[IC]

[woodfortono]

[knocking on the door of takeru's cabin and not bothering to wait for an answer as he pushes it open when it's unlocked]

Hey, Takeru, I--oh.

Comments

[blueondeck]

She was probably just upset.

[woodfortono]

That doesn't mean she's not full of shit. [sets his jaw] When I talked to Don after what happened, we were both worried about you. I hate Basco as much as the next guy and I know what it's like to have him kick the crap out of me--I wasn't exactly throwing a party over you staying with him. But that doesn't mean you're not my friend anymore. And if she's mad enough at you to not want anything to do with you that's her own business, but you didn't break up your team--it takes a whole team to do that.

[blueondeck]

... You're getting worked up. What she chooses to say in the heat of the moment, however it sounds, is my fault for not only reacting the way I did, but pushing everyone away.

I hurt people by being hurt. She was right. You were included, weren't you? I avoided you, pushed you away and desperately tried to stop wanting.

[woodfortono]

Of course I'm getting worked up! Can you even hear yourself? Stuff she says isn't your fault, that's crazy.

And, yeah, it pissed me off when you wouldn't talk to me, but the fact that I didn't like it didn't mean that it wasn't allowed. It was how you dealt with it. And it was other teammates that helped push you into dealing with it that way, too, not only is putting all the blame on you wrong, it also makes no sense.

[wait, what?]

...stop wanting what?

[blueondeck]

[Why did you even catch that]

Marvelous and I will talk to her. Everything will turn out fine.

[woodfortono]

Yeah, it will, but it's still not your fault. [stepping away from the door]

Stop wanting what?

[blueondeck]

[watching you]

I didn't mean to say that.

[woodfortono]

That doesn't mean you didn't mean...

[he's looking at you hard, but then his eyes widen as the bottom starts to drop out of his stomach and he sits down on the bed next to you suddenly, staring down at his hands]

Oh. [drags his eyes back up to you, looking helpless and uncertain] Joe...

[blueondeck]

[Was not looking at you as you realized but just stares as you sits down. That look...]

What?

[woodfortono]

[swallows hard, his belly knotting]

...why didn't you say anything?

[blueondeck]

About...

[OH. Oh. Oh you mean... Goes back to long looking at you]

You think I knew something like that?

[woodfortono]

You--

[stares at you for a second before he huffs out a laugh, turning to butt his head gently against your shoulder]

...I'm sorry.

[blueondeck]

Sorry for what? You have no reason to apologize.

[woodfortono]

Yeah, well... still. [still leaning against you a little]

[blueondeck]

Still? [Watching you carefully...]

[woodfortono]

I mean. [looks up at you, drawing back a little] I didn't know you... you wanted anything more from me. Especially with what a mess everything ended up being. But that--that still sucks. And I'm sorry.

[blueondeck]

I didn't want anything more. I was content with what ...ever you could call what we had. It's fine. I'll just miss the way we were.

[woodfortono]

[ducks his head in a nod and just leans against you again]

...me too. [his eyes half-lidded] Still friends, though?

[blueondeck]

When I don't want that anymore, maybe.

[woodfortono]

[hesitates, then leans away, nodding]

All right. I'll be around. Glad you're talking to Takeru more again, though.

[blueondeck]

Although... Takeru said he doesn't care.

[woodfortono]

Eh? What about?

[blueondeck]

Whatever I do with you, because I'm me and he trusts me. I wouldn't do anything intentionally to hurt him and he knows that.

[woodfortono]

...oh. Well--what's the problem, then? [sounding a little bewildered]

[blueondeck]

He only just told me that a few hours ago.

Plus, I don't want to do anything you both don't like. I can't decide that on my own.