thejakeisalie | IC Voicemail

Barnaby Brooks? Can-mean, May we talk?

Want to understand something. And am..very confused. About what I've heard.

[He's been avoiding looking at the Forge, but he does still check his voicemails. Just in case Kotetsu wants to talk to him again.

He almost doesn't answer this, but... well, he can't ignore people forever, as much as he wants to.]

Yes, I suppose so. What is it?

[He sounds tired, and he's not really trying to be courteous. He can't seem to put forth the effort, lately.]

Fai got drunk, and...he read out a letter. That Kotetsu wrote him. And...he said you were angry at him.

And that made Kotetsu so angry that he can't be friends with him anymore. But it doesn't make sense. Even with love.

[His voice sounds blank with surprise, because... Kotetsu getting angry? Wtf.]

Ahh... just a moment, Miata.

[Brb, finding this ridiculousness.]

[His first reaction upon hearing Fai's accidental broadcast is pure relief. His partner is cutting ties with that bastard, though it sounds like a conditional thing. What promise? Not that he really cares...

The second feeling is surprise. Fai... had liked Kotetsu in that way? He can't help feeling a little glad that his actions helped to drive Fai away, no matter how small that help might have been. Kotetsu is his partner, dammit.

...he won't dwell on that last part too much. Instead he bites back a sigh, glad she can't see him rubbing at his temple.]

Kotetsu isn't angry, Miata. I'm not certain what that promise is about [though he has a few guesses] but whatever it is, if Fai ever made it... Kotetsu would welcome him back. It's the sort of person he is.

I hope he doesn't, though. I am angry with Fai. [Also kind of terrified, but he won't say that.]

Did he do something to you? Could go to scare him for you. If you want.

[She sighed, and rubbed at her eyes. She had been sleeping when the broadcast woke her up, and she's yet to go to sleep since.]

Did he hurt you? Don't want you being like Kotetsu. Don't cover the hurts. Not here or now.

No... no. He didn't hurt me. I'm quite sure he could have, but he didn't.

[He falls silent for a few moments before continuing.]

I do not intend to hide when I'm hurt. It would just lead to complications later, not to mention being extremely painful for me.

[She sighed in relief. Good, no one was getting hurt right now.]

And it would hurt everyone you care for. And hurt those who care for you. Even a little bit. Is....is about trust. Yes? And not being scared that others will hurt you when you are wounded.

[Well, Fai was. But he'll avoid mentioning that.]

Yes, I suppose it is. [Now if he could only get Kotetsu to realize that.]

[He did seem a little stiff Barnaby.]

Guess he's very scared. Being here.

No... he's done this before, at home. More than once.

He doesn't want people worrying about him like that... I think he thinks it makes him less of a Hero, somehow.

That's stupid. It doesn't. It makes him more human, and only...only humans can be heroic. Or brave.

I didn't say it was very smart. Or very logical.

To be honest I don't know why he does it, or what could change his mind. I'm going to try, but... he's probably been like this for a very long time, so I'm not sure how successful I'll be.

[He's being a bit chattier than usual, but it's probably the fact that he hasn't been sleeping well coupled with his worry about his partner and the fact that Miata is an almost-friend.]

[Which is perfectly all right. She's used to being chatted at, about, or around. What she isn't used to is an expected response.]

Hope it works. Otherwise it looks like he's trying to die.

[He makes a strange little choked noise.]

D-don't say that! He's not going to die.

[He won't let him.]

Edited 2012-03-24 01:00 (UTC)

Looks. Looks. He won't die. We'll make sure he does not.

...alright.

[He doesn't really like this; he wants to help Kotetsu himself, without help from anyone else. But he recognizes how foolish that idea is, so he'll accept her help too. With great reluctance, but he'll accept it.

He hesitates for a long time before he finally whispers,] Thank you. [And then he terminates the feed.]

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