, and if I can offer some measure of it, I want to."

She shrugs slightly.

"You deserve to be treated justly, just as everyone does, and I think you deserve to be treated kindly, as well."

[stilljustandrew]

"So not because --"

His mouth twists for a moment.

"Because you want me to change sides again. Forget who I belong to."

[gothamsheiress]

"I would rather help you remember that you belong to yourself."

[stilljustandrew]

He shivers, and draws in on himself further.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix shakes her head.

"I don't know if you believe me."

About her intentions, or about his autonomy.