Disclaimer: Set after Cable & Deadpool #8. Mostly because it was in my head, and why the hell not. Also, because Lyss told me to post it. Blame her. ;) Um. PG for language, I suppose.
Burnt Offerings: Charism
By Timesprite
"Are you going to stay?"
"That's a lot to ask, don't you think?" They were walking down one of Providence's long corridors. G.W. had gone to contact Fury, and Hammer had opted to stay on what amounted to the station's bridge. Neither of them were ready to relax their guard. Not that Domino blamed them, exactly. If not for the fact that--despite his earlier bravado--she was certain Nathan wouldn't touch her, she'd have been uneasy as well. Or more uneasy, at any rate. She wasn't exactly thrilled with the current state of affairs, and Nathan obviously knew it.
He stopped and walked to one glass-lined wall,a hand resting on the pane as he watched the people milling around below. "Why did you agree to come here?"
"G.W. can be very persuasive."
"Bullshit." He glanced at her. "You thought you had to."
She shook her head. "No. I just thought cooler heads might prevail. G.W. would have you hauled out of here in chains if it were possible. I figured a more level-headed opinion might help things. Not that he thinks I can be unbiased when it comes to you."
"Is he right?"
"He's a hypocrite, is what he is." She sighed. "Do you really think this is going to accomplish anything?"
He turned back to the window. "What do you think?"
"I don't know what to think. What I see is the last, desperate machinations of a dying man."
He gave her a sharp look. "You know?"
"Mm. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. I haven't mentioned it to anyone else, if you're wondering." She paused. "You weren't going to tell me, were you?"
He sighed. " I didn't want you involved."
"I'll take that as a no." She leaned back against the glass. "We might not have parted well, Nate, but that doesn't mean I don't care."
"I thought it would be better--"
"If I heard about it second hand?" She interrupted. "Good god, you really are a selfish bastard, aren't you?"
"I didn't want to hurt you."
"No, you didn't want to deal with knowing you'd hurt me. There's a difference. All of this... all of it, Nathan, is some pathetic attempt at trying to make yourself feel better. To justify yourself and everything you've done. You don't actually give a crap about saving the world. You know it won't last, it can't last. You know the world can't be saved this way."
"And that means I shouldn't try?"
"Not like this, Nathan! Half the planet is convinced you're the next fucking Magneto, making some power grab. Fuck, have you even thought about trying to control yourself instead of playing fucking brief candle here? Or don't you care? Fuck, maybe you're glad the end is in sight." She slammed a fist back against the window. "I should go."
"Dom, Please..."
"What? Sit around and watch you die? I don't fucking think so, Nate. You didn't want me here in the first place."
"I was wrong. I shouldn't have tired to keep you out of it."
She glared at him. "Tell me you're afraid, Nathan."
"I am."
"Tell me."
"I'm afraid, Dom." He went back to staring out the window. "Stay."
End