(Untitled)

[i_spoiled_it]

There's a Steph! She's curled up in an oversized armchair by the fire, staring absently into the flames, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea.

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[blue_bat]

"Something interesting in there?"

No sneaking up, this time. Just Dick, leaning over her shoulder, staring at the flames as well.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Secrets of the universe," Steph says, and leans against him tiredly.

[blue_bat]

"You'll have to share a few of these secrets with me."

Dick pats her on the hair a bit.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Secret one: being cursed really, really sucks," Steph offers, and shifts over to make room for him on the armrest of the chair. "Secret two: tea helps. I think it's a hangover from the Cave days. Alfred and his tea." She offers him an attempt at a smile.

[blue_bat]

"Question one: who cursed you?" Dick perchs on the armrest. "And question two: are they close enough that I can make them pay?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"Oh, they paid," Steph says. "It got hurled out into the stars." She gestures at the observation window. "But ... yeah, it was a nasty curse."

There's a pause.

"Made me try to kill people," she says, still keeping her eyes on the fire determinedly. "Like, really try. If it wasn't for security I'd be a murderer."

[blue_bat]

Dick narrows his eyes at her, and is quiet for a long moment.

"I'm assuming," he says, finally, "That you weren't in your right mind."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph shrugs, still avoiding his glance, and looking miserable. "Arithon said the curse only played on what was already there. Brought out instincts and stuff."

He might as well know the worst of it now, and then he can leave, or whatever. She adds "Mordred had to knock me out to stop me. Broke my leg. And I still tried again, when I got out of cell. Nearly - I -" Her quiet voice falters, a little. "I nearly got him."

[blue_bat]

"Nearly got who?"

He'll comment only when he has all the information. Right now, he has to gather it.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Couple of guys. Roshaun. An elf. They looked like ... I thought they were Lysaer. Thought they were a killer, who targets girls. And ... they looked like my dad. And ..." She curls up tighter. "I really ... I really wanted to kill them."

[blue_bat]

"Because a curse was taking away your ability to control yourself."

It's not a question. He's telling her.

[i_spoiled_it]

"They said it acted on instincts that were already there," Steph repeats miserably.

[blue_bat]

"Instincts which you were able to supress until this."

Dick pokes her, gently, in the shoulder.

"You think I've never wanted to kill anybody either?"

[i_spoiled_it]

"Well ... I'm being stupid, aren't I?" Steph looks rueful. "It's just - hard to deal with."

[blue_bat]

"It's supposed to be."

There's too many things that are supposed to be hard, and he wishes they weren't; but he can't fix that sort of thing, as hard as he tries.

All he can do is be around after to help pick up the pieces.

"If it wasn't hard to deal with, we'd be killing a lot more people."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph nods, and relaxes a little. "You don't hate me?" she asks, trying to keep her voice casual and not pathetic.