[ telling marta had been the first thing he did, considering the entanglement of their relationship that had freshly begun by the time all of this had happened. and telling clara? considering what he knew of how close she was to newt and everything he was doing to protect them both, it seemed inevitable. was it a risk, knowing how confrontational clara could be? probably, but kovacs himself tends to take plenty of those. ]
because i've talked to newt plenty since he came back. he blames enough on himself.
if he knew someone tried to kill him for what happened, he'd just think he would have deserved it.
he's dealing with enough.
[ kovacs has already done what he can to ease as much from his friend's mind, especially these past few days with preparing these devices for the mission. ]
[ she can't rail against his approach. newt's conscience is so plagued by guilt that she'd been surprised he hadn't apologized for staining her teeth red with his own blood, that day on the train. but a larger part of her grapples with it, wonders if the little palace had whispered about her the same way, when she'd obliviously circled kirigan like a stupid, mooning schoolgirl.
no. doubtlessly, it had been less kind. doubtlessly, they had shared a laugh at her expense, mocked her for a joke everyone else was in on except for her. ]
then we don't tell newt someone tried to kill him we tell him a different truth there's no shortage of reasons why anyone should stay away from kirigan
[ he knows newt deserves some kind of warning, especially with kirigan so frequently present, still as much a part of their mission whether kovacs wants him around or not. whether kovacs convinced the man to step down from trying to kill him on that day or not, it's not a guarantee for long term protection.
and he knows he won't necessarily always be ready at newt's side to protect him. if any sliver of doubt rises up in kirigan again, he could go for a second chance any day. ]
we can take care of that when this job's done right now his head's on the mission and i've got him covered
[ but he knows alina's right. whether it's the full truth or not, newt has to be warned. ]
when we get back we'll find something to tell him i promise
[ she stalls at that single word. promise. it's the empty nature of every vow she's been offered, lately, out of the mouths of traitors and liars that makes it seem less credible. a method of swatting her away like a buzzing fly circling him.
but she'd come to kovacs, out of anyone among their ranks, for a reason. letting her trust wobble now is no better than swinging blindly out of fear, afraid of her own inability to distinguish an ally from an enemy. so she forces herself to nod along despite the impatient pinch in her chest, on the corners of her mouth — and then quickly remembers he can't see her reluctant agreement. ]
i'm going to hold you to that
see you once this is over good luck. i think we're all going to need it
no subject
because i've talked to newt plenty since he came back.
he blames enough on himself.
if he knew someone tried to kill him for what happened, he'd just think he would have deserved it.
he's dealing with enough.
[ kovacs has already done what he can to ease as much from his friend's mind, especially these past few days with preparing these devices for the mission. ]
all that's mattered is keeping him safe.
no subject
no. doubtlessly, it had been less kind. doubtlessly, they had shared a laugh at her expense, mocked her for a joke everyone else was in on except for her. ]
then we don't tell newt someone tried to kill him
we tell him a different truth
there's no shortage of reasons why anyone should stay away from kirigan
no subject
and he knows he won't necessarily always be ready at newt's side to protect him. if any sliver of doubt rises up in kirigan again, he could go for a second chance any day. ]
we can take care of that when this job's done
right now his head's on the mission and i've got him covered
[ but he knows alina's right. whether it's the full truth or not, newt has to be warned. ]
when we get back
we'll find something to tell him
i promise
no subject
but she'd come to kovacs, out of anyone among their ranks, for a reason. letting her trust wobble now is no better than swinging blindly out of fear, afraid of her own inability to distinguish an ally from an enemy. so she forces herself to nod along despite the impatient pinch in her chest, on the corners of her mouth — and then quickly remembers he can't see her reluctant agreement. ]
i'm going to hold you to that
see you once this is over
good luck. i think we're all going to need it