muses_gonewild prompt 68
ooc: A small scene from right after the Freedom Force takes down the Brotherhood. John Allerdyce used with permission, since. Well, I am also his mun. Written in first peson narrative.
How can you say you've failed when you're still alive?
Me and John sit in the back of the big army-like truck, only it's all sleek and black and posh, in a way that army guys probably don't get to see. It feels silly, being seen as more important than your every-day soldier. Just because we have powers, play in the major leagues, take down terrorist organizations made up of guys with powers of their own. We're stars, they think, those who hired us and used us to their ends.
Me? I'm just happy to be alive. Fucking Magneto, man. Guy made of legend. Heard he once pulled a pacemaker out of some guys heart just because he was pissed. I'm glad I don't have a pacemaker.
I look over at John, who is resting his head against the side of the van. Dried blood clings to his face, and his hair - Toynbee got him a good one, before we took Toynbee down. And John won't let anyone wash it off for him. He's punishing himself. I think he's stupid.
"It's all good, man." My attempt at conversation. He glances at me without moving his head, all the things he wants to say in a glance of his eyes. And, apparently, he doesn't want to say anything. I grin at him, gently. "We're free. Free-dom Force, baby."
He snorts. He doesn't say anything, for a moment, but then mutters, "I'm a failure."
Well, dude. You just helped take down the Brotherhood of Mutants, and you're still alive. Suck it up and enjoy, buddy.
But I don't say that. It's not going to help. Not right now, anyway. Maybe later. He'll learn. He'll learn that the Freedom Force actually saves lives, give them another chance. Being with them means being alive, and that's a success.
John will see his success, eventually. It was hard for me, too, when I had to betray my own self-made family to save others in my life. The Freedom Force Specialty, apparently. But I know, now that some time has passed, that is all for the best. He'll see it, too.
So I sit across from him, and keep a close eye on him, and I'll be ready to help him when he needs it. He'll find out soon enough how much he does.
How can you say you've failed when you're still alive?
Me and John sit in the back of the big army-like truck, only it's all sleek and black and posh, in a way that army guys probably don't get to see. It feels silly, being seen as more important than your every-day soldier. Just because we have powers, play in the major leagues, take down terrorist organizations made up of guys with powers of their own. We're stars, they think, those who hired us and used us to their ends.
Me? I'm just happy to be alive. Fucking Magneto, man. Guy made of legend. Heard he once pulled a pacemaker out of some guys heart just because he was pissed. I'm glad I don't have a pacemaker.
I look over at John, who is resting his head against the side of the van. Dried blood clings to his face, and his hair - Toynbee got him a good one, before we took Toynbee down. And John won't let anyone wash it off for him. He's punishing himself. I think he's stupid.
"It's all good, man." My attempt at conversation. He glances at me without moving his head, all the things he wants to say in a glance of his eyes. And, apparently, he doesn't want to say anything. I grin at him, gently. "We're free. Free-dom Force, baby."
He snorts. He doesn't say anything, for a moment, but then mutters, "I'm a failure."
Well, dude. You just helped take down the Brotherhood of Mutants, and you're still alive. Suck it up and enjoy, buddy.
But I don't say that. It's not going to help. Not right now, anyway. Maybe later. He'll learn. He'll learn that the Freedom Force actually saves lives, give them another chance. Being with them means being alive, and that's a success.
John will see his success, eventually. It was hard for me, too, when I had to betray my own self-made family to save others in my life. The Freedom Force Specialty, apparently. But I know, now that some time has passed, that is all for the best. He'll see it, too.
So I sit across from him, and keep a close eye on him, and I'll be ready to help him when he needs it. He'll find out soon enough how much he does.