week 3, sunday

[vigilantics]

[ stephanie is in her bedroom, which isn't a surprise. she's also awake, given that it's been hours since the execution and the sound of people knocking on and off has since made it kind of hard to sleep.

anyway. so belph. ]

Um.

[ she has no idea what to say. ]

Comments

[vigilantics]

[ she opens her mouth to respond, but... doesn't. her expression shifts, going from sheepish to sad in a sec. ]

You can't even react publicly if something happens to me.

[ she doesn't know why this realization just hit her so suddenly. ]

[axilium]

... Well, I can react as a concerned passerby who has friendly relations with you, but that's just about the extent of it.

[vigilantics]

[ she just stares at him.

it really hit her how unfair it is that they have to keep their relationship a secret. ]

Sorry.

[axilium]

Why are you apologizing?

[vigilantics]

Because... all of this is so stupidly screwed up, and now I need a peg leg, and I'm sorry.

[ it comes out hurried, like that other time when she admitted why she was upset. ]

[axilium]

Well, on my end, it's fine. I'm used to lying.

[...]

But yeah. you and Hikage—or whoever—are going to have to figure out something about your leg.

[vigilantics]

... I'll figure something out. Even if I have to crawl everywhere.

[ she at least is used to using crutches at this point, and she figures she can still use them for this. it'll just be... a while, and a lot harder, and also she'll fall over a lot. ]

[axilium]

... Yeah. I know you will.

[vigilantics]

[ there's a pause, before she pats the bed. ]

Sit. Please.

[axilium]

[...

he's a bit wary, but he'll do it.]

[vigilantics]

[ she doesn't try holding his hand :/

honestly, she just... looks content at the closeness, even if they're not actually touching. ]

[axilium]

[... honestly, it's almost terrifying, how much steph seems to care.

he's quiet for a while, before:]

... By the way, I told Shirasu about me. So, be careful around him, or else he might figure you out.

[vigilantics]

... I won't act any differently than I normally do.

[ she leans back on her pillows. ]

How did he take it?

[axilium]

Well, he's apparently suspected me of knowing too much for a while now, so he wasn't too surprised. He agreed to help keep an eye on a few of my suspects.

[vigilantics]

He's definitely a smart one.

[ she sounds appreciative, despite the fact that could potentially screw them over. ]

[axilium]

Yeah, and I'm just hoping he uses those smarts for our sake. I don't think most people realize how shady that guy really is.

[though he's at least not goddamn hikage.]

[vigilantics]

I get along with him fine, at least.

[ they've reached a point in the game where you have to admit someone you like might kill you, and it's less to do with them being evil and more because their numbers are dwindling and there aren't as many victim options as before. ]

[axilium]

Good. That means if he's ever a Blotter, he's not likely to go after you. I had to tell him about Sousei to try and get him to spare Sousei if it ever comes down to that, but...

[he shrugs.]

We'll see.

[vigilantics]

I'm really hoping our partners won't ever be chosen for that.

[ ... or them. but she's not going to say that one out loud. ]

[axilium]

Hope doesn't mean much, unfortunately.

[vigilantics]

...

It does to me.

[axilium]

All right, besides you.

[vigilantics]

Thank you.

[ she smiles, but it falters after a second. ]

Can I tell you a secret?

[axilium]

... Between you and your partner, I'm getting a lot of secrets these days, but sure.

[vigilantics]

[ she raises an eyebrow at the hikage comment, but doesn't question it since she knows enough about her own partner to get that whatever belph knows, it's going to be A Lot. ]

I'm not sure how I can keep being Batgirl after this, and I think that scares me more than dying.