invoking | 『 capeandcowl • contact 』

Did someone you know get ported out?

[ It can't be Hooded Justice. ]

Um. No. [ He tugs on his collar nervously and takes another sip of water. ] Moved out, not ported out.

Moved out?

[ It only takes him a second to figure it out. ]

Hooded Justice?

Yes. So-- [ He gestures casually with his hand. ] You don't have to worry about ever stopping by now.

[ He doesn't look at Nelson yet, attention somewhere else in the kitchen, or at least pretending he's contemplating cooking.

That night he ran into HJ could have been the night he left the apartment. It could explain his behavior.

But he remembers Nelson's confession and his heart sinks a bit. He doesn't understand it, but he's not that cold. ]

Are you alright? Since you two...

[ Nelson takes another stalling sip of water, slow and thoughtful. ]

Don't worry, Gilbert, I'm fine. Just getting used to the quiet. [ Well. Hooded Justice is already quiet... ] The emptiness, I mean. You know how it is -- an adjustment, that's all.

[ He leans back against the counter, crossing his arms. ]

What happened?

He left. It isn't important. [ He gets a little more tense. ] Maybe I ought to go and let you rest. Your nose is feeling a little better, I hope.

[ He blinks profusely, not sure what's going on anymore. ]

Mr. Nelson? Did I say something wrong?

No, no. It's nothing. I'd hate to disrupt your healing any by overstaying my welcome.

You're not, Mr. Nelson.

[ Now who's being the evasive one? He watches him closely. ]

It's just... if he did something...

[ Nelson doesn't make eye contact, though he shakes his head. ]

All he did is leave, Gilbert. If anyone did anything it was probably me. [ He puts his water down. ] You don't have to worry.

[ He bites down on his bottom lip, struggling to tell him the truth.

No, he definitely can't seeing Nelson like this. ]

You're being too hard on yourself. He's a difficult person, it seems like.

He always has been. But I thought that we -- well, it isn't important. Us both being here doesn't have to mean anything.

[ He puts his hands back on his knees, finally looking over at Gil. ]

And I can't make him do anything.

[ What can he say to that? Gil's thoughts are blank. Nelson has basically been dumped.

Gil's never known what to say in situations like that. ]

You're a strong person, Mr. Nelson.

[ NAILED IT?? ]

[ IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE. Or. Not uneffective, anyway... Nelson rubs his neck a little idly and says as calmly as he can manage: ]

Well, I-- you never know what direction life is going to take. People leave all the time. We, um... [ Sheepishly he glances down. ] We could talk about something else, I'm sorry.

[ He realizes how awkward this is becoming. ]

I'm sorry. I've never... you know, so I'm not quite sure what to say.

I wasn't going to mention it. Truthfully. [ He clears his throat. ] Really, it's fine. All it means is that I'll have more time on my hands.

[ A beat. ]

It's not because of me, is it? [ Maybe because of interrupting them that one evening. HJ seemed like the kind of person who would lash out at others and Gil felt partly responsible now. ] If I created a problem...

[ Nelson looks surprised. ]

No, not at all. It's my fault, I got him angry with me when I really should have known better. You didn't have anything to do with it, it-- [ His face goes a little red and he continues more quietly: ] wasn't the first time something like that happened.

[ The ice pack is going to melt at this rate. He picks it off the counter and heads to the fridge, opening up the freezer to put it inside. ]

Forgive me for this -- I hate to ask so bluntly, but he didn't hurt you, did he?

Hurt me?

[ It's Nelson's instinct to say "yes," though he wouldn't mean it in the way Gil probably assumes. The abandonment, for instance, feels far worse to him than any pain. Carefully: ]

...How do you mean?

As in... hit you or something. [ He quickly shakes his head, realizing how it all sounds. ]

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