pain_train | SANCTUM INBOX

"Underpants men?" He laughs. Not that he means to laugh at her but he knows that's some kind of distortion. "All of us had the virus. It made us irritable and irrational. It's why we decided to attack the tower. It made us hear voices. When I made you the pie, though, I left the leftovers out for everyone else, so I'm pretty sure Delta got a piece. I haven't made anything specifically for him, though."

He sighs. "I try to keep everyone in my good graces. Sometimes you just can't help it when someone's upset with you. Or you can't help being upset with other people over certain things. But when it comes to that I always try to work things through with the other person. Even if it's to say I agree to disagree." Which is what he'd done with Delta.

"Some people just...don't. I've heard justifications but I've never felt that way, myself. Some people are just shy and like to keep to themselves." He lets out a little hum. "I do try to. I know you'd spend a lot of time feeling lonely and it's obvious you thrive on spending time with people. I wouldn't want you to feel like no one cares."

He grins at her final remark. "Just as long as you don't run at me headfirst—again—I think I can handle that."

"Oh. I kind of wondered why you guys had done that." Interesting. "You should make him a pie of his own. That makes people feel special." Well, it had worked on her.

"That's probably the smart way to do things. I don't really know what is do in that situation." Probably settle it with a bar crawl.

She smiles at him. "I know you care. And Whiskey cares. I'm making all kinds of new friends now." She glances at their hands, carefully strokes her thumb over his. Bad Idea, probably, but better to say even a little bit now than have an awkward time again later. "You give me more of your time than anyone else, North, and I'm glad that you do. It's... different, and I like it."

She sticks her tongue out at him. "I like breathing, thanks."

"We all cook for each other all the time. It's communal living, everything's made for everyone." Which meant that at least with that pie, she was part of 'everyone'.

"I'm glad to be able to do that for you. I..." God, what are words? Usually he doesn't have trouble finding the right thing to say. "It's important to me that you aren't felt feeling alone. You know? I'm glad you like it because otherwise I'm wasting my time."

Then he laughs. "So you're admitting you couldn't take me in a fair fight," he teases.

Which is sweet, and she appreciates it--that gets her to smile a little--but kind of misses the point. "Well yeah. And I guess he couldn't eat a whole pie by himself unless he was a big guy. But it's... different when something was made for you, right? Even if you share it with everyone else."

That's not quite what she was aiming for. What she actually wanted? Not entirely sure. Let it go? Keep going? Bad Idea, Wrath. Such a Bad Idea. But maybe she'll just say one thing more. What could that hurt? "You're definitely not wasting your time." At least she really hopes not. She keeps her eyes on their hands, because that's a lot easier than looking at North's face. "I really like being around you." Just a small emphasis, but it's important. Whiskey has been her best and only friend for a long time. She cares about him a lot... when she can. But it's definitely not the same sort of feeling as this.

But this is the problem, really. She has no idea how to deal with guys in a context where she doesn't want to just have fun for a few hours and then preferably never see them again. The fact that she wants to keep seeing North makes this complicated and means she actually has to worry about fucking up. She's not used to that, and it's rather paralyzing. And considering on top of that she has no idea what she's doing, the chances of fucking up in a horrible and permanent way seem much higher.

Bad Idea all around, really.

"What, no! I didn't say that at all! I could totally kick your ass."

"You think so?" North ponders it for a moment. "Maybe I'll make him a tart or something sometime. I'm not sure if he has any favorites—he's kind of new to being a human—but I might try asking York." Things are a little weird between them but...he doesn't know. Maybe it would be worth giving it a go. Maybe.

He smiles a fond smile when she puts that emphasis on her words. "You know I enjoy being around you. I wouldn't put this much effort into being around when I can otherwise." A rub of his thumb across the back of her hand will show her he means what he's saying.

His smile broadens. "You're contradicting yourself, now. Tell you what, take a couple of months to heal up and then we'll make a contest of it. Best two out of three."

"I do. Come on, the worst that could happen is you do something nice for him and he gets a tart to himself. Which if he's nice he'll share with all his friends anyway!" So even if they still aren't getting along, there's still more happiness in the world.

She actually blushes slightly. Her skin feels decidedly odd in the wake of that touch, sensitive and shivery and... it's really nice. Well, she thinks the message was heard. She's too worried about fucking up to try to make things clearer.

Wrath does stare at him when he says that, smirks, and growls, "Big words when you're not going to be able to move after round one."

...they're talking about sparring, right? Either way...

Edited (I felt like adding to it so sue me) 2014-11-08 04:51 (UTC)

"Don't tempt me to make it a wager, too," he teases. "Who's gonna lay who out flat and how quick."

She glares at him. "I'm growling. You're supposed to be intimidated. I'm very intimidating."

But yes, there's definitely humor dancing in her eyes.

God, she loves his smile.

Edited 2014-11-08 05:16 (UTC)

"I have to talk a big talk or you wouldn't take me seriously," he says. "Even when I'm quaking in my boots."

She grins at him. She can't help it. "I don't know how I can take a smile that cute seriously anyway. Sorry, North."

He laughs. He doesn't really know about the description of his smile as 'cute' but what matters is that's what she thinks. "It's part of the way I disarm my opponents. They never see it coming."

"I'm too canny and mean." Fierce expression. "You'll have to up your distraction game if you want a shot at winning!"

"I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I can't share them, though, that would make things too easy."

"Oh that's just mean." She wrinkles her nose at him. "Well you know what? So do I!"

...maybe? She has a while to think of some. Hoo boy.

She hooks her fingers in his and makes a contented little hum, though.

Edited 2014-11-08 05:34 (UTC)

He curls his fingers around hers and pets at her hand. "I hate to say this..." It's gotten late and he needs to sleep. But...maybe in a few more minutes. "You're going to lose me in five minutes. I don't want to be too sleepy to drive home."

"I'm surprised you lasted this long. You were working all day. And reveille is early." The hand petting is definitely nice. "I guess I can handle losing you as long as it's just temporary."

Edited 2014-11-08 05:43 (UTC)

"We'll see when I can stop back in. It can't be daily after this, unfortunately, I just won't have the time. We can always message though. Even during the day. I try to check my glasses at lunch and things."

She'd been worried that would be the case, but... well. The mission was the most important thing. "It's okay," she says. "The mission always comes first. I'm... grateful for whatever time you can spare."

She could admit to herself that she'd been really greedy so far. Poor North. He'd probably been putting off a lot of stuff that was more important.

"Okay. I'll send you messages. As long as you're sure it won't be distracting."

"There might be delays between responses but there will be responses, so don't get anxious, okay?"

She smiles. "I won't. You don't have to worry about me." She moves her forefinger against one of his. "Thank you for letting me."

It lets her feel closer to him, weirdly, like she gets to follow him to work. And it lets her feel a little bit like she'll be back on base, too.

"You don't have to think of it as me 'letting' you. I'll be doing it because I want to. I'll..." Is it too soon to talk about how he'll be missing her? It probably is. He has to come up with something else to say besides that, and quick. "...be looking forward to it," he finishes lamely.

Because he wants to. That... feels really good to hear. The smile she offers him for that is warm and probably a bit too unguarded but... that's just how she is. She's terrible at trying to hide things anyway. "Me too," she says. Agreeing with the spoken and the unspoken she senses just a little.

Wrath captures his fingers for a moment. "Go home and sleep, silly."

He smiles gently. "Yeah, I'd better. You sleep too." He slowly lets his hand slip out of hers and lowers it to the railing of her bed.

Because she has no filter and talks even more than she otherwise would, she says, "I like all your smiles, but that one's my favorite. At least today."

Moving on, whoops. "I will, soon. Will you... just send me a message so I know you got home all right?"

Maybe she shouldn't be worried, but... things can happen.

Whoops, sorry Wrath, you made his smile grow. "Thanks. And I will, but your glasses are on the table. You want me to put them back on you?"

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