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Zane's going to punch something, or someone, specifically the man who was now sitting on the corner of his table. His presence wasn't needed, called for, nor expected. Atticus Rhodes is just… There.

Fortunately, his old friend was getting better. Unfortunately, he now felt about well enough to climb up the stairs. That meant that they no longer provided him with any protection from sudden surprise visits. Today, he's been reminded that if Atticus has nothing better to do with himself, then he will most certainly invade his friends' homes. Today, Zane finds himself on a receiving end of one of the surprise visits that the Rhodes seem to have made a family specialty. He has to wonder if they're not checking in on him just to ensure that he's still with them.

Atticus is laid back. Chilled out. He never mentions the illness, and for that reason, and that reason alone, Zane puts up with him. He's a distraction. Something to break up the monotonous repetition of his days. Then, he'd decided to go and walk under a car. That puts Zane in the decidedly odd position of being the one caring for his old friend's needs, as the elder of the Rhodes siblings sits in his couch, and flicks mindlessly through the handful of channels that the flat's owner can be bothered paying for.

"You been watching the championship?" Atticus asked.
"When I have the time."
"Oh. Those duels..."

Zane shoots his old friend a warning glare. It had been bad enough having Alexis bringing up his brother out of the blue, although in retrospect it was entirely predictable. The last thing he needs now is Atticus bring him up. He, at the very least, should know better! Thankfully, the cold look earns an apologetic smile. The Rhodes' sibling leans back into his couch, and seems to relax a little more. The man shoots his glum friend an almost playful glare.

"Still playing the role of the cold big brother, huh?"
"Don't start."
"Don't worry, I gave up trying to get you to open up years ago."
"We both know that's a lie."
"It is-" Atticus gives an unapologetic shrug. "-but someone's got to try."

He pauses for a few moments, but Zane can tell that there's more to come. He almost rolls his eyes at the prospect, but forces himself not to. Atticus is – despite his goofy attitude – at least somewhat sensitive. Enough to know when to leave things a few moments, and how to shift a conversation between something more lighthearted to the serious.

"So… You seem to be getting along with Lexi."
"There isn't much not to get along with." Zane answered plainly.

Alexis was the sort of person that not many people could get angry with, much less remain so. There aren't many people on the planet whom he can tolerate, Atticus' little sister happens to be one of them. She's innocuous, and happens to be kind. They are two traits which he can appreciate to a degree, if only because they don't get under his skin. About the only thing he can complain about is just how dedicated that she seems to be to trying to make his life better. It's not just that he doesn't want it – he isn't helpless after all – it's the effort that she's putting into it. Presumably she has friends out there whom she's leaving alone in favor of trying to keep him company, and is trying to make his life better. It's such a waste.

It seems like such a shame. He wishes that he knew how to better push her away. Being hostile isn't an option… He's thought about just sitting down, and explaining things plainly to her, but he doubts that it would work. If anything, it seems more likely that it will encourage her to hang around.

"You know your sister." Is all that Zane can think to add.
"Yeah. She's stubborn, but then maybe that's what you need in your life."
"Please tell me you're not trying to set us up."

It wouldn't have been the first time. Zane remembers his second year in Duel Academy, and right through to the summer that had followed his last one. Atticus had made himself into something of a pain. Insisting that Zane should at the very least give it a go. At the time, his friend had politely, but firmly refused. It wasn't that he disliked Alexis, but between the Academy, Shadow Riders, and then starting off in the pro-circuit, he hadn't ever had the time, nor the inclination to get into any relationships with anyone.

Atticus chuckles.

"I know better than that."
"Good..."
"But-"
"Urgh."
"Hey… Hear me out, would you?"

Zane rolls his eyes. He reasons that his illness must be taking more of toll on him than he's credited it with. Otherwise he would have chased away any notion that they were going back over this subject yet again. Atticus waits until he's certain that he's got his old friend's full attention, before continuing:

"Why don't you try something different?"
"I'm not going on a date!"
"It wouldn't have to be a date. Geez, you're obsessed-"
"Atticus-"
"How about just going out with some friends? You could do with a change of scenery."

He folds his arms across his chest. This sounds like a lot of the nonsense which Atticus has come up with in the past. Zane has learned so many times in the past that the elder of the Rhodes siblings has many ways to make something sound, or seem nice on paper, only for it to suddenly turn into something, either far more complicated, and usually with a few bad surprises to boot. In short, he finds it unlikely that it would ever be something so innocuous.

"Is that so?" He replies dryly, his tone making it clear that he isn't in the mood for anything fancy.
"Look… We were going to watch the duel on-"
"No."
"Would you let me finish?! Jeez!"

If Zane's quiet, it's only because he knows that his old friend will never be quiet until he's allowed to speak what ever's on his mind. He's only drawing things out. Sensing the slight victory, Atticus grins, unable to conceal a bit of pride at silencing the stoic former pro-duelest. At the very least, he doesn't drag things out for effect.

"It would be at Aster's."
"Why Aster's?"
"Have you seen the guy's TV?! Any bigger, and you'd be in the stadium itself!"
"Have you actually asked him about this, or is this one of these things where you're going to tell me that it's all okay, and then when we turn up, he doesn't know anything about it, and you try to talk our way in?"
"It's Aster. He's cool with it!"

At some point, Zane reckons he'll work out just when it was that Atticus, and Aster got to be on good enough terms for his old friend to be confident making such brazen statements (or to know just how big Aster's television is for that matter). The former pro-duelist is fairly certain that it happened slowly, and secretly behind his back. That way the two could create a little network to better keep track of him. Now that it's in place though, he knows there's no escaping or undoing it.

The former pro-duelist lets out a breath through his nose. His frustration ebbs away slowly, but surely. It's replaced instead with resignation.

"It's not like I have anything better to do..."
"Great! Lexi, and I will pick you up at six!"
"I can get there myself."
"We both know you won't." Atticus reminds him pointedly. "You'll duck out of it. AGAIN. So yeah, we're picking you up."

Zane rolls his eyes, but finds himself too exhausted to argue. It's only one night after all. What's the worst that can happen?