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Typical. Try not to set the place on fire, all right?

( And a quiet laugh. ) Yeah, everything's good. I just thought I'd stretch my legs for a bit. Get back to nature, or something.

I make no promises.

[She'd only end up breaking them, considering her luck.]

If you're sure. [It's an agreement rather than being dismissive, she'll take Ellie's word for it.] Try not to get eaten by a mutant deer.

Please. It'd take more than a mutant deer to take me down. ( Gosh, huffing. )

I'll catch you later, okay?

( And if this were not mind-controlled Ellie, she'd probably come and see Steph before wandering off. )

Maybe it's got lasers.

[Steph what.

But she frowns at the last bit.]

I don't even get a goodbye kiss?

[Her tone is light, but.]

Uh huh. Maybe it's Australian.

( ooohhh she went there. )

Oh. Yeah, sure. If you want.

( BUT HER UE REACHING SCHEDULE. )

[She huffs a laugh, and maybe Ellie can imagine her rolling her eyes.]

I can meet you at the edge of the city before you head out? I promise not to bother you for too long.

Sounds good. Usual place?

Yeah, I'll be there in twenty.

[And she hangs up with that. She considers packing some stuff for Ellie to take with her, but it seems a bit excessive, Ellie knows how to prepare for trips like this.

So she just takes herself, heading to the safehouse at the edge of the city that they use as a base whenever they head into the Outlands.]

( She hangs up with just a sound of acknowledgement, and she waits. Doesn't want to, but has to, because Batgirl will be an obstacle, will keep her from making way as she must.

Ellie wanders over when she spies Steph arriving, bag slung over her shoulder. It's not really big enough, but then Ellie's in the habit of travelling light. )

Hey, you.

[She reaches out for Ellie once she's close enough, planning to pull her into a hug.]

( She complies with the hug, but there's no sense of lingering, of her fingers curling into Steph's jumper and holding on just because it's comfortable like she normally. But that could just be because they're outside, right? Sure. Maybe that's it. )

Hey. Good day?

[Something is wrong.

Her first thought, a panicked one, is that Ellie's found out about the mess with Saul, that she's heading to the Outlands because she's mad at Steph. She tries to tell herself that really was the case, surely Ellie would be confronting her about it right now, instead of running off into the countryside.

Right?]

Not bad. [She wants to kiss Ellie's hair and ask what's wrong, but if it's enough to drive her to the Outlands, maybe it's better to give her space, let her deal with it in her own time.] You should give me a heads up when you're on the way back, yeah? I'll make sure dinner is waiting.

[She can be a good girlfriend, at least.]

Yeah, sure thing.

( There are no plans of coming back. Of seeing Stephanie again, actually. The ultimate goal is to reach the United Earth and Stephanie is the one major obstacle to that. Others could be incapacitated: it wouldn't necessarily be very difficult, but Stephanie is Batgirl, so more careful measures are necessary.

She smiles, but something about the expression doesn't really seem genuine. Ellie's never been very good with being anything but genuine, letting the truth spill out even if it verged on being inconsiderate or cruel. It was just the truth. )

Probably like, five days? You won't even notice I'm gone. You can get to know the new kid.

( The new roommate. Whatever her name is. )

[She wants to ask what's wrong, but she already did, once and if Ellie isnt ready to tell her then there's nothing she can really do about it. Except give Ellie space, and wait, and hope things are okay eventually.]

You're better with kids than I am.

[Which is true enough, even if she says it lightly.

And then she gives Ellie a quick kiss on the cheek, because for all her joking about getting a kiss, she won't press that if something's wrong.]

I love you.

[She doesn't say it all that often, because sometimes feelings are hard, but she wants to make sure Ellie knows.]

Really? But you're so immature and stuff.

( A bit of a grin, though there's something just a little too sharp, words that should be playful and teasing having just the slightest edge. ) I guess I gotta be the grownup, huh?

( Ellie's hand trails down Steph's arm, from her elbow to her wrist, wrapping around it. If this were Ellie, she'd kiss Steph in a heartbeat, hold onto her. That is, if this were Ellie just going on a trip, but if that were the case then she might ask Steph to come with her, or not be so stiff, cold. Ellie can be weird, but she's not usually weird with Steph, not any more. The hand clasping Steph's wrist is oddly possessive. )

Yeah, you too. ( Turning a little, so she's speaking closer to Steph's lips, something almost like teasing. A beat, and then: ) What's wrong?

Very funny.

[Her tone is so very dry, but the humour fades after a moment, with Ellie's fingers around her wrist and that question.

This is weird, and she doesn't know if she should say anything, or if she should just pretend she hasn't noticed to save putting Ellie on the spot.]

Nothing, just-- [a sigh, quiet, and she offers a rueful smile.] You can talk to me, if there's something up.

[It's an offer rather than a question, rather than a demand, so she doesn't feel bad about it.]

( She scoffs quietly, eyebrows raised. ) Why would anything be up?

( Stephanie, please. ) Come on. You know me better than that. If something's wrong, I'll talk to you.

( A shrug, as her fingers slip away from Steph's wrists. ) I'm not going away 'cause anything wrong, all right? Don't stress out about it.

[Because she was going to leave without properly saying goodbye, because she's a little withdrawn and odd and it makes Steph feel like something is wrong.]

I stress about everything.

[That's true enough, but she decides to just let it go for now. It's clear enough that even if there is something up, Ellie doesn't want to talk about it.]

But I'll try not to. Just stay safe, yeah?

( If she's suspicious, that's no good at all. So, rather than saying anything, Ellie just closes the space between them - as little as it was - and catches Steph in a kiss. A proper one, a proper goodbye, a proper way to placate her and stop all those suspicions. )

[Well, that's better.

She rests her hands on Ellie's waist as she returns the kiss, relieved that even if there is something up, it's not enough to stop Ellie from wanting to kiss her.

(She doesn't consider that the kiss could be to allay those worries, because it's just... not something Ellie would do.)

( Eventually, she eases back, hands anchored at Steph's shoulders, and offers a little bit of a smile. )

Less stressed?

( Slightly teasing, yes. )

If I say no will you kiss me again?

[But she smiles and kisses the tip of Ellie's nose before drawing back.]

Shoo, the sooner you leave the sooner I get you back.

[Which is what really matters.]

( There we go. Easing back, Ellie looks a little more at ease, herself, albeit for entirely the wrong reasons. )

You bet.

( Poor Steph. Ellie bumps her shoulder, letting her hand drag down Steph's arm and their fingers catch as she wanders past her. )

Later, Batgirl.

[The touch is a relief, too, and her hand follows Ellie's for a brief moment before she lets her go.]

See you.

[And instead of lingering and watching Ellie leave, which might be a bit weird, she just turns around to head back to the apartment.]

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