#not wlw :3 cos valentine is not a w

[merge-conflict]

chaser

“For God’s sake, Valentine,” Abernathy says, her facade beginning to crack. “I learned my lesson. If you can’t forgive me then at least let me help keep you alive.”

“Which is it you prefer?” V demands, suddenly battling the feeling that she is about to cry. “Mercy or forgiveness?”

“They shouldn’t have done that to you,” Abernathy says, her voice cracking like a whip. She has her hands clasped together in her lap. From this distance they look identical. “It’s cruel. It was cruel to do that to you. Even that–“ She gestures at V’s left hand.

“Too late,” Vim snaps, caught in crackling anger that V still does not know how to soothe. She curls her fingers into a fist on her behalf. “It’s already done.”

“You didn’t go through all the trouble of cutting off my hand just to let me die,” Abernathy says. “I’d tell you I’m sorry, but it’s done, isn’t it? It’s already done.”

shot (wip)

“I suppose next you’ll be asking me to use my new position to spy on Jenkins for you.” (petulant. bitter. a tool, you were always a tool)

“No. I know how you get when you’re angry.” (thinking. malicious. flippant.) “Besides, I thought you’d enjoy a chance to get your claws into him.”

(silently angry. is the implication that she’d do for him what she’d done for abernathy? that she’s just a dangerous beast? that abernathy knows her and her anger so well?)

“Well?”

“What do you want me to do? Beg for leniency? Make some emotional plea? You want me to ask if you ever even gave a shit about me? You want me to put on a show?” - “You wouldn’t believe a word I said anyway. Give me a cigarette.”

(hands one over, lights it. finally makes eye contact. this is real.) “Don’t look so glum. You wouldn’t have gotten half as far as you have without my help. You can cry about your bank account if you want, but it’s not like I’m kicking you out on the street.”

“Alright.” (inhale. peace. emptiness. drains her drink. drops the cigarette into abernathy’s.) “It’s done.”

tagged by @wanderingaldecaldo for wip wednesday

tagging (no pressure) @luvwich, @vox-monstera, @fly-amanitaa