No. If you hadn't got out I would've pulled you out.
[ so don't apologise, don't dwell on it. they already came away with more than he had any idea they would.
but "don't apologise" is never going to be worth much alone. so he quantifies. ]
Besides, you got plenty. And you gave me time to get what I could.
She doesn't fully understand who or what we are. Knows of the word displaced but doesn't understand its meaning, knows yourself and your brothers and your father but not me, and I didn't hear any other names she immediately associates with us as a group.
It's possible we have or had a leak in the safehouse. Sentiments around us weren't good for a while. Maybe a Morningstar representative or one of the refugees created by the UNA raids picked up a little extra money on the side - if you knew he was here, he must've had some identifying conversations with you or the others. All it would've taken was someone inside primed to keep an eye on the three of you.
If it's more than that, we'll find out. But if whatever it is that we don't know hasn't come back to bite us yet, I don't believe it's an immediate danger to anyone other than you and your brothers. What we have now is a focus for our efforts. It's certainly more of a lead than I had before.
[ If he'd stayed, he would've killed them. Killed her. Killed her guards and dealt with whatever that kind of ego death means in the real world in stride.
He can't take the praise. Or the good will. Because his mind is occupied - not knowing who the leak was, not knowing if it could be one of their own - because it very well could be. People will do stupid things to get ahead. ]
Maybe.
[ He doesn't know. And it bothers him. ]
The fact that we don't know is precisely why we need to become self-sufficient. I'm not worried about Maeda, I'm worried about what kind of influence she might be exerting on the people of this world and what they'll do to us to get her favor.
[ a grim turn of his mouth, conceding on that point. ]
We're well on our way. It won't fix all our problems, but it'll buy us some time.
[ it's not total separation and they'll have far from fallen off the grid, but it's something. no more third parties wandering through their midst. no more strangers who aren't in the same boat. ]
And I'm going to follow up with Maeda. [ they made a solid start. he doesn't intend on leaving it there. ] I know you will too. But you need to be careful. If the things that have changed since we've been back are anything to go by, she's going to be after you more than she was before.
[ maybe him too, by extension. but she only knows his face if she remembers anything about him at all. that's something to work with. ]
[ Damian's voice comes out hard and short, jaw setting. He can't tell him to keep his hands off - that's just not possible, so after a second he relents. ]
Before you do anything, you tell me. [ ... ] The more upset she is, them more likely she is to go after my brothers. I don't care if she comes after me, there's not a lot she can do to me that I can't walk off - but them?
[ They're already so damn angry at him. At each other. He doesn't know how to even begin fitting the pieces of their trust back together, and this whole thing going beyond him? Beyond them? Running the risk of other people pissing her off or getting too close, and her deciding to take it out on them? ]
And all four of us need to co-ordinate or things are going to go very south very fast. We can't afford to be blindsided.
[ it's a fair point that he'll concede, though there are levels to it that need discussing: how the reverse needs to be true. how if he'll hold off on their account, they can't go off and act without him either.
first, though, a moment of quiet as he considers something else. ]
In what way are you any less vulnerable than your brothers?
Damian considers him for a moment. Weighs what to say carefully. ]
They're formidable. But I was raised by my mother. I was holding a weapon before I could hold my head up, fighting as soon as I could stand, and she didn't believe in training wheels
I don't doubt your skill. But this isn't our universe, let alone our city, and you don't have the resources I'm sure you had once. The person you're going up against can use anything and anyone she needs. She has the money and the standing for it. She may not come at you with physical harm.
You have to consider yourself just as much as you'd consider them. If I can't trust you to do that, I can't trust you to keep me fully informed and there's no point in us trying to work together.
You saw the world I came from, Strange. If I didn't consider myself, I wouldn't be alive. This also isn't the first time I've had to deal with an enemy like her while having nothing to my name.
To be clear, I don't expect to be actively included in whatever it is you three choose to do. I know our approaches differ and I highly doubt your brother is going to like the idea of involving me in your personal business.
[ this one time in stopping loki from murdering ojiro camp, I spoke at his brain and we haven't really had a reason to talk since
which brother? he's not saying the name "Matches" out loud that's an affront to his own self respect ]
But if an opportunity arises for me to get into her head, it's in everyone's best interest to facilitate a way for me to take it.
Besides that, I'm the only one of you she doesn't know. If you need that, and so long as I can fortify against it jeopardizing the security of anyone else if I'm compromised, I'll do what I can.
[ he's going to go ahead and assume jason, because jason is the one who likes to make enemies. dick makes friends who would gladly die for him and can't stay out of his business. ]
That's my intent. I'll keep you informed of anything you may need to know.
[ He folds his arms. Hesitating a moment before he says anything else.]
... I hope it goes without saying that what you saw while in my dream - or in my head - stays between us.
[ a huff in place of a smile - that was nothing - but it's absolutely pleased. before the dreams, there was nobody who knew what it is that he's missing. now, at least, a few. ]
I appreciated the opportunity to stretch my legs.
[ it's been a very long time. there's every chance he shouldn't have been having as much fun as he had for that brief time in Damian's nightmare of a world, but what can you do? ]
Even if that was the most stupid power set I've ever seen.
So theoretically he could've come at me with anything, but they put the power in the hands of a guy whose best shot was to go bowling and remember woodshop.
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[ so don't apologise, don't dwell on it. they already came away with more than he had any idea they would.
but "don't apologise" is never going to be worth much alone. so he quantifies. ]
Besides, you got plenty. And you gave me time to get what I could.
She doesn't fully understand who or what we are. Knows of the word displaced but doesn't understand its meaning, knows yourself and your brothers and your father but not me, and I didn't hear any other names she immediately associates with us as a group.
It's possible we have or had a leak in the safehouse. Sentiments around us weren't good for a while. Maybe a Morningstar representative or one of the refugees created by the UNA raids picked up a little extra money on the side - if you knew he was here, he must've had some identifying conversations with you or the others. All it would've taken was someone inside primed to keep an eye on the three of you.
If it's more than that, we'll find out. But if whatever it is that we don't know hasn't come back to bite us yet, I don't believe it's an immediate danger to anyone other than you and your brothers. What we have now is a focus for our efforts. It's certainly more of a lead than I had before.
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He can't take the praise. Or the good will. Because his mind is occupied - not knowing who the leak was, not knowing if it could be one of their own - because it very well could be. People will do stupid things to get ahead. ]
Maybe.
[ He doesn't know. And it bothers him. ]
The fact that we don't know is precisely why we need to become self-sufficient. I'm not worried about Maeda, I'm worried about what kind of influence she might be exerting on the people of this world and what they'll do to us to get her favor.
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We're well on our way. It won't fix all our problems, but it'll buy us some time.
[ it's not total separation and they'll have far from fallen off the grid, but it's something. no more third parties wandering through their midst. no more strangers who aren't in the same boat. ]
And I'm going to follow up with Maeda. [ they made a solid start. he doesn't intend on leaving it there. ] I know you will too. But you need to be careful. If the things that have changed since we've been back are anything to go by, she's going to be after you more than she was before.
[ maybe him too, by extension. but she only knows his face if she remembers anything about him at all. that's something to work with. ]
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[ Damian's voice comes out hard and short, jaw setting. He can't tell him to keep his hands off - that's just not possible, so after a second he relents. ]
Before you do anything, you tell me. [ ... ] The more upset she is, them more likely she is to go after my brothers. I don't care if she comes after me, there's not a lot she can do to me that I can't walk off - but them?
[ They're already so damn angry at him. At each other. He doesn't know how to even begin fitting the pieces of their trust back together, and this whole thing going beyond him? Beyond them? Running the risk of other people pissing her off or getting too close, and her deciding to take it out on them? ]
And all four of us need to co-ordinate or things are going to go very south very fast. We can't afford to be blindsided.
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first, though, a moment of quiet as he considers something else. ]
In what way are you any less vulnerable than your brothers?
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Damian considers him for a moment. Weighs what to say carefully. ]
They're formidable. But I was raised by my mother. I was holding a weapon before I could hold my head up, fighting as soon as I could stand, and she didn't believe in training wheels
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I don't doubt your skill. But this isn't our universe, let alone our city, and you don't have the resources I'm sure you had once. The person you're going up against can use anything and anyone she needs. She has the money and the standing for it. She may not come at you with physical harm.
You have to consider yourself just as much as you'd consider them. If I can't trust you to do that, I can't trust you to keep me fully informed and there's no point in us trying to work together.
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You saw the world I came from, Strange. If I didn't consider myself, I wouldn't be alive. This also isn't the first time I've had to deal with an enemy like her while having nothing to my name.
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Fine.
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You are not expendable to the people you're trying to protect. You need to be aware of that and respect it.
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[ he resists raising his voice. ]
Look - I know what will happen if I die. Even if I was brought back. I will live at all costs, and I know how to. Which is why I'm less vulnerable.
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Alright.
Then the four of us will co-ordinate.
[ he won't go off on his own and leave them with the consequences, there's his word. ]
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Agreed.
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[ this one time in stopping loki from murdering ojiro camp, I spoke at his brain and we haven't really had a reason to talk since
which brother? he's not saying the name "Matches" out loud that's an affront to his own self respect ]
But if an opportunity arises for me to get into her head, it's in everyone's best interest to facilitate a way for me to take it.
Besides that, I'm the only one of you she doesn't know. If you need that, and so long as I can fortify against it jeopardizing the security of anyone else if I'm compromised, I'll do what I can.
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That's my intent. I'll keep you informed of anything you may need to know.
[ He folds his arms. Hesitating a moment before he says anything else.]
... I hope it goes without saying that what you saw while in my dream - or in my head - stays between us.
[ being a criminal himself and all. ]
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It does.
[ hafid it is, then. but there's also a peace of mind to lay down - ]
And for the record, I wasn't in your head any more than I needed to be to hear and be heard.
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He lets the silence stretch a few moments longer. ]
Nice job with Hal, by the way.
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I appreciated the opportunity to stretch my legs.
[ it's been a very long time. there's every chance he shouldn't have been having as much fun as he had for that brief time in Damian's nightmare of a world, but what can you do? ]
Even if that was the most stupid power set I've ever seen.
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Not to my knowledge.
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They're galatic police corps fueled by emotion. Anything they can think up, they can create constructs of.
[ and ]
Most of the green ones are self-involved idiots.
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So theoretically he could've come at me with anything, but they put the power in the hands of a guy whose best shot was to go bowling and remember woodshop.
Unfortunate.
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[ Damian's subconscious also thinks he's an idiot. ]
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[ Stephen would happily laugh at him any day of the week ]
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