capeandcowl | 009 [ Voice ]

Entry tags:

julian keller | hellion

009 [ Voice ]

[ So Julian's been gone somewhere close to a week. He finds that out from a newspaper stand. For him it's been a hell of a lot longer than a week, and his head is spinning now. Memories he hadn't known were there are rising to the surface, fitting back into place. Friends, enemies, people from other worlds. Events he'd thought he'd never forget. Skrulls, Vulcanus.

God, this is weird.

And last time he'd been here, he hadn't looked like this.

He's walking through the City, metal hands concealed in his pockets. Every part of this is a mess. His powers are holding the phone to his ear, and there's no video.

He sounds like he's bored. ]

This place has good timing. I was almost in math class.

So I'm back. You can all stop missing me now. Since nothing's in pieces I'm gonna guess no one tried to destroy the place this week. Did I miss anything worth telling?

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[ Damn it, she doesn't know. She won't be so different here, she's still the Laura he knew... ]

I've been home a long time.

[Another pause.]

Your hands.

[ And that right there is a conversation he doesn't want to be having with the whole City. Not yet. He filters it. ]

Gone. Replaced. That's been a while too.

I...am sorry.

That happened shortly before I was brought here.

I don't need sorries. [ That comes out sharper than he meant it to, and for more reason than one.

Damn it. He needs to get a handle on this. She doesn't know. It wasn't her. Not yet.

But it will be her, so how can he just let it go? ]

I'm fine, I've been fine.

Don't tell Sofia. I don't want her hearing from anyone who isn't me.

I have never spoken of it to anyone here.

[She had kept it secret for over a year, after all.]

I wasn't walking around with metal hands before either.

I still would not.

[She almost sounds offended.]

Good.

[ The most awkward pause. It's like this next thing is hard to say. ]

Thanks.

[Another pause.]

What is wrong?

Nothing.

[ And then because he can’t help it anymore. ] Why are you talking to me?

[There's a genuinely startled pause.]

Why wouldn't I?

It's different, isn't it. I knew he'd done something to you, changed you.

You told me, Laura. Staying away from you wasn't my idea, it was yours.

...

I don't understand what you mean.

You left.

I...

[Okay, she can guess what he means, at least.]

I had to leave. I could not...find out what I needed to if I had remained in Utopia.

[ That's close enough. It's not what's burning him, but it'll do. ]

Yeah? Well I don't buy that, you didn't try. You could have. I waited for you, I wanted you there.

You never meant to come back, did you? It was always about running away.

...I don't know.

[It's the complete, honest truth. But considering now she doesn't even want to return to her world, it's...not hard to guess.]

I had only been gone for days before I was brought here.

Why wasn't it enough? What the hell were you looking for that you were so sure couldn't find with us?

I don't know. It just...wasn't.

Then why couldn't you have just told me before you took off with that asshole?

It is complicated.

And Gambit accompanying me was not my choice.

It's not complicated, that's bullshit. So is having to chase you down every time I want an answer.

[There's a long delay, and then she makes a soft, frustrated sound.]

I do not have to explain myself to you, Julian.

Right, of course not. You never do and why the hell should you? It isn't like we were friends or whatever. I don’t know why I even asked. I never should’ve waited for you.

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