Marvel, Rebirth:

IC:

"It may not be convenient because it may not be there. I think, Dallas, you're confusing a 'thing' for a projection of affection in Tali's absence."

IC:

...

"Aight. Whatever. You want some more ice cream?"

-Tyler

IC:

"You say 'alright', but you aren't."

IC:

"Been better. But my intestines aren't slip-and-sliding out from what used to be a six pack right now, so I'm not going to complain."

-Tyler

IC:

"That is a rather evasive, and passive aggressive, response."

IC:

"It's just that--"

A low, angry breath forced its way through his nose. Dallas visibly calmed himself down.

"I'm an empath. I know what I feel."

-Tyler

IC:

"You've told me, more than once, that being an empath isn't perfect. If it was, you would never wonder what I was feeling." The ex-Weapon's response was slow and quiet, and her grip didn't leave the chronokinetic the option of getting up. "Any bias in how you view the outside world is going to be magnified by an order of magnitude when you have to view yourself."

"I don't have the option to see how you think, but I think it is important to remind you that you have Tali. Who you are most likely missing quite a lot."

IC:

"I know."

-Tyler

IC:

"So, do you think it's possible missing Tali is messing with your head?"

IC:

"I could call Tali. Or she could call me - if we wanted. Haven't heard from her, so I guess we don't." He felt tired all of a sudden. Not physically - Dallas' bed had never seen much use outside of with another Ultimate, and his sleep schedule could best be described as Bruce Wayne on bath salts - but a more emotional weariness. It settled in alongside a light blue filter that had started to seep into the countertop, the walls, even his and Bekah's black jeans. "It's possible. But so is a Phalanx hit squad shimmering to life from the bathroom to finish the job. Or winning Who Wants to be a Millionaire. If you'd asked me when I was fourteen how my life would end up by the time I was old enough to drink..."

The brevet leader of the Ultimates sank back into Rebekah's hug, surly, and kicked his feet up on the counter in an attempt to gain back some irreverence points.

"...I dunno. I wasn't built for sappy . How I feel's how I feel, you can do with it what you want. No point in making a soft, weepy moron of myself."

-Tyler

IC:

"Wrong." Her grip tightened, chin entrenching itself between his shoulder and head resolutely. Rebekah wasn't gifted with the ability to see exactly how the people around her felt, but she had never been anything but perceptive. "You've discouraged yourself from sappiness. From any displays of emotion that aren't anger or irreverence.It has nothing to do with how you were built, and everything to do with what you've experienced."

"And your chosen comparisons speak volumes." She paused, just for a moment. "You don't think you're mixing the two up."

IC:

"No."

-Tyler

IC:

"..."

"I can't really tell you what to do."

IC:

"I know, Bek. Don't worry about it."

-Tyler

IC:

"Oh, you don't get to pull that now."

IC:

"Pull what? Who says I can't? I can pull whatever I want to pull."

Dallas looked to his left, with the best approximation of the dark-haired woman's usual glare that he had ever mustered.

-Tyler

IC:

And was met, at the very edge of his peripheral vision, with the genuine article; complete with heterochromatic eyes and a faint, unearthly glow. The former Weapon glared back, entirely unconcerned by the chronokinetic's expression. "Don't be petulant. You know what."

"You don't get to lay all of that out, act like you were a puppy that I kicked when I expressed doubt, continue to pout and be surly to this very moment, and then tell me not to worry about it."

IC:

"You didn't kick me. You glacked me with the minigun. Gimme some credit, I know your style."

-Tyler

IC:

"I did no such thing." The faint irritation in her voice was a stark contrast to the continued tightening of her grip. Her eyes narrowed slightly,almost seeming a little brighter, before she continued; "I expressed rational and reasonable doubt. Because you are not a rational person. In fact, you are stubbornly irrational and impulsive. Both being traits that land you in trouble rather often."

"I express doubt because I want you to be happy, regardless of what you think is or isn't a good idea."

IC:

"Okay...you've never considered a career in air traffic control, have you babe?" Despite his pouty glare never leaving his face, Dallas' hand moved to Bekah's wrist and gave it a squeeze. "I think it might be the first thing you're not good at. All the mixed signals would totally tank your performance review."

-Tyler

IC:

"There's nothing mixed about them. My priority is that you are safe and happy." The ex-Weapon's glare intensified. "Everything I have said is to that end. They are, within that viewpoint, completely consistent and follow a logical progression."

IC:

...

"..You could really stand to make things clearer. Maybe use contractions now and again. Maybe don't sound like Cleverbot when you're telling someone you love them. It might make me act marginally more mature."

Dallas' acting glare split into a cheerful grin - which looked somewhat less bipolar than it sounds.

"If you get lucky."

-Tyler

IC:

"I think I might hate you."

IC:

"That explains why your idea of an affectionate hug is the Reverse Bear Trap from the Saw movies."

-Tyler

IC:

"I have no idea what that means."

IC:

"Really? You'd swear it would be like History 110 for Weapon-X personnel..." Dallas' face grew more relaxed and he finally took his legs off the countertop, like a civilized human being. "Let's give this another try, I love you, Bekah."

-Tyler

IC:

...

...

"Love you too."

IC:

"There. That wasn't hard. So like, you've really never watched a Saw movie? What about horror movies in general?"

-Tyler

IC:

"Given our lives, I have not seen the point."

IC:

"Well, that's the beauty of it." With no further explanation, Dallas tilted his head towards the freezer. "I'm still hungry. More ice cream?"

-Tyler

IC:

"..." Rebekah's attentiveness visibly heightened at the words "ice cream", and she paused before responding to contemplate the question. Weighing the pros and cons. Deciding on what the best course of action would be. Then giving an understated nod. "I could eat more ice cream."

IC:

Jesus.

"Alright. More of the same?"

-Tyler

IC:

"Whatever variety you have is satisfactory."

IC:

"...I'm going to run out of food more often now, huh."

-Tyler

IC:

"I can exercise self-restraint."

IC:

"Will you?"

-Tyler

IC:

"... I will make an effort."

IC:

"Grazie." Dallas looked at the counter, and then back to Rebekah. "You're still hugging me."

-Tyler

IC:

"Why yes, I suppose I am."

IC:

...

"Don't worry about it," the chronokinetic repeated, finally throwing one arm around his teammate's neck and hugging her back.

-Tyler