Junpei without Quark was a strange sight. Sigma had always suspected that Junpei had in all honesty, tolerated him solely for Quark's sake...no, suspected wasn't the right word—known was. The awkward smalltalk gradually turned into hostile, passive aggression yet toxic retorts that slice right through him throughout the years. It was a bit difficult to not notice.
"...Then I guess no TV for you, in that case. Hope you brought cards or something if you plan on staying for a while." He looks Junpei's body over, up and down, not in a lewd fashion of course but analytically, god damn it. he notices the way he awkwardly leans against the wall, how oddly nauseated he seems to be. Junpei doesn't look at him, simply gazes at the room as if he's waiting for his "okay how long do I gotta stick around Sigma" quota to be fulfilled.
"Glad to hear that. He's a great kid, you know? He's always keeping a watch out for us." Still has yet to make eye contact. Junpei's gaze still doesn't meet his, yet he continues to look at him as he speaks regardless. Eliciting a reaction would be nice but he seriously doubts he'll get even a glance from him.
He feels something in his stomach turn when Kyle's name is mentioned. Shit.
"..So he's worried, huh?" No shit Sigma, that's what he said. "I'm sure he'll be fine. Kyle's a strong little guy."
He smiles faintly before turning to face the window.
"I'm proud of him." He wishes desperately that Kyle hadn't remembered, that he'd be able to break away from those timelines entirely so that he could be happy like another boy his age. His fear of abandonment and the way he clung onto Sigma—it all originated from those timelines, those timelines where he had left his son to his own devices since childhood. He bites his lips in response to his own thoughts and boy, is he grateful that Junpei can't see his facial expression at that given moment.
"Ah, yeah, sure. Anytime...Quark's always welcome, he's a pleasure to have around." He decides it's time for him to stop playing peekaboo with the window and surprise, Junpei's stance changed very little: but he can't help but see some sort of inexplicable sadness in his face, as if he's lost a prized possession of some sort.
"And of course, you're always welcome too. Akane loves having you around, and so does Kyle. It's not a son and father duo if the father aint there, am I right?" His light hearted comment is accompanied with a chuckle. Until the pain hits him and he begins to cough and sputter about, and he manages to croak out an "I'm okay—" in the midst of his coughing fit.
"...Junpei. I've been wondering but...why did you come here in the first place?"