WHO: Harry Dresden and Rogue WHAT: random encounter and soulgaze WHEN: Recently WARNINGS: Some swearing, images of disturbing nature STATUS: Closed and Complete.
Harry was out, trying to avoid anyone who looked like they were up for trouble. Mind you, trouble could be fun. But he was trying to stay on Ebenezar’s good side and he felt like the old man would know, even here, if he fucked up. The old man always knew. Always.
Harry had only been here a year, but still, he felt like he was back home. And he missed the old man more than he wanted to admit.
But here, he could explore and experiment with magic all he wanted to. And he had managed to find ways in which his first teacher, that damned bastard, had been wrong, several times.
Now if he could just control his magic better.
Right now, he was a walking time bomb.
***
Rogue was trouble on legs. She was walking, talking, strutting trouble. And tonight she really was trouble. Earlier this week she’d broken the nose of a guy who thought she’d be an easy score. An easy lay and she was anything ~but~. She was riled up and coiled like a viper.
Which meant she played it dangerous - tank top, short shorts, and combat boots. No extra coverings. Fuck with her and get zapped, bitch. She was not in a nice happy mood. At 17 and very moody, she really could be a handful.
If she was an introspective person, she’d figure she was so abrasive outwardly because she was afraid to let people in. But she wasn’t an introspective person she mostly just wanted people to not fuck with her.
“Ugh.” she snapped at whoever walked in her way.
***
Harry dodged back out of her way, nearly braining himself on a street sign. He had been coming around a corner, and nearly hit her. Neither of them, he seemed to think, had been watching. But he still backed up. She was a woman, which meant she got right of way. She was also hot.
“Sorry. Miss, I - “ And she had a funny white stripe in her… he gaped as an idea formed in his head and refused to leave. As a result, his foot caught on thin air, and he blinked, tripped over his feet, and faceplanted on the sidewalk.
“Stars and stones!”
***
Rogue snorted at him. “Ain't supposed to fall over thin air.” She regularly punched people for saying they didn't hit girls and shit. She firmly believed if she punched you, you could try to punch back.
She didn't offer to help him up. But she wasn't wearing any gloves today. “Probably should not do that if you don't want a broken nose “ every word dripped with honey, a southern accent and a hint of sarcasm.
****
Harry rolled over, looked up at her, and snerked. “You think?” He blew out a puff of air as he sat up, grinning a lopsided grin and shook his head. “Sorry, gorgeous. You had me all shook up, and I lost my balance.” The words were said without artifice or guile, and he blushed as soon as they were out. He fumbled for his sunglasses, the ones he had found and enchanted, and slipped them on, shielding his eyes from hers.
Somehow, he was sure getting into a soulgaze with Rogue, while it sounded like fun, would in no way actually be such.
“Buy you a burger?”
***
“Well, at least you didn't grab me in an attempt to tell me how hot I am. You're allowed to buy me a burger.” She declared with her chin up. “Even if that pick up line was cheesy as fuck.” She smirked, though.
Soul gazing her would be the worst life choice Harry would ever have made. Even this young she'd taken on a world of memories. If he wanted to go crazy he totally could take a peek.
“Add fries for the line and I'm game.”
***
“Why would I---?” Harry shook his head. “Some guys have no class. And I speak as a man who has very little, himself, but still more than that.” He snorted as he rose. “I’d be glad to buy you a burger, and fries, and a drink if you like, on top. With all the cheese you like to go with it.” hey, he was honest. Harry was so not slick, but he was honest.
As he rose, to look at her, he didn’t realize his sunglasses were slipping down his nose until his eyes, rising up her rather nice form, met hers, and then he had a moment, just one, to realize what was happening before---
-- flickers would enter her sight, flares of a young man forced to face the darkness alone, Father, strong and smart, holding him as they both cried over a mother’s grave. Then the boy crying alone over his father’s grave in turn, not that many years later.
--taken in by a dark man, trained in magic, joy lifted him up! Here was a purpose! Here was hope! He could help people! He could defend other kids, and their fathers and mothers! He could make sure no others felt the pain he did! And in the midst of learning, love bloomed, for a fellow student. Perhaps puppy love, but love, nonetheless.
-- sore betrayal, reading words in a hidden journal revealing his teacher’s true goals and running, running, fearful of life and soul, and feeling sick at leaving the girl he loved behind. The weight of it weighing on him like the weight of the world.
-- finding Leanansidhe, and fear prickling him, and knowing that this was such a bad plan, but for Elaine, and for himself, making a deal, and feeling knowledge and power rush in.
--facing DuMorne in magical combat, afraid, determined, unsure of his power, but for once, for one moment, knowing that this was his Office, his purpose, to face the Darkness. And in that moment, succeeding, fire blooming everywhere as DuMorne died. Seeing Elaine in the fires, unmoving, and screaming, knowing he had killed her and fleeing into the night.
--before a heretofore unknown White Council now, snarling, facing them with teeth bared, unwilling to back down. Mourning the loss of innocence and love, but unwilling to be anything but what eh was, and knowing he would die for it. Until one man, with a kind face came forward and spoke words of compassion, and reason, and took up the boy’s protection…
-- training, and working, in a farm, slowly finding healing, and hope, over years. But still, some nights, crying in the darkness.
-- until, one day, leaving that place as an adult, and walking forward, staff to one side, rod to the other, and placing himself between others and danger. He was tarnished, and blackened, bent but not broken, hurt but not dead. He was Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, and he was a wizard, and he would stand.
Harry blinked, and shook his head, then grabbed it.
“Ow.”
***
Rogue had been in the middle of a smart ass reply when their eyes met. The sensation was not unlike that of her power draining someone else's. She had no choice but to fall into the narrative that unfolded.
But even as she was sucked in, he was pulled in too.
-- to a world of stark contrasts, the edge of a hurricane. A childhood that was carefree, if rough, bounced between families. A memory of warm sun, sweet tea and mischief, with the edges darkening as her powers came to the forefront. The landscape around changed with every second, from one scene to another, one memory to another and not always hers.
-- Mystiques arrival was shrouded in a cloud of darkness, of panic, of anger. Rogue was consumed by anger, for being used, against the injustice of her powers, at the world. The shadows thick.
But the storm that swept through was full of pieces and bits of other people's lives. From wolverine to mystique to your everyday average Joe. A conflict of who was who, who was loudest (mystique or wolverine), who wanted to win the most.
The pain of daily traumas, to the pain of someone else's breakup, to the swirl of various powers. Finding the Rogue in the middle of that was hard - though she was the literal eye of the storm. Center of it all, tired, worn down, angry. There were cracks around the edges - where things were beginning to wear on her, where she was getting tired, where the madness of having so many voices in her head started leaking out. Where even slivers of what could have been, and could be, started showing - evilness clinging to those cracks like sludge. She was no saint, but she’d seen bad things and touched bad people. It left its mark.
In short, being in her head, even for a moment, was like being in a hurricane. She was nothing if not strong although even stone was worn down by the passage of time. But the Rogue was not someone you wanted mad at you, though.
As the moment passed she hit the ground, a little bit of a feral snarl spilling from her lips. She had not had the desire to see inside anyone. It was too much like her power for her liking and left her head pounding like there was no tomorrow. He was an admirable person, surviving what he had, and she knew he was an honest one now, for sure.
Even if she wanted to deck him for that because ow. “Merde.” she grumped after a moment.
***
“Holy Moley.” He stared at her, slowly collecting himself, then lay back on his back and closed his eyes. Slowly, he gathered every ounce of her multi-layered soulgaze and put it away in cabinet after cabinet, box after box. For now, anyway. With his head hurting like it had been cleft in two, but clearer, he sat back up.
“Ow. Now that we’ve been formally introduced… call me Harry. And I’m definitely buying, Especially if you want a beer.”
***
Poor Harry, it must have been like looking into multiple dozens, of people in one Soulgaze. Rogue was trying to add him to the pile of people in her head and stuff it into a box. That wasn’t going away and so it could go sit with Wolverine and Cody.
“What the fuck was that?” She asked before rubbing her head. “Too young for that, not that ah'd say no because merde my head hurts.”
***
Harry chuckled. “Soulgaze. It’s what happens the first time a wizard locks eyes with a particular person. They see each other’s souls, or symbology thereof. No lies, no illusions, just the truth. And neither one of them ever forget. That memory will stay fresh and as clear as it is right now, in both of our heads until the day we each die. Sorry. That was what the shades were for. I’m working on a more permanent spell to block it, but it’s tricky.”
He nodded at her too young statement. “Damn. Me too. Regular food and drink then? I think we both deserve it after that. Also, possibly a bottle of Motrin each.”
He winced as he clambered to his feet, shades on his head and crimped to stay on now.
Ow. As he rose, he felt an odd tingle as he looked at her and suddenly, his eyes went wide, then he nodded. Sure, okay. This was dumb, but…
And he reached out to grasp her hand and help her up.
And realized her power wasn’t affecting him.
***
“Alright, that's a sucker punch out of left field that is.” She was trying very hard to not give in to Logan who really could take a headache. Instead, she pushed to sit up straight. “Fucking feels like when ah’ve put someone in a coma with my ability. Minus stealing your powers.”
“Regular food then back to my place with it? The cabinet has whiskey.” Because she really had a headache going that was not going away anytime soon.
She freaked out the second he reached for her hand, even though he got his hand on hers before she could get away.
A second later she stopped and stared. “What…”
***
“Now that sounds perfect. Whiskey is definitely good.” He nodded and then winced.
At her reaction to him, he gave her a lopsided smile. “I suddenly just knew that your powers were not working at the moment, er, on me, that is.” He squinted at her. “It’s like my brain can temporarily, at least, see your powers like I can see magic. And there is a me shaped hole in them. “
He grinned at her. Then stopped.
“I do apologize for doing it without asking.”
***
“Okay food to go and whiskey. Because sweet lord, ah need to not let my brain work for a few minutes.” She got to her feet with his help and shrugged.
“Ah don't know what all you said but whatever. Ah just don't need to zap you right now or else ah might need a bottle of whiskey just for me.” She ran her hand through her hair, tugging on the white.
“No it's okay, ah’m just jumpy.”
****
“Still. Thanks.” He grinned at her. “Let’s go get the food and get to your place. Not moving and not using my head sounds perfectly good right now.” This was how he got into trouble, he knew, but right now, he didn’t care at all. He needed to shut off his brain.
He oriented himself, painfully, and squinted in one direction. “Hinkles is that way,” and he nodded. “So shall we?” He offered her a weak grin, still feeling like smashed watermelon fragments.
***
“Okay. Food.” She grunted out before going towards Hinkles. “I feel like an army of miners are going nuts in my in head.”
She was wobbly on her feet but moved off just fine. She was a girl who lived for trouble. Bring it on bitches. This she could handle too. She wouldn't let it be more than a blip.
***
“Food for sure.” To Hinkles they went, and thankfully, it was not far off. Harry ordered quite a bit of food for himself, and paid for both their orders, just because.
He was feeling like his head would split in two, but inhaling a soda and ordering a second to go helped a little. Bags of food acquired, he turned to Rogue.
“How, where is your place?”
***
She randomly shook her head, trying to clear her mind of what ever was going on in there, as they made it to Hinkles and got their food. She brushed her hair back and grinned a little. “Sweet mother of delicious, ah needed that caffeine. Killer headache is killer.” she said with a slight smirk before nodding.
“This way, ah’ll lead.” she led them back to her place, where apparently she’d gotten permission to have her own apartment. She had no idea how that happened but, whatever man. She unlocked the door and stepped inside.
“Welcome ta mah home, sorry it’s a mess.” she shrugged.
****
He laughed and hip-checked her gently. “Caffeine is the mother of all cures, I’ve always thought.” He nodded, happy and hoping have a nice afternoon hanging out with a new friend. One he now knew very well.
He followed her, grinning.
At her place, he glanced around, then shrugged in turn. “My place is a mess, too, mind you, so, this feels normal and almost too clean, really.” Harry grinned again and nodded as he stepped in and closed the door.
“Thanks for the welcome.”
***
Rogue shrugged a little. “If yah saw anythin’ like what ah saw, ah think you deserve a drink and to come inside.” it was a little too personal for her and really, if she’d been in her right mind she’d have run. Literally run away from him. Far and fast. But since she hadn’t had the chance, whatever, she needed a drink. She’d run later.
“Caffeine is heaven sent.” she said with a stern impression of a true believer. Caffeine was the best thing in the world some days and she really needed it after that doozy of a run in. “Ah don’t have much stuff, ah don’t really need it or want it.” she liked to be able to move on her own without dragging more than a backpack’s worth of stuff.
She wandered over to the kitchen and dug out the bottle of whiskey she’d found (among the four other bottles) and grabbed two glasses off the shelf. “Ice or no?”
***
“Definitely. Not to mention the headache.” He had read stuff, but to see it from inside, to know her from inside? That was an intimacy that had him reeling still. He shivered and nodded to her. He definitely could use a drink, for sure. He found a clear space and divvied up their food.
“Nah. Just glass and drink, please and plenty of it.” Maybe he could dull the ow.
And maybe later he would just pass out at home. Yeah.
***
Rogue filled their glasses with plenty of whiskey before setting a glass down in front of him and sitting down to start digging into the food. She wasn’t sure she liked someone knowing her like she knew herself, but she was positive he didn’t know exactly what it was like. Just… more.
It still unsettled her to no end. She was content to sit, eat, drink and then go run to clear her head. She was going to need a few days to sort this out and find a home for him in her own head, while it was crystal clear and all that, it wasn’t like the other echoes, so she was pretty sure she could mostly ignore it.
She really wasn’t sure she wanted to think about it.