protective_logic | Open Post

"Acceptable," Delta chuckles, shaking his head. What in the world would impress the man? But he supposed that wasn't the point. What he needed to focus on was getting his own board shorts out so he could change into them when they got to the pool. "I suppose that's a way to put it. When your family pretty much helps create this whole institution we find ourselves in, you sort of have to get paranoid."

'Sorry,' he says a little ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck. As security and infiltration, he spends even more time on building security than other Hawks, which is saying something. 'Indeed you do. Well, kudos to them, they seem to have done a thorough job.'

"Yeah. But sometimes this place feels like a prison," Delta counters. And that is from someone who personally has a panic room that he works in. But that's just him. "And honestly, I want your careful eyes. I want to know how this place can be better."

'I'd be happy to give it a look over,' he says. 'See of we can't make it feel safer while not being claustrophobic.' A difficult balance, but not impossible. He decides not to point out that he only has one eye. No need to make Delta feel better, and not hen it comes to security, his one eye is probably better trained than most people's two.

"Don't even think that word," Delta groans, and he shivers in fear at the idea. "I don't like small spaces. You saw my work room, it's even got a bed and a couch. A panic room with lots of it."

Because the room had been so small, so contained, so dark. There was a flatscreen he had due in next week that he was going to put on one wall of his work room and have it show a webcam view from outside of his bedroom so it would be like a window. Safe.

The very idea makes him pace, fidgeting in his discomfort at the thought. "I like open spaces when possible."

Definitely claustrophobic, poor guy. Well, if nothing else, that's useful for him to know so he can help Delta avoid such situations. 'That's a good counter,' he says. 'We'll help make sure areas are safe but big enough or open enough to feel safe in.'

Now he's extra glad he encouraged Delta to keep and reinforce his skylights rather than getting rid of them entirely.

"Except for the skylight. That is just silly," Delta says as his pacing slows. The man finally stops moving and looks to York. "I suppose I should get ready. Your stuff should be here relatively soon."

With that he ducks his head shyly and heads for his bedroom to get his swimwear.

The skylight is reasonable as long as it's properly reinforced. 'Probably a good idea,' he agrees. He's still getting his head around within-the-hour delivery for this sort of thing, but at least it's efficient.

He steps into place to guard Delta's room, leaning back against the wall.

Delta is quick in gathering things, grabbing his swim trunks and an extra towel to toss over his shoulders.

"Alright," Delta says as he comes back out with sandals in his hands. "We keep goggles in there. "Let's go wait for your swimsuits."

He waits while Delta gathers his things, thinking through how he's going to do this. For all he knows about swimming, he's never taught anyone else before. But he'll think back to how he learned and work from that.

'Alright,' he says as Delta returns. 'Want me to carry anything?'

"You're not a servant," Delta answers. "I can carry my own things. You're supposed to have your hands free, right? In case you need to defend me?"

He will use whatever excuse he can to ensure he isn't abusing the relationship that has formed between them. And he's got a point about the holding things he thinks.

'That's a good point.' He was mostly just being polite, but yes, he probably should have his hands free. Though he really hopes no one tries to attack them on their way to the swimming pool.

'Shall we?'

Given the house they live in, Delta wasn't completely certain it wouldn't happen. He was living with perhaps the greatest threat to him, so he had to accept that risk and move on with it. Particularly toward the front hall.

He holds the sandals in front of him like it's a shield as he heads out of the room into the hall. "Okay, so we can go wait by the front door. Is that a good place? You've been there a few times. Is it a safe place?"

York stays close. Delta is clearly uneasy and given all that's happened, he can hardly fault him. No one should feel unsafe in their own home.

'We will wait a little ways back,' he says. 'And there's glass or a peek hole, and this for any door, keep the lights off and stay out of its easy sight if you can.'

It takes a moment for Delta to think of why that is important, but he sighs and nods in agreement. Makes sense. Helps that there wouldn't be any windows.

"Honestly I'm more concerned about the internal threats," Delta grumbles as he guides York to the front of the house. "We are protected from external threats by the Hawks and standard security that defend the house."

'Internal threats are different,' he says, trying to keep his tone factual. 'We'll look into putting more measures in place, but for now, the best thing is to stay close and keep your guard up.'

"Didn't really develop a guard," Delta admits with a shrug. They arrive in the front hall soon enough and he carefully considers the door. No windows but maybe he should stay back anyway. And leave York between him and the rest of the house. "I guess you can teach me that too."

That, he is somewhat surprised by. With Delta living the life he does, he'd have thought the man would have developed something of a guard. Well, he can help him develop it now, he's probably going to need it.

'I'm happy to help in any ways I can.' They stay back for now, York between Delta and the door while they wait.

Guard in his own home? It wasn't something he was trained to be. Out on the streets Delta found himself more easily paranoid. And maybe there was something to be said of a man who had his own panic room. But that didn't mean he knew how to be on guard every second of every day in his own home. Threats from within were not anticipated.

"That's all I can ask. After all, we're a team. And we're going to teach things to each other, right?"

'Right,' he agrees. 'I feel like we've both got good knowledge on what we know, so sharing it will be mutually beneficial.'

There's the sound of a doorbell and York looks back at the door. Probably the delivery. He steps closer, still careful, and looks to the camera showing the other side. Yep, delivery. Still, he's careful, only opening the door enough to look out and bring the parcel back in.

The delivery man looks confused, but he does hand the package over. And once the door was closed Delta moves forward to smile at York. "I hope you like some of what I picked out. Or at least one thing."

York dips his head in thanks and shuts the door taking Delta a bit further back before opening the parcel to find multiple swimming shorts.

'I'm sure there's a few here I like.' What he can see looks good.

"Hopefully you will still like them after you've put them on to try," Delta answers before pointing in the direction they need to go. He'll have to direct York from behind. Probably isn't safe to lead.

Which says something terrible about his own home, but what was a person going to do?

'As long as they're comfy and don't come off in the water, that's all I need. And not too garish, but we covered that.' He starts heading in the direction Delta pointed out.

"I... that would be bad," Delta agrees, his face going scarlet again. It would likely be difficult enough seeing such a gorgeous man half undressed in front of him. And wet.

Damn this was a bad idea.

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