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[batricide]

@hafid.alghul| ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[batricide]

I'm not.

[fledges]

Okay. Why are you proud of it, then?

[batricide]

Because it means I survived. And I survived by not having friends, and bring the best.

[fledges]

[Kate narrows her eyes at that, but she doesn't say the obvious—that there's no way he's the best in his world at everything, and that she certainly proved that he's not the best at marksmanship, at the very least. She thinks he probably survived in spite of not having friends, but... Whatever.]

Okay.

[Why not!]

But you didn't answer my question before.

[batricide]

Remind me.

[fledges]

I asked you if you ever get lonely.

[batricide]

[ a beat. ]

No. I always had Kal-El.

[fledges]

Who's that?

[batricide]

The closest thing to a caring father I ever had.

[fledges]

Oh.

[Kate hesitates, then leans her elbows on the table, scooting a bit closer.]

So everyone else was just... dead weight? Or he is the only person you trust?

[batricide]

( he shuts his eyes. )

Two of them were worth something. The rest of them stabbed me in the back.

[fledges]

I'm sorry.

[She says it gently, quietly enough so that he's the only one who will hear, and then reaches out to brush her fingers against his.]

Not everyone will treat you that way.

[batricide]

( he holds his hand back out of reflex, tensing. )

What does it matter anyway? I'm going back to my world to fix things. You'll go back to yours.

[fledges]

[Kate lets him pull away, but doesn't move her hand back.]

Because I care about you, and we don't know how long we're going to be here. Besides, my best friend can punch portals through the multiverse. We can always visit each other, if you want.

[batricide]

( oh.

Great. He doesn't look thrilled at that. He looks more cagey. )

Last time we had interlopers from another dimension they ruined my life.

[fledges]

[She snorts, looking amused.]

You think I'm gonna ruin your life?

[batricide]

You might.

[ He's completely serious. ]

My father has a way of turning people against me.

[fledges]

[She scoffs a little at that.]

After what you told me about your father, I wouldn't listen to his opinion on anything, let alone you.

[batricide]

[ Your father wasn't wrong about everything, Damian. ]

You don't even know my real name. Why would you trust my word on anything?

[fledges]

Am I supposed to second guess everything you say? What, was that all some grand plan to manipulate some girl you'd just met?

[Judging from the tone of her voice, she figures the chances of that are exactly 0.]

[batricide]

It could all be half-truths and lies.

[ And much of it is. He moves to stand. ]

We're not friends, Bishop.

[fledges]

[She scowls at that.]

Why are you and Malone so determined to push everyone away?

[batricide]

I can't speak for him.

[ he shoves his hands in his pockets. ]

But I keep my eyes on the prize.

[fledges]

What prize? And can you just... sit back down?

[batricide]

Nope.

[ He'll just start walking. ]