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[protective_logic]

Anything is welcome. Just let me know if you want him as an AI or person in the first post

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[depthlesslock]

York pushes his noodle under the water to try and sit on it, holding the ends out of the water like he was on a swing. It's certainly not buoyant enough to really hold him up, but it's rather nice anyway. And the pool itself is lovely and Delta's looking much more at ease.

[protective_logic]

Delta offers a smile to the man as he risks closing his eyes for a moment to just... bask in the sensation of the hot water. Clearly the warmth does a bit to please Delta, given how he'd sought warm clothes after the attack, and had even ended up curled up around York the night before.

Warmth puts such a soft look on his face and when he opens his eyes again he is definitely more relaxed.

"Thanks for the first lesson. This should become routine, right? To help?"

[depthlesslock]

York leans into the water a little more, but always keeps half an eye on Delta. He looks peaceful and York is catching on that warmth is a key factor to his relaxation, something he'll bear in mind for future.

Helpful tips aside, Delta looks blissed, the smooth angles of his face turned to the ceiling and at ease. York wants to help him look like that more often.

'My pleasure. Yes, it should be.'

[protective_logic]

"Routine is good," Delta says thoughtfully, his eyes closing once more. Rather would just float here, relax, pretend he isn't stressed. "Warmth is good. Too bad I can't take a nap like this."

He would if there was a safe way to do that. There, of course, isn't. Drowning risk. "What about you, going to swim?"

[depthlesslock]

'It can help with stability,' he agrees. It can also help with predictability, which can lead to less desired situations, but there are ways of managing it to maintain stability without being too predictable.

'Get a float for your neck?' he suggests, unaware if such a thing exists or not. 'Like a life-jacket, but just the collar.'

He looks back at the main pool. It's been a while since he was active for fun, longer since he went swimming. He would love to start up again, but he still has a job to do. 'Perhaps another time.'

[protective_logic]

"Still wouldn't feel too safe," Delta agrees, but he sighs and shakes his head. But he considers York carefully. Wonders how to address this. But then he shifts in the water, less floating and more moving to sit on the bench in the hot tub. "Go swim. I'm safe in here, no one can enter. Besides, might build my confidence to see someone comfortable with it displaying a bit of skill."

[depthlesslock]

'Fair enough.' No matter how good the safety, you're not going to sleep if you don't feel safe.

He looks over at Delta at the permission, glances back at the pool, then at Delta again. He seems sure, and he's got a point. Might build confidence for both of them. Delta knows the system here better than he does, he should have faith in that.

Nodding, he gets out of the hot tub and walks back over to the pool, easing in to let himself acclimatise to the cooler water, then he pushes off and begins swimming.

[protective_logic]

Well, Delta hopes York enjoys. He moves to the edge of the hot tub to watch his friend. HE won't call York anything but that. If he starts looking at York as anything else then he might forget this is a person. And he might fail to build that connection he will have no choice but to have with a man he's pretty much going to have to share his life with.

But damn if he doesn't look good as he climbs out of the hot tub with water running down his body. Is there any chance York knows how good he looks?

Nope, not thinking of that. Instead he is watching York get into the pool and start swimming. Because, really, it's going to be more comforting to see that this guy really does know what he's talking about.

[depthlesslock]

It's nothing short of relief to have the freedom to exercise and with decent equipment. Defaulting to front crawl, he starts making lengths up and down the pool. The strength in his arms and legs moving him through the water is so satisfying, if weaker than it used to be. He'll build that back up. He prays he won't need it until he's back in peak condition.

Of course, ideally, he'd never need it at all. While it's obvious why people would want to hurt Delta, the more York gets to know him, the more he thinks it should be impossible to go through with. Delta is clever and caring, kind in a way rarely seen among those in his position.

Plus he's got a dorky handsomeness to him, with his cheekbones and quick, pretty eyes, and that smile...

He changes to breaststroke, going a few strokes in underwater, hoping to cool or at least hide the warm in his cheeks. He needs to watch these thoughts, they can lead to difficult situations.

[protective_logic]

Difficult indeed, but that does not change the fact that Delta has moved to the edge of the hot tub to appreciate the form of the man swimming. Granted he can only see York for part of the laps from his position, but he watches anyway. Just... evaluating the man he's put his life into the hands of, clearly. Nothing more complicated than that. The man that has already spared him suffering, arranged by his father as best they can tell.

He feels like he owes York something, but he isn't sure how to pay him back. How do you repay a man who feels it is his obligation to protect you? An impossible to determine answer.

If only he knew York was thinking positively of him... Well, he'd probably die of embarrassment. Which is probably physically impossible, but he'd feel like it was happening anyway. And he'd probably grant bonus points that it wasn't all about his looks.

[depthlesslock]

Swimming underwater helps clear his head a little. Plus it's fun. But he will need to keep an eye on this. Relationships between Hawk and Master are not unheard of, but the two of them already have keen and judging eyes on them.

All too soon, his muscles begin ache and the long scars on his back pull uncomfortably. For a while he pushes through it, but he needs to not wreck himself before he can get back to full strength so he slows for a couple of lengths, then pulls himself out at the end.

Habit and training draw his eyes over to Delta, making sure he's still okay.

[protective_logic]

Relationships between Hawk and Master are assumed to happen. It's the relationships that are more than carnal that get a bit complicated. And yes, there is York eventually hauling himself out of the water. Once again he marvels at how good York looks like that, water running off of him. Lovely. Nida blushes and whirls around in the hot tub. Surely he didn't get caught looking, right? Not possible. He's just here getting the warmth in his muscles.

"Are you done?" he asks with his back to York, clearly he's been here the whole time, not admiring.

[depthlesslock]

He catches the end of movement and the disturbance in the water around Delta, but he seems fine. Maybe just playing with the bubbles frothing up around him. His dark hair is slick at the bottom against his neck and York brushes away the stray thought of tucking it behind his ear.


'I am. Thank you. How's the hot tub?'

[protective_logic]

It would be a perfect way to fluster his master and turn him so many shades of red. Not that it would be as obvious given the way the hot water already reddens his skin.

"Fine," Delta says after a moment. "Thank you. Are you done? I suggest warming your muscles a bit in here. Then we can shower and see what would please you to do next."

[depthlesslock]

'A good suggestion, thank you,' he agrees, making his way over and lowering himself in. After the cooler pool, the tub feels much hotter, but the heat seeps into his muscles and he hums happily, relaxing. Yeah, this is pretty good.

'I don't have any particular desires. Is there anything you fancy?'

[protective_logic]

Nice sound and he doesn't much like that. No, Delta doesn't want to be found of that sound. Because what he fancies right now is more time around York.

"We could talk more about our plans, for changing the guest house over. I could even take you to see it."

[depthlesslock]

'That sounds like a good plan,' he agrees. 'Do you have an idea of when you would like to move there?'

He tilts his head back and lets his eyes close, for a moment forgetting that he's not 48 hours out of the mews and is already on Alpha's bad side. The he straightens (ha) up again and looks over at Delta.

[protective_logic]

"After everything? As soon as it can be rendered secure," Delta shrugs. But the thing won't be done for a while, so they need to start with simpler plans, make more impressive ones later. Functional matters for now.

"Come one," Delta suggests, moving to the edge of the hot tub and clambering out. "We should get ourselves dried off."

[depthlesslock]

He nods. 'That's reasonable.' Delta's already mentioned hating feeling unsafe in his own home, it would be good to get him somewhere more stable soon.

For a moment he lingers, loathe to get out, but he then he stands up and follows Delta without complaint.

[protective_logic]

Good thing Delta goes first, because from this distance, York would know Delta was eyeing him. As it is he tries not to be self-conscious as he goes to gather up his towel and start drying off. "You can shower here if you like, rather than in our room?"

[depthlesslock]

'Yeah, I'll do that. I won't be long.' The pool seems pretty safe, but even so, he's in and out in a couple of minutes, just enough time to wash the chlorine out of his hair, then he starts drying as well.

[protective_logic]

Truly not long, but long enough for Delta to finish drying off and get towels draped around himself. Really, he thinks he wants to head back to his room and change into something other than what he has here. It has to be suitable to heading outside and through a place that is being reconstructed. Which he didn't bring here. Clearly his mind is not as put together as he would like to be. He's just a bit bothered by the world right now.

Days ago he felt like he was composed, in charge of his life. And now? Now he doesn't rightly know.

[depthlesslock]

York is quick to dry and get dressed again, heading out with the helmet tucked under his arm. His proper armor should be arriving, hopefully tomorrow, and for all the freedom Delta's giving him, he's eager to get back into his second skin. He'll feel more settled then, which, given the current circumstances around the house, they could definitely do with.

'Ready.'

[protective_logic]

There is still a lot of work Delta is going to need to get that armor finalized. Tomorrow the undersuit will be there. The rest only if Delta buckles down and throws himself into his work. Seeing the helmet reminds him of that.

"Alright," Delta says. "We'll go see the house after we change, and then I have to get to work I suppose."

[depthlesslock]

'Sounds like a plan.' With that, he puts the helmet on and locks it in place. 'Let me know where I can help at any point.' If it's not obvious. And of course there will be the underlying protection at all times.