[Yea. Nikolai goes still, attention laser-focused on Archie, decidely not pulling his hand away.] He did this...??
[It is, right now, a blessing Nikolai doesn't have his ghost out. As it is, his free hand strays to where the pokeball's on his belt. It would be so, so easy to release the ghost, to set him on Archer.
But that means nothing, and his hand drops to fist at his side.
His voice drops to a tone he remembers his father using. Dangerous and calculating. He doesn't mean to use it around Archie, but-
Fuck. Archie means something to him. Something he'd kill to protect.]Archer did this?
[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.]
[His voice is firmer now.] ...Hate's a good enough to do anything and Archer's earned it anyway. He's a stupid Rocket and he hurt someone I- I care about. You.
I'll make sure he doesn't do it again, too.
[There's something dark in his voice now. As if he really will make sure Archer doesn't ever hurt Archie again. At least not while Niko's here.]
No! [he snaps with a light grimace.] I didn't want them to do anything, either!
Niko, if you do something he'll just find a way to twist it and blame it on me for being a bad influence or neglectful. Do you understand that? If you do anything, you're giving him fuel for the fire, the same way the other two did.
[There's a tiny flinch at the snap, even as the fists tighten until his knuckles are white.
He knows Archie's right, but it doesn't stop the desire or want to hunt Archer down and feed him to Baku, or let the gengar have free reign on hunting the Rocket before eating him.
But it sounds like Archie doesn't want it- didn't even want Poe and Guzma to go after the man and Nikolai's honestly not sure why, but that can be asked later. Much, much later. The main point is Archie's professing to not want this, and in Nikolai' brain that translates to-] So. I'm not allowed to do anything even though he deserves it, oyaji?
[Once upon a time, he wouldn't have asked, would have gone behind the man's back. But Nikolai likes the fragile, tentative feelings of- of whatever this is. Family? Friendship? Other people having his back?
He's gone weak. He only needs himself. Letting others in isn't a good idea.
He ... doesn't care? Not if he's using 'oyaji', at least.]
[...he can never tell if niko is being genuine or not with that word. they're both treading ground they're not sure about; honestly, archie figures niko might go off and do it anyway.]
No. By doing nothing you are doing something. You're not sinking to his level.
[It's more a frustrated whine than not and maybe just maybe, he should let the matter drop, agree with what Archie says. But he can't, because what Archie wants leaves so much wiggle room to act behind his back-
Maybe he shouldn't be approaching this like he would his father in terms of absolutes, yet it is really the only frame of reference he has.]
Am I or am I not allowed to do anything to him? Or do I pretend that I don't want to feed him to Baku?
Doesn't matter where, just know it'll take a little while to heal. Maybe a couple months.
[he's pretty sure he's been told this'll affect him for the rest of his life-- at least, until it's removed by some porter means, but archie doesn't mention that.]
Go and get some rest, Niko. You don't need to stress yourself out here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Yea. Nikolai goes still, attention laser-focused on Archie, decidely not pulling his hand away.] He did this...??
[It is, right now, a blessing Nikolai doesn't have his ghost out. As it is, his free hand strays to where the pokeball's on his belt. It would be so, so easy to release the ghost, to set him on Archer.
But that means nothing, and his hand drops to fist at his side.
His voice drops to a tone he remembers his father using. Dangerous and calculating. He doesn't mean to use it around Archie, but-
Fuck. Archie means something to him. Something he'd kill to protect.] Archer did this?
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[he frowns, not sure how much niko is even listening. it's hard to gauge right now.]
Guzma and Poe already went after him. Whatever they did, I haven't heard from him again.
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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.]
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[so, no, it wasn't niko. it was purely because archer's a bastard, but archie handled it terribly.]
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[His voice is firmer now.] ...Hate's a good enough to do anything and Archer's earned it anyway. He's a stupid Rocket and he hurt someone I- I care about. You.
I'll make sure he doesn't do it again, too.
[There's something dark in his voice now. As if he really will make sure Archer doesn't ever hurt Archie again. At least not while Niko's here.]
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[he doesn't like where this is going. he knows those implications well enough.]
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[His hands fist.]
Not in the long run. So, I have to make sure it sticks!
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Niko, if you do something he'll just find a way to twist it and blame it on me for being a bad influence or neglectful. Do you understand that? If you do anything, you're giving him fuel for the fire, the same way the other two did.
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He knows Archie's right, but it doesn't stop the desire or want to hunt Archer down and feed him to Baku, or let the gengar have free reign on hunting the Rocket before eating him.
But it sounds like Archie doesn't want it- didn't even want Poe and Guzma to go after the man and Nikolai's honestly not sure why, but that can be asked later. Much, much later. The main point is Archie's professing to not want this, and in Nikolai' brain that translates to-] So. I'm not allowed to do anything even though he deserves it, oyaji?
[Once upon a time, he wouldn't have asked, would have gone behind the man's back. But Nikolai likes the fragile, tentative feelings of- of whatever this is. Family? Friendship? Other people having his back?
He's gone weak. He only needs himself. Letting others in isn't a good idea.
He ... doesn't care? Not if he's using 'oyaji', at least.]
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No. By doing nothing you are doing something. You're not sinking to his level.
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That doesn't even make sense! I'm either allowed to do something or not! It's as simple as that!
[... Right?]
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[he leans back lightly in the bed.]
Actions have consequences. All of them. Even actions you think are good or justified.
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[It's more a frustrated whine than not and maybe just maybe, he should let the matter drop, agree with what Archie says. But he can't, because what Archie wants leaves so much wiggle room to act behind his back-
Maybe he shouldn't be approaching this like he would his father in terms of absolutes, yet it is really the only frame of reference he has.]
Am I or am I not allowed to do anything to him? Or do I pretend that I don't want to feed him to Baku?
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[that's final, in archie's eyes.]
But you don't have to pretend to feel how you don't.
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[There's a short, sharp nod and Niko seems to relax just a fraction.
... ... ... and actually sitting in the chair he'd dragged over earlier, now.] Do you want me to leave him here when I leave, just in case?
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[he does genuinely believe that.]
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[It's a grumbled reply. Tired, too. As if all the emotion, for now, has been drained.
Or at least is simmering and Niko can't be bothered to stoke it into anything else right now.]
So, where'd you get shot anyway?
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[he's pretty sure he's been told this'll affect him for the rest of his life-- at least, until it's removed by some porter means, but archie doesn't mention that.]
Go and get some rest, Niko. You don't need to stress yourself out here.
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[The only reason he even crosses his arms is to stop from rubbing the arm he broke on the maiden flight of Project Alke.
At the suggestion to go and get rest, though? He juts his jaw in a stubborn set. Does he need to be here? No.
But he wants to be here. Archie means something Nikolai can't put into words right now. ] I'll leave when I'm ready.