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[heliophilic]

This is M. I'm most likely out punching someone. Don't worry, they deserve it.

Probably.

I'll call you back later.

TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO

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[h2no]

[he exhales gently, leaning over to rest his head on m's shoulder.]

It's all out in the open now. That has to be better than still living the lie, right? [he glances over.] Nothing compares to you, M. Not even Trent.

[heliophilic]

I definitely don't miss the lie.

[He hesitantly reaches up and pats Archie on the arm.]

I'm just... worried the lie ruined us in the long run.

[h2no]

That's... something that won't really be evident until you've lived it.

[which is very unfortunate, but the way it is for a lot of imports.]

It just makes being here a special kind of torture, I guess.

[heliophilic]

Now you see my dilemma.

[M screws his eyes shut for a few seconds, before glancing Archie's way.]

You know how I told you about my ex? The one that stabbed me? He literally did steal my past from me. My origin file. The son of a bitch even built a house using memories I no longer have. [Seriously, fuck you Prometheus.] I wrecked the house with Matt's--with Prometheus'--body pretty thoroughly, but after the asshole ran away a few things were unscathed.

In the rubble I found a picture. Apparently I lived in one of those houses where my parents hung a museum's worth of pictures of me on the walls. Most of them were completely burnt, but this one was mostly in tact, just charred around the edges. It looked like me, maybe 8 or 10 or maybe 13... I'm terrible with ages.

I gave framed it, wrapped it, and left it in Andrew's apartment. I didn't go in--I knew he wasn't home-- just opened a Door and tossed it onto what should have been his bed. He didn't poke his head in to check. He had argued that he didn't know the real me... I figured it was the least I could do.

[There's another long pause. He's never admitted this to anyone before.]

What I didn't tell him... what I didn't tell anyone... was that I hid a receiver in the frame. One way--my implants to the frame; I'm not eavesdropping. It broadcasts on a special frequency... for an emergency.

It's been three years and I'm still trying to figure out why the fuck I did that. I'm...

[He's got nothing, so he just falls into silence.]

[h2no]

Hey-- c'mon.

[he wraps his arm around m's shoulder again, pulling him in close.]

Sometimes we do stupid shit that we don't understand in hindsight that made perfect sense in the moment. I'm not sayin' that makes it okay or how you feel shouldn't matter, but... that's just how it some times.

[he doesn't know if m wanted him to give a good answer, but all he can do is what he always does: try his best for the poor guy.]

[heliophilic]

I don't even know if he kept the frame or tossed it the second he saw it.

[h2no]

Would... knowing even make you feel better about the whole thing?

[heliophilic]

[M just shrugs and leans against Archie. It isn't that he doesn't want to answer Archie, or is avoiding the question... he just genuinely doesn't know.

The only time he ever second guesses himself is whenever he's trying to navigate his own emotions.]

[h2no]

[fortunately, he gets it. he didn't expect an answer and not getting one certainly isn't encouraging him to press more.

he just raises his hand and puts it on m's shoulder, rubbing it gently. it's okay. they can sit quietly for a bit.]

[heliophilic]

[M just sits there in silence for a while, leaning up against Archie, before finally saying:]

...Sorry. For making you worry.

[h2no]

Don't be.

[he gives m a squeeze.]

I'd worry even if you were living the best life possible. It's what friends do.

[heliophilic]

I'm not used to being on the other side of this, you know.

[h2no]

Time to try, huh?

[a pause, his smile falls.]

Look, if I ever overstep... you can tell me off, alright? Just because I'm trying to help doesn't mean I can't do anything wrong.

[heliophilic]

[M just shakes his head.]

You aren't. I've just... spent my entire life--my entire Midnighter life--seeing myself as the monster that fights the other monsters. The moongoose in a room full of cobras.

I'm not used to someone feeling the need to protect me.

Besides... you've made me realize a few things about myself today.

[h2no]

It's never too late to grow beyond what you were made to be. You've always been more than that.

[he looks over, interest in his expression.]

Oh?

[heliophilic]

Andrew used to say the same thing. I'm only just starting to believe it.

[He'll always be a murder machine, but he can be a murder machine with the occasional life. He thinks, anyway].

Did Andrew ever tell you anything about Stormwatch?

[Because M doubts he said anything. He barely talks about that time in his life, even when he's being open about himself.]

[h2no]

No.

[he shakes his head.]

We never really... talked.

[heliophilic]

Really? I was always under the impression you two were close.

[But now a tiny part of him was wondering if they just got together to murder each other, though he wisely keeps that part to himself.]

Well... Stormwatch was the name of the organization we both worked for, years ago. As far as I know, he's still a member, but I... left. We met the day they came to recruit him, and I basically strong-armed my way into joining as well. At first I just saw it as a job I could be good at, but as time went on, I started getting consumed by the mission.

While we were talking I just sort of realized that while I was there--and Harry Tanner hadn't convinced them all I was a traitor--they were trying to get closer to me and I just... shut them out.

Not on purpose, but... it never dawned on me that that's what they were doing.

[h2no]

I mean-- we were friends, yeah, but-- I don't know. It's complicated.

[...it's not, really, but after the first time andrew told him not to tell anyone and not to ask any questions because he didn't want to talk about it, archie just... didn't for anything else. he didn't feel comfortable.]

What's your relationship like with them all back home now?

[heliophilic]

Strained. It's kind of a no-no to leave the group once you join it... but at the same time, I think they all mostly understood. It wasn't that I didn't want to be a part of Stormwatch, it was that I was losing myself to the team.

Angie got weird for a while, but after our alternate reality trip she seemed to finally be doing better. Jack and I were never really that close to begin with, but I think if we reconnected we'd get along better. I don't think Emma never forgave me for dragging her through the Antarctic, though I regret nothing. Jenny... our relationship was always a little complicated.

[A lot complicated.]

[h2no]

[he listens to m speak with interest-- he hadn't really even tried to fill in the blanks of his old life himself; he truly had no idea where to even begin.]

Then... if they show up, you'll have this context with them, right?

[heliophilic]

It'd be interesting if any of them would even recognize me.

[h2no]

Same problem most of us have then, ain't it? Gotta cross that bridge when we come to it.

[he puts his hands on m's shoulders and pulls him down (fuckin' tall people) and presses a gentle smooch to his forehead.]

Good thing buildin' 'em ain't impossible.

[heliophilic]

[Sorry Archie, he was made this way. At the smooch he just sort of smiles for a second, before it fades. It has nothing to do with Archie personally, and everything to do with a thought that's just popped into his head. Before he can bury it the way he normally does, he allows himself to blurt out:]

I just... don't get why so many people aren't afraid of me. I was created to be a weapon, and people just don't think I'm going to ever go off in their direction...

[h2no]

[the thought doesn't offend him, of course-- he knows he could never understand how m is feeling. sometimes he wonders if even trying the way he does is a disservice to the poor guy.]

No, they don't. It's complacency, earned or not. If it ever does happen, I just hope they can understand why.