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[She totally heard it.]

better.

i can come over in a couple of days and set it up?

[She could do it right now, theoretically. but.]

[Theoretically...]

Why not now? Since it's obviously already on him. And we're both awake.

[There's a slightly delay, before:]

you sure?

[Considering. everything.]

[Now there's a question. It'd be stupid to say yes, but Saul's pretty sure it'd be even stupider to say no. "No" would be an admission.

So:]

You're right — it's late.

[Is it bad that response makes her want to show up anyway?

So. Another delay, because she just needs to throw herself off a building to feel the rush of wind and to see the ground coming to meet her before she catches herself with her grapple line. She may still be hanging upside down off the side of the Housing building as she sends the next text.]

saul.

should we talk?

Edited 2013-06-10 12:47 (UTC)

[Another excellent question!

There is not enough liquor in the world for this.]

About what?

you want me to spell it out?

[Don't make her do that, Saul. No one wants that.]

Not really.

[Please let him get away with avoiding this conversation, Steph.]

Edited 2013-06-10 13:06 (UTC)

then you should've just said no.

[To whether they should talk about things, instead of acting like nothing happened.]

Do you think we should talk?

Edited 2013-06-10 13:53 (UTC)

i don't know.

[and only a few seconds later:]

i love ellie.

[As if that... solves anythin]

I know.

[Mr. Talkative is suddenly not so talkative.]

[There's no reply to the text, because Steph is just - trying to work out why everything is so complicated and what she wants to say. When nothing comes and she's starts thinking about dropping the tablet from ten storeys, she decides to go another route.

Which means about eight minutes after the last text, there's a light knock on Saul's window.

Steph is balanced precariously on the sill, dressed in civvies, but all black, since she doesn't want to draw too much attention to herself while she's swinging around the Housing building.]

[Saul thought — and hoped — that was the end of it. No discussion, no more feelings, just two factual statements and a sealing of the envelope. That's all Saul needed to know, really. And wasn't that exactly what he'd said to Jesse yesterday? I don't wanna complicate things.

Steph doesn't need that.

And the fact that he considers that at all is how he knows he's in big trouble.

The knock at the window launches his heart into his throat and for a few very long seconds, he's tempted not to acknowledge it.

But then there's the part of him that forgets she's Batgirl and freaks out a little with the realization that she is hanging off of the building, so over he goes to make a face at her like, Are you crazy?

Skeptically:] Hi.

[She seems very confident balancing on the windowsill, at least; this isn't even the most difficult thing she's perched on.

Although the confidence is really only in her posture, in the fact her balance doesn't waver at all. Her expression is significantly less confident, her lower lip caught between her teeth before she realizes she's doing that and forces her expression to something more neutral.]

Hi.

[...

She didn't think what to do from this point.]

Can I have a drink?

[Well. It's a start.]

[The smart thing to do would be to say no, you wouldn't even be legal to drink back home, and send her on her way. But judging from past experiences, Saul isn't exactly smart when it comes this sort of thing. He's actually phenomenally stupid.

Which is why he steps aside and gestures for her to come in.]

I'll get you a glass.

[A convenient excuse to get the hell out of there and breathe for a moment.

And also to try to smooth down the mess that is his slept-in suit. He really shouldn't have drugged himself.]

Thanks.

[This was a terrible idea, but she's coming inside, which means kind of gently flipping in through the window, hands braced on the floor for a moment before she completes the pseudo-walkover and is the right way up.

It's really weird to do gymnastics when she feels awkward about everything ever so she's just going to lean back against the windowsill (she leaves it open) and wrap her arms around herself to wait for Saul to get back with a glass.

What is she even trying to do, here?]

[That's what Saul would like to know, too, but that would involve asking questions.

He returns with two glasses in hand, looking a little less unkempt than he did a minute ago. There's an awful lot of awkward silence hanging in the air as he pours two fingers for Steph and offers her the glass, not quite making eye contact.]

[She takes the glass, tries to offer a smile in thanks but it ends up just a twist of her mouth in something more like a grimace. It's tempting to just down the glass in one go but--

No, actually, she's just going to down the glass in one go and let out a slow breath at the burn, trying to focus.

She's starting at the bottom of the empty glass when she realizes what she needs to say.]

Have you met Nikolai? The Russian?

[Up go his eyebrows.

Call him crazy, but something tells Saul this isn't going to be a pleasant conversation.]

Not officially, no.

I'd try to keep it that way, if I were you.

[It's the only reason she told Ellie about what happened, to try to covince her how dangerous he is, even if he can seems nice at times.]

He's mafiya, and the Russians are the worst of the worst. [She knows Saul is a criminal lawyer, that he must deal with some nasty things, but she doubts he's been so unlucky as to run into vor.] He calls me dyevochka - little girl - and he says he doesn't fuck little girls, but--

[She isn't sure how to finish that sentence, just swallows around the lump in her throat and shrugs, casting a brief glance at Saul to try to... read his reaction or see if she should offer an apology or - anything.]

[Saul deals with Latin gangs, mostly, which are... bad. Maybe not as bad, but this isn't unfamiliar territory, to him. He's not shocked. Not even all that upset, really, but that's only because he's suddenly so angry that nothing else registers.]

Stay away from him.

[He may not be her boss, but the sharp edge to his voice sure does make it sound like he's telling her what to do.]

And if he doesn't stay away from you — [A breath, to steady himself.] Tell him he needs to talk to your lawyer.

[She sets her jaw, forces herself not to flinch at the sharpness in his tone. It's stupid, and she knows it, but some reactions are hard to ignore.]

He'll stay away from me. [Somehow she manages to sound steady, and manages not to laugh at the thought of Saul dealing with Nikolai on her behalf (it would've been a hysterical laugh, anyway).] I told him I'd take his hands if he touched me again, and he knows I meant it.

[Becase she would, she wouldn't even think about.]

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permaction; you started this

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CW: sexual assault

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