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Call her crazy, but Yaz has seen some pretty weird things since getting stranded on Isla Nublar, and finding a secret facility on the supposedly deserted island they were on barely breaks in her top three. A fact, which, is both amazing and bat-crap crazy. Still, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t flabbergasted when she walked through some concrete building that appeared out of thin air in the desert and then suddenly found herself in a forest. What’s even more astounding is that apparently there are dinosaurs on this island.
She’ll ponder the crushing, existential dread she felt upon seeing a T-Rex again at a later time.
Discovering Doctor Mae Turner, who Darius excitedly recognized, was both suspicious and comforting; the idea that they were trapped on an island alone again was none too pleasant to say the least., but neither is finding another adult who would turn on them or try to kill them.
While she guided them to her hideout, she noticed the proximity in which Brooklynn and Kenji were talking, the two giggling at whatever Kenji said. Nothing out of the ordinary, since Kenji is pretty funny (a fact she’ll deny to her dying breath, thanks). The strange thing is, when she looked back at Ben who wasn’t following along, she saw an almost pained expression on the guy’s face. She followed his line of sight and it led straight back to Brooklynn and Kenji.
Huh.
When they finally arrived at Doctor Turner’s waterfall hideout, it was no surprise that some of them went to work seeing if her ‘we don’t have a phone’ story checked out. What did surprise Yaz, however, was the fact that it was Brooklynn and Kenji who started the search, the two on the same suspicious wavelength.
Together again, for some reason.
Huh.
Any thoughts concerning those two went out the window when Sammy found evidence that Turner is working with Mantah Corp. The look of anger and suspicion on her face is plain as day, and Yaz can’t blame her. Still, she was proud of her girl for not being completely hateful toward the woman, even coming to her defence, saying that sometimes good people do bad things.
Still, Brooklynn is right, and they should at least check out the area that Doctor Turner told them to never go to. The pink-haired girl is quick to partner herself and Kenji to go check it out, and Yaz is quick to check Ben’s reaction. Maybe not the same face he made in the forest, but he didn’t look all that pleased at the suggestion.
So, Yaz made one for him.
“Me and Ben should go, too. Y’know, just in case.”
Brooklynn is quick to agree, but Kenji has an almost bewildered look on his face, one that is aimed at her. She ignores it. She doesn’t have enough information to go off of to assess what the heck is going on between these three, and that just won’t do.
Yaz will admit to being excited to get to the bottom of this.
She definitely isn’t excited to potentially run into the T-Rexes from earlier, but her natural penchant for gossip and drama wins out.
---
So, a phone is not what they find.
What they do find is another metal plate, much like the one Ben discovered in the desert. Brooklynn surmises that it might be a feeding platform, which makes Yaz’s skin crawl. The idea that the Rexes could show up any minute for lunch is enough to chill her to the bone.
Again, no time for introspection.
Time for being nosy.
Yaz's curiosity piques when Kenji makes it a point to get Ben out specifically, hauling himself out of the ditch they were in first then reaching for the shorter boy’s hand. From where she is down below, she has a good view of Kenji putting his hand on the small of Ben’s back. Yaz doesn’t know if you know this, but that’s a very intimate place to be putting your hand on someone.
Brooklynn next to her hasn’t seen it yet- or she just doesn’t care- because she’s grunting as she struggles to get out herself. Yaz, ever polite (pfft) gets herself out first then helps the other up. When Brooklynn finally manages to get up, she seems determined to catch up with the guys. Yaz, not wanting to interrupt whatever the heck those two have going on, stops her with some friendly conversation.
“Say, Brooklynn.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“We never really got to talk, just us. I just wanted to, you know. Talk. Just us.” Yikes, this is awkward. The expression on the pink haired girl’s face says as much, but she indulges Yaz all the same.
“I mean, we talked a little when we rode the gondola up to the hang glider place. But, sure, we can talk if we want to.” They walk side by side, chatting away, keeping a respectful distance between them and Kenji and Ben.
She comes up with whatever she can think of, but getting Brooklynn to talk about herself proves distracting enough for the girl to not notice what Yaz is up to. She makes non-committal noises to prevent Brooklynn from stopping, but Yaz's focus is mainly on the two ahead of them.
Kenji’s hand has since found it’s way around Ben’s shoulder, the two looking mighty comfy as they stroll through the woods. It’s pretty obvious what the deal is with them, though in hindsight, it was obvious from the day they rode Gyrospheres months ago.
She made a note a while ago that the six of them kind of split up the same way they did with the Gyrospheres; herself and Sammy, Ben and Kenji, and Brooklynn and Darius. She and Sammy have since gotten together, and they along with Ben and Kenji noticed the strange vibes that the two youngest give off. It made sense that the other two boys would also have something going on.
Brooklynn's recent need to be near Kenji is kind of throwing her hypothesis out of whack.
She has no time to ponder the implications as a familiar noise startles the lot of them.
---
So. Killer robot dogs. Now Yaz has seen everything.
Anyway, they find themselves back at Mae’s hideout, the good Doctor assuring them she’ll find a way to keep them safe until they can return to the mainland. She’s heard that before. Still, they have no choice and stay put.
Sammy and Darius, however, do not share that sentiment, and they sneak after her. So, the four of them are once again alone. Nice.
She worries for Sammy’s safety, but when Sammy puts her mind to something there’s no stopping her. Yaz simply offered her a smile of encouragement before sending her on her way.
Things get juicy again when Brooklynn and Kenji are sitting on Mae’s couch, the pink haired girl showing the tallest teen something in a magazine she found lying around. Suddenly, Ben, who has returned from the restroom, takes a seat between them, effectively ending whatever banal conversation they were having. Kenji smiles down at the shorter boy, with Ben returning the look. Not so subtly, Kenji puts his arm on the back of the couch behind the other- another intimate gesture, she notes. She also notes that Brooklynn’s face scrunched up the second Ben sat down. Whether it’s because her conversation was interrupted or something deeper, Yaz doesn’t know.
What she does know is that this is very entertaining.
A hostile environment doesn’t do anyone any good, however, so she tries to distract the younger girl.
“Say, Brooklynn, fancy a game of cards?” She tries, not at all subtly.
“What? Oh. Uh, I don’t know any card games.” She says. By the tone of her voice, that statement doesn’t sound untrue. Yaz almost feels bad for suggesting it.
“Then, uh, wanna help me make some snacks in the kitchen?” Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Kenji furrow his brows at her. Ignoring him, she looks Brooklynn straight in the eye as she pushes the two table lamps behind them together, resisting the urge to wiggle her eyebrows at the girl. If Brooklynn could pick up on the vibes the other two are giving, they'd all be better off for it. Tact was never a friend of hers, just saying.
“I do, Yaz.” Kenji says huffily as he stands and joins her.
Oh.
The two find themselves in Mae’s kitchen, and Kenji does not look pleased.
“Dude. What is up with you?” He starts in a hushed tone.
“Nothing. Just trying to be a good wingman.” She matches his volume, but her voice dripping with joy.
“...What?”
“Kenji. Dude. You and Ben? So not subtle.” She accentuates the confident nonchalance that she says this with by putting her hand on her hip and quirking a brow at the taller teen.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
She doesn’t say anything. He worries his bottom lip, then throws his hands in the air in defeat.
“Okay, yeah. We're together. So what?”
“Nothing. I just noticed, is all. Trying to keep Brooklynn occupied so you two can have some alone time.”
“We don’t need your help, Yaz. I mean thanks and all, but you’re being super weird about it. I don’t know if Ben wants people to know about us, so don’t draw attention to it, okay?” She doesn’t know why, but hearing Kenji say, ‘I don’t know if Ben wants people to know about us,’ makes her both happy -her friends have found comfort in each other, like she and Sammy have- and worried. Worried about what keeping a secret like that can do to someone; worried about what she's seen of Ben lately.
“I won’t. Not anymore. It’s just…” She’s not sure she should tell him. Yaz has already interfered, but only as far as Brooklynn is concerned. Is it the wisest thing to bring up her observations of Ben when she doesn't know for sure what those weird looks he was giving Brooklynn and Kenji mean?
It’s pretty obvious in her mind what they mean, but she’s been wrong before. So, she chooses to omit it.
“It’s just… what?” He tries to prompt her.
“Nothing. Just… if you don’t want people to know, maybe not have your hands all over him every chance you get.”
Kenji’s face lights up at this, an indignant scowl on his lips.
“I don’t- I mean, sometimes– You don’t– Guh!” He huffs before stomping off back towards where Ben and Brooklynn are looking at a magazine together. Ben looks at the taller teen in concern, then back at Yaz over his shoulder. He quickly turns around when Kenji takes his seat next to him again.
Yaz can’t help the fond smile that finds itself on her lips. Kenji has to be her best friend here besides Sammy, and seeing that big lug find happiness does nothing but make her heart swell.
“Go get em, stud.” She says quietly to herself.
Now, if she can only figure out what the heck Brooklynn’s problem is.
---
Okay, the robot dogs Mae said wouldn’t enter the cave? One entered the cave.
It almost killed the four of them, but Kenji was quick to bash the ever living crap out of it, disabling it permanently. He and Ben share a look, then a laugh. Watching the scene unfold in front of her, Yaz instinctively puts an arm around Brooklynn, feeling warm inside just being around the two lovebirds.
“Hey, guys? Can you give me and Yaz a second?” Brooklynn says suddenly.
Ben and Kenji oblige and make themselves scarce, though really, the only place they can go is the kitchen and will probably hear them anyway.
Brooklynn turns to Yaz, a solemn look on her face, her brows knit together.
“Um, look, Yaz.”
“What is it?”
“I– are things okay between you and Sammy?”
What.
“What-? What are you-”
“Because if you guys hit a snag or whatever, I can totally help! What you guys have is something special, and you shouldn’t throw it away on… well, me.”
“Brooklynn.” The name of the girl is all Yaz can say as she takes in everything the other is saying. Oh, and remember what she said about the others being able to hear them? Screw it. Ben and Kenji are shamelessly poking their heads out from the kitchen, watching the scene unfold.
This is not where Yaz thought this conversation was going to go. This is also not the way she planned on telling them about her and Sammy. It's whatever, though. She found out about them completely on accident, so it's only fair they find out about her relationship much the same way.
“Look, I’m flattered and all, but I just don’t… Like you like that. I’m not– Doesn’t matter. Like I said, you’re probably just trying to fill the void Sammy left. But not to worry! I can help you! I once got the Dalai Lama to talk to an ex of his. I can do the same for you and Sammy.”
This is too much.
“Brooklynn, me and Sammy are fine.” Yaz says firmly, trying to hide the embarrassment and irritation she's feeling right now.
“Oh, thank goodness!” The shorter girl exhales gratefully, relief plain on her face. “I was rooting for you guys so hard back on Nublar, it would have broken my heart if you broke up.”
Suddenly, Yaz realizes she finds herself in a embarrassing position that she similarly put Kenji in earlier, and decides that she’ll ease up on her wingman routine.
“Thanks, I think.”
“So what’s with all the touchy feely stuff you’ve been doing with me today?” Brooklynn questions.
Oh. Right. Is there a way she can explain that all of that has to deal with Brooklynn potentially being into Kenji who is emotionally unavailable? And that she’s seen Ben looking forlornly at his boyfriend and Brooklynn spending time together almost excessively and was trying to give them a chance to be alone? Is there any chance Yaz can explain her actions away?
Relief washes over her as Sammy, Darius, and Mae return right at that moment, grim expressions on all their faces.
They go on about what new problem the group has to deal with. Yaz pays attention, sure, but her mind wanders again.
She really needs to stop meddling with the others. Who knows? Maybe Darius will accuse her of liking him next because of it. Ooh, or Sammy think’s she’s cheating on her with Ben or something ridiculous. The possibilities are endless with this group, that's for sure.
As Mae and Darius go over what messed up thing is going on with Mantah Corp, she notices Kenji's hand find the small of Ben’s back like it did in the forest, and makes her decision there.
Meddling is too fun to give up.
