Vance put up a shield around both himself and Hal when the mirrors shattered, just because he thought about it. It dropped once the glass settled.
And, also, out of shock at seeing both of the forms on his side.
He wasn't sure what this place was trying to get as a response from him, but it probably wasn't expecting the anger that flashed through him.
"You don't know much about Robbie," he finally said, looking up at the words. "Yes, he's a bit busted and cracked. Which one of us isn't? But he's not BROKEN. Robbie is one of the strongest people I know and he's come so damned far in breaking that brainwashing that made him believe he DESERVED to be in that suit." Vance took a breath, teeth clenching as he did his best to keep the lid on his temper. "I've had this conversation with Robbie before, you know. He hid himself away, buried himself so far down on purpose, to make it impossible to find him. I did look. I know I didn't look hard enough and maybe I could have found him. But as hard as I am on myself about it? I know damned well that he wouldn't say the things that you're saying. You're not him.
"As for you." He cut his eyes to the form of his father, tension through his shoulders. "You're right. There is a monster inside of me. It's not my powers, though. It's the monster you fed with every shouted word, with every punch, with every time you expressed your hatred for me and for Mom both. The same monster that grew in you when your father did the same things to you as a child."
Finally, Vance drew himself up to his full height, looking at his father as impassively as he could. "I'm sorry. Even though I know that it wasn't entirely your fault, I can't forgive you for what you did to me. For what you did to Mom, as much as she may hate me. The only thing I can do is make certain that that monster in side of me? Dies with me. The cycle ends here."
He looked up at the writing again. "You're right. I am guilty. I'm not perfect. I've done things that I regret, let down people who mean a lot to me. But I'm not going to let it weigh me down for the rest of my life. I get caught up in that guilt and people get hurt or they die. I chose my name for a reason."
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And, also, out of shock at seeing both of the forms on his side.
He wasn't sure what this place was trying to get as a response from him, but it probably wasn't expecting the anger that flashed through him.
"You don't know much about Robbie," he finally said, looking up at the words. "Yes, he's a bit busted and cracked. Which one of us isn't? But he's not BROKEN. Robbie is one of the strongest people I know and he's come so damned far in breaking that brainwashing that made him believe he DESERVED to be in that suit." Vance took a breath, teeth clenching as he did his best to keep the lid on his temper. "I've had this conversation with Robbie before, you know. He hid himself away, buried himself so far down on purpose, to make it impossible to find him. I did look. I know I didn't look hard enough and maybe I could have found him. But as hard as I am on myself about it? I know damned well that he wouldn't say the things that you're saying. You're not him.
"As for you." He cut his eyes to the form of his father, tension through his shoulders. "You're right. There is a monster inside of me. It's not my powers, though. It's the monster you fed with every shouted word, with every punch, with every time you expressed your hatred for me and for Mom both. The same monster that grew in you when your father did the same things to you as a child."
Finally, Vance drew himself up to his full height, looking at his father as impassively as he could. "I'm sorry. Even though I know that it wasn't entirely your fault, I can't forgive you for what you did to me. For what you did to Mom, as much as she may hate me. The only thing I can do is make certain that that monster in side of me? Dies with me. The cycle ends here."
He looked up at the writing again. "You're right. I am guilty. I'm not perfect. I've done things that I regret, let down people who mean a lot to me. But I'm not going to let it weigh me down for the rest of my life. I get caught up in that guilt and people get hurt or they die. I chose my name for a reason."