dig under your skin

[invoking]

WHO: KENZI and GIL
WHERE: Kenzi and Piccolo's apartment.
WHEN: uhh the evening following this.
WARNINGS: angst, language, potential mention of Thunderhungerdome/violence.
SUMMARY: conflicted.
FORMAT: starting with quick


[ It's hardly within good manners to keep someone, especially a lady, waiting. Even if that lady is Kenzi who is often unladylike.

At the moment, however, Gil could use the company and perhaps the talk that's about to follow the phone call. He partially regrets dialing her in the first place, thinking he's troubling her with his own problems when she has enough on her mind, no matter how hard she tries to deny it and act laid back about everything. But he can't go to Nelson, despite what the older man had offered him. Nelson doesn't know about HABIT, about the stadium or what Gil's done. He doesn't think he can bear to have someone he likes suddenly look at him differently, even if Gil feels he deserves it.

He rubs his shoes on the stairs as he makes his way inside the building, conscious about tracking dirty snow and slush into Kenzi and Piccolo's home.

When he gets to the door, he hesitates. Finding out from the Deputy Mayor HABIT is no longer in this world is a great relief, but the distracting, mixture of feelings he felt hadn't gone since he had confirmed it.

He knocks quietly, shoulders hanging low now. ]

Comments

[wisecracked]

[As soon as Kenzi hung up with Gil she rushed about the apartment to get it into a presentable appearance. It helped that Piccolo didn't like mess but still, Kenzi managed to make a mess of things and the last thing she wanted was Gil trying to clean up her place. Sure, someone else cleaning up after her was great but it was Gil, him cleaning up always felt weird. Like she actually felt guilty about it.

The knock at the door was so faint that Kenzi would have missed it if she hadn't been listening. She takes one more look around before answering the door.]

Was beginning to wonder if you were going to change your mind. [Her tone is teasing and she's keeping a smile on her face despite seeing how down he seems. She steps aside to let him in.]

Make yourself comfy. I um, can start some tea or something if you want. [Of course all her teas were fancy mixed stuff so he might not like that.]

[invoking]

[ He perks up, if only to make himself look presentable and not draw too much attention to the fact he's distraught on the inside. He nods and wanders inside, not straying too far from Kenzi or where they hang the coats and other belongings. ]

A few of the taxis that went by couldn't pick up another person. [ So he had to wait an extra few minutes to hail one over. He removes his hat first. ]

Tea is alright.

[wisecracked]

That is a thing that happens. [She shrugs and moves into the kitchen, getting stuff out to make and serve tea.]

What kind you want? [She points to the tray that contains a few different canisters of tea flavors as she fills the kettle. The canisters are marked with the flavor of tea they contain; raspberry green tea, pomegranate and blood orange black tea, chai, and white peach tea.]

[invoking]

[ He enters just as soon as he's hung up his coat, scarf, hat, and taken off his shoes. He thought by now winter would have gone. It's jarring that it's technically spring and yet he hasn't seen much green sprouting anywhere.

He looks at the canisters, not sure about the labels. He's never tried any of those before besides chai. ] Chai will be fine.

[wisecracked]

[She nods and grabs up the canister, putting the rest back where they were. She doesn't even drink tea that often but she figured having a variety was nice. As they wait for the water to come to a boil Kenzi settles herself on the kitchen counter, legs crossed and her elbow propped up on her knee so she can rest her chin in her hand.]

So, ready to unload or do you want to wait for the tea?

[invoking]

[ Somehow, in the minute he walked from the front door to the kitchen, he's forgotten why he had come here.

Gil blinks, owlishly, not meeting Kenzi's eyes yet. ]

To be honest... I don't know what to say. [ A beat. ] He's gone. That's it.

[wisecracked]

[She stares at him for a few moments in scrutinizing silence.]

That's it? Then why do you seem so...I dunno, upset? Uneasy? I dunno, I thought you'd be more relieved.

[invoking]

Upset? [ Is that it? A look of confusion passes over his face. ]

Because... [ He searches for the answer. What it is that bothers him greatly about all this when it's supposed to be good news. ] Because he slipped away from everyone again.

[ He should have been punished for what he did and he wasn't. ]

[wisecracked]

[She frowns and gives a little nod.] Guess I can see that but hey, if he's gone it's good. Even if people didn't get their revenge or whatever.

[invoking]

[ "Revenge."

He lets out a slow, shuddering breath at the thought. He's zoned in on the word. ]

Do... you think that's okay? Revenge.

[wisecracked]

If it's deserved, yeah. [She doesn't even hesitate with her answer.]

[invoking]

[ He sighs again. ]

A few months ago... there was this man. I don't know his name, but he was an imPort, too. He said one of his [ someone he had to protect ] friends had been in the stadium that night.

[wisecracked]

There was a lot of imPorts in there from what I heard. [And sort of saw.]

[invoking]

Yeah.

He was suggesting we should... take matters into our own hands.

[wisecracked]

Well, I guess it's a little late for that. [She glances over at the kettle on the stove to make sure she had turned it one.]

[invoking]

[ His shoulders fall again and he bites his lower lip. ]

I know.

But... I...

[wisecracked]

But what?

[invoking]

[ There's a heavy weight pressing against his chest, making it harder to breathe, to think clearly. His head is dizzy, vivid images of that night in the stadium resurfacing in his mind's eye. ]

I wanted to! I should have done something!

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi frowns and slips down from the counter.] I know, Gil. I know. Why don't you go sit down and I'll bring the tea out in a moment.

[The kettle was already starting to make a faint whistling noise so it wouldn't be long.]

[invoking]

[ His chest heaves up and down. He's instantly regretful about the outburst, so he says nothing more and nods, disappearing out of the kitchen to go and sink into a chair in the living room.

The side of his temple stings. For a brief moment, the smell of tea is replaced by a coppery scent. He squeezes his eyes shut, telling himself it's not real. ]

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi watches him go, keeping an eye on him until the kettle singles it's ready. She prepares everything then comes into the living room with everything floating before her, including some butter cookies. She carefully sets it all on the coffee table.]

Don't have scones or anything like that but there's some cookies if you want. [She pours them both some tea and pushes Gil's cup toward him so he can fix it up however he likes.]

Got a headache?

[invoking]

[ He's slouched in the chair, but he does straighten up slightly when she enters the room and puts the chai before him. He doesn't reach for it yet, but it smells tempting. ]

It's nothing. [ Headaches like these, they come and go. He'll endure as always. ] ... Thanks. [ He finally adds, picking up the cup and bringing it to his lips. ]

[wisecracked]

I got some tylenol or something if you need it. [She has heavier drugs she lifted off someone too but well, those are saved to be sold off.]

You're welcome. [She stuffs a cookie in her mouth as she continues to watch him.]

[invoking]

No, it's fine. [ He takes a sip, savouring the taste for a moment. ] It'll pass soon.

[wisecracked]

A'ight. [She's still staring at him even as she takes a sip of her drink.]

So, anything else you wanna talk 'bout mister?