milliways_bar | (no subject)

"I know you didn't mean it."

The words come from nothing, a little off to the side and a little less than a foot above Kevin's ears.

"I just couldn't handle it. You know?"

Kevin turns to look in his brother's general direction, though he obviously can't see him.

"I know. Sorry."

"Nothing to apologize for," and the Quicksilver flakes away to reveal his brother, slouching against the bar. "Like I said, I know you didn't mean it. Just a sore spot, bro."

Kevin nods. "Should learn to think before I speak."

"Even you can't learn everything."

Kevin grins, faintly.

"Well, I figured that one out."

"Hey, I'm just trying to give you an easy out, man. Take it while it's sweet."

He leans on the bar.

"That, uh, being said, can I get a shot?"

He's a couple segments from red; close, but not dangerous.

"Been using it to audition for a couple jobs look like they need doing."

Kevin glances at the tattoo, then nods.

"Course you can. What jobs?"

He figures the security position's one of them, but he's curious.

"There's a guy here from a world where 1984's a little close for comfort. Someone's trapped somewhere and I offered my, uh, unique abilities help this guy get them out. I mean, I can't stick it to the Man in my world since, you know, he's my boss, but I can stick it to some other man who doesn't, you know, pay my check."

Kevin nods again.

"Sounds a good thing to do. I know I probably wouldn't be much help, but if you need anything..."

"Gotcha. And hey, if things turn nasty, we might need a doctor. That's where you come in."

"I'll be here."

He nods and pulls Kevin into a one-armed hug. A definite 'all forgiven', edging on 'no apology necessary'.

"Yeah, Kev. I know."

And that reassures Kevin more than anything else.

"Did he say when he's going to rescue his friend?"

He shakes his head.

"Looks like they're in the planning stages now from what I saw. He was looking at schematics. Looks easy enough to me, though."

"And you'd know."

There's no bite to the words, it's just a statement of fact. Kevin knows his brother's good at the technical side of break-ins.

It's like the sun's come out, he's grinning so bright.

"Thank you."

No sarcasm. Whatsoever.

He grins back.

"Hey, I never said you didn't have the skills."

"No, but it's sure as hell nice to hear."

Especially from you, is unsaid.

"Then again, I hear one more thing about fricking AOL back home, I might hit someone."

"They're still giving you grief about that?"

Even Kevin dropped that one after a week or so.

He shrugs, trying to pretend it doesn't bother him, but it does.

"Yeah. People just, you know...they ask if I'm that guy."

Kevin knows him better than that.

"...people need to do better things with their time. It's been months."

He scratches the back of his neck and doesn't say much of anything for a minute.

"Yeah, uh, apparently I've got one of those faces or something."

Or, it'd mentioned him molesting an elderly man. You know. One or the other.

"Oh - how'd your security interview go?"

Alanna wouldn't tell him, not that he asked.

He shrugs.

"I dunno. Won't know till the results come in, but I don't think she thought I was a threat anyway. You know, with the QSM?"