[ He's heard that so much lately. Someone else needs you. Don't rush in, don't get angry, don't do the wrong thing.
He tries to push the anger down. Nothing else matters, so long as they get their people back. That's what's important, what has always been important. ]
We're not rushing. We have a plan, and it will work. It has to.
[ He steps away from Steve. Realistically, he thinks he needs to - in part because their time is short, and shortening the longer they stand here, and in part because if that argument starts up again he's likely to do something he'll regret. ]
Please, get ready to leave. I need to make sure everyone else is doing the same.
[ He turns, and then pauses. ]
If you need anything more, you can find me. What you said to me. Be careful who else you say it to. They listen.
[He realizes he upset the man. Honestly, as a team leader, he could probably take action against him now if he wanted. But Steve is also aware that time is fleeting and as much as he would like to argue, he can't afford to do that.
He's going to help. If he's decided that, then it's about time he started.]
I'm sorry if I've caused any trouble. We'll accomplish this mission. I can promise you that.
[Maybe that's not quite an apology, but it's an assurance that he'll do everything in his power to help and not hinder the operation. Personal feelings or not, he's not going to get distracted.]
[ It's not that d'Artagnan doesn't sympathise. His problem is more that he sympathises too much. No one needs to tell him that what's happening here is not just, that it's morally reprehensible, or that the CDC needs to be stopped. He knows all of that. If he could take them down here and now, he would do it.
But he has also seen what they're capable of. He's seen them wipe a planet from the sky, he's seen tiny little Gliese fly through Optimus Prime over and over again to leave his metallic frame riddled with holes. The scale of the danger they represent to Earth can barely be measured, so until he has a way to guarantee the planet's safety, he can't be the one to sign their death warrant. He has a duty to protect his world. He won't fail in that.
He nods to Steve. He doesn't want to see his Earth meet that fate either. All he can do is hope he got that message across. Somehow, he doubts it. He hadn't fully accepted the price he was paying until he saw them wipe out Ajna. Steve hasn't seen that, yet. ]
Try. I know how much you hate it, because I hate it. You're allowed to hate. But act against them, and they won't hesitate. That's what they told me.
[ What Armada told him. All he's doing is passing the warning on. ]
[He's not ready to let the CDC have their way, and he might never be, but for the moment at least, Steve has decided the more immediate problem is rescuing the captives from the Neraki. Whether they were right or wrong to be on the planet, they don't deserve to be executed. This isn't what they want, and d'Artagnan himself has confirmed that much to Steve.
He raises his head, expression confident and calm despite the clash they just had. He was Captain America, and part of him still is yet. There's a measure of pride that goes along with that. No matter how dirty the fight gets or how hard the decisions are, he'll keep going. And he can give his full effort for something like rescuing allies and people's friends. Steve doesn't know of the bloody action the CDC has taken against mutiny, but he can guess. The reaction d'Artagnan had to his pressure--harsh in a way that was far from clinical--tells him he's walking into dangerous territory.]
I understand. There are people out there that need us, and we won't let them down. You can be sure of that much. I don't leave people behind.
[ D'Artagnan glances at him, eyes narrowing briefly. ]
Neither does the other Steve. He's a friend.
[ If they have anything in common, it would be that. Heroism. Honour. The very things that d'Artagnan admires in Steve Rogers' counterpart. He hopes this version can live up to the name.
He'll move off then, unless he's stopped for more questions. The conversation has shaken him, and he needs to refocus and make sure everyone's ready to move. The sooner this day is over, and his friends are safe again, the better. ]
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no subject
He tries to push the anger down. Nothing else matters, so long as they get their people back. That's what's important, what has always been important. ]
We're not rushing. We have a plan, and it will work. It has to.
[ He steps away from Steve. Realistically, he thinks he needs to - in part because their time is short, and shortening the longer they stand here, and in part because if that argument starts up again he's likely to do something he'll regret. ]
Please, get ready to leave. I need to make sure everyone else is doing the same.
[ He turns, and then pauses. ]
If you need anything more, you can find me. What you said to me. Be careful who else you say it to. They listen.
no subject
He's going to help. If he's decided that, then it's about time he started.]
I'm sorry if I've caused any trouble. We'll accomplish this mission. I can promise you that.
[Maybe that's not quite an apology, but it's an assurance that he'll do everything in his power to help and not hinder the operation. Personal feelings or not, he's not going to get distracted.]
Thanks for the advice. I'll remember that.
no subject
But he has also seen what they're capable of. He's seen them wipe a planet from the sky, he's seen tiny little Gliese fly through Optimus Prime over and over again to leave his metallic frame riddled with holes. The scale of the danger they represent to Earth can barely be measured, so until he has a way to guarantee the planet's safety, he can't be the one to sign their death warrant. He has a duty to protect his world. He won't fail in that.
He nods to Steve. He doesn't want to see his Earth meet that fate either. All he can do is hope he got that message across. Somehow, he doubts it. He hadn't fully accepted the price he was paying until he saw them wipe out Ajna. Steve hasn't seen that, yet. ]
Try. I know how much you hate it, because I hate it. You're allowed to hate. But act against them, and they won't hesitate. That's what they told me.
[ What Armada told him. All he's doing is passing the warning on. ]
no subject
He raises his head, expression confident and calm despite the clash they just had. He was Captain America, and part of him still is yet. There's a measure of pride that goes along with that. No matter how dirty the fight gets or how hard the decisions are, he'll keep going. And he can give his full effort for something like rescuing allies and people's friends. Steve doesn't know of the bloody action the CDC has taken against mutiny, but he can guess. The reaction d'Artagnan had to his pressure--harsh in a way that was far from clinical--tells him he's walking into dangerous territory.]
I understand. There are people out there that need us, and we won't let them down. You can be sure of that much. I don't leave people behind.
no subject
[ D'Artagnan glances at him, eyes narrowing briefly. ]
Neither does the other Steve. He's a friend.
[ If they have anything in common, it would be that. Heroism. Honour. The very things that d'Artagnan admires in Steve Rogers' counterpart. He hopes this version can live up to the name.
He'll move off then, unless he's stopped for more questions. The conversation has shaken him, and he needs to refocus and make sure everyone's ready to move. The sooner this day is over, and his friends are safe again, the better. ]