xp_logs | Alex and Warren (Backdated)

xp_havok posting in

Alex and Warren talk. Backdated to Feb. 22

The office was quiet - a rare occurrence. Everyone was gone for the day or working on a case or just... not there. The only sound was rapid typing as Alex tried to finish his report - nothing special, a wife thought her husband was cheating, turned out he was taking dance lessons - and Alex just wanted to finish so he could get out. He had earbuds shoved in, head bobbing slightly to whatever song was playing.

The last place Warren wanted to go was XFI but unfortunately, he needed to. After ensuring Lorna would be out (and that was an apology that was still yet to come) and that Sue would be there, he decided to pop in and sign off a few of the financial pieces that were waiting. Yes, they could have been faxed to him but he just wanted it done, and actually forget what he said first off -- he really DID want to go to XFI. He missed the place. It'd been almost 5 months since the last time he'd done detective work, and he missed it.

Of course, walking in, seeing Alex sitting there, he realized quickly that this was a bad idea. It was too late to go though. He just had to walk in, do his thing, walk out. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

"Alex," he said by way of greeting, as neutrally as possible. If he could limit the conversation, that would be great.

Alex's eyes flickered up, although he didn't really need to look to identify the voice. His expression betrayed nothing of what he might have been thinking, although look who's come to slum it with the commoners did momentarily cross his mind. "Mm," is what he settled for in the end. He'd sworn to himself that he would be the bigger man - really, he had. He knew there had been... circumstances, and it wasn't entirely Warren's fault. And Alex was generally a forgiving a person.

But Warren had hit something deep, whether he meant to or not.

The noise was more than he'd expected. Warren puttered around, doing the few things he wanted and was about to leave before he hesitated at the door. Step 9 was making amends and apologizing, and while Warren had sworn that he'd skip that step.....fuck. He did feel bad.

"Alex," Warren cleared his throat. "Can I talk to you for a moment? You don't have to say anything back at all, I just ... I wanted to apologize."

He actually did sound sincere, which wasn't something that could be said often. The keyboard clacked quietly as Alex turned things over in his mind. If someone is truly remorseful, they deserve to at least be heard. Man. His moms. He finally looked up, expression still decidedly neutral. But Warren had his attention.

Warren cleared his throat again. This was harder than he thought. Even though by now, he'd made amends with Felicia and with Kevin, it was different doing so with Alex. After all, Warren had always been close to Lorna, thinking of her as a good friend, and he knew he had damaged that relationship horribly. he still hadn't apologized, didn't even know how to start.

But Alex. Alex was also so friendly, and outgoing so to get the silent treatment? Yikes.

"Although I could blame everything on the demon, I know that I had a part to play. I was weak, I gave in to my hedonistic side, and if I'm honest, the demon could really be drugs or alcohol or anything else that I was beating myself with. I was a total tool and I said some really shitty things about you to Lorna. I was even shittier to Lorna. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

Alex kept his gaze on Warren, expression (or lack thereof) never wavering. "Yeah, you were an ass," he finally said flatly. "Times ten. That's not news. You don't really believe you're the first person to think I'm some deadbeat loser, do you? I've heard it all. Although you thinking I can never give Lorna what she deserves is a bit ironic considering you're the guy who signs my paycheck. But yeah, you're not exactly clever or unique. You just decided to say those things to my fucking wife instead of to my face. And yeah, I get it, there was a demon. I mean, I don't get it, that magic stuff is hocus pocus, but I get you weren't totally in control. But those thoughts didn't come out of nowhere. They never do."

He stopped to take a breath and re-gather his thoughts. He hadn't really considered what he was going to say to Warren, if this conversation ever happened. Part of him had hoped it wouldn't. "I don't really care what you say about me. I mean, it sucks, because I actually did respect you, believe it or not. Whatever, though. Lor's the one you hurt. I'm a loser? Fine. I know where we stand. She's the one you need to suck it up and face."

Warren had to hold back from rolling his eyes. He needed to think 'reformed' thoughts. Not dwell on the past, not dwell on the words and things he said. "I accept everything you just said. It was a grade A dick move. Completely. And I hate that I said that to Lorna, I hate that I offended you, when both of you have been great. Neither of you deserved that, and yes, I'll be talking to Lorna...eventually." His nose still hurt sometimes when he thought about that night.

"I want to make amends. I do. Throwing money at the problem is never going to fix things...but it helps. Want a car? A house? Stocks in my company?"

"She's got a mean right hook. Learn to duck." Alex wasn't a telepath, but the thought of Lorna punching Warren did make him smile, and it wasn't something Warren was bound to forget any time soon, he was sure. "Honestly, I'm surprised you don't already know how to do that." He didn't know for sure, of course, but he imagined Warren was the kind of person who got things thrown at him while the other person yelled obscenities.

Unlike Warren, Alex did roll his eyes. "If you're offering money I guess you have to be serious," he deadpanned. "But no, I don't want anything. You want to make amends? Prove it with something other than money." He paused, considering. "And if you're really nice, I'll tell Lor not to punch you again."

"Yes please." At the thought of another punch, Warren visibly flinched. "And yeah...I'm taking suggestions? I mean, other than leaving XFI for her entirely, showing how much I trust her to run everything......." He trailed off and tilted his head, pondering things in his mind. "Actually. I should do that. This was always a side project for me, just a vanity thing really, but for her, it's an actual job. You guys are both passionate about this, not me. I just like the trenchcoats."

"You're on your own for suggestions." Alex stood, going to get his report off the printer. He returned to his desk, put it in it's nice little tray, and grabbed his bag, throwing it over his shoulder. "All I can do is tell her you're not being an asshole anymore. Good luck with everything else."

"Alex -- " Warren stopped and sighed. Start again. Walking towards the younger man, Warren extended a hand. "Thank you for listening to me. I do appreciate it. And I'll always be an asshole, I mean, it's practically in my genes. But what I can do is make sure the people I care about aren't hurt anymore. At least not by me." He swallowed thickly. "I really am sorry."

Alex sized him up for a moment before taking his hand and shaking. "Yeah, but you're a good asshole most of the time. Lor's got good judgment. She wouldn't be your friend if you were actually a terrible human being." His lips twitched into a faint, but sincere smile. He stepped back, taking his hand back and heading for the door, waving over his shoulder. "See ya later."