milliways_bar | (no subject)

Billy frowns. "I don't want her to be lonely."

"There is the dancer and the dragoon. She is not lonely, exactly." Larxene shrugged. "And you play with them. That is very, very good."

She paused in front of him, smile fading "Just accept the compliment, Billy, do not argue it."

He ducks his head. "I'm not very good at that."

"You'll deal." she shrugged. "I'll check in periodically to give her time with the girls...but if you think she's losing her energy, or concentration? Send for me." the last was not requested, but ordered with a steely resolve.

"Now...about your lover..."

And he nods, tightly to it, before being shocked by her next statement. "--Teddy? What, did you meet him?"

"Hmmm, yes." she admitted, her pacing taking on a far more somber quality. "He initiated the contact, via note actually. He was worried you would take it amiss were he to directly communicate." she shrugged.

"His damage is not simple, Billy." Billy's, especially in comparison, was. "It will take time to even get as far as physical triggers."

Billy's not sure what's up with the note thing, but he's distracted by other things. "I--know. I didn't. Know he was awake for any of it, before now."

Not to mention his other issues.

"I do not believe that he has been programmed, either...but he did come in here with far too much time between his release and now. And his previous encounter was over a year past I'm told?" she glanced at Billy for confirmation, but didn't expect a verbal answer.

"It won't be pleasant. You must be prepared for his reactions." as a lover and friend. Larxene could handle the anger and pain.

"Ah- huh?" Billy's stomach drops, to hear what happened with Greg called 'torture.' The urge to kill that bastard rises. "I will do whatever he needs."

"I did not think you would inform me otherwise." she admitted "I simply wished you prepared." he was a hero after all. And it seemed...a decent person. Even a Nobody could recognize that.

"Facts uncovered about you and your Teddy will not be reported to my Superiors." that was a very hard statement for her to make. "Most of them do not know true torture methods, so it is needless. If I am questioned, though, are there any statements you wish me to make?"

"That it's none of their damn business?" Billy replies. "I mean-- why would they want to know?"

"I am XII, Billy." she noted simply "And I know at least one member of the Organization which would find flaws in heroes incredibly worthwhile to know. He is not here, and hopefully dead..." she shrugged.

"But do realize that what I will learn, and have already learned of you two...could be of value to many who wish you harm. Do not hand it to others, and I shall not do so either." she'd probably be far more diplomatic than Billy's statement...but there were lines even she wouldn't cross.

These were allies.

And they'd been tortured.

That was...not for reports.

Enemies on the other hand? Random Somebodies, well, torture was an incredibly effective tool.

Billy pales. They had trusted her with this information as a matter of course; they should have been more careful. Stupid, stupid -- what would Captain America say?

"Thank you, for keeping our secrets," He inclines his head a little. She had assigned a Ninja guard. The Nobodies more or less thought they needed him. It's--good enough for now.

Yes, it was foolish. Incredibly foolish. Teddy hadn't even asked her name, simply...obeyed after a moment. Next time, they would think, hopefully.

"You are welcome, Billy." she had offered the secrecy because he treated her girl well. No other reason, no other cause...

...but nothing would get the information from her now.

"Yeah. He-- needs help. I don't know how to give it to him."

It would have never occurred to him to treat her any other way.

"Yes. He does. I will do what I can, but he will also require a support structure. You, parents if he still has them...places to feel safe and protected. If you have questions, ask them, or send a note when they occur to you." she sighed.

"Luckily...he is young. He will heal better than a full adult. And he will not fight the healing method too hard."

"His parents are dead. He had mine but -- thing have changed. What should I be doing?"

"...but alliances shift and worlds change." she offered. Parents came and went in her observation. Billy would have to do.

"Listen to him. When we finish our sessions, and there will no doubt be many...let him talk. Do not lead the conversation, do not show surprise at where it may go. Let him...bleed." she listed, tilting her head as she talked "Show absolutely no fear in touching him, no matter what he tells you, care for him despite. This is something I believe you will excel at, given your tendencies."

"...and...let him know that it is alright to hate. TO fear, to loathe. These are normal emotions, and with work, will burn themselves out without harming him, as long as he is allowed to vent."

"I can-- do that. Listen to him. That's what I've been trying to do." It's hard. They're both so filled with their normal insecurities that any talk about bigger issues gets derailed.

"Good. I do not know who else exists in your world that may provide as much support as you. I would be loathe to go hunt someone down." it would get messy. Very messy.

Welcome to growing up, Billy. It sucked.

"There's not really anyone, right now." He frowns. "The adults in our world have all lost their minds."

That was unfortunate. Adults going mad tended to lead to terrible things...like darkness. But, that wasn't a worry for Billy at the moment. "Then you will do. I do not believe you see failure as an option, correct?" it was almost a rhetorical question.

"If you begin to falter, we will locate a Princess."

"--what good's a princess going to do?"

"Princess of Heart." she clarified with a sigh. "They...every world has heroes and legends, but the Princesses are what keep them anchored, emotionally? They heal without meaning to, they care about everyone..." how else did one describe it?

"If a world is lucky, they have one. They make it easier to withstand the darkness. You would feel better, and far more stable, after talking to one if you were growing weary. They would help."

"Oh. Well. I can't think of anyone like that on my world."