mrballisticsdummy

That's not what I meant!

[But it comes out as a terse snap, which- is definitely not what he's aiming for.

So, he takes a deep breath. Forces himself to calm down before he speaks again, more gently.]

I shouldn't be insulting you over this. I'm sorry.

Look, Misty's entire deal, it. Reminds me of a lot of stuff I thought was behind me. The stalking, interrogations, all that... the accusations I've already done before, twice.

[There's a quiet sigh from him.] I don't want you getting sucked into her bullshit too.

I'm not getting sucked into anything. I just want to know when shit happens to my friends so I can be there for you in the way you told me to be. Not in the crazy, unhinged Jacobi way.

We're friends, Tim. And I can't help you if you don't tell me things like this.

[It's not that the fight's gone out of Tim,but he's very aware he's in the wrong on this one.]

No, you're right, it's not fair that I gave you shit for never opening up just to lock you out later on.

If something does happen again, I'll let you know. Properly. And we can have a good bitch about how stupid it almost definitely is.

Good. [And he settles significantly.]

Because that's some creepy shit. Give me someone out and out violent any day over whatever that is.

You know I've been accused of murder by police twice now? And Misty is way more obnoxious. At least the Met only care as far as the next pay check.

Well, but maybe you shouldn't act so shady.

Is she still hounding you now?

Amazing how being the last known contact for a missing person comes back to bite you.

[He scoffs quietly.] Only about the murder thing. Which I told her in no uncertain terms, if she starts that shit up again I'm throwing her in Zero and telling her warden not to let her out.

Yeah, bud. I know.

And I would support you in that. I think - uh...everyone would.

Yeah, which was where the idea to rile her up came from in the first place. Not one of my better ones, in that specific circumstance, but telling her off for trying to make the whole thing into a sideshow spectacle felt a lot more justified.