[Her reaction serves to make him feel as bad as he did when he somewhat yelled at her on their walk here. It's... different dealing with someone who is less sure of themselves, someone with less fire in what they're doing and what they can do.
He's so use to his father, Jon, all the other former Robins. Everyone in his family is capable, confident in their abilities, and it's hard for him to pull back and realize not everyone is this way.
So he's quiet for a bit, folding his legs down and crossed, and Ace takes the opportunity to drop a head on Damian's thigh.]
Were you crying? [And before she can deny it, if she had planned to:] Your eyes are red.
[Damian just keeps frowning. This is the worst. He's not his father, and he doesn't know how to bridge the connection between knowing compassion and saying it. "I'm sorry," and "Are you okay?" and "I understand," all die short of the back of his throat.
He was always taught to get over it, power through.] You don't have to worry about anyone hurting you despite the ridiculous hole you fell into. No one else in town will bother you.
You can stay here for a while, even when I go back out. Father and his fiancee live here. Father is kind and patient. He'll help you with whatever you need. His name is Bruce Wayne.
Kyle is a bit mischievous, but she's patient. She loves cats, so try not to get her too excited if you tell her what you can transform into.
[ In a sense, the lack of gentle, soothing words helps. Kisa lives in a family of very bizarre people who pick fights, yell loudly, spit sarcasm, apologize incessantly or confidently laugh everything off. People like Tohru and her gentle compassion were rare. But there's a kindness to Damian, despite his brusque manner, that's comforting.
She doesn't think she'll linger after he leaves, if just because Sierra will worry, but she's silently committing all of this to memory.
And lightly shaking her head, because she won't transform. Not--
[Quickly, Damian runs back over the things occuring when she poofed into a tiger.] Touch? [He...... is too stupid to consider a hug. What's hugging? Surely, he wonders why someone would even think to be squeezing someone else with their whole body.]
You didn't want to get on my back to get out of the hole. [And then when he had grabbed her, she turned into a tiger.
But they hadn't been doing anything when they hit Flavo, not touching for sure.] You changed again. I wasn't touching you that time.
He's almost right, with touch, but she'd touched his hand before and nothing had happened. But it's kind of awkward to bring up that embracing does the trick.
Maybe that's enough of an answer for him to get it? ]
[ Kisa hesitates now, taking the time to set the empty bowl to the side and scratching under Pennyworth's chin. She doubts he'll mock her for how strange it sounds, after everything. But she's also never told anyone about the curse herself.
It's not as though Akito is going to swoop in and beat her senseless for telling Damian, but a part of her still irrationally fears it. Finally, though--
[Not that Damian thought it was definitely the town, but it's a relief to know the curse wasn't shoved onto her here. He still wishes it wasn't shoved onto her anyway. At least this way, she's experienced, she knows what to expect.]
The Chinese zodiac? [Hm. It's different.] That means there's more of you? One for each animal?
[ This time she holds up ten fingers, puts them down, and adds another three.
But then shakes her head, a little morosely. It's a part of why she's been so upset. Not that she can explain it, not without having to talk, that the Sohmas are a traditional family, that the members of the Zodiac are regarded highly but also kept like prisoners, that being alone here, both as Kisa and as one of the Zodiac is incredibly lonely and painful--
[The disconnect lies in the fact Damian came with three other people he knew, and another person showed up later. He can sympathize, and he would power on even if they hadn't, even if they return home... but he understands it must be lonely.]
Thirteen. But they aren't here. [He looks away, lips still pulled into a thin frown.] Sorry.
It may... be better, in the end. They're at home. [He doesn't know for certain, but believe this nonetheless.] They're safe. Besides, this town has enough big, soft idiots you can make friends with. And one or two who think everyone is a giant family.
[ This is... still so strange to her. Being without her family. Being completely alone. And the people here, trying to reach out to her, as though that's fine, like nothing else is weird to them. Maybe it's just because it's a place like this-- like Damian had said, maybe she'd fit in.
But Kisa looks at him uncertainly. He didn't seem like a big, soft idiot. Does that mean he's not including himself in people to be friends with?
[The question catches him off guard. He pauses for a long time, lips parted, not sure what to say. It goes right over his head he should include himself because... Well, he's who he is.]
No. [He's not sure why she cares either?? Clearly, he's a terrible person, and she should know this based on how dumb he acts.] Why would I?
[ There's not even a mouthed reply this time, because. Well. She turns into a tiger. She'd frustrated him earlier. She doesn't talk.
She's not even aware of the self-conscious tug she gives her hair, even though that's yet another source of ridicule she's dealt with.
It would have probably just been easier to ask if he'd be all right with being her friend, but Kisa is not the best at bringing up the straightforward statements. ]
[Not having an answer doesn't explain much to him, but a part of him is glad he doesn't have to exactly wade through whatever reply she offered. It'd be sad and kind, and he wouldn't know how to deal with it really.
The floor near his feet gets his eyes for a bit.] You don't bother me, but I think you'd be better off with some of the others here. Jon, Strider, Dextera, Midoriya and his friends, Jackson.
They may be idiots sometimes, but they're good people.
Edited (no one saw anything) 2018-09-15 01:16 (UTC)
[ She only vaguely recognizes one of those names, but there's something about the way he'd talked that bothers her more.
She doesn't bother him. He's got enough of a familiar harshness that she thinks he probably means that, or at least... he doesn't say things just to make someone else feel better, true or not.
But he's implying that she's better off befriending someone else while she's sitting here, wrapped in a blanket he gave her, his cat in her lap, full from food he also gave her-- all of that and...
[Her words are compassionate, but Damian is a very logical boy. His frown, at least, isn't as sour as it could have been with someone else.]
You don't know me. [It sounds more like he has resigned himself to this fate rather than he's trying to convince her.] Just because I'm not out hurting people doesn't mean...
I'm not someone people enjoy being around.
[Might as well just be honest, so people don't get their hopes up.]
It's... familiar, what he says, words spat from a smirking mouth but he still stayed close to her, still encouraged her, until after Akito had...
Damian's right, that she doesn't know him. She'd only just met him today. But.
Still frowning, she points to herself.
She isn't someone people enjoy being around either. This place might have more open-minded people, but where she came from was very different. The members of the Zodiac were all very much aware that they were monsters.
[It just sounds absurd to him. Her? Disliked? Sure, she turns into a tiger at the drop of a hat it seems like, but there's absolutely no reason he can find why someone would want to shun her for being different.
Well, shit, this only hits every sore spot Damian Wayne has about people. He's a brat, but he's never earnestly a brat about people's looks.]
Because you're cursed? That isn't something you can help. However people treated you back home, they're wrong. Being forced to transform doesn't mean you're any less of a person.
[As many idiotic, annoying people as he's had try to forcefully befriend him, even openly... Yeah, he can say it confidently.] What?
You don't believe me. Tt. You'll see then. People here aren't from the same world. They're use to different things. Girls turning into tigers isn't something they'll blink an eye at.
Not when there's vampires and demons and heroes with special powers.
[ ... Yeah. Okay, he has a point there, she's run into vampires and demons and heroes already, whether she's quite aware of that or not. It's just...
Well. It's hard to believe something immediately when you've known something else entirely different for your whole life. She does nod, though, a tad tentatively. She'll... try. ]
[This is true, and Damian knows it's true even if he won't admit it for himself. He's only spent three years out in the world under his father's care. For a long time, he's believed he's a monster or unredeemable proportions, no matter what redemption he tried to seek, no matter what Maya told him about forgiveness.
It had been strange to tell people about his mother, about his ten years of isolated training for the sole purpose of being a weapon... only to have them say, "That's rough, buddy," because they've been through something just as bad.]
Don't worry about that. If you need help, ask someone. If you don't want them to touch you, let them know. If someone makes you uncomfortable, run away.
[ She'd tried to warn him, hadn't she? As much as she could have, but he has a point. She'll have to try to let it be known a little more obviously.
For now-- well, it's all very good advice, isn't it? Kisa nods solemnly, fingers toying with the edges of the blanket, before she reaches some manner of decision.
[The quest catches him off guard, and he's all the more embarrassed for it. The dark skin by his cheeks turns somewhat burgundy, and he reaches up nonchalantly to rub his face along his arm like it itches.
He looks uncertain for a moment. She hadn't asked to come here again. It's specific. You. His mouth opens, probably to ask, Why? but he never finishes. Instead, he says:]
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He's so use to his father, Jon, all the other former Robins. Everyone in his family is capable, confident in their abilities, and it's hard for him to pull back and realize not everyone is this way.
So he's quiet for a bit, folding his legs down and crossed, and Ace takes the opportunity to drop a head on Damian's thigh.]
Were you crying? [And before she can deny it, if she had planned to:] Your eyes are red.
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For now, simply, she nods. He doesn't sound angry about it, and that's the important thing. ]
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He was always taught to get over it, power through.] You don't have to worry about anyone hurting you despite the ridiculous hole you fell into. No one else in town will bother you.
You can stay here for a while, even when I go back out. Father and his fiancee live here. Father is kind and patient. He'll help you with whatever you need. His name is Bruce Wayne.
Kyle is a bit mischievous, but she's patient. She loves cats, so try not to get her too excited if you tell her what you can transform into.
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She doesn't think she'll linger after he leaves, if just because Sierra will worry, but she's silently committing all of this to memory.
And lightly shaking her head, because she won't transform. Not--
"I can't control it." ]
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You didn't want to get on my back to get out of the hole. [And then when he had grabbed her, she turned into a tiger.
But they hadn't been doing anything when they hit Flavo, not touching for sure.] You changed again. I wasn't touching you that time.
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He's almost right, with touch, but she'd touched his hand before and nothing had happened. But it's kind of awkward to bring up that embracing does the trick.
Maybe that's enough of an answer for him to get it? ]
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So holding. Don't hold her really. Sounds easy, right!!]
I get it.
You said it was a curse, that you were cursed. Magic? How did you get cursed to begin with?
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It's not as though Akito is going to swoop in and beat her senseless for telling Damian, but a part of her still irrationally fears it. Finally, though--
"Zodiac spirits. I was born like this."
It's kind of a family thing. ]
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The Chinese zodiac? [Hm. It's different.] That means there's more of you? One for each animal?
Did you show up with anyone else?
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But then shakes her head, a little morosely. It's a part of why she's been so upset. Not that she can explain it, not without having to talk, that the Sohmas are a traditional family, that the members of the Zodiac are regarded highly but also kept like prisoners, that being alone here, both as Kisa and as one of the Zodiac is incredibly lonely and painful--
She can't explain that. ]
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Thirteen. But they aren't here. [He looks away, lips still pulled into a thin frown.] Sorry.
It may... be better, in the end. They're at home. [He doesn't know for certain, but believe this nonetheless.] They're safe. Besides, this town has enough big, soft idiots you can make friends with. And one or two who think everyone is a giant family.
Don't give up, okay?
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But Kisa looks at him uncertainly. He didn't seem like a big, soft idiot. Does that mean he's not including himself in people to be friends with?
... Ah.
"Do I..."
...
"Are you uncomfortable? With me?" ]
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No. [He's not sure why she cares either?? Clearly, he's a terrible person, and she should know this based on how dumb he acts.] Why would I?
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She's not even aware of the self-conscious tug she gives her hair, even though that's yet another source of ridicule she's dealt with.
It would have probably just been easier to ask if he'd be all right with being her friend, but Kisa is not the best at bringing up the straightforward statements. ]
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The floor near his feet gets his eyes for a bit.] You don't bother me, but I think you'd be better off with some of the others here. Jon, Strider, Dextera, Midoriya and his friends, Jackson.
They may be idiots sometimes, but they're good people.
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She doesn't bother him. He's got enough of a familiar harshness that she thinks he probably means that, or at least... he doesn't say things just to make someone else feel better, true or not.
But he's implying that she's better off befriending someone else while she's sitting here, wrapped in a blanket he gave her, his cat in her lap, full from food he also gave her-- all of that and...
"I don't think you're a bad person." ]
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You don't know me. [It sounds more like he has resigned himself to this fate rather than he's trying to convince her.] Just because I'm not out hurting people doesn't mean...
I'm not someone people enjoy being around.
[Might as well just be honest, so people don't get their hopes up.]
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It's... familiar, what he says, words spat from a smirking mouth but he still stayed close to her, still encouraged her, until after Akito had...
Damian's right, that she doesn't know him. She'd only just met him today. But.
Still frowning, she points to herself.
She isn't someone people enjoy being around either. This place might have more open-minded people, but where she came from was very different. The members of the Zodiac were all very much aware that they were monsters.
If nothing else, Akito reminded them lovingly. ]
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Well, shit, this only hits every sore spot Damian Wayne has about people. He's a brat, but he's never earnestly a brat about people's looks.]
Because you're cursed? That isn't something you can help. However people treated you back home, they're wrong. Being forced to transform doesn't mean you're any less of a person.
No one here will treat you that way.
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He's been here longer than she has, of course, but can he really say that so confidently? ]
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You don't believe me. Tt. You'll see then. People here aren't from the same world. They're use to different things. Girls turning into tigers isn't something they'll blink an eye at.
Not when there's vampires and demons and heroes with special powers.
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Well. It's hard to believe something immediately when you've known something else entirely different for your whole life. She does nod, though, a tad tentatively. She'll... try. ]
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[This is true, and Damian knows it's true even if he won't admit it for himself. He's only spent three years out in the world under his father's care. For a long time, he's believed he's a monster or unredeemable proportions, no matter what redemption he tried to seek, no matter what Maya told him about forgiveness.
It had been strange to tell people about his mother, about his ten years of isolated training for the sole purpose of being a weapon... only to have them say, "That's rough, buddy," because they've been through something just as bad.]
Don't worry about that. If you need help, ask someone. If you don't want them to touch you, let them know. If someone makes you uncomfortable, run away.
And don't fall into any more holes.
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For now-- well, it's all very good advice, isn't it? Kisa nods solemnly, fingers toying with the edges of the blanket, before she reaches some manner of decision.
"Can I come to you again?" ]
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He looks uncertain for a moment. She hadn't asked to come here again. It's specific. You. His mouth opens, probably to ask, Why? but he never finishes. Instead, he says:]
I guess so.
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