Hartley Rathaway - Pied Piper (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mostlyajerk) wrote2016-06-29 10:28 pm
mostlyajerk) wrote2016-06-29 10:28 pm
A Whole New World
Assorted Threads.
Fair enough. Thank you.
I don't have a conscience. I just have Axel and I look out for mine.
I don't have a conscience. I just have Axel and I look out for mine.
I'm not, but if that's the only way you can fathom someone meaning something to me, whatever.
Because he's not my actual brother and we were dating until he caught on to me not being good enough for him. That doesn't mean I'm pining. I know I'm not his type and I've a different focus these days.
I think that you don't know me all that well. Much less him. But I'm not exactly pining for him, no matter what you believe. I just know I won't let anyone ruin him.
His abilities are nothing. Yours are terrifying. Mine have twisted me. He's a lackey since he has no choice and he's good enough for that. Not fit for the front-line.
I use them to make people kill themselves, I don't believe you can accuse me of holding back.
Rule the city? Careful. Talk like that is dangerous.
Rule the city? Careful. Talk like that is dangerous.
Oh, it's hilarious. I often giggle to myself because of it.
That's drawing a very narrow line.
That's drawing a very narrow line.
For one thing, I don't fear it. For another, do you know how humans who fancy themselves to be gods usually end up?
If you say so.
If you say so.
No, you were just trying to talk me into thinking like you. You are the only one that can know what anyone is destined to.
I just don't fancy myself on your level, Reverb.
I just don't fancy myself on your level, Reverb.
It was the middle of the night when the Piper struck. In this case, the mission was harmless enough. Hartley just broke into the penthouse, right into the master bedroom. Axel and Mark were both asleep and looked wholesome and very much in love, which perhaps made it easier for Hartley to interrupt that.
It didn't even occur to him to just wake Axel up. Instead he started playing, made sure Mark would stay asleep and led Axel out onto the balcony. Terrace. Whatever to call this gigantic place. He only stopped playing after Axel had slid the door shut and there he was, full on Piper, masked and hooded, flute in his hand and looking at him.
"I have a message."
It didn't even occur to him to just wake Axel up. Instead he started playing, made sure Mark would stay asleep and led Axel out onto the balcony. Terrace. Whatever to call this gigantic place. He only stopped playing after Axel had slid the door shut and there he was, full on Piper, masked and hooded, flute in his hand and looking at him.
"I have a message."
"Oh God!" What was happening? Why was he outside on the balcony in his undies with no memory of moving. Axel flew back from the edge and bumped into the door, cursing under his breath. "Oh Jesus fucking christ, do you have to do that?"
Seriously? Mind controlling him outside? This was exactly why he hated Zoom and his meta army. The logical and honest idea of waking him up or knocking his door was so impossible for them to do. He'd rather just go into his head and manipulate him outside without even asking permission.
"The front door would have been easier."
Seriously? Mind controlling him outside? This was exactly why he hated Zoom and his meta army. The logical and honest idea of waking him up or knocking his door was so impossible for them to do. He'd rather just go into his head and manipulate him outside without even asking permission.
"The front door would have been easier."
"I..." Hartley trailed off when he realised that, no, he didn't have to do that. But here they were anyway. He looked away from Axel, not that his eyes were visible. "I wanted to make sure Mark wouldn't notice."
Not Mark, not Jerrie, not Josh, not any of Axel's happy family. Maybe Axel would appreciate that too, ultimately. Hartley didn't want to take his hood off. He didn't even want to be here. Looking at Axel reminded him of a time when he'd thought he could just be happy with him. It seemed like a long time ago now.
"Reverb wants to take you on some mission. You have to show loyalty and presence. I asked for it to be non-lethal. Nothing bad."
Not Mark, not Jerrie, not Josh, not any of Axel's happy family. Maybe Axel would appreciate that too, ultimately. Hartley didn't want to take his hood off. He didn't even want to be here. Looking at Axel reminded him of a time when he'd thought he could just be happy with him. It seemed like a long time ago now.
"Reverb wants to take you on some mission. You have to show loyalty and presence. I asked for it to be non-lethal. Nothing bad."
"Not again. Look, can't I have a simpler job? Like maybe something in an office. Does Zoom have an office?-- Probably not. Maybe I could bring him coffee and a muffin. I had a girl who did that for me way back when. I have no idea why, I think she thought I was the CEO." Common mistake, the company was in his name and he did own it but he certainly didn't run it. He gave majority share to one of Lisa's friends and happily basked in his own cut.
With a reluctant sigh, Axel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Reverb said my last job wasn't going to be lethal and we ended up robbing STAR labs." Well, they ended up robbing STAR labs, Axel played look out because he panicked so much, it was a 'liability' to the job. But what was he doing to do? He couldn't risk upsetting Zoom. "Whatever. I'll do it. Don't tell them I hesitated."
With a reluctant sigh, Axel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Reverb said my last job wasn't going to be lethal and we ended up robbing STAR labs." Well, they ended up robbing STAR labs, Axel played look out because he panicked so much, it was a 'liability' to the job. But what was he doing to do? He couldn't risk upsetting Zoom. "Whatever. I'll do it. Don't tell them I hesitated."
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