psychokinesia | sticksandbones ◉ Inbox

[When the family meeting ends, Wolfwood leaves to do much the same that Add does: wander the city alone in a vain attempt to cool off. Though, he wouldn’t even say he’s angry as much anymore as he is frustrated, anxious, and guilty. He knows he’s really fucked it this time, and as he says to Ezell later…he doesn’t know now if Ain will even want to be with him anymore, after this. Wouldn’t be the first time he’s fucked up this royally, unable to keep his emotions in check long enough to keep the peace.

He spends some hours ghosting around the city like this, not really feeling any better when all of the high-tech reminds him of Add, and the various food joints and clothing stores remind him of Ain. He smokes a whole pack, and he doesn’t feel better. Later, he will have that conversation about it all with Ezell. Does it make him feel better? Not…particularly, but it provides clarity through his cement block brain, which was needed nonetheless.

After all of this, he pulls out his phone and finds Add’s “contact” and sends him a message that he desperately hopes won’t just get flat-out ignored.]

We need to talk. Now.

[Not to worry, Wolfwood! He pings Add and, within seconds, a reply comes through.]

Thank you for reaching out! Master Add is currently unavailable. Please leave a message and he will get back to you at his earliest convenience. If this is an urgent matter that requires immediate attention, please respond here for AI assistance. Thank you and have a nice day! :)

[...

Well, it's not exactly "ignoring", anyway...]

Are you fucking kidding me? I’m being serious.

Add, I know you’re there. Meet me at this location- [He’s dropping a pin here you go.] -in ten or I’m going to come find you.

Please hold as you are connected to a live AI assistant. [exactly 4.3 seconds later,] Hello, you are speaking with Dynamo! Master Add is not available. Dynamo will be handling all network communications until Master Add is feeling better.

If this inquiry is regarding "target shooting competition", Master Add is no longer interested. Please refrain from contacting Master Add about this topic moving forward. Thank you for your cooperation!

I am NOT talking about that, and I am NOT talking about this here.

I need. To talk. To Add. Tell me where he is and I’ll go find him if he won’t answer me.

[There is a delay as they calculate the associated risks. Wolfwood and Master Add do not get along... however, Wolfwood and Master Add also share blame for the current situation. And Dynamo understands Add's feelings on this situation better than anyone else.

...]

Further attempts at conflict will not be tolerated.

Will you speak to Master Add?

I ain’t looking to pick a fight, okay?

[…]

I just want to talk to him. Seriously. Please. This is important.

Edited 2025-04-25 20:16 (UTC)

Understood. Please hold.

[... and, once again, there is a delay. It takes quite a bit longer this time before another reply comes through.]

Fine.

2150 Syntax Ave
Cloud Save Motel
Room #346

If anyone else shows up I'm leaving, so don't bother.

[Thank God.

Wolfwood says nothing more, pocketing the phone and heading that way on his bike immediately. He knows where that is at least, having wandered a great deal of this city in the few weeks they’ve been here, so it won’t take him more than fifteen minutes to show up, for better or worse.

Once at the door, he knocks firmly a few times before putting his hands in his pockets and waiting. He’ll knock again if too long goes by without an answer.]

[No one answers the door. Wolfwood has to stand there for at least a full minute wondering if he's being stood up.

... but he might notice a dynamo lingering down the hallway, watching. Before he can give up or try anything drastic, a door several rooms down creaks open. Hey bitch did you really think he'd give you his actual room number? On the public networkbook??]

Stop standing around and come in here.

[At least he doesn't sound smug about it like he normally would. He leans against the doorframe, waiting.]

[No, but what else was he supposed to do, knock on every door until he found him?? Add hasn’t exactly given him a lot of options here, having declined to meet up elsewhere away from his place. Whatever, it’s sheer emotional exhaustion that keeps him from just turning around and leaving as it is.

Wolfwood says nothing and simply walks into the room past Add, finding the nearest wall to lean against while he waits for Add to shut and preferably lock the door behind him. Add might notice that Wolfwood isn’t armed, at least not visibly like he usually is carrying Livio’s Fangs while his Punisher is being repaired. It’s a silent bid of good faith that Add won’t just start zapping him, despite knowing good and well he’ll have his Dynamos with him no matter what.

He isn’t one to beat around the bush needlessly, so he’ll speak up the moment the room is quiet.]

We need to sort this out.

[Add says nothing as Wolfwood lets himself in. He just sticks his head out to look down both ends of the hallway, then locks the door shut without any fanfare. The lone dynamo remains outside for guard duty while the others stick with Add, hovering close to his sides.

They do beep at Wolfwood as he passes them into the motel room, though. Someday he'll figure out that's their friendly-greeting beep.

Add leans against his drones, mirroring Wolfwood's posture.]

... Yeah, I know. [Why else would he be here? It's the same reason as always.]

Name your terms.

What? There’s no terms.

[Wolfwood tightens his grip on his forearms, glancing off to the side with his tongue clicking harshly against the roof of his mouth.]

We can’t look at this like it’s some kinda deal, or contract. I ain’t sayin’ we gotta like each other, but if we fake it, Ain is gonna notice.

[Their attempt to pretend to get along at the theater literally only worked because Ain was drunk off his ass and laying on them, too preoccupied by the movie to notice.]

Can you just tell me what your problem is with me? You’ve got an attitude, sure, but you’ve been at my throat specifically since you showed up here and found out I was datin’ Ain in the first place.

[Wolfwood has been no peach either, he won’t deny that, but…that’s absolutely when it started. Their first meeting was at least normal enough before that revelation.]

Like, not just the shots at me as a person, but at me as his boyfriend.

[He bristles, his neutral expression going sour the moment Wolfwood decides to veer off in another direction. Why can't they just keep this simple? Contracts are simple! Easy to follow! Quick and digestible and free of messy feelings!!

... but he does, unfortunately, have a point. Add clicks his own tongue, shoulders slouching as he starts to visibly sulk. Isn't it bad enough that they have to talk about this at all? Saying he has to spill his heart out to Wolfwood of all people...

But he does have to. Because if he doesn't, these stupid feelings will just keep festering and festering until they explode again, and that sure as fuck won't help anyone. Least of all Ain.

So... he sighs, feeling the last of his dignity crumble to dust.]

I didn't like that Ain was dating some jackass weakling who wasn't good enough for him.

And... I didn't like that you were.

[yeah

bitch is jealous jealous.]

[Therapy is working in Wolfwood’s favor, because while he does bristle at Add’s words- yet again, he’s doing it fucking again, mental note to bring that up later- he manages to bite his tongue hard enough to not snap back. Nearly bites through it, mind, but he’s behaving because he kindof fucking has to here.

Like. Wolfwood, basically this entire time, has gotten closeted vibes from Add. He reeks of someone who is clearly gay (bisexual, babe) but so deep in the closet and denial that he’s turned homophobic about it, lashing out at everyone and everything because he can’t process his emotions in any other way.

…so to hear Add admit it, finally, that he didn’t like that Wolfwood was dating Ain, his expression flattens.]

You’re fucking jealous. Of me.

[He scowls harder, somehow finding new ways to be put off by Wolfwood's reaction... does he have to say it like that? Like it's some ridiculous, idiotic answer? Like he thinks this has to be some kind of fucking joke?

Somehow, his annoyance loops right back around into confidence. Add stands up straight, lashing out because he can't process his emotions in any other way.]

What, was that not loud enough for you? Do you want me to shout it from the fucking roof? Yeah, jackass, I'm jealous. I look away for five fucking minutes, and the next thing I know Ain has been dating up to four total strangers for months in some alternate dimension backwater town, and oh! He had a fucking crush on me the whole time, and I never noticed! And I'm just supposed to shrug all that shit off like it's no big deal?

You piss me off, and you keep sticking your nose in my business, like you just have to bother with me because I'm Ain's friend and you're sooooo thoughtful! That kind of fake shit grates on my nerves, and you're still pulling this shit off better than me! Even now, you came to me first—!

[He's getting worked up enough to start sparking, and it seems like he's just gonna keep going like this until he explodes... but then there's a firm but gentle bebeep! from Dynamo next to him. Add pauses, considering this for a moment... then huffs loudly, reeling it back.

He's supposed to be not starting fights here... keep it to together, dumbass. For Ain's sake.]

So, go ahead and laugh or whatever. You win. Congratulations.

Edited (correction,) 2025-04-26 04:05 (UTC)

[Add starts shouting, and…Wolfwood honestly can’t say he wasn’t expecting it to come to this. They just cannot talk without it, but better to happen behind closed doors in private than as a knock-down, drag-out scuffle in the middle of the god damn family meeting. He lets Add say his piece, and it’s nothing kind. But…it does tell Wolfwood a lot about where Add has been mentally this whole time. When Add screams that his concern is fake, it finally clicks that Add doesn’t actually mean it the way he says it. It’s just easier to process when it’s hurled like an insult, spat like venom, because at least this he can control. Maybe, if he can put Wolfwood down, he’ll feel just a little bit better, somehow.

He gets that. It’s easier for him to handle fighting, and anger, and all of that than it is to deal with real feelings. But, he’s also been here long enough- through enough awful fights- to know that if you want any relationship to work, you have to talk real shit eventually. It even came to this with Flamebringer, and now look where they are.

So he stands still, letting Add go until he has nothing else left to say. Then, he works his jaw, bringing a hand up to rub over his stubble as he sighs through his fingers.]

I don’t want to win. None of this has ever been about “winning”.

[Wolfwood closes his eyes for a moment, then leans back a little heavier against the wall. If they’re working…any of this out, they have to be honest, right? If Add is doing it, Wolfwood needs to meet him in the middle.]

Ain has done nothing but miss you and your friends since the day he got here. You showin’ up made him…so fucking happy. [He shakes his head a little.] But you’d say shit to upset him, and it’d make me…defensive, I guess. Not ‘cause I think I’m better than you, but because I’ve been the guy on that end plenty of times now. You just ain’t been here to see how many times I’ve fucked it with my partners. I ain’t some all-knowing relationship guru who knows exactly what to say or do. Half the time, I open my mouth and say the wrong thing even if I ain’t tryin’ to. I’m an asshole. I lie, I hurt people…and unlike you and Ain, I ain’t the hero of my story.

[He glances off to the side, then, brows furrowing.]

So yeah, you’ve been right about one thing. I ain’t a good boyfriend. But that don’t mean I haven’t been tryin’. […] And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t care to make things right. I’m not tryin’ to take him away from you. I want him to be happy. Not much in this place makes him happy anymore.

And, honestly, I want you to be happy too.

[Part of him really was expecting mockery here. He doesn't know Wolfwood, and that sigh at the start... he's ready to be called a disappointment, too, but that doesn't come either.

It's... familiar, in a weird way. It's so convenient he almost wants to call it bullshit. How could Wolfwood of all people know how Add feels? But it's not like he read Add's mind before deciding what to say, and his abrasive personality speaks for itself. The same type of abrasive behaviour that always seems to get Add into shit... isn't that why Wolfwood is always getting on his nerves? Doesn't this just make sense?

(He bites his tongue not to comment on the "hero" part. That's not really important right now, anyway.)

... but even if they're similar, it's obvious from this that Wolfwood has his shit together and Add just... doesn't. Even this Wolfwood beats him at? He can say all that disgustingly honest shit and still end it with "I want you to be happy, too"?]

Ugh, give me a break. I don't need your fucking pity party. [This whole day has been exhausting. He sits down in the air, dynamos rearranging to make a seat for him.]

This is about Ain, so as long as he's happy with it... we don't have to like each other, so you can stop adding pointless clauses on top.

[Wolfwood…should not have expected a more eloquent answer, if he’s honest, but BOY if it doesn’t make him want to pick Add up and throw him from the window. Just smash cut to a comical glass crashing sound, end thread. That isn’t what happens, but he sure does visualize it for a moment to keep himself from saying something he shouldn’t.]

I am not pitying you, you dick. Fucking Christ.

[SIGH. CALM DOWN. Wolfwood unfolds his arms and lifts both hands, presses them to his face, and slowly drags them down. He takes a few slow, deep breaths, then turns his attention back to Add once more.]

Look. We need to talk to Ain. Together. And we need to be honest with him ‘bout what’s been goin’ on, otherwise you and I can kiss ever talkin’ to him again goodbye. Are you prepared to do that?

[He grumbles, but seems to accept Wolfwood's honesty only after he tacks an insult onto it. Yeah, Add is just like this. He leans back into his dynamo-chair, taking a deep, calming breath of his own (if Wolfwood notices sparks then that's normal, nothing like a bit of electrotherapy to soothe the nerves).

This isn't about "winning" or who's better or more deserving... this is about Ain. And Ain wants them to get along.

... and he wanted to know why. The idea of further honesty makes Add hesitate, anxiety creeping back in. Some details are necessary for this apology plan to work, sure, but...]

He doesn't have to know everything that's been going on.

... I know I don't have much of a leg to stand on, but the past is the past. There's lots of shit I've done that Ain doesn't have to know about. [add that sounds so much worse??????] I made a miscalculation, and you almost died because of my error. I never intended to put you at real risk, so... I'm sorry.

[The last part is mumbled like it physically pains him to say this out loud, but he does mean it, so at least he's trying...?]

[The very last thing Wolfwood was expecting to hear come from Add’s mouth was an apology. He looks up, his tense expression turning more to the side of confusion, then a sort of mixed acceptance at first like he feels like there might be some sort of catch. But…even for all his faults, he can tell by the tone of his voice that he’s being genuine. Maybe for the first time ever.

He exhales through his nose, wishing very much he had more cigarettes to smoke. Probably for the best he doesn’t, considering.]

…it’s fine. But that’s kindof what I wanted to talk about.

[Sorry to put the fear of God in you Add but here goes!!!]

I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout whatever you’ve got goin’ on back in Elrios. I mean more…the shit that’s happened between us. There’s this…sometimes, either if it’s the false god or some other shit happening, people’s memories get shared. You can’t control what gets shared, or who sees it…but if he were to get that kind of info second hand? He’d be fucking pissed we didn’t tell him.

[Genuine, if extremely anxious. He's less anxious once Wolfwood says it's fine... just, y'know, not for very long, since he follows that up with the omniscient threat of having his secrets broadcast to the entire Grove.

That is a concern. Add stares in blank horror for several seconds before deciding to just. not fucking think about the implications of that, for now, he has enough to worry about with just the Grove stuff.]

Ugh, that's— easy for you to say, when you don't have anything to lose from it! He's already pissed, what do you think's gonna happen when he hears you almost died because of me?!

[what if Ain decides that's too far and he hates Add and he never speaks to him again and he has to go through all this bullshit honesty with Wolfwood only to end up with nothing]

I know. I know. Trust me, I get it. But if he were to find out any other way, I don’t…

[He shakes his head a little, pinching the bridge of his nose. He can’t believe he’s saying this, but…]

I’ll back you up, okay? I know it wasn’t on purpose. You wouldn’t do that on purpose, even if you don’t like me. It ain’t like you knew the place was gonna blow like that.

[Sure, Ain won’t be HAPPY Add locked him in the cell, but like…that part can be glossed over.]

How do I know you're not just trying to set me up?! You've been way too fucking forgiving up to now, there's no way it can be that simple! If I run the calculations—

[if he runs the calculations then it's still way worse if Ain finds out another way. It's a lose-lose scenario whether he goes with Wolfwood's idea or not.

Add hisses through his teeth, trying to reel his emotions back in again... he has to stay focused. Look at this logically. Find the solution.]

... Maybe he won't ask for specifics. We can say we fought, and there were non-fatal injuries, but we both talked it out and it's fine now. Those details aren't really important, right? It's about moving on from our disagreements, not explaining every incident blow by blow.

If I was trying to set you up, wouldn’t this be a pretty damn convoluted way to go about it?

[Not to mention fucked up and cruel, even for him. Wolfwood’s brows furrow, his good foot tapping anxiously against the floor.]

You…you know Ain better than I do. [Which is a HUGE thing to admit, but it’s really true.] If you told it to him that way…and then he was to see the whole memory later. Do you genuinely think he wouldn’t be mad that you left out details, and softened the reality to save his feelings?

Cause I’ve done that. I’ve been tryin’ to do that. …and it’s only made him… […] …not trust me, anymore.

sticksandbones ◉ Inbox

After the fammeet disaster

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