Keeping a cool head in your very human body — that's not just programming.
[ His counter comes quick. Maybe Markus begins his skillset with the base code, but that isn't the end of it.
As for the question after his own experience in the lead, well. In all things, Fitz is split, two states of mind in him. He told Bobbi he shouldn't be in charge of anything or anyone, when he's not in control, when he cannot be trusted, and yet — he chose to lead, to issue commands in contradiction with their initial plans knowing the risks (and betting with Cain's life in the process, stranded between two sets of enemy soldiers).
He won't soon forget Carter slinging You weren't in any position to be giving orders over her shoulder. His hands come together, idly twisting. A stiffness permeates his posture. ]
[ clinically, ] I don't think there's a scenario where we got away clean. [ a beat. ] Cleaner, maybe. [ a precise tilt of his head. ] Can't say my decisions would change, if we ran it again.
[ The ends justify the means, always. His calculated risk ended with two dead soldiers, less obstacles to overcome on exit. Markus protected Patil. And none of theirs died. He tells himself that's fine, that they could have brought back Cain or Carter, that he wasn't terrified, choking on blood and shaking in his skin. No son of Alistair Fitz can give into hysterics. ]
We didn't understand what we were up against. We still don't.
[ He lifts his shoulders, not quite a shrug. Ultimately, his answer neatly sidesteps Markus' preferred phrasing of feel. Feelings don't have a place here, when they'll invariably muddy the waters. ]
no subject
[ His counter comes quick. Maybe Markus begins his skillset with the base code, but that isn't the end of it.
As for the question after his own experience in the lead, well. In all things, Fitz is split, two states of mind in him. He told Bobbi he shouldn't be in charge of anything or anyone, when he's not in control, when he cannot be trusted, and yet — he chose to lead, to issue commands in contradiction with their initial plans knowing the risks (and betting with Cain's life in the process, stranded between two sets of enemy soldiers).
He won't soon forget Carter slinging You weren't in any position to be giving orders over her shoulder. His hands come together, idly twisting. A stiffness permeates his posture. ]
[ clinically, ] I don't think there's a scenario where we got away clean. [ a beat. ] Cleaner, maybe. [ a precise tilt of his head. ] Can't say my decisions would change, if we ran it again.
[ The ends justify the means, always. His calculated risk ended with two dead soldiers, less obstacles to overcome on exit. Markus protected Patil. And none of theirs died. He tells himself that's fine, that they could have brought back Cain or Carter, that he wasn't terrified, choking on blood and shaking in his skin. No son of Alistair Fitz can give into hysterics. ]
We didn't understand what we were up against. We still don't.
[ He lifts his shoulders, not quite a shrug. Ultimately, his answer neatly sidesteps Markus' preferred phrasing of feel. Feelings don't have a place here, when they'll invariably muddy the waters. ]