The Ai, the Thief and Recovery

[depthlesslock]

Who: Agent Washington (Native), Agent York (Native) and Sigma Ai
What: First meet, coffee and trickery
Where: The Green Fairy
When: Midday
Warnings: Tricks and lies and the possible exposure of both

York is well aware of his habit of being late for things, so he sets in his mind that he's meeting Sigma and Wash at ten to twelve and is rather pleased when he makes it there at five to. He's the first one there so he leans back against the wall and waits for his friend and boyfriend to show up.

This is going to be fun. Ever since Sigma agreed to the facade, he's been grinning every time he thinks about it. That's going to have to stop. If they're going to fool Wash, Sigma's not the only who's going to have to pretend. Fortunately, being caring and protective over him isn't going to be hard to do. It's keeping a straight face that will be the hard part, but he'll give it his best shot.

Comments

[ambitious_muse]

"Thanks," he says. To Wash, really, but he looks back at York, this time without flinching.

[depthlesslock]

York doesn't stand, just watches the two of them and manages to meet Sigma's when he looks over.

[searchandrecovery]

Wash shifts his weight from one foot to the other, which he does when he's nervous. And he's nervous as can be right now. He's not sure what's going on between those two, but whatever it is, it doesn't look good.

"You should probably know that we're mercenaries. I mean, you've probably figured that out but. Yeah. Just wanted to be transparent about that, I guess. Also, I'm not good at martial arts, that's more of York's thing. He's better and hand to hand. The stuff about the cats was completely true, though."

[ambitious_muse]

"You really are a cat lady-in-training?" he asks, making a weak attempt at humor.

"Thank you. For your honesty."

[depthlesslock]

How badly would it go if he hugged Sigma right now? Probably very badly.

'I really am a locksmith,' he says, standing up slowly. 'Or I was. But I'm still qualified.'

[searchandrecovery]

Wash turns red at the cat lady comment. He is not a cat lady. He is a strong, trained fighting machine. Who just happens to like cats. But for the sake of smoothing things over with Sigma, Wash doesn't contradict him.

He turns to York. "If Sigma's gonna get involved in this stuff, we should probably give him my channel."

[ambitious_muse]

"So you're a thief now?" He fights to keep the accusation from his voice. It makes sense. York stole his heart over the last few weeks, which is why this hurts so much.

"I don't know how involved I want to get, but I appreciate the offer."

[depthlesslock]

'Yeah.' He can't sugarcoat it when it's the name he's been known by in the criminal world for longer than he's been York. 'It's my call-sign, actually.'

He turns to Wash. 'Don't get him too involved. Please, I'm trying to keep him out of danger here.'

[searchandrecovery]

"Believe me, that's the last thing I want to do." He turns back to Sigma again and scribbles a series of numbers on a napkin. "This is my comm channel. York's callsign is Theif, as he said, and mine's Recovery. That means that if you or your family or your friends are in trouble, you call me. I'll be there ASAP, no questions asked. That's my job." Wash cocks his head towards York. "Dating this guy has some occupational hazards, and you just lemme know if those hazards start messing with you."

[ambitious_muse]

"I noticed," he says. Frustration flares up again. This guy has given him more information in a half hour than York did their entire relationship. Still, he accepts the napkin.

"Thank you. I won't take any more of your time. Enjoy your coffee." He turns to go.

[depthlesslock]

'Take care.' He won't stop Sigma from leaving, much as he wants to. He has Wash's number now, so provided he doesn't tear it up as soon as he's out of the cafe, he's got an emergency number.

[searchandrecovery]

Wash waves. Is that the appropriate reaction? He doesn't know, but waving feels right. Somehow.

He looks at York, concerned. Hopefully this hasn't upset York too much, but knowing York, it probably has.

[ambitious_muse]

He doesn't look back until he's safely in the airlock. This is not how he wanted this date to go. But he can't go back inside.

So he looks, one last time, and has no idea what he'll do next.

[depthlesslock]

With Sigma gone, York sits down un his chair again, landing heavily and wasting no time in burying his face in his arms now folded across the table. Fuck. He's screwed up bad. And it might well cost him Sigma.

[searchandrecovery]

Wash sits next to him, unsure if he should rub York's back or tell him it's all gonna be okay or what. The thing is, he can't promise that it's all gonna be okay. Not this time. No matter how much he wants to.

"I'm sorry, man." He'll start with that.

[depthlesslock]

York nods into his arms, not trusting his voice to speak. His throat has closed up anyway. Nothing is certain yet, but it's looking pretty dark and all because he didn't tell the truth. Because he thought it would be safer to lie.

'I want to go,' he finally says quietly.

[searchandrecovery]

It might've been safer, Wash thinks, especially at first, but it wasn't necessarily better. Still, he doesn't judge York for the choices he made. If Wash was in that situation, he'd probably lie, too. There's something about it that's certainly easier.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Let's get out of here." Wash takes York's hand and pulls him to his feet, not really counting on York to instigate any movement on his own. The poor guy.

[depthlesslock]

York lets Wash pull him up, only grabbing his helmet from under the table as an afterthought. He fits it over his head before they're even at the airlock, it's easier to hide from everyone when they can't see his face.

[searchandrecovery]

"Where do you wanna go? The base? Or someplace else?" He's not gonna suggest alcohol unless York does first, but honestly, the guy could use some. In moderation, of course.

[depthlesslock]

'Ererra.' Bright lights, throbbing music, alcohol and no space to think. That's what he needs right now. Maybe it'll temporarily drive his guilt, fear and anticipation away.

[searchandrecovery]

"Errera it is." Of course. Nothing like the ultimate sensory overload to make you forget the bad stuff that's happened.

"It wasn't your fault, you know." At least, Wash hopes he knows. Still, he figures he should say it. That York would want to hear it.

[depthlesslock]

His snort of laughter is bitter. 'Of course it's my fault,' he says. 'I'm the idiot who thought I could keep this a secret while he met all the rest of you and knew you were my friends.'

[searchandrecovery]

"Yeah, that wasn't doing to last forever, but you were trying to protect the guy. You were just doing what any of us would've done, really. And I do think he understands that. Just give him some time."

[depthlesslock]

'Still my fault,' he sulks. He'll give Sigma time, he knows the guy will need it to figure out where he's at with this. But fuck, he's scared of the answer when Sigma does figure it out.

[searchandrecovery]

"What were you going to do? Look, I know you're good at flirting and all, but even you couldn't pull off 'hey baby, wanna bang a mercenary?'" It's a lame attempt at humor, but it might cheer York up a little bit.