A/N: This poem follows the form of the Renku, but does not make any attempt to adhere to the content guidelines. Essentially, this is a conversation between two characters. The first speaks in haiku: three lines, comprised of five, seven, and five syllables respectively. The second responds with two lines of seven syllables each.
Renku are intended to be a communal undertaking, so, although this poem definitely reads as a standalone, if anyone wants to add another scene, please feel free! (Note: succeeding parts do not need to be restricted to the same two characters.)
Unbeta'd. All mistakes are mine.
Um… if your eyes start watering while you're reading it… that means the poem needs a hankie warning, right?
End of the Line
Do you want something?
A cup of coffee, maybe?
This could take awhile.
Nothing. I can't believe that
You can sit here with me now.
A long time ago
You told me that we were friends.
Seems like you need one
'Need' and 'deserve' are not the same
I deserve to be downstairs
There'll be time for that
Later. If at all. For now,
This will have to do
Why haven't they called here, yet?
This waiting is… difficult
No news is good news
The doctors are doing the
Best they can, you know.
Just wondering: murder or
Reckless endangerment, Jim
Sure you don't want that
Coffee? Or something stronger?
I can arrange it
Don't change the subject. You saw.
My batarang. His throat. Slashed.
I saw him panic
Ran right into the thing's path
Still… a bad business
I've heard about the betting pool
How long it takes till I crack
Really? I hadn't.
In any case, you didn't.
It was… Murphy's law
Or the law of averages
This had to happen one night
Shame it was this night.
That's all I'm saying. Those cuffs?
Not too tight, are they?
They're fine. I suppose you'll want
The gloves next? And then… the mask?
I don't want them! I
Want to turn around so you
Can disappear. Please?
Not this time. Besides. You know
You'll only have to follow.
I also know that you
Can avoid us. You've done it
Before. Many times.
I'm not running this time.
This is the end. It's over.
Did some fat woman
Start singing while my back was
Turned? We still don't know…
You'll have to crack down when the
News breaks. Could you… warn my team?
If it comes to that.
It might not. If he lives, it's
A dif—hang on. Phone.
I just don't want to drag them
Down with me. I owe them more.
Looks like you've got more
Time to shell it out to 'em then.
Doc said he'll pull through
It came too close this time. I…
Maybe you should just call my—
Maybe I should turn
Around. Look. You feel this way
In the morning—
I should. If this happens again
Maybe I'll rationalize…
That's when it's time to
Bring you in. For now you're… Gone?
This once, I'm… relieved.