on losing his best friend at witchesreign

[bratbeyond]

What, were you expecting something hideous? Honestly, apa, you should know me better by now. I haven't had time to dwell on it.

...

Really. You know that phrase Instructor Evans always uses - especially when she's in that ridiculous mood? "The show must go on?" 'Course I'm pissed. Compression's been nothing but a slagging nuisance from Day One: I never know who's gonna go home and who's gonna be there tomorrow. And if Aang's gone? Big deal. He's got a whole world to save---and who'm I to stop him from getting that Katara girl he liked?

Some slagging twip, that's what. So come on, let's get those plans up for Garden. If you're going to keep me on that ridiculous excuse for a school, I might as well rule it better than that twip Seifer ever could.

Comments

[monkingaround]

I'm really sorry about this, Damian. I don't want to go.

[bratbeyond]

Don't apologize, you zift. It wasn't your fault.

[monkingaround]

I know... But I'm going to miss you.

[bratbeyond]

But you've always got me right here. [Oh, he knows it's the cheesiest thing in the world, to point right at Aang's heart, but it's Aang.] So no matter where you go and who you kill with kindness?

The slagging Robin'll always be watching. ["and totally judging."]

[monkingaround]

[How can Damian even say these things to him, it just broke his heart. So he pulls him into a hug before he can dodge it.]

Thanks, Damian.

[bratbeyond]

[Damian wouldn't have tried to dodge it anyways. Instead, he limply stands there for a moment before hugging Aang as tightly as he can.]

No problem.

... And hey, you still owe me a grand tour of your place sometime.

[yetanotherpunishment]

It's all right to be sad, you know. No one will hold it against you.

[bratbeyond]

Maybe not, but I'd hold it against myself. People come and go all the time... so why should he be an exception?

[yetanotherpunishment]

Do you not already see him as an exception to everyone else? Otherwise he would be a faceless stranger and not "Aang."

[bratbeyond]

[Busted. So of course he's going to keep on denying it.] We're not...

I mean, yeah, I'm upset he's gone, but it's nothing I can't get over.

[yetanotherpunishment]

[Sorry kid, Hakkai's perceptive.]

Ah, of course. By all means, go ahead and bottle up your emotions until it weighs too heavily upon your shoulders. I'm sure you can maintain it for several more years before it becomes too much to bear.

[bratbeyond]

And that totally wasn't said in the most condescending way ever. I'm sure you're popular with all the kids, aren't you?

[yetanotherpunishment]

[Laughs at that. It's a very light laugh, not aimed at Damian, simply his statement.] I didn't mean for it to be, forgive me. I just know how futile it is to tell people things that they don't want to hear.

And just for the record, I used to be a school teacher.

[bratbeyond]

Y'Allah, don't tell me... you taught elementary school too? Or was it high school?

[yetanotherpunishment]

I taught grade school.

[bratbeyond]

Oh.

... Well, I guess you actually were Mr. Popular. [totally being sincere, even if it's not obvious.]

[yetanotherpunishment]

[And he's laughing again.] Perhaps. I couldn't say one way or the other...

Though I fail to see how this has anything to do with your friend, Aang I believe his name was?

[bratbeyond]

You really don't let anything go, do you?

It totally has everything to do with Aang! He's a kid, you're good with kids, it's a win-win situation!

[yetanotherpunishment]

[Rubs the back of his neck.] Ahahaha...

I'm still not sure of the connection you're trying to draw between the two. He isn't coming to me for anything.

[bratbeyond]

Well he could be! He totally misses me, doesn't he? And you're good with kids! So if he says he misses me... and wants to figure out a good way to remember me... wouldn't you have a decent answer?

[... Sorry, Aang. Damian's using him as a surrogate.]

[yetanotherpunishment]

[And now he gets it.] Ah, yes, of course. Well, I would tell him that there's no one way to remember someone. Y--he could visit a place you would both frequented together, or eat something he knows you like... I would tell him to focus on keeping the memory of you alive.

[bratbeyond]

Okay, I think I---I mean, I think Aang can totally do this.

... Thanks.

[yetanotherpunishment]

There's no harm in feeling sad. Tell your friend that.

[bratbeyond]

I will. I'm sure he'll get the message loud and clear.

[yetanotherpunishment]

I'm glad to hear it.

What about you, ...I'm sorry, I never caught your name. I'm Cho Hakkai.

[bratbeyond]

Damian Razem. It's nice to meet you, sir... though I guess I'll see you around these parts more in the future.

[yetanotherpunishment]

Please, Hakkai is fine.

And I'm sure we'll see each other around. This appears to be a small place.

[bodilesswarrior]

[faint, warm smile] You're better for having known each other. Nothing will take that away.

It's okay to miss him being there, though. It's okay to mourn that.

I miss people all the time, even people I can't remember.

[bratbeyond]

...

Thanks, Ms. Gordon. You promise it won't make me look weak or like a little kid?

[bodilesswarrior]

[a firm nod] I promise, Damian.

[bratbeyond]

Okay.

[He hesitates for a moment before giving her a huge bear hug.] For the record? I missed you a lot too.

[bodilesswarrior]

[her eyes widen, and then she grins, squeezing him tight] Me too, kiddo. How've you been doing?

[bratbeyond]

Pretty good. I might've lost my best friend, but... I just got my entire video game collection in exchange.

What about you? Anything exciting while I was gone?

[bodilesswarrior]

[she grins] Always a good distraction. Nice way to practice eye-hand coordination, too.

Hub's same as always, more or less. Over here I got dumped in a city full of horror and mayhem. [flash of a smirk] So basically Gotham on a bad day.

[bratbeyond]

But that place's nothing you can't handle, I bet. You're not alone, right? There's gotta be other people from worlds like ours. [He's not worried about her, of course he isn't. That'd just be preposterous.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[a confident smile, that's certainly not meant to be reassuring] Of course not.

[and her smile warms] Stephanie's there. And Tim and Kon. A Huntress from a different world, but I don't know that yet.

And Bruce, but he doesn't look like ours and he's going incognito.

[bratbeyond]

[It takes him a moment to translate the names in his terms: "Noah's mom & dad, Chris's dad... someone he's never heard of... and the old man.]

Good. I'm not sure how helpful they'd be [because Damian has Bruce Issues] but even the illusion of support's better than nothing.