SAD SOULMATE AU

[crimeson]

[So hey, Kaine is being released from prison! But first he's gotta meet his parole officer. Of course, Kaine is in a pretty high security class, so they probably assigned him some hardass who'd shove him back in prison at the drop of a hat...

But when he's brought to the meeting room, the door opens on a handsome redhead balancing his chair on two legs, hands folded behind his head. He's in uniform for now, looks pretty nice all buttoned up, but his vibes are still so casual when he brings the chair back down on all four legs and raises a hand in a wave.]

Heya!

Comments

[crimeson]

I'llll mind my own business.

[markofkaine]

[Kaine tucks into his plate, but as he's eating, he's compelled to correct one thing...]

Parent. Not plural.

[crimeson]

[well it do be like that sometimes

nods]

Gotcha.

[he does not gotcha]

[markofkaine]

[Continues to eat in grouchy, hungover silence.]

[crimeson]

So, how much do you remember about bein' drunk?

[markofkaine]

[He shoots a look at Randy's hand, where the soulmark is-- used to be.]

Enough.

[crimeson]

[yeaaaaah his gloves are back on.]

Cool. Don't gotta fill you in.

[markofkaine]

[Randy might have the tact to gracefully sidestep from a topic, but Kaine doesn't.]

...How'd it happen?

[crimeson]

...I was running an operation. I got flashy about it, and there was a civilian casualty.

[markofkaine]

...

Did you know them?

[or did they just. never even get the chance to meet?]

[crimeson]

Yeah. We restocked supplies in that town a lot, and he was the barman's son. We were good friends, but...

I didn't know until I lost him.

Funny, right? I lured the enemy there because we knew the terrain so much better. Home field advantage.

[markofkaine]

...That's fucked up.

[man he could use another whiskey]

[crimeson]

His was the only death on our side. And he wasn't even, technically... His was the only civilian death. We thrashed them so fuckin' bad. And it-- it didn't even matter. It was exactly what I wanted and it woulda been something to brag about forever if it hadn't been him. I wouldn't have cared. Shouldn't have. But I loved him and I could've loved him more and it's my own fault I can't. May as well have set the bar on fire my fucking self.

[shuts up abruptly like wow that was not supposed to all come spilling out.]

1/2

[markofkaine]

[um



wow.

damn. I shouldn't have asked.

Um. What do I do.]

[markofkaine]

[Awkward and lamely,]

...Sorry 'bout that. What happened.

[crimeson]

No, I--

Sorry. For losin' it.

[markofkaine]

[Kaine is staring at his plate. As the weight of it settles in his brain, he broods,]

I wonder if that's just karma for people like us. People who've taken lives...

[Looking away, mutters,]

Maybe it's only fair.

[crimeson]

...Maybe. It was better before I cared, for sure. A lotta people get away with it their whole lives.

[markofkaine]

...We're not allowed the luxury of pretending we're good people just because we started caring.

[crimeson]

Yeah. We're not.

[markofkaine]

[Cool

Uh, I don't feel comfortable hugging you, so...


P...ats shoulder]

[crimeson]

[...leans on]

[markofkaine]

[I DIDN'T PLAN THIS FAR AHEAD

just

does not move. Becomes as still as a statue.]

[crimeson]

[hm yep nope

straightens]

Thanks.

[markofkaine]

[wuh]

I didn't do anything.