[ How did he get here. Really, how did he get here? When he stopped to think about all the events that lead him to this place right now he had to accept the possibility that he might be a little fucking psychotic. Wasn't that the ultimate reason for Zane leaving him? Probably. Maybe.

Cause he could not for the life of him be normal. Whatever that meant. Damn if he didn't try for a few years. Drop the mask, drop the voice, drop the codename. Get married. Build a company. Ignore the person he was actually in love with cause, you know, the person he married was good enough. Leave it all behind. Became ~ a part of the system ~ howwwwww did he ever let himself go this route? Like as if Rempart betraying him wasn't an obvious thing and he didn't see it? And he was so ready to trust Sabine, too. Was he a fucking idiot or what, man.

Tired. Old. Human. Fuck it, man. ]

Oh—! [ Piped up the mechanical voice with a sharp swing of his body upright to face Kirk. Ayy, thank whoeverthefuck that he was Wrench right now. Masks were so useful, and though the voice was modulated it sounded nothing if not friendly. ] Hey man, you— [ Also: Hello sweaty and handsome. ] having a panic attack, just finished going for a run, or a bit of both?

[ Casual handwave at the whole... Kirk situation. ] Oh, right. Yeah. You know, just looking for something to lubricate the ol' vocoder as it were.