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 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.

[crimeson]

You listened. And let me touch you even though you don't like it. So. Thanks.

[markofkaine]

...

S'fine. You got your shit together now.

[I'm going to stand up and put my dishes in the sink to avoid examining my feelings now!!]

[crimeson]

[gonna just. put his forearm over his eyes and try to chill.]

[markofkaine]

[Chill to the melodic sound of someone attempting to do dishes as a distraction, but really not knowing what he's doing]

[crimeson]

[that's... really charming. and that's enough to distract him after a minute or so. he heaves himself up off the couch and moves to teach him.]

[markofkaine]

[He'll let Randy take the lead when he comes over. He'll just stick to drying things, maybe.]

[crimeson]

[cute domesticity in the morning. taking the edge off the suffering, maybe.]

[markofkaine]

[Since he's in the kitchen, when they're done he starts rummaging through the drawers for headache painkillers. He still has that hangover :(]