Matt & Namor | Offenses Against the Crown
Dec. 8th, 2023 10:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logs(Backdated) Namor's solution to Matt Murdock's anger at what happened in Florida fails in a spectacular fashion.
"Hit me."
They were in the chapel, and what had happened in Florida was still fresh on everyone's minds. Namor stood, weaponless and resigned, with his arms out and chest wide open.
"We will allow you three hits."
Taking a long, audible breath in and sighing it out, Matt turned towards Namor, contemplating his words. "And will you learn anything from it?" he asked, rhetorically. "Because as much as I want to hit you, I'm not actually that stupid. And it won't accomplish anything. So I'll pass."
The quizzical look that passed over Namor's features was as much unimpressed as it was bored. "Matthew Murdock," he mused. "There are many ways to learn. I barely know who you are — a man called a devil without any horns. A man who dares to question my decisions openly without follow-through."
He sighed, crossing his arms. "I did not expect anything from you, but I am somehow disappointed."
"Without follow through?" Matt practically grunted, gritting his teeth. "Because I won't hit you? That's not lacking follow through, that's acknowledging that you're nearly invincible and I'm not super strong. How about this. I went to school for 8 years to learn the laws of our land and how to argue them in my favor. And I've spent more than 10 years practicing that in a variety of settings and I'm damn good at it. You being a king is meaningless without your kingdom. Your laws are antiquated and your kingdom missing. You're all pomp, no circumstance. Next time, let me do my job."
"There. Look, you said it. We were graciously allowing you some of the benefits of catharsis." Namor crossed his arms. His voice was as cold as the arctic sea.
"I am a king without a kingdom. Your position on this team does not include being my legal counsel. I do not care for the laws of this human land or your human courts — they exclude the vast majority of your most neglected, and mostly benefit those already in power. You attack me, you criticize Atlantis. Yet, you know nothing of my people. You have never asked."
He was sneering now, leaning forward.
"Is that your job, fool? Next time, I will just leave you alone."
"Every system has flaws and is set up to benefit those in power, that doesn't mean it's right or just," Matt argued right back, "But not everything is solved with our fists as much as we both wish it was. You need legal counsel at some point? Fine. I won't represent you. I don't need to know about your people, only about you. Because we're on a team together and we need to work together."
"I gave you a chance," Namor concluded dismissively. "This was never about fists, but I see you are blind in understanding as well. But, very well. I am all that remains of my people. It is my mission to find them. I have never had the luxury for kindness."
Namor had already moved to the door.
"We do not need to understand eachother to work on the same team. But if the chance to serve Atlantis comes first, I will put them before any sort of togetherness."
Matt was left alone.
"Hit me."
They were in the chapel, and what had happened in Florida was still fresh on everyone's minds. Namor stood, weaponless and resigned, with his arms out and chest wide open.
"We will allow you three hits."
Taking a long, audible breath in and sighing it out, Matt turned towards Namor, contemplating his words. "And will you learn anything from it?" he asked, rhetorically. "Because as much as I want to hit you, I'm not actually that stupid. And it won't accomplish anything. So I'll pass."
The quizzical look that passed over Namor's features was as much unimpressed as it was bored. "Matthew Murdock," he mused. "There are many ways to learn. I barely know who you are — a man called a devil without any horns. A man who dares to question my decisions openly without follow-through."
He sighed, crossing his arms. "I did not expect anything from you, but I am somehow disappointed."
"Without follow through?" Matt practically grunted, gritting his teeth. "Because I won't hit you? That's not lacking follow through, that's acknowledging that you're nearly invincible and I'm not super strong. How about this. I went to school for 8 years to learn the laws of our land and how to argue them in my favor. And I've spent more than 10 years practicing that in a variety of settings and I'm damn good at it. You being a king is meaningless without your kingdom. Your laws are antiquated and your kingdom missing. You're all pomp, no circumstance. Next time, let me do my job."
"There. Look, you said it. We were graciously allowing you some of the benefits of catharsis." Namor crossed his arms. His voice was as cold as the arctic sea.
"I am a king without a kingdom. Your position on this team does not include being my legal counsel. I do not care for the laws of this human land or your human courts — they exclude the vast majority of your most neglected, and mostly benefit those already in power. You attack me, you criticize Atlantis. Yet, you know nothing of my people. You have never asked."
He was sneering now, leaning forward.
"Is that your job, fool? Next time, I will just leave you alone."
"Every system has flaws and is set up to benefit those in power, that doesn't mean it's right or just," Matt argued right back, "But not everything is solved with our fists as much as we both wish it was. You need legal counsel at some point? Fine. I won't represent you. I don't need to know about your people, only about you. Because we're on a team together and we need to work together."
"I gave you a chance," Namor concluded dismissively. "This was never about fists, but I see you are blind in understanding as well. But, very well. I am all that remains of my people. It is my mission to find them. I have never had the luxury for kindness."
Namor had already moved to the door.
"We do not need to understand eachother to work on the same team. But if the chance to serve Atlantis comes first, I will put them before any sort of togetherness."
Matt was left alone.
