capeandcowllogs | But if you just take off your mask

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But if you just take off your mask

WHO: Frank, HJ, and eventually Nelson.
WHERE: Nelson's house.
WHEN: Tonight.....
WARNINGS: glances at characters.
SUMMARY: Frank intends to talk to Nelson about his bad boyfriend -- but then said bad boyfriend is the only one home.
FORMAT: lazy

[ He should have sensed it from the start. He isn't sure how he missed it, and now so much seems clearer. The more Hooded Justice revealed himself, the less Frank thought of him. It would be easy to blame age, but there is only so much forgiving to be done on convenient circumstance.

There is one person who will know the difference, and Frank comes here now. He remembers the address, from the night he led Gardner here after too many drinks. He'd been upset over his partner -- and now that moment has a whole other world of implication.

His fist slams on Gardner's door. ]

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[ Hooded Justice knew that societal necessities dictated that he should let him in, and entertain him. It's what Nelson would have done, if their roles were reversed. Hooded Justice, however, was not one for societal niceties, and if anything, he was willing to make him wait outside. ]

I am busy. You will have to come back later.

[ For him, it was borderline polite. For HJ, at least. He pushed against the door, to urge him to leave. ]

I'd rather wait.

[ It's a parody of politeness in his tone, while he puts himself further into the doorway, making it impossible for HJ to force him out.

Then, as if as an afterthought: ]

Busy with what?

Does it matter?

[ He didn't back up to let him in. If anything, it was like two brick walls meeting one another face to face, and neither one was going to move. ]

I am not the company you're looking for. [ He couldn't say that he didn't know when Nelson would get home, because he at least had an idea. Not that he was going to share that with him. ]

You will be wasting your time.

I guess not.

[ Regardless of whether or not Hooded Justice was backing up, Frank continued to edge his way into the doorway. At this point, closing it on him wouldn't achieve much. ]

I'll be judge of that.

[ He watches Hooded Justice for a moment, before he figures it's no loss to keep at it. ] You and I should talk.

[ Even if he kept edging forward, HJ didn't back up in response. He stubbornly stayed where he was, still trying to block him out of the house. ]

What? Say it now.

[ Brusque, he obviously didn't think there was anything to talk about, but then again, when did HJ ever feel like talking? ]

I've already been inside. [ Not spoken like a challenge or goading; just fact. ] If you're afraid of me seeing anything private.

[ But, he doesn't linger on that, nor does he back down. ] It's about your motivations.

I am not, and my motivations are my own.

[ He kept his eyes there, giving him the same hard stare, but it shook him. This man, out of nowhere had recognized him on the street. The one time he did it.

Hooded Justice was already predisposed to disliking Frank. He could have let it be, and HJ would have been none the wiser. Perhaps it was good he didn't. At least now HJ knew to be wary around him. The fact that he'd been in here, HJ knew he would likely have to blame Nelson. Not that he cared, particularly.

He hadn't been there at the time, or he would've known. ]

You have not done a good job at convincing me to let you in.

That's the concerning thing. [ He edges closer, and he elaborates: ] Selfish ideas.

[ He should have realized, when Hooded Justice said he would leave the Captain behind so easily if it came to that.

He should have seen a lot of signs, now he realizes. In retrospect, there were a few indications. It's not something he berates himself for; he has made stupid mistakes before. ]

I'm not leaving.

You assume much.

[ Said bluntly, and from behind his hood, probably even Frank could imagine the grind of teeth, the bitter, anger at how society was, and how HJ thought it should be.

It was more than obvious that he believed in what he was doing, but HJ was rather good at letting a version of his reality color everything he touched. HJ was the sort that was surprisingly good at deluding himself -- and sometimes the people around him. ]

Then speak your piece, and then leave.

[ He couldn't close the door on him, and HJ wasn't willing to sacrifice another door to a break in. At least this time, it wouldn't have been quite so awkward, but even if his eyes flicked to the side, for just a moment at the thought, they focused right back at Frank afterward. ]

So do you.

[ It seems like a thoughtless, turnabout response -- thought it's anything but that. Assumptions are the core of Hooded Justice's issues, judgments, persecution.

Even if Hooded Justice has his mask now, it does little for him. Frank can imagine his face, and he can hear the changes in his tone which betray his aggravation. ]

My piece is also for the Captain, not just you.

Last I heard, this is his house; not yours.

Edited (CLARITY REALIZED THAT WAS WEIRD and added some sobs) 2013-10-20 03:09 (UTC)

[ HJ could feel the edge of a headache forming, perhaps stress, or maybe frustration fueling it. He rarely got them; a man like him who lived his whole life angry had much to be mad about, but HJ was still starting to feel it.

He'd too thought Frank was someone who understood, but he wasn't. That was proven when he'd had the audacity to approach him, that he'd recognized him alone, that was enough to make HJ want to hate him. It hadn't been his terms. It hadn't been his choice. With Nelson, yes, there had been provocation, but he'd made the choice. Frank had taken that from him.

The fact that he kept pushing, pressing, prodding, without time to breathe was forcing HJ's temper to stay high.

He honestly wanted to strangle this man, to convince him to leave. ]

It is. [ His words were a touch evasive, even still. He still didn't move. ]

You are insistent on waiting, and there's no reason why.

I have reasons.

[ He's not going to elaborate; he can't even tell if this is something Hooded Justice will take out on the Captain or not. That is how far the lines between them have been skewed; he honestly doesn't know what to anticipate from Hooded Justice anymore. He can't even expect him to not hurt his own partner. ]

You're insistent on keeping me out.

Something to hide?

[ It's a good thing Frank didn't know the truth of that.

Hooded Justice almost rolled his eyes. He could keep fighting, of course, but the longer he stood in the door, the longer he was out for other people to see. They were living in a house, and HJ still felt uncomfortable in that. He didn't like it, and he tried to keep his comings and goings from most people in the neighborhood. Likely not to know that he existed, but the longer he was out here, the worse it would get.

He backed an inch. ]

No. I simply think you're unwelcome at this time. [ He backed another inch. Obviously sending the signal that he wasn't giving up, but simply getting exasperated. ]

Unwelcome by you.

[ Those few inches were all Frank needed. He took the window, slim as it was, and pushed inside. There was by no means enough space, so his shoulder bumped roughly against Hooded Justice's as he shoved past him.

That could just be one more offense to the list, or it could be the last before it all falls like dominoes.

Regardless, Frank is inside and he isn't leaving. ]

[ If a home could be unwelcoming by the inhabitants alone, then it was this one. Sure, Nelson's touch with the decorating was present on everything, and Hooded Justice didn't look like he belonged. The door to his room was closed tight, not even a peek in offered to Frank, and even Hooded Junior seemed to be agitated at the atmosphere in the house.

HJ's own shoulder didn't budge at the bump, feeling the surge in anger, eyes tipping to the side, the list of petty annoyances stacking up and up and up. He restrained himself, quite admirably more unwilling to deal with broken furniture and items (or doors) than anything else.

He grunted, in response, something low and harsh, before he backed, tracking to the middle, like someone standing watch. He didn't sit, he just stood, on the other side of where Frank found himself, his arms crossed. He waited for an excuse to get him out of here. He was starting to think that the opportunity would come soon enough. ]

[ Frank makes himself right at home: a model guest. He stands opposite of Hooded Justice, more than willing to stay here, no matter how long it takes. ]

I'm here for him, not you.

No reason to wait.

[ He looked right at Frank, as if the statement were absolutely ridiculous.

To him, it was. ]

I do not think he would want a stranger waiting for him in his own home when he arrives.

[ To say it bluntly, he wasn't moving. If anything, he inches forward again, exuding hostility. ]

I'm not a stranger.

[ Which may very well be the wrong thing to say.

Don't think he missed that inching, HJ, but he stays where he is. The pressure is tangible, but he isn't moved by it. ]

You are not a resident here.

[ It was the wrong thing. He was surging up, faster this time, closer to Frank again. He was on edge, his stubbornness and need to be here, was not just invading on his space, it was a violation of "his" space. Well, his and Nelson's, but Hooded Justice didn't do well with unknown variables he wasn't expecting. ]

I don't care what your reasons are, this is ridiculous.

And you are, aren't you?

[ He doesn't move. He stays as he is, staring back at Hooded Justice evenly. ]

Why deny it?

[ That made HJ surge another step or two forward. Violence was a language that came all too readily for him, and he was already agitated enough that it was on the verge of spilling over. ]

Deny what?

[ Now his voice was low, and dangerous. The implication hung in the air, what HJ thought he was saying, and he'd halved the distance between them in only seconds. ]

[ It's obvious, the tension building in Hooded Justice's body. The wiser thing would be to deflate it, before it snapped into something worse, but he doesn't. Instead he pushes harder. ]

Your relationship.

[ Hooded Justice rarely had to deal with people who would call him out on his preferences. Some of it was the fact that he'd lived in the bubble that was the Minutemen for so long, but beyond that, too few knew enough to say anything.

He preferred it like that. Larry Schexnayder had, of course, and it had taken every ounce of him not to silence the man. He'd held off, understanding that there were things that weren't acceptable.

In private? Where nobody would know? He felt that old surge of anger and frustration, and it was only after he'd done it did he realize that he'd given himself away when he'd slammed the back of his arm against his throat, pushing him up against the (thankfully bare) wall behind him. ]

You are mistaken.

[ He should have been more braced for the assault. However, with as stoic as HJ had been before, Frank didn't expect him to snap quite as drastically as this.

His breath chokes, when HJ's arm pins him, but he pushes back, trying to drive his knee into his gut and force him down. He manages to still speak, despite the pressure on his throat. ]

I'm not.

[ It was lucky that his head was hooded, in that moment, his jaw clenched so hard he thought he would break his own teeth. Too many people knew, and it seemed like every time he turned, more were figuring it out. Or questioning it. Or breaking in and finding themselves on something they shouldn't.

It was entirely out of HJ's hands, and he hated it, because they weren't doing anything terribly different, and the Minutemen worked together closer than all of these people who knew. They'd figured it out, of course, but from Eddie Blake's big mouth. (And HJ would forever delude himself that it was the fault of Blake that they knew.) ]

You are.

[ Stoicly delivered, even while his stomach heaved, feeling the hit to his gut, and he grunted at the end, before trying to drive his arm forward harder, trying to choke the life out of him. HJ could take a beating, after all. He was like a brick wall. The unfortunate part was: so was Frank. ]

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