goneawaycomms | Agent South Dakota

People who don't know you think so. I know the truth, though—underneath that bitchy exterior is someone they'd really do well to get to know.

You're so biased, I hope you know that.

[ But she's grinning. Maybe being honest about how she feels isn't the end of the world. Not every time, anyway. ]

[ He grins. ]

Oh, incredibly.

Honestly, you have a habit...at least lately...of kind of, mm...holding people at arm's length? And I feel like you didn't used to.

Just gonna call me out like that, huh?

[ It sounds like a deflection, even behind her smile, but she sighs and decides to just... bite the bullet. ]

I guess. Things are just... weird, y'know? Everything fell apart and then we were on our own and then here is like... extra weird. Our teammates all hate me and I can't exactly blame them for that, and then everything else...

[ It started long before the rig, but they're back around people now. ]

[ He folds his hand tighter over hers. ]

Did you expect me to hate you?

[ He had never hated her, even when he first heard what she'd done. He couldn't find it in himself to hate her. ]

...kinda, yeah. I mean— y'know, considering.

[ The rough start didn't help, of course. ]

[ He looks down for a moment. ]

I understand. It was hard at first, being told what happened, but I never hated you. I want you to know that.

I know, Drew. Now, at least. I know.

[ She gives his hand a tight, tight squeeze. Despite everything, neither of them can find it in themselves to actually hate the other, and that's... that's a relief. ]

[ He squeezes right back. ]

Good. It's important that you know that.

Well, now we both know. No matter what, we've always got each other.

[ And he has York, and the others, and she's all but alone. She squeezes again. ]

Yup.

[ He's happy to let her sit and hold his hand for as long as she needs to. He doesn't let go, just waits to see when she'll get her fill. ]

[ She feels like she should be ready to build all of her walls back up. like she usually wants to, after showing even a fraction of what she has in this conversation. But for once, they stay down, and she just holds his hand for a long minute before finally letting go. ]

This is so fucking weird to say considering... everything, but I'm glad I ended up here. Just... just for this.

Yeah. Me, too. I wouldn't consider this a step up except for that.

[ That and his newly-minted relationship, but he's not going to mention that in this context. ]

Yeah. Situation sucks but... being back here with you, not back there alone is... I'm glad. I really fuckin' am.

[ Another playful kick. ]

And you got extra fuckin' lucky. I got my brother back, yeah, then here's you, your sister and your best-friend-turned-boyfriend. As odds go, that's pretty good.

[ He grins then, a secret sort of smile. ]

I missed you, but I missed him, too. I'm glad it's all worked out the way it has.

[ She snickers softly at the look on his face. ]

You're really making the best of it.

[ She's quiet, for a second, then starts to say: ]

Sometimes I wish... [ But she trails off, shakes her head. ]

[ He waits, and when she doesn't continue, decides to quietly prompt her. ]

What do you wish?

[ She bites the inside of her cheek, then sighs. ]

I don't know. I don't... I don't wish anyone here, because who the fuck would do that? Just, sometimes...

Yeah.

[ He pauses. ]

You thinking of someone specific?

[ She gives him a bit of a look, like 'come on', drags her hand over her face and sighs, but not an annoyed sigh. ]

You gonna make me say it?

Not if you don't want to. Point's taken.

[ He looks off into the distance for a bit. ]

God, if I could do anything to save him from this existence, I would. But mostly only if I got to be there, too.

Fuckin' hell, Drew, that's the sappiest possible way to say that.

[ Which she can't help but smile just a little at, despite it all.

And, fuck, he probably wasn't trying to reverse psychology her but... ]

...bet Connie'd tear this whole mess open in a couple months. If she really was what... brought it all down back home.

[ He smiles at her assessment of that. He knows he's being incredibly sappy; he's only just admitted his love to himself. It was bound to happen.

He'd had a feeling he was talking about Connie. ]

She was. She was like the cog at the center of a big clockwork.

All that time she was being so... cagey. Fuckin' pulling away from us all. I guess it's obvious, looking back, but...

[ She shakes her head. ]

Whatever. Like I said, no one else deserves to end up here. Even half saying it feels wrong. It's just everyone who is here...

Everyone who is here seems to be getting a second chance?

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