goddamngrenades | Voicemail

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[It's been a few days and, although hanging out with Loki is both productive and nice, there's a big York-sized hole in Delta's life. He'd covertly returned the bike to the house yesterday, but York hadn't been home at the time. He's not even mad anymore, and Delta knows with a near hundred-percent certainty that it was the virus that caused him to react so strongly in the first place.

Still. It takes more courage than he would have thought to send that first message.]

I am sorry.

[ Nothing.

Days of nothing. Loki told him he was fine and- the wall was up but he hadn't felt Delta's mind brush up against his in days. It's like being alone again, but worse- because Delta's here and just...didn't want him.

And he can deal with that. He can. He's handled it as best as could be expected. They need their space sometimes. It's cool. Delta has his autonomy. The last thing he is going to do is resent him for exercising it. ]

You okay?

[Well, and York hadn't talked to him either, had he? Okay, yes, Delta had been keeping busy, but still. It goes both ways, or it should, anyway.]

I am better than I was. York, I believe I was under an outside influence when I became angry at you and Malcolm. It was inappropriate and unkind of me. I am sorry I acted in such a manner.

I was more worried about where you went and what I did to set you off. We're good?

[ He wasn't sure if Delta wanted to hear from him. Even now with the texting he taps against that wall and...

Nothing.

So they're not as cool as they could be. Maybe. ]

If it was any action of yours, the reaction was not entirely mine. I have been keeping Loki company as he recovers.

York, there is a virus on the network. We believe it is affecting peoples' emotions in a manner similar to Omega's influence. It is likely I have been infected.

[And that? That's the real reason he's been keeping the firewall up. York wasn't affected by the memory wipe; maybe he didn't get the virus. And Delta's not going to expose him if he can help it.]

That thing where you get irritable, do things that aren't normal, and then start hearing a voice, right? Loki told me about it.

I've kind of-

D I haven't done anything he's told me but I've been hearing the consular. Just snatches of him in the back of my head.

[Well, shit.

Delta opens up the firewall; no use keeping it closed if York is already connected.]

Better him than the Director or Omega. Did he tell you what sample is required for our work? Would you send it to us?

[ The moment that wall's gone he's slammed with relief, fear, and concern. This thing is bad news, he knows it's bad news, Loki was very clear in how it's bad news but he hasn't done anything yet. He knows not to. He knows it's not something he can do without risking Delta or Malcolm or North so he can't listen to it-

Having the cool wash of Delta's mind against his own, battering back that creeping influence is a relief. He sags where he sits, blinking up at the ceiling. A steady current of missed you need you missed you need you rolls around in senseless circles around every thought. ]

Yeah. Yeah I got a kit scanning my glasses now. I'm gonna send them over when it's done.

[From Delta's end is tension, a great deal of tension and anxiety and concern and even a pervasive fear that what they're doing isn't enough, that there's too much to do on his own but he hass help but it's not York's help and what if York's still mad at him he'd apologized but York hasn't even acknowledged it but then it calms down again and there's the simple steadiness he always has, that no matter what crisis they're in he'll always try to look at it with a calm and logical mind, and that no matter what happens he's still here, even if York doesn't want to talk to him.

But that doesn't seem to be the case, and he takes a brief, guilty moment to feel that current around York's thoughts and come back to himself, to calm down again, to know everything's going to be okay with them.

As such, there's a bit of a delay before he responds.]

You could come over yourself.

I will after I do a thing. I'm gonna talk to the Director.

[ Which- not the best idea. Not the worst but not the best and he knows it, but lines need to be established. Rules made. He wasn't sure about it until right now- he can't let Delta or Theta or any of them fall into what happened before. That same blackredfierce possessive THING that knots up like barbed wire in his chest every time he thinks of what happened to Delta to make him- what happened after he died?

All because of that jackass?

Words need to be exchanged. Points made. Lines drawn. Anything and everything to protect this precious thing that he's gotten to keep. He doesn't know what he's done to deserve it, but he's not going to question it. Not now. Not ever. ]

When that's done I'll come over. Bring some lunch. Whatever you want.

[...Why does that not soound wise. Oh right, because York was already talking about killing the Director before everyone started going crazy. There's a flash of irritation, but this isn't Thanos--it's tinged with a fear that York won't come back again and his last memory will be of yelling at him. No.]

York, I trust you will only be talking in the literal sense. Tex is keeping watch on him at all times.

Just talking. I promise, D, I'm not going to do anything that'll get me shot. I'm going to talk to him, see where he stands on what's happening on the network, pick up lunch, and cuddle the fuck out of you because it's going to be an exhausting conversation. I know it will.

[ He promised. He promised Delta he wasn't going to leave him alone again and while it's impossible to know what's to come but this, this he'll keep. If there's nothing left of him but a recording on a chip he's not leaving Delta alone ever again. ]

[Delta reads over that a few times and finally sends back an acknowledgment. He'd better not do anything that gets him shot, not after--not after what Loki had said last night. That this might not be it for them, the only options to stay here or return to a cold future without York in it. That they could get another chance.]

Please do not take too long.

I'll keep it under an hour. In and out. Promise, D, I'll see you soon.

I look forward to your return.

Think about what you want me to pick up on the way there, okay?

[Anything? Like he's going to be able to eat after worrying about York doing something idiotic? Delta picks a food at random.]

Tacos.

Extra cheese, no hotsauce, side of black refried beans?

[Oh, York.]

You know what I like.

[ Who loves you baby? ]

Course I do. Ask Loki what he wants too, I'll bring some nachos - no jalapenos or hotsauce- and some churros too.

[This is only false bravado covering for the fact that you're doing what everyone told you not to. B|]

Text me immediately when you are finished.

I'll be checking in mentally to keep cool, but I'll let you know when I'm done.

Understood.

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Voicemail

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