[For Joe]

[fourforone]

There's some kinda truth that just sneaks up on you and bites you in the ass sometimes. This here is one of them: I was an idiot about Joe Toye and I ought to stop being one because we're both still alive and maybe there's no war going on, but I need to stop acting like a prime-grade asshole about things

Comments

[remnantofjoseph]

Joe puts down his book and grabs a crutch--Gene wouldn't knock, but he's not sure who else wants to see him. "What d'you--"

"Oh," staring at Buck in the open doorway. "Here about baseball," he asks evenly, perhaps stalling, trying to settle on a feeling, or what to say to the man.

[fourforone]

I raise a brow and remind myself that it's not bound to be easy because Joe Toye is stubborn and I've got my pride, but I'm here and I'm not leaving before we talk. I thrust out the tin in my hands. "It's food, for the dogs. And nah, forget about baseball. I want to talk."

[remnantofjoseph]

"Forget about baseball? You sure you're not another clone?" He's joking, but not smiling, moving back over to the bed with the tin, stowing it underneath with the crutch. "Sit down if you want."

[fourforone]

I don't really laugh at the joke. It's not that good and I don't mean to be insincere, especially not now. I wander inside and sit down wearily, first place I can find. "I had no right to act the way I did to you. To pull rank and push my nose into things," I start, polite as anything. "But Joe, you had no right in hell to say what you did to me."