thisavrou | (no subject)

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[Wash appears on the screen, grudgingly out of armour, his face drawn and pinched around the mouth. He looks exhausted, eyes sunken and dark with exhaustion. Arriving here is just one more thing that seems specifically designed to fuck up his life.]

My name is Ag- [No, he's not Agent Washington anymore is he? He's not with the UNSC. He's not with project Freelancer. He's not anything.] My name is Washington.

They said that- [He can't believe he's saying this. His life is a fucking joke and his death will probably be the punchline. Until then, he is stuck dealing with this shit. Assuming he hasn't snapped altogether. That's also a possibility.]

They said that I have been sucked in through some kind of bullshit dimension hopping. [Yes, his teeth are gritted as he says it.] I'm looking for anyone who knows what the UNSC is.

[It's not that he wants to find anyone from home. There's no-one he cares for left alive and even then... well, he tries not to think about them too much. But he just needs someone to remind him that that wasn't all fictional.]

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[Normally when he hallucinates or dreams, people act like nothing is wrong. Or they blame him. They don't usually act awkward.]

I don't know.

Look, I'm in the Ingress Complex housing, room 15. You can show up or not but we do need to talk. I'll track you down eventually.

And I've missed you, man.

...I'll think about it.

I-

[He swallows thickly at that, but he isn't sure what to say.]

Later.

[ York doesn't push, doesn't try to apologize now, doesn't try to keep Wash on the line. He just nods encouragingly. ]

Later.

[ He didn't have any plans that night anyway -- he'll be in his room as promised, only ducking out long enough to get dinner and when he does he buys for two. Just in case. ]

[It takes a while for him to make himself head down to where York had said he would be. Even then, he hovers for a while before knocking.]

[ York answers the door pretty quickly -- he's out of armor, in just a tank and jeans, a deliberate show of trust. No weapons immediately in sight. He takes Wash in for a moment, then one corner of his mouth tugs up into a half-smile. ]

Now how am I supposed to hug you in that?

[He almost walks away. He isn't sure what to expect and when the door opens and York is standing there, alive and breathing like it's any normal day on the MoI before it crashed and burned. It takes him a moment to drag himself back to the present.]

I don't usually let people hug me.

Let me know if I rank an exception anytime soon. Come on in. I've got enough dinner for both of us.

[ He steps back and swings the door wider, letting Wash get a good look at what he's walking into before he actually does. Since trust is obviously an issue here. ]

[Now he feels awkward. But the thought of taking off the armour in a place he doesn't know... it sets him on edge more than he already is. And then York offers food and that's even more unfamiliar.]

You didn't have to do that.

[He feels a flash of gratitude for York letting him see inside before he steps in to the apartment. He gives the whole room a cursory look over and only just holds himself back from going to check the other rooms. Instead he stands next to the door, back against the wall.]

And you didn't have to show.

[ He closes the door and crosses to the kitchenette, pulling down two plates. Even if Wash doesn't touch it, he's getting a plate made for him. ]

...how long has it been for you?

[He forces down a flash of panic when the door closes. He's wearing armour. York isn't. He has the advantage and maybe... maybe he doesn't mean badly.]

Three... Four? Years. Since the MoI.

I think.

,small>[Time sometimes gets a little fuzzy.]

[ York's intentionally being as harmless as he can manage, as well. ]

About that. I owe you an apology.

[Wash gives a startled tilt of his head.]

What?

I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up. That I didn't come back for you.

[The apology rather takes the wind from his sails. He's been angry for so long with no hope of resolution, and now that he can actually face one of the people he's angry at... York just apologises.

He's not really sure what to do with that.]

They locked me up. For months.

[ York can't read Wash's tone, or see his face to know how he's taking this. It makes it harder, somehow. ]

I know. I found out, I mean, since I was tapped into their intel, and I thought about going back a million times... but it was just me and D. I'm sorry. It's no excuse.

[He doesn't know what to do with this information. It's one thing to think that's probably what happened, at least in his better moments, but it's altogether different to hear it from York's mouth.

He grits his teeth, hands clenching for a moment.]

That's okay. I always knew I wasn't anyone's priority.

[ Well that stings. ]

Guess I could have gone ahead and gotten myself killed. Since it happened anyway, right?

[He flinches at that. That wasn't what he meant but at the same time... it's so hard to let go of all those feelings.

He lets out a slow breath.]

I was in the med bay when you and Tex attacked the ship. North was right there in the room and he- No-one came back for me.

We all had to run. I never saw anyone but Tex again. I really am sorry, though. For what it's worth, what they did to you was a big part of why I decided to defect.

Guess we all should have realised sooner.

...come on. Have dinner with me.

[ He sits down in front of his own plate, picking up a fork and smiling, just the tiniest bit. ]

You don't still eat in your helmet, do you?

[It's a dumb joke and it fucking hurts. It had been an easier time when he thought he understood how things worked.]

Sometimes. Not gonna take my helmet off more than necessary when the Meta is right there.

[Still... he looks down at the food and after a moment pulls off his helmet and sets it aside.]

[ York blinks, the gratitude at Wash trusting him enough to lose the helmet turning to cold dread. ]

...the Meta's right where now?

With me.

[He hesitates, realising why York might be concerned.]

Not here. Back at home.

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