six_word_stories | (no subject)

[He snorts. Joshua can't imagine his clean cut new friend donning a disguise and scaring the shit out of the people he cares most about in the world because of some crazy misguided and twisted sense of vengeance.

You'd have to be crazy.]

Is this a lawyer joke? You can't put yourself down for that.

[He curls his hands round his arms, trying not to lash out at the compliment he feels too dirty to take.]

Case in point, you tryin' to cheer my ass up. It's...look. I've done a lot of shit I ain't proud of. And the preponderance of evidence states I'm clearly a shithead.

I've come to accept that.

You'd probably be better off not sticking around long enough for me to fuck up this friendship too.

[Right. Crazy. Or maybe Matt doesn't want to scare his new friend any more than Josh does.] Look, I get it. I get what it means to make a choice that might hurt other people, or make them angry.

Sometimes it does both.

All I can do is judge based on current evidence, which points to you being a good friend. Your past isn't going to scare me off.

You.

[Josh sighs but snaps his mouth shut all the same. He's very clearly not used to this kind of treatment. He nods, after several seconds in silence. Then pinches the bridge of his nose.

Matt can't see you nod, Washington.]

Yeah, okay. I...I guess fair warning that I'm an unstable asshole then. Anyway, sorry for being a drama bomb and a half, bro. Whenever the weather starts to get cold, I can't help but to think about 'em.

[Matt is careful to telegraph his movements, to offer to put an arm around Josh. He knows what it's like to deal with demons, how to battle them and cope with guilt.

Of course if Josh won't have any of it he's not going to take offense.]

I can deal with unstable. More than you might think.

If you need me, if you need anything, I'm here okay?

Well, you're in for a full deck of it here.

[The grumble is small, even as Josh lets Matt pull him into a half hug. He's quiet for several long moments.]

Thanks, bro.

You have no idea. [His voice is quiet and fond as he holds him close for a moment.]

Hey. In the interest of being honest, you know the Daredevil? The guy who looks over Hell's Kitchen?

That's me.

Man if he were around he'd kick my ass seven ways to Sunday, bro. I faked my own murder and filmed the whole thing. He'd--

[Oh. Oh no. What have you done, Joshua. All the color has gone out of his face. His heartrate has skyrocketted. His hand is shaking.]

Th..this is the part where we both say 'just kidding' r-right?

Edited 2017-10-15 03:31 (UTC)

Easy. Nobody's kicking anyone's ass. [However if he does want to pull away Matt won't stop him.] I promise.

You.

You're serious.

[He believes Matt, too. After seeing the parkour thing the other night. Getting a look at the people who Matt knows and hangs around w--]

Did I just have beers with a bar full of super humans the other night?

[And Matt, the shit, has the nerve to smile at him. He rolls a shoulder.] You did. The Avengers, to be specific. Barton's been after me for a parkour match for months now.

[A squeeze to his shoulder.] They're people, the same as you.

[The shock has at least stopped Joshua from casually talking about his elaborate suicide note, complete utter nuclear bombing of his friends' emotional states and the conversations that usually follow that line of thought.]

I...told someone who could break me in half to take a joke.

[Mortification that soon turns to what is most definitely not a sulk.]

You're a dick and you're lucky I like you.

And that's why Steve likes you. You didn't treat him any differently. The same for the others. You just saw people and I think at times the city forgets that.

[Another sly smile.] I like you too. And I'm glad that you're here.

Which one is Steve? The guy who laughs way too loud? Or is he the one with the t-shirt tucked into his jeans like he's afraid it's going to run away if he doesn't.

[All Josh remembers is Foggy, and Barton being the loudmouth in purple.]

Can...can I ask you a question?

No, the one who laughs too loud is Thor. Steve is the one according to Foggy who always looks like he's about ready to call everyone's parents.

Sure. I'll answer as best I can.

Why? I mean like so, so many other questions, but I guess they all come back to that.

[He'd have never taken the effort to learn otherwise.]

You mean why do I do it? [That's not an easy question to answer, but he will do his best to at least be honest.] Because I can. Because I was trained to fight in a war that I didn't want any part of, but I wanted to protect my neighborhood, look out for people who had been forgotten.