Manly Fighting [Closed]

[stopthat_destro]

Who: Rex and Hoffman, eventually Iago
Where: THE SHOWERS BECAUSE ALL FIGHTING HAPPENS THERE FOREVER
When: Second night of the flood
Warnings: Language (PROBABLY), mild violence and a few references to past sexual assault.

Comments

[expectremorse]

Hoffman flinched away from Dick's touch, "Does it matter?"

He sounds tired and angry, "Does it really matter? Does any of this matter? It's not like you're going to believe me."

He tried to get to his feet and slipped back down, "Little bastard kicked me so hard I think he broke my fucking nuts."

[batmanschmatman]

"I want to know what happened." He moved to help him again, voice frustrated but pretty flat and neutral. "Come on, you need to go to the infirmary."

[expectremorse]

Hoffman hated weakness. He shoved at Dick feebly, "Stay the fuck away from me."

He was running on very little strength, "Bringing up that stupid flood, taunting me with it...Everybody hates me."

He took a step and faltered. He'd been kicked with all the force Rex could muster. Hoffman bit back a sob of frustration.

"...I think I might need to lean on you."

[batmanschmatman]

He carefully grabbed Hoffman by the arm, trying to steady him. He didn't protest about the leaning comment, and stuck closer by than he'd usually like to, because even if he hated Hoffman, he was willing to help him. "Let's go."

[expectremorse]

"I'm not a rapist." Hoffman mumbled, "I'm not. I don't care what anybody thinks about me. Except what if I am?" Hoffman's head is swimming, "I mean what if I am deep down? What would my sister think? What would my coworkers think?

I've always been a jerk what guy's not a jerk but I took care of my sister. I took care of her. Jill Tuck wasn't my fault. She tried to kill me I have a right to defend myself!"

He whimpered. The pain was ebbing, slowly, "...You all hate me, fucking judging me for no reason whatsoever. What gives you the right? What game him the right? Little bastard. You should have let me killed him."

[batmanschmatman]

It took almost every ounce of self control Dick had not to just drop him and walk away. He almost felt sick, and he didn't want to be having this conversation with Hoffman. He wasn't his warden, it wasn't his job to console him about what had happened, and he really didn't want to get in to what makes someone a rapist. Talking about that sort of thing with other people made it harder to pretend his own assault hadn't happened, especially now that he'd told people about it, and he really didn't want to talk about it with Hoffman

[expectremorse]

Hoffman groans, "...It's always playing the moral high ground next time. Always people trying to put me down even when I try to take the high ground."

He'd hate himself once this was over, "I really tried. Because I care. About this stupid boat. About people on it. Do you have any idea how big a deal that is? I spent years convincing myself I couldn't fucking care but I was so fucking worried about hurting myself and I can't stop it. I can't stop it. And what happens people either thing I'm a rapist or I'm crazy."

He limped down the corridor, "How far is the infirmary?"

[batmanschmatman]

"Not far." He didn't know what else to say. It was like things just went in one ear and out the other with Hoffman, and he was tired of trying to talk with him about it. This flood had sucked, he was tired, he missed Costigan, and he just wasn't in the mood to engage with him right now.

[expectremorse]

"That you for listening." He means it too, "And helping. I'll think of that when I'm doing in zero for being a murdering rat bastard rapist monster or whatever the fuck people think I am."

And he's just going to be quiet from here on out because thinking hurts.