“Carlos,” The Warden said, “Anyone that mops up my blood can call me Carlos.” He grinned a little, then both Harry and the Warden shared a look before they said, weirdly, at the same time, “It’s a soulgaze.”
The wizards blinked and glanced at one another again. Harry frowned, feeling like an idiot. York was hurt because the wizard wouldn’t meet his eyes, but it was really out of self defense and because he didn’t … well, he didn’t need to see York’s soul.
Harry tapped his fingers on the counter and shrugged. “It’s a soulgaze,” he repeated. “When a wizard looks someone in the eye we get a glimpse of their soul, just an image, a little preview. It’s permanent, it doesn’t matter what you do the image or whatever you see never fades. Not ever. The details will always be there. And it’s a two way mirror. I don’t look you in the eyes York, because I don’t need to see your soul to know what kind of person you are. I see you fine without it.” He was good people. The best kind of people. If Harry saw him, he imagined York would glow more golden than his armor and he’d be carrying a sword. A guardian angel, protector, defender of the people.
And well, Harry didn’t want York seeing him. York still thought Harry was mostly decent. No need to ruin it yet. Not yet.
Carlos nodded. “I don’t see shit though, I just hear music tones. Like your own personal theme song. Neat and annoying.” If music ever spoke to a person’s soul before, Carlos was definitely the one that understood the sentiment.
“It ain’t nothing personal,” The Warden continued, “We’re just trying not to go insane.”
***
A soul-gaze. What a strange thing to think about. So, what, Harry had felt the need to look at Gambit, for some reason? ... Okay, York could understand that. And maybe angels didn’t have souls? It explained the ease with which Harry looked at Tex, though.
Still. It did hurt a little. His best friend was okay with looking at Gambit, but not him? Even saying he thought he was a good person? It was hard for him to understand the ‘going insane’ part, how could seeing a man’s soul, if he was a good man, make you go insane?
“Yeah, alright.” He understood the reasoning for not meeting his eyes. It still didn’t mean he liked it. A little smirk curled his lips. “I bet you peed yourself a little when Texas was on top of you that first time.” That was remarked to Harry-- because York had come along in time to see them staring directly at one another, there was definitely eye contact there, and if Harry had thought he was going to see the soul of someone like Texas? Well. That would frighten York, too.
“You gonna stick around a few days, Carlos? I’d offer you my place, but it’s just a two bedroom and my roommate’s already hostile enough with me.” Why were all of his friends so temperamental?