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[He doesn't regret it.

Concrete climbs up over his neck, his ears, his eyes. It freezes his arm extended up toward Delsin, blocks out the whistle of the wind as he falls, so all he hears is his heartbeat pounding and his ragged breath and still, in those split seconds as he falls, as he turns and vertigo and darkness and his crushing mortality flip his stomach, still Reggie can't regret it.

He's going to die...but Delsin'll make it out.

Reggie hits the water and the water hits back.

Reggie wakes up like clawing his way out of quicksand. His first breath is gasping, but when he expects to choke on water or rock there's nothing. He's in a bed, he's clean and not cuffed to anything, which doesn't seem right at all.]

I rescued you.

[A conduit- a kid, couldn't be more than thirteen, hugging his knees as he stares at Reggie from across the room with sunken eyes. The walls are cracked and peeling, and the bed he's on is just a mattress on the floor. Reggie yanks the blankets aside.

No concrete.]

...what happened?

[What happened is that Delsin did it. The D.U.P. has since been disbanded, the military moving in to clean up their mess. The Coast Guard arrived first and while people had wondered if it would just be a repeat of seven years ago, of massacres and manhunts, it didn't turn out that way. Maybe because of Delsin, because of the others, but the military worked with them to bring Augustine in and release the prisoners from Curdun Cay.

The boy tells him this with mistrustful eyes, squeezed back into a corner of the room. Now that Reggie looks at him he can see he's drenched, puddles of water pooling around him, constantly dripping. The fishy smell from the room must be coming from him.]

You're a Conduit, [Reggie breathes, Delsin's exasperated voice muttering, thank you, even as he tries to catch up.] ...you did save me. I owe you.

[The boy is a runaway, scared of being rounded up and even more afraid of his own parents. Horror stories about kids being turned in by their own families aren't anything new, though Reggie usually heard them in reference to murders and assaults, first. Parents who didn't know how to help their children, trying to find a solution to keep themselves and their families safe.

This run down shithole of an apartment the kid's squatting in doesn't look safe.

Before Reggie leaves he gives the kid a soggy business card from his equally damp wallet. The lettering is still legible at least.] Call the police office in Salmon Bay. Leave a message for me; they'll be sure to get it to me. You can't live like this, but I get that you're scared; I'll make sure Delsin hears about you, so you can get somewhere safe.

[The boy looks down at the card, face unreadable.]

Call me. Sheriff Rowe, Salmon Bay. All right, kid?

...my name's Alex.

Alex, then.

[His phone's a lost cause, and all calls going to Delsin's phone hit a disconnected wall. Must be past the bill date; Reggie usually pays it, after all.

Once he convinces the local precinct that he is, in fact, alive, Reggie gets a boat to head across the bay. With the bridge out his only option is to follow the channels as close back to Salmon Bay as he can get, get in touch with Betty and see if Delsin's there. God, he hopes he didn't go to far; he'd seen the reports, the footage, even heard first-person accounts from Conduits holed up in the precinct of Delsin saving them and while his heart had burst with pride, it had twisted with just as much worry.

Shit, if he watched Augustine kill Delsin in front of him, he'd be a goddamn disaster.

Once across the bay he rents a car, makes a beeline for Salmon Bay and the longhouse near the cannery. He's about to rush in, to check on the tribe (but Delsin must've helped them already, he knows his little brother, knows that his first stop would've been Betty and the others) when the billboard above the cannery catches his eye.]

Ah, shit...Delsin...

[It's good, too.

It's great work. Delsin is talented, after all.]

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[ Delsin regrets it. He regrets not listening. Which, otherwise, he'd never admit, without the proper mimicking face and exasperated imitation, as is naturally proper in any and all situations that should come from having Reggie as an older, lamer brother, but. Not this. He admits this. Already has. And it became so much worse when the concrete fell, when everything collapsed, when they dangled from the ledge with their lives in the balance. And Delsin can't think straight about it, not when that happened, when this is happening, when Reggie tells him to look at him and something about it getting to him and Delsin isn't listening but actually he is because how could he not and-- ]

No, I can do this. [ No no no no no no no no-- ] I can do do this, I can do this--

[ "I am so proud of you." ]

No.

[ "Always have been." ]

No. Reggie, Don't--

[ "I love you, bro."

And suddenly, he's holding onto nothing. In an instant, there is nothing. No weight in his hand. No anchor in his world. There is nothing. Reggie hits the water, and grief hits Delsin like a tidal wave. The scream he hears doesn't register as his own, no matter how raw his throat feels. The heartbeat in his ears isn't his either, who knows whose it is. Who cares. Not him. Not right now. Not now. Not anymore.

And then it's silent. For too long.

He shifts where he hangs, because he just happens to do so. He pulls himself up over the edge, because his body just moves like that. He stands, shaking all the way to his core, because there's nothing else to do. And he looks, and he sees Augustine... and all of that automation is gone. In a haze of pure, unbridled anger - righteousness - grief, he moves, with fucking purpose. ]

---

[ The billboard was his masterpiece - perfection he'd never dreamed he'd actually achieve until he was staring at the finished work, finally satisfiied. He'd put the can down, looked it over one more time, and somehow managed to bring himself to leave it alone and go back to whatever life he'd have from then on.

... He's managing. Sure, like, "goddamn disaster" was an understatement prior to this. Hell, kinda still is. But he's managing. Somehow. Even if it's just on the surface, while he's still doing what needs doing. No one else has to see him break down behind the scenes. And everyone pretends the dark-and-twisted-graffiti-covered rocks all along the beach didn't happen overnight, as a courtesy. Probably. He'll take it. It's fine.

But... he does happen to be at the longhouse - of course the tribe was taken care of first thing, this is just a... check-up, or something, you know - and he he's enough on his guard (when is he not, lately) that the sight of a rental car through the window is a little alarming. Especially when he can't see who's behind the wheel. ... He'll deal with it personally. Time to walk outside, hands in his pockets, acting all casual and not like he's trying to see through the windshield as the car gets closer.

Of course he doesn't have any idea what to expect. ]

Edited (i suck at html) 2017-11-01 06:45 (UTC)

[And there he is.

Reggie had heard the stories, seen the footage; he knew Delsin was okay, but knowing and seeing are so, so incredibly different. Looking back, maybe he should've called the longhouse landline to try and get in touch with him or Betty so this wouldn't be such a shock.

Hindsight doesn't stop Reggie from shoving open the door almost before the car comes to a stop, slamming it into park and not bothering to take out the keys as he hauls himself out of the seat and around the door, jogging toward Delsin, arms half-open. He's all right, god, he's all right and he did it.

His aimless, restless, too-passionate-for-his-own-good little brother is really, actually not just okay, but some kind of hero.]

Del-

[ No way... Is that...?

Delsin's hands slip out of his pockets, and he goes completely still for a second, mouth hanging open (pretty stupidly, admittedly) as he watches the other bolt out of the car and head toward him. It's like time stops, just for that second - just long enough for him to blink a few times, to stare in disbelief, to let all the hope he's tried to bury since that day come rushing back at the sight of him running this way-- ]

Reggie!

[ His voice shakes, not that he cares. He runs, doesn't stop until he practically crashes into his brother and throws his arms around him. Some part of him is actually surprised he doesn't fall right through, like he's just tried to tackle a ghost on a kid's cartoon. No, it's... he's... really here. Reggie's here. His brother is alive. ]

How--?

[ It's all he can even say right now, and even that comes out shakily, through gritted teeth. ]

[Delsin hits him so hard he knocks the wind out of Reggie, makes him wheeze but he just grabs back just as fiercely. He can't forget the way Delsin's voice sounded as he'd let go, can't forget the look on his face- god he'd tried to reassure him, did everything he could but there wasn't time, and-

Reggie pulls back to take Delsin's face in his hands, looking him over. Not liking what he sees. Bags under his eyes, cheekbones a little too sharp, lips chapped and scraped. Delsin always bites his lips when he's worrying over something, when he's feeling too much.]

Got rescued. Water Conduit kid fished me out of the river. I woke up in a shack near Puget Sound yesterday night.

God, Delsin, you did it. You did it, and you're okay, I'm so proud of you- [Emotion clutters up his throat and chokes him, so Reggie just pulls Delsin back into his arms and grips the back of his vest tight.]

[ No way. No way, no way, if this is a dream, don't make him wake up, don't let this be some fucking cosmic joke at his expense, something out there just fucking with him or something fjksl

Reggie pulls back, and Delsin's looking him over all the same - the constant, low-simmering worry behind his eyes, the lines on his face and the crease in his brow, every single detail is familiar and real, and drives everything a little bit closer to home. He swallows down another shaky breath, nodding slowly as Reggie explains. ]

C-Conduit kid, [ he echoes quietly, even though Reggie's still talking. ] and you just... woke up. You--...

[ He's pulled into another hug, and he returns the embrace, clinging to the fabric of Reggie's coat as if he'll disappear if he lets go. He's still not sure that's not true. He squeezes his eyes shut tight, and just... holds onto him, for dear fucking life. ]

You're okay. You're really here.

[ He... can't help that it almost sounds like a question. ]

Yeah, I'm good, I'm here, [Reggie breathes, before Delsin can even finish because he hears that note of tremulous disbelief.

He hooks a hand at the back of Delsin's neck, pulls his head down into his shoulder, like he'd do all those years ago when Delsin would shuffle to his bedside in the middle of the night. Delsin had always hated sleeping alone; missed the sounds of the rest of the tribe moving around. When they first got to Seattle he'd tossed and turned until Reggie gave in and pushed their motel beds together.

Delsin hadn't mentioned it the following morning, probably too embarrassed but he'd brought Reggie coffee and a bagel without him having to ask.]

I'm here, little brother. I'm real.

Edited 2017-11-02 19:53 (UTC)

[ It's a familiar motion, and he lets it happen, rests his head on Reggie's shoulder and latches onto the reality of it. He is real. He's real, and he's here, even though Delsin couldn't pull him up in time, couldn't do a damn thing, didn't think fast enough before Reggie let go... It's a fucking miracle he doesn't deserve. ]

Reg, I thought-- [ Nope, he cuts himself off there - can't even say it. He takes a deep breath, and then just... completely switches gears to, of all things: ] I'm sorry.

[ It's quiet, mumbled straight into Reggie's shoulder, but there it is. Of all the things he could say right now, that's where it goes first. ... And honestly, Reggie has about three seconds before everything catches up to him and he just starts talking, he's a goddamn fucking mess right now, and it's gotta get out of his head one way or another. ]

[If there's anything that tells Reggie how hard Delsin's had it in his absence, it's the way he just surrenders, how he lets Reggie push and pull and make all the decisions.

He barely catches that, the words nearly lost in the collar of his coat but he'd known they were going to come sooner or later.

Even with that, even as he pulls Delsin back by the arms to look him in the face, Reggie,] Delsin, don't start with- [isn't fast enough.]

[ He's been agreeable, pliable, until now. Now, when Reggie pulls him away, always with that implied "Look at me" that comes with it, he... does, but not without tensing up a bit, as his mind keeps spinning itself up.

And he feels like he so often did when he was just a kid, with too much in his head, trying to make words happen so he can explain and hopefully make some sort of chaotic sense out of the chaotic nonsense going on upstairs in his brain. Maybe they'll string themselves together if he just gets it out.

And no. Reggie isn't fast enough to stop it. ]

No. No. I'm-- I wasn't fast enough, or- or didn't think fast enough, I couldn't do. Anything. And- and then you were gone, and I couldn't fucking stop it, you just-- I watched you fall and--

-and it wasn't your fault! [Reggie grabs for him again, his arms, to hold him there in front of him. He has to make him understand because Delsin, god damn him, for all his passion and openness of heart, he internalizes all the worst things.] It was Augustine. You know it was her- look at me. Hey, [he takes his face again,] look at me, Del. It wasn't you. I made that call. It's on me.

[ Reggie grabs him, but Delsin's gaze keeps dropping to the ground when he's not closing his eyes. He's listening, and he gets what he's saying - he really does - but it's not just that, damn it! He looks when Reggie tells him to, though his expression is still sharp, all the relentless winding of his thoughts clear as day on his face. ]

But if I just-- You shouldn't have had to-- Damn it, Reggie, there was probably something I could have done different!

Yeah, maybe there was! Maybe I coulda done something different, maybe Augustine, but that doesn't. Matter. I'm fine, and I'm here.

[When Delsin pulls from his hands he grabs his arms again, hands at his elbows to keep his brother from closing himself off.] I know you did- everything you could. I know, brother. I didn't let you go because I didn't believe in you.

I let you go because I did.

[ That did it. He's finally quiet, finally still - aside from the shaking of his shoulders as everything Reggie's saying actually starts sinking in.

"I let you go because I did." ... Fuck. He wasn't sure he'd believed in himself after all that, but here was Reggie, saying that. It was hardly fair. It wasn't like he'd asked his brother to die for him - wouldn't ever, he'd rather die first - but that's how it had happened. And he was gonna have to live with that.

But now it turns out, they both get to live with that. Because Reggie is alive. Delsin has to admit, maybe his big brother is right. Again. And it doesn't matter, because he is fine and he is here.

Delsin's right hand curls into a weak fist, and he raises it, presses his knuckles into his brother's shoulder like the most pathetic damn nudge of a "hit" ever. He stays quiet for a moment, just... nodding his head. And when he speaks again, it's much less frantic - finally - even if his voice still shakes a bit. ]

Don't... do it again. [ It's a ridiculous thing to say, and he knows it! Even gives a huff of a laugh through his nose. But... still. ]

[Finally.

Reggie sighs, a smile finally creeping onto his face as he reaches out and pulls the edge of Delsin's hat over his eyes.] C'mon. You healed the tribe up, right? I wanna go say hello.

[ Yeah, finally. Especially with the tug of his hat, which makes him crack a semblance of a smile, too. ] Tch, hey--.

[ He reaches up and fixes the thing, taking one last deep breath. C'mon, Delsin, get it back together. ]

Okay, gotta admit... can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces. Hey, try not to give Betty a heart attack though.

[Betty doesn't have a heart attack, but it's a near thing.

There are tears galore, on both sides; of course Reggie never could keep it together when Betty cried, which is why he suspects she tries to hide her face when she sees him. He tears up just a little, thankfully, but when the rest of the tribe rush over to see the fuss and throw themselves at him, it becomes a little bit harder to hold back.

He'd thought his people would die, and they thought he'd died and really, Delsin saved them both. Would that Conduit kid- would Alex have saved him, if there wasn't someone like Delsin out there doing good? Would Reggie have ever made it back home?

After a few more tearful reunions Reggie dries it up and turns to look for Delsin, who had wandered off during all the fuss (though thankfully, not out of sight). Reggie makes his way over, hands in his coat pockets, giving Delsin's bed a nudge with his knee as he tries to peer over his shoulder at his sketchbook. It feels too normal for everything they've been through, all the fear and pain and exultant jubilation...but this really was always how Delsin worked through things. Just by scribbling out the contents of his heart, in a corner by himself.]

Hey. I need to go down to the station, get some things in order. Up for a drive?

[Delsin hasn't wanted to go with him into work in years, maybe almost a decade, but he doesn't really want Delsin out of his sight right now and he suspects that for him, the sentiment is the same.]

[ Tears galore? Yep. Even Delsin finds himself tearing up when Betty starts (as if he could help it, seriously) and it just gets worse when everyone else shows up. He watches from just a short distance away, hands stuffed in his pockets, leaning against the wall. Everyone's happy, of course - the surprise and the absolute relief on all sides is so damn intense, it's hard not to get swept up in it all. It's a miracle. A series of miracles. But the tribe is okay, Reggie's fucking alive...

Delsin does wander off, as expected. He sits on his bed, sketchbook flipped open, and before he even gets to a fresh page, he takes a minute to look back at the last few pages - at everything that came from when Reggie was dead. All dark lines, heavy-handed and fiercely almost-scratched into the paper. Broken bridges, turbulent waters, shrapnel and debris. All of it just as broken up as he was, as his thoughts were. ]

Guess it's time for something new, [ He says quietly to himself, and finally turns the page.

It's still pretty blank by the time Reggie gets to him - just a few curved lines, nothing more just yet. He's a little surprised at the question, but then figures, he really shouldn't be. And yeah, the sentiment is the same. It's true, he hasn't wanted to go with him into work in years. And he especially didn't actually want to go whenever he was, you know, arrested. Tends to put a different angle on the whole visiting your brother's workplace aspect. But you bet your ass he's up for a drive this time. ]

Only if I get to pick the music.

[ Nice try, Delsin. He's standing up, anyway. ]

[yeah ngl it's kind of nice to take delsin into work without shoving him in the back of a squad car]

Oh sure, if you pick up the rental tab. [IT'S A JOKE. Because he knows you won't because you never have any money because you don't hardly work. It's okay, you've worked real hard lately buddy, he won't get you on about a job for like, AT LEAST a couple months.

Still listening to CCR on the way in though.] So that Conduit kid...his name's Alex. Not living in a great situation, so I gave him my office number and told him I'd pass his name on to you. Think he might do better hearing from you than me.

Oh, yeah, just add it to my tab.

[ Hey. He's got his hands full with being awesome which is totally a job it just doesn't pay. Womp womp. So... thanks for the couple months reprieve from the job reminders. He super appreciates it.

The Conduit kid - the one that saved his brother's life... Man. "Not living in a great situation" could mean a lot of things, but no matter what, there's gotta be a way to do something, right? ]

Alex, huh... You think he'll call?

[ He hopes so, which is pretty clear in his tone. ]

I think so. [Which brings up something else Reggie's been worrying about ever since he left Alex's place and got a good look at the city of Seattle. It hadn't stuck with him too hard before, too focused on saving the Akomish and keeping Delsin alive, but with everything done and over with he really got a look at the place.]

...Have the military come sniffing around looking for you at all?

[ Man... Reggie's question drives home just how much happened in what has been, despite feeling like forever, not very long at all. From the concrete island, to the showdown with Augustine... Saving the tribe, and then heading right back to Seattle to clean up, keep tabs, make sure history wasn't about to repeat itself in all the worst ways... ]

Uhhh, Yes, [ he answers on a heavy, exasperated sigh. It makes him uneasy. Obviously. He starts ticking off on his fingers as he continues: ] God. First they showed up to clean up Augustine's mess, then they kept running into problems, or wanting to know more about what happened, or to "just talk," [ air quotes~ ] about the same shit over and over again...

But it has been a little longer since the last time they came around. Maybe they ran out of questions, or brilliant ideas [ hand-waving! ooo. ] or whatever. Maybe they finally found something better to do. Like keeping everyone safe.

[ Emphasis on ev-ery-one. Look, anyone with a brain would know that progress is going to take time, but that doesn't stop Delsin's impatient ass from getting antsy and indignant about it. ]

Ahhh, I wouldn't count on it. [Well, this is better news than 'no haven't heard anything at all' actually. At least the military isn't as gung-ho about busting in and taking what they want as Augustine was.] I wouldn't be surprised if they came back and wanted to take you into custody. We might have to leave for a little while, if that happens. I'll look into it.

[ Yeah, he wouldn't count on it either, but damn it, it would be nice.

His eyebrows go up. ] Taken into custody?! What the hell for! That's bullshit! I'm the one who exposed Augustine! I practically gave her to them!

[ ... Delsin that's exactly why you would get taken into custody, he didn't say arrested, please learn the difference. ]

Yeah, and that's probably the only thing keeping them from rounding you up for about two dozen charges up to and including vigilantism! [Reggie sighs, reaching up to rub his forehead.] I'm not saying what we did was wrong. But the military isn't exactly part of the Conduit fanclub either, Delsin, and we need to be very careful. Someone with your kind of power- there's no way they'd want you running around unchecked. No way.

Edited 2017-11-20 06:23 (UTC)

[ He hears all of that, he really does. The military is still bad news - don't have to tell him that twice! - and they should probably find somewhere else to go for a bit. Which... is gonna be hard, with how much Delsin wants to stay wrapped up (in his own way) in everything that's gone down.

... But, first things first, because... what does he also get out of all that? ]

So... more like Batman than Superman. [ He considers that with a squint... then nods, a grin spreading across his face. ] Okay, I can work with it.

[ Oh my god. ]

[Reggie rolls his eyes and groans, but he can't help the fondness on his face even with how exasperated he is.]

Better fess up if you're secretly a millionaire. Some of that cash could come in handy with falling off the grid for a while.

[ Yeah, Delsin's just gonna keep on grinning, though for a second, it does soften. Considerably. Because this, his making brilliant and wonderful (ha) commentary just to have Reggie roll his eyes and make that exasperated face? ... He gets to have it again. And he didn't think he would.

But... right, time to back up and address the other point of the conversation: the "we might have to leave" part. ]

-- Okay, yeah, about that. Off the grid? Reggie, what if something else happens here?

After what Augustine did, the military's actions here are going to be under serious scrutiny from activist and civil rights groups. It's probably one more of the reasons why they haven't tried to cart you off.

I'm not saying we leave now, just that we should be prepared to. [Reggie pulls into his space at the precinct.] We'll talk to Betty about it, but if it ends up being safer for the tribe...

[ He opens his mouth to say something about getting carted off, but Reggie goes right into the "I'm not saying..." bit, so there goes that. And besides, he has a point. A damn good point. Delsin's already saved them from a mess of concrete-flavored trouble he caused in the first place, he doesn't want anything to happen to them again. He sits back in his seat as the car comes to a stop, relenting, with a nod. ]

Right. If it ends up being safer for the tribe, then yeah. We'll go. [ Of course. ] But! [ He holds up a hand! ] If we're needed here, then no.

[ Sounds fair enough to him, tbh. ]

Of course not. I don't wanna leave any more than you do. [Pockets the keys and opens his door.] C'mon.

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