IC Inbox

[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

Comments

[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.

[heliophilic]

I don't plan on going off like that. [He tries too hard to keep innocents away from that side of him.]

I just don't understand why people seem so accepting of what I do, like I work in a bank or something.

[h2no]

Hmm.

[he leans back, looking up at the fake simulated sky.]

Back home, a meteor was gonna hit our planet. [a glance to m.] I know that's dramatic, but it's related. Anyway, a bunch of Hoenn scientists cooked up a scheme to fire a rocket full of infinity energy at it. A special kind of energy that exists back home-- doing so would warp it away. But... it would've been warped to an alternate dimension. One that wouldn't be expecting it and wouldn't have time to prepare to defend it.

It was dealt with a different way, eventually, but... you know why they wanted to do that? Because they wouldn't see the result. So they didn't give a shit.

[heliophilic]

Well that's a pleasant analogy. [A pause.] Tell me your world isn't some apocalyptic wasteland and you've just been hiding that from us this whole time.

[h2no]

I know, but-- you get what I mean, right? If people don't see the consequences, then big chance is they won't care because they think it doesn't affect them.

[he shrugs.]

No. It never even made it to the atmosphere. Rayquaza took care of it, apparently.

[heliophilic]

I do, I do. I was just checking.

[A sideways glance.]

Rayquaza is another pokemon, I'm guessing.

[h2no]

Yeah. Big-ass dragon snake thing. It controls all the air currents.

[he cocks his head.]

Well-- anyway. That's what I meant. If they ignore the consequences or the things that lead up to it and then act surprised when you use those abilities...