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Most things are. [He agrees. Everything here is. Everything with the freelancers. He follows York's tug in.]

"Nothing tense about it. He genuinely seems to want to help. You, me, everything. It's-" Not uncharacteristic. The tone that's used for it, sure, but... "I don't know."

No, he does, he just doesn't want to think about it that way. He's happy. THEY'RE happy. Can't they be happy?

We'll try to keep our drama to ourselves. You put up with more than enough. [ Tug in close and cuddly, gonna wrap an arm around Mal's waist and tug him to the sofa for snuggling. ]

[Snugging with the boyfriend, yes, good.] Nonsense. I'll put up with just about anything.

And how happy will Malcolm be when he snaps out of it? Presuming he does.

Still. Delta lets out a sigh. "Perhaps it is a state he will explain on his own. You would be the natural candidate for him to confide in."

Everyone's got their breaking point mal. We've tested your rather saintly patience before. I'm trying to avoid that happening again. [ He drops a kiss to Mal's cheek, a little more settled when they're like this. ]

He'd mentioned talking to the Coho.

Oh.

Fuck.

"...Did we ever figure out exactly how they made Loki agorophobic?"

Considering it's following his own train of thought, the question isn't as much of a non-sequitur as it might otherwise have been.

"No, and he does not know the details or is unable to remember them." Which he knows for a fact because that's one of the things they're trying to figure out with Tony.

"...do you think they..." And he's been just. Rolling with it. Oh god.

Oh fuck.

"Stepford Malcolm. Jesus fucking christ. He's a pod person." Is mal even LEFT under all that?

Delta winces a bit. He was hoping there was some other explanation, but when you have eliminated the other causes....

"I would first be certain to eliminate any other possible causes," he says firmly. "If there is some other reason for his actions, jumping to conclusions could be harmful."

"He said he ended up talking to the CoHo." That. That's never anything good.

Balls.

"That may be our problem, then."

"...what'm I gonna do?" He can't keep playing along with this. He can't. It's nice, sure it's nice, but it's not right.

Delta sighs. He can feel a headache coming on, and he'd been trying to avoid that ever since Epsilon's post.

"Tony Stark is researching the ports with Loki's assistance. He may have found something useful. Aside from that, we have so little information on the changes they can give to us that I do not know a counter. Directly confronting Bifrons would not be wise. Additionally, you are in no physical shape to do anything." He rubs at his temple. Maybe--wasn't there someone else who had mentioned--

"Additionally, I believe Natalia has experience with breaking mental programming. She may have some advice for you?"

"Yeah." God and it's been awhile since he's checked in with her. They're do a talk. He'll probably call her later. Make sure she's doing okay. Ask for pointers.

Mulling all that over is set aside when Delta rub s at his temples. York says nothing, merely offers Delta his hands. He can help. Wants to help. He gave D the headache, he may as well help get rid of the damn thing.

Delta bites his lip--it's been a long few days, and he does miss being close to York, and he did apologize--and then sighs, joins him on the couch and curls up against him. He's had his sulk. And if York's going to be working on getting Malcolm back to normal, he's going to need all the support he can get.

"I'm sorry I was an ass, baby." He murmurs, sliding his arms around Delta's shoulders and dropping a kiss to his forehead. One hand slides up to comb through his hair, that usually helped, and the other tucked up against his ribs, petting slowly.

Delta's still tense, almost ridiculously so, but York's touch always helps to calm him down. Not that he has a whole lot of time to just sit here and cuddle, but--Carolina can wait a little while, even if not too long. He doesn't say anytning in response, but finally, finally he starts letting the firewall down. He still keeps his feelings mostly to himself, since they're mostly (surprise!) anxiety and discontent, but at least he's opening himself up instead of staying closed off.

He checks the urge to flood Delta with anything. The firewall's down, true, but there's no need to dump everything over all at once. York offers the same emotional brush of comfort that he's always offered. A slow stream of reassurance and affection, concern for Delta's happiness and wellbeing above all else. Whatever D thinks is good for him will be fine. No pressure, now or ever.

You know I love you, baby.

It's tentative, the brush of his lips against Delta's. D was upset, d's anxious- and he's got a right to be. He doesn't wanna do anything that isn't wanted.

You've hardly make me reach that point. It's all fine, York.

Delta closes his eyes and leans into York at first, trying to feel grounded and relax. To an extent it works, and what York sends over the link helps, but he can't let himself go completely, not while he's still worried over Carolina (and, to a lesser extent, Malcolm).

Why did you need me to say it the other day? It's not acccusatory, just curious. Is it because Delta's just not naturally expressive where emotions are concerned?

He doesn't pull back but he doesn't really respond, either, focusing more on York's sher physical presence, his warmth, and not on his actions for the moment.

Because I'm human and I'm insecure sometimes. Words have power, you know? So much so that people make a habit of tattooing words onto themselves. Not that he can say anything about that since he's got very shiny new glowing tattoos of his very own on his chest and wrist. Something Loki'd said, both times, burned into his skin so he'd never forget. I don't doubt it. I've never doubted it. I just...wanted to hear you say it.

Because things seem different in Delta's voice. Even the most bleak of odds becomes something manageable. The worst scenario something he can survive. When the world is filtered through a cool wash of green logic he can carry the weight without breaking.

That's how it's always been.

You are being real forgiving today, boo.

Would you rather I hold grudges about things that don't need grudges?

Well...no but. You're just in a real good mood. I don't think I've seen you this happy since christmas.

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