controlledvariable | exsilium; ic inbox

[That's fine with him. He's comfortable enough around Steph that he doesn't feel like he has to run his mouth constantly, so this is nice. And after spending so much time alone in silence, having someone by his side — someone he loves — makes this kind of quiet much more tolerable.

But then there's also the fact that Mike is purring like a motorboat, so it's not really that quiet.]

[After a little while, she moves to curl up against Saul's side, still careful of her leg, but she just wants that physical reassurance of his presence, the same way she barely let go of Ellie for the entire train ride.

Maybe she should feel guilty, being here with Saul, but she's sick of feeling guilty, and she just wants to relax for a few minutes, after the stress of the last few months. Saul's warm and comfortable and she just shuts her brain off, keeping her attention focused on Mike to keep any unpleasant thoughts from sneaking in.]

[Effie should be the one curled up against him, not Steph. He knows that, he accepts it, and he's going to have to deal with it when he sees her later. Whenever that is.

He shifts around a bit so that he can slip an arm around Steph's shoulders, at which point Mike apparently decides it'll be easier to get attention from her — so there she goes again, rolling around in Steph's lap.]

I think she missed you more than she missed me. For future reference, it won't count as catnapping if she goes willingly.

[Her laugh is quiet, but genuine and warm, as she lets Mike chase her fingers around her lap.]

I was gonna come take her while you were gone, but Lee seemed to have a handle on things.

That would've been way too convenient an excuse.

[He'll have to thank Lee later. And maybe warn him to never let Steph take Mike anywhere, lest they never see her again.

It's a legitimate concern, okay.]

Nothing wrong with taking an easy win.

[She's more than willing to cheat or fight dirty, including taking Mike while Saul isn't around to protect her.]

Edited (an east win. which is the opposite of a west win i guess) 2013-09-21 07:30 (UTC)

[Oh, hey. That reminds him.

So much for trying to teach Mike to be Steph's nemesis. Look at how well that worked!

He sighs and drops his head back against the couch cushion.]

Note to self: Never get kidnapped again.

[Ignore the way she presses closer.]

I won't let it happen.

[She already let him down once.]

[He'll ignore that if she ignores the way he holds her there after she's done the thing he's ignoring...!]

Good. Because that sucked. It's not like I thought they were gonna kill me, but — [And here his voice drops, a little, and he sounds tired.] I don't know what they're planning. Or what they were trying to do with us. They must've known you and the others would come, right? They must have noticed something was wrong with their systems before everyone broke in...

They wanted your powers.

[It hadn't been too hard to figure it out, not when she heard talk of people coming up against those strange versions of the Masked.]

And I think they might be too arrogant to even consider something like us coming for you.

Yeah, but for what? Themselves? Or to just take them and make us weaker?

[It feels weird, being able to say "us" and include himself in that.]

Themselves, they were already using them.

[So there's... that]

Oh.

[Well, then.

Saul doesn't know what to say to that or how to process any of this at all. He needs sleep. He needs to go talk to Effie.

What he does instead is lift his head and turn slightly, pressing a kiss to Steph's shoulder.]

You should go see Ashraf — he can heal your leg.

[And she sighs, quiet, eyes slipping closed for a moment.]

It's not that bad, and I'm sure he's pretty tired after everything. He doesn't need me bothering him for a quick fix.

So give him a day to relax, then go see him.

[He's insisting.]

Please.

It's fine, Saul.

[She feels a little weird about using magic.]

You're hurt. How is that fine?

Do we have to do this again?

[She'd really rather not, especially not when she's feeling comfortable and safe and warm.]

No. Sorry.

[When he starts sounding like a kicked puppy, it's time for sleep. But he doesn't want her to leave and he doesn't want her to stay, so maybe if he just remains conscious...

Easier said than done.]

[She's quiet for a little while, just enjoying... this, before she has to leave.

Eventually:]

You should get some sleep.

[She leans in to press a kiss to his cheek, before drawing away completely, carefully scooping up Mike as she gets to her feet.]

I should get a lot of sleep.

[His voice is a murmur, and as soon as she's up, he flops onto his side. He's sleeping on the couch tonight.

Blearily:] Don't take my cat.