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"I'm not doing the puppy thing" Dirk countered defiantly as he looked over at Avery. This was reminiscent of so many of the harmless fights they had back when they were a couple. As Avery continued to shave away at his hair, Dirk had to admit to himself that he missed being in the handsome man's presence, even if it was usually under better circumstances. Each time Avery ran his hand over his hair, Dirk tried to have the most stoic reaction he possibly could.

avery was silent as he finished up the last few strips of dirk's head, then took a step back to examine his handiwork. "be that as it may, i won't be joining you in the cadet cut." he reaffirmed. "i was informed upon arriving on campus that my hair made me look 'pretty', and i like the sound of that." he smirked. it was true, though he was near positive it was a group of cadets that had said it, the compliment had stuck with him all the same. "plus, i disagree. the haircut makes you look angular and rugged - my head's a weird shape."

Dirk had felt like a kicked puppy dog ever since they had broken up, though he'd never admit it. He continued on his way outwardly still being the same loud, aggressive, strict caricature of himself at Preston, but there had been some overcompensation for sure. "I'm not doing anything" Dirk stated plainly. In his mind he was just trying to act as if things were going to be smooth between them. "Well, here we are in rooms next to eachother. Surprise" Dirk explained as he was a bit irritated. It was bizarre to be seeing Avery in this context and he could see how upset they both were over it.

"i think you forget i know you better than most." avery pointed out. "and you're doing the puppy thing." he fell silent then, focusing more on the hair an less on his proximity to dirk, or the way it used to take them forever to do this because of one thing or another, an adventurous hand or flirtatious word taking precedence. avery ran his hand over every line he shaved away, the hair falling to the floor in small piles, though he wanted to ensure dirk's hair remained even.

── .✦ the man was much more organized than him, mostly when it came to this place. which had been different when he was active duty. civilain life probably softened up a little more than micah expected it to have. doesn't dwell on it in his mind, just grants a genuine smile right back. “don't mention it.” metaphorical wave of his hand. “sometimes out of our control.” he liked to focus on what he could control, has a half a mind to tell this man: it's fine, nothings really happened yet. he's still settling himself, falling into a routine. again, slacked off as a civilain --- despite the reserves still holding him. it felt good to be here again, wasn't expecting it to feel this good. but after the last two years, he really needs to feel good again.

though the other didn't mean anything by his commentary, the implications that his absence had been noticed to any degree made him want to withdraw in on himself. reluctantly, he maintained composure, exhaling a heavy sigh. "it would have been fine, but you know how it goes. one late flight and suddenly you miss every one after it too." avery glanced down at his files, taking note of the upcoming schedule. "major fox, tell me, is there a timeline on when i might be finding out who my mentee is?" avery was eager to break the proverbial ice. if they were meant to spend the year together, he wanted it to be on the right foot.

Dirk watched as Avery turned his back to him and he let out a silent sigh. He felt somewhat like an idiot for coming over and trying to re-live what had once been such an intimate and personal tradition for them. It just all felt so wrong to Dirk now.

When Avery turned around after what felt like a decade to Dirk, he tried his best to hide a frown as Avery said he wouldn't be taking his shirt off or cutting his hair this year. "Oh" Dirk's arms folded across his chest, feeling like even more of a dumb ass for taking his shirt off so eagerly. "Fuck, I just assumed that we were going to do it together" he admitted.

the moment dirk's face fell, avery felt his chest tighten. his heart beating a little faster. "don't do that." he said, catching the corner of his bottom lip between his teeth. "the kicked puppy dog thing." avery exhaled a sigh, trying to think of any way to salvage the situation. "i didn't even realize you were going to be here, dirk." he pointed out. "i'm running on maybe two hours of sleep and you show up at my door as if nothing has changed." avery felt he had a right to be a little upset. the two had maintained a carefully structured line of respect from afar. "it took me forever to get my hair to grow this much."

but dirk's challenge gives him pause. once again, knowing exactly which button to push. he was preparing a retort when the other man finally sat down, giving him the opportunity to move behind him, clippers in hand. without thinking, he reached outward and ran his fingers through the others hair a few times, before catching himself and making it seem like he was gauging the length. "when's the last time you got a haircut anyway?"

Dirk's features lit up a bit as Avery didn't slam the door in his face and he was let into the room. The mentor handed the man who had broken his heart the clippers as he looked around the room a bit. Dirk rested his hands on his hips as he studied the familiar face, eyes pausing to note the fact that Avery's pants were unbuttoned. How many times had he seen the man like this before, sleepy and slightly disheveled from a nap with clothes haphazardly put on? Dirk exhaled rather than comment on his findings.

avery kept his back to dirk for as long as possible, taking the opportunity to compose himself silently. he knew seeing his ex was going to be difficult, but he hadn't expected his entire being to deceive him to such a degree that he would damn near believe that dirk knew what he was thinking.

turning back around, a short smile on his face, he shook his head as the other indicated for him to take his shirt off. "i don't think i'll be cutting my hair this time." since moving into administration, he had enjoyed the small liberties of being able to wear his hair a little longer than a traditional crew cut.

── .✦ micah in all honesty didn't think he'd ever come back here. while he ended up appreciating all that was done for him here, coming from the beginning hating every damn second of it --- thinks maybe perhaps it was because his step-father had sent him here, so he wouldn't like it on principle. but clearing that aside, this place had been a home for him. it feels different being back as a mentor, not entirely his choice; as close to active duty as he can get. reserves can only carry him so far before he's itching for more. his husband the one who had kept grounded away from that was gone.

despite the other's kind words, he couldn't help but grimace all the same. he wasn't oft so careless, but jetlag left him in a unique state. accepting the folders once more with a small work of thanks, avery looked at the other and offered a kind smile. "thank you." he said, tucking the folders carefully under his arm. "running behind seems to make the best of us make silly mistakes." even if it wasn't his fault that his flights had been delayed, thus starting him off at preston on the wrong foot, he still felt some semblance of ownership for the entire debacle.