IC Contact

[detectivetroll]

You've reached Detective Nick Burkhardt. If this is an emergency, please call 911. Otherwise leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP.



[Calls, texts, and emails are a-okay! He has both a work email and personal email, and an office phone and cell phone. Just specify which one.]

Comments

[detectivetroll]

[Nick's pissed off about that entire post and whoever the hell thought it was a good idea to prey on people like that, especially with everything going on, but that doesn't mean he isn't paying attention to what's going on around him.

It's obvious there's something wrong with Kotetsu, and when he reads back through his interactions with the fake chief, he thinks he knows what it is. It's obvious what set Kotetsu off, and given the things they talked about when they were drunk, he has his suspicions why.

It's telling how much the network's changed him when, unlike the last time he'd gone to Kotetsu in the middle of a workday, he doesn't even hesitate. He erases his number from his phone, closes out of his email, and follows after Kotetsu to the break room.

There he sits down on the sofa next to him, slouching down and resting his head back against the top of the couch. He looks at home there, probably because he's slept just like that a number of times rather than go home.]

That coffee isn't going to taste any better if you drink it as slow as possible.

[earnedmystripes]

[He hears someone else approaching, but he doesn't even so much as turn to look at them, at first. It doesn't really matter, after all. He could be upset about any number of things, it's not as if he ever really talks about himself with anyone. There's no reason that anyone should be suspicious of anything--unless that anonymous was actually one of his coworkers, in which case he'll have to resist the urge to punch their face in.

--And then that face registers on his peripherals. Things are different for him too, this time; there's no panic, for one, and he knows he can trust Nick. He turns his head just slightly as the detective deposits himself on the couch next to him, and Kotetsu's expression can only be described as tired in that moment.]

It'll keep my hands warm longer.

[He's not serious, of course, but there's no mirth in his voice as he says it. He doesn't even manage a proper smirk.]

...You didn't have to come after me.

[detectivetroll]

[Nick shifts his head slightly as well, just enough to be able to see Kotetsu's expression, and he gives him a smile back. His attempt at normalcy is fairly good, though, even if it doesn't reach his eyes.]

All right, I'll give you that one. You'd think, with everything, they could afford to keep this place heated.

[But then he drops the attempt at light-heartedness, wishing for a moment that he'd grabbed a cup of coffee, too, if only for something to do with his hands.]

I know.

[He might not have, before all of this. But he's started to realize that he was a different person, back then.]

But I also know that he struck a nerve, and that usually means that our logical sides end up sitting in a corner for a while, while self-doubt makes itself at home. I don't know if I can kick it out, but at least I can not let you sit here alone with it.

[earnedmystripes]

[It's perfectly logical, he thinks bitterly, to think that that person was entirely right about why Edwards hired him. After all, why would anyone hire someone like him for this kind of job? Some stupid-ass punk that got held back a year in high school and barely avoided being a dropout, who would've had a murder on his own hands if his brother hadn't tipped off the cops about what was going to happen that day, who was this close to being murdered in gang violence because of his own shitty decisions. It made a nice Hallmark movie, a troubled kid straightening out and working for the law, but that wasn't how the world worked. Of course he'd be a pawn in a greater game like this. They could probably have smelled the desperation on him when he was joining the academy.

He turns away, staring at his coffee this time. Nick is right here by his side, and yet he feels all alone in the world. He almost wishes he had the excuse of alcohol, so he'd feel less like he can't breathe and could just talk without having to think.]

...Thanks.

[A sip of his coffee, if only to occupy his mouth for a moment.]

M'fine, though. I'll be out in a bit.

[detectivetroll]

[Nick doesn't say anything in reply to that, but he doesn't move, either. He just - kind of sits there, in silence.

He should let this go. He made the offer, Kotetsu turned it down, that should be his cue to go back to pretending like everything really is fine. If there's one thing that Nick's extremely good at, it's denial. A few months ago, he'd have put a hand on Kotetsu's shoulder or something and then walked away without a second thought.

But now - now he wants to try. He wants Kotetsu to know that he's not alone in any of this, he just... doesn't know how to do that.

When he does speak, his voice is quiet.]

You don't have to talk to me, man. I get it, it's not like I'm the best at that kind of thing, either. But don't lie to me. And don't think you're the only one who's ever had those kind of thoughts.

[earnedmystripes]

[Don't think you're the only one who's ever had those kind of thoughts

It's that moment where Kotetsu realizes he should have gotten up and excused himself much earlier, because he can feel the indignance bubbling up, and he knows he's about five seconds from saying something he'll really regret. He's dead silent for several, not looking at his friend, but there's a slight shake to Kotetsu's frame, as if part of him is trying to refrain from saying what's on his mind, because Nick's just trying to help. He cares, Kotetsu knows he cares, but it's as Nick said--the logical part of his brain is off in timeout somewhere.]

...That's easy for you to say.

You're actually qualified to be doing this shit for a living. Not some desperate screwup like I was.

[He should leave he should leave he needs to leave, some part of him recognizes that, the cup being set aside as he gets up. He has to leave before he says something actually hurtful and can't take it back.]

[detectivetroll]

[Oh no way, man, screw that. They've started this, they're going to finish it, and Nick leans forward to grab Kotetsu's wrist, trying to keep him there.]

Are you serious? What, you think going to college actually made me qualified for half the stuff we run across? The only thing that makes you qualified for this shit is the training you get on the job, man. And you are agood cop, one of the best I've known.

[His grip tightens a little.]

Don't believe me, fine, but believe this: if you think Edwards actually had anything to do with hiring you, your ego's getting the better of you.