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[ He and Delta have been on the run for a few years now- long enough for him to get used to it, long enough for him to grow resigned that maybe it's just them, maybe things didn't turn out exactly like he'd wanted. They're still alive, though, and he tells himself that's something. That's something to look forward to. For the longest time, it is. It's just the two of them, just he and Delta and every so often they stop on a planet for a longer period of time, just to get around, meet some people.

Delta insists on it, anymore, after watching York fall into a depressive slump, and he insists on them stopping every so often, on York getting real, human contact, going out to dinner, doing something to take care of himself.

It's how they hear rumors of people passing through the outskirts of town-- purple armor. York takes note of it, has Delta check the radios and the comms once they're holed up in a hotel for the week, and after getting an idea of where they might be, he goes looking, hopeful. ]

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[ No, he wasn't entirely sure about that idea, but a quick contact on the radio and her making her way solo would be less conspicuous than three of them wandering out and about together. ] Well, I'll say this, I definitely don't want to eat without her. Wouldn't be right, you know?

[ York's face lights up in an affectionate grin, shaking his head as he bumps against North's shoulder after standing and moving over to grab the water sitting off to the side, pouring himself a glass and taking a long drink. ]

Nah, North, I understand. I'm not too hungry, it's fine. Just lemme know what she says.

Edited 2012-10-24 06:54 (UTC)

Shouldn't take her too long to get here, this isn't that far from where we were planning to meet. [ He picks up his helmet, putting it back on and switching the radio to the frequency they had agreed on before splitting up earlier. He rarely needs to do use it, but he's glad they go to the precaution anyway. ] South, come in.

Edited 2012-10-24 07:25 (UTC)

[ Was he really radioing her? It wasn't long before they were scheduled to meet and it sure as hell didn't sound like an emergency. He had better have a damn good reason for using the radio now. ] You know I'm here, North. Why are you calling?

I ran into an old friend. I figured it makes more sense for you to meet us here than for us all to be spotted out walking around. [ He's downplaying the fact that he chose to use the radio. He's the one who's always harping on about how risky it is, and how it's only for emergencies, so he figures she'll say something, but it'll be better to hash that out in person. He sends her the coordinates of the hotel, along with the room number. ] And he's paying for dinner, so don't be long.

This better be worth it, North. [ Her tone contained no small amount of bitterness. He had been too vague for her to feel entirely comfortable with the situation, but he wasn't one to steer her wrong. She'd get to the hotel when she was able. ]

[ That was all that needed to be said and he shakes his head a little as he takes his helmet off. ] Yeah, she's not happy. She'll be fine, though. This'll be more comfortable than the last couple places we stayed.

[ He snorts quietly at that, finishing the water, settling back on the bed to wait for her. ]

Eh. I've gotten a little cranky when D and I were on the run. Takes its toll, y'know?

Yeah, I'm familiar. [ He figures he might as well grab himself a drink too, and stands up to go over where the water is. ] There are days I just wish everything back the way it was.

Edited 2012-10-24 15:28 (UTC)

...Yeah.

[ God, it's weird thinking it but he realizes it's true for him, too. It was easier back then, when they didn't know any better. ]

I know I wouldn't want to go through all that again, though. Watchin' Wash and Carolina--

[ Yeah, no, this is better left alone. York scrubs a hand over his face tiredly, shaking his head. ]

Think I'll stick to the present.

[ He stifles a sigh before he swallows down his glass of water; he didn't mean to trigger thoughts of everything that had gone on, but it was kind of unavoidable thinking about that, considering their circumstances. He takes York's place on the couch. ] I know better, yeah. I just keep my hands full taking care of South--not that she needs that, exactly, but it's a way to distract myself, you know?

[ He's gotten shamefully good at not thinking of them. At not thinking hard about what he'd left behind and what he'd been too much of a coward to go get. ]

Yeah, I get that. Theta and South, though. That's a handful, huh?

We make an interesting family unit. [ That was to say the least. He could hold it together, that was something he never doubted of himself, but there was a lot of tension at times. ]

[ He lets out a snort at that, taking another slow drink. ]

Yeah, I'll give you that one. How's South been dealing with-- this?

[ He shakes his head, chuckling just slightly. Because really, it's not at all funny. ]

This whole thing started out with the two of us having a literal battle. It sort of set the tone, I guess you could say.

[ York scrubs a hand through his hair, shrugging a shoulder. ]

You feel up to talking about what happened after Tex and I-- [ ...wow, that's a sensitive subject, actually. ] --left.

[ He thinks for just a moment, looking for the right way to word things. There's no easy way to tell him, really, and North lets out a breath before answering. ]

Damage control. It was obvious if you knew what to look for. I guess my mistake was in thinking everything would shake out all right. Wash--

[ He cuts himself off and eyes his friend for a moment. He's not sure how much detail is necessary to share, really, how much is just water under the bridge, how much of it will end up being too painful to hear. Especially when it came to the topic of Carolina. And bringing up specific agents was bound to lead to discussing her reaction. He has to take a slow breath, because this might end up being a difficult conversation. ]

Wash couldn't handle Epsilon. Every time he woke up, it was like that first time, like he was going crazy. They finally had to pull his AI. By that time, they were telling people Tex was going after people's AIs.

Wash--?

[ York swallows hard, clenching his teeth a moment because he knows, he knows what's coming. Wash wasn't good when he left them last time, he wasn't safe, and it'd killed him to know that he had to leave him behind, that he couldn't fix this, couldn't take him. ]

Jesus. You-- you know it's not her, right?

[ He's trying to remain as soothing as he can, because he can tell from York's expressions and posture that he's not taking this easily. ] Oh, yeah, I knew. I knew her better than that. You, too. You wouldn't have helped her with something like that.

[ North helps- of course he does, it's what he always does. He helps and he's soothing and good and York really, really is grateful for it, but the tension doesn't seep out of his shoulders. ]

I didn't think he'd throw her under the bus like that.

That's the kind of thing people do when they get desperate. In his mind, it was probably her own fault for opposing him. She was the top agent. If the top agent goes rogue, you have to find something to tell people.

I know it-- well, made sense is being a little too generous, but you get what I mean. I just wish he didn't have to. Wish we didn't have to do what we did.

[ York shakes his head, frowning further. ]

What about the others?

[ He knows York really does care, really does want to know about everyone, but he also knows there's one person in particular he'll have to speak of. It's something both of them will dread if it drags out any further. North looks to the side for a moment to consider before looking back at York. He's focused and calm. There's no point to beating around the bush here. ]

She was upset when she woke up and you were gone. I tried to talk to her about it, but there was a lot going on...I don't think she heard me. In here, I mean... [--he gestures at his head--] she didn't listen. She was fixated on holding things together, in a way that... I don't think she could see that it had already fallen apart.

[ Wash and Carolina are the two biggest things he doesn't want to talk about, and yet he knows that he has to. He prepares for the worst, hopes for the best and isn't sure what he expects. ]

She always-- Christ.

[ He pretends like his voice doesn't crack, like he's not a little upset, and drags a hand through his hair again. ]

She always tried really goddamn hard for the team.

Yeah, she did.

[ He averts his gaze again, this time to give York a little privacy to pull himself back together. ]

They were pulling AIs that day, when you two came back. I wish I'd had the chance to say something to her at the end there, but she got called in to talk to the Director, and--and Wash woke up. I never saw her again after that.