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[shorelined]

@kaldur'ahm.shayeris | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[shorelined]

It is nothing.

[ he wants to talk about it. he doesn't want to talk about it.

he shouldn't burden jason. ]

[reneger]

You're lying to me.

( his voice remains loose, even if the words carry a harsh conviction. )

Is it 'cause you don't wanna talk, or you don't know if you can trust me?

[shorelined]

[ the harshness beneath the words, beneath that casual tone has kaldur look up, at jason.

then he slowly shakes his head. ]

It is neither. [ is the quiet admission. ]

[reneger]

So, spill.

( if it's not either of those, what's the fucking point of being secretive. )

[shorelined]

[ kaldur's shoulders drop a little. ]

I only meant that I had to make difficult choices while I was trying to convince Black Manta that he could trust me. That I did things I am not proud of.

[reneger]

Oh, man do I get that.

( an easy, stupid smirk. )

I allied with Black Mask, once. Had to watch him shoot the brains out of a few lackeys. Put up with a lot of his other shit, too. It was crap.

[shorelined]

I am sorry.

[ a different world, sure, and he is not responsible for his father's actions —and still. ]

[reneger]

What'd you have to do? Kill a few losers? Pull some stupid, reckless stunts?

( he said a bit about himself, but it was less about sharing. more for showing kaldur he does get it. how shit it feels. )

[shorelined]

I did not kill anyone directly.

[ indirectly? he isn't so certain. ]

But I have hurt people. Betrayed their trust, harmed them -

[ it was necessary, but is that not a slippery slope? how much harm is he willing to do to do good? ]

[reneger]

I slit the third baby bird's throat once, 'cause I was pissed at him for taking my place.

( sometimes people get hurt. jason had even shittier reasons than kaldur, but he opens up to them regardless. )

You're probably fine.

[shorelined]

[ kaldur doesn't feel fine, but he nods regardless. ]

Thank you.

[reneger]

For what.

( what has he done, kaldur. none of this was helpful. )

[shorelined]

Listening.

[ asking, in the first place. ]

[reneger]

Don't mention it.

( a beat, and then-- )

Like seriously, don't.

[shorelined]

[ for a moment, kaldur looks at jason. thinks about —not arguing, precisely, but insisting.

then he nods. ]

Very well.

[ a beat. ]

Do you wish to do this regularly? [ sparring, he means. ]

[reneger]

We'll see.

( sliding in a little closer to shove his shoulder up against kaldur's own. )

I don't do scheduled activities.

[shorelined]

I see.

[ there goes his idea of making spars part of his regular training schedule. ]

[reneger]

( oh is that. disappointment he hears? sees. )

But you've got my number. Text me whenever, I'll see if I can free up some time.

[shorelined]

[ it is, although kaldur would like to think he's not obvious about it. it only lasts a moment, anyway. ]

I will.