IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

[earnedmystripes]

Not exactly. I mean, it's good to know and all, but the details of the longer story are kinda important in this case. A kid died in a fire you intentionally set, right? And Hiro said you tried to kill him a couple times after.

Attempted murder is a bit more than a "poor choice", especially multiple times. But it sounds like there might'a been circumstances involved [given all the people that seem to be trying to mediate the whole thing between them], so I'd like to know about 'em.

[pushtheboundaries]

Hiro was never my goal. One of the others who spoke up was, and I think it may say something that he was trying to calm things down.

As for the 'kid'...[he exhales, and doesn't have to fake the subdued tone in his voice]...he ran in to the fire, yes.

[earnedmystripes]

[It says that the guy has probably forgiven him or at least doesn't want his reputation trashed publicly, for whatever personal reasons he may have, but that's not really enough. Considering everything that happened with Maverick, he feels like he has a right to know just what kind of guy he's working for, here.]

Then why'd you attack him? It doesn't exactly sound like Hiro almost got killed incidentally trying to protect this other guy. And why did you set the fire in the first place?

[pushtheboundaries]

To make people think I was dead. I didn't want anyone getting involved with what I was going to do, to the point where I was willing to try and scare people off through whatever means I had.

[beat]

It didn't work. [so. dry.]

[earnedmystripes]

...So you set a fire to make people think you were dead, and Hiro's brother died trying to save you, is that it?

[That. Is kind of horrifying, wow.]

But that doesn't explain why you were attacking Hiro afterward. And this other guy, why'd you want him dead?

[pushtheboundaries]

[it is, in hindsight. Callaghan's quiet for a few moments, and then, finally, it sounds like he's sitting down.]

Do you have any family, Kotetsu? If you don't mind me asking.

[earnedmystripes]

Yeah, I've got my mom and older brother, and my daughter. Why?

[pushtheboundaries]

Narrow things down a bit. Imagine for years that it's just been you and your daughter.

Now imagine someone's arrogance killed her.

[earnedmystripes]

[He doesn't even need to do the first part. Just that last sentence is enough to make his breath hitch and his stomach twist up in knots. The thought of losing Kaede threatens to tear a hole in his chest and leave him bleeding to death.

He still wants the rest of the story, but first, he has to offer an unqualified:]

I'm so, so sorry.

[pushtheboundaries]

[there's a part of him that hardens at that condolence. what good is it? the rest simply accepts it with a quiet 'mmm', because at least there's that.]

That sort of thing puts you in to a rather...dangerous mindset, I have to say. The sort where just about anything can be justified if it means avenging her, or...whomever you've lost.

[such as a brother. he'll never forget the look in Hiro's face.]

Does that give you a bit more perspective?

[earnedmystripes]

[It's not much good, he knows. Condolences never did much for him after Tomoe died, either. But he's not cold enough to just demand more information without saying that much. Because even if he doesn't believe in revenge, even if what Callaghan did was wrong, it doesn't mean Kotetsu doesn't care about the suffering that led him there.]

It does. I'd still like to know how all that ended up in trying to kill Hiro, but...you sound like you get why it was wrong now. Right?

[pushtheboundaries]

As I said, you can justify anything, including going through whomever gets in your way. Even if they had nothing to do with it. That's what it boils down to, in the end.

My perspective's changed since all that. I understand if you still have reservations, but...Hiro's safe from me.

[earnedmystripes]

[There's a bit of a pause, and eventually a quiet exhale. Almost a sigh, but not quite.]

What's happened, happened. You can't take it back. But you can't be punished for crimes you committed back home here, either, so...if you say you're not going to hurt Hiro or anybody else, then I'll take you at your word.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he won't quite promise that. but he'll be honest.] About the only thing that would push me to it is self-defense, or if someone was going after Hiro.

And quite frankly, he's got enough friends that I'd probably just get in the way. Not counting his abilities, and...everything else. [such as the fact Hiro clearly still despises him]

[earnedmystripes]

[If there was video engaged on this call, Kotetsu'd be giving Callaghan an odd look right about now for thinking he needed to specify self-defense as an exception.]

Long as you keep to that, then, we don't have a problem. Thanks for talking to me 'bout all this.