A/N: I don't own Dex, Saracen, Valkyrie or Anton.
Back in the car Saracen was so relaxed he fell asleep as Dex began the long drive to the airport. Luckily he'd checked out of his own hotel just that day so his own bag was in the boot. He wondered again how Saracen just happened to be in the same city and supposed it didn't matter. They were all lonely in their own way for the tight group of men they remembered.
But that had been centuries ago. Dex's mobile rang and he glanced at it on the dash. It was Valkyrie. He flicked a glance to the slumbering Saracen and put her on speaker. "Hello, Valkyrie. I was just talking about you, your ears must be burning." He said and was pleased to hear her laugh.
Dex had a strange, almost telepathic communication with her. It was how he and she had recognized each other as something different. "This is a bad time, isn't it?" She asked and he knew her end of the sense was tingling.
"Not at all. Off on another adventure, but the airport is a ways away." He said as Saracen stirred.
"I'm just- I think the others figured something out. About me, I mean." She said and he understood her reason for vagueness all too well as Saracen awoke and blinked sleepily at the mobile.
"It happens to us all sooner or later." He told her gently. "Are they avoiding you?"
"No, but they're acting... Disappointed." She said and Dex winced in sympathy. He knew Saracen was disappointed in him. He even thought of putting his friend on the plane by himself and going to Valkyrie's side. That would make more sense. Saracen, however, decided to speak.
"Valkyrie, and this goes for Dex as well, so you both listen. They way the majority of them conducted themselves during the war, they've got no right to judge you. I don't care who you're with as long as they treat you right." He said heatedly, surprising Dex. "And if worst comes to worst I'll be your wingman and help you pick up cute chicks."
Aaaand he's back. Dex thought with a smile. But it made Valkyrie happy and soon they'd rang off. "That was decent of you." Dex said to Saracen.
"But I meant it." Saracen protested.
Dex nodded, temporarily unable to speak. How could he explain a lifetime of hiding in shadows to Saracen? That the only reason he'd learned to fight was to protect himself because once upon a time he hadn't been so good at hiding? He mentally shook off his bad mood. "I know you meant it. The others will just have to adjust. Valkyrie and I didn't choose to be as we are. Anymore than any of you did. If all else fails Anton will take her in."
"He would. I've never seen him be that friendly to anyone. I used to think he killed people on the weekend just for fun. I never could read him and that scared me."
"Anton's a rather special man, he devoted himself to the military arts. But if he does kill people on the weekends, they most likely had it coming." Dex said and they both laughed.
So the friendship is still there and it looks like a trip or an adventure or something. Frankly Saracen is behaving so well he's scaring me.