[video]

[sharpes]

For the record? This 'mainland' bullshit sucks.

And not in the fun way.

Just saying.

[Somebody looks frazzled and grumpy and god he's putting miles on that pout of his. Because fuck yo' mainland, man.]

Comments

[sharpes]

Uh. No. I skipped that lesson of vigilantism 101.

[BABY YOUR LIFE.]

[controlledvariable]

[Good subject change, Brown. A+]

You seriously have to tell me if any of your Avengers turn up because I need to have words with them.

[How do you not teach kids how to break out of handcuffs that's basically neglect]

I'll teach you.

[sharpes]

The people we fight don't use handcuffs.

[Besides it's not like he couldn't break out of them if he tried.]

[controlledvariable]

[Now it's her turn to look alarmed and/or concerned, which she's going to deal with sarcastically]

Because obviously it's a great idea to send kids up against people like that.

[Sorry Brandon but you're technically a kid]

[sharpes]

Nobody was sending us anywhere, Steph. That's why we were in school. Because the choice was... that Osborn freak made us part of his war. The Avengers were trying to make sure we didn't kill ourselves in the aftermath.

[Literally and figuratively, he guesses.]

[controlledvariable]

[She can't really help but think of Damian, and she curls in on herself slightly, hands tight around her mug.

If Osborn ever shows up, she's going to have a really hard time not killing him.]

Then you should be learning, not fighting people.

[BABY YOUR LIFE]

[sharpes]

We're never going to be normal or left alone. One of the guys, Mettle? He's basically this laid back surfer-dude from Hawaii. Yeah, well, he's also got no skin and a giant red indestructible skeleton. And Jen's basically stuck wearing a special hazmat suit for the rest of her life because she causes cancer just by being on the same, I don't know, continent as people.

[He hasn't said much about the people back home, and until that moment he didn't realize that he actually almost missed them.]

We're never going to be normal, and no one's ever going to let us be normal. We'd be painting targets on our backs if we were ever stupid enough to go outside and hang out with --

[He looks at her, and it's... briefly indecipherable.]

'Normal' people. And I don't mean-- I know you aren't like that, but lots of people are. I'm not a mutant but I don't think people care about genetics when they're building Sentinels or passing bills in the senate that restrict the jobs we can get or the people we can marry or what we can do with our abilities or not. I'm lucky. Me? I could pass. The others? Not so much. And the Avengers... they're the only people even trying to help us.

[His brow furrows. All he can think of is Tigra telling him to get out, that he was expelled-- all because of Hood, what he'd done.]

But the Avengers aren't going to be around forever, and-- we aren't gonna be teenagers forever either. If the war's already on my doorstep, I want to know how to fight it.

[controlledvariable]

[She listens without comment, waiting until she's sure he's finished and then a little longer as she makes her to properly think about what's been said. Everything about Sentinals and restricting jobs makes her frown, because it sounds like people with powers are, well, being oppressed, and it's nothing like her world that it leaves her a little confused. But she's not sure if she should ask.]

You're right, I'm sorry. [Not for the situation (she is, but it's not what she's apologizing for right now), she's sorry for talking about something she really has no clue about.

At the end of the day, she can put away her Batgirl suit and walk away from all this. It would be hard, but she could be perfectly normal, no one would know that she used to be vilgiante, she wouldn't have to worry about hiding powers or being an alien in a strange world or-- anything. The only thing that makes her different from a civilian is her training.]

I wish things were different, I wish they could be different, but I'm not from your world and I don't know what it's like and it's - stupid and idealistic to just wish for change.

I'm glad you're learning to protect yourself.

[sharpes]

You don't have to be sorry, babe. It's--

[He shrugs.]

It's never really been my fight, you know? I've seen it, or read about it in the news, or-- whatever but until Osborn it never really touched me. I've had these powers since I was... what, eight? But Mom knew how to spin it and she was willing to publish all my paperwork proving I didn't have the X-Gene-- hell, she even got this one doctor to run tests on national television.

[He rubs at his arm, a little... embarrassed, more than anything.]

So I feel kind of stupid talking about it like it's this big thing that's affected my life. Mutants get killed in hate crimes all the time. Usually ones that can't really defend themselves, like maybe their mutation is making plants bloom or something, or maybe they've got butterfly wings and you get the wrong crowd of people riled up and it's... bye-bye, freak.

[Talking about this with Steph is... a lot easier than it should be. He exhales.]

And yeah. Me too. Even if it's a pain in my ass. You ever been punched by Captain America? Not fun.

[controlledvariable]

[For maybe the first time, Steph actually likes Brandon's mother for something, for keeping him safe even if it meant more of a media parade, even if he looks a little embarrassed. She hates that it was necessary, but if she ever did meet Brandon's mom, she'd hug her just for that.

Everything else he says just makes her angry, but she swallows it down, because, well, anger is as useless as wishing. Brandon doesn't need it, it doesn't help the people who are being killed for something they can't control.]

People are awful. [It's all she can really say at first. They are awful, she's seen too many hate crimes and abuse and senseless violence to think otherwise, even if she still tries to have faith in the world to be better.]

I'm not-- I don't know if this is what you want to hear, but I think it's okay for you to talk about it, or feel, like it's affected you. You've still got powers and they're still your friends and it's... [she trails off with a frown, not sure what more she wants to say, so she ust decides to sum it up with:] You're not heartless, of course it's going to affect you.

[She doesn't quite smile, but her expression softens]

I have, he's got a hell of a right hook. [She's sparred with Steve a couple of times, occasionally he gets a hit in.]

[sharpes]

[When she says 'you're not heartless' he actually looks guilty for a moment. It's barely more than a micro-expression, but it's there. And then he's just shaking his head and laughing it off.]

No, not that Captain America. He's a lightweight compared to the one back home.

[controlledvariable]

[She catches that, because she'd been watching him carefully anyway, she's just not sure what to do with it. So she lets him laugh it off for now]

I wouldn't say that to his face. [but she doesn't sound that serious] Is he really that different?

[sharpes]

Well, he doesn't call himself 'Captain America' any more, for starters. There's a bunch of reasons, I guess. I don't really pay that much attention. He's older than this one and he's been through a lot more and he's one hell of a jerk when the situation calls for it.

[He makes a face.]

But he's a good teacher, I guess, if you don't mind broken ribs.

[controlledvariable]

I can't imagine him being a jerk. [Steve is basically a puppy, okay]

It's good he's teaching you all, even if he's not the same one. [Steve's a good fighter, and with the experience that extra years would give, it reassures her that Brandon and his friends are learning properly] But, hey, if you ever want a little extra training here, I can help out. I promise not to break any of your ribs.

[What a good girlfriend]

[sharpes]

[dryly,]

I'm not reassured.

[controlledvariable]

[Steph presses a hand to her chest, her expression one of feigned injury]

I'm hurt you'd say such a thing.

[sharpes]

Hey, I'm just saying. You're the super trained Wombat Girl.

[he is so teasing.]

[controlledvariable]

Wombat Girl?! [WOW RUDE HDU

Even if she's trying not to laught]

You're so sleeping on the couch tonight.

[sharpes]

Maybe I like wombats. They're adorable.

[trying so hard to keep a straight face omg...]

[controlledvariable]

Have you ever even seen a wombat? [Steph have you ever seen a wombat?] I'm pretty sure adorable isn't the right word to describe them.

[sharpes]

I have seen millions of wombats. I did a tour to Australia once. They're everywhere. And did you know koalas have syphilis? Like ninety percent of them or something? Yikes.

[Brandon honey no...]

I am personally offended.

[controlledvariable]

You're so full of it. Wombats are an endangered species.

baby I didn't mean it come back.

[sharpes]

... Wait, for real?

[HE IS SO EASILY MISLEAD.]

no I'm gonna make fun of Canada now. Better watch out for those moose.

[controlledvariable]

Would I lie to you?

[wait don't answer that]

just so long as you leave the beavers out of it X-(

[sharpes]

Is that a trick question?

[Oh well fuck that's a little more bitter than he was strictly expecting it to come out. She did lie. About Batgirl. It's not like he can get mad about her protecting a secret identity, he's been in this business more than long enough to get that bit, thanks.

So all that anger, all that bitterness? It's all directed at himself. He drums his fingers against his desk in brief frustration, and then shakes his head.]

Sorry. Automatic retort, not-- you know.

[Actually a reflection on her.]