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]

'You're not,' he insists at the scoff. 'Hey, what are friends for? And you're my boyfriend as well.' Thank God he didn't just run off without seeking help/

[protective_logic]

He is. Delta smiles softly at that comment. God does it ever make him feel good. "If not this, then I can't imagine what."

[depthlesslock]

There, finally a smile. His own lights up at the sight of this. 'Exactly. So do you want me to show you the place?'

[protective_logic]

"Please," Delta sighs in relief. He just wants to get moving. Too much standing still lately and it's driving him mad.

[depthlesslock]

York nods and stands up, squeezing Delta's hand - which he only now realises he's been holding this whole time - before letting go to retrieve his jacket and helmet. 'Want me to take your bag?'

[protective_logic]

"That's quite gentlemanly of you," Delta smiled, handing the bag over before putting his own helmet on and picking up his almost finished coffee.

[depthlesslock]

That has to be the first time anyone's called him a gentleman. At least in a way that wasn't sarcastic.

'Why thank you.' He slings the bag over one shoulder and waits while Delta finishes his coffee before heading for the exit.

[protective_logic]

Delta follows once he's done with his coffee and then, on impulse, he reaches out for York's hand. It had been comforting before. Of course it's comforting. He's quite happy for the contact.

"I... don't have bus fare at the moment."

[depthlesslock]

York glances down at the warmth and smiles when he finds Delta's hand there. Curling his fingers around his boyfriend's, they leave the coffee shop together.

'That's okay, I'll cover it,' he assures him.

[protective_logic]

"Thank you," Delta says softy. It's important to him, that York is doing this. He's so kind, and it's almost hard for Delta to understand. But he likes it. "I was in a rush this morning and didn't bring as much loose change as I should have."

[depthlesslock]

'Happens to the best of us,' he says remembering the time he and Wash had gotten stranded after a job because 479er was on a more important one and they'd forgotten and so hadn't taken money for the shuttle.

'So date I ask what Omega's gotten himself into that you hate so much? Something involving explosives?' Delta had mentioned it "literally blowing up in his face".

[protective_logic]

"One of my new friends..." Delta scoffs. Friends. He's got two other than York, both met in the same day, just after he met York. Isn't that pathetic. But he shakes that off.

"One of my friends is teaching my older brother how to kill people," Delta finally answers, his voice thick with disapproval and frustration. "The first person in my life that I've met that really..."

[depthlesslock]

'A mercenary?' Well, that was definitely a good reason to be annoyed. Nice families don't tend to like blood money. 'Wait, did you say they were one of your friends?'

[protective_logic]

Delta sighs at York picking up on the inconvenient thing. "Yeah... I've got a grand total of three friends including you, and it turns out one of them is a mercenary and is teaching my brother to blow things up."

God that upsets him. "I met him recently. I... assumed things about him because I wanted him to be nice. I just figured he was. How stupid of me."

[depthlesslock]

'Some mercenaries are nice people.' Wash is the most adorable person he's ever met. North is the kindest and Maine has a huge softy layer. But Delta doesn't know that.

Okay, detour. He veers them down a side road that has less people for witnesses, but isn't as small as an allergy which would freak Delta out even more than he's likely about to be.

'Okay, before we go any further, I need to ask you a question. Do you have a problem with the mercenary? Or the fact that the mercenary is training your brother? Or both?'

[protective_logic]

"I don't care what that man chooses to do with his own life," Delta answers, annoyed at the question. "He seemed like a nice enough man. But I can't accept that what he's doing could get Omega killed. That it is tearing my family apart."

Why is York asking this? Why is he doing this? York is supposed to be on his side, not interrogating him.

[depthlesslock]

He nods and takes a deep breath, then lets go of Delta's hand and moves a few steps away, his hands up.

'Then you need to know that I'm also a mercenary. I run infiltration, getting information and breaking myself and others into where we need to be, and I avoid killing as much as possible. If you want nothing to do with me now I'll... I'll understand. But if you'll still accept my help, I'll do whatever I can for you.'

[protective_logic]

He'd say he'd never felt more betrayed in his life, but after Omega last night...

"Give me my bag," he says, trying to keep his voice low. Thank god they have their helmets on, because otherwise he could see how sick Delta felt. How he wanted to weep for the revelation.

[depthlesslock]

Ow. Okay, that should not hurt so much. He shouldn't be surprised, really, no one likes to find out they're dating a mercenary. Still hurts though. With a deep sigh, he unsholders the bag and sets it down, then backs awa

'I'm sorry,' he says. 'I know you probably don't trust me now, but I still want to help.'

[protective_logic]

"Help?" Delta asks, his voice soft, and oh so hurt. Broken. Tired. Betrayed.

"You want to help me? You're just like the man who is bringing my brother into this. I can no more turn to you than I could have turned to him. God, why did you..."

He shakes his head. What is the point of speech, actually? It doesn't matter where he looks, all he finds is betrayal. Maine. Omega. Now York.

"I have to go."

[depthlesslock]

Fuck, that tone just makes him want to hug him. Though aside from drawing his gun on him, that's probably one of the worst things he could do right now.

'Of course I want to help you,' he promises. 'You're my friend. My boyfriend. ...If you still want. But regardless, yes, I want to help.' He can't just leave him on his own, he's got nowhere to go, doesn't have enough money for the fucking bus ticket. Yet at the same time, he doesn't want to force him. This is such a mess.

'At least take the house. I'll show you where it is and then won't bother you again. Ever, if you want. But you need secure roof over your head.'

[protective_logic]

Secure? Delta wants to laugh or cry or shout at the other man.

"Your boyfriend?"

Is he really that dense? "You're a mercenary. You actually stand for the same things as the person who took my brother from me. Granted, he revealed the big fucking joke my life is, but you're the same!"

[depthlesslock]

...Yeah, figured that was the case. Damn. He looks down, then back up.

'Maybe. But this mercenary is, believe it or not, on your side. Who's taken your brother under their wing? If I know them on good terms, maybe I can talk to them about it.'

[protective_logic]

"Maine," Delta whispers, shaking his head. "Mercenaries are only on their own side, York. You break crimes for money."

[depthlesslock]

'Maine?' Motherfucker. 'I know him. I'll talk to him about this.'

He frowns under his helmet. 'That's not true. Okay, the crimes for money part is, but don't make us sound like we don't care about anyone else, because I can give you ten examples off the top of my head of when one or more of us has very much cared for someone other than ourselves.'