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The jerk on his arm yanked Gaius off balance, a precious thing he'd struggled with since his feet had become stilts. He nearly tumbled over, but managed to catch himself on the edge of an arcade machine. Shooting Newt a glare, he pulled his arm back out of his damp grip forcefully.

"What's wrong with you!" He rounded on the pudgy amphibian.

Despite his temper and sense of hurt - he wanted to ignore the frog's pleads and give him the cold shoulder, see how HE felt being treated like that - his curiosity could not be overcome. And he wasn't a man like that at heart, not really. He may have learned what a real grudge was, but he was justified in that one. Though he was angry with Newt, the guy was still, on some level, his friend, and the imploring look couldn't be ignored.

With a sigh, he followed after Newt to the broom closet, not getting the hints the frog was dropping as to why they had to be secretive.

"Alright," he said, "What's the deal?"

"They threatened you?!" Gaius' own voice had dropped to a tense whisper. "But, what more could they- No, nevermind, I already know that answer."

Frustration pounded at his temples along with the dehydration-induced headache from his earlier indulgence. Gaius sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his wide nose. "...damn labs. They can go screw themselves on Zach's spiky tail as far as I'm concerned." It was impossible to see in the darkness, but close quarters made it hard to miss the other guy. He looked down in the general area he thought Newt was and spoke with a lowered tone. "I'm... sorry I snapped. I was upset. The labs took all the tools from the site... and all the wood. So, if it means anything... I know how you feel."

Gaius just shook his head, a useless gesture in the darkness.

"It's... because I ignored what Sabin said about staying away from Zach. I hit him. Now I'll have to figure out a way to get them back from the labs." A human growl escaped his throat. "That stupid dragon..."

"Heard the voices?" Gaius gave a derisive snort. He wouldn't put it past Zach to be that loopy.

"It's... alright. I was hoping you could help, but I think I was actually hoping for an easy way out of this. Sorry to put that pressure on you." There was a pause. Gaius felt badly for being so angry with the frog. It wasn't his fault after all. If there was some way he could cheer him up...

"...I hope your work doesn't take up too much of your time. We still need that curtain pulley system, after all. And I wouldn't trust that job with anyone else but you."

That said, Gaius groped in the darkness for the handle to the closet door, but that proved difficult in close quarters. All that came to his searching hand was wall and brooms. "Nrgh, how do you open this thing..."

The horse-man paused, fingers inches from brushing the doorknob. His eyes had begun to adjust to the darkness, but all he could make out in the light coming under the crack beneath the door was a faint silhouette.

A small half-smile quirked his face. "Then don't be one! Pretend, but don't actually do it. You're still your own man, even if they take away your freedom."

Gaius stopped short again of opening the door. This time, he spoke with a firmer tone. "You're going to have to make a decision, Newt. Which do you value more... the 'safety' the labs gives that they could take away any moment without any reason, or your freedom? Do you really want to remain their slave forever on this island?"