[reverse darkest timeline AU: and this is the way out of here]

[stilljustandrew]

He's tried to think about taking off the cuffs, as Brix told him to. It's hard to think about: painful, and frightening, and disturbing in a way that's somehow worse than either. It feels wrong.

But he said he would try, and he's been trying. It isn't his fault if it's too hard to keep doing for long.

Comments

[hadyougoing]

Ava's expression is pleasantly neutral as she escorts Brix down the hall. She's not sure what to expect, honestly, and she's trying to steel herself in case it's not good.

But she does slide Brix one glance that cracks a little--just a hint of anxiety flashing through.

Then it's back to business. "Hey Andrew."

[stilljustandrew]

He glances up, and his eyes flick between the two of them.

"H-hey." It's not very loud.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix gives an encouraging smile to both of them.

"We've a question for you, if you're amenable to talking at the moment."

[stilljustandrew]

"Uh --"

He has to stifle an impulse to shove his hands behind his back, to hide his wrists.

"Sure," he says, "do you, uh ... " Looking between them again, uncertainly. "Do you want to come in?"

[hadyougoing]

Ava isn't looking at his wrists, anyway.

"Brix?" she says, canting her voice to amicable inquiry.

[gothamsheiress]

"Of course," she says, as easily as if he were inviting them in for tea. She steps forward through the barrier and takes a chair; Baby provides another one for Ava, if she should want it. "Thank you."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew scoots back to give them both room, sitting at the far end of his mattress, back against the wall.

"So, um ... ?"

[gothamsheiress]

Brix smooths her skirts as Ava takes a seat, glances at Ava, then meets Andrew's gaze.

"Would you like to spend some time in the bar itself?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew blinks.



"You mean like ... out of the cell?"

[hadyougoing]

Ava nods.

"With a chaperone."

[stilljustandrew]

"I don't ..."

He trails off, and swallows visibly.

"Why?"

[gothamsheiress]

"Excellent though Baby's accommodations are," Brix says, waving at their surroundings, "I thought you might be getting tired of these four walls. Not to mention of seeing no-one but myself and Security."

[hadyougoing]

"Not that we aren't awesome," Ava puts in, with a faint rueful look. "But--right. Mix it up a little."

[stilljustandrew]

The offer is both tempting and frightening in itself. And he doesn't know why it's being made, and that's even more frightening.

"Would I ... do I have to do something?"

[gothamsheiress]

"No," firmly. "This isn't a bargain. It's just an offer. And you aren't obliged to take it, if you're happier staying in here."

[stilljustandrew]

"I don't --"

He swallows again, looks at the hallway outside.

"I don't get why you'd let me out. Even temporarily."

[hadyougoing]

Ava rubs her temple.

Here's her irrational fury, right on schedule: Stop acting like such a scared little rabbit, Andrew. Yes or freaking no? She does her best to quell it: think about trees. Think about a blank classroom chalkboard.

"Brix can explain better than I can."

[gothamsheiress]

Brix gives Ava a sidelong, assessing glance.

"Certainly." She looks back to Andrew. "I worry that staying in here makes you feel like a prisoner, not a person. And if you stay here too long with only a few people to speak with and only these walls to look at, soon you'll find yourself unable to face anything else." She shrugs slightly. "We are not made to be isolated. It tends to make us sick."

[stilljustandrew]

"But --"

But I am a prisoner, he can't quite say out loud.



"What if I try to escape?"

[gothamsheiress]

"If I thought that likely," calmly, "I would not have suggested it."

[stilljustandrew]

He bites his lip hard.




"But what if I do."

[hadyougoing]

"We'll stop you," Ava says lightly.

[stilljustandrew]

His gaze drops to the floor, and he nods. The slight sag of his shoulders looks like resignation, but also a little like relief.

"Okay."

[gothamsheiress]

"And we'll try again later," Brix adds, nodding.

[stilljustandrew]

"And --" He looks up again. "If, if someone comes in from ... from my lord. They'll want to take me back with them. If they see me."