Your faith walks on broken glass & the hangover doesn't pass, nothing's ever built to last [W6, Fri]

[hydrokinetics]

[He thinks of where she could be not long after he receives his letter from Hannibal. He remembers something Natalie told him not long ago, about how she and Jason came here once to drink away their sorrows and he finds it funny even now.

It's the only bit of humor he has left.

It's with this in mind that he enters the church quietly and shuts the door silently behind him. Churches are fake, he thinks, too boxed in and too reliant on only one god. Then again, it's not like the gods have ever helped him here, have they? And they won't help now.

Percy's spoken to Natalie before about losing friends. And his heart sinks as he realizes just how true those words are.]

...Natalie?

Comments

[hydrokinetics]

...it's all right. I know why you didn't. [He doesn't know how he would have responded then. He lets her move enough to brush away her tears and he frowns at the space behind her head instead.]

One Bandit. And one target. We're really going for the last man standing route. [A deep breath.] Except for me. The Coal Miner will never be a Bandit.

[Unless Hal changed his mind.] There's eleven of us. That's exactly what's going to happen, I...we need to stop this. ["We", because he refuses to believe she's really going to be gone by this time tomorrow.]

[robitussin]

[She lets out a small laugh, stressed and humorless and broken, as he reaches over to dry her tears. Then she nods.]

...All of you can do it. I know you can. And then - I'll see you again.

[hydrokinetics]

You better. You, me, Annabeth, Jason, Xion. Manhattan. You better be there or...[His threat falls short.]

...wait for us. I'm going to win everyone back, or die trying. Preferably the former. [But for now...] ...I know you said you used your reward to keep Will from us. But please come back for the night? Jason would worry if you didn't anyway and...he'd know something was up. We can just...hang out. Pretend everything's not completely fucked up. Maybe find a way to fix things anyway.

[robitussin]

[She breathes in and then breathes out again.]

I don't know if I can keep it together around him. I'm really...

[Chewing on her lip, taking a deep breath again, somehow her voice still manages to come out small and frail.]

I'm really scared. I know it's not going to be permanent, because I trust you, but I...

[hydrokinetics]

I know. [And he does. But it's why he's going to be the support pillar for her at the moment.] I know...I'd be scared if you weren't. [And it doesn't help that he is scared.] We've all had a rough day and...I don't know. Maybe he'll just think it's that.

[A beat.] Natalie, please. Now isn't the time to be alone.

[robitussin]

[Gently, after a moment or two of silence, she reaches forward to take his hand in hers.]

If I say I really don't want to be, is that selfish?

[hydrokinetics]

[He doesn't question it. He lets her, allowing their hands to stay together.]

Well no, but even if it was who cares? Nobody should be alone. [A pause.] She tells me every letter that I shouldn't blame myself, but I can't help but regret leaving Annabeth alone that night. I'm not making that mistake again even if we know it may not change anything. I want...these memories to be with people who care about you. Maybe that makes me selfish. I don't know.

Guess we can spend one night being selfish together.

[robitussin]

[She pauses, but then she gives his hand a squeeze and nods. Breathe, Natalie, she tells herself.]

...Can I ask you to do something for me, when this is over?

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, absolutely. [Maybe he should hear what it is first, but.] What is it?

[robitussin]

...Can you tell everyone I'm sorry? I have to lie to them, and I just - I want them to understand why.

[hydrokinetics]

...of course. After the trial, you mean?

[robitussin]

[She nods.]

I'm going to tell them all I didn't do it, and I think they're going to believe me until then.

[Which brings her to something else.]

...How did you know I killed him, anyways?

[hydrokinetics]

They will. You've never had reason to lie to them.

[There's a frown.] ...got a letter from Dr. Lecter. He mentioned it so I followed the lead. It led me straight to you.

[robitussin]

[She hesitates, but...]

I get it if the answer is no, but can I see it?

[hydrokinetics]

[And he, too, hesitates.]

...the others have letters too, I bet. Dr. Lecter was writing these when I saw him on Wednesday. What I show you stays between you and me, and if they ask me about mine, I will be omitting things.

[But from there, he pulls out of his pocket a letter for her to read.]

[robitussin]

[She reads it over once, twice, three times before handing it back to him. After a moment:]

...Jesus.

[She isn't sure where to start.]

[hydrokinetics]

...I never would have been mad, by the way. Just so you know.

[So yeah! That sure is a lot.]

[robitussin]

...Thanks.

[She means that, even if she doesn't understand it.]

What are you going to do with all the merit?

[hydrokinetics]

I have literally no idea. [And that's where he looks annoyed and finally just pulls her by the hand to go take a seat. They're going to be here for a bit, it seems.] I had no idea talking to him would do this, especially since I already have merit saved up from my job.

[A beat.] He knew, by the way. I told him after I told you. It's...something I used as leverage when I went to speak to him.

[robitussin]

[A pause.]

Knew what, that we knew about him, that he was going to die? That it was going to be me?

[hydrokinetics]

No, no, no, I left all of that out. ...I mean no, I'm pretty he knew he was going to die since he had time to write all of these letters. I mean he knew about my coal mining job, I used it to my advantage. He knew the Bounty was after him, but I'm still pretty sure he has no idea who's actually involved.

[robitussin]

...At least he won't know in time to do anything about it, I guess.

[She sighs.]

[hydrokinetics]

It was a risk I took, kind of like going to talk to him without a weapon.

[He looks at the ceiling.] But with my merit and his...maybe Hal will tell me what we really need to know about winning this game. He tells me enough other stuff.

[robitussin]

You're an idiot, but I'm pretty sure I have no right to say that anymore.

[It's a pretty shoddy attempt at humor, but.]

You better send me a letter about everything you figure out.

[hydrokinetics]

You're a brave idiot. That counts for something. [They can try to find amusement, at least.]

...I'll send you a letter as soon as I can. And...when you get to the train, I want you to find Annabeth. Tell her you're coming with us. And hug Xion for me? [His non-bandaged hand scrubs over his face.] It won't be long. Then all of us can go home.