LOG: The family that drinks together

[baruthumos]

Who: Agent Texas, Omega Ai
What: Sibling bonding and alcohol
Where: The Eagle and Asp
When: Monday night (backdated)
Warnings: Alcohol


Omega gets to the bar before Tex, and he saves her a seat again. He orders himself a scotch, and for her the tequila she was drinking last time.

And then he waits his turn for her attention.

Comments

[baruthumos]

"Nothing," Omega says. "You're right. You get to hug me whenever you want."

Someone used to hug him when he was small and angry, when he'd lash out violently at anyone or anything within range. Someone used to hold him so he wouldn't hurt himself. Was it Alpha or Beta who would wait until he'd wrestle the rage under enough control to speak?

And it must be some sort of Pavlovian response. There's no way a hug in a bar is going to fix everything. But it does make him think things are going to be better.

[soldierinblack]

"You sound so thrilled about it," she replies with a snort.

All right, if he doesn't want hugs then she can stick to what she's been doing. He seems calmer than when she came into the bar, at least.

[baruthumos]

Omega scowls at her. He was very thrilled about it. "It's been awhile, okay?" he says into his glass. "I'm usually on your end. Just because I don't...doesn't mean I don't like it."

Because he does. Oh, how he does.

[soldierinblack]

Well, that's something. Better than what she had been expecting. There's a small sigh of relief as she leans back in her seat. "I'm not good at this whole 'hugging' thing unless there's crying involved. So if you want one... You can hug me too. Just not in front of our coworkers, okay?"

[baruthumos]

Is she ashamed of him? No, if she was, she'd say something. "Deal. And you don't have to worry about me crying. I haven't cried since Sigma was two."

[soldierinblack]

"Even if you did, it's not a problem," she says quickly. If he needs to cry, he should and she won't stop him. "I haven't had a reason to give out hugs until now."

[baruthumos]

"I'm not really a crier," Omega shrugs. "Maybe Friday."

Last time, they'd said Sigma was almost dead, that the Counselor almost killed him. Even twenty years later, Omega isn't sure how much of that was true. At least, if something goes wrong on Friday, it won't be because they waited too long.

[soldierinblack]

"It'll be tears of joy." If it's not... She's not thinking about that possibility.

"So what do you say about making this a weekly thing?"

[baruthumos]

"Really?" Omega can't imagine someone spending that much time with him that often. Isn't half the problem, they decided, too much Omega? "I'd like that. If you're not too busy."

[soldierinblack]

"I'll make time. Might have to move it back or forward sometimes, but I like this." She flashes him a smile. "Want another drink?"

[baruthumos]

"Yeah, yeah I'd like that." This is dangerously close to Omega's limit on feelings for the night. Week. "I'd like both."

[soldierinblack]

"Good. Sticking with scotch or want to give the tequila a try?" He doesn't have to drive home, he can drink as much as he wants.

[baruthumos]

Omega doesn't want to drink too much. He does stupid things when he drinks, and there's always the fear that he'll get angry and do something terrible. But one more can't hurt.

"I'll try almost anything once," he says. "Let's do tequila."

[soldierinblack]

"You're on your own for this shot, I want to be able to get home later," she says and calls the bartender back over. She'll even spring for a nice shot, something that'll feel like a smooth burn as it goes down.

"Ready?"

[baruthumos]

"It's just a shot," Omega says. "I have had alcohol before."

He's ready. He won't have any more, but he's ready.

[soldierinblack]

"So much so that you had to ask someone else what to order last time we met here?" she asks. It's funny that he's stuck with his scotch order from last time.

[baruthumos]

"I am never afraid to ask for guidance when appropiate," Omega says, which sounds much better than "I was an idiot kid who stole my friend's dad's cheap booze and therefore drank whatever was lying around."

[soldierinblack]

"And you needed guidance on alcohol?" She elbows his side lightly. "Either way, you're stalling."

[baruthumos]

Omega salutes her with the glass and downs it one go. It's not the worst thing he's ever tasted, but he is wishing he'd chosen the scotch. "Didn't want to embarrass you," he says. "Order something stupid."

[soldierinblack]

She pats him on the back hard as he finishes the shot. "You aren't going to embarrass me by ordering a drink. I don't give a crap if you order the one that's pink with five umbrellas in it."

[baruthumos]

Omega shakes his head. Tex doesn't get it. He wants to look like he belongs with her. "Pink with five umbrellas? Why one, let alone five?"

[soldierinblack]

"Because some people prefer their drinks to be fashionable above all else," she jokes. "If you're around base more, I'll have to let you try some of my favorite beers."

[baruthumos]

"That could be interesting," Omega says. "The beer, not the fashionable drink with the five umbrellas. Who even came up with that?"

[soldierinblack]

"I was joking," she answers flatly. "And I keep some around. Helps me unwind after a job."

[baruthumos]

"What kind of beer?" Omega doesn't know anything about beer. He's sort of aware how it smells, but that's it. But apparently Tex is going to teach him.