milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Darien's in the bar.

He's found a nice little corner near the fireplace and he's sucking down a coffee that he obviously hadn't gotten here. He's just come back from the Keep and...

A week or so more and he should be normal.

The scent of coffee mixed with the cloth of the couch is almost soothing in it's familiarity and he almost looks like he might be dozing. He's not, but he might look like it.

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"Let's hope not", Kevin says wryly. "It might just be the calm after the storm."

"There was a storm?"

He doesn't look at Kevin, but he tries.

"I meant the clock", Kevin clarifies.

He shrugs.

"Oh. I, uh... guess I forgot about it. Kinda... dealing with my own shit, you know?"

"Of course", Kevin says with a nod. And he really does understand - the bar may be his world, now, but it's not Darien's.

"I mean, I know it was important. Hell, I was freaking out like you were. But, you know... it's over. At this point, I'm just trying not to trip on the stairs."

"I... wasn't saying it wasn't over, Darien. Hence the 'after'."

He's eyeing his brother with a little more concern now.

"What?"

He can feel the gaze.

"Are you okay, Darien? Really? I mean, I know your eyes are getting better, but..."

"But what?"

His eyes narrow.

"But you seem a little... preoccupied. Not that you don't have a right to be", he adds hastily.

He hates this feeling of walking on thin ice around his brother. And he knows it's his own fault.

"Preoccupied? With what? Kevin, I'm the conman, not you. Make your sentences sit up straight, will you?"

"Well, I mean... forgetting about this place nearly being destroyed, when you were ready to leave the bar for another world before it ended?"

He shrugs.

"Is it an issue right now, Kev?"

"No, of course not. But it's not like you just to forget something ever happened."

He shakes his head.

"Nah, man, I didn't forget. I just had other things on the top of my head, you know? It's handled, it's dealt with. Why keep focusing on it? This place throws shit at you every time you sit at the counter, man. And then there's home, and then there's this," and he taps his temple.

"Okay", Kevin says, relenting.

He doesn't look sideways.

"Why?"

"It just... worried me."

And, though he's not saying so, he's not sure he likes Darien being out on his own and not 100%, with Arnaud around.

The eyes narrow again.

"Right."

He doesn't believe that. There's more to it.

"That's all", he says firmly.

He doesn't look at Kevin for another minute before turning to fire.

Kevin sighs slightly, but otherwise doesn't break the silence.

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