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[tactical_alert]

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[goddamngrenades]

... [ Okay not touching that. Not touching it, gonna stand here and sip his beer and not look at mal or talk about the dumb thing. ]

Everything's still locked down?

[tactical_alert]

As far as I'm aware, everything here is fine. No scares, no blips. We've been safe.

[goddamngrenades]

Thank God for that. Looks like we got lucky. [ a moment passes where he remembers favoring being lucky over being good. It feels like forever ago.

Thinking back to his talks with Nat, with Tony, York sets the bottle aside and walks over to mal slow, reaching out to catch his hand.] does it make me a dick to be glad you stayed home for this one?

[tactical_alert]

[Okay...okay, York's doing this now. Easing into it. There's an odd intimacy in just holding his hand. Malcolm doesn't pull away, but there is a brief uncertainty on his face.]

It doesn't, no. You just want me to be safe.

[goddamngrenades]

[ York rubs his thumb across Malcolm's knuckles, keeping the contact light and easy. ]

If you wanted in I wouldn't have said anything, but I'm glad you stayed.

[tactical_alert]

I haven't formed the kind of attachments to Loki that you have. And while I'm sure the house and everyone in it would've been safe under North's watch, it doesn't help to have another pair of eyes keeping tabs.

You know this goes both ways. You want me safe; I want you safe. Both of us have...habits, in the past, of being a little reckless with our lives.

[goddamngrenades]

I promise I'll let you know before I do something stupid and/or reckless in the future, alright? And to try to keep the stupid reckless shit to a minimum.

[ See? Stability. He can be stable. Calm. Comfortable. Mal seems okay so...step two: Introduce physical displays of affection.

York lifts their hands and dips his head, dropping a kiss onto the back of Malcolm's hand. ]

You'll get first crack at the next op.

[tactical_alert]

[Now that strikes him as odd. It's just...odd. It makes him think of high class, royalty, like--kind of like being a princess. His hand flexes, and he calmly pulls it away.]

If the next op is one I want in on.

[He shifts. Does he want to be the one to bring it up? Is York going to? Communication is necessary but difficult.]

[goddamngrenades]

[ Okay that didn't go over well. Abort, abort, retreat, more space is needed- hey the beer is still over there he's gonna go finish it.

Yeah.

Wanders over and plucks up his beer and goes right back to sipping. What weird interlude? That never happened. Who, him? Nah. ]

'course. Not gonna make you do anything you don't want to, Mal.

[ SEE HOW GOOD HE'S BEING? SEE? ]

[tactical_alert]

[All right, that settles that; he's the one who has to bring it up. Let him just clear his throat first. This is all weird, all right?]

About that dinner...were you planning it to be a big to-do, or just drop by wherever felt good?

[goddamngrenades]

Depends. First off did you know what you were agreeing to? I'm not going to hold you to it if you didn't.

[ Malcolm's a little...yeah, at times. ]

[tactical_alert]

I know what I was agreeing to now.

[goddamngrenades]

Then it still depends. What are you most comfortable with doing? We can order pizza and watch a movie or go out. Your call.

[tactical_alert]

Pizza is fine. There'll be leftovers, and the rest of the boys can have some. [Sup team mom.]

[goddamngrenades]

[ Keeping it as close to the status quo as possible. It's safe, familiar, comfortable. He can dig it. ]

Sure. When's good for you?

[tactical_alert]

Whenever neither of us have an op or are working, I suppose.

[goddamngrenades]

[ Master of the art of the nonanswer - Malcolm. ]

Tonight? I'll go shower.

[ Your move, closet man. ]

[tactical_alert]

Are you hungry? I'll let you order. Or I can order, and you'll be out of the shower by the time it gets here?

[goddamngrenades]

Yes, get whatever you want. My treat. Use the chit on top of the fridge.

[ No he did not set aside date money what are you talking about. ]

What movie do you wanna see?

[tactical_alert]

We don't have to do a movie. I don't know? I can poke about and see if something strikes my fancy. Aren't you exhausted?

[goddamngrenades]

Never too tired for you, boo.

[ Yep, return of the boo. Babe didn't get much reaction, boo's more comfortable. ish. ]

[tactical_alert]

...All right...?

[goddamngrenades]

[ He really wishes there was an Unsure Malcolm to english dictionary. It'd make this easier. Then again Malcolm probably wants a 'fucknut to english' dictionary to understand him better too. ]

I'll get cleaned up. Order whatever. I'll be down in thirty? Yeah.

[ Should he go give him a kiss? No. The hand thing went poorly so. Awkward wave/salute thing for the win on the way out. Yeah. ]

[tactical_alert]

[Ordering whatever it is. Ordering and waiting around for the food and for York. Movies? He'll consider it, glance at a few genres, a few familiar titles, mostly just to pass the time. Reading? Reading. He'll be reading on the couch. There might be pizza on the table waiting for them! Don't worry, it'll still be nice and hot for them.]

[goddamngrenades]

Find anything you like?

[ Most of that half hour had been waffling on what to wear. It's a date but not an out and about date but should he put forth an effort what does he even-

Grifball shirt, fuck me jeans and a little aftershave.

He'd also shaved. Cuz. Reasons.

He saunters down and settles on the sofa, knee knocking into Malcolm's. ]