Hazama was usually very good at keeping his face out of the public record. Sure, he had his own office and was captain still in the chain of command, but for official events? He was a ghost. He'd work himself into some distant mission or clear out one way or another. But every once and awhile he couldn't worm his way out. It would be suspicious to all of those lower on the ladder and a few above. There was a certain level of keeping his nose down he had to play along with—even with his grasp where it was in the NOL.
That brought Hazama to that day. There was no flirting around this little gathering this time. He did have to show and blend in enough to be noticed slightly. It was far more formal than he would have liked too. Uniforms were only barely enforced usually, but for an event like this he was expected to show up fully decked out in all the trim. The military tunics and taller boots were expected along with the proper colors for each unit. The hall was a mess of the same outfits in their few mix of colors and identical hats and cloaks for every member in the branch along with those who had come for the occasion. Hazama couldn't stand it. He did well enough with some idea of manners and formal speech, but it still was grating at the end of the day.
When it was finally over he made his way straight over to Relius' lab. Maybe to commiserate. Or at least complain a little. Now that he was let himself in he realized he hadn't seen Relius at the event at all. Sure enough when he opened the door it looked like Relius likely had been working there all day. His uniform was the usual one too. It irked him.
"Have a nice day doing whatever you like?" he led off with just a touch of venom in his voice. It was something Relius was good at ignoring at this point. He didn't even acknowledge the not-question.
Hazama continues in closer until he was standing just behind Relius' chair. He complains the whole trip over. "I can't believe you got out of that crap. There was so much posturing and the speeches went on for days. Just kill me at that point, please. I can't stand it."
"After all the trouble we've gone through to keep you alive Hazama, that is a little rude."
"No greeting is pretty rude too."
"You did not greet me properly either."
Both go silent for a moment before Relius finally looked up from his work and looked Hazama over. Hazama dumped his beret on Relius' head. It was swatted away in a second before Hazama stepped back to sit at the other desk behind Relius. He made himself comfortable there; one leg crossed over the other, one hand on the desk for balance's sake. He felt Relius' focus on him but said nothing.
"That is why you are so surly," Relius said after what could have been a century.
"I've been in a bad mood well before the greeting issue, Colonel," Hazama answered like this were obvious. It was. Sometimes Relius was just off.
He shook his head and grinned slightly. "They've dressed you up like some kind of proper, real official for once."
"It was mandatory. The last I checked I still had to play nice with these fools. You're lucky you're so intimidating no one asks you to do anything. You do scare people off, you realize that, right?"
"That is my preference at this point. Usually I would be working alone. Without interruption," Relius said very pointedly. It soared right over Hazama's head.
"I wanted to see you in this stupid uniform too. Imagine you in one of these hats," Hazama said with a grin. "You tossed it off too fast."
"I wouldn't have worn it anyway. It doesn't suit me. It does look good on you however," Relius decided, sounding somewhat official on this.
Hazama's first instinct was to argue, but he held it off. There was a compliment in there. He hops off the desk and moves to stand closer to Relius, a terrible grin on his face. "Is that so? I didn't know that was your kind of thing. I didn't know you wanted me out of my pants so badly, Colonel."
"The desire isn't so strong. But this does suit you. Although your tunic seems a bit short."
His blase in taking that on was impressive, Hazama thought at times. Still, he wasn't going to be outdone. He turns his hip Relius' way and clasps at the end of the tunic, just starting to hike it up playfully. "I could pull it up a little more if that's what has your attention," he teased.
Relius almost immediately turned back to his work—ignoring Hazama all over again. Just before Hazama could blow up at him, he responded.
"I'll see you in a few hours...Keep that on. At least to begin, Hazama."