How to save a life [Tariq]

There was a part of him that felt guilty not being there, a part of the group up, but a combination of shell shock from his first mission and a minor fracture in his leg had driven him home instead. He'd never foreseen himself in combat, it certainly wasn't what the tech. guy had ever seen himself doing during all his years of schooling and job training. He knew that it would get easier with time, these things always did, but beyond the physical injuries he was exhausted and still a little shaken. He would have to make it up to Pharah, he realized, she'd saved his life back there and he wasn't there to thank her.

Tariq was glad to be able to settle down for the evening, he could only imagine what the rest of the crew were getting up to, though he imagined given the circumstances they were drowning their sorrows in alcohol. The captain's death had been sudden from what he'd been told, and the whole squad had been hit hard by it. Knowing this made him somewhat glad that he wasn't there, he was so new, he didn't have the same connection to the captain as they'd had. The blow hurt all the same, but he hadn't been there long enough, and in the end it didn't feel right to be there while they mourned the loss.

The rookie was just getting ready to flop down on the couch when he heard the bell, looking surprised when the visitor identified herself. It didn't take him long to cross the distance to the door, greeting her with a friendly smile, "What on Earth are you doing here?" He spoke with a chuckle to his voice, a little amused beyond his surprise, "Ah sorry for not making it..." He ran his fingers through his hair, then stepped back to let her in, "come sit, how is everyone holding up?" He looked at her meaningfully, "how are you holding up?"

His eyes lit up with surprise when she held the food out to him, laughing softly, "Wow, well thank you, I haven't had a chance to eat yet, so this will be appreciated." At her words, his face fell and he pursed his lips, as if considering whether he should say what he was thinking, or leave it for another time, "if I am being honest...I felt it wasn't my place to be there." He looked to the side, "I did not get a chance to know Khalil personally as you all did, and I did not want to intrude on your mourning." He figured being honest was better that skirting around his feelings, "it felt improper for me to be there." He chuckled softly, setting the food she'd brought him aside to join her.

He gave an understanding nod, "from what I knew of him, he was a good man." He mused, then glanced at her and added, "but you are a good woman, I'm confident that you will do his name proud." He didn't say this with a tone that suggested that it was only said in an attempt to comfort, merely stating fact, "I owe you my life, I will gladly follow you into battle again." His words were an assurance that he intended to stay where he was, the mission had been terrifying, but everything felt that way the first time you experienced it.

He waved her words off with a smile, "I am fine, no injuries that a week or so wont fix." He ran a hand through his hair and chuckled, "if you'll have me, I would like to stay, I never saw myself in combat going through school but..." He laughed and shrugged, "well it was very exciting! I'd like to lend my services to you still, wherever you may need them."

He was glad for the understanding from her, giving a solemn nod and getting up to put the food she brought away for the time being, he would probably tuck into it after she'd gone on, but didn't really want to be shoving food in his face while he had company, "I'm glad you understand...I was afraid I might offend." He laughed softly, "I suppose it was silly to worry myself in such a way." He came back to join her, "after such an ordeal, I guess a quiet rest of the evening here was more my speed." Another good humored laugh, "I will get the hand of this, I'm sure. Once I have a few missions under my belt." The jump from computers to combat was more of a culture shock than he'd been expecting, but it was worth it, he felt.

He looked at her for a moment, nodding and getting a serious expression, "Mm. Yes." He sighed, "It was a reckless shot in the dark, but it was not one I made blindly." He laughed and turned a smile to her, "I am only glad you gave me the chance, reckless as it was, you did believe in me." He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, "But I wouldn't have suggested the plan if I hadn't been almost positive that it would work." He let out a sigh through his teeth, "because if it had failed it could have put us into even hotter water...Er..." He chuckled, "ah but it worked, so uh...No sense in dwelling on the could have's right?"

His own face brightened at her words and he nodded, "Yes! You tell me what you need and it will happen." His determined expression became mildly surprised when she actually asked him where he saw himself, "Well...My field has always been security, my strengths lie there, I would be more use to you in a role that played to those than solely combat." He chuckled, "though I can fight just as well as any, I'm not afraid of combat." He gave a slight shrug and smiled, "but if you want to use me to my full potential, put me in a position where I can secure the playing field, give us the upper hand from the get-go, you know?" He hoped he wasn't speaking out of line, but she asked, so he figured he would be thorough.

After a moment of easy silence, Tariq's stomach let out a mutinous growl, and he laughed at the fact that it had all but filled the silence for him, he likened it to a dying whale, "Ha! Well." He got back to his feet and returned to the kitchen, pulling out a pair of plates and bringing them back along with their food, "I guess that was a sign from above, hm?" He chuckled, setting a plate down in front of her and himself before setting about divvying up the food she'd brought evenly, "couldn't think of a better way to spend an evening, good food and good friends." He settled back down to eat as he listened to her.

He knew what she was referring to by the pointed expression she gave him, and he shook his head, "I never doubted that you would be there for me." He assured, "Khalil trusted you for a reason." He said this with certainty, there was never a moment in those few seconds where he thought she would let him fall, whether she had her own hesitations or not, "I trusted you as well. I don't think any of us knew what to expect." He looked thoughtful as he chewed a bite before continuing his thought, "you took a chance on a wild idea from a rookie with no experience under his belt though...It meant a lot." He gave her an earnest look at those words.

"Admittedly I do need more combat training, but I enjoy the sound of this." He nodded his agreement, "Mama always tells me I have an eye for detail, I might as well put that to good use." He chuckled at this, "having the security tech. background certainly does not hurt." He mused, "I could probably identify systems and how to disarm or override them." He gave her an appreciative smile, "thank you for giving me a chance to help where I am strongest, really, it's an honor to be given such a chance as a rookie."

Tariq couldn't help his own laughter at her's, glad to see her loosen up even if only a little bit. He'd always found her admirable, but stiff, seeing a smile was comforting to him, and laughter was the best medicine anyway, it was better to laugh in the face of tragedy sometimes than to dwell on it and wallow, or that was how he'd always conducted himself. He chuckled, "My mistake, Captain." There was a dry humor in his voice, and mischief in his eyes as he regarded her comment.

He supposed she was right on some level though, she was his superior, and she deserved his respect no doubt. Still, he'd always been the ind of man to treat everyone as a human first, titles came second, he would remember to address her properly among the others in the company however, she deserved that for the things she did to get here.

"to doubt is human. You handled things one way this time." He smiled and tilted his head, "and now you can handle them better the next time." He mused, going quiet for a thoughtful moment as he chewed his food before continuing, "life is the way it is to keep you on your toes and to help you learn. It's one thing that we never grow out of, we're always learning." He shrugged and chuckled, "that is only my opinion though, I trust you enough, they will come to as well." He assured, sounding positive of this.

He glowed at her praise, his face brightening into a kind smile, but his eyes were serious and he nodded in response to her warning, "I understand, Captain." He looked thoughtful, "that feeling is as much a part of life as breathing. I'm prepared to face it."