[ He clicks his tongue, pulling a face. ] Please. It was more her loss than mine. [ He doesn't quite turn to face Kasumi, yet, but his smile softens into something more fond. ] Besides, I managed to get the prettiest girl in the galaxy to buy me a pity drink, so I’d say it was worth it.

[ It takes him a second to compose himself, and he examines the bar top as he does so. (There's a small stain that looks a bit like a cactus, he notes.) He turns his head a little, catching her gaze (or he thinks he does, anyway; hard to tell with the hood). The pressure in his chest lessens, turns into something weirdly floaty, and he finds he likes it. There's a peal of laughter from the table behind him, and he decides-- fuck it. He moves to take her free hand, wrapping his fingers loosely around hers. His knuckles are bruised and scabbed from one too many fist fights, but that, at least, is nothing too new. ]

I-- I've really fucking missed you. [ And he can't help it-- his voice is unsteady and thick and, man, he's being seriously lame, he thinks, but who the hell cares? Better to be honest while he has the chance. He doesn't know if or when he'll see her again after this. ]