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[batricide]

[ That.

That actually gets a laugh. HE DIDN'T THINK PEOPLE DO THAT IN REAL LIFE. ]

[fledges]

[Holy shit he's actually laughing. Kate wrinkles her nose, swatting at his arm to try to retain some of her dignity. It doesn't really work.]

You what? Hafid.

[batricide]

Relax. He's fine. I knew what I was doing.

[ But suffice to say. ]

I didn't go past bone. Suffice to say there's nothing in there.

[fledges]

He said he had minor surgery and I thought he got stabbed again or something.

[Well... he sort of did.]

Why didn't you guys try to find a doctor?

[batricide]

I have the equivalent of a PHD in medical science and human anatomy. We didn't need one.

[fledges]

I...

[Sure. Okay.]

Of course you do. Did you even have any anesthetic?

[batricide]

Rudimentary ones. [ you know.

ice and booze. ]

[fledges]

[Kate just... covers her face.]

Oh my God, that sounds miserable.

[batricide]

He'll be fine.

[fledges]

[Kate sighs and lets her hands drop. Exploratory surgery! Why not!]

What do you mean, there was nothing there?

[batricide]

No machinery. No abnormal sigils. At least nothing I could see.

[fledges]

Wow. That's not what I was expecting.

[She touches her sternum absently.]

What could it even be, then?

[batricide]

Most likely some kind of magic.

[fledges]

[Kate sighs, tilting her head back.]

And of course Loki and Strange don't have their powers.

[Nothing can ever, ever be easy. She straightens again after a second to study him.]

You're acting flippant about this, but are you okay? Really okay?

[batricide]

There was little risk. I knew what I was doing.

[ but. ]

But I didn't want to end up an only child again because my brother is impatient.

[fledges]

No good choices, huh?

[Oh, Jason. Kate still thinks it's a crazy idea, but that ship has sailed.]

I'm glad he had you there to take care of him.

[batricide]

It rarely is with him.

[ He takes another drink. ]

I think he considers himself my guardian. Laughable, right?

[fledges]

[Kate's lips quirk up.]

He's older, right?

[batricide]

Barely.

[ well. ]

From his perspective, he's probably nearly a decade older than me.

[fledges]

Multiverse stuff. That explains it. Does it bug you?

[batricide]

Not really.

[ Another sip. ]

He... disappeared when I was younger. I only recently got in touch with him again in my world. We're closer in age.

[fledges]

So it's like you two get to make up for lost time?

[Cute, Damian!]

[batricide]

Something like that.

[ It has its rough moments. But it's nice to have that bond again. ]

[fledges]

That's awesome. I'm happy for you.

[She takes another drink, then smiles.]

I guess you'll just have to watch out for each other, huh?

[batricide]

That may be easier said than done. [ He thinks of those stab wounds, how Jason didn't tell him. ]

Listen. [ We're NOT FRIENDS but ] If you suspect he's up to something suspicious or dangerous at any point, can you let me know?