Hawk paused. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Numair gazed up at him for a moment. He seemed to consider the question, flipping back over the file to look at it, before putting it face down again with a sigh. Finally, he said simply, "I'm all right."

Hawk bent double to lean across the desk on his elbows, trying to catch Numair's eye even as Numair looked away. He didn't recoil, though, as Hawk leaned in to nearly whisper in his ear.

"Look," Hawk murmured. "If this is gonna work, we gotta be equal."

Numair met his gaze then--there was no anger in it, only concern.

"I can't lie to you," he said. "So don't lie to me. Okay?"

He offered his bandaged hand, palm up on the desk. After a moment, Numair placed his own hand into it. "All right," he agreed.