166 Near Disasters

[cal_sitter]

[Niko's first duty after midnight is to move the body. The woman goes somewhere she'll be safe when she revives, somewhere far from the apartment. His second duty is to ruthlessly scrub the area clean. Better for Cal to smell the stink of chemicals than a death that he caused while in the mindset of the Auphe. The third task Niko performs is to

Comments

[phonecall]⇒[action]

[halfed]

[Still holed up in the Underground, Cal- no, Caliban now -has the foresight to at least make that call home. One of only two messages that are getting out today, from him.]

Nik?

[ooc: /will also be kind of awol till much later <333]

[action]

[halfed]

[There's a wince and a rub at the back of his head.]

No, you were stuck with me instead.

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[Something approaching a smile from Nik.]

There's no one I would rather be stuck with.

[He tugs at Cal's ponytail.]

One day, you'll understand that without my having to remind you.

[action]

[halfed]

Nik, one day, that's going to be me. Without some shitty curse getting involved.

[He stops walking, turning to face Niko instead]

You can't stop it.

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[Niko is not wearing his happy face. Denial, determination ... he doesn't care which as long as he gets the answer that he wants.]

No. You-

[He stops short of saying, "You made a promise to me," because that promise was made by the Cal who bled when he opened gates, who was nearly buried with Abbagor, and his brother hasn't lived that yet. He takes a deep breath to steady himself.]

You're not Auphe. Promise me that you won't let them win. I can't lose you, Cal. Do you realize that?

[action]

[halfed]

It's in the genes. Yesterday just proved it.

[It'd only let a part of him out that he knew, day after day, existed deep inside him. And no matter what anyone else may say, Niko included, he knew he couldn't believe otherwise.]

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[Any single creature possesses countless genetic traits that are never expressed, Niko thinks, but he doesn't say it. He doesn't want to give Cal a point to argue. He stands, implacable, waiting for the promise. If he has to beat it out of Cal, he will.]

[action]

[halfed]

[he turns away and starts walking again. Though this time, it's clear he isn't finished talking yet. It's the Underground, and right now, it held memories he'd sooner forget.]

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[Niko lets him, and doesn't draw even until they reach the surface.]

Cal ...

[The "please" is implicit in his tone of voice.]

[action]

[halfed]

[he's quiet for a while longer, thinking how best to word his thoughts. The entire conversation wasn't as easy as he'd like it to be.]

If I gave up, I don't know what would happen to me. [How he would act, not whether he would survive] I don't want to hurt you.

I can't change nature. I'm just stuck fighting it. [He leaves off the fact he isn't sure how long that will last. In truth, he doesn't think it'll be nearly as long as Niko seems to think]

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[That's close enough to a promise for now. After raising Cal, after protecting him for most of his life, Niko doesn't want to open to the door to the possibility that Cal won't last.]

You're not going to hurt me, little brother. You wouldn't spend so much time in a headlock when we spar if you could.

[action]

[halfed]

[He stops himself from pointing out that Niko hadn't faced him the previous day. Even Cal wasn't sure what he was capable of. Though judging from some of the people he'd collected-]

You got rid of it?

[The body]

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[Not for lack of trying. Walking through tears in reality makes a person difficult to track.]

I did.

[action]

[halfed]

[A nod. It's an apology without words. It's back toward the apartment we head. All Cal wants to do now is scrub the stink of blood off of him and hole up in his room for the week. Or attempt to, at least]

[action]

[cal_sitter]

[Niko remains silent until they're almost to the apartment. Then:]

One day.

[Glances at his brother.]

After that, I flip you onto the floor and drag you into the front room by your ear if you don't come out on your own.

[action]

[halfed]

[it's heard, but easily ignored. As usual. Not that he expects Niko to let up on his word. He never has before. But Cal was determined to find his own way round it. This was his problem, afterall.]

Whatever.

[and he's unlocking the door]