( #001 ) LOVE MARKED

[chatona]

(inspired by this tumblr post. )

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[broil]

[There's a little laugh, and he lowers his arms again.]

And apparently I had no childhood. But we all knew that.

Think there's hope for me yet?

[ex_outofcontrol435]

If there is, I pity the target already.

[Hahaha. Foreshadowing.]

I mean, I dunno. Ever been close? Had a near-miss, a maybe?

[broil]

Nope. I never stick around to find out.

[And he looks so proud of it, too.]

I thought you did the same.

[ex_outofcontrol435]

Some people are persistent.

[The tone of his voice is a door slamming in Petre's face, but he feels pretty confident that a foot will get wedged in there anyway.]

[broil]

[he'll be like kool-aid all up on your door, John.]

Persistent doesn't cover it.

[ex_outofcontrol435]

Cover what? I don't owe you anything.

[And he goes for line two of defense, rolling to face the wall. it's usually just as effective.]

[broil]

I don't just take what's due for me.

[John should know that. Petre takes what he wants.]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

[A bitter little growl rumbles in his throat.]

Just tell me now. Are you gonna get this out of me whether I want to or not?

[broil]

That's the thing - I'm going to make you want it.

[no power included, which only makes it so much more fun.]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

Like hell you will. [His shoulders roll a bit, body tightening in on itself even more.] Just force it out or give up, your choice.

[broil]

Is that how you'd rather do it?

[He gets up, walks on over to brush a finger on John's ear. Make him twitch.]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

[He does twitch, of course, whipping his head around to glare daggers at Petre.]

I don't want to do it at all. That's the whole point. I loved someone and they died, it's not shit you just chat about with your "roomie."

[broil]

Why not? I'm all ears.

[ha, ha. get it.]

Have you told anyone?

[ex_outofcontrol435]

[He finally sits up again at that, nearly giving off physical plumes of smoke, he's so furious.]

Because it hurts to lose someone you love Petre. Pain. Imagine getting punched in the face. Then stick that right in your chest and twist it up into a knot. That's emotional pain. I know it's hard, but just try to imagine it.

[And then, more quietly:]

No. Of course not.

[broil]

[He doesn't openly laugh in John's face, but the grin is still there. Watching him like a parent watching children play. It's the natural order of things.]

Good. Pain means you're alive. No matter what kind it is.

[ex_outofcontrol435]

I'm definitely alive right now, then. Thanks for your concern. Don't need a jumpstart.

[Glaring right at him now instead of turning away. Like he could ever win a staredown between them, but he's trying.]

[broil]

[Petre isn't even remotely concerned.]

Yes you do.

[he motions with his hand, mimicking the gesture of clicking a lighter on.]

Consider me it.

[ex_outofcontrol435]

[Fury slowly giving way to dangerous calm, he licks his lips and looks away.]

Another homeless mutant. We ended up at the same shelters a lot.

[broil]

[He could just slide back to his bed and sit down, couldn't he? Of course. But he hangs around still.]

Name?

[ex_outofcontrol435]

Siobhan. [Through gritted teeth.] I never knew her last name.

[broil]

And she still left a mark.

[Pretty powerful stuff. Or just was just that weak. He doubts it, though.]

What was her power?

[ex_outofcontrol435]

[A mark. What a cute turn of phrase. It makes the bile rise in his throat.]

Empathy. Broadcasting and receiving.

[broil]

Ah.

[He shifts like he understands it a little better. A lot better, actually.]

That makes a lot of sense.

[ex_outofcontrol435]

What, why?

[He narrows his eyes. What does Petre think he knows so well about John?]

[broil]

What else would mess around with your head like that?

[...because there's no such thing as true love. Only the manipulation of chemicals in your brain.]