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[ownperson]

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[infailtration]

[ York's expression softens, and he reaches up to smooth the frown out of his friend's brow. ]

Not much with me. But you definitely think that your way's best, and with South? I probably would've said patronizing but I know what she means.

[bothbarrels]

[ North's torn. He's grateful for York's touch, for the softness in his eyes.

He doesn't feel the same about what York says.

North's got a huge problem with being passive-aggressive. That, he does and has admitted to in the past. He almost says something in that vein, and the expression in his eyes probably shows that he's fighting within himself about it. But instead he takes a deep breath. ]

I don't know how I'm supposed to treat her, then.

[infailtration]

[ Good on him for not getting passive aggressive, but come on, North. York presses his lips together thoughtfully, trying to figure out the gentlest way to put what he wants to say. ]

So, I get where it comes from. South was always the one getting into trouble, right? And you were always the one getting praised and rewarded. You wanted to help her along, but... there comes a point where you've gotta trust someone to make their own choices, and I think she's finally at that point where you don't have to treat her like a kid sister who doesn't know any better.

[bothbarrels]

[ That wording at the end was exactly what North needed to hear. Because he does tend to think of her that way. But there also does seem to be something different about her now. He lets out a thoughtful hum. ]

Okay...okay. You're right. I guess I could be a little patronizing toward her.

[infailtration]

[ This seems more promising than North just getting upset that York was agreeing with South... good, he thinks. He gives his friend a little nudge. ]

Just keep talking to her. I think that'll help more than anything.

[bothbarrels]

Mhm.

[ He sits the rest of the way up. ]

Let me have my phone.

[ Once he has it he impulsively decides to voice call South. Maybe at this point doing it out loud would be better. ]

[ownperson]

[ She's laid face first on her pillow when her device doesn't just give a text notification, but starts ringing, and she can't quite scramble up quickly enough. Fumbles and nearly declines instead of accepts, but doesn't. ]

York? Is everything okay?

[ Yes, her instinct is that something's wrong and it's York on North's device again. ]

[bothbarrels]

No, it's me. York's here, though.

[ownperson]

Oh. Oh, shit, sorry, I just— you were— yeah.

[ An awkward cough. ]

...everything— you okay? York, he okay?

[ She also doesn't trust him to just outright say if he's still not, okay. ]

[infailtration]

I think he will be.

[ He's as surprised as South that North decided to call right now, though. Sure, he said keep talking, but. ]

You guys want me to give you some privacy?

[bothbarrels]

[ North reaches for York's hand. He doesn't really want York to leave. York's the one who helped him decide to talk to her some more, and helped him think through the thing in the first place. ]

You don't have to.

[ The hand-holding should make that more clear though. ]

[ownperson]

...yeah, uh, up to you. I don't— I just upset him, before, so.

[ She doesn't exactly want to drag York into this, stick him between them, but she doesn't remember the last time anything upset North that badly and she just... does not trust herself not to somehow fuck it up again so soon after, at least. ]

[infailtration]

[ York gives it a moment's consideration but he's happy to play buffer in the end if it means they get somewhere. ]

Then I'll stick around for now. What did you want to say, North?

[bothbarrels]

York helped me understand what you were getting at. He said I get patronizing and like my way is better than whatever you'd decide to do. So, yeah. I think that's what you meant when you said just act like your brother and don't be condescending. Right?

Anyway, I'm going to try to be better about it. And I'm sorry I messed that up.

[ownperson]

[ It should be wholly a relief. It really should. But somehow it comes with a bitter sting on the tail because of fucking course he only understands when it comes from someone that isn't her.

She can't help but think that, in itself, is just another symptom of how he sees her.

She has to mute herself for a second to let out a frustrated noise, because goddammit it's still progress, right? And she doesn't want to start arguing again, let alone with York listening. ]

Okay. I— okay. I'm sorry I came at you so hard.

He's right. You have this way of just— you decide what you think is best, and then if I don't agree, either you decide whatever I do myself is wrong or you don't even let me make a different choice.

Like, seriously. My fucking knee, Drew.

[bothbarrels]

Look...

[ He glances at York. York doesn't know about that whole thing. ]

You were coming after Tex with a missile pod and I didn't have time to get you to stop any other way.

[infailtration]

...you're doing it right now, North.

[ York says it gently despite his surprise that North would have shot his sister, but the fact remains. He's presenting what could have been an explanation if offered with an apology as his way being right. ]

[ownperson]

[ She has to mute again to let out a louder frustrated noise because god fucking dammit, Andrew. Then York calls him out and she huffs a sigh of relief before unmuting. ]

What he said! You do this every time, Drew. No matter what example I bring up. But I bring that one up for a reason, because yeah, I was being a stubborn, reckless bitch, but you weren't being much better and you shot me.

...and I don't remember if you've ever even said sorry.

[ She flinches a bit, because she almost hates to say it. It's not like he went as far as she did, in the end. ]

[bothbarrels]

[ He frowns, pausing for a moment. An apology would seem hollow at this point, and it's not like she hadn't done worse to him. ]

I guess we both have things we have to forgive, then. And I mean, I could apologize now, but how would it sound? Like I felt like I had to.

[ownperson]

...right.

Right. Course.

I— sorry, just. Give me a second. I'll... I'm gonna go get that damn water.

[ She doesn't want to turn this into another actual argument and maybe her head is starting to hurt. She leaves her device on the bed and goes to the kitchen, where she chugs a whole glass of water and then fill it again to take back. She's going to take a full minute to just... breathe, standing there leaning back against one of the counters, and resisting the urge to hit something.

Her knee aches with phantom pain she knows isn't real. It took months for her to get to where she is now, she knows this shit is a process, that it may take time with North too, but fuck, man. It doesn't make it any less frustrating to not feel like she's being heard. ]

[infailtration]

Can you mute the call?

[ While South gets her water, he wants to address the fact that North shot his sister.... he hadn't been able to even fight back with Carolina, in the same situation.

Only once North mutes the call so South can;t hear him calling this out does he address it. ]

There's such a thing as warning shots, you know.

[bothbarrels]

[ North mutes when instructed, then takes in what York has to say with a raised eyebrow. ]

I shot out every missile she had fired at me before I shot her. I figured that was enough of a warning.

[infailtration]

[ She fired... missiles.... at North? He buries his face in his hands, dragging his fingers down. What is he gonna do with you two? ]

You two... you're both really going to have to relearn how to communicate.

[bothbarrels]

[ North watches York's reaction with dispassion. This is what they've become, York. ]

I suppose.

[infailtration]

No, you are. She's your sister -- your twin. As someone who's lost their entire family, I'm not gonna watch you two just... I"m not, okay?