Nowhere urgent to be today. I guess that's another reason why I'm here... I suppose I just missed seeing your smiling face.
[There's a sort of sardonic edge to his words, but he grins and winks as he moves to slip past, taking Yzak up on his invitation. Since Dearka's off-duty at the moment, he's in casual dress, and so he slouches by with one hand shoved in a pocket... But the other hand? That he uses to try and give his friend a little drive-by, reassuring pat on the shoulder as he passes...
...And then he stops short when he feels hard metal hidden beneath the fabric.]
Hmm...? [He squints.] Are you... Wearing body armor under here or something...?
[ Little does Dearka know that his joke there about his smiling face was something he missed out on, too. Because Yzak found reason to do it a lot more at a point. Now his smile and optimism, gone. ]
!!
[ He immediately tenses up when Dearka's hand clamps down on his shoulder, feeling that extra weight press on where the housing system connects to the nerves in his body.
Shit.
Well, so much for that genius idea he had about keeping his arm under wraps until he could figure out how to explain it to anyone. Way to go, Yzak! Even it being Dearka hardly makes the sudden surge of panic feel any better. He jerks the arm away, sidestepping with a turn to pull back a small distance. And in that small window of time Dearka speaks and Yzak replies quickly, without thinking, in some desperate attempt to save this. ]
—Yes I am!
[ And then it hangs there for a long moment, his expression tense, strained, staring straight into Dearka's eyes. Yzak was never a good liar and still isn't. It's one thing if he had to lie or cover for something with Dearka, it was different when he had to go on a mission and act like he belonged there - that was business, that was work, that was for the sake of a goal. But something like this?
Even Yzak knows his expression betrays him right now and there's no proper way to bullshit his way out of this. ]
Not only is Yzak a terrible liar, but Dearka's not an idiot. That overblown reaction pings his attention immediately, and his expression grows both serious and suspicious.]
Yzak, what are you...?
[He looks the frazzled commander up and down, and that's when he fully clocks the gloves too. He doesn't know what they mean? But something about them in tandem with the shoulder thing and Yzak's cagey behavior fills him with an odd sense of foreboding.
Carefully, he reaches back and closes the door, not once taking his eyes off his friend while he does so.
He doesn't... Say anything. He wants to see what Yzak has to say first.]
[ It's been so long since he had an actual psychic reading every one of his thoughts and knowing every part of him, that Yzak's somewhat lost the familiarity to such sharp scrutiny. So this from Dearka when he wasn't prepared for it just feels uncomfortable. He leans his right side back defensively, and for all intents and purposes Yzak is moving in a way as though that arm is there and just fine.
And yet.
Countering Dearka's suspiciously concerned look, he lets out a sigh. Short, sharp, impatient. On edge. ]
It's not exactly body armor. But— just forget about it right now!
[ 'Right now', he relents that much at least instead of the kneejerk reaction of just demanding Dearka leave. But even after all this time (on his end) and everything that's happened ... he could never push Dearka away like that. And that fact is steadfast whether it's because he doesn't want to push anybody away because he feels so alone and lost as he does right now or if this was just a normal day on PLANT between the two of them, that's the strength of their bond.
Yzak turns around. ] I said I had things to take care of. Personal things.
[ But even when he says 'personal', there's a tightness there as though he feels bad about not elaborating, like he wants to speak of it. Yzak steps toward the nearest hallway, the one that leads to the lounge area and back to one of the bathrooms and the kitchen, but he pauses to look over his shoulder back to Dearka. ]
But now that you're here ... come in and sit down.
[It's another testament to their bond that Dearka doesn't doggedly insist Yzak explain himself right then and there. There's enough in Yzak's response for him to feel satisfied that he'll get at least something of an explanation eventually. How long 'eventually' will actually be remains to be seen, but. That's still enough for him to at least pull back with the questions, for the time being.
He is still worried, though. MORE worried than he was when he first headed over, that's for damn sure, because even beyond the weird reaction to the shoulder touch, Dearka can see that there's something off about Yzak's whole demeanor. There's something in him that wasn't there a few days ago... A deep pain in his eyes, which rattles Dearka with its unfamiliarity.
Dearka can't imagine what could possibly cause something like that. At least, he can't imagine anything that would cause it which he wouldn't also already know about by now, purely by virtue of their being on the same team and sharing many of the same connections.
Maybe... Is it just that the stress of the war finally getting to him...? No... As an accomplished ZAFT commander, it's hard to imagine Yzak's resolve wavering in such a way. The timing would make it especially strange too, coming on the heels of their team achieving such a massive win against the Earth Forces, foiling their plans and all.
Speculating will get him nowhere, he realizes. So he nods, and tries to smile reassuringly, even though it feels like there's very little to smile about at the moment.]
Just as he always is, like a powerful, supportive wind at his back. And done without missing a single beat. All per the norm for Dearka, and familiar enough to Yzak that it still wraps around his psyche with that feeling of assurance, though it feels thin and time-worn, like something put away for a long, long time.
And it's funny ... to Dearka, being here probably feels more comfortable than it does to Yzak and it's his damn home! Not even owing to the fact that Dearka comes by often enough and makes himself at home, since Yzak was so acclimated to where he's been that he still half wonders if it's just another dream (since he's had them often, of being back).
So he motions with his hand (the gloved one, the suspicious one) as he always did, the movement coming naturally to him as he signals for Dearka to do as he pleases; grab something from the kitchen, get himself a drink, get comfortable. While Yzak does the same for himself.
And since we're here to get to the meaty stuff, Yzak sneaks in a few questions about work that serves to also remind himself of what he was ... doing, before he left. Asking Dearka what he's handled and what the others at the office are taking care of. So he'll know in the near future what he'll need to focus on to get back into a stride and step properly back into life again.
Even if the life he looks ahead at isn't what he wants anymore. At least, not in this exact form because there's a enormous void in the center of it.
Yzak can usually talk about this or that easily with Dearka, which is why even to him this feels rigid, off, imbalanced, the longer the elephant in the room remains that Something Is Up Here, and that frustration can be noted in his expression, tighter than usual, a lot clearly going on behind those blue eyes of his, even when he takes a sip of his tea (because of course he made himself tea, some things truly never change). A reminder of something he's already well aware of: that time can sometimes be a cruel thing. ]
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no subject
Nowhere urgent to be today. I guess that's another reason why I'm here... I suppose I just missed seeing your smiling face.
[There's a sort of sardonic edge to his words, but he grins and winks as he moves to slip past, taking Yzak up on his invitation. Since Dearka's off-duty at the moment, he's in casual dress, and so he slouches by with one hand shoved in a pocket... But the other hand? That he uses to try and give his friend a little drive-by, reassuring pat on the shoulder as he passes...
...And then he stops short when he feels hard metal hidden beneath the fabric.]
Hmm...? [He squints.] Are you... Wearing body armor under here or something...?
no subject
!!
[ He immediately tenses up when Dearka's hand clamps down on his shoulder, feeling that extra weight press on where the housing system connects to the nerves in his body.
Shit.
Well, so much for that genius idea he had about keeping his arm under wraps until he could figure out how to explain it to anyone. Way to go, Yzak! Even it being Dearka hardly makes the sudden surge of panic feel any better. He jerks the arm away, sidestepping with a turn to pull back a small distance. And in that small window of time Dearka speaks and Yzak replies quickly, without thinking, in some desperate attempt to save this. ]
—Yes I am!
[ And then it hangs there for a long moment, his expression tense, strained, staring straight into Dearka's eyes. Yzak was never a good liar and still isn't. It's one thing if he had to lie or cover for something with Dearka, it was different when he had to go on a mission and act like he belonged there - that was business, that was work, that was for the sake of a goal. But something like this?
Even Yzak knows his expression betrays him right now and there's no proper way to bullshit his way out of this. ]
no subject
Not only is Yzak a terrible liar, but Dearka's not an idiot. That overblown reaction pings his attention immediately, and his expression grows both serious and suspicious.]
Yzak, what are you...?
[He looks the frazzled commander up and down, and that's when he fully clocks the gloves too. He doesn't know what they mean? But something about them in tandem with the shoulder thing and Yzak's cagey behavior fills him with an odd sense of foreboding.
Carefully, he reaches back and closes the door, not once taking his eyes off his friend while he does so.
He doesn't... Say anything. He wants to see what Yzak has to say first.]
no subject
And yet.
Countering Dearka's suspiciously concerned look, he lets out a sigh. Short, sharp, impatient. On edge. ]
It's not exactly body armor. But— just forget about it right now!
[ 'Right now', he relents that much at least instead of the kneejerk reaction of just demanding Dearka leave. But even after all this time (on his end) and everything that's happened ... he could never push Dearka away like that. And that fact is steadfast whether it's because he doesn't want to push anybody away because he feels so alone and lost as he does right now or if this was just a normal day on PLANT between the two of them, that's the strength of their bond.
Yzak turns around. ] I said I had things to take care of. Personal things.
[ But even when he says 'personal', there's a tightness there as though he feels bad about not elaborating, like he wants to speak of it. Yzak steps toward the nearest hallway, the one that leads to the lounge area and back to one of the bathrooms and the kitchen, but he pauses to look over his shoulder back to Dearka. ]
But now that you're here ... come in and sit down.
no subject
[It's another testament to their bond that Dearka doesn't doggedly insist Yzak explain himself right then and there. There's enough in Yzak's response for him to feel satisfied that he'll get at least something of an explanation eventually. How long 'eventually' will actually be remains to be seen, but. That's still enough for him to at least pull back with the questions, for the time being.
He is still worried, though. MORE worried than he was when he first headed over, that's for damn sure, because even beyond the weird reaction to the shoulder touch, Dearka can see that there's something off about Yzak's whole demeanor. There's something in him that wasn't there a few days ago... A deep pain in his eyes, which rattles Dearka with its unfamiliarity.
Dearka can't imagine what could possibly cause something like that. At least, he can't imagine anything that would cause it which he wouldn't also already know about by now, purely by virtue of their being on the same team and sharing many of the same connections.
Maybe... Is it just that the stress of the war finally getting to him...? No... As an accomplished ZAFT commander, it's hard to imagine Yzak's resolve wavering in such a way. The timing would make it especially strange too, coming on the heels of their team achieving such a massive win against the Earth Forces, foiling their plans and all.
Speculating will get him nowhere, he realizes. So he nods, and tries to smile reassuringly, even though it feels like there's very little to smile about at the moment.]
Alright. Right behind you.
[And so he follows Yzak's lead, as always.]
no subject
Just as he always is, like a powerful, supportive wind at his back. And done without missing a single beat. All per the norm for Dearka, and familiar enough to Yzak that it still wraps around his psyche with that feeling of assurance, though it feels thin and time-worn, like something put away for a long, long time.
And it's funny ... to Dearka, being here probably feels more comfortable than it does to Yzak and it's his damn home! Not even owing to the fact that Dearka comes by often enough and makes himself at home, since Yzak was so acclimated to where he's been that he still half wonders if it's just another dream (since he's had them often, of being back).
So he motions with his hand (the gloved one, the suspicious one) as he always did, the movement coming naturally to him as he signals for Dearka to do as he pleases; grab something from the kitchen, get himself a drink, get comfortable. While Yzak does the same for himself.
And since we're here to get to the meaty stuff, Yzak sneaks in a few questions about work that serves to also remind himself of what he was ... doing, before he left. Asking Dearka what he's handled and what the others at the office are taking care of. So he'll know in the near future what he'll need to focus on to get back into a stride and step properly back into life again.
Even if the life he looks ahead at isn't what he wants anymore. At least, not in this exact form because there's a enormous void in the center of it.
Yzak can usually talk about this or that easily with Dearka, which is why even to him this feels rigid, off, imbalanced, the longer the elephant in the room remains that Something Is Up Here, and that frustration can be noted in his expression, tighter than usual, a lot clearly going on behind those blue eyes of his, even when he takes a sip of his tea (because of course he made himself tea, some things truly never change). A reminder of something he's already well aware of: that time can sometimes be a cruel thing. ]