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]

York flinches. That's... ouch, that's harsh. He's surprised, no denying it. From what he'd heard, Delta and his older brother worked well together to keep their family going. But he has only known said family a few short days and clearly things aren't as easy between them as he'd assumed.

'It's not too much.' He can help, of course he can, and he'd be willing to, except... 'But what about the younger kids? Don't they still need you? Won't they miss you?'

[protective_logic]

"Omega will be home a far greater amount of time than before. In fact, he will be available to them and able to focus on them far better than I did, balancing an apparently frivolous job and effort at education with my parenting."

Delta sighs and looks back down at his hands on the table, pulling at them because he can't pull at his hair like he used to. "I'll still have the access codes provided Omega doesn't change them. I can come over and spend time with them. If I get established they can visit me..."

[depthlesslock]

Silence falls between them for a moment while York thinks. He wants - needs - more information, this thing Delta is doing is big, and he's not sure it's the best plan. Of course, he wasn't there, he doesn't know exactly what went down; but it's pretty clear that Delta is hurt, upset and angry.

'How long do you plan on being gone?' he asks. 'And do you have a preference as to how close you are to your family?'

[protective_logic]

"I have no intention of returning to where I am not desired," Delta informs him quite bluntly. But he doesn't feel these questions are needed. "All I care is that it is cheap. I am between jobs and have minimal savings."

He sighs and looks down to his bag, and then back up at York.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I'll figure something else out on my own."

With that he leans down to grab his bag, and stands. "I'm sorry."

[depthlesslock]

He reaches up and catches Delta's wrist, then shifts his grip to hold his hand. 'It sounds like only one of your seven siblings doesn't appreciate you,' he says. 'But I will help you. I can get you a place for free while you sort things out one way or another. No way am I just gonna let you walk off with no plan and very little money, D.'

[protective_logic]

"Have you ever been told that almost half of your life was absolutely worthless? That everything you has sacrificed, everything you had tried to do had no meaning at all? That you weren't a partner to someone you were supposed to work with? Just... Just some glorified nanny?"

He shakes his head. "Yes, I love my siblings. No I do not intend to be away from all of them. I'll visit and send whatever excess cash I can because eventually what Omega has chosen will blow up in his face. Literally. But I can't be there anymore. Not under his roof, living on his dime doing the jobs he doesn't want to do or doesn't care to do or doesn't know how to do. Because apparently my life until a few days ago was a lie in his eyes."

Still, he doesn't pull away. Lets their hands stay like that, caught in each other. It's almost painful, the kindness and tenderness from this man who could be considered a stranger. Put that next to the casual cruelty of his brother and... it makes his chest ache. Where has something like this been all his life?

[depthlesslock]

He sighs and shakes his head. No, he's never been told something like that and he can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like. When he lost his eye, it had been all sympathy and pity. Everyone had told him what a good specialist he'd been, but he doesn't think any of them had really expected him to recover. This is worse than that. Far worse. It' a ridiculously complex situation and for the life of him, York doesn't know what to do.

That "literally" worries him. What has this Omega gotten himself into?

'He has no right to say that to you. It isn't fair and it isn't true.' He runs his free hand through his hair. This is a mess. 'Do fights happen between you a lot?'

[protective_logic]

"That isn't important," Delta answers very simply. "Help me or don't, York. But make up your mind."

[depthlesslock]

'I said I'd help you,' he says. 'You need a cheap place to stay, right? I can get you one for nothing.' His safe house. One of them anyway. Delta will be safe there and no one (except maybe Florida) knows where they are.

[protective_logic]

Only when he says 'for nothing' does it get to Delta just what he might be offering.

"N-not your place, right?"

[depthlesslock]

'It's... technically my place,' he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. 'I own it, but I don't live there. You'd be on your own. ...Unless you didn't want that. Fuck, that didn't sound right. I mean just for company, I promise this isn't me trying anything funny.'

[protective_logic]

Well, at least this isn't a trick to get him into bed. In fact, maybe he needs to make something clear about their potential relationship..

"I'm..."

Wait.

"You have two places?"

[depthlesslock]

Three, actually. Ah jeez, how must that sound to someone who struggles to feed a family of eight? Or did.

'Yeah. Well... I live with a group now, so we're all in a place together and I don't need the other house much. So you can have it.

[protective_logic]

Delta doesn't, can't even understand. That would be the last thing he wanted. Freedom, his own place, maybe his own way in the world. Why is that so much to ask?

"I... okay. Um... If you're sure... I promise I wont' make a mess, I won't be a burden."

[depthlesslock]

'I'm sure you're much tidier than I am,' he says with a small grin. Did he leave the safehouse in a decent state last time he left? Fuck, he didn't leave any weapons out, did he? No, he's always careful to hide those. It should be okay. 'You're not a burden, D.'

[protective_logic]

Delta scoffs at that. Clearly York hadn't been listening to the conversation.

"Thank you for this," he says softly. "I just... I didn't know where else to turn."

[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.