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[spysinspades]

[He leaned his chin on one hand, lounging against the dirty wall of the alley like a king on a gilt throne.]

You'd think that, wouldn't you?

Comments

/CLINGS FOREVER

[lowtohigh]

Don't-- say it like that.

[She doesn't mean to be defensive. Not with him. He looks after her, whether she's being smart or dumb or something in between. He has good answers. He actually listens. Her arms cross over her own chest tight anyway.]

That makes it sound so-- selfish.

<3

[spysinspades]

[An eyebrow is lifted in her direction, quirked just enough to show he has absolutely no idea what she means by 'like that'.

At all. Really.]

Then how should I say it? "No, no dear. I'm sure you're right."

[It sounds more dry than before.]

[lowtohigh]

[That's the problem with being open, being trusting, wanting someone's honest opinion.]

...no. No, I don't, Uncle, it's-- not that at all.

[spysinspades]

[Ah, there, he's mucked it again. This, this was why he didn't go inside. If he could do so much damage in his element, consider being inside - all the time - with them.

He lifts his hand to her, lips twisting in guilt]

I didn't mean that, sweetheart. Come here.]

[lowtohigh]

[There's no hesitation before she's bypassed his hand to press against his side, still so much a child needing to be held safe from the world.]

I want to be a good person, Uncle. I want to-- make the world a better place. But it's-- there's just so much that's wrong.

[spysinspades]

I know you do, sweetheart.

[And he did. It's just that... their views on what 'a better place' was simply didn't manage to match up quite right.]

You can only do so much. And doing a little bit of good is better than ignoring a mountain's-worth of wrong.

[Just don't let her know how much of that wrong he facilitated in the effort to do his little bit of good. It was hard, being a neutral party.]

[lowtohigh]

And if everyone did that, there wouldn't be so much wrong. [Easier to ponder while she hides against him. Maybe losing one's biological family young made superheroes, but it often also made dependents.] I don't... understand. Why more people don't... want that.

[spysinspades]

[His fingers tap a thoughtless rhythm against her shoulder, body slowly relaxing out of it's habitual tense that came along with letting her - anyone - hug him.]

Wanting and doing - it's always the issue of the difference, don't you think?

[lowtohigh]

Yes, but... that doesn't mean I like it. [Clearly.

She'll be calmer in a moment, she swears.]

[spysinspades]

Ah, well. I never said you had to like it.

[He twiddles with a piece of her hair and lands a kiss on the top of her head. The words were meant as a joke, really. You can tell by him trying to be affectionate, right?]

[lowtohigh]

...good. I don't.

[It's a good attempt. It eases some of the tension from her shoulders as she pulls back a hair.]

I thought-- this was all going to get easier.

[spysinspades]

Did you really?

[Huh. Well. It was always hard to compare now to before. Earlier in life always seemed to look like it had been better.]

Hasn't it?

[lowtohigh]

No. It keeps-- getting worse.

[And that's not fair at all.

Not that life's fair at all.]

[spysinspades]

But you make it better than it could be.

[Small comfort, in the dark, but the best he could honestly give.]

[lowtohigh]

[She wants it to be true. Desperately.]

...you really think so?

[spysinspades]

[He gives a low hum that might be agreement, and nudges at her to stand so he can guide them out of the alley.]

When have you eaten?

[lowtohigh]

[She can do this. She can take a deep breath and feel like herself.

She can cling to his hand as they move back into the Real World.]

Not since breakfast. Have something with me?

[spysinspades]

[He didn't like Inside, but a meal? For Eileen?

He could do a meal for Eileen.]

Pancakes? Breakfast twice could only improve things.

[lowtohigh]

...thank you, Uncle David.

[Not just for second breakfast with her. Not just for holding her when she was panicked.

For coming inside and sitting with her, despite it being against his nature. For being her uncle even when it wasn't easy.]

[spysinspades]

[A smile for her, and a squeeze of her hand as he guides them over to the nearest diner. No need to dignify that with a response, hm?]

How's you brat of a brother?

[lowtohigh]

Ignoring me to see France. Or his girlfriend. I'm not certain. [But, you know. It meant he wasn't here to make her feel guilty about not wanting to keep fighting. And meant, of course, more time with her own significant other.] Shall I chide him for neglecting you next time he calls home?

[spysinspades]

If you'd be so kind, my dear.

[He holds the door for her, stepping back slightly. Manners, even in the midst of filth. He was amused by the irony sometimes as well.

He just wouldn't tell anyone that holding doors for others was his way of gathering courage to go inside.]

Or just pass along hellos. And I might have something of use.

[lowtohigh]

[Does the fact her hand will stay reaching for his once she's inside help or hinder?]

Something of use? To him running around like an idiot?

[spysinspades]

You know boys.

[The hand is a little bit of both, honestly. Ties keeping him where he should be - chains forcing him in place. All about context, he supposes.]

Always getting into trouble.

[lowtohigh]

Some more than others. [Darren more than others, really.

But, as girls went-- Eileen more than others as well, so.]

I'm certain he'll appreciate it.