To those who know Henry well, they know he was almost caught speechless for a moment. But he covers well.

"Yes," he nods. "Of course. You honor me, sir."

He doesn't want to address this right here and now in front of Ava's father.

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Josh blushes as well and his eyebrows shoot right up. He glances to Henry and then Ava. "Yes...thank you."

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Ava catches the hesitation in Henry as well as his surprise, though he doesn't say anything. He just finally shoots his father a smile and says softly "Thank you.."

There is more talk pertaining to setting the universe right now that Malicor has been defeated (hopefully) once and for all. Only time would tell.

After their goodbyes are said and the Starhaven delegation has taken their leave, Avalon starts to make his way down to the surface, Josh and Henry no doubt in tow. "What was that all about with my dad?" he asks in an amused tone. Around others, Avalon tends to be reserved and quiet these days, though in private with Henry and Josh and their acquired family, he can still be the silly person that they met so many years ago.

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Henry raises an eyebrow to Avalon.

"Inubit'sol?" he asks.

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Josh just keeps quiet and follows. He's gotten a little more quiet in general but still opens up a lot more around Henry and Ava.

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"Inubit'sot is the correct word, 'enry." Avalon says. "Inubit'sol is the wrong meaning." He then tries to explain, "Inubit'sol is.. more like friendship. Like the kind of relationship you would have with a blood brother. We are far more than that.. I have called you Inubit'sot from day one.." he then glances to Henry and smirks, "Don't you remember when we went exploring and you took me to that planet? The one with the hot springs?"

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"I remember," Henry replies. "I thought you said Inubit'sol." He shakes his head. "I thought you meant 'partner,' not... 'partner.'"

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Josh pauses a moment and then goes red. He seems to have figured something out but isn't speaking up.

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Ava gives Henry a look that speaks volumes - one of those looks that will wither a plant. The human has messed up and upset the Naltorian it seems. "And so.. it never occurred to you, after all that has been said and done, that Inubit'sol wasn't the best description of our relationship?" he then asks, his tone positively icy. "I mean.. brothers don't have sex, 'enry. We could have never been called that after we started doing those sorts of things."

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Henry returns the look. "Oh, you don't get to be angry on this one," he says. "You took advantage of my lack of understanding of your language. Besides, I've never been all that much into labels, Blue. We have what we've got, and we build our own expectations... we don't have expectations put on us by the word that's assigned to us."

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Josh just sighs and shakes his head. "Guys..." he trails off, not wanting to see a fight.

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Avalon just gapes at Henry, and then takes on a truly hurt expression. Even if Henry doesn't realize it, he's cut Avalon deeply.. especially now that he understands Henry's view point a bit more. Avalon is actually finding it a bit hard to breathe even though his blue aura, although he also recognizes in some corner of his mind that he's probably having some sort of odd panic attack. He manages not to totally freak out though, and eventually gets the blood to stop rushing through his ears.

"I took no advantage of you, Henry." he finally says, his voice tight. "I was asked to come to Earth and be your Inubit'sot - and that is what I have done. Like it or not, that label has been one I have carried quite proudly for ten years even if you forgot or misunderstood. It has been my truth for so long that I can not think of carrying a different one. And you are telling me that this was not your truth as well?"

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"My truth, Blue, is that I accepted you as my partner as an assignment... but I chose to take you on as a lover. Not because it was assigned." He frowns. "Apparently, I was just an assignment to you, then? Assigned to be my Inubit'sot." He shrugs. "Not really any point in picking when it's all picked out for you, huh?"

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Josh frowns more as the argument goes on. Eventually it gets to be a bit too much and he sighs. "Guys," he says a bit more firmly.

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Avalon is far too upset to listen to Josh, even though in the back of his head he knows this will probably blow up if he speaks his mind. Too bad he's in the mode that he doesn't care and is going to damn well say what he's thinking, consequences be damned.

"I guess you forgot about my vision that the Universe gave me, and how I spent two years wondering who you were and what it all meant. I guess you forget all the time I spent alone dreaming of this, what we have, and hoping and praying that it would be that nameless man that I was shown." His voice is thick now, his accent raising - Avalon rarely uses his translator anymore his English is so good - and he pulls himself to a stop, hanging above the Earth.

He draws in a deep breath, his tone soft now as he says "When they assigned me to you, it made everything fall into place and I finally saw the Universe's plan. I can accept that we are in charge of our destinies Henry, but I will never accept anything but that the Universe brought us together. It's all been far too powerful of an experience for me, and has done nothing but affirm that what I have been doing is the right thing for years now. If it was just some stupid assignment, I wouldn't have come back with you in the first place! It was never just an assignment!"

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He was willing to stop and listen to Josh, but Avalon's still going, and Henry's not willing to let him have the last word.

"I was 17, Avalon! You're talking about an arranged marriage that I had no say in! And you knew I wouldn't have been comfortable, so you let me misunderstand. For ten years, Ava!"

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Josh sighs again and reaches up to rub his temples.

"Enough!" he says. "Just...stop. Please," he says with a sigh.

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"How was I anything but straightforward with you?" demands Avalon, though he's quickly swinging from anger to sorrow. It's like an old foe has come to gnaw at them - it's been years since he and Henry had a misunderstanding of this magnitude.

"I was 18. It's not like I was all that much older than you," he then points out softly, "And I tried to tell you, to the best of my ability. I thought you understood well enough at the time.. I see that was probably a grand mistake on my part to assume and not make sure that you understood." Josh isn't the only one that has a headache, though it's more than just Ava's head that's hurting.

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Henry stares at him for a long moment.

"Are you done?" he asks in a quiet tone.

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Josh just stares. "Guys...c'mon," he doesn't know what to do and he's getting worried.

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Henry's icy reply makes Ava's fists clench, and he draws in a deep breath before finally blowing it back out before he speaks.

"Yes. I am done." he then replies in just an icy tone, before turning and heading for the planet. Avalon really can't stand being looked at that way much longer, and he's far too confused right now to stick around and subject himself to Henry's coldness.

He isn't even sure where he's going right now, he's just putting distance between himself and the angry Earthling so that maybe he can sort out what is going on.

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Henry sets his chin in frustration.

"Nice," he says quietly.

He turns to Josh. "I assume you'd like to go home?" he asks, starting to head back towards the planet as well.

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"Ava!" Josh calls after him. The healer sighs and hangs his head. Henry just gets a sad look. "Home...JLA base...wherever we get to first..." he trails off sadly.

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"I... need some space for a bit, Josh," Henry explains gently. "Wherever you want to be dropped off. I'm... going out for a bit."

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"Yeah...I figured..." Josh murmurs.

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