Dustin sighs, “I don’t blandly stare at them, Ren. I’m trying to climb the ranks so I can change it, you know. . . The legal way. And I’m sure they’ll eventually find a way to keep you in prison. It only takes time.”
He looks down, silent, biting his lip slightly, “My life is not as hard as it used to be, because I’ve made decisions to get me where I am now. I’ll figure more out. I’m just trying to get high enough for them to listen to me.”
"Then you're a fool who will die because he can't make the hard choices in life." Renata says quietly.
Dustin laughs softly, “You know me, I avoid conflict when at all possible. It’s safer for me, you know. Less of a chance for me to get hurt. Something that may just cause you to bleed a tiny bit could kill me, so you know. . .. I don’t wanna die.”
"Even if you avoid conflict, that doesn't mean conflict will avoid you, Dust." she retorts. "That's not how the world works. The world isn't fair to the little nobodies like you, who try and get to the top and fail, so they become bitter and abuse whatever power they currently have."
Dustin huffs, “I’m not like most people, Ren.”
"Everyone thinks that. I thought that. Guess what? NOBODY is special. Nobody. Whatever you're going through, at least one person has gone through it, is going through it, and/or will go through it. Like me. The only diference between them and us is that some of us are villains, while most of them are martyrs." Renata growls.
Reo shrugs, “Look, I don’t want to be on the run my whole life! I don’t want to be hiding from the law!”
"Then you're just hiding in it! You're literally being your own biggest obstacle! Don't you want to be able to live without fear of even a tiny little scrape? Don't you want to be able to see a world where hunger and poverty are concepts long past? A world where nobody is judged based on gender, race or sexuality?" Renata pleads.
“Of course I do!” He growls, “But either way I’d have to fear a tiny scrape! I’d have to fear about being close to passing out! I just don’t want to add on the run from the law and always having to hide to my list of worries.”
"You would be able to get the help you need, Dust! Think about it! This isn't just about me, or anyone else! You may not be special but I still care about helping your sorry ass out!" Renata retorts.
Dustin shifts on his feet, staying silent.
"Please, Dustin. . . I don't need a fighter, alright? I just need someone who agrees. Someone I know will stand by me." Renata says softly. But she knew what his answer would be.
She could see it. He was unconvinced.
He looks at her, silent for a moment, then he sighs, “Fine.” He crosses his arms, “But only because you’re my friend. Not that I agree with what you’re doing.”
Renata looks stunned.
"Wait- you looked-?" she starts before stopping. She tries to start several more times but can't. So she just stares at Dustin for a moment.
"You're serious?" she asks after a couple seconds.
“Yes. You’ve not convinced me to believe in what you’re doing. But you’re my friend, and I don’t want to fight you. So fine.”
Renata stares at Dustin for a moment longer before smiling slightly. Nowhere close to a true smile, but it wa sthe most she'd smiled since the public backlash at her over her attempts at creating safe spaces for the poor souls who couldn't afford food or shelter.
"It's a start, I suppose." she says.
He watches her, silent, and then sways slightly, “Not now. . .” He mumbles, disputing the metal platform beneath his feet, landing on the ground.
Renata rushes forward, catching Dustin before he can hit the ground and get a scrape or cut.
She heaves him up, into a fireman's carry, and start walking north for about 4-ish miles before stomping the ground below her, dropping them into her underground home.
She lays him in bed and looks around, trying to remember where the blood bags were; her home was a regular hotspot for helping villains heal, so she kept a lot of supplies on hand.
She goes to the very back of her her home, where the giant walk in fridge was, and finds Dustin's blood type before walking out and finding an I.V. stand and drip. She puts the nlood nbag in the smaller fridge in the room before finding some iron tablets.
She crushes them and mixes them with water, shaking her friend awake.
"Drink that. It will help stabilize the low blood iron." she says quietly.
Dustin groans, sitting up slightly, taking the water, silent, and drinking in, “Th-Thanks. . .”
Renata shakes her head and sighs. "You just had to choose a profession that can kill you with ease, didn't you. . ."
Dustin huffs, “I like my abilities. . .” He whispers, “And the job helps me train them better. I’m learning on how to use it without pulling the iron from my blood.”
Renata stares at Dustin. "And all that's worth the risk of death?"
“Yes. Because then I wouldn’t have the stupid iron deficiency. If I can stop it from drawing the iron from my blood, then I’ll be fine.”
Renata sighs.
"Reckless son of a. . ." she mutters.
"Alright. Our powers are similar, besides their drawbacks. One bit of my power is being able to pull metals from the earth, like so-" she demonstrates by pulling a hunk of iron from the ground. "-and being able to manipulate it to a certain extent. It, however, relies on my stamina to be able to do this. Pulling that up was the equivalent of a few hours of digging and cleaning and purifying."
She tosses the iron into a nearby basket full of similar rocks, gems and metals.
"I want you to focus only on that bit of iron in the basket." she says.
He glares at her, “Watch it, Ren. . .” He mutters.
Dustin sits up slowly, looking at the iron, “I shouldn’t. . . Not right now. . .” He rubs his forehead, flopping back.
"'Watch it?' Or what?" Renata laughs.
"I suppose. You do need some food, actually. I'll make something." she sighs.
He huffs, “I’ll thunk of something.”
He nods, “Yeah. . .”
"Mm-hmmm. Mister 'I can't even stand up without a high chance of dying.'" Renata snorts.
She strides away, humming some sea-shanty or other - possibly "The Wellerman," but it could also have been any number of other ones.
Dustin sighs, grumbling, “Whatever. . .”
Renata returns in about twenty minutes, carrying a platter of grilled cheese sandwiches, hotdogs and reheated burgers.
"I'll grab some buns and condiments now." she says, walking back into the kitchen and returning with the rest of the stuff.