LOG: In Need of Assistance

[depthlesslock]

What: Meeting up and seeking help
Where: Common Ground coffee shop
When: 10/4 Noon
Warnings: None

York would be lying if he said he wasn't surprised that Delta had called him so soon to arrange to meet up again. That's three times in the last two weeks the man has called for company despite his insistence that he's a busy guy. Not that York's complaining, he enjoys Delta's company more each time they see each other, but he is surprised.

He's on time. Well, Delta seems to be making the effort, the least he can do is return the favor. Once he's inside, he removes his helmet and looks around. Common Ground is a good place, he's enjoyed it's coffee and food a fair few times, and of course it has the delicious, rich scent that comes with any good coffee shop.

Spotting Delta, he weaves through the tables towards him and sits down in the chair on the other side of the table, smiling. 'Hey there.'

Comments

[depthlesslock]

He smiles under his helmet at that. 'You got it.'

[protective_logic]

There. With his nice, subtle hint, he shall receive chocolate. See, interacting with people isn't hard at all.

"Uh... do we need to take the bus?"

[depthlesslock]

'That or shuttle,' he says. 'Unless you want to walk for a couple of hours.' He's already heading for the station.

[protective_logic]

Shuttle? That's even more expensive. Delta wilts. "York can... I borrow some money?"

[depthlesslock]

'Hey, I already said I'd pay for it, remember?' he reassures him. 'Don't worry, you're covered.'

[protective_logic]

The smile Delta hides in his helmet is relieved. Thankful. Tired.

"You don't stop being wonderful, do you?"

[depthlesslock]

That makes him laugh and increases the hope that maybe they're going to be okay.

'Careful you don't stroke my ego there,' he teases.

[protective_logic]

"You're my boyfriend. Who else should stroke it?" Delta asks, not even aware of what may be implied with his words.

[depthlesslock]

Only by almost biting his tongue off does York stop himself laughing and saying something highly inappropriate. Poor Delta seems oblivious to what seems so obvious to the Thief.

'Well, if you insist.'

[protective_logic]

"You'd do the same for me, right?" Delta asks. Wasn't that what they did for each other? He thought so.

[depthlesslock]

'Of course, D, whatever you want.' Dear God, his boyfriend is adorable. Will he let York introduce him to the world he's so innocent of? Hopefully.

[protective_logic]

"I... don't know that I'd really know what to do if you did anyway. It's not like I do anything that requires ego stroking."

He laughs and shakes his head.

[depthlesslock]

York hums for a moment. 'You're a young man who has dedicated his life to caring for his siblings. You're selfless, kind, passionate and I have the utmost respect for what you have done and awe at how well you've done it. You're an amazing person.'

[protective_logic]

Delta actually freezes. He's... no one has ever said that to him. Hell 'passionate' was never a word he thought would apply to him. How is this possible?

"Is... is that really what you see?"

[depthlesslock]

Nothing to ego stroke, huh? Under his helmet, York's grin eases into a softer smile.

'Absolutely,' he says with complete conviction.

[protective_logic]

"That's..." Delta doesn't quite know how to process this. Driven, he's been called that. Devoted, yes. But all of this...?

"I'm not though. I mean, I'm devoted to my siblings. But I'm supposed to be. I need to be. All I've ever been."

Everything he is and everything he does, up until today, has been for his family.

[depthlesslock]

'Yes you are,' he says. 'You could've just up and left. A lot of people do when shit gets tough. The fact that leaving didn't even occurnto you only proves my point. It takes an honestly good person to do that.'

[protective_logic]

Delta is as horrified by the suggestion that he could ever leave. And then he wilts a little. Because he is running away.

"I did," Delta whispers. "I have. I've left."

He tries not to crumple at that.

[depthlesslock]

'Not before though,' he points out. 'And even now, you're still planning on seeong them, right? Helping them. Yôūhaven't left them completely like some people would do. Like most people would do.'

[protective_logic]

That doesn't mean he hasn't thought about it, though, sometimes, in the dark hours of the night. It's... hard to admit, but he has to.

"I've wanted to. Once in a while. I've never... I've always been part of them. I don't know how to exist if I'm not part of them. Supporting them. Giving them money and doing grocery shopping and living every hour of every day for them. Without that... what am I?"

God what a crisis.

[depthlesslock]

'I don't know,' he admits. 'I guess we're starting to find out. I'm not saying you break away from them completely, I'd never say that. But it sounds like this is one of the first times you've done something for yourself.'

He still wants to hug him.

[protective_logic]

"It is," Delta admits. "Since... since Omega threw Price out and took over, yeah. I just put everything aside. Everything I was, and everything I might have been."

[depthlesslock]

Fuck this.

'Can I give you a hug?'

[protective_logic]

"Please," he pleads weakly. When was the last time he was the one hugged, rather than being the one hugging?

[depthlesslock]

York instantly closes the distance between them and wraps his arms tightly around Delta. It's a bit awkward with their helmets, but damn if his boyfriend doesn't need this right now.