xp_logs | Kurt and Hank, Saturday noon

They talk about Madelyn, get some things out in the open, and come to an agreement to be mature about this.

Hank had... well, not been avoiding Kurt, exactly, just not seeking him out. At all. It was... awkward. He was pretty sure that the other man had feelings for Madelyn, and... well. He liked Kurt. He didn't want to see him unhappy. He also, however, didn't want to see him with Madelyn. This made talking to him a little awkward. But he wasn't going to be rude, either. So when he all but walked right into the man when he stepped out of the elevator, he smiled cheerfully. "Good morning," he said, tipping his handsome new hat politely. "Or... afternoon, I suppose it is now. I suspect I've missed lunch again."

Kurt glanced up, startled out of thought, as he had to sidestep to get out of the way. "Oh - hello, Hank. I think it is not quite too late for lunch..." He stifled a quick stab of jealousy at the thought that Hank had spent the whole morning in the medlab. With Madelyn. Of course he had, he reminded himself. That was his job.

"Good." There was a moment of increasingly awkward silence. "Did you enjoy your visit home?" he asked, and then winced inwardly. Oh, yes, that hadn't sounded at all as if he was flailing for a topic of conversation that didn't have red hair and a devastatingly lovely smile...

Kurt nodded. "It was good, yes. And what I needed."

"Time away is always good." Hank looked around and then straightened a little. "I... this is a little awkward," he admitted. "Still, I believe we may congratulate ourselves on at least being mature about this, and not indulging in macho posturing or foolish brawling."

Kurt looked up at him, then nodded reluctantly. "Yes. I have been... unsure what to do."

"As have I." Hank nodded. "I... have not, as yet, said anything to her. I suspect that you have not, either, given that the school's very efficient rumour mill has not yet announced it."

"Not as yet. I do plan to... but it is not an easy thing to do." Especially when you have never really done it before.

"It certainly is not." Especially when your romances tend to go very, very badly. "I... well, perhaps it should go without saying, but given the contentious nature that such competition has had in the past, in the mansion... I believe your interest in Madelyn demonstrates only the finest possible taste, and should you succeed and I fail in gaining her affections, I will sincerely wish both of you every happiness." He smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry, that sounded a little pompous... I simply wanted to say that I have no intention of being a jerk about this. Madelyn is her own person, and should she offer her heart to either of us, that is entirely her decision to make. I promise, no loud fits of jealousy or invitations to fisticuffs."

Kurt listened until Hank had finished, then nodded with a small rueful smile. "Thank you. I give you the same promise and good wishes, of course."

Hank nodded. "Thank you." He smiled an equally rueful smile. "This is... well. Going to be difficult. At least we can try to handle it in a suitably adult fashion." No running off with teenage girls, fleeing the country, or encouraging Maddie to choose both of them.

"We certainly can. It helps, I think... to have it out in the open."

Hank nodded. He held out his hand a little tentatively. "Let us shake on it, then. Being civil, and respecting Madelyn's decision, whatever it may be."

If there was any hesitation at all, it was barely a second before Kurt nodded firmly and shook hands. "Agreed."