[There's a faint tremor of anger to his hand, but then Niko's fist tightens until knuckles are white.
He should have been the one to go after Archer. Not Guzma. Not Poe. Him because whatever they'd done to Archer meant nothing. Even if the man died, he'd come back. If they'd beaten him up, that's not worth anything and as far as Nikolai knows, Archer wouldn't respect it in the long run. No. Better he be fed to Baku, or at least have the experience of being hunted by a hungry gengar.
But Archer's not at fault, apparently. Is this all Archie's fault? Was he wrong to trust the man, to reach out about the guardianship? He thought the man was happy with the arrangement. What if it was something he did? Fuck. It likely was and tha stupid battle with that stupid champion-brat springs to mind, but he did the punishment textbook perfect.
Nikolai's not sure why it's harder to breathe because Archie isn't his father. But-
Nikolai forces himself to exhale, if only to by his racing mind a precious few seconds to shut up and think.
None of this is either of their faults because it can't be. Archer must have done something, said something. Threatened his guardian somehow. Because there's no way Archie would willingly jeopardize his chance at... at a family (that he choose. Because it's his choice). At people who look at him like a person and not just a problem. Something to be talked at but never really reached out to. Something to be molded, to be used.
Still. His voice is small when he speaks, squeaky even though he's pretty sure he's past voice-breakage.] Tch. You don't go after people for no reason.
[He doesn't want to believe that Archie could be at fault. Nope. Archie is not at fault in this. It's Archer's fault.]
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He should have been the one to go after Archer. Not Guzma. Not Poe. Him because whatever they'd done to Archer meant nothing. Even if the man died, he'd come back. If they'd beaten him up, that's not worth anything and as far as Nikolai knows, Archer wouldn't respect it in the long run. No. Better he be fed to Baku, or at least have the experience of being hunted by a hungry gengar.
But Archer's not at fault, apparently. Is this all Archie's fault? Was he wrong to trust the man, to reach out about the guardianship? He thought the man was happy with the arrangement. What if it was something he did? Fuck. It likely was and tha stupid battle with that stupid champion-brat springs to mind, but he did the punishment textbook perfect.
Nikolai's not sure why it's harder to breathe because Archie isn't his father. But-
Nikolai forces himself to exhale, if only to by his racing mind a precious few seconds to shut up and think.
None of this is either of their faults because it can't be. Archer must have done something, said something. Threatened his guardian somehow. Because there's no way Archie would willingly jeopardize his chance at... at a family (that he choose. Because it's his choice). At people who look at him like a person and not just a problem. Something to be talked at but never really reached out to. Something to be molded, to be used.
Still. His voice is small when he speaks, squeaky even though he's pretty sure he's past voice-breakage.] Tch. You don't go after people for no reason.
[He doesn't want to believe that Archie could be at fault. Nope. Archie is not at fault in this. It's Archer's fault.]