"It's okay, I guess," Hawk replied. "It's a bigger culture shock 'n I figured."

The hallway turned away from the windows, running past closed doors and abandoned rooms full of furniture that lay beneath sheets. Numair said nothing as Hawk spoke.

"But me an' Liya are stayin' in a room at Teige's place, an' Parker found me some work doin' security at one of the clinics, an' Yoshi's helpin' me pick up the language, so I guess I got the basics covered."

The hallway forked, running one way into another dark corridor, and the other to a flight of stairs. They took the stairs down a couple of floors, and emerged onto another empty, though somewhat more warmly-lit space. Silence had fallen between them, though Hawk seemed uncomfortable, and felt at his neck and collar.

Finally he said casually, "An' Liya also got me goin' to see a therapist, so..."

Numair actually looked at him then, and for a moment regarded him in surprise. Then he looked away again, simply saying, "That's good, I think."

They'd emerged outside, into a sort of courtyard full of trees.

"How is it?" Numair asked.

"Oh, I hate it," Hawk replied immediately. "I guess it helps, but it's fuckin' hard. There's just a lot to--" he broke off. "Well, you know."

"I know," Numair agreed quietly.

The courtyard beneath the shade of the trees was as dark and quiet and empty as the hallways had been. It wasn't much of a garden--the only flowers were tiny pale ones that dotted the unmanicured grass. The pathway that was worn into the grass led to a manmade pond with a stone bench beside it, both seeming to have been left to wear down and grow moss. Numair stopped at the edge of the pond on one of the mossy paving stones that lined it, and just stood looking at the surface of the water. Hawk came to stand beside him. Another silence fell.

"I din't tell anyone about us, by the way." Hawk didn't look at Numair. "Not even Liya. She just knows we met, is all."

Numair stiffened. He said tersely, "I am not ashamed of you, Hawk."

Hawk turned.