maskormenacelogs | do we get what we deserve?

[Oh, so it's this conversation now. David doesn't sigh, but he definitely agrees, watching at the arm sliding down his side a comfort. At least he can relax like this, right at this moment.]

I... came to a conclusion along those lines a bit ago. But I've been a bit reluctant to ask. I didn't want to sound like I was accusing you of anything. I know we come from very different moral backgrounds.

[ He nods. Of course David would have a inkling at the very least; it's not very reasonable that Damian would be able to pay for what he does with the job the government had given him, and day trading only gets a wallet so far. ]

I've stolen from a museum in De Chima. [ May as well start this off properly: with the most egregious acts first. He says it calmly, eyes watchful on David. ] Just to see if I could, really, with the portal power. And when I was just starting out here, I used to use your power for small-time cons.

[ He expects that last part will probably strike a heroic figure like David hardest, and he braces himself for any anger. ]

[After everything David did with those powers, other David, he's really not in a position to be TOO angry at Damian. Just... disappointed. Which is writ plainly on his face. And which he clearly pushes away to try and present a calm expression.]

So basically you use my powers for exactly what I would fear to have it used for. The things I know it can be abused to do. I don't... I don't like it but I'm also not in charge of you.

[ Yeah, that's fair, he's earned that disappointment, clear while it lasts. And he's got absolutely no defenses or excuses. He takes it with a nod. ]

Yeah, pretty much. Your initial impressions of me really weren't that far off. [ Except for how he was always genuinely interested in David himself, too. Well, half right isn't bad. He glances down at his own hand — bare, always bare, never gloves. ] And I still use it way more freely than you do, as you know. Information is power, and I'll never not want it.

[Talk about complicated. Part of David’s head was screaming about how wrong it was. How stealing was bad and conning people was worse. How Damian should stop. How he shouldn’t use David’s powers like that. Except... except he had always known, hadn’t he? Some part of him had known from their first skin to skin touch. All that Damian knew had painted a pretty clear picture. And he had willfully ignored it.]

It is. Trust me, I know that so very, very well. Even without my mutation feeding me new knowledge I am one of the smartest men in the world back home. If I put what I knew to use I could change a lot of the world. And I know how useful gaining knowledge can be. When I went home, when I experienced more I... I stole terabytes or encrypted data about just about any topic you could imagine. It’s complicated, but any time you bump into that random memorized string of characters that could probably fill up a page of a legal pad if you wrote it down? That’s the key to what I stole. What I told my teammates was lost and inaccessible.

I... know that knowledge is power. I just...

[He sighs and rubs the back of his neck. A self-soothing gesture.]

I don’t like hurting people. I could absolutely use my power to nefarious or just morally ambiguous ends. But damn, seeing that other David, seeing how mad his powers and their overuse were driving him, how broken he was on the inside? I can’t do that. I can’t live like that. It’s more than not wanting to hurt people now. It’s more than what is right or wrong for me. My psyche was torn open years ago by a powerful hive mind of telepaths. I can’t use my powers the way you do without risking a degradation of my sanity. So I guess I’m not in a position where it’s the same experience as you have. I don’t know if you have the potential to retain knowledge with enough touches. I don’t think you can go as crazy from the powers as I can. And those two factors, those differences in how we play with my skill, mean I don’t think I can truly put myself in your shoes to judge what you do.

[But from the beginnings of a grimace, he still clearly finds the idea distasteful.]

Are... you are least targeting your efforts on the wealthy? Because given that you definitely spend the money you acquire, your use of my powers could practically be proper taxation of assholes.

[ Huh. He had wondered what that string of characters was, he knew it must be something worthwhile or David wouldn't have bothered with it. How interesting. And that part about how he can and can't use his powers — also interesting, if a little worrisome. But it's good to know, regardless.

The most interesting part, though, is the lengths to which David seems willing to go to justify this. He could have simply gone straight to anger, to demanding that Damian stop, or use the power differently, or even give it back. But this is... a willingness to compromise, Damian thinks. And he's more grateful than he expected to feel at the thought of it. ]

Why wouldn't I? The wealthy have the most to take. Anyone else is a waste of time.

[ There's just not much to be gained from the financially small. Plus, as much as he hates to admit it, he has been there. Maybe he has an inch of sympathy. ]

I can agree to keep my focus narrowed to people and institutions that can stand to lose a little. Does that sound alright?

[Love, Damian. It definitely makes people do weird things. Including apologize for things they shouldn’t. His best friend has murdered people. Using powers that were not supposed to be used to that end.]

Frankly, I’d prefer you didn’t use what you have from me for theft at all. But I can accept the compromise here. On one other condition. A two percent commission. This place, it doesn’t provide for young imPorts. Not enough. Not for their safety. Not for training them if they want it, or properly equipping them. And the ‘adult’ hero groups won’t take them. I’ve wanted to do something but I don’t have the funds.

[And he could make any questionable money disappear so easily and come back clean. Oh god, he’s talking fraud. But for a good purpose?]

[ Ever forward-thinking, David. Part of why Damian likes him as much as he does. He grins, his amusement plain. ]

Five percent. [ This is kind of the opposite of how negotiation works, he's aware. But nonetheless: ] Plus five thousand for start-up costs.

[ He just ... kind of likes the idea of funding David's ideas, whatever those ideas are. And it is a good way to handle what is admittedly sometimes an excess of money. ]

[Were he drinking water at the moment, Damian would no doubt be wearing it. After a moment to compose himself David could not help but chuckle.]

How in the world are you doing well financially? Because you are a horrid negotiator.

[ With an obviously feigned innocence: ] What, is that not how it usually goes?

[ No, please, he's perfectly aware he could have gotten out of this with more money in his pocket. Money is, frankly, rarely a concern for him. A thought strikes him though, and he brightens just slightly. ]

Oh — as long as I'm confessing my litany of sins, here's one I was sort of proud of: I did manage to stab Rupert von Hentzau in the leg a while ago.

[Cue incredulity. And a slight urge to smirk. Sure he has told Damian that he would be okay with an open relationship, but Rupert definitely annoyed him. Especially where Damian was involved. Enough that some tiny part of him wants to applaud the man.]

I am not rewarding you with praise for bringing harm to that man. But I definitely want a touch more... explanation. Such as whether he knows you did so, because I imagine he wouldn’t be so interested in who you’re bedding if he did. And did he hurt you?

[ The fact that he isn't immediately chastised is really praise enough, isn't it? Damian looks a little smug, while delight simmers just below. He's really wanted to brag to someone about this one. ]

We were breaking into the same museum, actually. Fate is funny like that. I was masked and so was he, but of course I knew exactly who he was by his portals. He had no idea who I was, and was really offended that someone would be using his portals. [ His grin grows a little wider. ] Remember when I was shot? It was a revenge stab.

[Ah, there was that flare of anger and fear in his gut at the memory of a patch of flawless skin. That someone had hurt the man he loved.]

Maybe avoid annoying a man with portals and a gun, mon coeur. Good thing he doesn’t know who you are.

[ He just laughs, like this is all a terribly amusing game ... which, of course, it is. He was having a great time, right up until he got shot. (But honestly, it was even find of fun after that.)

His laugh fades with that last part, though, and his grin trails into a thoughtful face. ]

Well. He might now. [ He fidgets a little, straightening an already straight button up shirt. ] We were — allies, I guess, in that other universe, and he knew the scope of my power. He probably remembers that.

[ Gonna have to do something about that, yep. ]

Be careful.

[Because if Rupert knows, it could cause Damian troubles.]

Please. The man has already shot you. Try less cat and mouse and more, well, rabbit keeping your head low? There are some things Josh can’t fix, and if you go and die on me, I will bust your lip when you return.

[There is more concern than harshness in his voice.]

You wouldn't. [ He says it with a grin, equal parts amused and sure of his read. ] But we'll never find out, because I won't get myself killed.

[ He's confident in that, too. With the stolen powers at his command, he likes to think he's really very slippery. And Rupert's good, but he's not that good. ]

But that said, keeping my head down will just give him time to put some plan together. I'm going to confront him.

[Maybe, a tiny little traitor voice in David's head whispers, you're just attracted to people who behave in reckless and foolish manners.

His counter point? He's NOT attracted to Josh. Well, okay, his housemate is hot and he now knows what it's like to be intimate with him so... Ugh, worst memories.]

Are you... entirely certain that's a good idea? You could get hurt, Damian. Badly. And where I can't be there to help you. He's had the portals longer, he's probably really good at using them.

[Then again, Damian did now have the memories of another self who was VERY good with portals, didn't he?]

[ He pulls back, a hand going to his chest in mock offense. ]

Are you trying to imply he's better at them than I am? [ A fair assumption, seeing as Damian's version operates with less potency when it's just a copy — maybe even an actual fact. The offense holds nonetheless. ] Please, David, have a little faith. A Saint Lorrant doesn't half-ass his stolen powers.

[A little faith? David sighs and finally moves away to do what he would normally consider unthinkable. He hoists himself up onto the counter to sit on it. Only even letting himself get away with it because he knows the whole thing is getting replaced soon.]

I have a lot of faith in you. If I didn't, we never would have...

[Fuck, even the slightest CHANCE that someone else could walk through this part of the house has David flustered and looking away, heat rising into his cheeks.]

Skating never would have ended how it had if I didn't have faith in you.

[ He grins, and takes the chance to slide himself comfortably between David's knees, hands rested on his thighs. ]

It's all I ask for.

[ He could add more on this topic — add that maybe he doesn't want to fight Rupert, that this little rivalry has been fun, and might have a bit of fun left to it, but it has to mean something that the man was so dependable in a dark universe ... but no, that's all business for private plans and calculations. It's not exactly relevant here. Instead he goes a touch more serious, his grin fading off again. ]

No, I guess I am asking for a little more. I ... want you to help me make sure I don't go too far. That's been the point of this rash of honesty from me.

[Let it have all the fun that Damian wants. Just, well, make sure not to get killed, thanks. Hell, David didn't care of Damian slept with the other man. Well, not so much. He'd want to know just so he could pull Damian into bed after and leave him truly ruined.

But the serious gets some silence from him.]

You really want that? You want that sort of holding you back thing? Because I will. But to do it, you have to stay honest with me. You have to tell me about stuff.

[ Oh, he's going to hate it. But he's also going to know that it's for the best, and David is a good man for the job. He thinks he can trust David not to kill all his fun, while still serving as a responsible reminder for him. So he only nods, looking set. ]

This is what I've been busy thinking over. Being honest will be the hardest part, but ... [ He'll just have to make himself get better at it, break a lifetime's habit of sly lies and half truths. He sighs. ] Yeah, that's what I want.

[If that's what he wants? Well, David's going to support it. Even offers a warm smile. Because this? This is good. He leans forward and down to kiss Damian, light and sweet.]

I will do everything I can to keep you on whatever path you set out for, beloved. That's... that's what a relationship is about. Supporting each other.

[ He tilts his head obligingly up to receive that kiss, and the warm smile is infectious as they part. Logic had told him this is what David would say to his proposal, but it turns out it's still nice to hear. ]

Thanks. [ The small word doesn't do his quiet relief much justice, but he sticks with it. ] I'm going to be bad at it for a while. Try not to take it personally, I promise it isn't.

[ After all, this is already more honest than he's ever been with, well, anyone. If that doesn't promise an attempt at trust and honesty, nothing will. ]

My boyfriend trying to be more honest with me to avoid a potential evil villain future? Yeah, not going to take it personally if you slip up some.

[He keeps the smile warm and soft, his fingers curling into Damian's hair. How in the world had he gotten so lucky as to get a man like this?]

Could you maybe give me one other promise? I never want to see that silver switchblade of yours in person again, unless you're fighting to save us from something. Okay?

[He's going to have more nightmares about that than anything else.]

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