catchall nimona

[selfimmolation]

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[sharkgirl]

[she lets him, hiding her face, and doesn't answer for a minute, trying desperately not to cry. and after that minute, she says, miserably:]

What do you think I was going to do at the end of what you just saw?

[selfimmolation]

[ well. he was hoping for fight the world, but.

I didn't even want to do it a second time.

if it hadn't been for having a little brother to take care of, I would've given up then
being alone is worse than any getting hurt!

Nimona's been alone for a long, long time. ]

... It's not just me. I'm not the only one you've got.

[sharkgirl]

[he's not the only one, no, but...]

... You never really promised. [she says, quietly.] When I asked you not to leave me behind. I get why you didn't.

[it's not even an accusation or anything she's just sad about it.]

You're not the only one, but you're the one that hurts the most.

[selfimmolation]

... I've broken plenty of promises already. [ it's quiet right back, with a little bit of self-loathing in it ] I wasn't going to add that one too.

[ he doesn't know what to say about being the one that hurts the most, so he just hugs her tighter for a second ]

[sharkgirl]

[is he warm again that's comforting

she's really just not going to let him go for a while, honestly, so.]

I don't want you to go. [he's not even gone yet, but - he's seen her memories, now, he's seen the way every person she's loved in her very long life left her. she doesn't know how to accept this.]

[selfimmolation]

[ he is!!! he's fire again. ]

... We've got a few more weeks. [ he doesn't know how he feels about going himself yet either, is the problem. because he accepted it, when he took the blow for luffy, and he accepted whichever outcome would happen when he was on that execution stand, rescued or dead, but--

but there was a moment, a terrible moment, where ace found himself seeing all those people who loved him die for him and he desperately wanted to live. ]

[sharkgirl]

[a few more weeks. that's almost worse. that there's a limit. and even that could be cut short. either one of them could die.]

That's not enough. [she says, but she's not fighting anymore. there's nothing behind her words, really, just token arguing.]

[selfimmolation]

... For me, since I was a kid, just living one more day's always been enough. [ he's always been on borrowed time. ] So long as I can live every single day and not regret how I spent them. And I don't care how bad this place is. I'd never regret meeting you.

[sharkgirl]

[she hiccups.]

I've lived a lot of days. [and she's not regretted most of them, but. it's still been a lot of days.]

Being here is the best thing to ever happen to me.

[selfimmolation]

I guess Oceanside did one thing right. [ he does not say brought us together but the sentiment is gross and it is There ]

[sharkgirl]

[it's gross and there and unfortunately she relates to it so bad.

she's quiet for a bit, and then:] If I can save you I'm going to.

[if there's any way to do it, any way at all.]

[selfimmolation]

... I know you would.

[ try, anyway, but he's letting her have this, even though generally he is not about being saved by anyone. ]

[sharkgirl]

[she is going to turn into a cat and curl up around his shoulders, because she knows he's letting her have it and it's making her more sad.]

[selfimmolation]

[ scritch scritch the kitty ]

... I'm sorry that guy was such an ass. [ belated. sword guy whose name he doesn't know. ]

[sharkgirl]

Ballister.

[she mumbles.]

My Boss. Or I guess ex-boss. I think I got fired. [...] He just figured out what he wanted to see.

[selfimmolation]

... Your sidekick gig? [ scritch scritch ] See, this is why Pops had to fight me for three months before I agreed to join him. You need time to know who you're working with.

[ it's a joke. he's trying. ]

[sharkgirl]

[she does laugh, a huffy little sound.]

He got set up by the Director. She made it look like he killed the Queen. So I... you know, everybody hated him too.

[selfimmolation]

... But he believed it when it came to you?

[ the set up. he sounds mad. ]

[sharkgirl]

Yeah.

Why wouldn't he?

[selfimmolation]

Because he knew you? Because he had the same thing happen to him?

[ just getting madder. absolute hypocrisy in this chilli's tonight ]

[sharkgirl]

[it kind of feels nice for ace to get mad, though.]

But he was misunderstood. [she says, bitterly.] He was a good guy being dragged into doing evil things because of a m-- a monster.

[she has a hard time saying that word, but she manages.]

[selfimmolation]

What, were you twisting his arm? [ he's only got one ace that's rude. ] He can't accept the people he followed could be this wrong, so he's taking it out on you? He's an idiot.

[sharkgirl]

[she's quiet, for a bit.]

They just see what they want to see. They need something to blame. So it's me. [it's her. it's mika, it's ace.]

[selfimmolation]

That's bullshit. [ and he sounds infinitely angrier here than he did about his own situation, but that's not that he never was angry there. ]

[sharkgirl]

[she pauses, and then noses at his jaw as a kitty, tail flicking back and forth.]

Thanks. [for being so mad on her behalf.]