milliways_bar | (no subject)

Connor used to expect to see Kyle every time he came in the bar, but for the past week, he's learned not to expect that. Because, well? It hasn't happened. Whether it's because Kyle was avoiding the bar, or the bar just wasn't taking him, was never a clear fact. All that was clear is he wasn't there. At all.

And it'd been worrying.

And yet, today? Unexpected of all unexpected, he is there. And what a way to be torn on reaction. Connor doesn't know whether to run over to yell at the guy for being gone so long or hug him for being back.

In the end, he barely restrains either reaction, trying to act calm and collected as he walks over. "You know," He says, standing there, "I think I see a stranger in this booth, but I'm not sure..."

It didn't take Kyle long to figure out who it was that had come over, even if his head was currently turned the other way. In fact, Connor hadn't even needed to speak in order for Kyle to figure out who it was.

So he turned his head, but kept it rested on the table. He really wasn't going to risk moving his back right now. Just because he could regret it -- a lot. So he looked at Connor from where he was, grunting a little.

Yeah, he wasn't exactly verbal right now.

...ookay. Kyle suddenly going completely unverbal wasn't the expected response to that. Connor blinks for a moment, and resists the first unnecessarily snarky responses that come into his head. "What?" he asks instead.

It wasn't that Kyle didn't want to talk -- okay, that wasn't completely true concerning some subjects -- but right now? It wasn't because of the awkwardness between them. It was due to his back, really. Or that's what he would tell you.

"My back," he said shortly, closing his eyes.

If he's avoiding a talk, he shouldn't assume. Things may or may not go the way he expected. -Certainly- Connor doesn't mean for them to go the way they did last time. Although, really, who would want that?

"What did you do to it?" He looks concerned.

But Kyle was always wary of those types of things. He just was. And it was probably even scarier if he didn't know what to expect at all.

"I didn't do anything. Someone else did." Which was true, and not an excuse. "Someone crashed into me when I wasn't looking." And it was a bad angle.

Which leaves them in the same boat, because Connor has no idea what he's going to do, either. All he knows is what he won't do. Which isn't much help when there's countless possibilities.

"Ouch," Connor says sympathetically. "Have you done anything for it?"

Kyle really had tried to avoid thinking about it this past week. Then again, as busy as he was, there really wasn't much time to think, anyway. So that was probably a good thing, since he couldn't think himself into a knot.

"Not really. Got thrown in here before I got to do anything." And the unspoken part of that sentence was "and I'm not moving for the life of me now".

Which, sadly, was exactly what Connor had done. He must have done enough thinking for both of them, then. Certaintly too much of it, fat lot of good that'd done him.

"Is there something -I- can do?"

Thinking was all good and well, but it didn't really solve anything when it came to a problem between people.

"Pain killers, please?" Mrs. Rayner had raised Kyle to be polite. Somewhat, anyway.

Not at all. But considering a certain absence, it'd been really all Connor could do.

But that was changed now, wasn't it?

"Will do," Connor says. He disappears off to get some, and returns soon after with pills and a glass of water.

Kyle was busy...trying to learn space politics and getting run into. So yes.

"My hero," Kyle mumbled when Connor came back with the pills and glass of water. He had to move some get upright enough to take the pills, but he endured it. The pills quickly disappeared along with some water, and Kyle returned to his previous position, waiting for them to kick in.

He felt old. Heh.

Connor takes the seat across from Kyle now. "Let me know when you feel better," He says. Because, well? He's waited a week to talk, and he's not going to miss the chance now that it's come up. But he -will- wait until Kyle's not hunched over from impact pain.

"I'm not going to be able to get out of this, am I?" It really wasn't a question, and he smiled wryly as he said the words. Should have really just turned around. He wasn't really looking forward to the conversation to come.

"Depends on what you're trying to get out of," Connor says. "And why."

"A big long conversation of seriousness and unpleasantness that will not lead to cheery demeanors?" Kyle suggested. Because that's what he was expecting -- and not happily, either.

"I've had a lot of time to think, kyle," Connor says. "And I haven't exactly been completely fair to you." For a few different reasons.

...Okay, that wasn't exactly what he had expected. Blinking, Kyle stared at his friend for a few moments.

"...Huh?"

"I haven't changed my opinion, mind you," Connor hastens to inform him. "But... that... really wasn't the best way to go about it." If any way at all.

Kyle mentally agreed, his mind saying "I could have told you that", but he refrained from saying it aloud. His brow arched a little, but he mostly just watched Connor as he talked.

But damn. So he hadn't changed his mind, huh? So much for hoping.

Yes, well. Connor wasn't exactly likely to change his mind about that. He knew Kyle had to talk about things eventually, he just also knew now that... forcing him wasn't the way.

"You do need to talk, but... when you're ready. Not when someone makes you."

That...was actually nice. He could do that. Although he might not be ready for a good number of years. After all, he had thought he had found a place on earth after being a Green Lantern for so long, only to realize that while he was away from earth, that same place was not there anymore.

So, basically, he had to start from scratch -- but out in space, this time.

"Thanks," he told Connor, looking truly appreciative and a bit relieved.

Yes, well, it was Connor's job to try to help him feel ready before years passed - even if he wasn't going to push. There were other ways.

"Of course."

Should Kyle be scared of these so-called "other ways"? In any way, shape, or form? Because Connor might not want to let any of the secret plans slip, then. He might go into hiding.

"So. How's your week been?"