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[adaptiveimmunities]

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[heyboss]

He is not.

Sheehan is more determined to do this than he has been in a long time. He stays low and stays quiet and then, with a sigh, stands up and rushes towards him, gun drawn, ready to fire.

[adaptiveimmunities]

It is at this moment that Shaun realizes that he never stood a chance here, and it's time to bow to the inevitable. Sheehan will get his fifth shot in, but Shaun is going to do his very best to absolutely cover him in paint in retaliation.

[heyboss]

Sheehan gets that shot and let's the others rain down on him with a laugh. He dives out of the way once it starts to sting, but he's already cackling.

"I think I win, boss!"

[adaptiveimmunities]

Sheehan got his five hits, yeah, but Shaun definitely got his revenge. He lowers his own paint gun and laughs. "Yeah, yeah, you win." He grins. "How long were you planning this?"

[heyboss]

"Oh, days," he says, dropping the gun off to the side. "I didn't lie when I said a friend mentioned it. I did a little reading, came to the Enclosure, and practiced a bit. It helps that Dimitri's been kicking my ass daily for the past six months."

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun drops his gun as well. "Well, the practice paid off--though I maintain that this has no reflection on my professional reputation, since zombies don't shoot back."

...Damn, Irwin paintball in a medium-rated hazard zone would be ratings gold, though.

[heyboss]

"Hm. And you think that would improve your odds?" he laughs, clapping him gently on the shoulder.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"Hey!" Shaun elbows him, grinning. "I'll have you know that I have been shooting zombies for years without getting covered in paint."

[heyboss]

"First time for everything. Now. Do I get my fifteen minutes now or do you want to wait a few days?"

He has certainly not forgotten their agreement.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"I mean, if you want your office covered in paint, I have no objections. I don't clean your upholstery."

[heyboss]

"It's Enclosure paint. It's not real," he points out. "It'll fade before we get back to my office."

[adaptiveimmunities]

"Well then, lead on." He's in a good enough mood right now that even the prospect of actually talking is enough to sour it. This was a pretty good time, despite him getting his ass absolutely kicked.

[heyboss]

He leads him out of the Enclosure and back to his office and the paint's already gone by the time he opens the door. He puts a coke on the desk for him, straight from the fridge.

"Thought we could talk about the breach a little more now that you can't push me in a pond," he smiles.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"I guess this answers my question about pond slime," Shaun muses, glancing briefly down at his paint-free clothes before taking the soda. "You sure you don't want me to push you in again? For science?"

[heyboss]

"Next time," he promises, sitting down beside him. "I want to talk about that breach," he starts. "The one that was strikingly familiar to you."

[adaptiveimmunities]

He should have known Sheehan wasn't going to let it go. He shrugs. "Okay. Which part?"

[heyboss]

"You said you had a brother?"

He leaves it open, letting Shaun decide which way to take it.

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun is not going to take it anywhere. He is going to be dragged kicking and screaming into this conversation. "Yeah. Henry. He's all right."

[heyboss]

Sheehan keeps his gaze steady. "What happened to him?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

Oh fuck all the way off.

He scowls. "What do you think?"

[heyboss]

"I think you don't want to tell me," he answers. "What happened to him?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun shoots him an annoyed look. "He died. I guess I don't have much luck with siblings."

[heyboss]

That annoyed look is met with absolute calm.

"How did he die?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun has to remind himself that he agreed to this conversation to avoid being exactly the kind of asshole he usually is when he's expected to engage with his emotions. He does not punch Sheehan. See what kind of progress he's making?

"I feel like you already know this answer, but sure, I'll play. The zombie fungus got him. He went off into the wilderness to die about it."

[heyboss]

Sheehan has to make a calculated sort of call at this moment. He would normally never say this about someone in a situation like Shaun's brother had been, but he's trying to elicit a reaction. He'll forgive himself later.

"So he gave up?"