falkeditupagain | IC contact post/voice mail

More like he bitched while I gave him stitches. [Hanna sets the glass he was cleaning down and turns, giving Axel an even stare.]

Are you going to bitch at me too?

Why did you feel like you needed to get involved, exactly?

Because you broke a promise. [That was one of the reasons...]

And the both of you were using weapons like complete idiots. I probably wouldn't have done anything if you'd have stuck to fists, but no. You needed to whip out the fire and the water and try and kill each other on the front lawn in front of every body. [And finally, his shoulders tense up, head tilting down, chin resting against his collarbone, not catching Axel's eye.]

And you didn't listen. You just...[Hanna bites his lip and tries really hard to not yell.] He told me to fuck off and you didn't say anything. You just walked away.

He wasn't going to stick to fists once I'd hit him, Hanna, and... it's not that I don't care about you, all right?

But this was... old business. It's not something you want to get involved in. Believe me.

[His fingers curl around the counter to keep himself grounded. So he doesn't move from that spot.] Old business or not, you promised. And so did he.

I didn't say play nice always, I said tonight. Just tonight. I don't have him over all the time. And maybe you could have been sneaky about it some other time. Done it and I wouldn't even have known, I don't know. But, fuck.

If it's not my business then don't start shit at the house. Do it somewhere else, because hell if i'm not going to get involved if its happening right in front of me.

Look, Hanna.

[Axel paused for a moment, gritting his teeth.] If you're going to get ticked at someone for starting it, go look Demyx up. And I'm not going to promise you that I won't finish fights he starts.

Not unless you want him thinking I'm nothing to worry about, and that could end badly.

Who said I wasn't pissed off at him too?

I'm angry at both of you. I know he started it, but I know you and I'm damn sure you were going to finish it if I gave you half a chance.

[His fingers grip the counter more tightly, glancing away from him.]

I don't care what he thinks, and neither should you. There was something off about him tonight and just because he's messed up, doesn't mean you get to go act like a teen with a gun and a righteous cause.

All I'm hearing from you are excuses.

I wasn't going to kill him, Hanna. If I'd been planning to kill him I would have burned him when he jumped me.

And sure, I was mad. He threatened Xion.

I don't care what you were planning on doing, you were beating the shit out of each other on the lawn! I mean, if he wanted to? He could have killed you too. We live on a rock. On a lake. A lake. All that water, just sitting there, waiting for him to drown you with.

I've seen you mad before. You killed a bunch of birds. But Demyx? I dunno what the hell he'd do.

[So, admittedly he was afraid they were going to kill each other, but that's not the point.] And do you really think he'd just go and hurt her?

She's a little girl. That's touching on a whole lot more taboo's than hurting just some guy with friends. She's a kid. I think he's smarter than that. And you should be too.

Do you really think Demyx wouldn't kill a kid?

Hanna. It's sweet how you think the best of us all the time, but we're not nice people. He'd hurt her if he had to. I don't think he --

[Cares, he was about to say, but he falters before he gets there and looks away. Demyx was bleeding, after all. Who knows what he cares about now?]

You better bet your ass I'm not thinking the best of you right now. [And that was the truth.]

And you really think anyone here would let him? I'm not about to, but he wasn't attacking her, he was goading you, and I know you're better than that.

Great. That's really good to know, Hanna, I appreciate it.

-- Look, Hanna. She trusts him. She doesn't remember anything to make her not trust him, which means we can't guard her all the time.

If letting him know I'll hurt him for threatening my friends keeps him on the straight and narrow, I am okay with that.

Well, you were definitely asking for it. Especially when you punched me in the face. [Thanks for that.

His expression turns real sour, and finally, he can't keep himself from standing still any more. He pushes himself off the counter and crosses the room, pointing a finger right in Axel's face, glaring up at him.]

No, you look. I wouldn't have given a damn about it if it was just the one punch. But you took that way too fucking far. And you'd better be glad that you didn't hurt anyone else. Because I know you weren't paying attention once you got started.

And don't you try to tell me you were. You punched me in the fucking face. And with all that steam? Throwing your stupid firey death wheels around where you can't see? That could have hit someone.

What if Xion came out to stop you instead of me, huh? What if you hit her instead? You think you'd be feeling so god damn self-righteous right now?

[Axel brushes a hand swiftly between them to knock Hanna's pointing finger away from his face. His expression goes hard.] Do you want an apology? I'm sorry I hit you, Hanna, but you're the one who threw yourself between two people you could hardly see while they were fighting. If Xion had done that I'd have hit her too, because I didn't have time to stop!

Good thing she knows enough about fighting not to do anything quite that stupid, isn't it, Hanna?

You don't even know what you're talking about.

I would have liked the apology before you told me to get off, but I guess you weren't thinking about it then, were you?

[He tries to school his expression a little so his lip doesn't start to tremble and he just stares up at him, taking short breaths that aren't at all helping him calm down.] Oh no, you just called me stupid!

Maybe I should beat the shit out of you for it. Because I really know what I'm doing. Professional grade-A asshole right here.

Jumping into the middle of a serious fight when you can't see what's going on either? Yeah, Hanna. That's stupid.

Take a swing at me if you want, because I'm not going to hit you when I can stop myself, all right?

But when you're done, how about you admit that Nobody business is something I handle, and you don't get involved.

Fine. I got it. I've got no business in your shit. Your life is yours and I don't have any say in it. I'm totally clear on that.

[He pushes past Axel to start down the hall towards their shared bedroom.] I've got no involvement, It's not my problem, and you don't want me sticking my nose in it.

I'm the idiot here, totally in the wrong. Don't even know what I was thinking.

Edited 2012-11-04 05:59 (UTC)

Hanna --

[His voice cracks on the final vowel, and he grits his teeth.] Look, I'm trying to protect you, all right? You, and Roxas, and Xion.

If you're going to throw fits about it because you think I'm fighting for fun, then I'm not going to listen! I know what I'm doing.

[He was throwing a fit? Hanna's pretty damn sure that Axel and Demyx's scuffle was more like an adult rage fest than his own behavior at the moment. He turned the knob on the bedroom door but didn't slam it. Instead, he walked right in, left it open, and came right back out less than a minute later with his own pillow and the last blanket he had brought with him after distributing the rest to the rest of their new housemates.

Obviously he wasn't touching Axel's things.] And you're doing such a damn fine job of it. I'm real grateful. Thank you, Axel. Thank you so fucking much.

[Something like terror flickered in Axel's eyes, and he took a step closer to Hanna, hands clenching at his sides.]

Want to explain what you're doing now?

[Blanket and pillow in hand he doesn't even stop moving as he talks, moving into the living room where the couch is, though he can still see Axel as he sets his things down.]

Getting my shit, out of your room. Since I'm supposed to be keeping out of your business.

Hanna, that's not what I said.

[Axel follows him, stopping in the doorway of the living room. He'd feel numb if it weren't for the stinging cuts and bruises the fight had left.]

Well that's what I got, so sorry.

I'm stupid, remember? [He toes off his shows and looks like he's just about to flop on the couch and just stop talking all together before he pauses, just a moment and looks Axel over.

Sure he's pissed off, and now he's feeling kind of miserable and he's got a headache where Demyx elbowed him in the back of the head, but... That doesn't keep him from asking Axel if he needs anything. No matter how angry. You never deny someone medical attention if they're hurt.

And so, letting his face fall into hands, heaving a very defeated sigh, he drops his hands and looks up at Axel, feeling and looking pretty damn tired.] Do you need me to look at any of those before I go to bed?

They're not serious. Look, Hanna, I -- I don't think you're stupid, all right?

Jumping between us wasn't a great idea, but....

[He takes a step closer, fighting the ache growing where his heart should be. He wants to yell and wave his arms until something changes, but he isn't sure what to say.

Trust me to know what I'm doing -- it'd be easy, but he's too afraid to say anything starting with those words. It's even easier to say, I don't, and the pain is bad enough already.]

Are you all right?

[He's still a little dirty from the scuffle, Axel's jacket hung up after he had dragged him to their room, but he seems too stubborn to want to go back in to grab a change of clothes. So, when he sits down on the couch, rearranging his lone blanket and pillow, he brushes his pants off and goes to lay down.]

I'm fine. It's just going to bruise is all. Those go away. [He's quiet after that, curling up under the blanket and resting the not bruised half of his face on the pillow. There's this sickening worry starting to creep in, that maybe this is a bad idea. And that maybe he should say sorry, but there's also this stubbornness that makes him not want to say anything at all. But, finally he mumbles softly into his pillow, not looking up at all.] Good night.

IC contact post/voice mail - ADSTRING

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]