[Admittedly Zenyatta cannot help but think, prudent or not, 76's objection has been prompted just as much by the man's mistrust of him as the situation in general.]
Very well. May I touch you?
[A single step would bring him close enough to wrap 76 up in his arms and let their moonlacing work its magic upon them both- if he were Hanzo or Genji or Angela, he would not have to think about it.
Now, though, he only gestures for the golden light of his healing orb to sally forth. It hovers peacefully over 76's shoulder as Zenyatta waits, hands outstretched with palms up.]
[Now 76 takes a quick step back, his body language defensive.]
What for?
[He knows what for, though he’s still wrapping his mind around how moonlacing works for omnics. Ostensibly Zenyatta needs chroma to repair himself, but given his heightened state of caution, wants to know exactly what he’s getting himself into, first.
There’s that golden orb again—of course Zenyatta is concerned for 76’s well-being in turn, and he’s still not sure what to think of that.]
[As much as Zenyatta would like to say that he is surprised, he simply is not. Some things never change- or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that some things change at such an infintessimally slow rate as to be almost imperceptible.
He moves only his hands, which drop slowly back to his sides.]
We cannot moonlace if you will not touch me. But if the idea does not sit comfortably with you, my orb can still offer a certain amount of relief, as you may recall.
[By now, he's reasonably certain that if Zenyatta were going to hurt him, he would have done it already, but he's not sure that it's advisable to be moonlacing in a situation like this.]
[Zenyatta does not acknowledge 76's initial observation, though it is true; even if the proposition would both of them, the last thing he would like is to seem self-serving.]
They do. My systems are capable of maintaining my body to a certain extent, but their functions are limited. [He shakes his head.] But I am hardly in critical condition as it stands- I am perfectly capable of seeking repairs, should I need them.
[He does not add that moonlacing simply for his sake is unnecessary- that, he hopes, 76 can deduce for himself.]
[It's a convincing enough explanation, but it still doesn't sit well with 76. He emits a long-suffering sigh. Repairs are all well and good, but who knows when Zenyatta will be able to get them?]
All right, come on.
[If only so Zenyatta doesn't end up being a liability later. He might be insisting that he's not in critical condition, but Jack has tried to pull that on too many people to let someone else get away with it. He pulls off his glove and holds out his bare hand.]
[And now that he has earned trust enough from 76 for moonlacing, Zenyatta finds himself hesitating at that sigh. As much as he needs it, he is not sure he likes the thought of being such a burden... but that is, he knows, his pride speaking for him.
He swallows it, and leans into the touch.
Not with his own hand, as 76 probably expects- shoulder first, encouraging the man to reach for the gleaming pistons and tender wires of his throat.]
I do not like to rush, but I believe this will be more efficient. [He sounds wryly amused.]
[If Zenyatta was wondering whether or not Jack was good at holding hands, the answer is that he's not. It seems he's planning on providing as minimal touch as possible, and when Zenyatta leans into him in a way he doesn't predict, he tries to take a step back.]
You gotta warn me.
[Still, he agrees that this might be faster, so after his initial moment of hesitation, he moves back in with his hand, letting it rest against the cool metal.]
[And Zenyatta is left hanging while 76 retreats, like a stray cat whose already rigid boundaries have been overstepped by one stroke too many. How foolish.]
Of course. My apologies.
[He waits patiently for Jack to recalibrate, hovering perhaps a touch awkwardly in the no man's land between them. But the space closes quickly enough, and as warm, bare skin makes contact with his neck he cannot quite contain the heartfelt sigh that follows. The circuit is completed. Impossibly, infectiously, he can already feel the rising warmth within him.
Fortunately for 76, he resists the urge to rub into it- it seems important, he thinks, not to touch him back, for now- but, unfortunately, he is already purring. It's subtle, but it's there.]
[Jack hadn’t been lying when he said he wasn’t really injured, but he’s a little banged up, and it’s not hard to feel the Chroma fixing that almost immediately. It’s like his own healing factor, but even faster, somehow, and it makes him a little uncomfortable to know that somehow, he was primed for this.
He stands in silence for a long, awkward moment. Zenyatta seems to be enjoying it, at least.]
Does that feel better?
[He hears the purring, yes, but he’s. Uh. Not sure whether or not he should acknowledge it.]
[Zenyatta would not dream of calling into question the sheer, stubborn tenacity of Soldier: 76's physical being, but while Tempeste's soldiers still swarm the moon and its retreats they cannot turn down even a moment's worth of respite.
Although that does not mean that Zenyatta should waste time enjoying it when 76 is clearly less than impressed with the situation.
The purring, abruptly and with obvious embarrassment (if the uptick in temperature localised to his neck did not tip him off first), cuts off.]
It does. Thank you, my friend. [He catches himself, at least, before he can apologise again. Instead he is taken by another thought, glancing sidelong at the man.] You still do not trust me.
[Zenyatta seems to catch himself after a moment, giving 76 the opportunity to pull his hand away and check Zenyatta over for any obvious injuries. It's not distrust, per se, just--]
I'm a little occupied right now.
[Given the chaos going on right outside, it's clear 76 feels they've wasted enough time already. He looks a little antsy.]
[That is fair, he supposes, and even if Zenyatta suspects that even under the best of circumstances 76 would be eager to get away from him he puts the thought from his head for the time being.
Almost. There is still a faint, sardonic edge to the way he asks-]
"We"?
[But he is already picking his way across the debris with those light, steady almost-steps. When he reaches the exit he pauses, back to the wall. Even with the warm encouragement of 76's touch glowing in his receptors, its web-cracked glass seems scant protection from the swarming darkness beyond.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Very well. May I touch you?
[A single step would bring him close enough to wrap 76 up in his arms and let their moonlacing work its magic upon them both- if he were Hanzo or Genji or Angela, he would not have to think about it.
Now, though, he only gestures for the golden light of his healing orb to sally forth. It hovers peacefully over 76's shoulder as Zenyatta waits, hands outstretched with palms up.]
no subject
What for?
[He knows what for, though he’s still wrapping his mind around how moonlacing works for omnics. Ostensibly Zenyatta needs chroma to repair himself, but given his heightened state of caution, wants to know exactly what he’s getting himself into, first.
There’s that golden orb again—of course Zenyatta is concerned for 76’s well-being in turn, and he’s still not sure what to think of that.]
no subject
He moves only his hands, which drop slowly back to his sides.]
We cannot moonlace if you will not touch me. But if the idea does not sit comfortably with you, my orb can still offer a certain amount of relief, as you may recall.
no subject
[By now, he's reasonably certain that if Zenyatta were going to hurt him, he would have done it already, but he's not sure that it's advisable to be moonlacing in a situation like this.]
The orbs only work on other people?
no subject
They do. My systems are capable of maintaining my body to a certain extent, but their functions are limited. [He shakes his head.] But I am hardly in critical condition as it stands- I am perfectly capable of seeking repairs, should I need them.
[He does not add that moonlacing simply for his sake is unnecessary- that, he hopes, 76 can deduce for himself.]
no subject
All right, come on.
[If only so Zenyatta doesn't end up being a liability later. He might be insisting that he's not in critical condition, but Jack has tried to pull that on too many people to let someone else get away with it. He pulls off his glove and holds out his bare hand.]
no subject
He swallows it, and leans into the touch.
Not with his own hand, as 76 probably expects- shoulder first, encouraging the man to reach for the gleaming pistons and tender wires of his throat.]
I do not like to rush, but I believe this will be more efficient. [He sounds wryly amused.]
no subject
You gotta warn me.
[Still, he agrees that this might be faster, so after his initial moment of hesitation, he moves back in with his hand, letting it rest against the cool metal.]
no subject
Of course. My apologies.
[He waits patiently for Jack to recalibrate, hovering perhaps a touch awkwardly in the no man's land between them. But the space closes quickly enough, and as warm, bare skin makes contact with his neck he cannot quite contain the heartfelt sigh that follows. The circuit is completed. Impossibly, infectiously, he can already feel the rising warmth within him.
Fortunately for 76, he resists the urge to rub into it- it seems important, he thinks, not to touch him back, for now- but, unfortunately, he is already purring. It's subtle, but it's there.]
no subject
He stands in silence for a long, awkward moment. Zenyatta seems to be enjoying it, at least.]
Does that feel better?
[He hears the purring, yes, but he’s. Uh. Not sure whether or not he should acknowledge it.]
no subject
Although that does not mean that Zenyatta should waste time enjoying it when 76 is clearly less than impressed with the situation.
The purring, abruptly and with obvious embarrassment (if the uptick in temperature localised to his neck did not tip him off first), cuts off.]
It does. Thank you, my friend. [He catches himself, at least, before he can apologise again. Instead he is taken by another thought, glancing sidelong at the man.] You still do not trust me.
[He does not sound overly offended.]
no subject
I'm a little occupied right now.
[Given the chaos going on right outside, it's clear 76 feels they've wasted enough time already. He looks a little antsy.]
We should get moving.
no subject
Almost. There is still a faint, sardonic edge to the way he asks-]
"We"?
[But he is already picking his way across the debris with those light, steady almost-steps. When he reaches the exit he pauses, back to the wall. Even with the warm encouragement of 76's touch glowing in his receptors, its web-cracked glass seems scant protection from the swarming darkness beyond.]
Where will you be heading next?