[ and the thing is - she does. but she meant it when she said she didn't want to put too much on him and he's just been talking about his trauma, so bobbi changes the topic after that and they talk about everything and nothing for a while. music they used to like, movies they used to like.
he walks her home and in front of her apartment complex, bobbi offers a wry smile. ]
Why don't you come up? I've got another bottle of wine and - [ she shrugs. ] I think I owe you an autograph. [ aka "i think i owe you a secret" ]
Sure. That sounds good. [ sounded like a good way to avoid his own head too. he doesn't want to get too lost in there any sooner than he has to so he readily accepts the offer. ]
You're so good to your fans. [ it's nice to know that he can still tease a bit despite all that crap in his head. ] Lead on. I'll help you finish your wine.
[ her grin is quick and sharply amused. she leads the way up to her apartment - it's large and quite empty, three bedrooms of which only hers is occupied now. she hasn't put all of fitz's things in boxes yet, though.
she gestures to the couch. ] Make yourself comfortable.
[ she goes to get the wine and two glasses before taking her own advice and getting comfortable on the couch, curling one leg beneath her body. it's a position that's a little off-balance, her upper body turned to marcos. it's open, a little vulnerable. that's on purpose, even if it's unthinking. ]
Truth is, I'm not a pop star. I'm not a civilian, either, and my name isn't actually Katelin. [ isn't he glad he's got that wine now? bobbi takes a sip of her own. ]
[ he takes a seat at one of the end the couch, stretching his legs out in front of him while she grabs the wine. he takes the glass from her when she returns with a grateful nod and then watches her sit down, watches her get comfortable before she speaks.
he's not sure what he's expecting her to say but it's not that. his eyebrows go up a bit and he doesn't say anything at first. ]
Huh.
[ not very emotive but he's still processing. ]
Are you undercover or something? Witness relocation?
[ those are the two biggest reasons he knows of that require a fake persona but he guesses it could just be a personal preference thing too. ]
Undercover or something. [ her lips curl up a little. he's taking this remarkably well - at least for now. she'll wait with that verdict until he's got the full story and is done processing it. ]
I'm a SHIELD agent in my world. When I got here - I was hoping, am hoping that whoever abducted us doesn't know that. I figure if I can keep my skill set a surprise, that might be an ace our collective sleeve at some point in all this.
[ although she's beginning to doubt that it works like that. that the people here might not already know, at least those responsible. ]
[ it's...a good plan. one that he hadn't thought of but he also hadn't had a reason to think of it. he'd used fake names before, had fake identification but that had been more for safety reasons since people like him weren't generally well received by the public.
he rubs a thumb against his lip, thoughtful. ]
I don't know what SHIELD is. [ but he can only guess that it's something like the cia or secret service by the way she talks. ] But, might be good if something like that worked.
[ will it work? he doesn't know. he's been stingy on who he's told about his own past, his own secrets, just in case it came in handy. ] What kind of skill set are we talking about or is that something that's above my pay grade?
It's short for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. [ her lips twist a little at that. ] It's been a lot of things, but what matters to me is that its ideal is to be the shield, to protect those who can't protect themselves.
That's the oath I swore.
[ and it's the reason for all her lies, for all the ways in which she manipulates people. ]
I don't have any superpowers, or I didn't before coming here, if that's what you're asking. [ she shrugs a little. ] I'm a spy. I know how to lie to people, how to get information, how to fight.
And you don't discriminate? The people you protected, I mean.
[ because he's heard things like that before from different group. people who said they were out there to protect those that couldn't protect themselves but what they meant is protect regular humans from people like him.
he doesn't want to ask the question because he doesn't think it applies but better safe than sorry. ]
I've heard similar mission statements like before. All of it turned out to be lip service when it came down to it. I'm not saying that's you but fool me once and all. Just making sure.
I won't lie and say there's no one in SHIELD who thinks our job is to protect humans from aliens and nothing more.
[ her lips press together briefly. ]
I've seen enough of people being monsters to know that it's not a question of human versus alien or anything like that. Humans can be good and bad, monster or victim. Same holds true for anyone else, too.
[ there's a story there, she thinks, in his concerns, in his questions. she files that away. ]
[ it's a better, more honest answer than other people have given him and he relaxes a little. he hadn't thought he had any reason to believe otherwise but it was still good to hear. ]
The other me must've not told you what I am.
[ it was that or she wasn't saying it because she thinks he's keeping it a secret. and he is but, like her, he's been telling people here and there when he thinks he can trust them. ]
You - he didn't. [ bobbi doesn't hide how her gaze sharpens a little, the curiosity in the turn of her head. she lies with her body, with her expression as much as she lies with her words - more, sometimes. he deserves to see at least a fraction of what it means that she's bobbi morse, shield agent, not katelin philips, civilian scientist. ]
I know about your blood. [ because he'd told her. ] And that you had some power before.
People are like that, sometimes. Give them something they don't know, something they don't understand and they lash out. Us versus them. Most of the time, the boundaries of that are arbitrary.
[ she offers a smile, tinged with a hint of sadness, a hint of anger at the world. ]
For what it's worth, I don't care. I care about what someone does, whether they hurt others, not what they can do or what they are.
[ they're pretty words, but there's conviction behind them and bobbi reaches out for his hand again, both to offer a measure of comfort and because she wants him to know that she means it. the empathy bond'll help with that. ]
Yeah. [ and sometimes those people included those who were supposed to love you and support you no matter what. sometimes those people looked at you like you were the worst thing to ever happen to them too. he doesn't go that deep into his past though. just blows out a breath and smiles a little when her fingers curl around his.
the bond sparks to life and he's able to feel that she means it, that she's not just saying words she thinks she wants him to hear. ]
I got lucky. If you look at me, you can't really tell. I know people who had a harder time because their mutations were pretty obvious. Hard to go out in public so they either hid themselves behind makeup and masks or just hid.
I'm not aware of anything like mutants in my world - at least not yet. I've heard from others from my world's future here that I'll come in contact with Inhumans, though. People who have genetic mutations due to alien experimentation on their ancestors. They can develop superhuman abilities because if those genetic mutations are triggered.
[ sound familiar? ]
I'm good friends with at least one of them.
[ actually with daisy, who's here, but while bobbi doesn't think daisy being an inhuman is a secret, it isn't really her story to tell. especially given that she doesn't remember any of it because it hasn't happened for her yet.
of course, daisy is no less inhuman now than she was before coming here and they're still close, so what difference does it make? ]
I don't know what to say other than that I'm sorry. [ but she can listen. maybe squeeze his hand again in a silent show of comfort. ]
Sounds similar. Similar enough that I'm sure they probably went through some of the same crap we do. You learn to live with it which is...terrible but unavoidable unless you do wanna go to ground. Which some people do.
[ and then it was their job to support those that couldn't support themselves. it was one of the things he missed about home, being able to help in that way. the squeeze of his hand keeps him from getting too far down that rabbit hole and he exhales. ]
No need to be sorry. You didn't do anything. I appreciate it but don't worry about it. I've gotten used to it. [ unfortunately. ] Anyway, I'm making this about me and it's not. I appreciate you being honest about things. You didn't have to but I appreciate that you trusted me enough.
I don't mind. [ another quick squeeze of his hand. she doesn't offer any more sympathies than she already has, but the sentiment is there, flowing through the bond. there's some anger, too, not directed at him but at the injustice of it, although she tries to keep that contained. ]
I may have had an ulterior motive in telling you.
[ her lips quirk up a little. ]
You need a place, I need new roommates - but you mentioned not wanting to endanger anyone. [ a shrug. ] I can take care of myself.
[ he's not going to lie, he'd like to be somewhere stable. bouncing around from the safehouse to jyn's place and then adding in a brothel just to keep out of sight was kind of exhausting. it'd be nice to live in one place. still... ]
Are you sure? [ it's not so much doubt for her abilities but he remembers all too vividly how dangerous the men who'd grabbed him were. and while a lot of them were dead, there were still more where that came from. ]
I appreciate the offer and really, I'd like to get in a place where I'm not constantly moving but I don't want you to say that if you're not sure.
[ and she is. through the bond, he'll be able to feel her certainty, her confidence in her own abilities. it's steady, not the kind of confidence of an overblown ego but the kind of confidence that comes with experience, with being tested and finding herself capable of rising to the challenge time and again, with knowing her own strength and ability inside and out. ]
I want roommates I trust and that I'm not constantly lying to.
[ it's easy to feel the confidence she has in herself and her ability to deal with whatever trouble he might bring to her door because of all this. he hopes that it won't happen but she deserved to know and decide for herself.
and it seems that she has with what he's getting from her. he bows his head, thankful, and gives her hand an answering squeeze, letting his own feelings of gratitude and appreciation slide over. ]
I've heard of him. We haven't met personally.
[ but he's seen the name on the network, at least. ]
He the other guy you're thinking of asking? Or you've already asked?
[ kidding kidding. he's house trained and he's good at not leaving the seat up unless he's exhausted or drunk. but he was trying to make those less of an occurrence these days. ]
I'll see if I can't track him down. I've been laying pretty low since everything went down just in case. No need to drag my baggage and drop it at some unsuspecting person's feet. Seems like a bad first impression to make.
Some people would argue that I am just as bad as I say I am.
[ none of those people were here so guess it was his word against hers or something. ]
However you wanna work it is fine with me. I just appreciate the offer. I wasn't sure what I was gonna do when I realized that going back to the safehouse was a no go.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ and the thing is - she does. but she meant it when she said she didn't want to put too much on him and he's just been talking about his trauma, so bobbi changes the topic after that and they talk about everything and nothing for a while. music they used to like, movies they used to like.
he walks her home and in front of her apartment complex, bobbi offers a wry smile. ]
Why don't you come up? I've got another bottle of wine and - [ she shrugs. ] I think I owe you an autograph. [ aka "i think i owe you a secret" ]
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You're so good to your fans. [ it's nice to know that he can still tease a bit despite all that crap in his head. ] Lead on. I'll help you finish your wine.
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[ her grin is quick and sharply amused. she leads the way up to her apartment - it's large and quite empty, three bedrooms of which only hers is occupied now. she hasn't put all of fitz's things in boxes yet, though.
she gestures to the couch. ] Make yourself comfortable.
[ she goes to get the wine and two glasses before taking her own advice and getting comfortable on the couch, curling one leg beneath her body. it's a position that's a little off-balance, her upper body turned to marcos. it's open, a little vulnerable. that's on purpose, even if it's unthinking. ]
Truth is, I'm not a pop star. I'm not a civilian, either, and my name isn't actually Katelin. [ isn't he glad he's got that wine now? bobbi takes a sip of her own. ]
It's Bobbi. Bobbi Morse.
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he's not sure what he's expecting her to say but it's not that. his eyebrows go up a bit and he doesn't say anything at first. ]
Huh.
[ not very emotive but he's still processing. ]
Are you undercover or something? Witness relocation?
[ those are the two biggest reasons he knows of that require a fake persona but he guesses it could just be a personal preference thing too. ]
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I'm a SHIELD agent in my world. When I got here - I was hoping, am hoping that whoever abducted us doesn't know that. I figure if I can keep my skill set a surprise, that might be an ace our collective sleeve at some point in all this.
[ although she's beginning to doubt that it works like that. that the people here might not already know, at least those responsible. ]
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he rubs a thumb against his lip, thoughtful. ]
I don't know what SHIELD is. [ but he can only guess that it's something like the cia or secret service by the way she talks. ] But, might be good if something like that worked.
[ will it work? he doesn't know. he's been stingy on who he's told about his own past, his own secrets, just in case it came in handy. ] What kind of skill set are we talking about or is that something that's above my pay grade?
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That's the oath I swore.
[ and it's the reason for all her lies, for all the ways in which she manipulates people. ]
I don't have any superpowers, or I didn't before coming here, if that's what you're asking. [ she shrugs a little. ] I'm a spy. I know how to lie to people, how to get information, how to fight.
[ she doesn't mind telling him that much. ]
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[ because he's heard things like that before from different group. people who said they were out there to protect those that couldn't protect themselves but what they meant is protect regular humans from people like him.
he doesn't want to ask the question because he doesn't think it applies but better safe than sorry. ]
I've heard similar mission statements like before. All of it turned out to be lip service when it came down to it. I'm not saying that's you but fool me once and all. Just making sure.
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[ her lips press together briefly. ]
I've seen enough of people being monsters to know that it's not a question of human versus alien or anything like that. Humans can be good and bad, monster or victim. Same holds true for anyone else, too.
[ there's a story there, she thinks, in his concerns, in his questions. she files that away. ]
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The other me must've not told you what I am.
[ it was that or she wasn't saying it because she thinks he's keeping it a secret. and he is but, like her, he's been telling people here and there when he thinks he can trust them. ]
And why I'd ask something like that.
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I know about your blood. [ because he'd told her. ] And that you had some power before.
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[ got the fancy codename and everything. but god, he hates that codename. ]
It's a genetic thing. I've got something called an X gene that made me...well, this. And people don't always take kindly to this.
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[ she offers a smile, tinged with a hint of sadness, a hint of anger at the world. ]
For what it's worth, I don't care. I care about what someone does, whether they hurt others, not what they can do or what they are.
[ they're pretty words, but there's conviction behind them and bobbi reaches out for his hand again, both to offer a measure of comfort and because she wants him to know that she means it. the empathy bond'll help with that. ]
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the bond sparks to life and he's able to feel that she means it, that she's not just saying words she thinks she wants him to hear. ]
I got lucky. If you look at me, you can't really tell. I know people who had a harder time because their mutations were pretty obvious. Hard to go out in public so they either hid themselves behind makeup and masks or just hid.
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[ sound familiar? ]
I'm good friends with at least one of them.
[ actually with daisy, who's here, but while bobbi doesn't think daisy being an inhuman is a secret, it isn't really her story to tell. especially given that she doesn't remember any of it because it hasn't happened for her yet.
of course, daisy is no less inhuman now than she was before coming here and they're still close, so what difference does it make? ]
I don't know what to say other than that I'm sorry. [ but she can listen. maybe squeeze his hand again in a silent show of comfort. ]
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[ and then it was their job to support those that couldn't support themselves. it was one of the things he missed about home, being able to help in that way. the squeeze of his hand keeps him from getting too far down that rabbit hole and he exhales. ]
No need to be sorry. You didn't do anything. I appreciate it but don't worry about it. I've gotten used to it. [ unfortunately. ] Anyway, I'm making this about me and it's not. I appreciate you being honest about things. You didn't have to but I appreciate that you trusted me enough.
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I may have had an ulterior motive in telling you.
[ her lips quirk up a little. ]
You need a place, I need new roommates - but you mentioned not wanting to endanger anyone. [ a shrug. ] I can take care of myself.
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Are you sure? [ it's not so much doubt for her abilities but he remembers all too vividly how dangerous the men who'd grabbed him were. and while a lot of them were dead, there were still more where that came from. ]
I appreciate the offer and really, I'd like to get in a place where I'm not constantly moving but I don't want you to say that if you're not sure.
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[ and she is. through the bond, he'll be able to feel her certainty, her confidence in her own abilities. it's steady, not the kind of confidence of an overblown ego but the kind of confidence that comes with experience, with being tested and finding herself capable of rising to the challenge time and again, with knowing her own strength and ability inside and out. ]
I want roommates I trust and that I'm not constantly lying to.
[ a beat. ]
Do you know Peter? He might move in, too.
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and it seems that she has with what he's getting from her. he bows his head, thankful, and gives her hand an answering squeeze, letting his own feelings of gratitude and appreciation slide over. ]
I've heard of him. We haven't met personally.
[ but he's seen the name on the network, at least. ]
He the other guy you're thinking of asking? Or you've already asked?
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[ thanks for that, dreamscape. ]
He's a good guy, but the two of you should probably get a beer or something so you can see if that'd be a good fit, too.
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[ kidding kidding. he's house trained and he's good at not leaving the seat up unless he's exhausted or drunk. but he was trying to make those less of an occurrence these days. ]
I'll see if I can't track him down. I've been laying pretty low since everything went down just in case. No need to drag my baggage and drop it at some unsuspecting person's feet. Seems like a bad first impression to make.
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[ might as well be the three of them in this space already for a test run, right? ]
And I bet you're not that bad.
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[ none of those people were here so guess it was his word against hers or something. ]
However you wanna work it is fine with me. I just appreciate the offer. I wasn't sure what I was gonna do when I realized that going back to the safehouse was a no go.
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[ she gestures vaguely with the hand not holding his, the one holding the wine glass, a gesture meant to encompass the entirety of the apartment.
it's a nice place.
maybe she should give him a tour of the place. ]
Do you want to see the rest of it?
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wanna leave it here and write their pizza night next?
yeah, i'm down!