Look who's back, kids.

[legaltoughguy]

Why do you only remember I exist when you're pissed off about something? No. Wait. Don't answer that.

And no, I'm not going to interrogate Tessanne's boyfriend. You told me I wasn't allowed to do that when she was dating Peter. You don't get to have it both ways.

Comments

[filthymouth]

Well shit... You're back.

[legaltoughguy]

Amazing what a couple of bad days will do for you.

How are you?

[filthymouth]

Been alright. I'd ask the same but I can probably guess.

[legaltoughguy]

I'm fine.

I mean, not my sister who's still living happily ever with your partner fine, but I'm fine.

[filthymouth]

Still hung up over that?

[legaltoughguy]

I never was.

I'm just saying I'm not married and living happily ever after.

[filthymouth]

Do you gotta be married? Or are you just whining because your little sister's married and you aren't?

[legaltoughguy]

If you're going to start taking digs at me, this is going to be a very short conversation.

[filthymouth]

Hey, relax. Hear me out for a sec. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't feel obligated to get married just because your sister is. No one's looking at that as some kinda failure.

[legaltoughguy]

I don't feel obligated. I'm just saying that she's in a different place than I am, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I've got more than enough to do here anyway.

[filthymouth]

Right, you got so much to do but you're clearly upset over this.

[legaltoughguy]

No. I'm not. It was a dry attempt at humor and a statement of fact. So stop trying to psychoanalyze me.

[filthymouth]

Fine, alright. You win, buddy. Dropping it.

[legaltoughguy]

Thank you.

Anyway. It's nice to see you. You out saving the world again?

[filthymouth]

Good to see you, too. And nah, been really sticking to that whole 'normal person thing'. Been nice not being shot at.

[legaltoughguy]

That's a surprise. I thought retirement would not have lasted long for you. That you'd get bored.

[filthymouth]

I'm trying to be convincing here. Was none of that convincing? ...shit.

[legaltoughguy]

...What are you really doing and does it involve my brother-in-law?

[Just because he knows if Michael is involved, then Tess is probably worried sick and he'll need to call her and see if there's anything he can do for her.]

[filthymouth]

What? Oh, no! No, no. That's the probably, we aren't up to anything. It's boring as hell, Andrew.

[legaltoughguy]

I'd invite you over but there's that matter of an entire ocean between us.

[Which sucks when he wants to spend holidays with the people he loves, but Chicago is where his job is.]

[filthymouth]

Should've said something before, I would've come out to see ya. Still can.

[Fucking around abroad can be put on hold.]

[legaltoughguy]

If you want to. It's pretty boring in Chicago, too. Cold and dreary.

But you know my home is always open to you.

[Andrew would make a comment about so is his bed, but he has no clue what they are to each other anymore so he doesn't in case Damien has moved on from him by now.]

[filthymouth]

Not boring so long as you're there.

[While some time has passed between them and Damien's been his whole carefree, idiot self around the world, he still very much cares deeply for Andrew.]

Then I'll swing back, get you out the house a bit.

[legaltoughguy]

I'll be here. Just text me when you're close.

[He didn't know how long it would take and wanted to be sure he was home and awake whenever it was. An awkward pause, wondering what he should say after everything they'd been through.]

It'll be good to see you again.