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( the central city apartment was meant to be more of a safehouse, after the tower in new york had been - shared with others following stark's disappearance. and it is, still. to an extent. but jason's also started to realize he's treating it more like a home than a safehouse; the kitchen is full of cooking supplies, the couches have stupid fancy pillows on them, he has bookshelves full of his favorites and half-read books on the coffee table. the gaming console he'd gotten after kyle started bitching about his lack of hobbies is set up to a massive tv against one wall.
it's lived in, which both means jason needs to keep it even more safe, but at the same time - he's less cautious about letting people he considers close know where it is.
accelerator just happens to be among those numbers.
so the kid gets an invite right to jason's own four bedroom apartment that he shares with dick junior and kyle for his 'bomb lessons' they'd been discussing. jason's got wires, c4, and various other bits and baubles thrown around the coffee table, the television's running through some documentary on koala bears in the background, and jason's calling out a "security's off, let yourself in" soon as he knows accelerator's close enough to the door to count.
there's cameras in the hallway. movement sensors. various other batbullshit to keep people from sneaking up on him because fuck that. which also means he knows accelerator's coming before the kid's close enough to knock. )
it's lived in, which both means jason needs to keep it even more safe, but at the same time - he's less cautious about letting people he considers close know where it is.
accelerator just happens to be among those numbers.
so the kid gets an invite right to jason's own four bedroom apartment that he shares with dick junior and kyle for his 'bomb lessons' they'd been discussing. jason's got wires, c4, and various other bits and baubles thrown around the coffee table, the television's running through some documentary on koala bears in the background, and jason's calling out a "security's off, let yourself in" soon as he knows accelerator's close enough to the door to count.
there's cameras in the hallway. movement sensors. various other batbullshit to keep people from sneaking up on him because fuck that. which also means he knows accelerator's coming before the kid's close enough to knock. )
[There's a slow, uncertain dread that's growing in Accelerator as he approaches the address, especially when he realizes it's an apartment and not just a warehouse or abandoned and derelict building. He's doing his best to ignore it, but it's one of those things that, when it creeps into your head, doesn't go away.
Logically, he knows it's because this is all kind of.... normal. Not the making bombs part, but going over to someone else's apartment like it's some casual social thing, the fact that Jason already mentioned his younger brother being present which means socializing with someone his own age, the part where he willingly agreed this wasn't a completely terrible idea, for some stupid reason. It is a terrible idea, he doesn't do normal shit like this. When Leo and Donnie come over to his apartment it's because they're imposing on him and he just rolls with it. This is different. This was partly his idea, and he feels sick to his stomach for not cancelling.
Well. It's an inevitability that he's going to fuck things up socially, he's resigned himself to that reality and that's why he's currently sipping from a can of coffee (Death Wish Unsweetened Cold Brew). At least he'll probably pick up on some useful information on explosives?
He notes the cameras in the hallway as he comes in, and after switching his choker to esper mode for a few seconds out of curiosity, he isn't really surprised at the abnormal vectors bouncing around. This is the same guy who checked over his apartment for bugs, after all, of course he'd go overboard in his own home with security. Kicking his shoes off Accelerator heads into the living room, where he sees the bookshelf, and the documentary on the tv, and the video game console, and the only thing going through his head is how fucking normal all of this looks. The only things that don't fit are the explosive equipment on the coffee table and himself, one skinny esper who looks like a light breeze could snap him in half.
Leaning more heavily against his crutch and with an expression that screams he's already fed up with everything, he takes another sip of his coffee.]
Yo.
Logically, he knows it's because this is all kind of.... normal. Not the making bombs part, but going over to someone else's apartment like it's some casual social thing, the fact that Jason already mentioned his younger brother being present which means socializing with someone his own age, the part where he willingly agreed this wasn't a completely terrible idea, for some stupid reason. It is a terrible idea, he doesn't do normal shit like this. When Leo and Donnie come over to his apartment it's because they're imposing on him and he just rolls with it. This is different. This was partly his idea, and he feels sick to his stomach for not cancelling.
Well. It's an inevitability that he's going to fuck things up socially, he's resigned himself to that reality and that's why he's currently sipping from a can of coffee (Death Wish Unsweetened Cold Brew). At least he'll probably pick up on some useful information on explosives?
He notes the cameras in the hallway as he comes in, and after switching his choker to esper mode for a few seconds out of curiosity, he isn't really surprised at the abnormal vectors bouncing around. This is the same guy who checked over his apartment for bugs, after all, of course he'd go overboard in his own home with security. Kicking his shoes off Accelerator heads into the living room, where he sees the bookshelf, and the documentary on the tv, and the video game console, and the only thing going through his head is how fucking normal all of this looks. The only things that don't fit are the explosive equipment on the coffee table and himself, one skinny esper who looks like a light breeze could snap him in half.
Leaning more heavily against his crutch and with an expression that screams he's already fed up with everything, he takes another sip of his coffee.]
Yo.
[ Dick isn't the sort of person to get nervous meeting new people. He likes people, generally, even if they're the sort who don't want to be liked. Jason had tried to push him away, and Dick just strolled right into his life anyway. Spending his formative years as a performer taught him how to talk to people, and his experience among the Gotham elite has taught him how to read between the lines.
"Ace is lonely," Jason had said. Lonely like we were went unsaid.
He has mixed feelings about Jason taking someone else under his wing. It's great and everything, but it dredges up old insecurities. Jason said nothing would change but...
In any case, everything rattling around in his head isn't Ace or Jason's problem. He's got this.
Dick hears Jason call out and knows their guest has arrived, so he walks down the hall just as Accelerator enters. ]
You must be Ace.
[ Dick is smiling, but he's also assessing Accelerator. He looks frail, but Jason had said he was beating up gangsters. So he knows for a fact that looks are deceiving in this case. And he definitely doesn't miss the 'oh god I have to socialize?' expression.
He looks fun already. Dick enjoys a challenge.
Dick, for his part, looks like a normal teenager in his jeans and t-shirt. He doesn't look like the sort of person who messes with C4 or has a brother who moonlights as a vigilante. ]
"Ace is lonely," Jason had said. Lonely like we were went unsaid.
He has mixed feelings about Jason taking someone else under his wing. It's great and everything, but it dredges up old insecurities. Jason said nothing would change but...
In any case, everything rattling around in his head isn't Ace or Jason's problem. He's got this.
Dick hears Jason call out and knows their guest has arrived, so he walks down the hall just as Accelerator enters. ]
You must be Ace.
[ Dick is smiling, but he's also assessing Accelerator. He looks frail, but Jason had said he was beating up gangsters. So he knows for a fact that looks are deceiving in this case. And he definitely doesn't miss the 'oh god I have to socialize?' expression.
He looks fun already. Dick enjoys a challenge.
Dick, for his part, looks like a normal teenager in his jeans and t-shirt. He doesn't look like the sort of person who messes with C4 or has a brother who moonlights as a vigilante. ]
( his fingers have grease on them from fucking around with the igniter. jason doesn't bother looking up when he hears dick wandering around, because he recognizes the sound of his footsteps well enough. knows accelerator by the pattern his cane makes against the ground when he walks, and he's already seen him on the security feed (neural implants can be useful, even if jason still hates it).
so he doesn't look up. just keeps fussing with what's in hand, even as he opens his mouth and keeps talking. )
Accelerator. Ace just fits better. ( he'd ask dick if his bruce also has a shepherd named ace, but bringing up the dog who shares the nickname he's given accelerator in front of him is probably ill-advised, so jason'll leave that for later. he does raise his head after a moment, looks over to accelerator before nodding off towards dick. ) Dickie. An' don't let him play you. Told you he could kick my ass, an' I meant it.
so he doesn't look up. just keeps fussing with what's in hand, even as he opens his mouth and keeps talking. )
Accelerator. Ace just fits better. ( he'd ask dick if his bruce also has a shepherd named ace, but bringing up the dog who shares the nickname he's given accelerator in front of him is probably ill-advised, so jason'll leave that for later. he does raise his head after a moment, looks over to accelerator before nodding off towards dick. ) Dickie. An' don't let him play you. Told you he could kick my ass, an' I meant it.
[Accelerator just stares a little. Coming from a city of millions of mostly average-looking kids with supernatural powers, it isn't that unusual to see that Jason's brother looks similar. Definitely not as weird as coming across Leo for the first time.
Of course, this being Accelerator, he's staring him down, sort of like a predator sizing up prey. Not intentionally, mind you, it's a natural consequence of his years at the very top of Academy City's totem pole.
Then he clicks his tongue disdainfully, though that's directed towards Jason.]
Accelerator is what I go by. [Because it's one thing to tolerate people he likes giving him dumb nicknames, it's something else entirely to let some stranger be that disrespectful.] Certain bastards who don't care about keeping their tongues in their heads just think that's too long to say.
[This is the part where, if he had a free hand, he'd be flipping Jason off. But he doesn't so he settles for a glare as he moves over to one end of the coffee table, putting his coffee down before taking his crutch off his arm and using it as leverage to carefully sit down.]
Of course, this being Accelerator, he's staring him down, sort of like a predator sizing up prey. Not intentionally, mind you, it's a natural consequence of his years at the very top of Academy City's totem pole.
Then he clicks his tongue disdainfully, though that's directed towards Jason.]
Accelerator is what I go by. [Because it's one thing to tolerate people he likes giving him dumb nicknames, it's something else entirely to let some stranger be that disrespectful.] Certain bastards who don't care about keeping their tongues in their heads just think that's too long to say.
[This is the part where, if he had a free hand, he'd be flipping Jason off. But he doesn't so he settles for a glare as he moves over to one end of the coffee table, putting his coffee down before taking his crutch off his arm and using it as leverage to carefully sit down.]
[ A small part of him is gratified by Jason's praise. He's been sparring and getting better, but he's pretty sure Jason could still knock him flat if he really tried.
He just raises an eyebrow as Accelerator sizes him up. Dick is used to it, though most people are more subtle about it. Idly, he wonders what his assessment reveals, but Dick doesn't bother asking. Instead he tries to stifle an amused smile at Accelerator chastising Jason. ]
Accelerator it is.
[ Dick casually plops himself on the couch. ]
So what're we learning today, oh great sensei?
He just raises an eyebrow as Accelerator sizes him up. Dick is used to it, though most people are more subtle about it. Idly, he wonders what his assessment reveals, but Dick doesn't bother asking. Instead he tries to stifle an amused smile at Accelerator chastising Jason. ]
Accelerator it is.
[ Dick casually plops himself on the couch. ]
So what're we learning today, oh great sensei?
( if jason really wanted to, he could take dick out. he's young, has less time on the field than jason himself does, albeit--not by much. jason started a bit older than dick had, and with the time spent in his grave, the year he'd spent as a walking corpse--well. they're not even, jason's got ten years on dick, but they're closer than most would expect experience-wise. but dick's younger, jason's known his own grayson for a while, and while he's not nearly as flexible as dick is, he's got plenty of other talents he can lean on.
granted, dick could take jason down if he really wanted to. because jason's not going to fight him seriously. if dick came at him with real intent, jason'd lose that fight. he hasn't figured out if he can take out accelerator yet, but that's not a battle he's interested in chasing right now either. they're both tough kids, they should both be dealing with normal teenager shit, not c4 on a coffee table, but jason figures this keeps them both busy, was a decent excuse to get accelerator to come around, and he'd had plans anyway. )
C4 101. ( while he pushes his detonator over to dick. he hasn't finished wiring it, but he figures dick'll get that just fine. ) Thought about pulling out the ONC, but that was a bit harder to get my hands on.
granted, dick could take jason down if he really wanted to. because jason's not going to fight him seriously. if dick came at him with real intent, jason'd lose that fight. he hasn't figured out if he can take out accelerator yet, but that's not a battle he's interested in chasing right now either. they're both tough kids, they should both be dealing with normal teenager shit, not c4 on a coffee table, but jason figures this keeps them both busy, was a decent excuse to get accelerator to come around, and he'd had plans anyway. )
C4 101. ( while he pushes his detonator over to dick. he hasn't finished wiring it, but he figures dick'll get that just fine. ) Thought about pulling out the ONC, but that was a bit harder to get my hands on.
[For better or for worse, unless a person's name is Aiwass, Gojo Satoru, or whatever the hell that sea-urchin-headed Level 0 goes by, chances are Accelerator isn't going to take them seriously in a fight. It's a hard habit to break when he's won 95% of his fights without lifting a finger.
He looks down at the C4, having heard of it but never having seen some of it in person. Numerous questions are already entering his head, as expected of someone named after particle accelerators.]
What's it's chemical makeup?
[Might as well start with the easy stuff.]
He looks down at the C4, having heard of it but never having seen some of it in person. Numerous questions are already entering his head, as expected of someone named after particle accelerators.]
What's it's chemical makeup?
[Might as well start with the easy stuff.]
[ Dick takes the detonator and turns it over in his hands. It looks like Jason started doing it correctly (so it's not a test of his skill at spotting problems). He reaches for a small screwdriver and gets to completing it. In a pinch, he can do it both quickly and accurately. But there's no rush, and he's a little rusty besides.
Dick knows C4 pretty well, but he's not the teacher here, so he just quietly continues wiring the detonator. ]
Dick knows C4 pretty well, but he's not the teacher here, so he just quietly continues wiring the detonator. ]
RDX, an' about ten percent plasticizer.
( dick picks up right where jason left off without pause, and jason's--watching him fuss with the detonator for a moment, before turning his attention back to accelerator. )
Stable, for an explosive. 's what I carry, since it's not gonna explode if I fall on it wrong.
( dick picks up right where jason left off without pause, and jason's--watching him fuss with the detonator for a moment, before turning his attention back to accelerator. )
Stable, for an explosive. 's what I carry, since it's not gonna explode if I fall on it wrong.
[Taking another sip of coffee, Accelerator turns his attention to the detonator, staring at it as his brain starts pulling out calculations and laws relevant to the discussion at hand.]
Can you do better than that? It's easier to build a model with exact numbers for nominal and maximum density, explosive velocity and activation energy.
[Just going to do all that math in his head, no big deal.]
And what's with the plastic medium?
Can you do better than that? It's easier to build a model with exact numbers for nominal and maximum density, explosive velocity and activation energy.
[Just going to do all that math in his head, no big deal.]
And what's with the plastic medium?
[ Dick notices Accelerator watching him work on the detonator, so he slows down even more to give him time to observe. He doesn't entirely realize that Accelerator doesn't need him to slow down, but he's got the spirit. ]
The plastic is for flexibility.
The plastic is for flexibility.
Ninety one percent cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, five point three percent dioctyl sebacate, two point one percent polyisobutylene, and the rest's mineral oil.
( a raised brow towards accelerator, but when jason speaks up again, it's with his chin tipped back towards dick. )
Ace doesn't need you to slow down for him. Nominal density's one point seven three grams per cubic centimeter, theoretical maximum's one point seven five. Explosive velocity's eight thousand meters per second. You can find the activation energy yourself.
( a raised brow towards accelerator, but when jason speaks up again, it's with his chin tipped back towards dick. )
Ace doesn't need you to slow down for him. Nominal density's one point seven three grams per cubic centimeter, theoretical maximum's one point seven five. Explosive velocity's eight thousand meters per second. You can find the activation energy yourself.
[Aha, those are the measurements he's looking for. If he can break something down into its base physics and chemistry, then it's easy as hell to understand. This helps a lot.]
Alright.
[He's already doing some calculations as he keeps watching Dick, and chimes in in a casual tone.]
He's right. I can keep up, so don't fucking insult me.
Alright.
[He's already doing some calculations as he keeps watching Dick, and chimes in in a casual tone.]
He's right. I can keep up, so don't fucking insult me.
[ Dick glares. ]
Oh I'm so sorry, Your Brilliance. Won't happen again.
[ He leans back and doesn't bother making what he's doing easy to see anymore. ]
Oh I'm so sorry, Your Brilliance. Won't happen again.
[ He leans back and doesn't bother making what he's doing easy to see anymore. ]
( dick glares, and jason snorts, before he's extending out an arm to press a hand against the top of accelerator's hair.
it isn't a hair ruffle. chances are high it'll escalate into a shove, but he hasn't gotten there yet. )
Don't be an ass. Dick doesn't know you, he's used to slowing down for me. An' I'm not gonna stop him from kicking your ass if you're being snarky.
it isn't a hair ruffle. chances are high it'll escalate into a shove, but he hasn't gotten there yet. )
Don't be an ass. Dick doesn't know you, he's used to slowing down for me. An' I'm not gonna stop him from kicking your ass if you're being snarky.
[Oh, what?
.... Okay so the smarm in response isn't all that surprising, given he isn't exactly being a nice person. But Jason's hand on his is making him frown and - what is this, is he seriously being scolded? Did Jason somehow get advice from Yomikawa???
What the hell is he supposed to do with this. Be nice? He is utterly incapable of being nice. He knows that. Jason should know that.]
Tche.
[There are a half a dozen points coming to mind that he could push to escalate this conversation into something flat-out hostile and aggressive. It would feel natural for that to happen, it's basically what always happens when he tries to interact with other people. It would be total shit, but it'd also be normal and comfortable for him.
But it would probably piss Jason off. He doesn't really want to do that, even though that would be completely normal, too. God, this sucks. Why does he have to know people.]
........... What the fuck did you expect....? [He's grumbling that under his breath and otherwise falling silent, scowl still on his face.]
.... Okay so the smarm in response isn't all that surprising, given he isn't exactly being a nice person. But Jason's hand on his is making him frown and - what is this, is he seriously being scolded? Did Jason somehow get advice from Yomikawa???
What the hell is he supposed to do with this. Be nice? He is utterly incapable of being nice. He knows that. Jason should know that.]
Tche.
[There are a half a dozen points coming to mind that he could push to escalate this conversation into something flat-out hostile and aggressive. It would feel natural for that to happen, it's basically what always happens when he tries to interact with other people. It would be total shit, but it'd also be normal and comfortable for him.
But it would probably piss Jason off. He doesn't really want to do that, even though that would be completely normal, too. God, this sucks. Why does he have to know people.]
........... What the fuck did you expect....? [He's grumbling that under his breath and otherwise falling silent, scowl still on his face.]
Edited 2023-11-10 01:02 (UTC)
[ Dick snorts. ]
Nothing. Like Jason said, I don't know you. I mean, now I know you're bad at first impressions.
[ He is so close to just cold-reading him aloud in that creepy detective way of his, but he refrains.
For now. ]
Nothing. Like Jason said, I don't know you. I mean, now I know you're bad at first impressions.
[ He is so close to just cold-reading him aloud in that creepy detective way of his, but he refrains.
For now. ]
( it's cute how he's trying, and jason can tell he is. because accelerator's usually louder, he's scowling instead of bitching, and jason's--ruffling his hair before he's pulling his hand back. )
Yours're usually fake as hell, I don't wanna hear how bad you think Ace is, Dickie. ( and jason's getting himself up to his feet, shoulders loose. )
I've got shit to blow up. You think you two can get along to finish getting the detonator together an' everything ready? There's a warehouse on the edge of Central 've got a grudge against that's not gonna be empty all night.
Yours're usually fake as hell, I don't wanna hear how bad you think Ace is, Dickie. ( and jason's getting himself up to his feet, shoulders loose. )
I've got shit to blow up. You think you two can get along to finish getting the detonator together an' everything ready? There's a warehouse on the edge of Central 've got a grudge against that's not gonna be empty all night.
..........
[Neither of them are wrong about him being terrible at first impressions, so he can't really argue there. He ducks his head a little at the ruffle - he's getting used to those by now, and even though he's reluctant to admit it to himself it's a bit of a comfort - and once Jason moves his hand he'll start fixing his hair, shrugging at that question.]
[Neither of them are wrong about him being terrible at first impressions, so he can't really argue there. He ducks his head a little at the ruffle - he's getting used to those by now, and even though he's reluctant to admit it to himself it's a bit of a comfort - and once Jason moves his hand he'll start fixing his hair, shrugging at that question.]
[ Dick just makes a face at Jason, like the mature fourteen-almost-fifteen-year-old he is. ]
They're only fake when I want them to be. [ Which is often, but that's neither here nor there. ]
What'd the warehouse do to offend you?
They're only fake when I want them to be. [ Which is often, but that's neither here nor there. ]
What'd the warehouse do to offend you?
Houses a bunch of local thugs when they feel like having their little get-togethers.
( it's not until after jason's standing that he's shoving gently against accelerator's head, pushing him over closer to the detonator dick's working on. )
They're going to be out handling more pressing concerns here in an hour or so. Figured we might use the opportunity for a field trip.
( it's not until after jason's standing that he's shoving gently against accelerator's head, pushing him over closer to the detonator dick's working on. )
They're going to be out handling more pressing concerns here in an hour or so. Figured we might use the opportunity for a field trip.
Edited 2023-11-10 17:45 (UTC)
[Wow, rude. There's another glare from Accelerator, but he acquiesces and shifts a little bit closer to the couch where Dick is.]
Blowing up their base is going to be enough?
[More like, are they the kind of scum who'll be put off by the warehouse exploding, or will they find some other hole like a bunch of rats and keep doing whatever the hell it is they do?]
Blowing up their base is going to be enough?
[More like, are they the kind of scum who'll be put off by the warehouse exploding, or will they find some other hole like a bunch of rats and keep doing whatever the hell it is they do?]
( jason had told kyle to be back home by five, because he was making a lavish dinner. home, to the stupidly nice apartment, with it's stupidly nice kitchen that jason does start cooking in. starts, because he gets about halfway through prepping vegetables before he realizes exactly where he's at and what he's doing. living with people--that isn't new. jason'd lived in the manor for a few years, he's shared safehouses with a few people on and off for a few years. hell, he, donna, and kyle'd been around the block together. he'd shared with loki a significant period, but. it hadn't been stable, any of it. they'd moved around, gone from building to building, referred to where they were at as safehouses, not homes. or jason'd taken off for a while, or it'd lasted a few months before he did something to fuck it all up. pissed off the wrong person, almost killed roy, gotten people sucked into black holes leading to fucked elseworlds. destroyed relationships intentionally, because leaving things be always spelled trouble.
it'd never been this. living with someone he's verbally told others he's dated, even if it'd been as a test. having his fourteen year old older brother taking up a room. purposefully fitting it full of shit he liked, outfitting the place like he was intending to stay long-term. standing around in a kitchen full of perishables with plans on actually using them.
he's been consistently inconsistent, because settling in one place has never turned out well for him. getting attached hasn't, and--hell, letting a fucking teenager live in the same space as him is just asking for shit to go so wrong jason regrets ever opening his mouth and telling dick jack shit.
the shift is sudden. from idly cutting down carrots with a nakiri, to jason's shoulders tensing, jaw clenching tight, mind running a mile a minute through all the worst-case scenarios. he's been plotting to fuck over junior, which he realizes is stupid in of itself, but that's because jason's an idiot. the kind of idiot who's been fucking around with the gangs here since he showed up, who intentionally got the attention of every robin in his vicinity in one of the worst ways possible, just to see how they'd react. who'd do it again. who shouldn't be here, surrounded by shit he's inevitably going to fuck up and ruin.
fingers tighten on the knife, before he's slamming it down into the cutting board hard enough it sticks into the wood. this was stupid. all of it. he feels that itch at the back of his neck, the one that screams danger, will robinson like it's expecting aliens to come flying through the window at any moment intent on murder. it doesn't usually stop but he let it, and now it just--feels wrong. all of it.
which is a perfectly reasonable reason to lean down to where he'd stashed a go bag beneath the kitchen island, swing the bag over his shoulder, turn off the stove, and go for the fire escape outside the balcony window. )
it'd never been this. living with someone he's verbally told others he's dated, even if it'd been as a test. having his fourteen year old older brother taking up a room. purposefully fitting it full of shit he liked, outfitting the place like he was intending to stay long-term. standing around in a kitchen full of perishables with plans on actually using them.
he's been consistently inconsistent, because settling in one place has never turned out well for him. getting attached hasn't, and--hell, letting a fucking teenager live in the same space as him is just asking for shit to go so wrong jason regrets ever opening his mouth and telling dick jack shit.
the shift is sudden. from idly cutting down carrots with a nakiri, to jason's shoulders tensing, jaw clenching tight, mind running a mile a minute through all the worst-case scenarios. he's been plotting to fuck over junior, which he realizes is stupid in of itself, but that's because jason's an idiot. the kind of idiot who's been fucking around with the gangs here since he showed up, who intentionally got the attention of every robin in his vicinity in one of the worst ways possible, just to see how they'd react. who'd do it again. who shouldn't be here, surrounded by shit he's inevitably going to fuck up and ruin.
fingers tighten on the knife, before he's slamming it down into the cutting board hard enough it sticks into the wood. this was stupid. all of it. he feels that itch at the back of his neck, the one that screams danger, will robinson like it's expecting aliens to come flying through the window at any moment intent on murder. it doesn't usually stop but he let it, and now it just--feels wrong. all of it.
which is a perfectly reasonable reason to lean down to where he'd stashed a go bag beneath the kitchen island, swing the bag over his shoulder, turn off the stove, and go for the fire escape outside the balcony window. )
[ kyle hasn't used his ion powers.
not because he is afraid. power corrupts, of course, which is why he's kept it at a distance, but ion in itself is not just power. it was the heart of the star. jenny's heart which she had entrusted back to him after she perished. it was the edge of grief that kept ion away. power in itself means nothing to kyle. he's powerful. he could tear worlds apart. he has torn worlds apart. other people may come to fear or respect it, but it means so little to him. not as much as other things. not as much as being kyle rayner.
his senses go off when he enters. the smell of food permeates, but there's nothing else. there's no one else here. for a moment, kyle feels a blinding moment of panic, of fear. from the corner of his eyes, the fridge is there. swallowing, he forces it down. jason is fine. he's not dead.
but he's not here.
oh. he's not here.
kyle nearly barks a laugh at that, pushing some of his hair from his face. so that's how it is, huh? fine. fine. he'll get his bearings. he'll manage. he'll figure out his next steps. he's not giving up.
but ion is there and he feels the inky blackness slowly crawl up his arms and face. it was comforting. he just needs to be . . . numb for a little bit.
just for a bit. ]
not because he is afraid. power corrupts, of course, which is why he's kept it at a distance, but ion in itself is not just power. it was the heart of the star. jenny's heart which she had entrusted back to him after she perished. it was the edge of grief that kept ion away. power in itself means nothing to kyle. he's powerful. he could tear worlds apart. he has torn worlds apart. other people may come to fear or respect it, but it means so little to him. not as much as other things. not as much as being kyle rayner.
his senses go off when he enters. the smell of food permeates, but there's nothing else. there's no one else here. for a moment, kyle feels a blinding moment of panic, of fear. from the corner of his eyes, the fridge is there. swallowing, he forces it down. jason is fine. he's not dead.
but he's not here.
oh. he's not here.
kyle nearly barks a laugh at that, pushing some of his hair from his face. so that's how it is, huh? fine. fine. he'll get his bearings. he'll manage. he'll figure out his next steps. he's not giving up.
but ion is there and he feels the inky blackness slowly crawl up his arms and face. it was comforting. he just needs to be . . . numb for a little bit.
just for a bit. ]
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