[It's hard to hold onto her anger in the face of that, and she shrinks in on herself a little, watching him like she's not sure if she should reach out and try to help or if that's... not allowed, anymore.
[He rubs at his cheeks, at his forehead, at his eyes, before turning his face away. But he does a pretty shit job of hiding the fact that he's crying.]
Don't... Don't fucking do that. Just - Don't. Ever.
[She moves to hold his face in her hands, making him look at her.]
Take a deep breath, okay. No one's killing anyone, that's not how we do things, I know you're not Ros' biggest fan right now, but there's no way she'd condone anything like that. You're gonna be fine, you just gotta wait it out.
[She knows why it's hard, when so many people have let him down before, but she needs him to try.]
You told me I was a good person, right? If you really meant that, you know that I'd never let them do that to someone, whether I cared about them or not. I'm still Batgirl, and that wouldn't be justice.
Tempest shouldn't have access to her powers while she's locked up - there's no point to it if she did - but I don't think you went about it the best way. It looks too much like an attack.
[That's why he's here.
If he'd just discussed things with Roslyn instead of going in and taking Tempest's powers without waring...]
[Another sigh, and she drops her hands to his arms, still touching him, but it's a little less intimate.
She isn't sure exactly how she feels about all this, but she can at least understand what the different perspectives are.]
You weren't born with your gun, Jesse. It's a weapon, and they shouldn't have access to it if they're being detained, but the way everyone else sees it is like you took a sense from her, or something. Like you made her blind. It'd be different if it was just nullifying the power, like what the UE did, but you know the fact you can just take powers is scary to people. If they were born with it, or even if they've had it for a long time, someone's powers make up a part of who they are.
[She doesn't want to compare it to what Max did to her, but...
[But he's done this to hundreds of people. He did this for a living. He got rich off of it, him and Mr. Gold, and he bought a sportscar and a mansion with a pool and he was so proud back then, for once in his life, doing something only he could do and being really good at it and at the same time making dangerous people a little less dangerous and making good people a little stronger so they could protect themselves.
And Steph is saying - what? What's she saying about him? Because the color's draining from his face and his mouth has gone dry. It sounds like she's calling him a monster, is what it sounds like.]
[She takes his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, trying to get him to focus on her. They're both physical people, it's why she relies on touch so much with him, to ground him or get his attention or try to calm him down.]
I get why you did it, and at the end of the day she shouldn't have her powers while she's locked up, but I just want you to understand why they're upset, you know? Why they did this to you.
I know, and you didn't do bad either, you just didn't go about it the best way.
[She still thinks he's just talking about Tempest.]
It was different with Max, yeah, 'cause she tried to use it against you, but you probably should've talked to Ros, first, about taking Tempest's powers while she's being detained.
[That's probably a lie, or at least a deflection, but she knows there's not much point pushing it if he doesn't want to tell her.]
I know, why don't you get some rest?
[At least he's already on the mattresses; she hops up near him, putting her back against the wall and tapping her leg as she offers him a reassuring smile. He can curl up with his head in her lap, if he wants, she figures it might help him stay calm.]
[He's going to take that offer, because he doesn't know what to do with any of this. It's too much. He lays his head down and shuts his eyes. Who knows if he'll be able to rest at all, but he's going to at least pretend to sleep.]
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[He buries his face in his hands and just... Yeah, he's going to stay like this for a while.]
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After she did that.]
I'm sorry.
[She sounds like she means it.]
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Don't... Don't fucking do that. Just - Don't. Ever.
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[Stepping in front of a bullet, proverbial or otherwise.
Carefully, she moves closer again, reaching out to touch his arm, but she'll draw away if he reacts badly.]
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I don't wanna hurt you.
I don't wanna hurt anybody. I just don't wanna die.
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[Her hand moves to his jaw, thumb brushing gently across his cheek.]
If you can't trust Saul or Mike, trust me. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you.
[And god, she hopes she can keep that promise.]
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[She won't leave him locked up alone, not after he saved her from the same fate.]
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Take a deep breath, okay. No one's killing anyone, that's not how we do things, I know you're not Ros' biggest fan right now, but there's no way she'd condone anything like that. You're gonna be fine, you just gotta wait it out.
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[She knows why it's hard, when so many people have let him down before, but she needs him to try.]
You told me I was a good person, right? If you really meant that, you know that I'd never let them do that to someone, whether I cared about them or not. I'm still Batgirl, and that wouldn't be justice.
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Tempest shouldn't have access to her powers while she's locked up - there's no point to it if she did - but I don't think you went about it the best way. It looks too much like an attack.
[That's why he's here.
If he'd just discussed things with Roslyn instead of going in and taking Tempest's powers without waring...]
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She isn't sure exactly how she feels about all this, but she can at least understand what the different perspectives are.]
You weren't born with your gun, Jesse. It's a weapon, and they shouldn't have access to it if they're being detained, but the way everyone else sees it is like you took a sense from her, or something. Like you made her blind. It'd be different if it was just nullifying the power, like what the UE did, but you know the fact you can just take powers is scary to people. If they were born with it, or even if they've had it for a long time, someone's powers make up a part of who they are.
[She doesn't want to compare it to what Max did to her, but...
It's a little like what Max did to her.]
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And Steph is saying - what? What's she saying about him? Because the color's draining from his face and his mouth has gone dry. It sounds like she's calling him a monster, is what it sounds like.]
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[She takes his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, trying to get him to focus on her. They're both physical people, it's why she relies on touch so much with him, to ground him or get his attention or try to calm him down.]
I get why you did it, and at the end of the day she shouldn't have her powers while she's locked up, but I just want you to understand why they're upset, you know? Why they did this to you.
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I thought I was doing good.
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[She still thinks he's just talking about Tempest.]
It was different with Max, yeah, 'cause she tried to use it against you, but you probably should've talked to Ros, first, about taking Tempest's powers while she's being detained.
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Jesse, what is it?
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I know, why don't you get some rest?
[At least he's already on the mattresses; she hops up near him, putting her back against the wall and tapping her leg as she offers him a reassuring smile. He can curl up with his head in her lap, if he wants, she figures it might help him stay calm.]
I'll keep an eye on things.
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