Comments | fandomhighdorms: The Roof, Thursday night

bugofjustice in fandomhighdorms

The Roof, Thursday night

May 04, 2006 20:49

The Tick was on the roof of the dorms with Lockheed on his shoulder. It had been far too long since they came up here to just watch the evening. Down there somewhere was a bonfire. He hoped the kids were being safe with that. And over there was the town, quiet but with life dancing around in a ballet ( Read more... )

the tick, lockheed, angel, roof

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notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:05:06 UTC

Angel still didn't feel quite right about all his nightmares. For a change of pace he went up to the roof to see if location really did affect the brooding. He paused when he saw Prof. Tick there.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 02:10:46 UTC

"Don't be sorry, Angel!" Tick said. "Come join us! It's a beautiful night!"

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:12:26 UTC

Angel looked uncertainly at Lockheed, but came forward anyway. He looked out over Fandom.

After a moment, he said, "I'm gonna assume that fire's on purpose."

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 02:15:13 UTC

"It looks controlled, so that's my guess," Tick said.

"So, are you all set to get out of here and fight the Good Fight?"

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:16:44 UTC

Angel looked down at his hands. "Maybe?"

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 02:18:57 UTC

"Maybe?" Tick questioned. "Is something wrong?"

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:22:46 UTC

"I've been having these nightmares," Angel said. "Visions. Stuff that happens in my future. Stuff that happens when I fight the good fight."

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 02:23:53 UTC

"What kind of stuff?" Tick asked.

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:24:50 UTC

"People die," Angel said, looking up at him. "Anyone who helps me, anyone who fights with me either ends up dead or wishing they were."

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 02:29:09 UTC

"And because of that, you don't know if you're going to fight?" Tick asked, checking if he was following the reasoning.

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:32:48 UTC

"Not just that," Angel said. "Cal said something the other day that got me thinking. I've got this destiny, right? Fifty-fifty shot that I save or destroy the world. Even assuming I get to do the save, what kind of comfort is it to all the people who have to suffer along the way? All the people who died so I could become what I am today."

Angel winced, remembering who he was talking to when speaking about those he'd killed.

"I just - what if I'm chasing the wrong path here? There's just as good a shot that I fail. Wouldn't the better thing be to get me out of the picture?"

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 02:43:18 UTC

"Angel? That's crap," Tick said simply. "You're doing a dangerous thing. Fighting the good fight? It's not easy. It's risky. People will get hurt. Some will die. But egads, if they choose this life - and if they believe they must, they'll do so with or without you - they'll know the risks. But you're a good leader, Angel! They'll stand a much better chance of doing what they set out to do if you're leading them!"

"And you can't hide in bed from Destiny! It'll snatch up your covers, dump a bucket of cold water on your head, and yell, 'WAKE UP!' in your ear! If it's your Destiny, you'll save or destroy the world whether you want to or not! If you destroy the world while trying to do Right, at least the world will be a better place before then! And if you save it while trying to do Right, then you saved a world worth saving!"

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 02:49:04 UTC

"Huh," Angel said, since Tick did have a point. "Still - my destiny. I can't ask other people to take on that risk. Especially when I know how it turns out for them."

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 03:00:01 UTC

"Do you remember your Study Group? Nearly my whole class was involved in that. I have trouble believing that you asked them to take on that risk," Tick said. "How many people were willing to fight on your side then? How many demanded to fight on your side despite the fact that they knew the danger? And how many of them died? I know the answer to that last question: None."

"As for visions, I don't put a lot of faith in them. I've had visions. There was some truth, but it was mainly little me's hitting me with fish. That's never happened in real life. Who knows if your visions will come true?"

notstakedyet May 5 2006, 03:01:35 UTC

"Do you think I can do this?" Angel asked. "Do you really think I have what it takes to be a hero?"

bugofjustice May 5 2006, 03:15:59 UTC

"I remember fighting alongside you against the zombies. Even if that wasn't quite you," Tick said. "And I saw - well, not 'saw,' but work with me - you lead a group of people who in many ways had no business fighting a swarm of vampires. They survived. They did well. You lead them well. You understand Justice. You understand the Good Fight."

"Everything I've seen from you, Angel, shows me that you have the potential to be a great hero. If you take that Baton of Potential and run with it, I have no doubt that in ten years, if you come back here for a reunion, I'll be proud to see what you've become at the end of that race. I'll be proud to say that I knew you way back when you joined Track."

"Whether or not you face your Destiny and achieve that potential is up to you, though. You know the risks. What happens now is your choice."

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