Chapter Text
“Karlach…”
“Yes?” This was one of the rare moments she got to actually talk to Gale, they didn’t usually get a chance to step outside at the same time. But it was an hour before close on a Thursday, so they made an exception.
“Hypothetical question for you.” He stared at the pavement, sitting in his usual spot, cigarette dangling from between his lips. He sounded anxious, almost. He twiddled his fingers together.
“Alright, ask away.” She was still standing, pacing a bit, and he felt as if she were towering over him. Well, more so than usual.
“So, let’s say…” he took a breath. He was being a bit ridiculous about this. “…that perhaps a certain individual was detecting possibly a… modicum of, um… romantic chemistry between themself and another.” As silly as he felt realizing this, his cheeks warmed a little bit. He ran his fingers through his hair. “What would you think that individual should hypothetically… do about it?”
A laugh resonated deep in her chest and rose out of her throat. “For heaven’s sake Gale.” She took a puff of her own cigarette. “Whoever you’re talking about, just drop the hypotheticals and talk to them.”
“It feels a bit early to do anything, and I may be wrong, I could be completely off base. But… I don’t know. I think I might be detecting something. I’m really terrible with this sort of thing, I must admit” He started stumbling over words again. It felt like his brain was working significantly faster than his mouth could process, and everything was just kind of falling out. He had barely processed this possibility himself, he didn’t think he really had any business speaking it into the world, but his mind had… well, a mind of it’s own, and his voice seemed to have an agenda. “I mean, we’ve known each other a while, but we haven’t talked much until quite recently. And I’ve never really thought about him that way, but… well, maybe that could change?” He stuck finger up, as if to say ‘and another thing!’ “Besides, this could all be inconsequential, anyway, there’s a possibility he could be seeing someone already. I’ve nothing to confirm it, and it’s really not my business in the slightest, but he does seem rather chummy with somebody else we know. Maybe he’s just like that with everyone. But, then again, he wasn’t with ME until… Oh, bother. Really, Karlach, I have no idea.” He took a sharp inhale from the cigarette he had been swinging around as he talked, and subsequently exhaled slowly and thoughtfully. “Hypothetically, of course.” He sighed, shoulders drooping. “Maybe I’ll just drop it. Y’know what? Just forget I said anything.“
“Gale. If you’re bringing it up to me, you must be thinking about it. Let it sit for however long you want, but when the moment arises, just — and I cannot stress this enough —“ she stared straight at him, “talk to him.”
He sighed, breath sort of shaky. “Hm. Right, talking. I am quite good at that.”