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Post by Olivia Hale on Apr 22, 2011 21:18:28 GMT
((Set the evening after White Rabbit/All These Things that I've Done))
Olivia was fairly certain that her stomach was now permanently twisted with dread. Every time she thought about the future she felt ill. A voice in the back of her head was telling her that there was no way things would work with Bruce. Her time living with criminals had clouded her vision as to what was right or what was wrong. Being okay with certain crimes and criminals was difficult when you were dating a vigilante.
For now it was just something she'd have to deal with.
Olivia and Bruce had driven in tense silence to Harvey's apartment building. They both knew that this was going to be miserable but there wasn't really another way around it.
Dressed in the same (albeit washed) outfit as the day before, Olivia stopped in front of the door to his flat. "Are you ready for this, Bruce?" She asked, nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I'm not so sure I am..."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Apr 22, 2011 22:11:40 GMT
For the entirety of the silent car ride Bruce was going over what he would do in his head. What could he say to his best friend? His concerns were only heightened by the potential for a physical altercation. He didn't want to show Harvey how well he could fight but at the same time he had to protect Olivia and himself.
As they approached the door he put his hand on Olivia's shoulder.
"I'm ready. Let's just go in there and do what we have to do. If things get violent. Just stay behind me."
He knocked in the door.
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Post by Harvey Dent/Two-Face on Apr 22, 2011 22:23:20 GMT
Harvey was sitting on the sofa, his coin running back and forth across his fingers. Everything was so silent, the emptiness of the apartment pressing down on him like a lead weight.
He missed Olivia so much it was like a physical pain, but it was too late. Chance had made its decision. Bad heads - no forgiveness. No compromise. The end of what he had thought would be the last relationship of his life; of a second marriage, another chance at happiness. Too late. Far too late.
He looked up as he heard a tentative knock on th door, and slipped the coin back into his pocket. He glanced through the security lens and his jaw tightened. Olivia and Bruce. Together. Of course.
He unlocked the door and stood in the entrance, eyes moving from one to the other of them. His gaze fixed on Bruce, the banked heat of anger in his eyes. "What do you want?"
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Post by Olivia Hale on Apr 22, 2011 22:32:47 GMT
Olivia rubbed the back of her neck nervously. She had played it out in her head that she would just walk past him, grab her things and go. Unfortunately he was a bit too large and in the way to do that.
Seeing him sent daggers through her heart and made her keenly aware of the heavy weight of guilt. She felt like bringing Bruce to do this was a slap in the face but he wouldn't let her come alone. Harvey would just have to understand that.
The anger of the previous day had faded to a rather empty feeling. "I need my things, Harvey." Olivia said quietly, staring at her feet. "I'm sorry to bother you but I don't really have anything to wear and I know you don't want my shit lying around everywhere so...We'll be out of your hair in no time."
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Post by Harvey Dent/Two-Face on Apr 22, 2011 22:45:46 GMT
His gaze moved to Olivia, softening slightly when he saw the guilt and sadness in her face. She looked so tired. Finally he stepped back from the doorway and nodded shortly.
"Alright. I haven't touched anything. It's all where you left it."
He looked at Bruce again. "Here as a bodyguard, Bruce? Or just to make it cler you've marked your territory? It can't possibly be a friendly social call. Somehow I think we're past that. "
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Post by Olivia Hale on Apr 22, 2011 22:50:28 GMT
"Thanks." Olivia said, moving inside. She paused next to Harvey and placed a gentle hand on his wrist. "He was just worried about me, Harvey. You've said yourself that you're not always the safest person to be around. We don't want any trouble."
She squeezed his wrist and then disappeared into the bedroom to begin packing her things. Hot tears fell down her face as she placed a suitcase on the bed. This wasn't something she wanted to do. Olivia would have been much happier to curl up on the couch with Harvey and make everything right but that wouldn't happen. They had both made sure that this relationship was dead and buried.
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Apr 22, 2011 23:54:25 GMT
Bruce kept his eyes focused on Harvey's. He could see the pain there. He felt a stab of guilt. It hurt to see his friend in this situtation, even if Bruce himself was a large part of what was creating it.
As Olivia entered the apartment he remained at the door. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Harvey. We need to talk. I'm not here as muscle. I'm here because Olivia told me what happened when you two fought."
He took a step forward.
"I don't care how sick you are. You, of all people, should be above that."
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Post by Harvey Dent/Two-Face on Apr 23, 2011 0:17:31 GMT
Harvey's eyes flickered to Olivia as she made her way towards their old bedroom, then looked back at Bruce. "Sick? I'll tell you what's sick, Bruce. Hypocrisy. Deceit. Yours in particular. You started an affair with her when I was burying my father. How could you do it? Either of you?"
He stepped forwards, his anger now plain on his face, fists clenched and voice dropping to a shaking hiss.
"You're more two-faced than I am, Bruce."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Apr 23, 2011 0:30:47 GMT
Bruce entered into the apartment proper. He remained alert as he stood his ground in front of Harvey.
"I won't deny that what we did is wrong. It can't be justified. We were all having our problems and it just happened and I can't tell you how much hurts me to know that I'm doing this to you. But I also know how I feel about her. So I'm sticking by it. You can hate me for that all you would like."
He took a step forward, his chest almost against Harvey's
"Hate her all you like as well, but to lay hands on her? There's not a thing in this world that ought to drive you to that. Do you remember those things you told me Harvey? About your childhood? Do you really remember why you keep that coin? How could you, or two-face, or whoever else is in that head of yours even begin to consider that?"
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Post by Harvey Dent/Two-Face on Apr 24, 2011 18:48:42 GMT
"Do you think I don't know that?" he hissed. "Do you really think I've gone so insane that I don't know what Two-Face nearly did to her? You have no idea what it's like to live every day with the knowledge of the things he makes me do." He snarled suddenly and pushed Bruce hard in the chest. "So back the fuck off, Bruce. Your self-righteousness makes me sick."
He turned away, facing the open french doors to the window, breathing in deep lungfuls of cool spring air. "I can never make you understand; either of you. What would you have me do? I can't control him. He indicated the scarred side of his head. "There is no escape from this, Bruce."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Apr 24, 2011 20:43:57 GMT
Bruce allowed himself to be pushed away. He stared hard into Harvey's eyes. He could see the anger there and the pain. He wanted nothing more than to embrace his friend and help him. But the time for that had passed. A line had been crossed, by both of them.
"Harvey, I know it's hard. I know that I can't even begin to imagine what you live with every day. But I do know that you can control it. It's the only reason Olivia isn't beaten to a pulp. It's the reason you need that coin."
He looked down at the floor.
"Sometimes, I think you don't try."
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Post by Harvey Dent/Two-Face on Apr 24, 2011 21:07:22 GMT
Harvey's anger boiled in him. "What the fuck do you know, you arrogant, pompous, shit? You know nothing about what it's like to have someone else in your head - someone so dark and vicious and ugly that you're terrified of the thought he ever came from who you thought you were."
His voice rose. "Howcan you be so wrong about me? I fight him every day, every night. And every day I think to myself that there are only two ways to win - to stop him. One is to spend the rest of my life locked up behind bars. He took a step forwards and yanked at the drawer of a side table, pulling out a small calibre handgun. He pointed it to his temple. "I prefer the other."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Apr 24, 2011 21:26:19 GMT
As soon as the gun appeared Bruce reacted. There was no time to talk. AS the gun came to a rest against Harvey's temple Bruce rushed forward in quick step. He threw one arm forward to knock the gun away. With the other he made a powerful upward motion towards Harvey's elbow in an effort to hyper extend the joint. A risky move but one that had to be made.
"Harvey!"
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Post by Harvey Dent/Two-Face on Apr 24, 2011 21:33:55 GMT
Caught by surprise, Harvey's arm was swept upwards and the gun went flying. He met Bruce's eyes, shock in his own gaze and the practiced nature of the move and the strength in his friend's grip, before he gave a bitter smile. "Oh, Bruce. I didn't know you cared."
Without warning he struck out with a balled fist, aiming a powerful punch squarely at Bruce's left temple.
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Apr 24, 2011 21:47:57 GMT
Bruce took powerful punch on the temple. He stumbled sideways as his vision blurred momentarily. He used the couch to balance as he stood back up. His head was throbbing. He quickly eyed where the gun had fallen. He couldn't allow Harvey to get it back.
"I care more than you realize."
He squared his stance. He raised his fists, ready to defend himself.
"Harvey. It doesn't have to be like this. We can still talk this out."
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