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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.]

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

[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?

[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]

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

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

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.]

Why didn't you just get a motorcycle?

Aunt Cass wouldn't let me.

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

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

She had no idea.

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

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?

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.

[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.]

Lab. [IMMEDIATELY]

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

Maybe.

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.

[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.

Edited 2020-04-09 03:54 (UTC)

[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.

[He was about to make a comment about maybe turning that room into a big cat palace for this tiny kitten but--]

... Wally. ['Sorry' doesn't cover it. There aren't any words to really respond properly with that won't sound... weak.]

Maybe we really do need to figure out how to get you drunk. [Normally he isn't one for that kind of thing but...]

Ha ha, no kidding! [Okay, that sounded a little unhinged. Reign it back in, Wallace.]

You see what I mean though? Baggage doesn't begin to cover it. I don't even know what I packed, man.

[He doesn't want to just. Point out that he's got a lot of his own baggage too (why else would everyone keep banging on about him needing non-tech hobbies?) but he watches Wally, sympathetic and tired before turning back to his own meal.

Tadashi doesn't even know what to say.]

I'm sorry.

[Groans loud and long and rubs face] No- See, this is what I mean! You don't have to be sorry! You don't have to- to listen to me have my second breakdown of probably at least two dozen more! And I don't want you to! [okay wally tone it down you kind of sound like an asshole right now]

[He focuses on just. Eating this bite of food instead of answering right away. Hadn't he just said it wasn't like Tadashi and him were the closest friends, or family or anything. It shouldn't... matter.

He keeps his voice steady and tries not to let whatever he's feeling slip through.]

If you don't want to, that's fine? Like I said, I was just offering.

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runningstart - 2020-04-13 03:03 (UTC) - Expand

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tadeadshi - 2020-04-13 03:14 (UTC) - Expand