[Nightlight]

[seeagreatergood]

Another day, another dollar, another drug lord deposed as he got off the boat from Central America. As ops go, this one went about as smoothly as you could ask for: sure, the boat was an hour and a half late, and sure there were some shots fired, but nobody died.

Auggie finally gets off work around nine -- practically early -- and heads down to the locker room to shower the stress away.

And gets the bar, instead.

Well, a beer is almost as good as a shower. He sweeps his laser cane over the floor once to check for waitrats, then heads towards the counter to order a drink.

Comments

[seeagreatergood]

"I was thinking 'Close enough for practical purposes,' but I like yours better."

[toblameforit]

"It doesn't really hold up when you think about it, though. I mean, there are girl engineers too, and trust me, they know how to optimize."

[seeagreatergood]

". . . With each other or with you?"

[toblameforit]

"I can only vouch for the second one firsthand. Also, if they were gay girl engineers they'd fall under the original joke."

[seeagreatergood]

"Not necessarily."

It's college! People experiment!

[toblameforit]

"Well, yeah, there's also bi engineers," he allows. "As I happen to know."

[seeagreatergood]

Auggie grins over his glass and doesn't reply.

[toblameforit]

...screw it.

"You wanna go up to my room and joke about my exciting college life some more?"

[seeagreatergood]

"I could be persuaded."

[toblameforit]

"I could be persuasive."

Just not in the middle of the bar where anybody might hear it.

[seeagreatergood]

He laughs, picking up his drink and tucking his laser cane into a pocket.

"You're a brat. Lead the way."

[toblameforit]

"I am," he agrees, standing up and taking Auggie's arm. "I'm terrible, I don't know why you put up with me."

[seeagreatergood]

Auggie stands and lets Tony lead him.

"I think it has something to do with your sound system."

[toblameforit]

"It's true," he says, laughing, "my sounds system is very lovable."

[seeagreatergood]

"So I guess I can put up with your brattiness for the chance to play around with it."

[toblameforit]

Tony snorts.

[seeagreatergood]

". . . No comeback," Auggie notes, lightly. "Either I just won at sarcasm or I said something wrong."

[toblameforit]

Awkwardly: "It's kind of... I mean, I know you didn't mean it that way, but—run through that again with the obvious substitution."

[seeagreatergood]

Auggie blinks, considers this.





"Kinda shot myself in the foot there, didn't I," he says, quiet and even and suddenly not touching Tony is quite so many places.

[toblameforit]

"Aww, no, it's okay. Like I said, I know you didn't mean it that way."

[seeagreatergood]

"It's not okay," still quiet. "It's exactly the kind of thing I'm trying to avoid."

[toblameforit]

"...yeah," Tony sighs, "I know. And that is one of the many reasons why I love you."

[seeagreatergood]

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

[toblameforit]

"Apology accepted," he murmurs, squeezing Auggie's arm. "And I still love you."

[seeagreatergood]

He quirks a smile, because he's expected to.

"Thanks."