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Chapter 73 - Reassurance and Affirmation
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Some time later, Joe was alone in his sparsely-decorated office, elbows set on his desk and face buried in his hands.
Though he had attempted to press for details on what exactly Snow White had done to warrant public shaming… Rapunzel categorically refused to spill the beans.
The statuesque blonde had asserted that it was ultimately Rapi's tale to tell, such as it was. Little surprise then, that Rapi instantly clammed up and refused to speak on the matter.
So, it was all Joe could do to assure Rapi that she could tell him anything, then return to his room to decompress and pointedly focus on other things.
As deeply annoyed as Joe was by all this interpersonal shit just continuing to not be straightforward, forcing things would probably not be wise.
Doubly so if even Rapunzel wasn't able to work things out before he got involved.
While Joe was quietly ruminating upon the fact that things had an uncomfortable amount of room for improvement, his phone started ringing, catching his attention at the reminder that he'd forgotten it earlier.
Rising from his swivelling office chair, the man power-walked into his generally starkly spartan bedroom, finding the device laying on the nightstand upon which his sword leaned; right next to Marian's ID tag, as was usual.
Given that it was flagged as a call from Elysion's CEO, he was quick to scoop the device up and answer.
"Ingrid," he acknowledged her by way of greeting.
"Syuen noticed that Wardress is gone, and is more than a little upset that you took them from her," the militaristic woman declared, cutting right to business.
"I've pointed out how she directly gave her permission for you to claim them, and cited previous deals made in the same vein—at her insistence—as precedent for it being a binding agreement. Needless to say: she is furious."
"As expected," Joe declared as he ambled over to the bedroom window, gazing out and looking over the Outpost, catching sight of Cinderella and Scarlet interacting with Liter's bright yellow and white robo-dog, Volt. "You think this could become a problem?"
"Yes and no," Ingrid asserted simply. "No, in that Syuen isn't going to do anything so overtly combative or antagonistic that it would warrant direct retribution from Elysion."
"Yes, in that Syuen will bend over backwards to cause a multitude of minor inconveniences and general difficulties for us in the long term."
"If she can't get her pound of flesh, she'll find a way to take it in slivers regardless?" Joe inquired as he popped an eyebrow at the sight of Cinderella lifting Scarlet's enormous conical hat off her head…
To throw said hat like a frisbee, which Volt—and Scarlet—immediately desperately dead-sprinted down the street in pursuit of.
"Absolutely," Ingrid said plainly. "She's felt more than a little slighted by having been ghosted by you as it was. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if she actually gets a little brazen about getting back at you over all of this."
"It would be best to avoid risking possible and serious fights with Missilis," Joe noted as he set his free hand in his pocket.
"An understandable concern," Ingrid replied. "I'm not entirely sure what you could do, short of returning Wardress to her, though."
Joe paused and considered that for a moment, his mind drifting back to the extensive number of text messages he'd received from Syuen after she'd attempted to entice him to work for her rather than Ingrid.
"What if I offered to do a job for her?" Joe suggested, watching Scarlet rush to catch a surprisingly slippery Volt, the robo-dog having caught and claimed her hat.
Impressive on Scarlet's part, really, considering the swordswoman was apparently quite hungover.
"Hm…" Ingrid audibly pondered the suggestion. "She did previously establish that she wanted you in her pocket. I trust you wouldn't be so foolish as to just blindly agree to whatever demands she might make of you?"
"I would demand nothing less than a full—meaning very in-depth—briefing before I actually agreed to do anything," the Commander declared.
The corners of his lips curled upwards as Volt tripped over Scarlet's hat and tumbled ass-over-teakettle.
This granted Scarlet the opportunity to snatch her hat back up, to which she immediately began to advance upon Cinderella.
The twintailed silverette took off the moment the show was over, Volt being hot on Scarlet's heels in turn, leaping up and nipping at the rim of her great hat all the while.
Two of the most powerful warriors to have ever lived in Earth's history. Peak performance at play down there.
"As long as we don't wind up with a repeat of the Chatterbox situation, then I'll officially clear you to extend an offer for another joint operation," Ingrid informed the displaced Canadian.
"Just keep your wits about you and don't be stupid."
"Like I said," Joe started, "I'm not setting anything in stone with her unless she sets all her cards on the table beforehand," he assured the stern brunette.
"I'll give you leave to handle that, then," Ingrid said. "We'll discuss team composition once we have details on the operation-to-be, assuming Syuen even agrees to it in the first place."
"Understood," Joe nodded as he backed away from the window, no longer seeing much else of particular note going on in the Outpost, apart from Cinderella and Scarlet's tomfoolery.
"Give me updates as they come, Commander." With that, Ingrid closed the line on her end, and Joe followed suit.
He stared at the device quietly, dreading the notion of opening contact with the CEO of Missilis again, but… It was as he said: best to avoid the risk of her getting vindictive and causing problems down the line.
So, Joe opened his text window with Syuen—And balked at the sheer fucking amount of texts he'd received from her since he'd muted her. Sweet mother of all that is good and holy, the scroll bar was minuscule.
Though he was tempted to scroll up and read through them all, something told Joe that there was nothing positive to gain in doing so. Especially considering how venomous even the most recent ones on-screen were.
Instead, he just unmuted the little twerp, and sent her a single message.
[Syuen.]
Closing his eyes and bracing himself, Joe wiped at his forehead with the back of his forearm, more as a calming motion than anything-
His phone rapidly chirped three alerts to him back-to-back as he stood there quietly.
After taking a moment to rue the life choices that led Joe to this moment, he lifted the phone to embrace his duty, such as it was.
[THE NERVE.]
[(MESSAGE REDACTED FOR EXCESSIVELY CRUDE LANGUAGE)]
[(MESSAGE REDACTED FOR EXCESSIVELY CRUDE LANGUAGE)]
Yeah, that figured. It was time for Joe to actually flex his mental muscles and put his brain to work.
[Given that you were generous enough to allow me to take command of Wardress after Ingrid relayed my request,] Joe opened with a considered fib, deliberately seeking to mislead and misdirect the immature little shit. [It would only be appropriate for me to formally extend an offer of cooperation to return your gesture of goodwill.]
Joe started back off for his office chair, passing through the open door into the main office space and dropping into his seat with a heavy sigh.
After a good minute, Syuen responded. [That's right, a show of gratitude would be appropriate given my magnanimity on this matter.]
Hook, line, and sinker.
Syuen continued. [So you've finally come to your senses and see the benefits of cooperating with Missilis. Excellent. Everybody always comes around eventually.]
Rolling his eyes, Joe responded. [I'm only extending an offer for one joint operation.]
Syuen's reply came quickly. [For now.]
Joe could hear the smug on her face as she typed that out, and boy howdy, was it grating on him. But, as it was, giving the little shit a win would be wise. [Do you have a mission you'd like to have done, then?]
[Yes,] the CEO of Missilis rapidly answered. [I'll give you the details in person, after you've signed an NDA, of course. Can't risk having one of Ingrid's favourites leaking Missilis secrets to her, after all.]
[Of course,] Joe allowed it with a small grimace. Basic OPSEC wasn't entirely lost on her, it seemed.
[I'll let you know when to come to Missilis HQ for your briefing,] Syuen noted with palpable smugness. [Except a call within the next few days.]
[Duly noted,] Joe responded, which seemed to be the end of that exchange.
Leaning back in his seat, the man groaned deeply as he covered his eyes and set his phone down. If it wasn't one thing, then it really was another in the steaming shithole that was the Ark.
With nothing else immediately claiming his time, Joe simply remained where he was seated… And sat there.
He didn't think. He didn't ponder. He didn't plan, or consider his recent interactions with anyone. He didn't think about playing video games. He didn't put on any music. He just sat there, in his silent room, doing absolutely nothing. Blankly staring into the aether, Joe just sat there.
The man remained in dead, oppressive silence for a good, long while. Until Rapi eventually ambled into the room, pausing to gaze upon the Commander with a degree of concern. "...Joe?" She started.
He remained silent, gaze unfocused, unresponsive.
With no small amount of concern, Rapi immediately started towards him, reaching out and repeating herself: "Joe?" She settled a hand on the transition between his neck and shoulder.
He jumped, eyes going wide and snapping to the blonde. "Ah-" Joe paused, blinking and rapidly shaking his head. "Y-yeah? What?" He seemingly attempted to brush off how he was just… Vegetating.
Rapi didn't know what to do about this. Clearly, something was bothering him. Severely. Yet, what was she supposed to do about that?
She couldn't talk to him, she was terrible at talking about things. She didn't know where to begin, how to speak with him, what to do…
So, after a few moments, she simply leaned over and drew him into a hug.
Holding him for a few moments, Rapi wasn't sure what else to do to comfort him, and so, she could only hope this would help him, somehow.
There was a beat in which nothing happened.
Anxiety spiked when Joe started to stand from his seat, despite Rapi having still been holding onto him.
At once, thoughts of him pushing her off, and being distant and cold because of what she'd done came to mind. Terror, the idea of rejection dug into her chest, and she almost started to panic as he rose too high for her to hold on-
Only for the man to encircle his arms around the little Nikke's shoulders. He reached up and settled a hand on the back of her head, as he held onto her himself.
Relief washed over Rapi like a wave, and after an instant of dumbstruck surprise, she wrapped her arms around his midsection to redouble the embrace. A shuddering sigh slipped past her lips, and she squeezed the much larger figure gently.
She, feeling an intense urge to, uttered, "Thank you," The return of affection, despite all she'd done wrong, hitting her in a deep way she couldn't quite place.
"You're precious, Rapi," Joe assured the little woman, sighing deeply as, despite everything, he knew that she clearly cared—despite how… Cold she could seem. She was awkward, clearly, but that just didn't matter compared to her making an effort to demonstrate concern. "You don't have to-"
"No…!" Rapi shook her head, burying her face into Joe's chest, some distant, deep-seated emotion with no clear memory associated with it triggered by the exchange, by everything that had just happened. "I- I-!"
Her breath hitched, and she began to tremble from head-to-toe.
"I- I- Joe…!" She grit her teeth, trying to fight down the emotions, the anxiety demanding that she just stop. It just made it worse.
It just made it worse when she tried to apologize. When she asked what she'd done wrong. It just made it worse when she asked what she could do. It just made it worse.
She just had to be better, she just had to do better. He'd hate her if she spoke, if she tried to apologize. If she showed her pain, if she cried, or even so much as sobbed.
She didn't know why. She just… Knew. She was certain. It had happened before: not with Joe, not with Goddess, but, it had happened. It was the truth. She couldn't remember how she knew, she just did.
But. Joe wasn't like that. He wasn't, he wouldn't be. How could she put that on him? How dare she?
So, Rapi fought the anxiety down, she assaulted and beat it into submission, as best she could. And, with terrible effort, finally… "…I'm… I-I-!" She grit her teeth, and with a great effort, she half-whispered, "...I'm sorry…!"
Joe could sense how intensely difficult saying that had been for Rapi. At once, he knew she must have been apologizing for Marian. What else would she have to apologize for?
Even as Red Hood, back aboard the Avenger, Rapi was horrendous at addressing things like this. She either didn't acknowledge it at all, or went way overboard and proceeded to fall into the metaphorical cake, so to speak.
So, she did realize how cruel it had been, to force him to be the one to shoot Marian, when Anis would have done it to spare him the pain.
She realized it, and, ultimately still being Red Hood at the end of the day, she remained herself and fucked it up. She should have said something, but avoided doing so, because…
Well, because she was an idiot.
Shit, was Rapi still an idiot, but just not an explosive one, as she used to be? That thought had never occurred to Joe, but, it would make sense, wouldn't it?
Or maybe Red Hood was smarter than she seemed, but never let it show, or was so id-driven that it completely suppressed her actual intelligence?
Well, regardless, in response, Joe simply drew Rapi in closer, and started to stroke her hair. "It's okay," he assured her.
Then, another thought occurred to him. From Joe's perspective, he didn't like saying 'I forgive you.'
Not because he didn't like forgiving people, but because it just felt… Arrogant. Just letting things slide, saying it was 'alright,' or that they 'were cool,' felt less holier-than-thou to the man's sensibilities.
But, given how unexpectedly strongly Rapi seemed to feel about this, it would probably be best to just say it for her sake.
"I forgive you, Rapi," he said in as soothing a tone as he could manage, holding onto her tightly for emphasis. "And, so much more importantly, never forget that I cherish you. Okay?"
Her breath hitching, Rapi's trembling intensified, and she let out a shuddering whine. She attempted to bury her face even deeper into Joe's chest, and she repeated herself with mounting desperation despite her continued whisper: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Joe felt like he was being stabbed in the heart. First, because of how pitifully vulnerable Rapi was coming across, despite being among the most powerful women to have ever lived in the world's history.
Secondly, because of how he'd mused on how Rapi had never apologized for what happened with Marian. For wondering, even if not directly, if she was even sorry in the first place.
He should have known better. Rapi wasn't heartless. She was just ruinously awkward and difficult to read. Too direct, overly harsh, but not cruel.
He would have apologized to Rapi in turn, right then and there, but he could tell that she was terribly overwhelmed as it was, and didn't need that added onto her current emotional load.
Besides, it wasn't as though he'd said anything about what happened with Marian directly. It was hardly as though he'd openly questioned her consideration for him to her. An apology from him would be more for his own sake than hers.
So, he'd let that sleeping dog lay. It didn't need to be stirred, Rapi didn't need to know that Joe had doubted her, for even a moment. He trusted her, he knew she'd always be there, right by his side, even if she would probably be a complete caveman about it sometimes.
Though, it wasn't as though the same couldn't be said about him, right? Joe knew himself well. There was a reason he got along with the Rapi of a century ago as he had. They were both kind of dumbasses, at the end of the day.
If nothing else, Joe had a far, far better handle on emotions and how to conduct oneself in regards to them compared to Rapi.
So, rather than freezing up, panicking, or otherwise losing his cool at Rapi's emotional outburst, he just leaned in, did all he could to draw her in closer, and continued to stroke her hair. Make it clear that she was wanted and adored with physical affection.
He wasn't entirely sure if it worked, but, he continued to quietly assure her regardless. "It's alright. It's okay, Rapi. It's okay."
The pair remained like that for some time, nothing demanding either of them for the rest of the day. Joe, in all honesty, wasn't at all bothered by comforting Rapi.
If anybody in the world deserved it, after all, it was her.
