[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.

Comments

[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.

[stilljustandrew]

"I don't know either. I don't ..."

It's something of the same air he had the other day, of fear at approaching the edge of an unsafe subject.

"What if ..."

[gothamsheiress]

She raises her eyebrows and waits for him to finish.

[stilljustandrew]

He tries to speak, once, twice; hooks one finger through a cuff-ring and squeezes it tight, and tries again.



"What if I don't want to. Belong to myself."

[gothamsheiress]

"I don't think it's a matter of wanting to," she says, thoughtful. "I think you simply do."

She cocks her head, considering him.

"Belonging to yourself means that you must take responsibility for yourself, though. And I know that can be hard, fearfully hard."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew looks away.

(It's clearer this time: he doesn't believe her.)

[gothamsheiress]

All right, different tactic.

"Why don't you want to belong to yourself?"