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[runningstart]

"Wally's voicemail, leave the deets at the beeps."

Comments

[runningstart]

You don't have to. [Wally gets up and deposits his glass in the sink, just to have something to do with his body, just so he doesn't have to sit still as he skirts the edges of this big huge thing he doesn't want to face full-on.] This is your first time talking about it, isn't it?

MY HTML THO

[tadeadshi]

[Tadashi watches him, ignores the little ping on his phone - just a notification their food's on the way - and thinks.]

Yeah. When I ported back in after it happened... everyone already knew. So there wasn't any reason to talk about it.

>.>

[runningstart]

[sighs heavily] Dude...

[tadeadshi]

What?

[runningstart]

Not even to vent? I- [holds up hands, hold on now,] Okay, this is an extreme case of the pot calling the kettle burnt, but like, what do you even do for stress relief? Volunteer at a soup kitchen?

[tadeadshi]

It used to be that I'd go to the university or Stark lab and just build stuff until the energy was worked out.

Or I'd ride my vespa around for a while.

[Guess what he doesn't have around anymore. Who needs coping mechanisms, he's fine.]

[runningstart]

[a vespa] We're getting you another hobby. How do you feel about running? Or competitive eating?

[tadeadshi]

[IT WAS COMPLETELY MODDED OUT AND NOT A DINKY KAREN-GOING-POKEMON-GO VESPA OKAY!!!]

You and Jaime both- [He groans and just. Puts his head in his hands, hunched over his knees. There's a knock on the door and thank god their food is here. End this conversation, he's FINE. He gets up to get the order and he's not even gonna bother digging around for plates or anything. Plastic to-go utensils and eating right out of those bowls. He hands Wally's entire bag to him, holding onto his smaller, second bag.]

Dig in?

[runningstart]

[did you think you were free, little man] What about skateboarding? It's like vespa-ing, but y'know. You actually do stuff. [accepts food]

[tadeadshi]

You do realize I jumped 10 foot ramps with that vespa, right? With passengers?

[runningstart]

On a vespa? [Extremely unattractive exclamation with that mouthful of noodles] How. Do you mean professionally?

[tadeadshi]

It was for fun, and I was able to do it because I modded the thing out. [Now he'll take a bite of his.]

[runningstart]

Why didn't you just get a motorcycle?

[tadeadshi]

Aunt Cass wouldn't let me.

[runningstart]

[SNORT, coughs on noodle] So you suped up a vespa. Okay.

[tadeadshi]

She thought it was me doing something education! Learning so I could maybe work on her truck.

She had no idea.

[runningstart]

You are such a fake goody-two-shoes, [Wally says fondly, digging into his container of fried rice.]

[tadeadshi]

And I'm glad you're back.

[He kinda nudges Wally with his elbow while he keeps eating. Just. Ignores his kitten's wine for food.]

You sure you wanna stay in a house of strangers?

[runningstart]

No. I dunno. [Gives up on trying to use chopsticks with his fried rice and digs around for a spoon.] Mind if I just stay here for a night or two? I'll figure out what to do later. Maybe even see if Mount Justice is still around.

[tadeadshi]

[There's plastic wear in the bag for poor white people eating this. Tad's just watching and munching, letting kitten sniff the end of one chopstick but not lick.]

No, I don't mind. It's why I was asking, I've got a second bedroom I haven't decided what to do with yet. [He thought maybe an office or small lab, but never got that far in unpacking.]

[runningstart]

Lab. [IMMEDIATELY]

[tadeadshi]

[Wow friendship-to-roommate offer shot down immediately. HE'S HURT.]

Maybe.

[runningstart]

Don't look at me like that, you definitely want a lab over me as a roommate.

[Sighs, setting his food down and rubbing a hand over his face.] Look, I- [Gestures at himself.] There's a lot more baggage here than you'd think. I'm probably not gonna stick around the Nonah housing, but...I don't know. I might just go be alone for a little while. It's not because of you.

[tadeadshi]

[He's quiet for a long minute, mulling it over. Honestly, Wally's well within his right to do whatever. They're - adults, christ.]

Just thought I'd offer.

[runningstart]

[It occurs to Wally then, a little too late for hurt feelings, that Tadashi maybe didn't offer just to be nice and maybe is also desperately lonely.

Wally sits down, staring at his feet.] Me and Artemis- my girlfriend, we were living together before I- came here. Had been for years. ...I was looking at rings.