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[ The silence hangs for a few moments as Nelson both waits for Gil to say something and tries not to get any more upset; finally he stands, adjusting his tie a little absently but hastily. ]

I should probably go. I didn't come by to fight with you, Gilbert, I-- [ A beat. ] hope that you're feeling a little better now.

[ As Nelson moves, Gil springs back to life, his face a little flushed but determined suddenly. ]

Did you know?

[ Nelson looks at him, expression still a little frustrated but also confused. ]

Did I know what?

What Hooded Justice has been doing?

I haven't even seen him in a week, Gilbert!

[ Nelson waves his hand in mild impatience. ]

He's either crime-fighting or-- [ "Out with boys," he wants to say but doesn't. ] No, I don't know what he's doing! God knows what!

But you know how he handles that. How he... [ He still doesn't want to say it, but it slips out anyway. ] He almost killed a man!

[ Nelson stares at him, mouth open slightly in surprise.

Though probably not over what Gil thinks. ]

You saw him?

[ Gil freezes, caught red handed now. He takes a deep breath and chooses his words carefully. ]

Last week.

[ Nelson walks over to him, breathing quickly. ]

Where? When? What day? What happ-- tell me. Gilbert, please.

[ He raises both hands to pacify Nelson while he shakes his head once more. He doesn't look at him either. ]

Friday night... I ran into him. He was stopping some criminal, but he went too far.

[ Stopping some criminal. Somehow that relieves Nelson slightly, though not completely. Hooded Justice is at least still around and all right (or was, last Friday), but the why still resounds heavily. ]

Tell me everything, did you... speak to him? Was the criminal-- [ He pauses. ] He survived, didn't he?

Edited 2013-07-18 09:08 (UTC)

Yes, but he was in terrible condition. [ There could have been internal bleeding. Gil did his best, but he couldn't stick around for long after he had tipped police off to his whereabouts. Whatever his crimes were, they would deal with it. ]

What happened to H-- [ He stops himself, swallowing and shaking his head. ] I mean, that's good that the man didn't-- that... I'm sure there'd have been a story in the papers if...

[ He gets to the point: ]

Did he say anything?

Nothing of importance. [ Which is mostly true. He's trying to spare Nelson, although he feels he should know what HJ did not pity Gil, but to understand that man is dangerous. ]

Was he angry? Especially angry, I mean, he's always more violent when--

[ He bites his lip. ]

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

He always seems angry. [ He can't help but pull back, feeling Nelson is encroaching on his personal space.

And he feels guilty, despite his best intentions. He didn't want it to come to this. ]

Because he was acting out. I felt it was best for him to stay away from you. He's not... of sound mind, I think. He definitely was going to kill that man if I hadn't shown up.

[ Nelson's eyebrows furrow and he bites his lip a little harder. ]

I know he's-- he's twisted, there's something wrong with him. [ "Sick in the head," Nelson had said once, but he isn't sure anymore. ] He won't kill someone for just no reason, Gilbert. If anyone can handle him it's me.

You just said criminals like that deserved it. [ He's not about to let that go. ] I know I don't know a lot about this "hero" business, but what he was doing was wrong.

Well--

Some of them. Not death, mind you. I wouldn't-- [ He clears his throat. ] There are all kinds of criminal lowlifes out there, sometimes an example needs to be made. That's all I meant.

[ A beat. ]

Hooded Justice said something similar.

[ Nelson goes a little red. ]

D-don't twist my words around, Gilbert. Hooded Justice goes much farther than I-- I'm not saying he's always right.

[ Gil lets out an exasperated sigh. ]

I guess it doesn't matter anymore. I haven't seen him since and that man he attacked was taken into custody.

I hope he's all right.

[ Which "he" could he mean!! He steps back slightly, glancing away. ]

Thank you for letting me know, I-- [ Swallowing. ] Should probably try to find him myself. Before he hurts anyone else too badly.

You shouldn't. [ It may be cruel to say, but he says it. Nelson is going to get hurt eventually -- he can feel it in his bones. ] He's lashing out and might even hurt you.

Edited 2013-07-18 11:30 (UTC)

[ Nelson wrinkles his nose. ]

I can take it. It isn't as if I've never been punched before. You don't understand, Gilbert -- if I give up on him he's got no one else.

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