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[groupiedrifter]

"This is Newt — still alive... still hanging in there."

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[groupiedrifter]

[Newt's expression shutters, and his hands clasp in his lap.]

It's fine, Daisy. Really. It's not like I had a medical emergency where I almost died, and you looked at me after the fact like I intentionally tried to poison someone's dinner.

[He turns away, looks down at the floor.

(That's because she doesn't really like you, Newton; she's placating, giving you gifts to survey your status; she wants to see if you're a threat yet; she's scared of you.)

He bites his cheek and fidgets uncomfortably for a moment before moving away from her, walking toward his desk.]

Listen, I appreciate the gifts, but if this is just your way of filling your visitation quota so you don't seem bothered by me, I don't need it. Okay? [He sits, starts skimming through packets of paper — studies and essays about the planets visited. His shoulders square.] I don't need anyone's visitation quota.

[morethan084]

[Daisy opens her mouth to say something, anything. But it would just be a lie, and he's clearly seen past it so is there really any point in continuing to keep it up? She doesn't want to be afraid of him, or afraid for him. But ever since that incident it's been eating away at her, that she didn't know how to help him. That maybe it wasn't her place to get involved, but also resisting that urge to go behind Newt's back and tell Hermann.

Silent as he continues, Daisy looks to the floor as she bites the inside of her cheek. Debating whether to keep silent or finally acknowledge what she imagines to be true.]

Hermann still doesn't know, does he?

[She lifts her gaze to try and get a read on him. To see if he's going to lie to her or not.]

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt's gaze darkens, jaw twitching.

Ah, so that's how it all is.]

Hermann wants nothing to do with me. He's been avoiding me pretty much every chance he gets — so yeah, Daisy, he does know, he knows everything, because I told him when everyone said I should — and he's turned his back on me for all of it. So can you just do me a big favor and pull the band-aid off like him, instead of giving me cutesy gifts and pretending you give a shit about me?

[She's just pretending. She's watching you. Waiting to see if you're a liability. She's proven untrustworthy. He steps closer, his eyes shining wet now, body thrumming with energy as old, deep cuts reopen in his head. They dig their claws in further.]

I hurt one person on accident because he used his powers on me when I was unconscious on the floor, and you have the nerve to look at me like I'm a problem? You were a literal monster on Gyeongje, and I still stood by you, because you were just sick, and it was nothing you could control.

Should I be asking how many people you've hurt with your powers?

Would that be something a friend does?

[He pushes past her to leave, arms folded protectively over his chest, his steps urgent. Get away, his instinct says. Don't bother looking back. He knew she saw him different. He should've known the kindness was just a cover; shoulda coulda woulda. He needs to be more careful about people he lets into his life. Always just settles for whatever he can get, no matter how they look at him, huh?]

[morethan084]

[His words are like a slap in the face, and something she knows to be true about herself. The guilt she lives with every day being realized by someone else. And she lets him lash out with uttering a word, knowing she deserves it. Even as tears prick her eyes, she doesn't try to defend herself.

It's not until he leaves that she gets up from her seat, quick to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks before she leaves. Daisy doesn't try to go after him, because there's nothing she could say.]